~:[CH4 - Day 120]:~ Greater than the W

~:[CH4 - Day 120]:~ Greater than the W

It's definitely a benefit to win, but most times, there are greater things than getting the victory. Like others, I often get caught up in the competition and don't see the silver linings until later. However, today was both a difficult and amazing day. After struggling to get a few athletes to do their part, I realized how many other of my athletes did their job like clockwork, As I looked up, things were getting done and many of the athletes did what they were suppose to without question. Later on, I saw two of the athletes I struggled with fall into the same routine. I saw someone struggling under a dark cloud at the beginning season find the sunshine by the end. I saw a student that no one would think would join and compete with the team, finish his last race of senior year. It's a bit magical and definitely greater than getting a win. While we ended up taking home one of the two races, this was the first day after a meet that I did not check the book as much as I looked back at the photos. Today was the last day of the regular season and I was glad to have the amazing moments today and will make it a project to work on those moments that were a challenge.

~:[CH4 - Day 119]:~ Finding Fame

~:[CH4 - Day 119]:~ Finding Fame

It was a pretty exhausting day, as I was up late the night before and had to wake up early. As I moved my way through the day, I was able to make it through Econ and also through World/MUN. I traded lunches today with my IA, as he had dumplings for a number of days straight and it was my third fay of Yoshinoya. Since the dumplings were not too filling, I ended up stopping at Northern Cafe for a quick snack and to pack away lunch for the rest of the week. I also grabbed some milk tea to make this day so fabulous! After our last practice of the season as a whole team, I ran into an old teammate of mine from the track team. It was cool to run into him, even though I didn't recognize him. It was cool that his son will be carrying the track and field torch going forward. Just before that I played two varsity tennis players in tennis. I had my dress shoes on, so I knew I would be no match for them and I was right. They wrecked me. Next time, I'll be sure to be ready. Since I was sweaty, I headed home to shower before going to the musical. As always, it was a great production and fun taking photos with Mr. B for the last time at the play, as he will be retiring! I'm sure he'll make guest appearances, but always sad when the curtain closes on another chapter. Regardless, it was a great day and while exhausting, it was worth every minute.

~:[CH4 - Day 118]:~ Just Gotta Dance

~:[CH4 - Day 118]:~ Just Gotta Dance

Sometimes things don't work out right ... you can't seem to stand up straight, you spend hours fixing someone else's mistake, you don't get the girls, the tip in doesn't count (Matt Barnes) ... however, sometimes, you just got to get up and dance. You can't control many things in life and sometimes you just have to let go and say, I'll come back and make it right next time, but for now, I'll just dance. Sure, you want to fix things, but sometimes, it's just not worth all the emotional drama to stress over it; so just dance! Dance they did ... the spanish 3 classes broke into a coordinated but unannounced dance in the middle of the quad today. I was out there because I heard that it was going to take place, but it was really cool to see so many students involved in this psuedo flashmob. Things didn't quite work out the way I had hoped in a few aspects, but like my students, I think I'll just get up and dance now. 

~:[CH4 - Day 117]:~ From Peru with Love

~:[CH4 - Day 117]:~ From Peru with Love

After a day of making it through and also hearing the students talk about their improvements on this year in MUN, I headed to practice to finalize our lists for league. It's always a tedious process and you never want to forget anyone. Hopefully we didn't. Afterward, I headed to Mario's to grab a quick bite to eat. It was so delicious! We headed down to It's Boba Time. When we arrived, it wasn't too crowded but got more crowded as the night went on. One of my basketball players works there and ran into one of my former high school classmates there as well, which is always cool! Of course, I had some work to do at home, so I headed out and finished it all up and even was left with some time for shut eye. Life is good!

~:[Spotlight]:~ Shannon (Kung) Lee

~:[Spotlight]:~ Shannon (Kung) Lee

While Shannon will be in the spotlight on social media the next few days after a wonderful wedding and reception, I still wanted to spotlight her on the special day for the amazingness that she has brought into my life. It is amazing how the world brings people into your life at just the right moment. When things were getting a bit rough, Shannon re-entered my life and helped to bring some inspiration and motivation back into my life. We had spent so many days crossing paths in MUN in high school, it could only be MUN that brought us back together in 2007 as our team ventured to Chicago, the city where she was living. In any case, since they we've shared so many great memories and she even helped out, taking photos with me at Sadies and Prom. (See our matching MUN sweaters.) Regardless, all of our conversations and adventures got me back on track and owe much of my recovery to you. As distance has always been a factor, I am glad that our friendship has been fluid enough to never break apart and I hope that we get to share so many more memories together. I wish you the biggest of congratulations on your wedding day and hope for nothing but clear skies and sunny weather, as that is exactly what you bring to the lives of those around you. I believe it was you who pushed away the stormy weather, as today's clear skies and sunshine was a great summary of all you do for those around you. Thanks for all the motivations, inspiration and sometimes perspiration, as it has meant the world to my life, similarly to what you have been to me. 

*****

The spotlight is a column that will highlight at least one person every week who deserves all the gratitude in the world for what they do. While the individual may never make the headline news, they are the type of person that deserve their moment in the spotlight.

~:[CH4 - Day 116]:~ The Best Day of Our Lives

~:[CH4 - Day 116]:~ The Best Day of Our Lives

Weddings are always a blessing to attend, especially when it is someone who you have known for over half of your lifetime. Since my junior year, Shannon has been a fixture in my life and someone who has always been an inspiration. She has been the bright spot when things had gone dark, always seeing the positive side of things in life. I am happy to see her so happy and to share this moment with someone who she loves so dearly. Her vows were incredible and showed the true love that she has found. I was so glad to have shared this evening with her, Lawrence, and their family and friends. It was a great night filled with great food, great fun, and definitely great memories that we will carry with us going forward. As the song, the best days of our lives played in their photo montage, I couldn't help to think how they will remember this day for the rest of their lives and I was lucky enough to share this day with them. Congratulations to Shannon and Lawrence and I wish you two nothing but the best as you begin your journey together!

~:[CH4 - Day 115]:~ All Grown Up

~:[CH4 - Day 115]:~ All Grown Up

It was my last conference of the year and it's always one of my favorites as I get to see how the students have grown over the course of the year. This year, they showed that they are ready for next year. I had 44 students get awards this conference and a number of others who showed great improvement and were probably on the borderline of winning one. I also had five freshman best delegates and two more just half a point off of it, so it was definitely a great day. I also got some time to catch up with mama Grace as we filled ourselves with joy at Rascal's. Oh how I love Rascals! In any case, it ended up being a great day and night and I look forward to the rest of the weekend!

~:[CH4 - Day 114]:~ Boba Time

~:[CH4 - Day 114]:~ Boba Time

The day itself went by fairly quickly as after collecting projects and analyzing commercials in Econ and going through conference preparation with the freshman, it was time to hit practice. With the clouds rolling in overhead, it was pretty chilly through the day, but with a food run, it ended up being a good day. I spent some time with Dylan and Karis as they both love boba. My name from Dylan is Uncle Boba and Karis now knows how to say boba. Double monsters now! After getting home, I witnessed the Clippers worst playoff game in their history, however, regardless of how bad they lost, it's a loss and they just have to try and bounce back. As I said, it's a tough draw for the first round and hopefully they have it in them to regain home court advantage with a win. Since it's conference day tomorrow, it will be an early turn in. Good night world.

~:[CH4 - Day 113]:~ In Good Spirits

~:[CH4 - Day 113]:~ In Good Spirits

The day was similar to yesterday as we had speeches in class, which showed a lot of improvement from September. I am so glad to be working with these students and seeing them progress. As the day rolled on, I began to finish prepping for our big meet this week. For the distances, it always is a great meet and for the team, it was going to be an important one as well. In the end, with a full team effort, we were able to pull off the sweep against Norwalk, which left our team in good spirits at the end of the day. It was great to see everyone excited and happy, which made tonight's meal at Sweetee Thai even more delicious! Sadly, the day ended watching the Pelicans' collapse, but nothing could spoil the great day!

~:[CH4 - Day 112]:~ Kickin' Back

~:[CH4 - Day 112]:~ Kickin' Back

Okay, so I cheated a little. Since I didn't have a picture for this day, I used one from the day after since I hadn't written this post yet, but sometimes, it just doesn't pan out. Regardless, I did spend some time on the couch with my dog, JD. We watched the NBA playoff games all night, as I fell asleep for the first half of the Clippers game. I saw the comeback, but sadly, the Clippers didn't finish it off and fell to the Spurs. As Doc always says, "they're the champions until someone beats them" and it's going to take a big effort to knock them out. During the day, we got through a lot of speeches and I was so impressed with the quality of the speeches. They keep getting better and I am so excited and how well everyone is doing! Practice was a quick one as we got ready for one of our big meets of the season. Let's see how things go but for the night, I think I'm just going to kick back.

~:[CH4 - Day 111]:~ The Long Road Ahead

~:[CH4 - Day 111]:~ The Long Road Ahead

It was quite an interesting day, as I tried to get most of my work done in a timely manner. I finished grading and all was good. After making it through the day, we had a great practice despite the cold temperatures that tried to slow our interval day down. Ultimately, we made it through. We made our final stop of the season at Roadrunners which ended up being pretty quick and easy. When I got back, I had dinner with the family, before laying out plans for a small trip when summer arrives. It will be cool to go on a mini road trip and I can't wait to see the adventures that await. Of course, since it's all on paper, nothing is set in stone yet, but once I begin planning this much, usually I don't back out. So I guess it's time to get ready for an adventure. 

~:[CH4 - Day 110]:~ How Sweet It is

~:[CH4 - Day 110]:~ How Sweet It is

So it's a little tilted. It still was a nice treat to receive in the morning and a great way to start off the day. (Thanks) When you get off the right foot, things always tend to get better, as I rolled through the day. It was a light day in my classes which allowed me to catch up a little on grading as well. With an AP Lit project due, my attendance in first period was pretty low, which included practice as well. It also ended up being a better day as I could repay for the treat and also grab me a delicious lunch at my favorite spot, which means lunch for the week. I got a little lifting in today as well, but ultimate, it was a mellow day with little going on. Sometimes these are the sweetest days, especially when you are exhausted. I took a nap watching the Warriors vs Pelicans game and woke back up to finish off a little bit of work. Regardless, it was a good day and started all by a little bit of generosity.

~:[CH4 - Day 109]:~ Rising to the Challenge

~:[CH4 - Day 109]:~ Rising to the Challenge

I didn't like how we pretty much got the vote of no confidence from everyone heading into this series with the Spurs. Of course, we were playing the defending champions, however, the consensus was out, Spurs were going to take the series. I was nervous throughout the day and I was waiting for game time all day long. After a great dinner, my family and I headed to the game. The introduction was awesome and it was a great way to start a great game. We made a lot of mistakes and we were lucky that the Spurs did not knock down their shots, but we also played pretty well throughout the game and showed that we shouldn't be taken lightly. The series is FAR from over, especially against a team like the Spurs, but I think this game was the way we wanted to start. I was proud to be in our section, as we had a super spirited section who started a lot of the chants on the night! Go Clippers go!

~:[CH4 - Day 108]:~ Into the City

~:[CH4 - Day 108]:~ Into the City

I spent the morning relaxing. I was able to catch on some things I have left on my to do list from a few years ago and felt so good to finish some of those tasks off! After doing so and watching some playoff basketball, I dressed up and headed to prom. It was fun going to prom and seeing everyone dressed up. I was able to catch a good number of people while at the dance and also satisfied my hunger with the chicken marsala! I couldn't have asked for more. It was pretty warm inside, so I spent much of the time outside, however, it was pretty fun and I had a few good conversations throughout the evening. Proms are always fun to go to, especially seeing everyone all dressed up and looking nice. Of course, now I am exhausted and ready to crash. I must have been tired tonight, because a lot of my pictures were crooked. I am too tired to fix them, so I'll just let them be since it's an easy fix. Good night world!

~:[CH4 - Day 107]:~ Back from the Past

~:[CH4 - Day 107]:~ Back from the Past

Back in high school, I asked a girl to Homecoming using a card trick and I brought a version of it back today when asking Holly to prom. In the most subtle way possible, I glanced into her office and said, I learned a new card trick today and went from there. She dropped me a "subtle" hint the other day that my brother didn't ask her, so I put my plan into action. Of course, I am not trying to steal her from my brother, despite all the drama that ensued (of course, the drama was not "real"). The day itself went pretty smoothly mixed in with Yoshinoya, TapEX and a nice relaxing evening, something I haven't had in some time. I also heard good news for how our school evaluation went for the Gold Ribbons so sounds like all that time put in did not go to waste. In any case, now it's time to think about what I am going to wear for prom. You would think this issue would have ended in high school, but being a teacher, this could be a problem I face for the rest of my life.

~:[CH4 - Day 106]:~ Miscue

~:[CH4 - Day 106]:~ Miscue

I woke up in the morning and searched for the right clothes for the Great Gatsby prom throwback dress up, unfortunately, it was on Friday. I walked into school awkwardly, as I was dressed and no one else was, as they wondered, why are you dressed so fancy? As I made my way through the day, the mistake was magnified as it was hot and my stomach wasn't feeling so well. Of course, I survived though. I changed before I headed out to the meet and got all set up. As I did, the sprinklers splashed my speaker, some other equipment and all my papers, leaving a mess in its track. I also had to run around to find someone to line our fields, as it was the second home meet in a row that our field were not marked. It was quite upsetting and not the way I wanted to start the meet, especially after learning earlier this week that the field would be closed due to seeding (after we had a break where we had no home meets for three weeks - a stretch they could have done this). However, the day got better as we had some success on the field and athletes came out of their events happy. We wrapped up the meet early and I got dinner at a decent hour and poured down the shabu shabu into my empty stomach. I guess, no matter what goes wrong in a day, if you keep pushing through, you can turn it into a good one, as all I remember is the good food and company and I guess that's all that really matters.

~:[CH4 - Day 105]:~ Raising the Bar

~:[CH4 - Day 105]:~ Raising the Bar

It was a bit of a crazy day as a lot was going on. At our staff meeting, they showed the power point I had made over the break and it's funny because I am there taking notes of all the changes that could be made to it. I guess I could classify myself as being a bit anal because I couldn't help myself. In econ, we got to talk about the economics of Disneyland, one of my favorite days to open the classes eyes to business strategies. After meeting with my seniors to discuss end of the year items, we had picture day. It's always one of my least favorite days because of all the asking of, "why can't I borrow a jersey" and things of the like, however, it's also fun to have mini photo shoots after the main picture and those can be quite fun. This year, I got a few good ones and it was hard to choose the one I liked the best. Since the timing on this one was good, I decided to go with this one ... almost perfect leveling! Regardless, this post-shoot was one of the best and it made me leave with a smile on my face. I hurried up after practice and headed to CPE for the girls basketball banquet. The food was delicious and it was nice to just sit at a banquet instead of having to do anything. It was a full day, but definitely a fun one!

~:[CH4 - Day 104]:~ Just Chillin'

~:[CH4 - Day 104]:~ Just Chillin'

I love my family. They seem to be able to turn an ordinary day into a great one. We love to just hang out together and watch the Clippers play or something else. You'd be surprised at how much both my parents know about sports and various statistics, etc. Tuesday nights are normally when we are all back together including my brother who is not in this picture. I guess these are the moments you cannot take for granted and while we are just at home, the most important thing is that we are all together. For that, I am grateful. 

~:[Spotlight]:~ Snitra & Analia (The USGs of My Life)

~:[Spotlight]:~ Snitra & Analia (The USGs of My Life)
Sometimes in life, people come and go. Sometimes they go because of a fight or argument or maybe because your friendship was really not that strong; however, sometimes it's simply because you lose touch. Getting busy is no excuse for losing touch with simple people, but when you think of these people often, you know that they had a special place in your life and thus, deserve a moment in the spotlight. Snitra and Analia were my two Under Secretary Generals my first few years when running the UC Irvine MUN Conference. They helped me grow the conference from a few hundred to about 1500 and helped me attract schools from different states and even Mexico! Of course, they were more than helpers, they were my sanity. When everyone else was too busy to help, they would give me a call and see if I needed help, even if they were too busy themselves. They would calm my nerves, slap me when I was going crazy, make me laugh when I needed to relax and even feed me when I would try to work through the day without a meal, yes, they literally forced food down my throat. I always try to do too much and these two were some of the few who would take the work from me since they knew I wasn't going to do a good job delegating work. I may have gotten my love for Disneyland from Snitra, as it was one of her favorite places. She definitely was my enforcer and would put her foot down for me or at least remind me that I needed to raise my voice up. Analia would knock some sense into me and be sure that I took care of myself, being the great mother then that I know she is today. I wish I saw these two more and I hope that the future brings us back together, but as of now, I can give them a moment in the spotlight, as they have helped me develop as a Model UN advisor and also as a person.

*****

The spotlight is a column that will highlight at least one person every week who deserves all the gratitude in the world for what they do. While the individual may never make the headline news, they are the type of person that deserve their moment in the spotlight.

~:[CH4 - Day 103]:~ Sometimes You Just Need to Relax

~:[CH4 - Day 103]:~ Sometimes You Just Need to Relax

It was the Monday after Spring Break and it obviously was going to be a tough one. With students absent and rolling in late, it was not the best start to the rest of the quarter, but not really unexpected. Regardless, I went through the day talking about Seattle's minimum wage, showing a video of Lenin, finishing up the Gold Ribbon presentation and getting out there for practice. With all the leftovers we had from Ragnar, I fed a team of hungry students who cleared out my car. I sadly washed away the window paint from my car, the last reminder of Ragnar on my van. We celebrated the birthday of one of our athletes with some Frostbites and then I headed home to catch the Clippers game and finish up the additions to the presentation. I knocked out only to wake up to a Clipper win and a good feeling from my nap. In the weight room earlier, I snapped some photos and we had some fun ones. Sometimes, you just need to relax and have a good time and forget about all the stress in the world around. Today was one of those days and it felt good to do so. It was not the best day because we were back, but I made the most of it and that's all you can ask for.

~:[CH4 - Day 102]:~ To Be a Ragnarian

~:[CH4 - Day 102]:~ To Be a Ragnarian

I woke up this morning sore, but realizing that every sore muscle was worth it. For those who have never done a Ragnar Relay, first, I would have to say, it's not for everyone; however, it can be one of the most amazing experiences you have if you can really get into it. As I sit here and reflect on the weekend, I realize just how awesome of an experience it is. As I mentioned yesterday, it allowed me to connect with the past and present with alumni coming back, coaches and old high school friends. Stuck in two separate vans all weekend, we built something so amazing and learn to adapt to each other. There is also a role for everyone from the driver, to the organizer, the social media director, the cheerleader, the creative mind, the navigator, the tagger and more. It can be those out for competition, but also for those who want to have a leisurely experience and the accomplishment of saying, I finished. Sure, you have to be able to run or walk a pretty long distance, but if you are able and willing, it will be worth every step. Our team was the Hogwartz Express, as we divided our team into two vans ... van 1 (Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw) and van 2 (Gryffindor and Slytherin). We decorated our car, handed out buttons and spammed Instagram like no other (I'm sure many of you saw!). While all of this was great, it is what you couldn't see that made it amazing. The small chats in the cars about random things, trying to find a comfortable position to fall asleep in, reminding your teammate to turn on their headlamp or hydrate, trying to time your naps and meals, and more. What do you get out of it? You get a shirt, an awesome medal and a lot of sore muscles, but more importantly, you just made a memory you cannot forget. Some may fall prey to the difficulties of the event and get sick or injured but in most cases, there is someone on your team to step up in your spot and take over. Fortunately, we didn't fall into that position, however, I felt the support of my team and their excitement through the process. I once again thank my team, as while my legs were tough, it was like a piece of cake with you all by my side as my inspiration. I am proud to stand by your side as a Ragnarian of 2015.

~:[CH4 - Day 101]:~ Pure Joy

~:[CH4 - Day 101]:~ Pure Joy

I got the baton at half past midnight as I had my shortest leg of the relay. I felt so good. There were rolling hills on my leg but nothing compared to my first leg, plus it was nice and cool. The last hill was a little killer, but once I got rolling on the downhill towards the finish, I saw my target and went after it. I was able to out kick that target at the end and it felt so good because I finished that leg without any issues. I was getting a bit tired, as was my car as we crept into the evening, so we headed to the next relay zone to grab some sleep and I was about to get a 2.5 hour nap in my car and it felt so great. As we headed through our route, all I could think about was the moment of my last leg. I grabbed the baton around 8am and headed up my same route I've taken for the past three Ragnars. At the end of the route, I pushed through the finish line and raced a lady to the finish. I pulled away at the end with my cape and wand and the smile on my face when completing the race was not going to go away. I was so happy to have finished and knowing that I would not have another leg ahead. We were able to get on the course to see Andrew and Natalie and in between we stopped at Bristol Farms and McDonalds. We headed to the finish line and chatted with some people and relaxed as we waited for the other van. As we headed to the finish, we found out that Audrey had already finished in quite a good time. 

It was great to celebrate with our full team together, as for most of the race we don't get to see each other. It made me realize how lucky I was to have such a great team. The stress of preparation and the exhaustion of the race was worth ever moment we had together. It was also amazing to bring generations of Cerritos Dons together as some of my former runners who didn't know each other got to spend time together, increasing the strength of the ohana. We also had two coaches (one current, one former) and alumni from when I was in high school on the team and their significant others to complete the team. The rest of the day, I just kept thinking of how great it was to be with this group and we enjoyed the night as we down plate after plate of meat to refuel at Korean BBQ after our trek. We even made a stop at Iceskimo before going back to the hotel to crash. I keep smiling thinking about the past 24 hours and am so happy that we survived. When we pieced our medals together, it was more than just medals coming together, but a group of people who now have an accomplishment that they can share together. It was amazing and words could never summarize how this relay went. It was truly indescribable. 

~:[CH4 - Day 100]:~ Day of the Century

~:[CH4 - Day 100]:~ Day of the Century

I didn't get to sleep much last night so I was a little worried I would be exhausted through the night but I survived. It was quite the fun day as we met at the starting line and got all of our swag organized. We snapped our first few photos as we saw that there were not many teams at the starting line. We drew an 11:30am start which was a little of a worry because we started so far behind everyone. As we started out, the cool morning started to warm up as we made our way through the race and so when I took over, it was a challenge to run my longest leg which had a pretty good sized hill. After we finished, we were able to stop at A&Js and then take a little rest at Gary & Margie's. We had to head down to the Oceanside Pier to get to our virtual exchange. It was sad that we didn't get to see the other van but we took it in "stride." As the night hours arrived, it started to get a bit colder which made it nice to move through our legs. As it approached midnight, it was not yet time for me run. I was a little exhausted, but was ready to run. 

~:[CH4 - Day 99]:~ A Little Warmth Inside

~:[CH4 - Day 99]:~ A Little Warmth Inside

It was a little crazy as I tried to get everything ready for tomorrow's race. I ran around and never really stopped today, as I worked through the night and still have a bit to do tomorrow. However, I took some time to provide some warmth as I took in this delicious bowl of ramen after picking up one of my teammates for the Ragnar Relay. It was quite the long drive down to San Diego, but always an enjoyable one. I wish I had a magic wand to get all this work done. Ironically, that is what our team is all about, magic.

~:[CH4 - Day 98]:~ On the Fly

~:[CH4 - Day 98]:~ On the Fly

I flew in this morning and got home at about 3am and headed to practice just before 7am. It was a tough morning but I survived and made it on time. I ended up running a bit in my new Hokas and they felt pretty nice. I am not sure if I will run in them this weekend, but I will definitely have them with me. It was great getting back into the groove of things and even having time to grab a quick bite to eat before heading to our bonfire. We had a pretty good showing and while they didn't do the best of jobs bringing food, we ended up having a pretty good night. The wind killed most of the day as most of us were just trying to avoid it, but it did settle down a little into the night to at least allow us to enjoy a bit of it, most of us anyway. We also got to celebrate the birthday of one of our athletes, which was pretty awesome. At the end of the night, I got cleaned up pretty fast and was able to get a few things done before I have to turn in. I have a lot of work to do tomorrow, but I am pretty sure I can get it all done. 

~:[CH4 - Day 97]:~ Farewell to the Warmth

~:[CH4 - Day 97]:~ Farewell to the Warmth

It's weird saying this coming from California, but I headed home saying goodbye to the clear skies and the warmth that was Punta Cana to the chilly and rainy weather of Los Angeles (of course the rain stopped before I got home). The day was mostly a restful day as I slept in a bit before grabbing a quick lunch, a little shopping and heading to the airport. What was amazing about it all? The flight boarded 15 minutes early, left 15 minutes early and arrived 45 minutes early! Amazing! Of course, by the time I got through customs and ready to board my flight to LAX, our flight was delayed and we sat at the gate for quite a bit of time before heading off. We ended up landing at about 1am, as I had to wait for my bags, board the shuttle and drive home. Ultimately, I got home half past two and had to be up in a few hours. I slept most of the way home, so I was fine with the delays and the late return because I got a lot of sleep today after a relaxing "weekend."

~:[CH4 - Day 96]:~ A Little Dirt Ain't Kill Nobody

~:[CH4 - Day 96]:~ A Little Dirt Ain't Kill Nobody

It was a late wakeup before grabbing lunch and heading out to ride some buggies. From the pictures, I knew it was going to be a mess and it sure was. I was covered from head to toe in mud, but luckily, I had the helmet to protect my hair. We drove around and saw the caves, the beach and more over the course of four hours and by then, I was ready to go back and sleep. After a quick shower, I hung out at the "theatro" where they have a show every night. It's quite fun actually and was just nice to sit and relax before heading to bed. In any case, it has been an exhausting day and I cannot wait to catch some shut eye. 

~:[CH4 - Day 95]:~ The Most Amazing Thing Ever?

~:[CH4 - Day 95]:~ The Most Amazing Thing Ever?

I finally arrived at my destination and it was quite humid. I was definitely not dressed for the weather. However, once I got picked up, I cooled down and adjusted just fine to the weather. It definitely was a different world, but my four years of Spanish came in handy a bit in order to help me understand some of what people were saying and trying to respond back. My friend was able to connect me with a few people and helped me get a room at a resort so it would be more convenient. Without any plans, it was suggested that I go to CoCo Bongo and am glad that I took that recommendation. I went with my friend and her friends and it was a blast. I kept thinking, how amazing is this and that they should have something like this in LA or at least Las Vegas, but am not sure if regulations would allow them to do so. Imagine Cirque du Soleil meets XS meets Tokyo Delve (without the food) or something along those lines. While I don't really drink, for those who do, the open bar is included in the costs. They hit on most genres and really did a great job with all the performances, video displays and special effects. It was a confetti party but I don't even know how to put the whole experience in words. The only problem ... the seating is a bit crazy and confusing but at least I now know how it's setup. Regardless, it was a late night but definitely one that was exciting. 

~:[CH4 - Day 94]:~ Maybe It's the Life for Me

~:[CH4 - Day 94]:~ Maybe It's the Life for Me

I had a pretty busy day despite very little on the calendar as I prepped to be gone for the rest of the weekend and a few days. I did lots of laundry, yet still a load short of what I hoped to do, I didn't get around to hanging up all my clothes, I didn't make all the buttons I needed to, and I did not finish the power point I need to work on, however, I am on vacation. I packed up my stuff, ate some lunch, ran some errands, and grabbed a last minute boba while checking in on the progress of our team at the LA County Championships. We ended up with a few winners and a few more medalists, which was great to hear after a successful night last night. After getting everything together as much as I could, I headed over to LAX, took the shuttle to the terminal and then lounged around until the flight, watching the Wisconsin versus Kentucky game. My brother and I proclaimed that Wisconsin would win the championships on C-High TV and we are one game from being right, but of course, Duke always spoils the party (remember Kentucky?). In any case, I boarded the tiny airplane bound for Phoenix and the trip started off right as the person next to me, moved and I had the row all to myself! It was a comfortable short flight but I was hungry and to my dismay, everything was already closed upon arrival. I guess I will have to survive on the Pepsi I got from the only vending machine on this side of the terminal. In any case, I am excited, but will be glad when I get sleep on the airplane and hope tomorrow comes fast so I can enjoy paradise. Regardless, I enjoy the adventure even when it's just me, my passport, my laptop, my camera, my phone and my backpack. Let's do this!

~:[CH4 - Day 93]:~ Nothing Like a PR, Baby

~:[CH4 - Day 93]:~ Nothing Like a PR, Baby

I was able to sleep in today and felt well rested when waking up. After relaxing a bit, I was able to catch up on inputting times for track so I knew who PRed at today's meet. I then had to run errands including a Costco run and picking up food for the potlluck. Unfortunately, my order got a little mixed up and I ended up with meat chow main instead of vegetable chow mein so I went back and ordered another tray. In any case, we made it to the meet and it ended up being a great night! It's always fun to watch all these distance races and to see so many of the athletes reach new personal records and get medals! We had 28 people reach new personal records (PRs), nine with new season PRs and eight medalists including one champion. It was great to see the progress and I am excited to see where we can go from here! It was a very long day, I think it's time to sleep!

~:[CH4 - Day 92]:~ It Begins

~:[CH4 - Day 92]:~ It Begins

While most of the students and teachers were already off doing something, our team headed to Mayfair for a track meet. Of course, despite the fact that I was working, it's always a joy to work with these students. It was an important meet and it's a challenge when these important ones fall on this day with athletes out because of spring break. Throughout the day, the students were anxious about getting out of school and their break started. I had to clean up things in my room through the day to make sure I had everything I needed for next week. Ultimately, I got everything done, cleaned and tidy before I left for the meet. The meet went pretty well with a few athletes getting last minute marks and victories that led to a boys varsity win. While we lost the other races, we had some good performances and I know that we have some good races ahead. Our team stopped off at one of my favorite places, Northern Cafe. I was so tired when I got home, all I could think of was sleeping and since I had Friday morning off, I could. Good night world.

~:[CH4 - Day 91]:~ The Jokes on You

~:[CH4 - Day 91]:~ The Jokes on You

Today was April Fools' Day and I forgot it was. Interestingly enough, it was such a busy day, no one really had time to play any jokes on me. I rolled through the Russia Revolution in class, interviewed students all day for the presentation I am making, and then wrapped up practice before heading to Roadrunners to get some athletes some shoes. It was definitely a long day but I ended up coming home to the Clippers game and saw them pull out a victory that looked like the opposite of what happened yesterday as they were down big and came back to win in the end. Regardless, I had a lot of work to do and was able to get a lot of it completed. I am exhausted, but of course, you just got to deal. I can't wait until my vacation, not Spring Break, but my actual vacation ... countdown 3 days!