21-Year-Old American Soldier Witnessed Best Friend Die of Land Mine Explosion

I was reading an article at 24 Hour Fitness about a young soldier who had recently spent time in Iraq and was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

He had witnessed his best friend die from a land mine explosion. And was face-to-face with the lifeless body of a 12-year-old girl — the result of a raid by certain members of his unit on a village of children, women and elderly Iraqis. There's a pending investigation on the suspected culprits.

After I read the first few paragraphs of the article I began thinking about how sobering it must be to experience such harrowing incidents. I don't think I'd ever be able to laugh the same way or enjoy the company of friends or continue to live life as I had before.

I'm 28 Now

St. Louis Rams star Marshall Faulk has played 12 seasons in the NFL. He has won a Super Bowl and made seven Pro Bowl appearances.

I turned 28 two days ago.

Some things I'm learning about myself:

1) I'm drawn to humble and gentle types.

2) I like eating baked beans mixed with corn. It's an easy-to-cook meal (lots of fiber, too).

3) I prefer quiet (at work and in my living environment).

4) The Rainbow Sandals I bought were a wise investment. I'm still wearing the same pair I bought five years ago (I was a fifth year senior). They remain in good condition.

5) I'm my own worst enemy. The way I conduct myself in situations, for the most part, either has a positive, life-giving effect on me or results in me feeling unpleasant or empty. I'm trying to do more of the former.

6) I like driving my '99 Honda Civic.

7) I love L.A. — the self-segregated racial diversity, the urban sprawl, the pizza places and burger joints, the Mann Chinese Theatre, Huntington Beach, the libraries. I know it has its drawbacks (e.g. traffic jams). But I don't mind.

8) I prefer to be around Asian Americans when it comes to church and community group. I checked out a church once in which there were a lot of non-Asians — not my thing.

Note: My men's group is filled with different races (i.e. Chinese American, white, Mexican-american, black, Korean American). I feel like this is where I really experience "church." We're really open with each other about our struggles. The people with character are held in high regard. Each person takes a turn speaking if he/she wishes to (cross talk isn't allowed). We call each other to see how the other is doing. The group is centered around ideas such as the first step to transformation is the admission of powerlessness, and turning our will over to the care of God to experience a new, better life.

I feel a closeness with them I don't really have with most other people. It just validates a message I heard a pastor give once about how people can't connect with a person through his accomplishments and strengths, but through his weaknesses.

Other things I'm learning:

1) I like to run.

2) I like to read.

3) Costco hot dogs are the best I ever had. Hands down.

I Got a Job at Yahoo! as a Listing Editor

Fortune Magazine named Yahoo! one of the top 100 companies to work for in 2006.

I got the call today from my job agent at Ajilon.

I start May 17th (my birthday).

I guess all the preparation I did for the interview paid off. My job agent gave me a booklet on how to ace interviews and I studied that for about a week.

I will no longer receive government checks.

Yahoo's office is located in Pasadena, but they will be moving to their own building (they share one now with Kaiser Permanente and another company) in Burbank in June.