~:[CH5 - Day 121]: ~ All The Small Things

~:[CH5 - Day 121]: ~ All The Small Things

Sometimes the Blink 182 song begins playing in my head. It makes you think that while sometimes we are so focused on our big goals and prizes, sometimes, these smaller things can be the true reward in a day. It was an early morning after a downpour last night. It was a perfect day for a run. It was peaceful and while we had a small group, it was a great workout. It was our final tuneup before league and since our prelims is on a Tuesday, we had to practice on Saturday. It worked out well and I think this group will be ready for the race. We ended up enjoying pho together at the newly remodeled Pho Tasty. It was nice going back there after being absent for awhile and seeing all the workers that I knew. As I headed home, the fatigue of staying up doing entries weighed heavy on me, so I decided to head to sleep. I sent out the heat sheets and took a nap. It ended up that one of my athletes was going to the SCIAC Championships and so I ended up going as well to check it out. It was a real casual affair and definitely not as locked down as our meet will be next week. The spirit at the meet was great, especially among the CMS athletes. We met the coaches, one of the athletes and saw the tallest runner I've ever seen. He towered over the field at 6' 8". While his stride was not overwhelming for most of the 5,000m race, his finishing kick was quite impressive and he showed us the advantage height could have. During the meet, a rainbow appeared and added another something small to the day that made it extra special; a day that already included a stop at Tpumps and a run-in with a former student who goes to Oxy. At the end of the night I was pretty hungry and we ended up stopping off at the Poke Bar. It was okay, but definitely tasted better because I was starving. I was still hungry at the end of the night, but was content, as I was with the day. My cold started to disappear, as all the small things added up to make this day a special one. 

~:[CH5 - Day 120]: ~ Friday's Issue

~:[CH5 - Day 120]: ~ Friday's Issue

I woke up and new the day would be a tough one. My head was spinning a bit, as my cold got a little worse, but I knew I had to go to school today. I ran into my best friend Jepsen with his "We Have Issues" shirt. The shirt fits him well and perfectly played into my charade for the day. It distracted me from  how I was feeling. I was able to get a lot of grading done on the day and began finishing up the projects, leaving just the videos themselves to grade. Fabulous! Lunch brought another stressful point as it was the day to reward my class for their generosity during Pennies for Patients. Since the three classes raised over $2,100 even though they were not in the competition, I bought them pizza! I lugged over 30 pizzas and quickly setup after the bell rang and the room cleared out. I was happy that the students left full, as I am always afraid it won't be enough. It ended up being enough and while it added to the stress of the day, it was well worth it all for all the work that they did to raise the funds that they did! I spent practice going over entries to make sure everyone's was final, as today was the final day to make changes, which also meant, I would be home accepting them. After a successful weight room, I grabbed some TapEx and headed home, as while I was going to go to the play, my cold was telling me otherwise. I decided to listen. Sadly, that meant I would have to watch the Clippers lose a valiant effort in game 6, where they lost even more of their athletes, however, at least the painful events that were piling on top of one another will cease to exist any longer. While there will be no doubt that there will be many changes ahead, I am hoping for a lineup that can take the team to the next level. I could be dreaming, but being sick, it played right into my head-spinning day. I did not go to sleep after the game, however, as I was waiting for all entries to come in. As usual, people did not listen to the directions and submitted items past the deadline and expect it to be done. I am one who misses deadlines, but at least I assume that it may not be taken care of because it was my fault. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't, but when you miss a deadline AND expect it to be taken care of, I think some work needs to be done there. Regardless, I used it as fuel to motivate myself to get things done. I finished very early in the morning and headed to bed, waiting to review the file again until I was more awake and aware. I had my issues today, but definitely did not let those issues stop me from taking care of business.

~:[CH5 - Day 119]: ~ Giving It Your All

~:[CH5 - Day 119]: ~ Giving It Your All

It was the last day of the regular season. John Glenn had a pretty good run with their boys frosh/soph team finishing 3-2 and their girls team nearly knocking off Bellflower earlier in the season. We knew we had to make sure we didn't take anything for granted. The boys frosh/soph race became a close competition, as we watched the score down the stretch. With a few strong performances down the stretch, we were able to put the meet away and finish off the season with a sweep. We had a number of good marks and some PRs on the day and it was definitely a nice way to end the regular season. We celebrated with a meal at Wokholic. It was definitely a delicious meal and even better that we're supporting one of our athlete's parents. I was definitely exhausted by days end and ended up lounging away. Sometimes you don't realize how much energy you expend before you end up expending all of your energy. It didn't help that I had a little bit of a cold. Regardless, I survived and now I look forward to an even crazier Friday. 

~:[CH5 - Day 118]: ~ In the Spotlight

~:[CH5 - Day 118]: ~ In the Spotlight

At the last minute, I noticed that the tickets for today's Clippers game dropped significantly. With the injuries, most people were ditching their tickets and it was prime opportunity to jump in and grab a pair of tickets for dirt cheap. I bought a trio. The day itself rolled along and as I caught up on grading and prepped for the last full team practice of the year, I also was looking forward to the game. After wrapping up a meeting and swinging by all the event areas, I headed out. The traffic was a little heavy heading out, but we made it in time even though I made us walk all the way around the arena. The guy who owned the seats I bought last time, owned the ones I did now. Not thinking, I thought the seats would be the same as before, however, they were on the opposite side, hence, making a full circle around the arena. We missed the National Anthem, but made it to our seats by game time. It was fairly empty, but slowly, the stadium filled up. It was a lively crowd, despite the injuries we faced. The team came out energized and held a five point lead at the half. They let them go on a run, but pulled back to even going into the fourth, however, they could not sustain the lead. It was tough because they could have gotten this game, but in the end, it was not meant to be. I drowned my sorrows in tacos and Pepsi, but at least had a great night as I drove home with not one, not two, but three light up wristbands they gave out. We scoured our section after the game and ended up with ten shirts and five wristbands! Score! As I thought about the game, it did make me more and more sad, but sometimes, there is just nothing you can do. Sometimes, there is something chosen to happen for some reason and you just have to trust that it will be for the best. It may not be the best for me at this point, but in the long run, it has its purpose, much like the injuries and obstacles we faced during this track and field season. Keep fighting, keep believing and trust that all is working out as planned, it is then that you will find yourself in the spotlight at the end of the day - win, lose, or draw.

~:[CH5 - Day 117]: ~ As We Close In

~:[CH5 - Day 117]: ~ As We Close In

I finished the evening watching the primaries and was excited to see the stage for the general election getting set. It's pretty interest this year as it's been a political circus this year with more issues than in years past. Regardless, it became even more evident that we must go out and vote come November to ensure the best for our future. The day itself was also about closing in, but closing in on the end of the year. With banquet planning for track and MUN beginning and preparations for our final league race and league finals ahead, it was surreal that we would be finishing up this season and the year very soon. It always reminds you that time flies by and you cannot forget to enjoy the moments that you have and how you cannot take anything for granted. As you reflect, you must think, is this the life I want to be living? If not, do something about it. Sure, life will not be perfect and we will not always be able to do exactly what we want to do, but make an effort to do as much as you possibly can, to go and do the things you want to do and go out to see those things you want to see. As long as a lifetime seems, each of those opportunities to make great moments exists daily and it is up to us to capture those moments. 

~:[CH5 - Day 116]: ~ Simply Full of It

~:[CH5 - Day 116]: ~ Simply Full of It

I knew it was going to be a crazy day. After finishing up some track and field paperwork for league prelims, I headed to work. I prepped for class and made my way through class. As class went on, I tried doing more track paperwork, while updating UCI entries, and catching up on almost everything except grading. Yes, it was crazy. I finally had time to take a breath as I walked to the parking lot, jumped in my car, and headed to Burbank to get a new pole for the vault. It was fun to have it positioned outside my car as I knew people would wonder what it was. They may never know and I love it. I didn't eat lunch, so I stopped at TapEx, hoping no one would take my pole from the car. It was safe and made me think, I love living in Cerritos. Obviously, I would not be naive and make it easy for a crook to steal something, but for me to make a quick stop and have things be safe is comforting. Practice went by as I collected the last of our updates for league entries and I put them in. The wind picked up, so I stopped vault and we all headed to the weight room. I owed our 4x16 group AYCE so we headed to Sake 2 Me and filled up on some sushi ... too much in fact. We were finding room to be able to fit the last of our sushi so we didn't have a mound left and so we didn't get charged. We managed to get all but one piece and claimed two free scoops of ice cream! Yes! I headed home and sadly saw the Clippers lose again but even worse, lose Paul and possibly Griffin in the process. With such an opportunity, things just can't work out for the Clippers. Yes, it ended like one of those days, as my computer continued to cause issues as I tried to get the track and field paperwork out. It wasn't cooperating, so I had to reset my computer back to factor settings and now, I have a brand new computer. All my files were on externals (except my fonts) and so it wasn't too bad except for the fact that I'll have to reinstall all of my programs and try and remember all my passwords. Good grief! As I sit here though, I have a full stomach, a computer that runs like new, and I finished what I needed to and while things did not work out as I had hoped, I am glad that I have the opportunities that I have and for that I am grateful. We always thing about how bad things are and what we don't have in life and maybe it's about time to spend more time appreciating what we have and embracing all of the wonderful things we are lucky enough to have in this lifetime. 

~:[CH5 - Day 115]: ~ The Beauty of It All

~:[CH5 - Day 115]: ~ The Beauty of It All

There is something special about this place that always draws me here. Whenever anyone asks what to do and we have a decent amount of time, I suggest coming to Huntington Library. The serenity of it all, even when it's crowded, is something I cannot get over. Allen and I ventured out towards Pasadena and enjoyed the gardens for the day. With two cameras, we scoured the area and shot like crazy in the time that we had. We only made it through two sections of the gardens, but was glad we got to any. It was nice to have him back from Seattle for a bit, but sad that he will not be around for longer. Regardless, we got in some shots and headed off for a refreshment at Tpumps. As usual, the lines were long, but we waited and even had Mitchell come visit us. It was great chatting and catching up before we headed on our way. After a stop at the mall, I headed home and watched some games, before taking care of some track and field work and heading to bed. As I thought back on the day, I am still in awe of the beauty that this world contains. With so many species of plants and creatures running around its grounds, it makes you realize that each of these plants in their own way, add to the beauty of this place. Much like people, each of us has our purpose, whether it is for the smell or the visual appeasement, the revitalizing of the soil, the pollination of the flowers, and more, we each serve our purpose to make this world what it is. In our differences, we find the reason why we survive and without each other, this place would not be what it is today. Never forget that the person next to you, no matter what you think of them, matters and instead of judging them, criticizing them or even trying to get ahead of them, you can help guide them to find what that purpose is. It's easy to hate and much more difficult to love, but loving is worth it in the end and that truly is what makes this world, much like the Huntington Library, a beautiful place. 

~:[CH5 - Day 114]: ~ Progress

~:[CH5 - Day 114]: ~ Progress

I know after Mira Costa, my freshman were pretty disappointed. The looks on their faces after that conference said it all and I was hoping that they could come back strong in future conferences. After a successful Security Council conference, they came back with an exceptional effort at Huntington Beach. At the conference, I saw a lot more involvement from our freshmen and the growth was definitely evident. A few of our students felt the struggles in committee  as some faced up against a room full of older and more experienced delegates, some were intimidated and others felt unprepared; however, they all continued to work. I had a good lunch session with the team as I was able to give some feedback and they shared some stories from committees and I felt pretty good as we were headed back into committees after lunch. In the end, the group had a celebratory ceremony, as many of them broke through the wall and made progress since Huntington Beach. We ended up with eleven best delegates and a slew of other awards we are still counting. Our senior IAs were so proud as while they had to yell at them for making sure they were prepared, all the work that they put in during grills and offering to help the students paid off. I know that a lot of the students felt the progress that they made during this weekend and for that, it made Saturday, a celebratory day. What could make this day even better? It started with a quick stop at TapEx, which turned into an adventure to Tpumps. At Tpumps, I met Mr. Moseby (Phill Lewis) from the Suite Life of Zach and Cody who was in the line behind me. It was definitely a pretty cool experience and fun to see him figure out the Tpumps experience. I then went back to watch the Clippers game at the TC while downing Yasai. Had they won, it would have been the perfect day, but it was still an amazing day with accomplishments that extend beyond the words of my vocabulary and maybe even Mr. Moseby's. 

~:[CH5 - Day 113]: ~ The Graduating Class

~:[CH5 - Day 113]: ~ The Graduating Class

It was almost 5am and I was just getting to sleep. The conversion issues on top of the titling issues lead to limited time to edit the video, sadly. I couldn't fix all of the titling issues, but gladly, I was able to complete the video. I woke up an hour later and then worked a bit more before heading off to work. It was an exhausting day. I finished burning the video at practice and then headed to the banquet. It was definitely a day dedicated to basketball. Every moment of the experience was bittersweet. This year, the seniors are apart of my graduating class as well. There have been so many wonderful memories from the trips to Sea World, the upsets, the records, the technicals and even being called a moron (right Brian?). I know there will be a little emptiness in me when I leave, but I think it is about the right time. I will miss working with my brother the most. He is so incredibly dedicated to what he does and rarely gets as much credit as he deserves. He always plays the David versus Goliath as teams always seem to tower over us, however, he doesn't resort to recruiting athletes to make his teams better, he develops his players, makes them better, and does his best to make them work together. He is one of the best with the XO's and sees things that very few other coaches will be able to see. When I see how much he loves what he does, it inspires me to be better. I really thank you for the opportunity you provided to me fourteen years ago to coach and if you even look further back, when I helped you coach the freshman my senior year in high school. But alas, the feeling of completion came over me, as the stress disappeared and while not completely satisfied with the work I created, I was definitely happy I was able to complete it for these seniors and for the team. I will miss all those who I have worked with and all of the experiences and to all players past and present, thank you for making me a better person and showing me more about this world through this experience. 

~:[CH5 - Day 112]: ~ Rising Up

~:[CH5 - Day 112]: ~ Rising Up

It was tough to already have a track meet the second day I was back, but I knew I would have to manage. We traveled to La Mirada and hoped for nothing but a spectacular performance. Without our top male sprinter, it was going to be a rough outing, but our team managed. We were down a hefty margin when the 3200m came up, but we took a win there, followed by a win in the 4x4, a sweep in the high jump, and a victory in the pole vault. One of our top vaulters wasn't able to compete after warm ups, so we did have a tough task ahead of us, but our veteran pulled through and took the victory. It was a struggle teamwise despite the comeback, but all things considered, I was very proud of how the team battled today. Following the race, I raced straight back home and jumped on my computer to get going on the editing. By the stroke of midnight, after sending out a few e-mail reminders for league finals, I found myself with only five minutes of video left to edit. I made a lot of progress, but there is still a lot of work to go. The banquet is tomorrow and after a load of problems converting this footage, it's going to take a long night in order to complete this video, but it will be done. I am happy of how the portions I finished turned out, now I just have to make the rest fall into place. Wish me luck and hit me up if you're bored. I'll probably be up. 

~:[CH5 - Day 111]: ~ Not So Foreign

~:[CH5 - Day 111]: ~ Not So Foreign

I got back home at about 1am and had to sleep and get ready for school the next day. I drug myself into the door at work, began catching up and got ready for class. It was a rough day, but the great speeches in store helped make the day bearable. It also helped to have Northern Cafe and TapEx to refuel my body. We were in pre-meet mode for practice so it went by quickly. It was nice being back in the routine of things. I ended my workday with scrip before closing out for the night. I was invited to eat yukgaejang and while I knew what food I was going to eat, I was not as prepared for the wonderful experience I had. I was treated so nicely and the setup was very awesome. It felt as if I was in a restaurant within a house. The side dishes were an amazing complement to the yukgaejang and plate after plate meant that I would be stuffed by the end of the night. The balance of food groups was something I enjoyed, but even more so, the hospitality and the system that worked within the household was quite impressive. With such a large family, I could see how the family work together so closely from rotating duties to just the conversation at the dinner table. By the end of the night I was stuffed, but also filled with the amazing joy of such an experience. I went in knowing I would enjoy some delicious food, but left with a replenished soul. I was walking on air and while I had to try and stay up through the night to finish up the basketball banquet video, I was so energized by tonight's experience. I am thankful for the hospitality and hope to one day repay them for it. It was a great start to a welcome back to California and I know there is much more in store in the days ahead. 

~:[CH5 - Day 110]: ~ Storming Around New England

~:[CH5 - Day 110]: ~ Storming Around New England

I woke up and a light storm passed through. I had woken up late and so I was trying to get everything together so I didn't waste anymore time. I met up with Victor who happened to be photographing the marathon. It was great to catch up as we ventured up the coast to Salem. It was a little creepy knowing that the sky was gray overhead which gave it an eerie feeling. From the visitors center, we grabbed some pastries and Victor knew the guy. I guess he knows everyone everywhere! We visited a cemetery before heading over to the Witch History Museum. It wasn't the greatest experienced but at least I learned some things I didn't know before so it wasn't a complete waste. We then headed to Winter Island and just explored. I saw a beaver or a create of the sort and looked around trying to find some sea life. We stumbled across Waikiki Beach, of course, it was nowhere near the one in Hawaii, as expected. We ventured a little ways away to grab lunch and we stumbled into Cappy's. It was a small place but had great food including HUGE friend clams which were well worth the price. On that note, it was time to venture back as I headed back towards Boston and eventually boarded my plane. On way back, I landed in Dallas and enjoyed a really delicious meal at the airport (I was even surprised) before finally getting home at around 1am. I was tired, but thinking about the trip, doing all I did in the span of almost a week was well worth it. I crossed through eight states and actually explored six of them, saw things from lighthouses to forests, the houses of famous people, to the house of many famous people (the basketball hall of fame), and enjoyed the history of Boston including the 120th running of the Boston Marathon followed by a hike up nearly 300 steps to the top of the Bunker Hill Monument. Of course, the highlight of the trip was the beautiful wedding in Waltham where I saw one of my former athletes on the happiest day of his life. I couldn't have asked for better weather and when looking back, things fell into place quite nicely. I've always wondered why I make things so complex, but adding these "extras" into this trip, truly made it memorable and made my path to all 50 states quite enjoyable. While I have four states left, this trip definitely will be one of those that tops my list of being one of the most memorable of the 50. It may be been a little stormy, but it was bright and shiny in my eyes, as this trip was as magical as the witches that supposedly once frequented the streets of Salem. 

~:[CH5 - Day 109]: ~ Championing the Day

~:[CH5 - Day 109]: ~ Championing the Day

I woke up really early in the morning knowing that the street closures would be a challenge especially coming from Waltham. I drove into the city without very many issues and it was a good decision to head in early. The security at the site was pretty solid for the type of even that it was and there were so many uniformed officers. You couldn't even have a small purse if you were standing down the final stretch without it being checked and tagged. Sure, it wasn't full proof, but it definitely was a deterrent and crowd control kept the areas from getting too overwhelming. After a nice outdoor breakfast on a beautiful morning with Chase, who happened to also be in town, I got some gear since it was the 120th running of the race and then ventured to the 16 mile mark to catch the leaders with Hayle (pictured above) taking the victory. We got there just as the women were coming through and shortly thereafter, we caught the men running through. Even at 16 miles, our side of the road was packed! I was amazed at the number of people who cam out to see the races, which was evident when we road the train and I got squished in like a sardine onto the train. The door closed on me the first time, but I sucked in and sure enough, I barely fit into the train as the worker shook her head at me like I was crazy. It actually led to some bonding time with those around me and I met some Packer fans and also a Vikings fan (boo), I was told the cutest Packers story ... the grandmother said her granddaughter called her and said, the Packers were coming to her house. Sure enough, her mom said that, but she was talking about the packers, as in movers, not the Green Bay Packers. She was five and embarrassed, but it was incredibly cute, but also amazing that she became a Packers fan at the age of five! After heading back to the start, we got out as the lead men passed by and squeezed our way to the front of the cheering area right before the final turn. After looking at the course and knowing the movie St. Ralph (it's inappropriate but also covers a lot about Boston), I saw some of the strategies that could be used along the course. Unless some miracle happens, I won't be running it, but maybe I can help "coach" someone. I work for free if you take me back to Boston (or just feed me while I'm there) (or maybe just hang out with me) (am I sounding desperate yet) (I really am not) .... anyway, regardless, it was amazing seeing them finish and we got as close to the bleachers as we could before stopping to do a final round of cheers. We ventured off to the Freedom Trail and did the Charlestown section of it. We made our way to the USS Constitution, then up to Bunker Hill whee we hiked up the top. It was a bad idea. My legs cramped up on the way down the stair and sadly, I hobbled all the way down. We headed back and realized that our parking area parking was ridiculous after already paying a ridiculous amount for the marathon parking (Boston was raking in the dough). Made me think, why doesn't Cerritos host a marathon. (right Mark?) Of course, with a wrong turn, getting out of the area was a challenge and it cost me about an hour or more, as I tried to get Chase to the airport. We made it with time to spare, as he ventured off back home to LA. With my posts, a former student in the area messaged me and so instead of grabbing dinner by myself, I ended up going to Chinatown and catching up with her and also going to Tea Do! They have one here too and it's probably my favorite east coast "bubble" tea (I will never use that in real life ... BOBA 4 LIFE, right Kavi?). I ended up catching up with one more friend from the area and we ended up talking about travel and more before we parted ways and I headed home to relax. It was an amazingly long, but simply amazing day and it definitely helped me realize something. No matter what struggles you face, you can always get back up when you fall and make yourself as great, if not greater than before. The people in Boston and from all over the world, filled the streets on Patriots Day and cheered their friends, family, and even complete strangers on to try to get them past their own struggles. Those who were walking because of cramping or injury, were cheered for the most and while in society, often times, those who are seen as "weak" may be picked on, it was refreshing to see that the amazing spirit of humanity it alive. I don't know how many people showed up to line the course, but the cheers they raised echoed across Boston and will be heard in the ears of the runners for the rest of their lives, as they remember they day they ran this race and were encouraged by the thousands (if not tens of thousands or more) that lined the course today. I was impressed by it all, as it was truly one of the most amazing race experiences I have ever had, even though I did not know if I knew anyone running or not, as people came together to cheer on those competing, helping them overcome the obstacles of the course and the weather in order to show the world that they will not fold to the attempts of bringing US down, rather, we will come out in droves, even stronger than ever, to make our voices heard. The voices were heard today and while one champion was crowned in every division,  each person involved, runner, supporter, volunteer, and others alike all shared in championing the day. 

~:[CH5 - Day 108]: ~ In All His Glory

~:[CH5 - Day 108]: ~ In All His Glory

I woke up in the morning and had to run over to the local mall in Providence, as I realized that I had forgotten to pack my tie. I was only thinking of where I could get something and didn't consider my options as I walked into Nordstroms. Of course, that tie cost me an arm and a leg, but at least I had a tie. I headed up the road to Waltham, which was about an hour drive away. I had blocked about 2.5 hours, so I had enough time to check into my hotel before heading over to see Dean before the wedding. After talking to him for a bit. I wandered around the estate and enjoyed all of its beauty including the nearby greenhouse. It was definitely something I had not experienced before and was such a classy wedding. The ceremony was beautiful and the vows even more beautiful. I was pretty nervous as the end of the ceremony meant that the toasts were coming soon. The toast went well and the "silent assassin," "Space Cowboys," and "Do It for Jean," ended up being the best three parts of the toast. I was so honored to be able to talk at the wedding and am so thankful that our program had someone as amazing as Dean within our program. I finally got to meet Jean at the reception and she was even more amazing than I had imagined. I ended up sitting with some very awesome people and it was nice getting to know them all, overcoming the awkward moment of knowing no one at your table. While I only knew his family at the start of the wedding, the people at the wedding were so amazing and genuine that I left having met so many others. I was also amazed at how many people from Harvard were at the wedding. Regardless, I felt this sense of renewal after the wedding, as I got to see first hand the work of the Lord in not only the lives of Jean and Dean, but in many others at the wedding including those who I toasted with. I am so excited what the future will bring for these two  and am so grateful to have witnessed their union. I wish you two the best going forward, as I am excited to see you grow together, adventure together, and experience the glory of God together. Congratulations!

~:[CH5 - Day 107]: ~ What's Left to Write?

~:[CH5 - Day 107]: ~ What's Left to Write?

I woke up early and knew that this would be a long trek. I was right. I hit the road from Montpelier, VT and enjoyed the scenery of Vermont. It's a beautiful state, but there isn't much too it. Even the capital has a small town feel. I entered Massachusetts for the first time for the day, as I headed towards Springfield. It wasn't originally on my schedule, but noticed that the Basketball Hall of Fame was on my way and there was no way I wasn't going to stop. It was cool to see all the memorabilia and it will be interesting to see everything added over my lifetime. I also made a few shots on the original basket. It was cool to shoot on a basketball like that. I grabbed a quick bite to eat and headed down to Hartford. I stopped off at the home of Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) and it was pretty cool The outside had one feel, but the inside was pretty elaborate and incredible. While he is a little crazy, he also did a lot of great things in his lifetime, reaching out to many around him whenever he could lend a helping hand. Strangely enough, he was also neighbors with Harriet Beecher Stowe. NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS! After enjoying the grounds and taking photos, I jumped in the car and headed over to Providence. I went via Massachusetts and arrived in Providence. I enjoyed a great dinner and just relaxed watching my team run the 4x16 back at home. We added the race at the last minute and even though I was going out of town, they decided to run it since they made it. The missed our school record by less than one second and maybe with a good handoff, they would have broken it. Our sophomore had the fastest mark in school history for the 1600 split and our top boy had the #4 mark in school history. It was a pretty good day and a pretty busy one, but now it's time to sleep. After looking over my toast for tomorrow, I am exhausted. At least there is nothing left to write. 

~:[CH5 - Day 106]: ~ Lost in it All

~:[CH5 - Day 106]: ~ Lost in it All

I slept late and so waking up was pretty challenging. Since I had a long drive, I decided to sleep in a bit. It was a good decision. I had the energy to drive, as I headed from Portland into the White Mountain National Park. Without a plan. I ended up stopping at the information center and it was the best decision ever. The guy working really put me on the right track and I ended up with a bunch of amazing views from the Albany Covered Bridge to lower falls to the gorge to the falls and more. I was so caught up, that I didn't take as many photos as I should have, but the camera was also not capturing what I was seeing. So incredible! What's even better is that the park was not very crowded and so it was peaceful and many moments, I had the park all to myself. There were so many amazing moments that it's just so hard to put into words. The only disappointing moment was the fact that one trail was closed, so I didn't get as up close of a view of the falls as I had hoped, but regardless, I still saw them and soaked it all in. The drive out of the park was also amazing and got to see the former location of the old man on the mountain. From there, I ventured into Bernie's state of Vermont. The city was not what I expected for a capital, but regardless, Montpelier has a nice feel to it and the buildings are beautiful. I stopped by the Vermont State House and then ventured to one of the city's best restaurants before turning in to get some work done. I wanted to rest after a long day and with another long trek tomorrow, I need as much energy as possible. While I move more into the city environments soon, it was nice to see Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont today and I look forward to another three state swing tomorrow. 

~:[CH5 - Day 105]: ~ From Coast-to-Coast

~:[CH5 - Day 105]: ~ From Coast to Coast

I wasn't suppose to have to deplane in Charlotte, but they ended up having us change planes and I had to go to yet another new terminal. I got there and headed to Boston from Charlotte. I finally arrived there, got in my car, and drove up the coast. I started by stopping at Nubble Light on the way up to Portland. It was quite chilly there, but it was a nice addition, especially the drive through a beautiful neighborhood with some amazingly nice houses. Since I had not eaten in awhile, I ate my fried rice I had saved for a moment just like this. It was nice doing so, looking out the car window and seeing a beautiful light house right in front of me. I went on to seek another one and it did not disappoint. After touring around Portland, ME a bit, I went to Portland Head Light and it was a sight. With the clear skies, the ocean and the setting, it definitely left me breathless. As I strolled around the area, it just made me think, how much more of this am I missing. I know I can't really afford to travel much more, but now I will definitely take every opportunity I can to make the most of my opportunities. I ended the night by walking to Boone's. I ended up with a huge 1.5 pound lobster stuffed bake, which was pretty good, but filled me up so quickly. Since it followed my lobster poutine, it was a pretty tough meal to swallow. I also tried their saffron aioli and it was a good addition to the meal. I finished the night by checking out the democratic debates and just prepping for another wonderful day tomorrow. I wasn't too sure about this decisions to tour around, but even after a trek from Los Angeles to Charlotte to Boston, up through New Hampshire and finishing in Portland, Maine, the experience far outweighed the fatigue. 

~:[CH5 - Day 104]: ~ Back At It

~:[CH5 - Day 104]: ~ Back At It

It was a crazy day. I had put off packing and so I dropped a load of laundry in, got ready for work, and was able to get it in the drier before I headed out. I finished up catching up on grading and emptied the boxes and even collected a project from one of the periods. It's funny because when it gets busy, everything seems to fall on the same day. Today, was no different. I also had an appointment with our benefits counselor, so that took some of the time that I needed to spending getting ready for later in the day. I finally got around to eating lunch at about 2pm, then headed to practice. Since it was a down week, I rewarded the team with ice cream during the run. It was a nice surprise. After wrapping up, I finished packing and then headed out. I ate in LA at Noodle World while the Laker game was on. It was nice to have a place that was playing the game and while I never have been a Kobe fan, I appreciated his career and was glad he ended on that note. I was actually amused that the game overshadowed the win records by the Warriors. When I finally got through the long security check point line, I realized my gate was at a different terminal. I ended up having to take a shuttle and strangely enough, I was on the shuttle by myself. Ultimately, I arrived at the gate, got on the plane and closed my eyes as I headed away into the clouds. It was a long and exhausting day, but I know that tomorrow, amazing is waiting and so in the end, it will all be worth it.

~:[CH5 - Day 103]: ~ Surprise?

~:[CH5 - Day 103]: ~ Surprise?

I rolled through the day knowing it would be a crazy one. There was some great parts about it though, with a video being shown and a workday in one class, I also had time to catch up on grading. That's always a plus! Regardless, I still was collecting paperwork during the breaks, reviewing our classes for next year, and trying to get all my lesson plans done for when I am gone. I got two out of three. I did a quick meet up at the office, then set up for our make up meet (throws), before starting up our practice. It was our longest interval workout of the year and I was pretty proud at how the team did. We had a sizable group make it to the end, much like the group that has been up front on long days. I was pretty proud, especially when you are pulling kids to make sure that they are healthy and they try to negotiate their way into the next set, just like this guy above. After practice, we headed to BWW for our distance bonding event and surprised one of our captains. He wasn't the most excited to be put on the spot, but regardless, it was great to celebrate even if he was less than thrilled with the hat that he was given. As a secondary celebration, we stopped at Afters which had its soft opening. A lot of former basketball players work there and it was nice to see familiar faces. As usual, the Jasmine Milk Tea is amazing and while being semi-lactose leaves this experiment as a dangerous one, it was well worth it despite the final aftermath. (TMI?) I spent the rest of the night reviewing my New England trip plan, procrastinating on my packing, and then I finished the night watching my Angels take a come from behind victory! Did I mention that I wrapped up a lot on my to-do list for the banquet? I setup my computer, so now it's time to begin editing! Looks like a trip full of nights of editing. Oh joy! I got this sensation as there is such a good aura around me and while there are things that I am still working on in my life, it's always nice to be surprised with so many blessed that show themselves to you. 

~:[CH5 - Day 102]: ~ In the Air

~:[CH5 - Day 102]: ~ In the Air

There was something in the air today as the beauty of it all just shone through, from the morning overcast where the sun just peered through to the blue cloud-filled skies that the afternoon brought. There is something so mesmerizing about these clouds and always gives you this sense of wonder of how this all comes about and just how lucky we are to see such stunning beauty, whether we stop to appreciate it or not. I felt better today but lecturing all four periods didn't really help my cause. Regardless, I survived and had a little skip in my step today. I finished up most of my paperwork, made it through practice after using mini-crisis management and then lifted a little in the weight room. I got to sit down for a little chat at TapEx, which is always nice before heading home and finally getting most of my videos converted so I can finally get to editing and also to finalize my trip planning for my upcoming trip to New England. Starting Thursday, I'll be in the New England area, traveling up and down to a number of states. It should be a grand adventure and am hoping that the weather cooperates. I should have some cool snaps on Monday as well, but I won't spoil the surprise. The day hit a little snag, as my computer has been acting up, so I backed everything up to my multitude of hard drives and finally started getting them more organized. While it was a setback, it definitely was solved fairly quickly and kind of fit the theme of the day. In any case, it was a wonderful day and while there could have been a few things that went better, from talking to friends in Asia and on the east coast to prep for my upcoming trips, to feeling accomplished, it was one of those days that conquered the case of the Mondays and for that, I should be thankful. 

~:[CH5 - Day 101]: ~ A Mixed Bag

~:[CH5 - Day 101]: ~ A Mixed Bag

I had to wake up early in the morning, as I was covering a Sunday conference day. I haven't ever been to McKenna MUN and it was nice being on the beautiful Claremont McKenna campus. The students ventured out to their committees. The committees were pretty much wrapping up as they were in their final three hours so I heard the finalizing of working papers and formal caucus. It was a little interesting hearing some of the people in committee and just seeing how they handle different situations that arise when negotiating. We had a mixed bag of delegates from some that I have in my senior class, to sophomores and juniors I haven't seen in awhile, to the juniors I just took to Nationals. It was definitely interesting. Regardless, we had a number of good performances and even had five people take home gavels on the day with at least one from each grade level represented. Since it was just a morning session, I was able to get back and hit up TapEx, get some work done, watch some television, and then get some more work done. While I am not entirely ready for Monday, I know it will be a short week for me, which also means I better start packing my bag soon. There were also a few other bright spots in the day and those, no matter how big or small they are, just simply make your day shine. Yes, it was a mixed bag today, but regardless, it was another day that I got to take in a breath of fresh air and that is something I will try my best not to take for granted. 

~:[CH5 - Day 100]: ~ A Different Time, A Different Place

~:[CH5 - Day 100]: ~ A Different Time, A Different Place

It almost felt like I was looking through a textbook. I saw hundreds of well maintained photos of my relatives of the past, as I began to discover a little more about my roots. I already knew about the story of my grandfather giving up his last name (Sugino) for my grandmother to allow their family name (Watanabe) to carry on and about the large 30+ room house that they used to live in. However, seeing these pictures just had something about them that made it indescribable. Whether I want to know every story or not, these pictures fill in some of the gaps in my mind that I may have had about the past, something I knew little about. I've only seen my relatives in Japan twice when I visited and two of them came to the United States, otherwise, one-half of my family is fairly foreign. These images are gold and definitely something I will treasure for the rest of my life. My father isn't even pictured in most of these, as he was too young, truly showing how dated these are. Strangely, we found these around the time of the celebration of the Hanamatsuri, a Japanese festival, at a local church. In a time when there is so much going on and the pace of things is so quick, it's always nice to take a moment to go back and time and soak in all the history that makes up the fabric that is you, as without every event falling into place as it did, I may not be here this very day to enjoy all that I am lucky enough to enjoy. 

~:[CH5 - Day 99]: ~ Reasons to Celebrate

~:[CH5 - Day 99]: ~ Reasons to Celebrate

It was a weird day. It looked like the storm would pass on, but it just seemed to linger around. Nothing bad, just drizzle, but it just wouldn't go away. After getting a lot done at work, I got around to picking up a cake for one of our captains. He definitely has been a big part of this program and am glad to have surprised him, even though he went into work after school. After our food run, we called him over and was able to get our group to wish him a happy birthday. It definitely was a reason to celebrate along with the fact that it was Friday. Regardless, it was definitely a well-deserved surprise for someone who has shown that while you may have struggles beyond belief, you can overcome them if you are persistent and resilient enough. I have learned so much from this experience and while I may not have experienced it first hand, being around him through the best and worst times, opened my eyes and has made me a better person, inspired and motivated to do more than just the average. Unfortunately, my cold is still lingering. I hope to get rid of this thing soon, but I guess only time will tell. For now, I will load up on meds and sleep knowing that today was definitely a good day. Good night and let's celebrate - it's the weekend! 

~:[CH5 - Day 98]: ~ Flying High

~:[CH5 - Day 98]: ~ Flying High

The weather looked as if it would be troubling early and looking around, there wasn't too much relief in sight. However, the meet must go on and so it did. After surviving through the day with a voice that kept going in and out, it was time for the meet. I grabbed a Yoshinoya and then headed out to setup. The rain kept coming down and delayed the vault and led to the cancellation of the throws. Overall, the meet went well, but our top sprinter cramped up and was out for the meet. It made it a challenge take the meet. We edged out wins in the distances and came back with some good performances in the field. However, the meet would not be decided for the boys varsity, as the throws was still left with no one clinching the victory. We ended up with 2 of 3 with boys varsity still left. We'll see how that ends. Afterward, I got treated out to Wok Holic, which was pretty good as the jajangmyeon was on point and the chicken was so delicious. I definitely want to head back there eventually. With my stomach full and my medicine slowing my down, not even a Pepsi could bring me the energy that I needed, but regardless, it was still a good day. Our meet ended early (except for the vault) and we got out with a minimal amount of rain exposure. I'll take it.

~:[CH5 - Day 97]: ~ Jumping Forward

~:[CH5 - Day 97]: ~ Jumping Forward

I really hate picture day, but it's also a day where I get to capture the athletes together as a group. Whether forced or not, at least there is some good in it. After an exhausting day that included going over projects, simulating communism versus capitalism, and trying to stay cool during our prom premiere, we finally arrived at practice. Yes, we had to herd our team to the right places and shifted them to the bleachers, Our team was so big this year, we had to take it in two segments. I also took the extra shots everyone wanted  before wrapping up practice ... or so I thought. I headed out to the pole vault pit and it ended up leading me to being there until at least 6:30pm. The vaulters kept working and working. It's great to see them work so hard, but at some point, it's like, go home already. Of course, I didn't go home. After a tough day at pictures including an adventure for my cameras, I headed to Tpumps. I successfully parallel parked in a narrow spot and got a dreamy box of drinks to last me through the weekend. I got some work done and even uploaded pictures before the end of the evening and while I have a nagging cough now (I think I blame Tina for this one), I will go to bed comfortably knowing, it was a very fulfilling day. 

~:[CH5 - Day 96]: ~ A Big Congratulations

~:[CH5 - Day 96]: ~ A Big Congratulations

Tuesday was no better than Monday as my body and mind was still fatigued. I had a lot of work to do, but my energy level was pretty low. However, despite the heat that dragged down the athletes during intervals and while we stayed late to lift weights, there was still a celebration on our hands. While this post is a day late, I used a throw back picture from Georgetown (February 2016) to congratulate one of my many successful students who have begun to receive their acceptance letters to colleges. It's a struggle to get into the college of your choice and there are many obstacles on the way to doing what is necessary to meet the demands of these schools, but many of my students circumvent these challenges and find their way to a great path towards their future endeavors. I remember this students when she first transferred into my class. My freshman class is not an easy class to join late, however, she did it and caught on very quickly. Back then, I knew she was smart and had it to make it in MUN. As I got to know here through Nationals and even more so through Georgetown, you could tell that she was also one of the nicest people you could meet (maybe because she had a super sweet tooth, as she guided us to a number of cupcake/dessert shops). I know that this year had its ups and downs, but this picture captures a natural smile that I will never forget, much like the images I have of a number of other students through the various conferences, trips, meets, and events. To my seniors, no matter where you are headed, be proud of all the work you have put in, the obstacles you have overcome and how you have represented our program and our school across country country. However, remember, that you still have a quarter of my class in the dungeon and in all your other classes, so keep working until the end to best prepare yourself for the future ahead. Oh, I almost forgot to mention the best part ... this student got into five Ivy League schools (Harvard, Upenn, Cornell, Princeton and Brown) plus Stanford. Yes, this week started off well and hearing all the college plans for the seniors was definitely something that kept me pushing through. I finished the evening with a quick chat and stop off at TapEx and I got to witness a Clippers wins and Twolves upset. What a day!

~:[CH5 - Day 95]: ~ A Little Work to Do

~:[CH5 - Day 95]: ~ A Little Work to Do

The Monday after a tough weekend can feel like death. It did. With my legs feeling like logs because of Ragnar and my body so exhausted, it was a tough day to survive. I managed somehow. Regardless, by the end of the day, with Northern Cafe and TapEx in my stomach, I powered through the day. The workout went alright and we even got some time in the weight room before heading on our way. I tried to do some work when getting home, but my fatigued body said no and thus I rested. The extra workout didn't help, as my body kept asking, what are you doing to me right now. I ended the evening catching the end of the national championship game. I was a little sad because after the first round, my dad and I talked about betting on Villanova. We didn't, as usual, and yes, they ended up winning. The chaching I would have heard, was not heard in my world, sadly. I should always trust my gut, but I guess if I had bet, I doubt that Villanova would have won. What a game though! Stunning! Much like Villanova, I survived this Monday and cannot wait to see what tomorrow brings.

~:[CH5 - Day 94]: ~ It's the Law

~:[CH5 - Day 94]: ~ It's the Law

I had a planned sleep in so that I could be ready for the day's events. I was pretty exhausted from Ragnar and didn't even make it to my own bed. I guess tonight will be my first back into it. Of course, it was also my last day of Spring Break, so I also had to make the most of it. It's the law! I headed out to LA Live and grabbed a quick bite at Smashburger before heading into the game. It was Ralph Lawler Day. I've grown up listening to him as the Clippers announcer and he definitely has his own unique style. He connects well with the team and brings excitement into the game. It was fun to see the players try to imitate his coined phrases such as "bingo," "oh me oh my," and of course, "first to 100 wins, it's the law." It definitely was the law tonight despite a furious comeback by the Wizards who made a game of it. It was also Blake's first day back, so we ended up with a great treat. It was a little challenge to walk down the stairs and so I stayed put as much as possible, but we would do a little bit of walking later on. We headed to Little Tokyo and ate udon at Monzo. My dish was pretty good and enjoyed it. We also stopped at Ozero and I ended up with a starwberry lemonade tea. I headed home and enjoyed my last few moments of freedom with my family as I have begun to feel more of the fatigue set in. It was bad enough the have the physical pain, but with the fatigue setting in, Monday may just be game over. We'll see how that goes. 

~:[CH5 - Day 93]: ~ No Joke

~:[CH5 - Day 93]: ~ No Joke

I got a text from an alumni and I truly thought it was an April Fools Joke, but when I checked the clock, it was still the 31st. "Are you free this Friday-Saturday ... Wanna do Ragnar ;D" it read. I just laughed to myself and then when I realized it wasn't a joke, I sadly had to decline. I didn't register this year because Trabuco fell on the same day of the start of the race and I definitely wasn't going to miss that. However, it just so happened that I was able to secure a ride to meet them in time to join them before the start of the second leg. They covered the first leg and as I got home from Trabuco, I put my things together and headed down to meet them. In my haste, I left my keys, my wallet, my running belt and my money in the garage, but I had just enough to get me through. I arrived thanks to the amazing assistant of Drew and met the team at Mira Costa College at 1am. Yes, I went directly after getting home at about 11:30pm. While I knew what I was getting myself into, I couldn't believe I was actually doing it. At about 2:30am, I took the hand off for my first leg - 5.3 miles. Sounded easy enough as I jumped out of the van and started my leg. I paced myself and realized that this was going to be a challenge. With no training, no preparation, and no, pretty much everything, I ventured out. Only then did I realize, I did not know where I was going, as I normally study the routes. The run I thought would be easy, turned into a hill mess with two medium hills and they added a nice big hill top it all off at the end. I cramped up but kept pushing through and ultimately, arrived at my destination, sprinting in just to make myself feel better (and look better too). I actually felt pretty good after, aside from a sore IT band and some fatigue. With a van full of former XCers, it was great to catch up and see how things were going. I was glad to see them still running and reminded me that my work goes far beyond just the days at CHS. We were able to get some rest at an apartment in San Diego before our next leg and it definitely helped. It wasn't long, but long enough. We headed out to Glider Port near UCSD and enjoyed the view as we met up with the rest of the team and a few more alumni! Our soreness and fatigue was evident, but so was the spirit. With van 1 ecstatic that they were done, we ventured on our way to our second leg. It was getting hot. I got the baton for my final leg which was just over six miles. The leg started with fear of an overhead bombing attack from hundreds of seagulls, followed by a strong headwind as we headed towards the beach. The heat became evident when we U-turned and headed through the city as we avoided pedestrians and did our best to follow the correct route. This is where I saw the "Where's Waldo" runner after he got lost (ironic, right?). I found a small group to run with for awhile, but that changed as we turned and saw the big hill that destroyed us all. As I ran up, I thought, I missed Disneyland for this? I continued to push and battle my demons and ultimately, found myself at the top, as I floated my way towards the finish. I saw the mile to go sign and was filled with joy as I began picking up kills (people you pass during the run) towards the finish line. I sprinted in and was overjoyed - I was done. I still felt good and was bouncing around, although still sore as we became more excited with each leg finishing. A Pepsi and a Popsicle helped as well. We arrived at Coronado and after finally getting parking, our team ran together through the finish. We were done. While I dreaded what Sunday would feel like, as we sat down to eat Crack Shack, I was pretty happy to think how I got the Ragnar experience again, at the very last minute. It was super spontaneous, but sometimes, that is exactly what we need in our lives to find experiences much like these and to create memories we will never forget. I was overjoyed to meet new people and make new friends, something that Ragnar is so good at doing (special thanks to team 154 - Ragnar & Chill). At some point, I was glad that the text wasn't a joke, because I would be a fool not to take the chance at doing something so amazing. I am a four-time Ragnarian, but know that this year will not be my last. Until we meet again Ragnar, good night. 

~:[CH5 - Day 92]: ~ In the Fall

~:[CH5 - Day 92]: ~ In the Fall

It was our last weekday of spring break and this group of athletes chose to spend it at a track and field meet - no joke. I ran errands in the morning and then headed to school just before noon. It was warm and I was a little worried about if might affect our PRs, I didn't need to worry. We started off with a 37 second PR and a second place finish and the day would continue to roll from there. We saw two more PRs in the 3200, a second place and one foot PR in the vault, 11 PRs in the 800 including a winner and three thirds, and 10 PRs plus three season PRs including three winners and a second place to finish up the night. It was a grand night capped off with one of my seniors finishing with a huge burst in the final 200 minutes with such authority, it caught us all by surprised as he raced to a PR. I left that meet with a smile and while I had a lot on my mind, I definitely had an extra skip in my step and I left the meet happy with this group. There is still a lot of work to do, but it always helps when PRs fall and the group enjoys the evening, eating and joking around with each other.