Ah, now I understand the exuberance of finishing a day's work and walking out into a beautiful, blue-sky summer day. =) I'm getting increasingly fonder of my job and my own little table with its computer, neatly arranged stationary, and roll-y (is this the right term?) chair!

On a hot summer's day like this, all I want to do is curl up on the sofa with juicy watermelon slices and a good book. It's too warm to do much-- my skin feels baked just standing a few minutes under the sun. Today I grew uncomfortably warm just walking from campus to the BART station. But then again, I truly enjoy walking, especially when people are engaged in interesting conversations nearby! At noon, I was so fascinated by the conversation two girls we were having behind me that I slowed my pace and was actually mildly disappointed when our paths diverged. I absolutely love it when I overhear people discussing mathematical theorems or philosophy or the environment or politics!

Anyway, dinner (and my stomach) calls!

More later!

Follow your dreams
Be yourself, an angel of kindness
There's nothing that you cannot do
I believe, I believe, I believe in you.

- I Believe in You (Je Crois En Toi)

Such a beautiful song, especially this verse. =) I truly believe that every human has an "angel of kindness" within him! Although from a religious perspective mankind has fallen, some core of goodness remains deep in our consciousness, making us thirst for truth and beauty and purity in the world surrounding us, inspiring us to grow ever stronger, ever kinder, ever more loving. And beauty can be found everywhere, even in the most unexpected places and ordinary objects -- dusk-blue shadows flitting across concrete, a fallen rose petal, the rosy sheen of a ripe apple.

Yesterday, at Costco, my heart was warmed when I saw a father gently petting his daughter's curly hair and telling her, "I love you". Funny how powerful those three simple words are, resonating across millions of everyday lives with the same intensity today as they did ages ago when our ancestors first developed language. And isn't it wonderful how that one simple phrase can encapsulate a mother's undying devotion to her child, a couple's passion and commitment to one another, a man's unspoken affection for his brother?