wattupbruce's Xanga

New Guinness World Record!

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:35:19 GMT

My parents, my wife and my SCC guys just took part in setting the world record this morning - most flags on a bridge.

We were given the opportunity to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a promotion for their tenth anniversary. Concurrently, they decided to attempt a world record, and we got to take part. We all waved flags from different nations, and JiHyun got Hong Kong which was a 'special' flag - meaning it was one of the 'nations' that promoted the BridgeClimb tourist attraction in their country. So she got to take an individual photo with the flag that will be used in Hong Kong promotions! Sad thing about that is that they'll all think that she's Chinese!

The rest of us were filmed and photo'd waving our flags. We even made it on the news! Here is the link -

http://www.video.news.com.au?vxSiteId=164be818-84c2-4715-b29e-2db589f12564&vxChannel=frontPagePicks&vxClipId=1094_388699&vxBitrate=300

If you pause at 30-31 seconds, you can see my dad clearly turning late to reveal his flag. My mom is to his right, and JiHyun to her right. In the next shot, you can see me holding up the flag of Hungary for a split second.

The following is a link to the special media release of the event - and we're there in high quality video!
http://medianet.ondeadline.com.au/?page=ViewVideo&id=MNT2008100168792#

And if you choose the part @1:05, duration 16 seconds, we're right in front!!!
Here is a snapshot:

It was a long, grueling experience. I am afraid of heights so it was actually extra-challenging, but worth it!
Thank you Mins!

NFL on Ten HD Australia.....Thank you GOD!!!

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:01:21 GMT

So I'm watching the NFL here in Australia!!! I am SOOOOO happy! I am literally screaming this blog 'cause I miss football so much. This is my 'heart' sport(kinda like people have 'heart' languages). There are two great things about this broadcast that made me pick up my Macbook and write this blog.

1. It's a live simulcast of Monday night football on ESPN in the states, which means no Aussie commentators describing what a line of scrimmage is like when they broadcast the Super Bowl. OMG - How good is Mike Tirico?!?! I love him!

2. It's in HD, and the HD feed is simply amazing! You can see faces clearly in the crowd and every blade of grass on the field. I actually got up from my couch and went right up to the screen to see if I was just imagining it. I wasn't. The HD technology must be amazing in the states.

Kudos Ten HD for choosing to do this twice a week! Now, if we can work on getting those US commercials.....

Hats off to the big Z!

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:52:01 GMT

It's good to finally write something great about Chicago sports. The Cubs have been the top of the division all year, and for some time, top of the league. And it's cause of performances like Carlos Zambrano on Sunday night. No-hitter! And one walk away from a perfect game! We all knew he was the real deal. This boy's it man. It's Series time! This year is the year! I love you Carlos!

Past few weeks...

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 07:49:10 GMT

Looking back, our trip to America was a complete blur. We arrived at 1:30am Sunday morning, went to Kinko's to print out some prayer cards, slept for 3 hours and went to KUPC to do some presentations, which went somewhat okay. The next five days were spent on a cruise ship in the Caribbean with our extended family to celebrate my dad's 70th birthday. That was a great time, but completely exhausting. And then the next day was spent preparing for our presentations at New Life Community Church and at my sister's house for our supporters, which I think went well. We definitely learned a lot. Monday was spent going to a few meetings. Tuesday, shopping for essentials, and then Wednesday - depart for Sydney. We arrived in Sydney, Friday morning at 7am. We went home, met the SCC group, had breakfast and then I took a shower and went to my first day of training at Apple at noon in the city. I think things are still a blur.

I just want to thank everyone that my wife and I got to see, got to share with, and got to shake hands with and got to hug. It meant so much to us to connect with you. And to those who we couldn't spend time with - SORRY! Next time.....and I hope that next time is in Sydney! Come out!

I want to say a special thanks to my sister for putting the cruise together, being the mastermind behind the SCC event, for taking care of that whole night and lastly for being the best sister-in-law. You rock! and I love you!

I want to say thank you to Yun Choi as well. Your friendship to me is priceless. Your support and love emboldens. And your example is humbling. Let's continue to grow and share and empower each other to become all that God has called us to be.

This trip however was a powerful one for me. Half way through the trip, I couldn't wait to get back 'home'. This was the first time in my life that Sydney felt more like home to me. I think I may really be falling in love with Australia. Can you believe it?

Also, I really started to feel like a missionary. Somewhere in between the 3am prayer card printing and the presentations, my heart really went out to Sydney and all that God was doing. All I could think about were the lost in Sydney and how I longed to bring them back to God. It's weird to think of Sydney as a mission field, but it is. And I don't know if this is normal, but I felt so proud to be a part of what God is doing in Sydney, and can't wait to be used by Him. My wife and I are so ready to give our lives to this city. Please pray for us and Southern Cross Church!!!

____

On a different note...

So I just finished my two week training course at Apple, appropriately named, "CORE". And it's been pretty wonderful but tiring. I've met some great people that I'm pretty excited to work with, but it was pretty brutal just sitting through presentation after presentation of what Apple's all about. All in all however, Apple really seems to be a great company. It is out to redefine retail and I think they're already doing it here in Australia. What's really great is that they empower every employee to become all that they want to in the company. It's part of their creed. So if God ever gives me the open door to leave ministry, maybe Apple's the way to go. Maybe one day I'll be leading a team to open a new Apple store in Bonnie Doon!

Last, but not least, if you love the '85 Chicago Bears, there is a DVD set out that includes 12 full games(with all the commercials, time outs and seconds in-between plays all edited out), including the championship games and the super bowl. It is a must have!

It takes a Kiwi to beat the Kiwis!

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 00:18:17 GMT

Isaac Luke - Man of the Match in the Rabbitohs 35-28 victory over the NZ Warriors!

Here are some other photos.

This field goal was the nail in the coffin! Sandow!!!

the winter of my discontent

Wed, 28 May 2008 01:08:10 GMT

It's amazing what can trigger it.

Last night, Jihyun and I got some pizzas from Domino's for dinner - Cheap Tuesdays! We also rented some movies to watch with it. The scene was all set for a great night at home with the wifey. Who knew that it could turn out so bad.

We rushed home after picking up the pizzas. They were still hot, evidenced by all the steam that rose from the boxes as we opened them. My mouth began to water. "Get the plates! No, forget it. We'll just eat out of the box!" I picked up a piece nearly burning the tips of my fingers(an experience I dread, but savor at the same time - demented, right? Nah...some of you understand). And as that piece came inches from my mouth, it happened. The sweet aroma of pepperoni, capsicum, onions and cheese began to tantalize my senses. One would think that in a moment like this, there would be no time for analytic engagement or any type of mental processing, but one would be wrong. Instead of instantaneously shoveling this ethereal gift from the gods into my now overly-lubricated mouth(as one would expect me to do - especially being the obese, pizza-loving man that i am), an inescapable, paralyzingly vexing thought consumed me.

"Man!" I said. "I wish we had some Lou Mal's"

and thus began the night's downward spiral.

The movie had a scene showing people eating hot dogs. And I don't know what it is about this Kosher-Hot-Dog-forsaken country, but why doesn't Australia have good hot dogs!!!!!!! In the middle of this movie, I began yelling, "Dang! HOT DOG! I want a hot dog! And not just any hot dog! I want a kosher hot dog! YEAH! KOSHER HOT DOG!!!" And then I began yelling different brands - "HEBREW NATIONAL!!! BEST'S KOSHER!!! SINAI KOSHER!!!" And then I moved onto non-kosher dogs like, "Chicago Hot Dog! Maxwell Street Polish! Ball Park franks!!! Michael Jordan!"

If I wasn't a believer of Satan before last night, I am now. It was apparent to both me and my wife, that I was under major attack.

"Honey," I said as I turned off the tv(which takes a lot of spiritual strength for me to do if you know me), "I can't watch anymore. It's killing me."

"Should I mix you some cordial?" she asked. "That always makes you feel better."

"Cordial??!?! Cordial?!?!?! NO. I want. I want. I want some.....Country Time!"
"How about some Schweppes?" "No, RC!"
"Should we get some Red Rooster then, honey?" "No, Popeye's!"
"Jimmy's?" "Wally's!"
"Hungry Jack's?" "No, White Castles(there's no 's' on "White Castle" but why do we always seem to pronounce it?)"
"Woolies?" "NO! JEWELS(there's no 's' on Jewel either, but...ibid)!

And as the fading whisper of that inappropriately augmented 's' hung in the air, I turned and could see and sense the absolute confusion/frustration/arising anger written all over my wife's face. Until she realized that this had all happened before.

The frown began to smoothen.

We both sat down and gathered ourselves. And as I turned to look into her beautiful eyes, her head had already begun to nod repeatedly in understanding and compassion. And even before I could say a word, she affirmed,

"A Chicago man's gotta have his Chicago food."

I tearfully embraced my wife.

I miss home...

Go Rabbitohs!!!

Mon, 05 May 2008 10:05:12 GMT

The breakthrough has occurred....

The victory has been recorded....

The onslaught is about to begin!!!!

WATCH OUT SYDNEY......

The BUNNIES are BACK!!!

Manningficent!

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 05:33:51 GMT

Most definitely one of the best Super Bowls ever in our lifetime! The NY defense was stellar! They rendered the New England offense completely impotent. The winning drive to capture the championship - Manningficent!

I love what ESPN.com wrote on their front page:

"All season, the talk around the NFL was about whether the Patriots were the greatest team of all time. Turns out they weren't even the best team Sunday."

When people talk about the greatest teams of all time, there are few that come to mind. One in particular is the 1985 Chicago Bears. To me, they are the greatest in my lifetime, if not, of all time. Personally, it was disturbing that the NE Pats could have easily been a candidate to achieve this honor bar none. So how glad was I to see this great offensive juggernaut completely crumble when it counted. They can now NEVER even be included in a conversation of the greatests, simply 'cause they couldn't win the big one.

GO BEARS!!!

Stumped, Part II

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:23:54 GMT

Now that the test matches are over......I feel empty.

It's pretty amazing now that I think about it. I mean, who would have ever thought that this American would fall head-over-heels in love with Cricket? But I have! And not just any kind of cricket - test cricket. I tell you, there is no other sport like it in this world. And to top it all off, my wife has become a huge fan as well!

There's the 20/20 tomorrow with India, but it's just not the same. So I guess we'll just have to wait for the tri-nations with India and Sri Lanka!

STUMPED!!!

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 03:07:05 GMT

How does anyone get any work done when there is so much great Cricket on TV? Go Aussies!