Smoked Tri-tips @ Art's

Wow! It's really true sometime that when you say no to somethings other things popped up. I had been debating whether or not to go support our two church volleyball teams in Southbay this morning and to go to the dinner afterwards. But then I was feeling under the weather (all the sickies at work and with me going outing with R the other night at downtown Disney).

Art from church invited me to come over for lunch since we're both big BBQ fans. Wow! What a treat! There were members of his worship team there as well as other friends from church. We ate well. Art is truely the master of the smoked tri-tips!! Lunch was going pretty good up to the point where Becky (aka SP) told all of us her friend's Tapeworm story .... it was almost enough make me wanna give up meat and raw fish (sushi) , uh almost because as I was having lunch with these guys, I got a call from my buddy Karl to go out tonight for my birthday (belated) ... see related posting.

-DB-

House Church (Fullerton) Week 3

Just got back from this week's House Church meeting in Fullerton; despite the rainy slippery weather tonight, we had a pretty decent turnout (about 30 or so).

In preparation of our study of the first century house church, we gather for dinner with a twist tonight. Instead of just helping our selves to a yummy potluck dinner (tonight theme was Latin / Mexican); the dinner time rule was that we were to serve each other and not allow to tell our servers what we wanted. It did feel awkward and bothersome to rely on someone for our needs but I thought it was a good object lesson to learn (learning about the needs of others without them telling us what they needed).

Our bible study came from 1st Corinthians 11:17-34 (regarding taking communion in a worthy manner). After a lively discussion lead by Pastor Kevin, we as a community took communion.

Andy McAlpine leaded us in several worship songs including "The Valley" (the yea yea song) written by his friend Sarah.

We had a quick "Happy Birthday" singing for January and February birthdays followed by a time of sharing and prayer for our host family, Sandee & Brice (and Riley). The Hunts were preparing to go Eastern Europe to adopt a 7 month old baby girl into their family.

Our evening ended with dessert (birthday cake) and sweet fellowship.

-DB-

BSG Season 2 Finale - March 10th

SPOILER on BSG's Season 2 Finale for March 10th (Highlight invisible text).


SCI FI Expands BSG Season 2 Finale to 90-Minutes
Thu 16th Feb, 2006

BIGGEST 'BATTLESTAR GALACTICA' EPISODE EVER
Released by Sci Fi

NEW YORK -- February 15, 2006 -- The season two finale of SCI FI Channel's critically-acclaimed original series 'Battlestar Galactica' will be its biggest episode ever. "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part 2" will be presented as a special 90-minute television event on Friday, March 10, 2006 @ 10pm-11:30pm ET/PT.

In true Galactica-style, the expanded season finale cliff-hanger is sure to leave viewers wanting more. Up to this point, the last remnants of humanity have been on the run from the Cylons and searching for a mythical planet called Earth. They have been led by President Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell), a woman whom many believe is the chosen prophet of human scripture, and Admiral William Adama (Edward James Olmos), a retired war hero forced back into service after the Cylons' near-genocide of the human race.

Now, with the presidential campaigning in full swing, the election's outcome hinges upon a core debate - whether or not to abandon the search for Earth when the Galactica crew discovers a habitable planet. When the election begins to swing in favour of Baltar (James Callis) - a man whom Roslin is convinced is a Cylon collaborator - the incumbent president must decide whether or not to take drastic measures for the greater good. Things become even further complicated when the Cylons, led by Caprica Six (Tricia Helfer) and Sharon (Grace Park), find the planet and offer humanity a stunning proposal of peace.

The 90-minute 'Battlestar' finale will follow the season finales of SCI FI's other hit original series, 'Stargate SG-1' (8pm) and 'Stargate Atlantis' (9pm).

Production on season three of 'Battlestar Galactica' will begin in April in Vancouver, with Lucy Lawless joining the cast for a 10-episode arc.

SCI FI Channel is a television network where "what if" is what's on. SCI FI fuels the imagination of viewers with original series and events, blockbuster movies and classic science fiction and fantasy programming, as well as a dynamic Web site (www.scifi.com) and magazine. Launched in 1992, and currently in 85 million homes, SCI FI Channel is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies.

Posted By Blade Runner

TV Guide article on BSG : "Downloaded"

Warning: Spoiler for February 24th episode for Battlestar Galactica. (highlight invisible text to reveal). Click on article at your own spoiler risk.

"Downloaded" features Grace Park in her dual "Sharon "Boomer" Valerii" roles /clones both being "reborn" after her murder by crewman Cally and the Caprica version giving birth to Cylon-Human hybrid child "Hera"

-DB-

TV Guide - "LOST" connection (possible spoilers)

From the February 20th issue of TV Guide. View this at your own risk if you aren't up to date with "Lost" Season 2.

-DB-

New BSG tonight!

Tonight's Battlestar Galactica episode is called "The Captain's Hand". It's seems like ever since Adm. Cain was killed by Cylon Gina, the Battlestar Pegasus hasn't had much luck with it's commanders. A couple weeks ago, new Commander Fisk was murdered by his blackmarket partners. Tonight, Commander Garner (promoted up from engineering) seems to have lost a couple of Raptors as well as his ability to command the mighty Pegasus, Captain Starbuck and newly promoted Major Apollo to the rescue!

-DB-

Storytellers Cafe (Downtown Disney - Anheim)

At the end of a long crazy day; I got a voice mail from a voice I hadn't heard in years ... my former college roommate from Ole Miss (University of Mississippi). We met for dinner at Storyteller Cafe at Downtown Disney in Anaheim. It was a good time of catching up with each other especially about people we knew in college, families, Ole Miss' Oxford campus, tailgating parties, our friends who achieved success & fame, girls that we lost, you know ... The five hours just flew before we both had to go.

The buffet at Storyteller Cafe (in the Disney Grand Hotel) seemed like a good deal compared to the ala carte menu prices. The Salmon and Prime Rib was pretty good as well as the salads and dessert. I busted up when I saw the "Mickey Mouse ear" chicken nuggets (see photo above). Most of the photos are from the 'net. We strove down "Memory Lane" around downtown Disney and eventurally made our way to the ESPN Zone. Thanks to Ronald, I got brought up to speed with the lives and happening of all these people I knew from MidSouth (Memphis, Mississippi and Arkansas). Sadly and sweetly, LIFE happened ... marriages, births, divorces, deaths, illness, prosperity and success.

My friend, R works for the IRS. He also is part of ASPIRE (Asian Pacific Internal Revenue Employees) employee career development organization within the IRS. One of the founders is one of my collage mentors when I was a frosh at Ole Miss. Amazing how things worked out.

It was one of those major footnote moments in my life.

-DB-

"LOST" - 'One of Them' (warning: spoilers)

Several things happen in tonight's episode: (highlight invisible text to reveal)

1. How Hurley keeps his weight (he's been stealing food from the hatch).
2. How Sayid got his start in torturing people (the CIA used him).
3. What happens when the counter goes to zero (all those weird symbols come up and the hatch starts shaking and things start moving).
4. One more "EASTER EGG", the American Sargent who interviews Sayid is Kate's stepdad (a reverse of the "EASTER EGG" from the episode of "What Kate Did" when Sayid appeared on TV in the Army recruiting office where Kate goes to visit her Army stepdad while on the run from the law).

From Next Week's TV Guide ... ABC will be broadcasting an encore of the 2 hr pilot, so no new "Lost" for the week of February 22nd.

Lotto Fever (not)!

Yesterday, along side all the Hokie Valentine's Day stuff ... my coworkers and I were caught up in the California Mega Millions Lotto Fever. We all pitched in for a share of the $140 million pot .... well, the fact that we all showed up at work today meant that our investment ($2 each) went down the toilet. But hey, no one else won either ... so there is another chance to invest in our "retirement" fund!

-DB-

Scifi TV News - Babylon 5 actor dies

Andreas Katsulas who played Ambassador G'Kar on "Babylon 5" died on February 13th. He is also remembered as the "one armed man" from 1993 Harrison Ford movie "The Fugitive" as well as many other movie "bad guys".

New "Lost" Episode this Wednesday

I've been trying not to ruin my excitment for this great series by reading ahead in next week's TV Guide or reading those online spoilers but ... this week's episode is called "One of them". This looks to be Sayid's POV / backstory. Probably, I'm GUESSING something about the Iraq war. From last week's preview trailer, it looks like the survivors finally let the countdown run down to ZERO! Gee, does that mean "the world will end"?

Grey's Anatomy - Season One DVD

Woo hoo! Just in time for Valentine's Day! Got my copy at Best Buy today! Meredith Grey and company are my V-day date for tonight.

-DB-

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Valentine at the work was kinda of strange. Usually, our HR department put boxes of those "Sweetheart" candies in our cubicles; this year we got these "Pretzel Swirls" (like 300 calories). Later in the afternoon at 3pm, HR had dessert in the lunchroom with all these pies from Marie Calender (think this originated when we use to celebrate President Day or something but since we don't do that, I guess Valentine Day got defaulted). Pies = Valentine Day ? Maybe they're meant to be "Sweetie pies" ?!

Also, my coworker Roxy has been posting this Valentine Day countdown (see picture above) ... so on this day, Valentine's Day ... 365 days pops up (technically, I think it's suppose to be ZERO day to Valentine's Day).

Anyways, I spent lunch time today at Best Buy, buying the new "Grey's Anatomy" Season one DVD and at Walmart to pick up some dinner napkins and a new vial of "Airborne" (too many sickies at work!).

Afterwork, I went to the last lesson of my first ever golf class (sad) ... we learned how to use the nine iron and the putter. Can't wait to start another golf class soon! On my way home, I was craving Churches Chicken (well known in da South) ... oooh, three pieces mixed with mash potatoes and fried okras (and a diet Pepsi, of course). So good going down and so BAD for my bod! Oh well, tomorrow is another day (and an extra long session in the company gym!).

Currently watching the first episode of "Grey's Anatomy" Season one ... so addicting!

-DB-

Happy 1st Birthday Ford!!!

Uncle DB misses you!!!

Bday work luncheon at Cerritos' BJ Brewery

naw, no brewski until after work! Happy Hour, anyone? I have to work off the BBQ Chopped Chicken salad I had.

-DB-

2006 Winter Olympics(Torino, Italy)

So who's watching the Olympics? How sad that Michelle Kwan had to pull out. I remember how crushing it was that she didn't get the gold four years ago!

24 tonight - (2pm-3pm)

Whoa, Jack gotta take the place of the bad guy who was shot in the last episode! Can he fool the Euro-terrorists and stop them from arming the stolen nerve gas?

Happy Birthday Garret!!

DB's fellow golf student!