~:[Day 365 + 1]:~ Just Hanging Loose

~:[Day 365 + 1]:~ Just Hanging Loose

Little Nala knows how to say it best ... as we move from 2012 to 2013, we should just remember to hang loose. The best of times in this past year were those times I hang out with my friends and family and just had a good time. The days I wandered for hours snapping pictures. The hours I spent touring various cities around the country such as New York, Atlanta, DC, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, San Francisco and more. The moments I found joy in my new nieces and nephews who showed me how to get down this evening to Gangnam Style (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sEZ1mHEIIs&feature=youtu.be) among many other dances. The theme of 2013 will be, just hang loose. We'll see how far that takes me, but thanks Nala for the great message. I'm hoping it will help make 2013 a great one. Happy New Year to you all and I hope that as you close out 2012, your 2013 will be much better. Tomorrow I begin my second chapter of my daily blog and hope that you enjoy what I have to offer. I will also be starting a new vblog in 2013. Keep an eye out for that!

POEM: On the First (At Last)

to all my friends and family, you make each new year wonderful and you all are where i start my new year off.

~:[Day 365]:~ Staying Warm

~:[Day 365]:~ Staying Warm

As I peered outside, the rain came down followed by some hail as I ran outside to get my picture and watch it come down. I love to watch rain fall and love hail and snow even more, as long as I don't have to walk in it (snow I am okay with). It was quite relaxing doing so and made my day feel fulfilled. Of course, the day must go on, as I finished cleaning up as much as would be done by New Year's Eve. I love New Year's Eve because of the wonderful traditional foods I get to eat, part of which I get to make. I finished my cleanup, did my loads of laundry, and am currently finishing up a few odds and ends before the night is over. They say that how you leave your room/place is how it will be the remainder of the year. Will that be the case here? After doing that, I saw a heartbreak of a loss for the Packers to the Vikings, grabbed a bite to eat at Sweetee Thai and Cha2o, then headed back to watch the Clippers win their 17th straight. The streak has been crazy and I know it will eventually end, but this has been something great to live through, an undefeated December! It said it was a December to remember and I would have to agree! Here's to a great December and 2012. It is my last "day" entry, as tomorrow is my final entry as my +1. It's been fun and I hope you've enjoyed reading throughout this year. I just wish I received more comments on my blog, as I have so many page views but only a few comments. Oh well, maybe next year :D

~:[Day 364]:~ The Battle for the Parking Spot

~:[Day 364]:~ The Battle for the Parking Spot

It's quite the strange daily picture for me, but it actually is the best representation of what went through my mind a few times this week as I searched for a parking spot. As I drove around looking for a spot, I thought it was similar to the search for a relationship. Many times, it's all about timing, as sometimes you get a spot when you least expect it as you just happen to be at the right place at the right time while at other times you observe and work to get that spot. Sometimes that spot will not accommodate you and sometimes there are special requirements. Once in awhile you'll get your spot stolen, you'll fight over a spot and if you don't back down, it could result in an accident with neither getting the spot. Regardless, as my endless search for this spot continued, I eventually came across an open spot. While it may not have been as fast as I had hoped, it eventually came with patience and persistence. I hope that my patience and persistence pays off in 2013, as I am a little tired of the search. While it is well worth it, I hope that a good spot just right for me reveals itself in 2013. Some help would be appreciated, haha .. jkjk. For now, I am fine parking in my own spot in the comforts of my own home, as tonight, I will sleep in the comforts of my own bed for the first time in a few days. Home sweet home :D

~:[Day 363]:~ It's the Alternative

~:[Day 363]:~ It's the Alternative

In-n-Out has never really been my thing, so every time we go there with my team, I find an alternative for dinner. Tonight, I walked over to the new H Mart they opened up in the plaza and grabbed a few things. Since everything they had was cold, I had to wait until I got to the hotel to eat, but in the end, it was delicious :) Unfortunately we found the alternative experience in the tournament as we found our way to our first loss today. We didn't play our game today, but they did play hard and kept fighting. Regardless, we will get to play in the 3rd place game tomorrow at 6:30pm. At least all was not lost, as the Clippers came back from the 19 point deficit to win in Utah. We also got some thrills on the day as we went to Belmont Park at Mission Beach where we walked around, enjoyed the sites, and grabbed a bite at the place formerly known as Roberto's. It was a good day, but definitely a long one. I will look forward to head home tomorrow to enjoy the comforts of my bed and to spend time with my dog :) 

~:[Day 362]:~ So Much to Enjoy

~:[Day 362]:~ So Much to Enjoy

We enjoyed a great dinner tonight at Buca di Beppo with the team after our 73-66 victory over a very good Del Norte team. When watching the team (Del Norte) play, I knew they would be a tough match as they had good ball handlers, a fairly tall team, with a few good shooters. However, our team came out aggressive and never let up and was able to pull away late in the game to earn a spot in the semifinals tomorrow at 6:30pm. We had a great day at the mall today and I was able to get a few things I needed to pick up and then after dinner, we caught a movie together as a team before heading back. It has been great to see the improvement in our team along with the improvement of the Clippers :) The Clipper game was just the icing on the cake :)

~:[Day 361]:~ Oh Canada

~:[Day 360]:~ Oh Canada

It was a great first day in San Diego with a few food no-nos that made the vacation great. A McRib, some fries and Hometown Buffet combined for a junk food collection that can be afforded for a day. However, the best part of the day was facing GP Vanier of Canada today. Before the game, the team presented our team with lanyards from Canada, which was a very cool gesture. We already had Justin Bieber stickers, so we had some fun with those and added them to each lanyard while we were bowling. In our game, we hit 13 of 23 three pointers and had a comfortable 28 point lead at half time and extended it to 44 by games end, by a final score of 77-33. We played well and it was a great way to start the tournament. (We play tomorrow at 5pm.) I bowled a decent first game opening with two strikes and a near turkey, but spared out most of the way. The second game, I bowled entirely between my legs (not granny style) and ended with a 134! In any case, while I will have some work to do while I am here, it will be nice to have some time to relax before a busy week back! 

~:[Day 360]:~ Like this Mug

~:[Day 359]:~ Like this Mug

Each day is like drinking from this mug. Sometimes what we drink will taste perfectly good and sweet, other times, bitter, sometimes to hot, sometimes to cold, and so on. However, no matter what, the fact that we get to drink from this mug every day reminds us of how lucky we are to continue to live each day, no matter how the contents of the mug taste. The art of giving on Christmas and other day of the year is what makes the contents of that mug change for the better and not always in the materialistic sense. I hope that I have been able to refill your mug at least once in your life with something that you have truly and enjoyed, as you each have given me something that is perfect good and sweet. There has been no greater joy than to see someone who needs that refill and to have the resources to help them out and on this day I hope that your mugs continuously are filled with a variety of things perfectly good and sweet.

~:[Day 359]:~ The Most Precious Moments

~:[Day 358]:~ The Most Precious Moments

It's rare to share these kinds of moments with so many people that you love, however, I have been blessed to do so this holiday. While this was only the family portion of the picture, I was glad that we were able to gather everyone before anyone left to take this photo. Our family is much larger than this, but even assembling a special group of this many people and having a night to remember are the precious moments you carry with you for the rest of your life. Having a moment like this makes you rest easy, because closing your eyes at night you realize that you had this type of moment with a group so special. I don't know why I am so blessed, but I am thankful each and every day for the wonderful friends and family I have come into my life; people such as yourselves. Thank you very much for all that you do and I wish you a wonderful holiday season!

~:[Day 358]:~ Holiday Spirit in the Air

~:[Day 357]:~ Holiday Spirit in the Air

As the rush to clean continues, I can feel the holiday spirit in the air. Today, I signed most of my letters for my relatives and a few of my friends, and I pieced together everything I needed for tomorrow. I also opened up all the wonderful cards and extras from my wonderful students who were so kind and generous. I believe I have saved every letter I have received from my students and I cherish each and everyone of them. I also got a lot of baked goods and things and while I do not normally eat sweets, I try to at least taste each of the things I am given. Tomorrow will be a long day and soon I will be cooking up a storm in preparation for Christmas Eve dinner. Along with the chow mein I will bring from 88 King, I will also be cooking my holiday special, chicken saltado. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and I wish you and your family the very best!

~:[Day 357]:~ Get in My Belly

~:[Day 356]:~ Get in My Belly

As my 365+1 project is coming to an end, I find myself posting another picture of Korean BBQ, as I stray away from the modified eating plan I was doing so well on. Heading to Gen, I thought I could limit the amount I would eat, as I did a bit. However, that combined with my milk tea earlier, killed my stomach, so much that I did not eat at our basketball coaches' gift exchange. As always, the gift exchange was fun, except for the fact that I have to sport Laker's swag on Monday. I don't think I have wore any Laker clothing in my lifetime. I want to cry. At least when I cry, my stomach will be happy, as Gen was delicious and worth every single bite.

~:[Day 356]:~ New Beginnings

~:[Day 355]:~ New Beginnings

As we look past this day of supposed reckoning, we move forward knowing that we have a new beginning ahead of us. A chance to alter the way we live and change ourselves for the better. Today was such a revitalizing day after a long first part of the year as our team headed to the Staples Center to play against Downey. We did our check in and headed to the floor, which was so amazing. We sat on the same bench as the Clippers and played on the same floor with the NBA threes and the longer court. It took a bit of an adjustment, but the kids relaxed and started to play a lot better. Regardless, they got a chance at something they may never get to again! The wait in between was long, but we found a way to burn some time eating at Lawry's Carvery and playing at ESPN Zone. The Clippers extended their streak to 12 games in a row and am glad to see them headed in the right direction, however, they do have a tough stretch of games coming up and hopefully they can keep the momentum going. It's a long season, but the Clippers put themselves about 23 games out of a playoff spot (approximately based  on a projected 42/43 games for the eight seed). Anything can happen, but I do like what I see. End of the world? Not that we saw, but that doesn't mean we can't still seize the day and make the most out of our lives. Love those around you like never before and live like there's no tomorrow.

~:[Day 355]:~ Let's Be Jolly

 

~:[Day 354]:~ Let's Be Jolly

Today was the last day of our school YEAR (2012) and as such, I wore my most festive clothes, as I wore my red vest and goofy Santa hat. Jepsen photo bomed me in the corner! It was quite the hectic day, but in the end, it always ends up being one of the most fun. I always make sure I have some assignment where they get to relax on this last day, as giving a test would be brutal. After school, I headed towards TapEx and ran into Kethia who has ignored me for quite some time and it was nice seeing here there ~ so many memories there ... haha. At least I was nice this time. I then caught the OKC game, as I continued to clean for the holidays and headed to TNTs to eat some homemade pho. It was delicious. We headed to tastetea before I had to head out to Chason's to help Adam out with his head shot project. It was nice catching up with all the people at Chanson's and I am hoping that Janie will do Ragnar! I finished the night doing some travel agent business as I wrapped up two more trips.

~:[Day 354]:~ Diplomatic Days

~:[Day 353]:~ Diplomatic Days

It would be that on my last NIGHT before the break I was busy working with MUN. It was quite the hectic day with our morning faculty breakfast, our emergency drill and giving out tests all day, which means I will be grading most of break. However, in the end, I closed out the day in the MUN room and I wouldn't have it any other way. The Clippers extended their winning streak to 11 and while they've had a light schedule as of late, they have been impressive. While I had more planned for the evening, I was so exhausted that I passed out on the floor, only to wake up to walk to my bed. Of course, the highlight of my day? We were able to pull off a perfect surprise and allowed one of our students to customize their own Christmas gift through the generosity of a number of people! It's something that I feel he wanted but never would have asked for and am glad that people stepped up to help us make this thought become a reality! It really makes me feel good about the world and if tomorrow really is our last full day of life before Friday's "end of the world," at least I can die happy, knowing we left on a good note.

~:[Day 353]:~ Dare To Be Great

~:[Day 352]:~ Dare To Be Great

We once had a cross country theme, dare to be great. I think in these finals days of my blog, I have realized, that I have tried to do as much as I could within this span, not unnaturally either. I feel that while it has been a great and full year, there is still something new out there waiting to be explored. There is so much to see still, so much to do, and so many more people waiting to be met. I can't wait. Today I was able to catch up with Andrew as we ate at Ma Dang Sae. It was easily the worst experience I have had there as it took them awhile to get our grill out, it took me three tries to get my drink, three tries to get my bean paste, three tries to get water, was told there was no cucumbers when there was, had water spilled on rice paper, and just a very confused or stressed waiter. In any case, I enjoyed the food thoroughly and though they raised their prices on the secondary combo with marinated meat, it still went down well along with the hot and sour soup I had a few hours earlier. Regardless, I can almost smell break coming. Can you smell what the Wat is cooking??? Dare to be great!

POEM: In Mind (At Last)

~:[Day 352]:~ Another Day of Planning

~:[Day 351]:~ Another Day of Planning

Today I moved through the day as we finished our last day of our unit in two different classes. Teaching is always about planning for the next lesson and I have the next few all lined up. In any case, I also started up track and field practice, as we officially got the ball rolling. I also continued my planning for my trip to New York in a few weeks and later on this evening, I got together with a few friends and we started to discuss future travel plans to see if we could get something going. I guess life is always about planning, I just never thought I would be planning so much at once ... New York, DC, Roadtrip, Alaska, and Europe? We'll see how that all goes :)

~:[Day 351]:~ Life with a Little Spice

~:[Day 350]:~ Life with a Little Spice

I had quite the diverse day and ended as exhausted as I have ever been. The morning was a relaxing one as I caught up on cleaning and laundry, as I prepped for a meeting later that morning. After stopping by school, I had my meeting, went by Target for some hangers (and a few rolls of duct tape), then headed back to catch the end of the Packers game. Luckily, they pulled out the victory and the NFC North title! I worked on my Christmas card during the day and then headed over to a DELICIOUS tamale dinner. They were so great and head chicken, cheese, and pineapple! Afterward, I headed to Disneyland where I was able to get on Screaming, Toy Story, Radiator Springs, watched Grizzly River Rapid Run, Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and Big Thunder before heading back home. On the Haunted Mansion and the tram, I knocked out completely. I don't know if I ever felt so tired when I Disneyland but on the day I had eaten a clam chowder bowl and minestrone with lemonade. On top of the tamalaes, I was completely stuffed for the day. I am about to fall asleep now, so I guess that means time to sign off!

POEM: Dreams & Reality (At Last)

for those who hope that dream becomes a reality

~:[Day 350]:~ Letters

~:[Day 349]:~ Letters

Today was quite the filling day summed up by a few letters & words, OT, J, LAC, TAPEX and  HOBBIT. We started the morning at the basketball gym where the game before us went to overtime and our game went to double OT. Our team kept their focus and pulled the game out despite being down by 20! Normally it would have been alright, but I had a lunch to go to. I took the letter, the banner, and the buttons I had worked on previously with me to Irvine to join my friends at Capital Seafood for lunch, unfortunately, they finished so I grabbed some curry at Diamond Jamboree Plaza. We talked for a bit and I headed home to clean and catch the LA Clippers game, well at least half of it. I had to head out to watch the Hobbit before it ended and the movie was three hours long! Just a warning, it's a three part movie - that's all I will say. In any case, to make me happy, we ended the night at Tapioca Express. In the end it was a great night and I am glad that this day went well for Jamie, the birthday girl ... scratch that, woman :) ... I hope all your wishes came true and if not, keep the faith that they will as you deserve it.

~:[Day 349]:~ Lovely Days

~:[Day 348]:~ Lovely Days

Today was one of those lovely days. Although I ran late because I was finishing up for soup kitchen, I arrive in time for class and was able to get my soup over for the soup kitchen. Soup kitchen is a day where teachers gather and a number of us contribute our special soup or chili. They have a contest for the best soup or chili and this year, I won with my saltado de pollo soup which consisted of chicken, onions, cilantro, tomatoes, and french fries! Afterwards, I met a few alumni and caught up with them while drinking from one of my favorite places, TapEx in the CTC. Since then, I've just got some work done, but mostly relaxed. My attempts to clean have been unsuccessful TODAY, but soon, I will be all over that. Regardless, these are the lovely days I have had dreams about for a little while now. I guess it's time to catch up on some me time.

POEM: Craacks (At Last)

we seek someone who can repair the damage of our heart

POEM: Never Know (At Last)

never forget to tell those around you what they mean to you, as you never know when a day will be your very last. i love you all!

in loving memory of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting 12/14/12

~:[Day 348]:~ My Little One

~:[Day 347]:~ My Little One

Meet my little one JD. She will pose for a pic but won't necessarily give me a good pose. It's more of a ... "what they heck are you doing" ... type of facial expression. Regardless, this is us on one of my first relaxing days in awhile. I had some time to just relax before heading to our 9pm game at Westminster High School, which we won. Before that, however, I had to start prepping my soup for tomorrow's soup kitchen at school. Salta de Pollo soup, here we come!

POEM: Wonder (At Last)

sometimes there is that one person that keeps us wondering, as you hope you never have to wonder anymore.

POEM: In the Air (At Last)

for all that can change your day

~:[Day 347]:~ Celebrating the Season

~:[Day 346]:~ Celebrating the Season

I was in a good mood throughout the school day, as a weight was lifted off my shoulders with the banquet being over. I cruised through the day, caught a sale at Office Max in Cerritos (50% of supplies), then headed off to Disneyland. We celebrated a milestone birthday in a low key fashion. I had gotten reservations in park and we grabbed a delicious bite to eat. While the food was good, the empty park was even better and I enjoyed the short lines and just a great night overall. A change of scheduled caused something else to fall at the same time as my RSVP, but since I had pieced this together, I had to stick with this. I'm glad I did. It was a great night celebrating a birthday for an amazing friend.

~:[Day 346]:~ A Decade of Being Blessed

~:[Day 346]:~ A Decade of Being Blessed

I didn't even realize it as I was frantically preparing for the banquet on my "day off" that this would mark my tenth year of being so blessed to coach at a wonderful school with a wonderful ohana. I have the most amazing coaching staff who are all fun and add something different to the mix who help support my forgetfulness and help me find everything I lose. I have wonderful supportive parents who are always willing to lend a helping hand and who are super thoughtful and kind. I also have an amazing athletes who exert all of themselves to succeed. Regardless of their times, ultimately, their success will be measured by the imprint that they leave on this program - something that they will not know until years after they leave. Thank you to everyone who has contributed time, effort, and support to the program and have made this first amazing decade of coaching at Cerritos possible. I cannot believe that it has been that long and it was great to hear messages from former alumni.  If you are an alumni, I would love to hear from you and see how things are going! While the last month has been absolutely crazy, I left tonight knowing that it has all been worth it and I hope that the athletes of the past and the present remember to spread the spirit of ohana everywhere you go, as you will find that while material wealth may not always follow, you will be one of the wealthiest people on earth.

~:[Day 345]:~ Technology Rules Us

~:[Day 345]:~ Technology Rules Us

Upon arriving back from Albuquerque, I sat right back down at my desk and continued editing the video for the cross country banquet. In less than 24 hours, I will be a free man. While normal work continues, I will no longer be under the command of technology, waiting for it until it is ready for me to begin working again. My Mac has been on for nearly a week straight with time to shut down to get on a few airplanes and when moving from place to place and every time, it tells me when it's ready. When our computer breaks down, printer doesn't work, Internet not connect, or phone falls in the water ... it is us who suffers. Thus, it is my hypothesis that technology rules us. I'm sure someone has thought of this before, heck, I thought of this before this post, however, it is more and more evident that this is the case. Well, I have the "day off" tomorrow, but I will be working the whole day, in front of my computer, just waiting for that bar to finally say 100%. Be kind computer, I love you my master.

~:[Day 344]:~ High Above the Rest

~:[Day 344]:~ High Above the Rest
Our last day in Albuquerque led us high above the city at 10,000+ feet, leaving us a spectacular view of the city from Sandia Peak. It was a great idea to head up on the mountain top and I was able to grab a photo of our group at the top. We decided to eat, as the storm was coming in and we wanted to see if it would snow and it sure did! A few members of the group had never seen real snow fall and it was such an amazing moment to see the excitement in their faces. It makes all the time and effort of a trip like this well worth it. After coming down the mountain, we stopped at a Native American Art store where we picked up a few antiques and also saw some buffalo. We decided to head to Santa Fe to get some outlet shopping in before heading home. It turned out to be the worst decision of our trip. Heading up the mountain, the storm brought heavy snow in Santa Fe county and my indecision on whether or not to stay on the freeway ended up being an hour plus mistake. It took over an hour to get to the next exit (3 miles), which left us crunched for time to get back to the airport. While the athletes watched their movies, Victoria and I stressed over making it, as well as navigating through the snowy conditions. Thank goodness we were in a Suburban. Regardless, we made it in time, despite having to run from the car to the shuttle to the airport and to the gate, only to find out that we had a short delay. In the end, we made it home and looking back, it was an amazing trip. However, I am left with hours of editing in the next 48 hours. Let's see if we can make this deadline. Banquet, you are in about 40 hours ... I hope I am ready for you!

~:[Day 343]:~ Pi Reminds Us

~:[Day 343]:~ Pi Reminds Us

The morning was dedicated to the reason for the trip, Junior Olympics. Our athletes had to deal with the 5,000 foot altitude conditions on a course that was deceivingly slow. In fact, a race winner that has run in the 14s ran mid-16s on the course due to the grass, rolling hills, and altitude. However, our athletes battled through despite sickness and discomfort. In the end, we had a great time bonding and had good solid efforts. While we planed on going to a place called Mule's Barn, it seemed a little too local for us, as it looked exactly as it sounds. So we ended up venturing to Carl's Jr. where they at least had some green chile specials. We got some R&R before rushing over to catch the Life of Pi. Before I talk about it, we finished the night at a Thai restaurant in downtown and it ended up being pretty good even through there was not a soul inside when we arrived. In any case, Life of Pi was a perfect movie to watch. I think it sends a number of great messages three of them which I will carry with me and hopefully use going forward. One, is never give up. No matter how the odds are stacked against you, you can always find a way to give yourself a better opportunity and you should do all you can to leave knowing that you did all you could. Two is to keep the faith. No matter how difficult things are, you will always be looked after and while times may seem trying and things may not be able to be explained, it all happens for a reason and in the end, things will work out as planned. Finally, always let people know how they have impacted you always making sure that you have closure - saying I love you, good bye, thank you and more. I don't want to get into specifics, as some may not have watched the movie, but it's a great one to catch. As I look back on today, it makes me realize just how lucky we all are to be here. Thank you Pi for reminding me.

~:[Day 342]:~ Let's Celebrate

~:[Day 342]:~ Let's Celebrate

Day 2 in New Mexico was full of activities from running the course to eating at a lot of fancy looking places, we sure were able to do a lot in a single day. The course itself was fairly flat and viewer friendly, however, there is a cool segment in the southwest corner that has these rolling hills similar to the NXN course over grass and sand. It's not quite as consistent as the NXN course, which could make it a little more challenging. Afterwards, we headed to Target, where we spent way too much time and then off to register for the race, where we got our JO swag. We grabbed a bite to eat at a fancy little Italian place that was empty, because according to the Internet, it was closed. I think they were nice enough to let us in for lunch even though they were closed. We did a photoshoot in the back where we played in the leaves and on the bridge for a bit before heading back. For the nightcap, we did some indoor go karting - they had some major speed! We then played in the arcade a bit - pool, air hockey, and I won the major prize on stacker AGAIN! This time I won a USB video camera. Yahooo! We finished the night off with another fancy dinner at Cafe Jean Pierre (French) where I had frog legs and scallops. Before letting them play their Monopoly Deal, we livestreamed our pre-race interviews. Of coruse, only a bit of the five minute interview saved online, but I have another copy of it! They are such a great group and am glad they are getting along so well! Tonight is an early night, as tomorrow is race day.

~:[Day 341]:~ Welcome to Albuquerque

~:[Day 341]:~ Welcome to Albuquerque

The day seemed like it was going on forever, but ultimately, we survived. After a long day, Yoshinoya cured my hunger, as we headed to the airport. Our gate was way out in the boonies and it was delayed. We enjoyed our time and I ended up getting some work done in the meantime. In our small plane, we headed to Albuquerque. The airport was one of the nicest I have seen. It was small, yet large enough and it was super clean and nice. While we arrived late, we ended up with one car instead of two. I do not like the fact that I have to drive a large Suburban, but it's not a big deal if I only have to get one car. After arriving, we enjoyed our first meal together at Applebee's near our hotel. I got a lime shrimp with chicken wonton tacos and pom lemonade. This group is such a good and fun group and it seems like they all get along. I'm hoping for a great trip. We have an early rise tomorrow, so I must turn it, especially since we're in a different time zone. Should we make the drive to the four corners??

~:[Day 340]:~ The Countdown

~:[Day 340]:~ The Countdown

The countdown continues as I am just under 113 hours from the banquet and still have half the video to edit. While I normally zoom through the rest of the video after Mammoth and considering I have about 40 of the video complete, I still feel the anxiety of trying to finish. However, I was able to get the envelopes mostly ready and things are starting to fall into place. I packed already for New Mexico and now I just have to see if I can close out the rest of this section of the video. Here we go! Time to test my zombie mode!

~:[Day 339]:~ A Revival

~:[Day 339]:~ A Revival

I already know, goodness, that is HUGE! (Insert Your Response Here). After my iPhone decided to take a dip in the water yesterday and went haywire, my world went into a tailspin. I was awaiting important calls and my phone ... well, it wouldn't turn on after a night when the flash wouldn't turn off. After doing a little research, I decided that I would use my upgrade and/or insurance to get a Samsung. I think I made the right choice. I am so amazed at the qualities of the Samsung Note II. Since it's a smartphone tablet, it is larger than a phone, but has so many cool features, that I will love. Panoramic, uber quick rapid shot and shutter speed, write on notes, face recognition tagging, super speedy processor, auto call when you put the phone to your ear and the ability to not dim when your eyes are facing it. It has an automatic mute when you flip it over and more. I am thoroughly impressed and it's only been a few hours. In any case, that was not the only revival of the day. I felt like I have begun to catch up on things as we are heading towards break. I have all my certificates ready and printed and just needing to be sorted. I almost have all my awards, and I'm about 30% done with the video, which means, I have to finish about 8 minutes per day for the rest of the week and I am still going to do a bit more tonight. I've even begun typing up my comments sheet for the banquet. What is the world coming too? Of course, I will not finish early and as normal, I will be rushing at the last minute. A boy can dream though, right???

POEM: Inked (At Last)

when you hope you find the write words to put in a letter to the one you love

POEM: Upstream (AT Last)

never allow the obstacles discourage you from reaching your dreams

POEM: Masterpiece (At Last)

each person has a masterpiece awaiting them ... just keep on searching

~:[Day 338]:~ Adventurous Midadventures

~:[Day 338]:~ Adventurous Midadventures

Ah, the ups and downs of a day. From getting paid, to getting fatigued, the rain, the sun, the deliciousness and the disasters. Well, let's start at the deliciousness :) Tapex has a new meal called the chichi fries, yes, I am not lying. Why they would call it chichi fries, I have no idea, however, it was quite tasty. It is french fries topped with their traditional popcorn chicken, then covered in cheese and chipotle sauce. I was hesitant at first, but was quite surprised by the combinations of flavors. Something different, yet, quite tasty. I would have been happy with the fries alone. I must, however, stay away, otherwise, my new pairs of pants will no longer fit. The disaster? Well, the phone is quite the devlish thing, as you begin to depend too much on it. Let's just hope I get to use my phone again one day, but today, I dropped it in water. The light of my camera went on and while I thought it was saved, it went haywire and the temperature shot up. I may have fried a circuit, but I guess we'll have to wait and see. It's sitting in a bag of rice now. Editing has gone too slowly as I was only able to get a few more minutes done with picture collages while videos uploaded from my mini dv tapes. I have a bit more footage to load, but will probably wait until the AM to do it. The days move too quickly when you want them to move slowly, but I guess, in the end, all will work out right. I soon will be free from the solitude of my editing station, off to Albuquerque and then even more freedom as I will have no more banquet to work on. Until that day, I say, farewell good world. It was nice knowing you.

POEM: Sing (At Last)

you just have to sing and not worry about those who might judge you

i've always admire those who karaoke. while some are great, some are awful, yet all of them are the same in that they are enjoying life. so many people are afraid of things because of what others may thing or because they are not good at sometime, but sometimes, you just need to take on those things if it's what you want to do. every time you hesitate, you miss an opportunity and until you take that opportunity, you are holding yourself back from what this world has to offer.

~:[Day 337]:~ Hibernation

~:[Day 337]:~ Hibernation

The picture just barely made today's tag and while this Disneyland trip was "yesterday" ... it was the most interesting thing that happened since midnight. Why? I must have been trying to catch up on some sleep because after waking up late, other than finishing 17% of my banquet video, I was in hibernation. Sleeping. It's quite ironic that in this picture we chose a sleeping pose. I guess it was a foreshadowing of things to come. We'll let's see what tomorrow has for us!

~:[Day 336]:~ Seal of Approval

~:[Day 336]:~ Seal of Approval

This was my first time near the civic center (or actually seeing the building) and I did not realize how good of a view of it you could get from UN Plaza. It brought back memories of when I checked into a hotel in the area and checked right back out. In any case, we brought a larger team to RHSMUN this year and because of UCLA, we had a mix of experienced and not so experienced students. I feel that many of them grew from the experience and it was worthwhile to get a range of delegates with us. I love how this conference runs and the location of it, however, I am not sure if we'll be back because of their planned four day schedule, as is the case with a number of other schools. It would be sad if that were the case, since it has such a perfect setup. After a long day of committee, a great lunch, catching up with some alumni, and a flight, I was able to hit up Disneyland with Jamie and in about an hour, we hit up three rides - Star Tours, Big Thunder, and Space Mountain. Pretty cool eh??? We both rock, haha :) ... anyway, I am totally beat, so it is to bed!

POEM: Tomorrow is Not a Given

POEM: Tomorrow is Not a Given (At Last) - GRAPHIC COMING SOON!

Tomorrow is not a given

Today's the day you should

As if you pass on today

It could always be a "should"

I should have done that when I had a chance

I should have yesterday

A should have, would have, could have

Will be all that you are going to say

So get up on your feet right now

Don't back down from the challenge ahead

As your alternative is not the answer

Go out and to what you want instead

As we may waiver and consider the risks

Consider why we should not take this chance

As there will be many rewards

Some we won't see at first glance

Don't forget, carpe diem

Go out and seize this day

As one day this opportunity will be no longer

Your chance will pass away

The world may end tomorrow

Your chances may soon disappear

Give yourself the opportunity

Don't be discouraged by risk or fear

Today, I stand on this limb

No longer will I say I might

As while my conscious will try to hold me back

I know that this is what is right

Tomorrow is not a given

Go out and do what you should do today

Before that one opportunity

Like a sunset, fades away

~:[Day 335]:~ To Be Kept Warm

~:[Day 335]:~ To Be Kept Warm

It's my final post in November as I move into the final month of the 365+1 album. I was able to grab a bowl of ramen for lunch with three different types of work. It was quite delicious and it definitely was able to counter the cold weather and help me deal with this slightly sore throat that I have been facing. Regardless, the day was warm and toasty for the most part. I enjoyed very good food throughout the day (maybe too much) and just was able to relax and begin catching up on the editing I have neglected. I reached the 8-10 minute range of the video last night and just have to clean it up today and should be on pace to finish my first 1/3 to 1/2 of the cross country video by tomorrow night. It's strange how a conference for three days could feel so short, but I guess I am becoming a true veteran of this and time will begin to fly. Tomorrow we get to go to the place where the UN Charter was signed so I feel as if another piece of my Model UN puzzle will be added. Hot? Not quite, but I feel nice and warm today and I think that's good enough for me :)

~:[Day 334]:~ What a Climb!

~:[Day 334]:~ What a Climb!

After an early wakeup, I headed to the airport and met up with our team. The morning went pretty smoothly and we were able to get out on time and into the city without much of a hitch. Right away, we left our luggage and stuffed into the F-line and with a group this size, the conductor was pretty upset and just ended up telling everyone to board. We took a stop at pier 39 to grab some food (red chowder bowl, raw oysters) and headed through Fisherman's Wharf and up to Ghirardelli Square. We then did our hill like to the top of Lombard Street, down Lombard Street, back up Lombard Street and then down Lombard Street. Hill repeats anyone? We headed back and the students had a great time in committee, with a few fatigued from the day. I also was able to see Kent Chen who joined us for dinner. I love the food court at this place! I had pad thai, green curry, and sweet basil chicken and picked up some spicy poke for my midnight snack. Oh what a joy! 

~:[Day 333]:~ A Skip in My Step

~:[Day 333]:~ A Skip in My Step

Today's photo is actually a poem. While we had the longest high school basketball game in the world (over two hours with no overtime where we shot 55 free throws), the majority of my day was amazing and I just had a skip in my step throughout the day. It made me think, just why I should be happy every day, as I am blessed with so many things. I must remind myself on bad days, that I am lucky to have what I have, which is why I walk with this skip in my step.

POEM: Just a Smile (At Last)

to that person that can always make your day

~:[Day 332]:~ Dinner for Two - Cooking Classes

~:[Day 332]:~ Dinner for Two - Cooking Classes

Chicken Marsala was on the menu for tonight's cooking class. Jamie was a great student and was definitely a ringer in the kitchen. Just look at the presentation she piece together (lemon's perfect placed and chives perfectly cut). Regardless, it was a great time and the food turned out well :D the cheese together AND ALONE was also spectacular. The day was even better as we played the night away with Dance Central 3 at Chanson's with the crew, as Eric came to visit from the islands! Definitely just one of those nights where you appreciate all the great things in life!

POEM: Opportunity Lost (At Last)

sometimes people just don't realize how special you are and sell themselves short of what they really deserve.

~:[Day 331]:~ It's the "O" ... Ohana

~:[Day 331]:~ It's the "O" ... Ohana

 Coming back to school was a difficult chore, but this group makes it a lot easier to do so. It was just a normal practice, but when bringing it in, our team showed it's united and linked together. It's weird as we're in a transition phase right now with the cross country season wrapping up, a group taking their mandatory break, and a group just starting up for track. It's great to have a small sized group, as it allows you an ability to give more attention to each athlete. The day itself was one of catching up and trying to stay on top of everything. I had some good news throughout the day and it had it's rough patches, but in the end, the day just worked out fine. Productive and I'm alive. Who could ask for anything more?

~:[Day 330]:~ Elmer's Computer

~:[Day 330]:~ Elmer's Computer

I was GLUED to my computer all weekend, as I had to finish my banquet prep. Yes, I have begun my banquet prep, which included finishing our program, starting my video editing, and printing lots and lots of paper. My few breaks consisted of some time at the park, wrapping up our field marshalls for the Thanksgiving tournament along with a short stop at a potluck and of course a little longer time set aside for my pseudo-son's birthday. Through all the work though, it made me realize how much this all means to me. As much work as it is, why else would I be willing to spend so much time to put this all together. I guess this weekend is a good one to be thankful that I landed where I did. While time is a premium, I've made the most of it and have yet to feel that I have wasted a moment. That's what is telling me, be thankful, because you found something that you love to do. Hope you all had a great weekend!