Christmas Gifts

During one of our cell group meeting, we were told to recall aloud one X'mas gift that we liked the most, and/or the least. While everyone was thinking, my head is in a state of total "blank-out". Talk about most liked or disliked, I received countless X'mas gifts over the last 20+ years, BUT there is NONE that I cld even recall. Gifts, yes, we received many...(birthday gifts, anniversary gifts, and even out-of-nowhere gifts) too many but which one of which is my favorite christmas gift???? I looked at Bryan, secretly asking if he cld recall any.... (and nope!)

However, after giving it some thought, I realise that the best X'mas gift I received this year in 2007, I have gotten it in advance. It was when Bryan received the gift of salvation, through the grace and mercy of Christ!

God works in wonderous ways. I give thanks to him everyday in my prayers, and now, I wanna thank our friends for their gifts, with bountiful love and friendship, and that, I will never forget.

It has been a good year for Bryan too. One of his older publication has been awarded with Best paper. He almost couldn't believe it can actually happened. With that award also came some award money. He asked me if there is anything I want.... Well, and I decided I want a PDA. Becos it has been months since he has been hogging my PC and his 2 other laptops were also all running his research/experiments, non-stop 24/7. I was really upset for a long time and had to restrain my frustrations, well, trying to be understanding, but it wasn't easy.

After several months, I am still upset. Cutting me off the internet world means losing some part of myself. Always upset but survived it.

Then along came one trip to the Apple Store on Walnut Street whereby I came upon the iPod touch. Seeing it on a commercial is nothing compared to touching one. It is so cool. The price of USD 399 scares me for a while, but not for long...

For a couple of weeks, Bryan has been in a really good spirit. Maybe it is Christmas? Or maybe it has something to do with his latest paper acceptance. Having spent so much time and dedication on this paper, and no time for me for quite a few months..... After all those crazy experiments and ripping me away from my PC... it was really his hard work and also God's blessing.... Yes, we will be heading for Portugal in 2008 (AAMAS 2008).

And then it all happened too soon, Bryan decided to spend his award money (is it ever going to reach us???), but spending it nonetheless on....

Ipod Touch

I must admit, I am still very handicapped on using the itouch. Reading the 80+ page manual is impossible, but learning and discovering new things I can do is just too fascinating!

I guess I have all the time in the world to explore it now... Even so, being a non-Mac user myself, I appreciate some advice on using this thing!

PS (updates) :

• New York City (Jan'08) - collect new biometric passports
  

With Love....
Merry Christmas!

Still one more item on my wishlist : An ipod touch leather case. Too bad the itouch is too popular, Amazon has run out of stock for the pink casing I want.