1.5 months to go

I just realized something scary. There are only a few weeks left in 2010. My blog name will be obsolete! So I'll have to think up of a new name for it soon.

"So Mark, what have you been up to these past days?" you may be wondering. A lot actually. And it's been a fun and busy 2 weeks so far.

First, I'd just like to mention what a blast it is to be participating in my church's choir. I'm not that good, but the rest of the singers are amazing! In fact, I enjoy singing so much, I even joined the Christmas choir! I am way WAAAY below their level. I'm just in for the ride, and I just wanna be around them to improve my singing.

I'm gonna head back to Canada and hang with my buddies for New Years'! I still haven't booked a flight yet. Better get on that pronto.

Lemme get on with the show. How is my progress report?

Calorie count. I've behaved these past 15 days and only ate about 27,880 Calories, or 1858 Calories per day. Which is where I want to be each day. I wonder what the total is for the year? Oh well I'll calculate that later.

My pastor mentor gave me a new book to read called, "The Gospel According to Rome" which compares the Catholic teachings to Biblical teachings. Fairly interesting stuff.

What about my Facebook game?? Damn, this is cutting it close. I think I just want to make a Hello World type of program on Flash by the end of the year, and then start fresh in 2011. I'll have to talk to my friend about it.

Anyhoo, I'm almost done the OT. Just need to finish up on the minor prophets, then I'll be reading the NT! Actually I've read a few books in it already (couldn't wait). Never has the Bible felt so alive. There are some really interesting insights that book offers.

And I guess that's it. I'll have to think about a lot of stuff for the rest of the year. Stuff like what to do with this blog, the Facebook game, where my career should be heading and all that jazz. But that's for next year. Until the end of the month/beginning of December, cya!

Alright, I've delayed long enough. Here is my October wrap up!

I can't say much has happened in those last 16 days. Well there was Halloween. It's the definitely one of my most fun times I had. I had a blast just making pumpkin carvings and dispensing treats. In total, I'd say about 80 kids came to my house to ask for candy. We just had enough.

Oh and pictured below is one of my pumpkin carvings. Took all of my soul to carve this thing!

I'll talk about happenings in November next update. But for now, let me run through my progress report:

My language development goals are pretty much stagnant. I haven't picked up any new words or phrases in Ilokano, nor have I been trying to use new phrases in Tagalog. I've been pretty awful at this.

To make up for that, I have been cooking more Filipino food! Pictured below is Dinoguan (dee-no-goo-an), aka "Blood pudding". It's definitely an acquired taste. It's one of my favorite meals!

Speaking of food, I haven't been doing too well on my Caloric intake these past 16 days. I've consumed about 32,950 Calories or 2059 Calories per day. Ouch. That was a bad month for me. This month may not be good either cuz of Thanksgiving and all. Gotta try to watch how much I eat even more now.

Now from food to hobbies. My ballroom dancing, I think, is finished. Last month and even this month has been repeats of what I've already done. As long as this keeps up, there's no more incentive to go to ballroom dancing anymore. But hey, I enjoyed myself for these past 9 months though!

Games. Well not much spent at all in games all year. Which is really surprising. The only new games I've bought are Civilization 5 ($50), Battlefield: Bad Company 2 ($30) and Minecraft ($15), which totals to $ 95. That brings my total up to $295 (out of $480) for the year.

What about my Facebook game? Well I'm having problems with it. I'm still trying to figure out an algorithm to account for movement. Also trying to set up my developer environment for Flash. Neither are working for me right now, so I'm taking a little break from them.

Books. Ah my newest hobby. I hated reading. Now I don't hate it as much. I've been reading all kinds of books. mostly C.S.Lewis ones. Just finished Screwtape Letters and it was a very entertaining and informative read! Onto G.K.Chesterton's Orthodoxy.

Music. I've been learning a new Alicia Keys song called Empire State of Mind (part 2). But my guitar's still in its case. I want to play it, but the piano's draw is too strong right now.

Pet Training. Charlie now knows how to sit, shake, lie down, and rollover. I want to teach him a new trick "play dead" but I'm not sure how I'd even approach this. Suggestions?

Bible Reading. Well, what can I say? I'm liking what I read. The more I read, the more Christianity makes sense. I'm on the book of Jonah now. I'm also reading some of the New Testament Gospels and Epistles too.

Volunteer. Mwahahaha. I've joined my local church's choir. Yes I sing (not well). And it is fun!

So that's that folks. Not much else I can write. It's definitely been an interesting October. It is my month after all. october 16th is my day. Always is, was, and is to come. Thanksgiving I'm looking forward to you. Chow.