Closing Time ...
posted by jeyadev at 5:21 PM
0 comments
Friday, February 24, 2006
Thursday, February 23, 2006
The inner man
Credit to blackkni8 for the story.
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling theschool and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: "When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?" The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued. "I believe, that when a child like Shay comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes, in the way other people treat that child." Then he told the following story: Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging. Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and, getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we’ll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the outfield. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible 'cause Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least able to make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher took the ball and turned and threw the ball on a high arc to right field, far beyond the reach of the first baseman.
Everyone started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never in his life had Shay ever made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" By the time Shay rounded first base, the right fielder had the ball. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions and intentionally threw theball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward second base as the runners ahead of him deliriously circled the bases toward home. Shay reached second base, the opposing shortstop ran to him, turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third!" As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams were screaming, "Shay, run home!" Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the "grand slam" and won the game for his team.
"That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world."
Credit to blackkni8 for the story.
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling theschool and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: "When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?" The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued. "I believe, that when a child like Shay comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes, in the way other people treat that child." Then he told the following story: Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging. Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and, getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we’ll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the outfield. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible 'cause Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least able to make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher took the ball and turned and threw the ball on a high arc to right field, far beyond the reach of the first baseman.
Everyone started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never in his life had Shay ever made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" By the time Shay rounded first base, the right fielder had the ball. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions and intentionally threw theball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward second base as the runners ahead of him deliriously circled the bases toward home. Shay reached second base, the opposing shortstop ran to him, turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third!" As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams were screaming, "Shay, run home!" Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the "grand slam" and won the game for his team.
"That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world."
Credit to blackkni8 for the story.
posted by jeyadev at 5:34 PM
0 comments
Jeyadev Combined Update (all CPUs)
Jeyadev's update... yes, I know its been nearly 3 months...
lets see, I'm going to try for a chronological update.
December 2005
December was mostly boooring... mainly because I played Grand Theft Auto : San Andreas almost 16 hours a day. Yea, I would wake up, eat, play GTA:SA, eat, play, eat, play, sleep. For almost 3 weeks straight :(
I was just waiting for the end of the month for Christmas! Also, for my last appointment with my doctor, mainly to be certified ready to drive again! Yes, on the 28th Dec 2005, the panther returned to terrorize KL drivers.
Yes, after a very quiet Christmas, no tree even, I was allowed to return to PJ.
Also, my dad surprised me by asking if I'd like a car! whoa... that was like asking if the sky is blue... so its official, I now have my own 4 wheels. Desmo is probably gonna take me off his 'Brothers' list now :(
Its a 1987 Proton Saga, 1.3 automatic with power steering. Its truly a blessing, the car is in very good shape... Thanks to Uncle Cheah for getting it for me.
Also, at the end of December, I moved to a new place in Bandar Utama.
Thanks to the Lau family for opening their home to me.
January 2006
First month back! First month with own car! ... Now I understand why PJ people don't like driving in the traffic jams ... and parking! the horror of 1Utama parking is now clear to me. Thanks to Reuben driving me to work and back, its not too bad.
College people have been kinda wierd... the accounts exec doesn't seem to understand that I was in hospital for 2 months and at home recovering for 2 months, which is why my payment is backdated till August 2005. But a little help from my programme director and a copy of all my MCs from August till Dec 2005 seems to have smoothed everything out.
I've signed up for 4 subjects, System Engineering & Design, Visual Basic.NET, Data Systems and Architecture and Data Communication & Networks (SED, VB, DSA & DCN).
The first two are fine... DSA has been postponed to next semester. DCN may be postponed, because there's only 3 of us in the class.
Church... was interesting. Quite a few people mentioned that they missed me, and here I thought I was invisible without my Traffic Marshal vest. Even people I still don't know, said hi and how are you. Pleasantly suprised.
CG ... seems wierd somehow... maybe because I've been away so much, I am out of touch. I really don't like being out of touch. I pray that as time goes on, this wierd feeling will go away.
Stay tuned for February's updates tomorrow.
lets see, I'm going to try for a chronological update.
December 2005
December was mostly boooring... mainly because I played Grand Theft Auto : San Andreas almost 16 hours a day. Yea, I would wake up, eat, play GTA:SA, eat, play, eat, play, sleep. For almost 3 weeks straight :(
I was just waiting for the end of the month for Christmas! Also, for my last appointment with my doctor, mainly to be certified ready to drive again! Yes, on the 28th Dec 2005, the panther returned to terrorize KL drivers.
Yes, after a very quiet Christmas, no tree even, I was allowed to return to PJ.
Also, my dad surprised me by asking if I'd like a car! whoa... that was like asking if the sky is blue... so its official, I now have my own 4 wheels. Desmo is probably gonna take me off his 'Brothers' list now :(
Its a 1987 Proton Saga, 1.3 automatic with power steering. Its truly a blessing, the car is in very good shape... Thanks to Uncle Cheah for getting it for me.
Also, at the end of December, I moved to a new place in Bandar Utama.
Thanks to the Lau family for opening their home to me.
January 2006
First month back! First month with own car! ... Now I understand why PJ people don't like driving in the traffic jams ... and parking! the horror of 1Utama parking is now clear to me. Thanks to Reuben driving me to work and back, its not too bad.
College people have been kinda wierd... the accounts exec doesn't seem to understand that I was in hospital for 2 months and at home recovering for 2 months, which is why my payment is backdated till August 2005. But a little help from my programme director and a copy of all my MCs from August till Dec 2005 seems to have smoothed everything out.
I've signed up for 4 subjects, System Engineering & Design, Visual Basic.NET, Data Systems and Architecture and Data Communication & Networks (SED, VB, DSA & DCN).
The first two are fine... DSA has been postponed to next semester. DCN may be postponed, because there's only 3 of us in the class.
Church... was interesting. Quite a few people mentioned that they missed me, and here I thought I was invisible without my Traffic Marshal vest. Even people I still don't know, said hi and how are you. Pleasantly suprised.
CG ... seems wierd somehow... maybe because I've been away so much, I am out of touch. I really don't like being out of touch. I pray that as time goes on, this wierd feeling will go away.
Stay tuned for February's updates tomorrow.
posted by jeyadev at 4:50 PM
0 comments
