~:[CH4 - Day 365]:~ Where Did the Day(s) Go?

~:[CH4 - Day 365]:~ Where Did the Day(s) Go?

One of the fears of doing this journal came true, I ended my count one day off. Today will be spent looking (and fixing) for that one day that was off so that my count can be on, however, it will also give me a chance at reflecting on a wondrous 2015 that flew by oh so quickly. With every passing year, I get more aches and pains and more frail, as do the people around me. The little ones around me grown up and the memories, scratch that, my memory begins to fade away. In a year full of travel and adventure, good times with friends, better times with family, and accomplishments and goals all around, it's hard to think how 2016 can be any better, but it's the perspective you have that will chance how 2016 will end up. As while you may not venture outside of the confines of your home, the people around you should be good enough to make it the best year, as I've learned that while I've enjoyed so many great experiences this year, this year would have been nothing without the people around me who have made this year so special. I've got a lot on my list moving forward and am excited for 2016, however, I will carry all the experiences of 2015 and all that I learned along the way to make 2016 an excellent year. My hope is that I get to see YOU soon so we can make memories that are priceless. Wishing you all a very blessed 2016. May you remember to allow yourself to be vulnerable so that you can discover exactly what you are made of; that you can learn that doing your best is okay and being perfect isn't necessary so you can relieve some of your stress; and that you have good health, happiness, and amazing moments with all the great people around you, similarly to how you bless my life with your presence.

~:[CH4 - Day 364]:~ What a Way to End It

~:[CH4 - Day 364]:~ What a Way to End It

We woke up and had to leave our hotel because it was about check out time. We packed up the vans and headed out to Fashion Valley. I don't particularly like the mall, but it wasn't too crowded so I guess I didn't mind it as much this time around. After venturing around, we watched some game film back at the lobby of the hotel before heading to the gym. We had another defensive gem of a first half, but this time around, we didn't do as well in the second half. Ultimately, we had a few last chances to win the game, but fell just short. However, we grew through the week and learned a lot and the ride home ended up being a joyful one. The team really bonded together well and despite the loss, the team found comfort in the company of their team. I was exhausted by the time I got home and when reflecting back upon the trip, it was definitely a bittersweet ending to my last tournament. I was definitely glad to be home, but it's definitely something that I'll miss going forward. This year's team was fun to be around and I'm glad to have spent the last five days with them. 

~:[CH4 - Day 363]:~ When It's That Close

~:[CH4 - Day 363]:~ When It's That Close

Sometimes in life, we work so hard and do everything in OUR power to get the win or to be successful, but sometimes we fall just short. It could be no fault of ours like a claw game where the grip of the claw is weak or in this case, where the win happens, but your win gets stuck on the claw. Regardless, you got to stay with the grind and keep at it. There is going to be so much out of your control that you cannot stress over it. In so many moments, I hear so many people or even catch myself saying how it's not "fair" or I "deserved" to win, but when you really look at it, that's how life can be. We cannot expect that just because we work hard, we will always win, but we can always be proud of the hard work, focus and attention that we put into reaching our goals. There are so many things that won't work out, but when we let that stop us from making progress, that's when we truly have "lost." We played a very good game today. Down two players, our defense stepped up again and for most of the game, we held Helix until we had to foul down the stretch. We couldn't hit shots down the stretch and ultimately fell just short. Strangely, we ended up watching Creed after the game at a late night showing. It's was a perfect ending to the story of the day and without spoiling it, ultimately, if you keep working hard and leave your all out there, you have truly won, no matter how the external factors affect your "success."

~:[CH4 - Day 362]:~ Doing It Big with the D

~:[CH4 - Day 362]:~ Doing It Big with the D

It rained today, yet it did not affect us very much today. As the storm clouds formed overhead, we ventured to Westfield North County and then over to Boomers in Clairemont. Just as we finished, it started to rain. Perfect timing. We headed back to our hotel and watched tape before heading over to Subway for dinner. They let a random lady in front of them because otherwise she would have been there all night. She turned around and without letting us know, bought us a $25 gift card. It's amazing to be the recipient of such generosity and it's definitely a pay it forward moment. Whoever you are, thank you! It seemed like luck was not on our side as our top scorer was not going to play in today's game, however, it could have been a blessing in disguised. It forced other players to step in and step up and they did. Defense is definitely important and tonight, it helped us out, as while it was raining outside, we weren't draining too many shots in the gym tonight. Of course, when you hold a team to 37 points, you always have a good chance to win. We pulled away late and ended up with a 46-37 win over Canby (OR). It was a physical game and we were beaten and bruised, but in the end, the team was in good spirits after a well played game. The defense stepped up, we moved the ball most of the night, and played well on the boards against a much bigger team. Can defense win championships? I'm sure it can, but tonight at least we discovered that defense can win a game.

~:[CH4 - Day 361]:~ Don't Worry, Be Happy

~:[CH4 - Day 361]:~ Don't Worry, Be Happy

We woke up fairly early after a late night to head to Sea World. It was so crowded when we arrived but we were able to do most of what we wanted to do while we were there. We ended up going on Manta and I fed the manta rays as well. We ventured to the Wild Arctic exhibit and ride before grabbing lunch. The line for the BBQ was ridiculous, but the food was delicious once we got it. We saw the dolphin show, got a ride on Atlantis, and then ended the night with the Shamu show, one of the last times anyone will get to see it, as they are ending their Shamu show in 2016 in San Diego. By the end of the night, I was exhausted so I laid down before I went for my run which never happened because I fell asleep and woke up in the morning. Overall it was a great day despite the crowds and the fact that it was the last live orca show I'll see at Sea World San Diego (at least for what is currently seen). I see the arguments against it, but I am sad because my interest and amazement in living beings of all sort grew because of places such as this and future generations are going to miss out on some of these experiences going forward. 

~:[CH4 - Day 360]:~ Coming Through with the W

~:[CH4 - Day 360]:~ Coming Through with the W

I woke up after a late night cleaning and cleaned just a bit more before we headed out to Mt. Carmel. Traffic was pretty bad so it took us awhile to get down, but we eventually got there. We grabbed McDonalds and had a delayed check in as we had to wait for our rooms to get clean. We then headed out to our game. We started a little sluggish and non-energetic, but started to get things going and had a lot of people spread the wealth, as they each had their opportunities to get on the board. We built up a sizable lead, however, we allowed them to climb back in a bit. In the end, we pulled out the 62-58 victory. After a delayed start to the next game, we headed out to Hometown Buffet but it was closed so we ventured to Wings-n-Things and got in a meal before they closed. We then headed over to the bowling alley. I was having a pretty bad day on the lanes so I started bowling between my legs as I was actually bowling a bit better. It was a pretty fun night though, however, it got late quick so it was already past midnight by the time we got back. It was a long day, but also a pretty good one. Of course, it's just the start of a hopefully successful weekend. If you're in SD, hit me up!

~:[CH4 - Day 359]:~ So Fresh and So Clean

~:[CH4 - Day 359]:~ So Fresh and So Clean

I woke up exhausted as normal after a fun family party. It always takes so much out of you, but it's always worth it. My tasks for the day? Finish writing my cards to my family and then clean my office and my room. After opening up our gifts and enjoying each other's company, I ventured to my room and barricaded myself there. I am glad I did, because by night's end, my room was where I had hoped it would be. Granted, I still need to organize within each section, but my room/office is the cleanest it's been since I can remember. I guess you could say that was the gift to myself. At the end of the night, I began to think about again how lucky I am to be in the situation I am in with a loving family surrounding me, incredible friends, and a stable life. I may not be a millionaire or have my face plastered all around the world, but I am fine with that, because I rich in love and care and I have faces of my loving friends and family surrounding me all of the time reminded me of how incredibly lucky I am to have them in my lives. While the holidays often are the time that we reflect on this and appreciate the love that surrounds us, let's not let it be the only time, as we should be grateful and thankful every single day, as I am for all of you. Happy Holidays!

~:[CH4 - Day 358]:~ Together

~:[CH4 - Day 358]:~ Together

Today was a little different than normal. Normally, I focus only on prepping for the evening, yet, I was able to do a lot today. I went to pho in the morning so have my last meal with Sunny before she left, then I did some shopping before heading to TapEx to catch up with Erika. I did a little bit of shopping before heading home to prep. I fixed up the calendars before packing them up for tonight and then cooked away. While cooking, I actually got the Tpumps recipe spot on which was exciting! I wrapped up and then headed out for the evening. Our family gatherings are always festive. We started with dinner, then with a visit from Santa (everyone comes to greet Santa - a family tradition), then we have grab bags, door prizes, and finish off with bingo. We do a lot and maybe not what most people are  used to. There were a lot of people there through the night including extended relatives, but in the end, we had a solid core of people, As the night closed out and as my batteries were running out on my camera, we snapped this picture. I had to use my phone since we had no other options. Regardless, it came out great and captured another great evening. I always feel so blessed to be around my family and also to have such great people around me. From my relatives, to my friends and all others who have come into my life, I am so grateful and so glad that we can find some time to be together, especially in special moments such as these. Happy Holidays to all and Merry Christmas!

~:[CH4 - Day 357]:~ Surprises Along the Way

~:[CH4 - Day 357]:~ Surprises Along the Way

I woke up in the morning and had an agenda. I needed to get things done. I made a lot of progress today and while not complete, I am happy of where I am at this point. Three trash bags and three loads of laundry later, I felt domesticated. While I was suppose to leave earlier in the day, some delayed caused my departure time to get pushed back, so I brewed some tea. I made four pots of tea then attempted to make some flavored tea. I didn't realize it at the time, but it was too sweet. When getting home later in the evening, I made the adjustments and am getting closer to matching the flavor I normally get. It looks like my NYE party is going to be amazing with the addition of flavored tea! I ventured out to the Huntington Library and got to see the gardens in the winter. It was a little dead and the plans were a bit droopy, but all in all, it was still beautiful. Along the path, someone left us a surprise. While I was a little uneasy by the fact that they may have plucked these flowers from a plant, I still enjoyed the beauty of it and realized that sometimes, we can always take the opportunity to leave something for someone who we may not even know. I stopped off at Abricott and Tpumps on the way home, but it was definitely a great way to end the evening and still leave time for me to catch up on setting up my phone, packing up my gifts for tomorrow, and just enjoying this holiday season. Life is always full of surprises that are waiting to lift our spirits, we just have to be able to open up our eyes and look around enough to see them. Keep an eye out for an opportunity to surprise someone, but also for a surprise that awaits you. 

~:[CH4 - Day 356]:~ It's All About Change

~:[CH4 - Day 356]:~ It's All About Change

I woke up in the morning and snapped some head shots for the girls basketball team. It was an early start, but not much earlier than I intended to wake up anyway. It was an interesting way to start the morning as I then headed to eat with my good friend Gui. It's always nice to catch up and just chat. There's always good things that happen when we get to see each other. I stopped off to cash in my change as my drawer was getting super full and I didn't want it to hang around. A few years of saving change and I collected over $270 in change! I was a great way to start the day, with a little extra in my pocket. I didn't have too much planned after that, so I ended up finishing up a present, then heading to TapEx. You would have thought the rain would deter people from going out, but it did not. It was crowded and I drank my boba and shot the breeze from the awning of TapEx. It was great because we got to see a bunch of people including students, family, and alumni. While I try to duck and hide around the city, it was nice to run into a few old faces, some of them even famous. It was funny to watch one of our more recent alum fanboy over them when I see them just as my former students/athletes and all the antics they would get themselves into. However, it was great to catch up before heading our different ways. With Christmas coming up, we headed out to do errands at Trader Joe's and Best Buy before grabbing some stuff at home and heading off to the mall. The mall? Yes, I rarely go to the mall because I don't like to be spotted, but I needed to pick something up and so I braved it. Strangely, I ran into Yoshi and Peter again. After a few stops, we grabbed a quick bite with our gifts in our hands and headed on our way. I was a little late so I rushed out the door and out to LA. It was great to see Kwiri and how things have changed for her over the weekend and heard some amazing transformations. I think it's great and inspiring and just the whole process of seeing how changing your perspective and with the right guidance, you can change how your life is. I rushed home to grab dinner with my family and afterward, started my attempts to create my own tpump station. Similar to life, finding the right recipe for this will take a little bit of time and some tweaking, but ultimately, all the adjustments I make over time will eventually lead me to the breakthrough that I am aiming for. Much like life, the transformations we make is a continually process and it is up to us to realize that sometimes the problems that surround us are generated by us and we need to make changes just as much (if not more) as the world around us. It is our ability to see this and make the right changes to ultimately help us arrive to where we want to be. I feel ready for the challenges ahead and while I know that there is still so much to learn, I know that with each day comes a bit of change that can make all the difference in the world.

~:[CH4 - Day 355]:~ Star Studded

~:[CH4 - Day 355]:~ Star Studded

We headed to Staples Center down two starters who happen to be two of our best and playing a team that is always pretty solid. With everyone getting a chance on the court, especially with a short bench, we had a great run at the game. We didn't shoot too well today, but our defense held us in the game and showed that it can be the difference maker especially when your offense isn't quite there. I was pretty happy with how we played. The freshman game, however, was the highlight of the day, as they were up most of the game. They fell behind in the fourth quarter. Time was winding down and they were down one when one of their players was fouled with no time remaining. He missed the first free throw and in front of a crowd at the Staples Center, he sunk the second one to go into a short overtime. They went down again in overtime and down three with the last possession. One of the players threw it up at the buzzer and it made it to tie the game and pushed the game into sudden death. With the first possession, the team ran their play and it ended up in a foul. Needing to only make one of the two free throws, the first one missed and the second one went in. Game over. What a way to end the afternoon! We headed to Lawry's Carvery for dinner before the Clippers game. I was sad that they took the brisket entree off the menu. However, it still was a good meal before the game. The game was amazing, well, everything except for the fact that we fell short. It was a great but exhausting day and definitely going to be one to remember. It was also a great way to start off the break!

~:[CH4 - Day 354]:~ When Things Just Click

~:[CH4 - Day 354]:~ When Things Just Click

I woke up in the morning able to sleep in. No alarms = peace. Of course, I did not sleep in late, but it still felt oh so good to sleep more than usual. I did some work in the morning, then caught up on some football before heading out. I ventured out and while waiting in the process of people picking up, I got a wonderful call from a friend who seemed inspired and transformed. It made me so happy to hear someone figuring things out and ready to take on the world with a new perspective. Just as I was wrapping up the call, I was headed on my way. We left a little late, but ended up getting to the theater about on time, not really knowing which line to stand in. We figured it out. We got in and dealt with the madness. The organist was playing when we walked in and I thought, maybe these seats were too close. They ended up being just fine. The preview ran before the light show started and it was a great extra that the El Capitan always provides! After the show, we wandered through the prop room where they had photos and costumes from the show. Just amazing! We walked over to the TCL Chinese Theater to check out the hand prints then through Hollywood & Highland. We ventured over to Little Tokyo and walked around a bit before our dinner reservation. We arrived at Bestia and it was definitely packed and the environment was stellar as always. After looking over the menu, we ended up with five appetizers and four entrees between the four of us. Sadly, my dish was my least favorite, but to have eight dishes out of nine be amazing is definitely not something to be sad about. Regardless, we had a great night at the restaurant. It's always interesting to see when bring people who don't know each other together and tonight, we all just clicked. We finished each other's comments, thought the same things, etc. and it was strange, but amazing at the same time. We were stuffed and while dessert on site would have topped it off, I don't think any of us had space in our stomachs. So we headed off and planned a "dessert" when we got back, which ended up being Fusion. We got our drinks and since it was about to close, we ended up with no boba. It was still good and was a great end to a wonderful night. I couldn't have imagined this day going any better and while I fell asleep before I could do anything else, I slept comfortably, as everything just seemed to fall into place.  

~:[CH4 - Day 353]:~ A New Beginning

~:[CH4 - Day 353]:~ A New Beginning

Cold weather and storms were pending in the weather forecasts, but it did not affect us during the sale that we hosted, which was in our school's parking lot. Had it rained, it would have been a challenge, but someone made sure it held off for just the right amount of time before we were given the gift of rain, just what SoCal has been asking for. The sale is always crazy, but we were able to get things together and helped Stussy run a successful sale and they also helped out our program in the process. Not a bad deal! There were so many people at the sale and while we did not limit the amount of people we had in the sale, we could have with how many showed up. The line looped around the lot for the first three hours of the sale (we even opened 30 minutes early). In the end, cleanup took about two hours (less than expected) and we got the lot and the school cleaner than it was before we left. Our athletes did such a great job! After taking down the signs from the sale (I still have to get a few) in the rain, I headed home to get the gifts I wrapped the night before and headed to our captains dinner, which we had our old and new captains show up. I forgot their gifts at home, but at least I remembered my beautifully wrapped Secret Santa gift. When I drew the name, I knew I had to troll him and that I did. While eating, we traded gifts and it was great! It was actually the first time we did this so it was nice that it worked out. Well, that is until we got to my gift. I did the box in a box wrapping and also the saran wrap Skittles mixed with M&Ms before the real gift came. We ended the night with ice cream from the same place, BBQ night and it definitely is a great place to go, especially because they take reservations earlier in the day. I left BBQ night excited for this group who show a lot of potential. They have really bonded well together and while this is the youngest group we will be training (four freshmen, one sophomore), if they can do a good job, we will have great leaders for years to come. It helps that we have a strong senior core to guide them into next season. It was a great day and except for a slight sore throat, which I hope goes away, this was a great start to the vacation. 

~:[CH4 - Day 352]:~ It's Hot & It's Cold

~:[CH4 - Day 352]:~ It's Hot & It's Cold

I woke up early because it was the day of soup kitchen and our last day of school. Those two things don't go too well together because the schedule is so packed but it was also nice because I was gone the week before. I ended up making my Saltado de Pollo soup. Before I left, I added the fries and didn't realize I put too many fries inside. By the time it was time to eat, the soup was way too thick. When stepping out of my car, it was freezing, but the warm holiday greetings and the soup and chili definitely warmed my body, heart and soul. It was definitely a great day and I enjoyed spending it at work, as there was so much to be thankful for. I was surprised with the best soup and best outfit awards today, which definitely was a icing on the cake for the day! I had to stop at Irvine to check out my phone and found out that the camera was about to crash on my phone, so I got another one sent to me via mail and should avoid a lot of the issues I've faced with my phone as of late. Of course, that means I will have to back everything up and get it transferred to the new phone - what a pain! I battled traffic and headed to our basketball game. It took me almost 90 minutes to get there from Irvine as I made it just in time for the game. We played 27 minutes of great basketball, but lost the lead and the game in overtime. It didn't help to lose our starting point guard at that point too, but still we have a lot to learn from this game. I ventured home to prep for tomorrow, as it would be a very long day, however, I left the day happy for so many reasons and you begin to see that it definitely is the season to feel like this. I'm excited for what is ahead and feel all warm and toasty inside. To all, I hope you have a wonderful holiday!

~:[CH4 - Day 351]:~ All in this Together

~:[CH4 - Day 351]:~ All in this Together

Throughout the day, that song was just repeating in my head ... "we're all in this together." Not only did it tie to our cross country theme this year pretty well, but it applies to may different things in life and today was another reminder of that. The day went by smoothly as I got through all the work, caught up with some alumni, before heading out to the game at Sonora. We played Gahr for the third time in four games. We ended up being victorious as we pulled away in the fourth. What changed? Throughout the game we played good team defense, however, in the fourth, our team offense came alive. We were able to get good movement and work together in order to secure the win and take the series. After heading home, I headed to Cha2O and grabbed a tea with some alum who wanted to catch up. It was definitely a great session. We then walked two doors down to tea station and switched from cold tea to hot team. The Jasmine Blossom, while expensive, was a great tea. It was cool to see it open up in the hot water and while it was a light flavor, it was definitely a nice tea. After chatting for awhile, we headed our separate ways. I picked up food for the soup kitchen and whipped up my saltado de pollo soup. I cannot wait to have it served tomorrow and just hope that the crock pot doesn't overdo it tonight. Regardless, it was a great day to connect with others, much like our team connected with each other to get the W. 

~:[CH4 - Day 350]:~ The Winter Chill

~:[CH4 - Day 350]:~ The Winter Chill

The morning was cold. Sure, we Californians aren't the best at handling the elements, but it was definitely colder than normal as the temperatures dipped below 40. It was tough to make it through the day as the fatigue from the lack of sleep from the banquet set in, however, I managed. I came late to the faculty breakfast since I was cleaning up and moving everything around from the banquet the night before but got in just in time to enjoy the delicious breakfast! I was super grateful for our wonderful ASB and advisors for organizing it and we are truly blessed to have the support that we do.  After class, I headed out and grabbed Northern Cafe and North Shore Poke Company with an alum and he even made me ceviche! It was amazingly delicious and was quite impressed by the dish! Excellent! I had a track meeting at lunch before I had to rush out to our game. I ended up carpooling with my dad so we could beat traffic and it was good that we did. It was backed up and looked ugly the whole way in both directions. We played the top ranked team in division 2AA (Ayala) and they definitely had an advantage on us. While we played poorly in the first half, we came back with a strong second half and edged them by one despite losing the game. They were able to make a lot of awkward shots that ultimately kept the lead as is and didn't really allow us to get back into the game. After heading home, I ended up meeting up with an alum Mitchell who definitely is headed down a great road! I'm excited for the new adventures coming his way and cannot wait to see what he does with all that he picks up along the way. After our chat, I met up with TNT and Ivan at Senor Baja to enjoy a quick bite. Of course, my exhaustion got the better of me and I decided, why not just sleep "early" tonight and so I did. It felt good to get to bed before midnight and was so glad I made that decision even though I'm behind on a few other things I need to do. Oh well! Except for the biting cold in the morning and evening, it was a great day, as the weight of banquet was off my shoulders and thus, I could just chill. 

~:[CH4 - Day 349]:~ Freedom

~:[CH4 - Day 349]:~ Freedom

I closed my eyes for a second and before I knew it, this year's banquet was in the books. The preparation process for the banquet is exhausting as I worked for the past few weeks including over 30 hours of work in the past few days. While the preparation process is stressful and time consuming, tonight reminded me of just why I put in that effort. The memories that have been created tonight (as well as throughout the season) were incredible and there was a good sense of emotion that rain through my veins for most of the night. I went into the night blind, as I didn't have enough time to make my usual notes, but this year, it came easy. I have been impressed and inspired by a number of people in this group. To talk about how people should appreciate the opportunities they have after talking about an athlete who had a two year hiatus from racing in high school but in the process saw as many doctors as possible so that he could compete to hearing an athlete talk about how he missed his goal, but said that even when you don't hit your goal there are great things around you to find if you're just willing to look. I always wish I had a little bit more time so that we could share more about how incredible each of these individuals are, but regardless, I think by the end of the night, people get a sense that every one has had their own battles, their own direction, and their own goals, but ultimately, we are one ohana doing this all together. This year's theme (Ubuntu: I am because we are.) emphasizes that as while it's great to succeed individually, those who only seek out what is best for them, will find that the road is not as great. when you travel it alone. As the one athlete said, he fell short of his goal, but it was okay, because the treasure he found was a group of friends that made his senior year special. Often times we forget to appreciate those around us until it is too late and I encourage you to re-establish your connections and continue to build the relationships with those around (I have a lot of work to do too!)  you and to work tirelessly to maintain them. As while we are all busy, the value of those relationships is worth being tired for and that's why I have no problem with how tired I am tonight as the relationships I have built with these supporters, these parents, these alumni, these coaches, and these athletes are worth every ounce. While I feel that weight lifted off my shoulder and freedom is now mine (for now), I was never bound by chain and shackles, as I chose to carry the weight of this stress to become one with the team so that WE could find success and WE could find an opportunity to put a final stamp on our season. There is no doubt in my mind that I am a better person because of this season which has been one of my enjoyable and I truly believe that following this year's theme is one of the reasons why. Ubunti: I am because we are.

~:[CH4 - Day 348]:~ Down to the Wire

~:[CH4 - Day 348]:~ Down to the Wire

It was a normal day at school, except that it wasn't. The day after a weekend conference is always a bit rougher, even when you get back on Saturday.  However, it's even worse when you have banquet the next day and a tournament game later on in the day. My mind was going a little crazy as I knew there was so much to do today. With trying to get through class to getting the paperwork ready for the track meeting at lunch to picking up the patches during my break, it all was so jumbled together. After the lunch meeting, I jetted out to the game at Servite and had enough time to do a little editing o the bench. Similar to my schedule today, the game came down to the wire as despite an off shooting night, we were able to keep it close as we defeated Paramount. I then headed home and forgot to stop at Costco. It was too late, so I just went back and began working. I laid down for a second which turned into an hour or more, but I needed it and because of it, I was able to work into the night. We'll see how long I will stay up for, however, it always comes down to the wire and this year will be no exception. Wish me luck, but I have faith that everything will fall into place. 

~:[CH4 - Day 347]:~ Clear Skies Surprise

~:[CH4 - Day 347]:~ Clear Skies Surprise

We almost changed plans for this hike seeing how the weather has been in the area, but we decided to stick it out when I saw it could be a clear enough day. I couldn't have imagined a better day to hike, as the storm blew away a lot of the clouds and it was clear. You could see for miles and it made the hike ridiculously good. The trail itself was fairly clear, but it does get a little sketchy at some points along the trail. When arriving at the top, you get to see the remains of what used to be the train station and all the attractions they had on top of Echo Mountain. It's amazing how they were able to have this all and I'm glad that we ended up being able to take this hike. Not only was it a great break away from editing, but some great exercise with great company. On the way home, I decided to stop by Tpumps and then I realized, I was suppose to go to TapEx today too. Instead of missing out, I just went to both. I ventured home and got down to business focusing on all the editing that I needed to do. Amazingly, by the end of the night, I got to where I needed to be and should be able to finish out the season portion of the video tomorrow (but we'll see about that). Regardless, it was a great day and despite the fact that it rained by days end, the morning clear skies was a warm welcome back to Los Angeles. 

~:[CH4 - Day 346]:~ What a Beautiful Sight to See

~:[CH4 - Day 346]:~ What a Beautiful Sight to See

I woke up pretty early despite staying up late to edit. I was a little tired in the morning, but still had some good energy to wake up and get on with the day. It's always crazy when it's check out day, as we have to figure out what to do with our bags and try to get everything arranged. It all ended up working out. I wasn't going to initially be there for it, but I pushed back my morning meet up. It was great catching up with Mon at Farm:Table which was smaller than I had expected. It was pretty good and I'm not surprised that it tends to get crowded there after eating there. Plenary let out early, so I headed up to the room and we started the process of moving our stuff to the luggage drop off room. While we were told the closing started at 12:15pm from one of the delegates, it actually started at noon and so when we arrived, the closing ceremonies was almost done. After hearing a few speeches, they dismissed the closing and I really didn't know what was going on. It turns out that we had won the Awards of Merit even after having a meeting trying to get our team on track during the conference. It was a nice sight to see and a good way to start off the rest of the day. We ventured out on the trolley headed over to Ghiradelli Square. After a quick stop, we did our normal stomp up to Lombard Street. On our way back on the F-train, we stopped at the Ferry Building and let them venture around, which was a good change from the norm. I was able to get ghost pepper potato chips, beef jerkey, and even had a few oysters and got to culture them a bit on how to eat them. It was great! We then ventured back to the hotel and headed to the airport. It was a little hectic getting back, but in the end, we made it. After seeing the team off, I edited a bit more and relaxed before boarding my plane and I got an entire row to myself! What a great way to end the night, as I dreamt away. Before heading home, I was able to stop at Fusion to chat a bit before heading home to catch up on everything. Overall, the weekend ended up being a great experience and while we had our challenges, in the end, they did overcome some of those challenges. They were a great group to take around and show the signs of San Francisco to! In the end, as while sometimes the clouds and fog can try and block your view, if you're patient enough, there are so many beautiful sights to see, while traveling, but especially in life. 

~:[CH4 - Day 345]:~ Just Hot Enough

~:[CH4 - Day 345]:~ Just Hot Enough

Getting the perfect temperature is like getting the shower the right warmth. I hate it when I start the shower and nothing but cold water comes out, as I let out my yelp. However, when you get that perfect temperature (which is usually different for everyone), it's truly heaven. While the weather was a little chilly today, I dealt with it and just soaked in the wonderful city. Today was a good great day. Not only did I get to go around a beautiful city, I saw a lot of people who made this day wonderful. From my own students, to alumni, my pseudo-son, and even some great friends, today was a busy yet full day. We hit up Pier 39 in the morning and went to Boudins, Hot Licks, and a few stores. We checked out Alcatraz and the sea lions and just wandered along the Embarcadero. We ventured back to the hotel, as we checked out more committees before I headed out to Sushirrito to down the delicious Geisha's Kiss. Wow! It always is and always will be dreamy. It ended up that Pyo was getting off of work, so I was able to get him over to the Hilton and we hit up the wonderful food court at Westfield, which is always a great meal. After dealing with some committee issues, I headed back out with my friends who stop by to say hello.  After a long day, I had one last friend stop by to say hello before I turned in. I was once again reminded of how blessed I am even when I am away from home. Not only do I have the opportunity to explore a city, but I have alumni who want to see me, friends who make the effort to stop by, and students who are well behaved and respectful. I am so grateful and while sometimes the water may be a little cold, it will always help me appreciate when the water is perfect and just hot enough. 

~:[CH4 - Day 344]:~ Hello, It's Me ...

~:[CH4 - Day 344]:~ Hello, It's Me ...

I don't post too many selfies (especially without gel), some, but not too many. My Instagram is filled with AJ photos and I reserve most of my selfies for Snapchat. However, I want to introduce myself. Today, my flight was canceled and so my plan to be able to wake up and cruise on over to the airport was canceled. So, I grabbed some Yoshinoya, visited Justin at his juice shop (I found it!) and then ventured over to the airport. After a number of failed attempts to get an earlier flight, I went to the lounge and just relaxed. I grabbed some free food, drinks, and use the power separate from the crowds of the airport. It was comfortable and I was able to get a decent amount of editing done. In fact, I have about 15-18 minutes of video done and making good progress towards the banquet even though my motivation and focus has been low. In any case, aside from everything else, I had some time to think and felt pretty good about the process. I am someone who has a lot of stuff, but do not really need anything materialistic to be happy. I love adventure and exploring, I love to see those around me happy, I love thoughtful hand written letters, notes or cards, and I love to be inspired. Of course, I always could use a boba, a Pepsi, Yoshinoya, and B2 at Northern Cafe, but I started to think how simple it is to describe me despite all that I am involved in and all that I've done. I guess all this reading plus inspirational and motivational talk with friends has been a game-changer as it started to help me learn a lot about myself and ultimately has kept me happy as I've seen a set of new colors in my world that I had not been seeing before. While my flight was delayed six hours and I finally arrived in San Francisco at 9pm, I still had a smile on my face because I was doing something that I loved and having that opportunity cannot be ruined by any obstacle. Thank You for showing me all of this and I cannot wait for the next adventure that awaits. Hello, it's me ... 

~:[CH4 - Day 343]:~ What If ...

~:[CH4 - Day 343]:~ What If ...

I got through the day and finished up all my sub plans, as I headed out on my way to Koreatown. I grabbed lunch at Seongbukdong which was bomb! We had the kimchi jigae and the galbi jjim which was pricey but well worth every penny. It was definitely nice to catch up a bit before we headed our separate ways. I left and went to Hollywood. I was able to get a little editing done and some rest. I then walked over the the Pantages for If/Then. I didn't realize it was opening night and so I should have actually stood in the VIP line, ya know? Haha. Regardless, the musical was amazing. I was a little concerned early as the songs didn't really show Idina's vocal range, however, it surely changed as the musical progressed. The musical was very powerful and really tied into my life right now. We always seem to ask the what if? Ultimately, the question (what if?) holds us back and makes us question our decision when in the end, we can't change much about that decision. There are always decisions we make in life that change how things end up and for me, there have been many of those forks in the road that have been wonderful and terrible decisions. However, we must trust that whatever decision we make is made with the best intentions in mind and that we must go with it and see where that road takes us. Ultimately, I headed back and while I thought it would be back to my peaceful abode, I realized that this place was right about a night club. It's going to be a long night.  

~:[CH4 - Day 342]:~ Another Moment Captured

~:[CH4 - Day 342]:~ Another Moment Captured

It was my senior class' turn to cover the Brene Brown material and I think they handled it pretty well. It led to a little discussion and I want to see if it leads to more tomorrow. It was a heavy meeting day as I met with the Georgetown team at snack and the Nationals team at lunch. In between, I grabbed the equipment for picture day and after a quick meeting in the office, I setup for picture day. It's always a fun day seeing what the kids do. We snapped this picture of the coaches today and was glad that my brother suggested that we take it. I got all my equipment put away and began packing for my trip. I headed to Tpumps to grab some drinks and also drop off a little gift for the workers. I love going there so much and the workers are always pretty nice. I jetted back home to do more work and amazingly, I finished printing all the certificates. While I am nowhere near where I need to be for the video, I am where I need to be for the paperwork for the conference. I can't wait until the banquet is over, however, for now, I must deal. 

~:[CH4 - Day 341]:~ Mondays Though

~:[CH4 - Day 341]:~ Mondays Though

I woke up and it was Monday. It was time to go back to school. There is some light, however, as this will be a short week at school for me because of RHSMUN. Regardless, I got through as we went over the conference and also went back over our "inspirational" talk from Friday, as some of them experienced things that the talk could benefit them with. It often happens that the freshmen have a difficult time with disappointment at this first conference. Sometimes they feel like they "failed" when in reality, I was quite pleased with their performances this weekend. It was strange timing as Sandra posting something related to sacrificing some of those attempts towards the "perfect" resume for actually living and enjoying the experience they are having. Brene Brown's book, The Gifts of Imperfection, does not talk about this exactly, but it does parallel it in some senses, as it talks about being fine with what one is able to do. She does address test scores and the like when she writes, "If you think dealing with issues like worthiness and authenticity and vulnerability are not worthwhile because there are more pressing issues, like the bottom line or attendance or standardized test scores, you are sadly, sadly mistaken. It underpins everything." In reality, allowing these students to gain experienced that can leave them vulnerable, yet also allow them to find themselves and to discover wholehearted living where they feel worth, where they learn to love themselves and trust themselves and truly are allowed to live and experience the world is something that is definitely worthwhile to balance alongside simply that "perfect" resume. The rest of the day was spent prepping for the banquet as I laid out the video and organized everything so it can get rolling. I began the video and with my photo montages already done, somehow, I am already 1/4 the way done. No way, right? I'm exhausted and it's time to go to sleep, but now that I finished a few more things on my to-do list, I can sleep a lot better.

~:[CH4 - Day 340]:~ Out of this World

~:[CH4 - Day 340]:~ Out of this World

I worked on cross country most of the day as per usual around this time of year. The banquet days are coming closer and surprisingly, I ended up ahead of the game with the video 1/6 of the way done already with all my footage converted and my titling almost done. It was a pretty mellow day. Since I had the day off of MUN, I had to get text updates from the conference. Yesterday, our advanced delegates were doing well and it was confirmed today as we had twelve receive gavels on the day which earned them a delegation award! I don't remember a time when we collected so many gavels, but regardless of the awards, I was pretty proud of how hard everyone was working in committees yesterday. Of course my night got interesting when on the drive home from Riverside, I saw about 15-20 cop cars with their lights on, flying along the freeway and exiting near the Galleria at Tyler. I found out later that there was a robbery there and there was thought to be gun shots, which there was not. In any case, the best part of my day however, was the show put on by my former student Danni (Angel) Wei. Here performance piece, Star Maps, Earth Codes was a very intimate setting with just me in her "theater." It takes someone who is brave to do a performance piece as you must get past the fear of performing in front of others and must be right on cue. I was impressed by the growth she demonstrated through her piece since she was in high school. I had here on my cross country team, but my connection with her is the fact that I advised her with her AP Studio Art portfolio. From the very start, she demonstrated an amazing ability in technique as an artist and with this piece, she demonstrated her ability to synthesize complex ideas and portray them in a fashion that engages the viewer and forces them to be apart of the performance. The entire time I was in the piece, I thought to myself, it feels like I'm stargazing and exploring all that exists in the universe above. At points, I got lost in the narrative or even at times forgetting where I was. It was definitely a piece that has many layers of meaning that can be drawn out of it and definitely shows mastery on behalf of Danni. I am so grateful that she remembered to invite me to her performance and while the drive was quite a trek, it was worth every minute and every mile and more. I look forward to all the great things that will come your way as while your skills in art are extraordinary, you as a person are truly out of this world. Congratulations on a masterful piece. 

~:[CH4 - Day 339]:~ Sharing the Glory

~:[CH4 - Day 339]:~ Sharing the Glory

I woke up early in the morning and headed to Mira Costa. We arrived with four bus loads of students totaling about 200! It was quite the task, but I was up for it. We headed out in a fairly timely manner and everything ran pretty smooth. When going through the committees, we seemed to be doing pretty well. At the awards ceremony, I realized that they were only giving out about six to seven awards and for a novice conference, it seemed a bit low. Regardless, I was still proud of our students, as I felt there was a lot of improvement and some really solid performances. After getting back, I rushed over to TapEx for a quick dinner, then headed back to the gym for the game. It was a bit nerve-wracking but after a slow first quarter, we picked it up. We kept opening up a good lead then letting them back in, however, we finally pulled away late for an 83-76 victory over Gahr to take home the championship. I was so proud of our team as they were so unselfish during the game which is the reason for the win. Go Dons!

~:[CH4 - Day 338]:~ Perfectly Imperfect

~:[CH4 - Day 338]:~ Perfectly Imperfect

After doing speeches in my senior class, we had a little preparation session in class. After that, I went on to talk to them about this book by Brene Brown, A little background about it is that I was looking for a book to read and stumbled across Brene Brown. My friend Kwiri's birthday was coming up and after some conversation, I felt that this book was a good match at the time, so I got it for her birthday. The inspiration mined from her reading it was amazing and it led to her sharing it with her friends and also sharing numerous clips and stories with me. The book has been such an amazing inspiration to me and has reminded me of a number of things including the unnecessary strives towards perfection. I really enjoyed how real she is and simply how she sees things. In class, I posed a number of "negative" posts such as, "I am going to fail ..." While it may not have seemed motivational, I added words to each such as "I am going to fail" ... "because I am going to test my limits so I can eventually find success" Pretty much, I flipped "negative" phrases to makes ones that would push people to do their best. As I left class, I felt that the students really began to think about their own lives and hopefully they can live a life where they are successful, but also able to embrace their own imperfections so they can live a wholehearted life! I left class so excited and happy for what's ahead and it didn't take too much time for me to enjoy what was ahead. We had a quick captain's meeting for cross country and claimed all my expiring reward at Yogurtland. Then I got a little more work done before heading to our game against Millikan. Their team was really fast, but our team handled the pressure and ultimately came out with a good win. We moved into the championship game tomorrow against Gahr. Our game wasn't perfect, but we accepted that and knew, we had things to work on, but were happy with the progress we were making as a team.

~:[CH4 - Day 337]:~ Miraculous

~:[CH4 - Day 337]:~ Miraculous

Today was a fairly normal day. Routine for the year at this time as speeches begin in preparation for Mira Costa this weekend. The speeches were pretty solid and I was pretty happy by the end of the day. I was able to get in a TapEx stop and got some work done before heading home to finish up the program for the banquet. I made a lot of progress in the time. I stopped as I heard the game on and was so upset at how they were playing at the start. I kept checking back and working in between. I ended up catching up the UCLA game and saw Kentucky go down. It was a great victory but the court rush was anti-climatic. I know there is a fine for doing it and it is a safety concern, but with a win like that, the court rush would have made the win even more epic. I thought that was the end of the amazing, but Green Bay came creeping back and it didn't look good when they couldn't score. They ended up scoring and with about 40 seconds left due to a penalty, they had one last shot at the end zone - a hail Mary. In most cases, they don't work out, but I couldn't believe my eyes when he caught the ball and they won the game. It was Rodgers first ever completed hail Mary. It inspired me and working for the rest of the night was easy. I finally wrapped it up and have the entire packet ready to go. I also prepped for my inspirational speech tomorrow. I've gotten some amazing materials from a friend and we've shared stuff that has really helped me in all aspects of my life. It'll be easy to sleep tonight as today was simply miraculous. 

~:[CH4 - Day 336]:~ Beyond Amazing x Infinity

~:[CH4 - Day 336]:~ Beyond Amazing x Infinity

There was something special in the air today but I knew it would be a crazy busy day. I had a lot of things setup for today for awhile and things kind of fell into place. After hearing some awesome speeches and covering a good amount of material, I ate a delicious lunch that Sunny brought for me and snapped the photos of my senior XCers. It was great to see most of them together and always is a bit nostalgic. After class, I headed out to the Broad for my afternoon reservation. Hearing of the queue to get into the infinity room, I headed over early and got in at the on-site entry. When trying to add my name to the queue, I was told, it was full. I ended up checking back later and it opened up and so I added my name! After touring the museum, I grabbed a quick lunch at Lemonade at MOCA before heading back. The 95 minute wait soon became about half that with no line at the infinity room. You get 45 seconds in the room and while I got lost in the beauty of the room and soaked it all in, I did end up getting a picture of me in the room. It was amazing how something like that is so amazing, but the best inspiration was yet to come. After stopping at Salt & Straws to get some avocado and strawberry sherberts, sampling mincemeat pie, and also getting a little taste of the lavender and egg nog, I made my drop off and then headed to the meeting of the inspirational and motivational minds. I wasn't sure that this meeting was going to happen, but I am so glad that it did. Tonight helped me realize how each of us has our own stories and while things may seem great, we all have our struggles that we must deal with and we each do it in our own way; however, we have a collection of those we have grown to trust and love to be there for us. I soaked in so much and was so amazed at how I began to feel as the night went on. I cannot even describe the feeling I had at the end of the night, but it definitely felt like I was ready to take on the world "to infinity and beyond." Even after I got home, I had a great moment with my parents before I headed off to work, but as I reflect on the day, I just cannot even tell you how wonderful today was and how it compares to some of the best days in my life. Things just fell into place and reminded me that things don't just fall into place by accident, but that everything happens for a reason and everyone we encounter in our life is there to impact us in some way, shape or form. Today solidified that I have been impacted for the better. 

~:[CH4 - Day 335]:~ The Right Moment

~:[CH4 - Day 335]:~ The Right Moment

Today was kind of mellow. Nothing much was going on. It was busy though. As preparation for the banquet begins, we began doing some prep for the banquet and I happened to capture this picture at just the right moment. Quite hilarious and you can't even tell what is going on here. My computer is working hard as it is converting about 400GB of video footage and I am almost done with the program. This process is becoming more and more routine and it's nice when you don't have to think much to do a lot of work. I also got some planning done from my Asia trip this summer. I booked another room and filled out all the paperwork to see my sponsor child. I cannot wait. I also stopped by Tpumps again and now I have my stash of drinks for the week. What a great way to start off the final month of the year!

~:[CH4 - Day 334]:~ The First W

~:[CH4 - Day 334]:~ The First W

The first day back almost was a disaster as I woke up late, but of course, got there early enough to beat the traffic in. Throughout the day, I knew it wouldn't be a pretty one, so I kept the workload light and everyone made it through the first day, fairly unscathed. After my classes, I headed out and began working on more banquet prep. It took me a bit to get my hard drives reformatted just right so that I could use them for what I needed them for. I then headed out and on my way to the game. The team we played had at least two huge guys and outsized us, but size doesn't always matter. We ran the floor and kept the pressure up and went up by as much as 28. We were able to rest players in the fourth in what was becoming a fairly sketchy game where it was nice to keep them out of the game. It was also a long game with double bonuses already happening in the first quarter! In any case, it was a great way to start the season and while it will be a long one, it should be fun!

~:[CH4 - Day 333]:~ I Work, Sometimes

~:[CH4 - Day 333]:~ I Work, Sometimes

Every so often, I get a day where I just sit down and focus and do work. It wasn't quite that way today but I did happen to get a lot of work done today. I sat down and began really focusing on the banquet prep, which I am right on schedule for, I hope. In any case, I did get a lot of work done for the banquet on top of my laundry (not a single piece of laundry left to wash). However, I did get distracted when I got called out for lunch (Sweetee Thai) and then a stop at Fusion. It was a good break from my work and I came back focused and ready to go again. Regardless, while I have a lot of work ahead, I made pretty good progress and made me glad at what I did over the break despite not being home very much. I do have a lot of work ahead of me, but I know I can do it if everything goes as planned! Here goes the busiest stretch of my year, cross country banquet prep!

~:[CH4 - Day 332]:~ Avoiding Disaster

~:[CH4 - Day 332]:~ Avoiding Disaster

I woke up super early after staying up super late last night, but it was all worth it. I headed out a little late but got to Irvine just about when I was suppose to. We then headed down to Poway to the Mt. Woodson trail. I knew what to expect in terms of the "finish line" but the hike up was quite nice as well. I think my hike at Rainier helped prepare me for this hike and many others, as it was pretty much an easy ascent except for the fact that I didn't really eat before heading out. I avoided disaster however and made it to the top. The line at the top was long and I was able to find someone to take our group photo but I was able to take the individual and small group ones. I, in turn, took pictures for the group of the girl who took my picture before heading down the mountain. It was definitely a great hike and glad I ended up heading out to avoid the disaster of not going. We ventured to Pizza Port and grabbed some great food before heading back. I didn't drive and ended up passing out on the way home. I headed home, but ended up at Hard Times and shot some pool. I was shooting okay tonight but a little off. It was great seeing Nat who returned from Arizona for the weekend! I then ventured off to Tpumps to grab a few drinks to make the evening perfect. Well, actually, seeing a few more people who picked up their Tpumps made it even better. It was awesome to have a little time to relax after getting home and while I am sore, it was worth ever bit of pain I will feel tomorrow.

~:[CH4 - Day 331]:~ Making the Most Out of It

~:[CH4 - Day 331]:~ Making the Most Out of It

Leftovers is often the theme of the holidays, however, why eat the same food you at the day or days before when you can turn it into something more. I often take my leftover saltado and make it into a soup! It was great to do so and added a little bit of spice to the traditional leftover. The day itself was left to cleaning and designing. I was able to make my way through an entire shelf of papers and have progressed to tossing so much stuff! It feels so good to do so. I also designed two shirts that we needed done for our banquet, as I began making the program for it as well! I ventured out to grab some boba for some much needed catch up time. I then ventured to our captains meeting where we began planning for next year. As I was leaving, I ran into a few alumni, as we got to catch up, which is always a great thing. I cleaned into the night, but kept thinking of how blessed I am and grateful for all that I have been given. 

~:[CH4 - Day 330]:~ More Than Just The Food

~:[CH4 - Day 330]:~ More Than Just The Food

It was the first time in awhile that I did not head to the Turkey Trot. It was nice not to have to wake up and have a lot more time in my day than usual. I woke up, did a little bit of work, picked up my groceries and then began my prep. I watched football as I did and while the games did not pan out the way I had hoped, the day is always more than just good food, football, or shopping. Thanksgiving is all about the relationships that we forge with us - family and friends. While we should treasure our relationships all the time, today is definitely a reminder of how lucky we are to have people around us who love us and blessed with all the things that we have. Whether we are barely making it or well off, we have a lot of gratitude to give, as we have a heartbeat that allows us to love. I am so very thankful for all those who have been a part of my life in all capacities and cannot imagine a moment without you all it. No matter the role you play,  you are an integral part of the success that I have experienced over the past year and over the course of my life. As I downed my last morsel of food, I smiled, not because I was happy with all the deliciousness, but because I was surrounded by those who I loved and that is the greatest thing that I could be given and the reason why I am so thankful.

~:[CH4 - Day 329]:~ No Place Like Home

~:[CH4 - Day 329]:~ No Place Like Home

I live a life on the road as most people have figured out, but in the end, there is no place like home. After back-to-back trips to Vegas, I was glad to be back at home and headed to a family gathering. Before I left Vegas, I went to the ever-so-generous Hangover machine and collected my allowance as it paid out AGAIN! This time, I ended up with $500 prize that definitely made my trip a lot better. With Raising Canes in my stomach for the second time this week, I was happy and the smooth drive home even made it better. I headed to our family party and just caught up with everyone. I played Galaga as usual and set the two highest scores again! I guess growing up in the arcade has paid off for something :P ... the food is always good at these gatherings, but seeing the family is even better. Nothing can match it and I cannot wait for the rest of the celebrations. While adventure awaits beyond and there is so much to explore in the world, I am definitely glad to be home, as there is no place like it!

~:[CH4 - Day 328]:~ Paradise in Paradise

~:[CH4 - Day 328]:~ Paradise in Paradise

It was our annual round in Vegas and as usual, we had to wake up super early to get to the course on time for our tee time, which is set right before the rate goes up. We hit the course at 7:30am and while we thought we were paired with someone else, it just ended up being my dad and I. I started on the right foot and thought the day would be fabulous, but it ended up being a pretty rough day. I ended up with a birdie after I sunk a bunker shot and almost got a hole-in-one on a short par 3, as the ball rolled just past the hole leaving an easy birdie putt. The wind picked up and made the round very challenging and despite the horrific day, I still ended up in the 80s. Bali Hai is always a great course to play! We headed to Monta Ramen after and enjoyed a nice bowl of ramen to warm ourselves in the cold weather. When returning back, we hit the floor and gambled the rest of the evening. My night was going pretty well until I stopped off at Casino War, trying to make a quick buck. Mistake. Haha ... oh well, better luck next time. While waiting to go to dinner, I laid down and ended up waking up in the morning, missing dinner altogether. I guess Bacchanal on Monday was worth two dinners. It will was a great day and was truly paradise. 

~:[CH4 - Day 327]:~ Coming Full Circle

~:[CH4 - Day 327]:~ Coming Full Circle

I was trying to figure out a way to make it work so I wouldn't have to go home, but it didn't work out so our team headed out after downing some Raising Canes and back to Cerritos. There was a little bit of backup but for the most part it was a smooth ride home and it was quite enjoyable as well. We got a little delayed though, so I ended up getting home at about 2:20pm and by 2:50pm was back on the road back to Vegas.  Yes, you heard me right, I headed back to Vegas after driving back. It was a smooth trip after we got out of local traffic and we were in line for Bacchanal just after 7pm. Yes, I went to Bacchanal on back-to-back days. The wait was much longer, but my dad and I got in and still got to enjoy dinner. After getting back, I was beat, so I ended up laying on the bed and just getting in some shut eye. There's along day ahead, but I am glad that I made it back safely and in a timely manner. 

~:[CH4 - Day 326]:~ More Than a Race

~:[CH4 - Day 326]:~ More Than a Race

We woke up early and headed to the park for the race. The park was already crowded as many of the younger racers got on the course. We had a number of good races and everyone who raced ended up qualifying for the National JO Championships in Albuquerque. However, the best part of the trip was just seeing everyone come together and enjoy their time together. On our way home, we stopped at Poke Express and the Nike & Asics outlets. We then ventured back and headed to Bacchanal. I thought we would be waiting forever, but our group of 13 took only 15 minutes to get seated. I was amazed and the athletes looked like they enjoyed the experience. We then headed back to the hotel and ended up bowling three games each since they all wanted one more game. I was beat and relaxed for a bit while the team played a game they bought. It definitely ended on a positive note and am glad that this trip came together and these athletes got to get to know each other. I am truly blessed and was reminded that doing this is more than just the race, but the experience that each of these athletes get to have in the process. 

~:[CH4 - Day 325]:~ Let the Show Begin

~:[CH4 - Day 325]:~ Let the Show Begin

We headed out in the morning and ended up at Vegas for the regional JOs. The first group left in the morning and we had a pretty smooth drive. We were able to stop at Monta Ramen. We then walked the strip from Aria, up to the Venetian, and back down through Treasure Island, Mirage, and the Bellagio before heading to the Monte Carlo to eat. We enjoyed the time out there and ended the night with Zakara. I tried my best to surprise them that we were going to watch a Cirque show since I got a deal for them and there were a number of great performances as usual. I was exhausted by the time we got back but before we headed to sleep, we had to fix our shower since it only shot out hot water. In the end though, we had a great night and the it's time for the races to begin.

~:[CH4 - Day 324]:~ Coming Back Home

~:[CH4 - Day 324]:~ Coming Back Home

It's always fun to be apart of the alumni game, as you get to see the Dons of the past come back to the floor. For most of them, I get a chance to catch up and see how things are going. This year, we were able to get a good handle on them, as we distance ourselves from them early taking the victory. The girls varsity edged their alumni, and the staff and coaches both won as well. While I didn't play so well, I was pretty happy on how things turned out except for the fact that I messed up my left hand a bit, as a bruised formed down my palm. The day itself was also wonderful as we made thank you cards for Thanksgiving. After wrapping up our Columbus trials, the students showed their creative sides and decorated the cards so beautifully. It was a great and exhausting last day which ended with a stop at Tpumps and LA, but ultimately, I made it home and started getting everything together for tomorrow's trip and the start of travel season ... at least nine trips in the next 15 weeks. Let's go! 

~:[CH4 - Day 323]:~ Finding Comfort

~:[CH4 - Day 323]:~ Finding Comfort

Yes, this may not look appropriate, but the aesthetics of it was something I could not resist. Why post a picture of pants that have just been taken off? It was funny because it made me think of the moment you get home when you just want to take of your pants and get comfortable. I'm sure we've all done it. It's much like life as sometimes we are in positions that may not be the most comfortable and when we have the opportunity to be ourselves, it feels so good just to let loose. I thought about it though and wondered, why do I have to try so hard? I guess I really don't. However, a part of me doesn't mind wearing the pants as long as I have that moment of glory to look forward to, where I change into something more comfortable and lay down in bed. I got to do that after a fairly calm day. We continued our Columbus trial, analyzed the economics of Disneyland, ran to a junior high meet, and I finished the evening with a wonderful dinner with a friend. I had a nice drive and was able to finish up the video for this weekend. Overall, I got through it and I just hope that those around me can find he joy and comfort that I feel, as I've found a place where comfort reigns supreme.

~:[CH4 - Day 322]:~ Once Again

~:[CH4 - Day 322]:~ Once Again

This meal was something ... something I've had almost every week or every other week; however, I enjoy it and don't mind the repetition. Similarly, we started our Christopher Columbus trial and while I have done this before, I do enjoy it and don't mind doing it year after year. It was an interesting day as I had a few cancellations which opened up my schedule, but while that happened, things seemed to work out. I ended up more free time during the day and got a good conversation with a wonderful friend who has always been a rock in my life. While I had a lot more planned for the day, I did enjoy just catching up and getting things I didn't plan on getting to today done. People always say you need some spice in your life, but sometimes, just the norm is exactly what you need.