Sunday (17th) -

So I was trying to reformat my computer and install XP Professional replacing my XP Media Center. I just followed the normal steps that you would do for installing Windows. When I put in the product keys though, it said the key was invalid.

"What the crap!? " That was my reaction. I got that out of the box. The darn blue XP box. Not to mention that I got that box by participating in the Microsoft PlayTest. So there was absolutely no way that this box is not a legitimate copy! So I called up Microsoft. (yes... I used Microsoft Support Line .... *sigh*)

I got through (after like... 4 tries) and got a new product key, which still has the same message. "Invalid Product Key" it says. So the person who I was speaking with, he was from Philippine, had to transfer my call to another expert. When this expert picked up the call, I had such a difficult time understanding him, but since usually this kind of phone call would cost money, I didn't complain.

After couple of minutes, I found out that he was from India. He offered me that he would stay on the line with me until I finish the process. By process, he meant that he will stay on the line with me until my computer is up and running with XP Professional. I was surprised, but I guess that works. I told him that he didn't have to, but I guess he didn't have anything to do anyway.

Through out the conversation, it was very funny. I learned so much about him, his name, his college/universities, his education background, his hometown, his country, his country's education system, his country's higher education system, his culture ... etc. Even the average age of marriage in India. The funny thing is that, I'm Thai and he's Indian, we both have a horrific name for people to pronounce. We both couldn't pronounce each other's names either ....

Anyway, I guess it was funny that I had that effect on people that I could just sit with random people and talk to them and find out so much about them. I guess I felt like I opened him up to talk about himself and let him feel OK to ask about me. Although it was a pain to find out why my product key didn't work, it was worth it. Thank you God

*the reason it gave me that message was because when you install any of the Microsoft's product and it's backward, it will not let you just install it. You have to uninstall (in this case, format) what you have previously*

Today (21st) -

So I have been sleeping a lot lately. I guess I was still catching up with the sleep that I have lost through my college days. I remember the quarter that I averaged 2-4 hours a day. Competing with Chau who has less sleep (freakishly, Chau won). So the past couple of days, I have been sleeping about 6 hours + a day, which is very amazing for me.

Last night, I decided to go to sleep at 10:30PM, since I have to get up at 6AM. I figured I'll lay in bed for an hour or two before really falling asleep (it's a normal routine for me) and wake up around 6AM. Bam! that's a beautiful day! Sadly, that didn't happen.

I ended up going to sleep at 10:30PM, falling asleep around 11:30PM (which is a very good deal for me), however (!), I didn't wake up at 6AM. I woke up at ... frigging 2AM! My brother made one LITTLE noise, and I was wide awake....

I stayed up from 2:30AM playing games until 4:30 and then I went to eat and watched Invincible....

*sigh* today is going to be a long day.

I think they're now called Department of Homeland Security.

Well, I guess I didn't mention this to a lot of people. Mainly because I'm in a larger small group this quarter and we don't have much time to share.

I'm having an interview with the immigration this Tuesday (the 8th) about my family asylum status. I'm sure that we'll get it, unless some strange situations will happen, which I'm sure nothing will.

However, I was just wondering if you guys can pray for me and my family about that. Thank you guys :)