1.  Boyz II Men

2. Brian McKnight

3. KC and JoJo

4. Jodeci

5. Donnell Jones

6. Babyface

7. Montell Jordan

8. Joe

9. Musiq Soulchild

10. Usher

The event today was a Rock Band 2 Competition. Four representatives from each of the four floors were to compete to see which had the ultimate band. I got there early and set up the drums, the guitars, and the other equipment just fine. However, there was a technical meltdown when the drums didn’t work halfway through the first song. I hadn’t thought of a backup plan! Fortunately, I was able to find someone who had Guitar Hero with a drum set. This worked out fine luckily for me. The only negative thing was that Guitar Hero’s drum layout is slightly different than Rock Band’s but no one complained.

The lesson I learned from this was to always have a backup plan. I learned to never go into an event thinking everything will be smooth sailing. Instead, I need to think about all the possibilities of things that can go wrong and prevent them as much as possible. In the real world, if you don’t have a backup plan you might as well pack up your bags. I’m glad I learned this valuable lesson now and glad everything worked out today.

1. Buster’s Southern BBQ & Bakery, Calistoga

This is one of my favorite places to go for delicious tri-tip BBQ. The meat is cooked perfectly and the homemade BBQ sauce is just right. You can choose from many side dishes like baked beans, corn bread, or a macaroni salad. One of my favorite things to order from Busters is their tri-tip sandwich, which comes with garlic toast that has just the right amount of garlic butter. The price is more than reasonable and the portions are exceptional. Their website is http://www.busterssouthernbbq.com/

2. Giugni’s, St. Helena

If you’re looking for a good deli sandwich look no further because Giugni’s will hook you up! Amazing sandwiches and a variety of meats and cheeses to choose from not to mention their secret Giugni’s sauce that kills the competition. Giugni’s is located on Main Street in St. Helena. Sandwich prices are about average but you get more taste for the buck.

3. Villa Corona, St. Helena

Aright guys, this place has great tasting burritos if you’re ever in the mood for Mexican. I usually get the carne asada or the grilled chicken burritos whenever I go, but their whole menu is pretty good. They have great service and quality mexican food that would make Pancho Villa fall off his horse. Villa Corona is located on Main Street St. Helena. The price is a bit higher than normal burrito places but the serving sizes are big enough that you end up getting your money’s worth. Their website is http://www.villacoronamex.com/

4. Big D’s, Napa

For a tasty burger or good fish-n-chips, try Big D’s located on Silverado Trail in Napa. They have some of the simplest yet most delicious burgers and fish-n-chips. One of the things I like about Big D’s is that it has a very simple menu and a large variety of smoothies and milkshakes. I’m not just talking about a few flavors of milkshakes, Big D’s has quite a number of flavors. The service is very friendly and the prices are very good.

5. Rutherford Grill, Rutherford

This is a pretty fancy restaurant that doesn’t take all of your money. When I think of Rutherford Grill I immediately think of their rotisserie chicken and mashed potatoes. However, they have a good menu with other likable grill foods such as burgers, steak, fish, and choice sandwiches. The prices might be a little high but the food is good and the service and atmosphere is enjoyable. Their website is http://www.hillstone.com/#/restaurants/rutherfordGrill/

6. Pizzeria Tra Vigne, St. Helena

This is a very nice Italian restaurant fit for a large family or maybe just a simple date. Whatever the occasion, Pizzeria Tra Vigne has a simple menu and lots of flavor in their food. From gourmet pizza or piadines to pastas and soups, Pizzeria Tra Vigne makes your dining experience enjoyable. I recommend the garlic roles and if you haven’t tried a piadine before now is your chance. Their website is http://www.travignerestaurant.com/pizzaria.htm/

7. Boskos Trattoria, Calistoga

Boskos is a traditional Italian restaurant that has delicious pastas and calzones. Boskos has a lovely atmosphere and provides a good meal and service. I usually order their Fettuccini Alfredo and tiramisu for dessert. Their website is http://www.boskos.com/

8. Taylor’s Refresher, St. Helena

For a great burger, fries, and a milkshake come to Taylor’s. The burgers are beyond delicious and their milkshakes aren’t made with that fake stuff, only pure ice-cream. One con however is their food is priced toward the high end. But if you haven’t tried Taylor’s yet I recommend you give them a try. Their website is http://www.taylorsautomaticrefresher.com/

9. Golden Harvest, St. Helena

If you’re in the Napa Valley and you happen to be in the mood for some good Chinese food then you gotta try Golden Harvest. The service is friendly and the food is fresh. Whenever I go I order their orange chicken and mongolian beef and sometimes the chow fun noodles or chow mein. The prices are very good for the portions. Their website is http://www.goldenharvestrestaurant.com/page/page/5000400.htm/

10. Big Dipper, St. Helena

Yes, the Big Dipper isn’t an actual restaurant but an old-fashioned ice-cream and candy store. But, I had to include this store in my top 10 list because I absolutely love it here. They have really good ice-cream and the service is always friendly and family-oriented. If you want, the owner will even take a picture of you and your family or friends and your picture will go up on the wall. Even though its an ice-cream shop, I think that the Big Dipper is worth my top 10 list.

1. Independence Day, 1996

This movie is my number one favorite for many reasons. First off, I was about 12 when this movie came out in theaters and I begged my dad to take me to go see it. Coming from a kid’s perspective, this movie rocked! I enjoyed the action, the small amounts of humor, and Will Smith as an actor. This is one of the movies I can watch over and over and never get tired of watching.

2. Anchorman: the Legend of Ron Burgundy, 2004

Will Ferrell is one of my favorite “funnymen” of all time. I can’t help but laugh constantly when watching his movies. I know many of you may get annoyed by his lame humor but I love it. This is a movie that you have to be with friends to really enjoy. I remember watching this my freshmen year of college with my roommates. We couldn’t stop laughing. Definitely a favorite comedy of mine.

3. Man On Fire, 2004

Denzel is just a very talented actor. The reason why I like this movie so much is that it impacts my life every-time I watch it. The movie might not be oscar worthy, but the story of a man giving up his own life to save a child makes me think of God and how He sacrificed His life for us. Man On Fire has a great story and fairly good acting and action.

4. Step Brothers, 2008

Just like Anchorman, I’m a sucker for Will Ferrell. I thought Step Brothers was hilarious and it always makes me in a better mood whenever I watch it. I didn’t care for the ending too much but the beginning was so funny I almost choked. Will Ferrell and John Reilly work really good together and compliment each other nicely as childish step brothers.

5. The Last Samurai, 2003

I am not particularly a Tom Cruise fan but I thought that The Last Samurai was very entertaining. I am always interested in Japanese culture being that I am a quarter Japanese and in love with their rich culture and history. The Last Samurai possessed something graceful and authentic to the Japanese culture. Though I know the movie is fictional, I think it captured their gracefulness pretty well.

6. Pursuit of Happyness, 2006

Having lived in San Francisco all my life and being surrounded with the homeless, I connected with this movie and thought that the movie taught everyone not to give up and work hard to fulfill your dreams of success no matter the circumstances. Will Smith is one of my favorite actors and I thought he fit well with this movie.

7. Marley and Me, 2008

I’m a big dog lover and having a lab really made this movie that much better. I thought this movie was suitable for any dog lover and because I have a lab of my own, I could really relate to the clumsiness of the animal. Also, the movie really represented the heartache of the loss of a dog. My only suggestion for this movie was that they should  have ended it with the family getting a new puppy.

8. The Dark Knight, 2008

The Dark Knight is hands down the best Batman movie ever made to date. Not only was it action packed and had great graphics but Heath Ledger made the best Joker anyone could ever ask for. Definitely my top super-hero movies of all time.

9. Gladiator, 2000

I thought the Gladiator was highly entertaining and I think Russell Crowe is a great actor in this movie. Roman war history movies are one of my favorite movie genres as long as they aren’t too cheesy. The Gladiator is an intelligent movie that captured my attention in the adventure and action scenes.

10. Braveheart, 1995

Braveheart is just outstanding. There are many reasons why this movie is so epic. First off, it had excellent battle scenes and a superior soundtrack! The acting was well done and I think that it touched a lot of people who saw it. I’m not a huge Mel Gibson fan but this movie and “The Patriot” were pretty good… “FREEEDOM!”

A few things I think Facebook does better:

1. Easier to keep track of friends and what they are up to
2. Easier to track birthdays, events, and the 411 on people
3. More interactive with status comments, pokes, and apps
4. Simpler format
5. More privacy
6. Better instant messaging feature
7. Less junk mail and strangers adding you
8. Less “emo”–seriously, if I wanted to hear an emo song on your page I’d download it
9. More personalized with fan clubs and groups
10. Where it lacks in profile customization, it makes up for in a clean, professional layout that lets you find things right away

I thought about the word success for a moment and I quickly began associating success with people like Bill Gates, Tiger Woods, President Barack Obama, and Oprah Winfrey. This got me thinking about what success really means to me because if success is something more than just money, then I want to achieve that too. So what do these people all have in common? I started to list their qualities and achievements. They all have money, that’s for sure. They are seen in all kinds of publications and mass media. They have gone from being nobodies to celebrities and role models. They know what they’re good at and keep doing it better. They are all smart. They don’t settle for average. They are powerful and influential. They show discipline in how they present themselves to the public. They know a lot of famous people… and the list goes on.

I also thought about happiness as a part of success. You often hear that money buys happiness. It definitely helps you enjoy the upscale things in life and financial freedom is always a form of stress relief. I sometimes think that if my parents earned a little more income that we would all be much happier. My parents could stop worrying about how to pay bills, we could afford to go on long vacations, and we could finally purchase a house. The flaw with this theory is that, with the more money one makes comes the ability to increase spending. Things often do not get better but worse financially with the more money one makes. I believe that careful budgeting and saving is a key to financial success.

An important factor to consider is how people will look back at your life when you are older. They will definitely evaluate your achievements and what you have left behind. I think that even more important is how you yourself will evaluate your life. The average American according to the CIA World Factbook lives to be 78 years old. This means that I have already lived a quarter of my life. What will I leave behind that other people will deem as successful. Will it be my money, my house, my expensive cars? Or, will it be something more deep such as, “Did I always try to do the best job I could?” “Have I made an impact on the world?” “Have I helped someone’s quality of life?” “Was I just, kind, generous, and loving to others?” When I am in my later years I want to look back at my life and smile because I have made a positive difference in the world.

Ralph Waldo Emerson has written a very powerful poem on what it means to be successful. He writes, “To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”

I think that we can all be successful. It doesn’t take an extraordinary personality, an IQ of 170, or a specific talent. We all have a gift. What separates successful people from others, I believe, is that successful people use their gifts. Jesus once told a parable of three servants who were given different amounts of money. On returning from his travels, the master asked his servants for an account of the money given to them. Two servants went out and doubled their money through wise investments. The third, however, dug a hole and buried the money given to him. When the master came back, he called for his servants. The two servants who had doubled their money were praised as “good and faithful servants,” whereas the one who had buried his money was called “wicked and lazy.” The money in this parable is said to represent our talents. We need to utilize the talents He has given us and not hide them from the world.

Some people may feel that to be successful is only acquired through a prestigious job that earns you big bucks. I would like to rephrase this common ideology and include that success comes in many different forms. It comes in wealth, in productivity, in chasing dreams, in virtuous traits such as honesty and integrity, in power and respect, and in how we treat others (just to name a few). I want to be known for something more than just an average Joe. I want to do my best in everything I do and follow my dream of doing something that impacts the world for the better. Finally, out of everything I do, I must always be true to myself and have abundant faith in God who wants me to be successful and blesses me when I strive to achieve good things. My prayer is that I do my best work no matter how small or unfavorable the job might be, and trust that the Lord bless me with everything I’ll ever need. This is true success to me.