Brett Favre broke my spirits last week, but I've recovered (courtesy of the Rams).

I don't think we should use sports teams as a basis for hope, but the 49ers are looking better this season. Either that or it was the fact that the Giants unraveled late in their season, which made me turn to another Bay Area team to root for.

I hate that I have to see promise in order to put my faith in something. When the 49ers were ugly in the past few seasons, I really didn't want to watch. I'm a fair weather fan, I admit it. I'm faithful if only the win column is greater than the loss column. I guess this is what prevents me from being a diehard fan.

Being exposed to more of the crazy in this past day has got me thinking of how people respond when their crazy is highlighted. There is outright denial, and arrogance that boasts "that's not me." There is anger and blame. There are also feelings of shame. And sometimes, we fully indulge what we believe there is no fix for.

It's interesting to watch how people respond when the light of scrutiny comes on. I would think the disturbing reaction this provokes would send us on our knees, seeking higher help.

To those who have acknowledged this help - we must live knowing we have been saved from ourselves. I desperately need this reminder.

I finally made good on my promise to go see the AAU women's volleyball team play tonight. They're not bad for an art school. I came in with skewed expectations, though. There was a lot of hype about how good they were, and tonight I thought they played kind of sloppy (but managed the win). Also of interest was our cheer team, which literally chanted their way for two hours to an unresponsive audience. Go Urban Nights!

Sidenote - I was wondering why we call ourselves the "Urban" Knights? I think "Knights" sounds catchier to me. I guess we could be worse - like a banana slug or anteater (don't hate me!).

I know why I'm an urbanite, though. This past weekend it was a bunch of us city kids hiking what was labeled a "moderate" hike. We managed to weather a bee sting, bouts of hunger, 90+ degree weather, a 500 foot incline, and a successful crawfish capture (with my empty dried mango bag). I love nature and the outdoors, but crave the big city. Someone puhleese tell me this makes me one step closer to ghetto...

Everyone is one shade away from crazy. This is the phrase I have adopted this week. It's not because I had a week full of crazies (which does happen), but rather a particular observation of humankind if left to our own devices. If you don't believe me, work in retail. Craziness shows no favorites. Also, try traveling or planning a wedding with someone. Lots of potential for the crazy.

Knowing the potential for crazy in me helps me to identify with a similar finding of badness (Ro 7:24). It is crucial in this confrontation with badness (or crazy which I have called it) that we seek a proper solution. There is rescue from ourselves! This is the part where we say "Thank God" and truly mean it.

So in order to get to know the new 'hood, I decided that I need to start frequenting the businesses around here more. Today I made a big stab at this by going to three new places I haven't been to yet. Reviews are below!

Mocha 101: I usually like to make my satellite office at Java Beach on my WFH days, but today I remembered that I wanted to check out Mocha 101, which opened not too long ago. I walked in, and was a bit startled to be greeted by an Asian male around my age. I must have looked like a measly college student with my laptop bag because after I ordered he asked, "Can I see your I.D.?" He quickly followed with a "just kidding," and a short comment about being carded at 7-11 the other day. All the while I'm puzzled as to whether he's just a typical awkward Asian male who can't start a conversation or just really lame (I didn't crack or seem amused). The rest of my time was mostly uneventful. I discovered a few ants on the counter that I was sitting at, but it was quiet and I got my papers graded.

Ninki: Another new opening - one more Japanese restaurant in the Sunset opened by Chinese people. The bento lunch box was a good deal ($7.99), but the green tea was bitter. How do you get green tea wrong? The plus side: Miso soup comes right when the tea is served.

Trolley Caffe: I really like the concept of this cafe. The facade looks like the outside of a trolley - how cool is that? Yelp reviews say the sandwiches are good, but service was majorly lacking (along with napkins and adequate lighting). I softened a bit when "It is Well" started playing randomly over the speakers. MC and JJ can add their thoughts since they also came with.

Next on the list? I really wanted to take dance lessons nearby, but I think that will have to wait...

Back some 10 years ago I took this personality test that determined you to be one of four animals - lion, golden retriever, otter, and beaver. I came out as a lion/golden retriever, which was a sort of odd combination since it meant that I was both dominant yet compassionate? I didn't register as a beaver (the organized type), but a friend who traveled with me for six weeks that summer questioned, "You sure you aren't a beaver?" Apparently I was quite orderly for those weeks living out of a suitcase in a crammed room with bunkbeds.

I've embraced the inner beaver in me - though I'm not sure how my love for organized things came about. Today I worked my magic with someone's desktop files at work, and it was life-changing for the other person (so I'd like to think). Sometimes I'm organized to a fault, to which I expect everyone around to be precisely like me. This is why I need to be given things that are messy because in the end, I have to realize I'm not the one to put everything back into order.

I would like to get to know my new neighborhood more. It's been about 2 months since changing addresses, and though I feel "at home," I still have more to get to know about my surroundings. More than just the fact that dog owners need to pick up their dog poop.

I have noticed that my commutes are a lot more Chinese-y. Lots of Chinese grandmas taking the L-train. There was one Friday that the Chinese grandmas were practically absent, and I kind of missed them.

Looking for ways to be more intentionally a part of my new 'hood. Suggestions?

Educator's night at the De Young! Admission was free for teachers. King Tut has made his way back into town after 30 years. We remarked how it all seemed a little Indiana Jones-like at the entry (one of my favorite rides at Disneyland). I loved how the doors flew open automatically after the short 90 second video introduction. I let out a loud "Whoa!" and the museum staff person inside chuckled. "I'm easily impressed," I explained. He laughed again.

My excitement was equally sustained by the contents of the exhibit. Fascinating. One man buried with all this stuff - apparently he didn't subscribe to the "you can't take it all with you." It gets left to museum goers like me to ooh and ahh over.

I put a bid on eBay for the first time today. I'm on the hunt for a bridesmaid dress, and apparently there's somebody out there looking for the same one (maybe I was bidding against a fellow bridesmaid!). I didn't want to take anything away from the birthday girl whose dinner I attended tonight, but I politely asked if I could use her internet since the bidding time was set to expire during the course of the evening. Coached by the others in the room, I logged in 10 minutes before the bidding time was up. My bid was not the highest. "Wait until the last 2 minutes," said alvonator. He also kept referring to my arch-bidder as "he," which made the whole thing ridiculous. The timer ticked down, and the host asked if we needed to turn on another light on to see. Suddenly it was a spectator sport. "Now? Do I bid now?" I asked frantically as it got to 2 minutes and change. I can't even remember the exact next chain of events as I furiously bid and rebid to get to the highest. Everyone was shouting something, and all I remember was alvonator yelling, "Dude, put your plate down!" (I was holding it with my other hand because I hadn't finished my pad thai). But it was too late. The bid expired before I could get another bid in. I was crushed after all that rush of adrenaline with everyone hovering behind me and shouting and not to win in the end.

"You have lice in your hair," my sister remarked at the end. I learned someone (dshung) was eating during the whole frenzy with his plate over my head. Sigh.

It has been hard to detect my moods as of late. Sometimes I'm feeling great, and totally invigorated. At other moments I'm defeated and hard on myself. Sometimes I wish for some sort of consistency - none of this feeling great in one moment and miserable the next.

I've discovered a fix. And it involves going against the grain of retreating to myself. It is in community with others, and specifically, in like minded community that I find respite. Yes, I can give thanks that He is good, but when we're together and doing it, it makes a positive statement of our condition - broken, yet redeemed. Lost, but now saved.

My Sunday started exactly the way I needed it to.