~:[CH5 - Day 151]: ~ Continuing the Grind

~:[CH5 - Day 151]: ~ Continuing the Grind

Banquet week is always tough and worse when you think today is Monday, but it's actually Tuesday. With all the craziness going on, I escaped after errands to my corner in order to continue editing. Guess what?!?! I'm half way done. Wow! That was pretty quick if I say so myself. With only one full day to edit since the banquet is on Thursday, I'm making good progress and looks like I can start the track photo montage tomorrow as well and try and get that out of the way! It's going to be a crazy few day, but I think I can make it. The finish line is near, but can someone carry me across so I don't have to run? LoL! In any case, my body is pretty fatigued, but I'll make it. When you keep the faith, you'll find that you can accomplish so much more than you originally thought. Today is a good day. I just hope that tomorrow can be just as good so I can sleep well tomorrow too! This year is going way to fast and as we say goodbye to May, I remind everyone to enjoy every day and treasure it like it's your last, as when you take a day for granted, you risk leaving with a void you'll never have a chance to fill! #dontwaituntiltomorrow

~:[CH5 - Day 150]: ~ Edit It

~:[CH5 - Day 150]: ~ Edit It

Today was a day mostly dedicated to editing. I woke up early to meet my friends in Santa Monica before coming back to work. It's fun to piece everything together especially when everything works! The photo montage was completed, the titling is almost done, and the conversions finished over night. Wow! It was pretty cool and with only two days left to edit, I'm hoping everything falls into place, as I still have 70% of the video to complete! It's all about having faith. I took a break as my family went out to dinner to celebrate my birthday. Thinking Monday would be less crowded, we headed for an early dinner at Gen and boy was it packed. Regardless, we got in and enjoyed our meal and saw a bunch of people we knew. As I headed back home and got back to editing, I thought to myself, what would it be like to have the power to edit our past? Would it even be something we should consider? How much would change if we did? Would we be happier? Sometimes I think, there are just a few moments that I wish I could go back and change, but when you really think about it, there would be a domino effect and so much would change in the world around us and the question is, would we really be happy? Editing one part of our life may seem so simple, but obviously, it would lead to complications we would never for see and that is why instead of wishing we could edit the past, we can also do what we can to ensure that our future doesn't allow us to repeat the same mistakes we already made. Am I sad about decisions I made in the past? Sure, I am. However, although that may be the case, there is a great possibility that I would not be where I am today, doing what I do, and sending off heartfelt messages off into the universe. I guess then, if I did have a chance to edit my past, I would pass on that opportunity, because I do not take for granted everything I have had the pleasure to experience over my lifetime and would not want to risk losing the people that I love, the experiences that I had, and the memories I have created. As I close my eyes, I can help but think of the quote by Thomas Jefferson, "I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past." As while we want to remember those who have passed and the great memories we have, we must also use these memories to build a future that will allow us to pursue our dreams As while we cannot change our past, our future is ours to edit as we go in hopes that what we splice together, is a bit of magic to put on display.

~:[CH5 - Day 149]: ~ In Great Company

~:[CH5 - Day 149]: ~ In Great Company

I've been looking forward to this wedding for awhile. When two of your favorite people get married, it's an incredible night. Not only was the food good, the ceremony awesome, and the night fun, but being with a large group of your closest friends really helps a wedding move from good to amazing. The wedding was very relaxing with jokes being told throughout the night and just an amazing good time without reservations. There was no sense of uneasiness as together, we always feel like we can be ourselves and that is what makes our friendships great. In a world where so much hatred exists and so much judgement, it is refreshing to step into a place like there, where people are in harmony and there is much reason to celebrate. I have known Janie for over half my life. Amazing right? She has grown up so much since I met her her freshman year in high school and am glad that the amazing her met someone as incredible as John. Janie is so adventurous, chill, and just a go with the flow type with John having similar qualities. I always appreciate being around them both, so much so that I do not mind sharing John's profile picture space with Janie. Originally, John's profile picture was just me and him dancing, but as things got more serious, Janie was added into the photo. Regardless of whether or not I am in the updated profile picture John, I still love you two so much and am glad to share this wonderful and special moment with you two. I hope to have many more adventures ahead with you two and am so grateful to have had the opportunity to grow with you two. Thank you again for all the memories from the trips, to the hikes, to all the wonderful food that we ate, even when my stomach was raging. I love you two so much and can't wait to see what's in store for you. Congratulations!

~:[CH5 - Day 148]: ~ What It's All About

~:[CH5 - Day 148]: ~ What It's All About

My alarm sounded and I was tired. I didn't want to wake up, but with 6am rolling around, I rolled out of bed and into the bathroom. Yes, I woke up earlier on a Saturday than I did all week for work. This is my job ... nay ... this is my life. I love it. When I got to school, I was ready to go. I got them set up, loaded and we headed on our way. It was great being on the campus of my alma mater. I love UC Irvine. It was nice to walk around, nice to see everyone, and just nice facing the nostalgia of being back. With so many memories walking down those halls, it's no wonder why I love this conference so much. We had the majority of the people in every committee, as the conference was smaller than I had expected. I did my normal job of checking up on everyone, but with the small committees, it was nice to hear so many people speak in every committee! The core group was very active and they accomplished a lot, which made me pretty proud. With Chipotle in my stomach from lunch and a pretty good days of work, I left the campus pretty happy, as the students were in pretty good spirits, as was I. Of course, I was exhausted. I slept in the bus and was left with enough energy to head to Tpumps where we hit no traffic and beat the line! I ended up at TapEx afterward and it ended up being a pretty good day. In the end, when you think about it, as much as you have to go throw (like waking up early), in the end, it's all worth it and the success that these students find, the relationships and bonds they build, and the unmatched experiences they get is what it is all about and makes it all worth it. I am not sure I could wish for a better career and appreciate it each and every day.

~:[CH5 - Day 148]: ~ Not the Happiest Place on Earth

~:[CH5 - Day 148]: ~ Not the Happiest Place on Earth

I stepped foot into Disneyland, but it was not the happiest place on Earth. Don't get me wrong, Disneyland is amazing, but the happiest place on earth is definitely where my family, friends, and students are. Today was an extra special day with well wishes all around. It doesn't take much to make you feel amazing and after the many messages and wishes I received and the quality time that I got to spend, I would call it a great day. As my brother played his traditional round of my ice skating videos, my classes were prepping for UCI. It was nice to relax a bit and simply listen to speeches. I grabbed TapEx, then headed to Sweetee Thai, and ended up at Disneyland where I got a beautiful birthday button from Aprille, met up with Kat and her friend, and adventured through both parks. I ended up at Dolphin Bay to grab a meal and I got some time to catch up with Steven and Terry. It was quite nice and while I didn't have a fancy dinner, a night at a club, or anything of that sorts, a nice relaxing conversation was definitely something I enjoyed. I didn't plan much on my big day, but that doesn't mean that the day was a full one and one that I can remember for the rest of my life. Thank you for all the wonderful messages that you sent to me today and I look forward to seeing you all soon! 

~:[CH5 - Day 147]: ~ Honored

~:[CH5 - Day 147]: ~ Honored

Another day ... scratch that, another busy day. I knew it would be another exhausted as this unending barrage of things down the stretch tends to test your energy levels. However, I made it to the end of the night, sort of. After a day at work, I headed home to finalize our track and field banquet and to finish up some odds and ends. It's a time of errands and work, but tonight, there was something extra special. While I've been asked, does it get old going to the city council to get a mayoral proclamation year after year, I always seem to answer no. Yes, I come here pretty much every year, but with a new group who gets honored with their hard work and dedication, it never gets old. I always remind that that they cannot take for granted the opportunity they have and expect to do well at the conference if they don't prepare. Every year, it's definitely an honor to watch these students get honored. We ended up having our photo shoot after the fact and it's always great to see the group together for the last time. We ended the night with a great dinner at Macaroni Grill, just chatting the night away. With many having projects and work to do, the crowd scattered quickly, but every bit of the night was worth it. It's sad to think that the process of Nationals is officially over six months later, but I guess if you look at it, the process begins in a little less than six months again with a new group who I will have to train again and watch as they grow through the process. Again, I am lucky and have groups like these to thank for it. I am truly honored tonight and on many days of my life. 

~:[CH5 - Day 146]: ~ In Recognition

~:[CH5 - Day 146]: ~ In Recognition

This day always tends to be one of my favorite days of the year, Premios de Oro. For one, it reminds me of my chemistry teacher Susan Megna who was one of my inspirations to teach and who gave me my only medallion in my high school career. While it may just be a ceremony, to me, it has grown into so much more, as it helps me to pass on the torch that I was given so many years ago. This year was one of my toughest years, as I had students who didn't even receive a certificate to that I wanted to give the medallion to. It's tough to narrow it down to a handful and ultimately down to one. I've enjoyed working with my class this year and wish I had unlimited medallions to give, however, this one student in particular stood out in his effort, in his love for history, and his growth throughout the year. I know he still has a ways to go, but I know he will get there, much like the other students in my class. Every year, I like to stay as long as I can, just to see everyone off, as it is a day that I can remember and reflect on all those who brought me back to this wonderful place to make me one of the richest men alive. Who else can say they have been blessed with being around some of the greatest minds that will impact the world in just a matter of time. As I saw student after student from my classes or programs walk to the stage, I stood so proudly like the parents around me, as I have been able to see these students grow throughout this year or over the course of the past four years. Just when I thought the night couldn't get any better, one of my students handed me a flash drive with a video he made for me. It was touching, inspiring and reminded me why I never left this career. As while the glitz and glamour of Hollywood once called me, the only moment of fame I need, is to see the students grow over time and show that they are truly golden. As while it may not be in the spotlight, I'll stand proud in the shadows knowing that I've been lucky enough to work with each and everyone of these students. 

~:[CH5 - Day 145]: ~ In Recovery

~:[CH5 - Day 145]: ~ In Recovery

I still felt the fatigue from an eventful weekend, but that didn't help me in sleeping early. The fatigue was so bad that I could feel it in my legs when I went to bed. Getting to school was a challenge, however, I made it. After a rousing debate on offshoring in Econ and covering the space race and Vietnam, Korean, and Afghan wars in world, I dealt with the numerous visitors coming to my room to pay for one of the two banquets, to pay for this or that, to sign up for cross country, and more. It was one of those strange days where the wave of people just kept coming. During my off period, I went to meet with the park to review their construction plan to ensure it wouldn't affect our meets and then grabbed lunch at New Peking, before heading back to the waves of people. I headed home to get work done and just had to lay down and get some sleep. It was recovery time. Although there may be work to be done, sometimes you just need to sit down and let yourself recover and so I did. Of course, my recover was different that Maxwell's as he had surgery on his ear as he had to wear the cone of shame. We recovered together today, as we relaxed, ate dinner, watched OKC defeat GS, before I headed back to the work I needed to complete. After finishing up the Premios video and doing some MUN conference work and track banquet prep, I sat back and clicked on a video link. I am glad that I did, as it also helped my soul recover. They covered the 93-year-old lady, Leah Chase, who was behind the fried chicken of Dooky Chase (New Orleans, LA). She was a fierce lady with a great heart and she said a line that will stick for awhile. "It's good to have people think about you and all you have to do is think about others. That's Simple. That's so easy to do to me." While she can serve up some great food and the video focused a lot on the food, it was this statement and the actions she was recognized for that really helped revitalize my soul. I know I've addressed this before, but in a world where we are so drive to reach OUR goals and OUR hopes and dreams, the best route may be by thinking about the goals, hopes and dreams of others first. I think sometimes we are moving so quickly that we fail to see that by helping others, we help ourselves and as Leah Chase says, it's easy to do. In the long run, we can find that what we give will be returned to us two fold (or more) and that it will bring us something that money cannot buy. I went to hear about the fried chicken, but left with a buffet of inspiration. 

~:[Just a Thought]: ~ In the City

~:[Just a Thought]: ~ In the City

I find it interesting that when someone takes the time to slow you down, you find so many things that you missed before. I think we always try to move as such a fast pace through our day, that we miss a lot of the things that make this world beautiful. Next time we think we are in a rush, maybe, just maybe, we can find the time to slow down and enjoy all that is around us. As while the world may keep moving, it doesn't mean we're going to fall behind, rather, we're going to build ourselves up in the process of taking in all that we've been missing. 

~:[CH5 - Day 144]: ~ Galactic

~:[CH5 - Day 144]: ~ Galactic

After starting our offshoring debate in Econ, we started to wrap up our Cold War presentations in a few periods. For two of the three periods, espionage would be the last topic. One group tried something new as they made the room remind me of the Disclosure concert I went to this weekend. The room lit up and it almost felt like a disco without the music. The presentation season went by so quickly as I cannot believe that we are on our last one, which also means that the end of the year is coming soon. How do I know? I spent most of the rest of the evening working on the banquet, as I finished up most of the program with one section left to go and will begin focusing more on the MUN banquet which will also come up very quickly. I took a break in order to watch the Raptors beat the Cavs in what is now becoming a good conference finals on both ends. I finished up a number of others things I needed completed today and by day's end, I had a lot of my checklist items checked off. I was pretty exhausted when I went to work this morning, but now, I have a lot of energy, as I know that I had a super productive day. Who knows what tomorrow will bring, but I know one thing, I made the most of today and that's why it was out of this world.

~:[CH5 - Day 143]: ~ The Unexpected

~:[CH5 - Day 143]: ~ The Unexpected

I woke up in the morning and had a great sleep. I could hear the students getting breakfast and a little later, heading to the bus. I still couldn't move. A little after, I was able to get everything together, finish up some last few things, then headed back to San Francisco. With my friend running late, I scrambled and made plans with Doug, who happened to be Gina-less at the moment. We stopped off to grab pho at a place known for its chicken pho. So guess what I ordered? Combination ... haha jkjk. I ordered the chicken pho and it was pretty good without having to add much more than a squeeze of lemon and some jalapenos. Pretty awesome! It was great catching up, which we do almost every time I am in San Francisco. After dropping him off, my GPS went crazy as it directed me in the wrong direction when I just needed to turn back and the other way. Regardless, I had a lot of time. I should have used the free parking on the street, but somehow I ended up following someone in the structure and unnecessarily paid for parking. Oh well. While a little later then planned, I finally met up with my friend and we were able to chat in the library. It was definitely awesome that despite everything, we were able to find a time and place to meet before she headed back to the PI and was a great ending to the trip. With time ticking away, we said our goodbyes and I drove back seeing if maybe I could catch the bus. Of course, I fell just short and got to school as the last few people were leaving. As I reflected back on the trip, I was actually quite impressed that it all ended up coming together from Disclosure to Davis and adding a few meet ups on top of driving both ways plus an extra trip between Davis and SF. I am pooped, but I have no regrets that I took on this last minute venture and amazed at how things unexpectedly fell into place. I guess you can trust that even when you are not sure what is ahead, that the groundwork will be laid and you'll have a path guiding you to the next amazing adventure. Thank you all for a wonderful weekend, as it was one filled with new friends, new memories, and new adventures.  

~:[CH5 - Day 142]: ~ Saving the World

~:[CH5 - Day 142]: ~ Saving the World

These students are our future. Year after year, I am lucky to work with some amazing students and this year is no different. I realize how lucky students are when they handle issues such as terrorism, address a humanitarian crisis, or defend the United States in the ICJ against Nicaragua among many other topics. While they are only sophomores, they continue to blow me away with their abilities. I was glad that despite not "working" this weekend, I decided to drive over from San Francisco as I got to see how far my freshman (now sophomores) have come since last year. The rain tried to slow us down, but it was timed just right as we were able to enjoy Davis and all the treats the town has to offer. While I was exhausted after a late night and early rise, it was well worth it, as in the end, I saw the future that is going to save the world from all the madness it suffers from. They are the ones that continue to give me hope that our future has a chance and for that, every mile of the drive to Davis was well worth it. I am pooped now, so good night!

~:[CH5 - Day 141]: ~ Double Dose

~:[CH5 - Day 141]: ~ Double Dose

I woke up early to open the room for Davis bags and then headed to my room for class. While the classes zoomed by, a lot of different things came up through the day that put some extra weight on the day. I ended up taking care of everything before hitting the road. Little did I know for how long. As I jumped on the freeway, the time kept changing through the drive, as I ended up enjoying the scenery for over seven hours. I passed by the Davis bus on the way up and headed on my way to SF. I got to my fancy hotel and waited for awhile to check in. I was late to the concert, but they did not play from the beginning and so it was nice that I caught most of the performance. The crowd was giant and I was amazed at how many people showed up. As expected, their performance was amazing and they topped it off with an aweseome, when a fire starts to burn. I headed out a little early, as I knew that the lines to get taxis and ubers would be long. I jumped in my uber and headed to 1015 Folsom. The crowds headed there and it was jammed packed, almost too much. Disclosure came back for a second dose of performances and this time, I was super close. It got a little too packed in, so we ended up heading to the other room where it was a lot more open. It was great meeting new people and just chatting and even better to see an amazing performance by Disclosure. It was worth the drive and the weekend that I had to give up to be here and am glad that I took that leap of faith and ended up here.  While I ended the night with terrible pizza and a Pepsi, just a few moments earlier, I said goodbye to a few new friends, who were so welcoming and made the first day of this trip well worth it.

~:[CH5 - Day 140]: ~ Taking that Chance

~:[CH5 - Day 140]: ~ Taking that Chance

The longer I have taught, the more I have seen less of students challenging themselves and believing that they can do it. When things get tough, often times, it may lead to them folding, as they do not  understand that they must continue to push through the toughest of situations, to make the obstacles they face in the future much easier. Sure, there is something about doing things the smart way, but there also needs to be a little perseverance. Luckily, I have many of the students who push those limits and as difficult as the road ahead may look, what they can accomplish will be limitless if they keep pushing forward. My hope is that they do not shy away from what they thing they cannot do, but ultimately to find out what they can do, even if it means falling short, because that in itself is sometimes greater progress than accomplishing an easier goal. It was fun to see this in action in various presentations today on the space race. While the United States fell behind in the space race, their willingness to challenge their limits ultimately won them the race. After being able to get a lot of work done today (a lot!), I packed my bags, got some trip work done and then proceeded back to tying up those odds and ends. After a long week, tomorrow begins a journey that will be exhausting, but worth every adventure that I find along the way. I'm hoping that everything falls into place, but even if it doesn't, I'm willing to try to make those most of it all. 

~:[CH5 - Day 139]: ~ Rising from the Darkness

~:[CH5 - Day 139]: ~ Rising from the Darkness

Sometimes with the truth, it doesn't seem like it can get very far, especially when it's met by half-truths or worse. However, in many cases, these half-truths just dig us into a deeper whole that steer is in a different direction that we really want to go. It was hard battling for what I know is right, as it sometimes feels like it's a fight you cannot win, but those are the fights that we should be in, helping us grow, helping us learn and helping us see. If life were easy, we would not be prepared for what's ahead and everytime we try to take a shortcut, it leads to nothing more than a dead end, whether today, tomorrow or the next day. In the end, I did not let the situation bother me and made the most of the day at hand. With more exciting presentations, a few visitors and a late night at work, it ended up being a day where I was able to rise from the darkness. No matter what tries to bring you down, through practice and persistence, you'll always be able to rise above it. The end of the day simply topped it all off as I reconnected from someone from college and solidified my weekend. Things fell into place and as dark as today could have been, it only becomes a glimmer of the past that I'll leave behind.

~:[CH5 - Day 138]: ~ Piecing It Together

~:[CH5 - Day 138]: ~ Piecing It Together

It was one of my favorite days in Econ, exchange rates day! It's always great to see the stress of trying to convert different items into 15 different currencies. We should have done it by hand, however, I was nice and let them use calculators. Regardless, they figured it out pretty fast and we got a number of them completed. With only a few rounding mistakes. The freshman classes also provided some good times as the Cuban Missile Crisis came alive. One group had a paper plane making competition as "missiles" to see who had the best long range missiles. Mine flew from the 300 building clear to the 400 building and in the final round, mine ended up on the roof. Oh well, it was worth losing to win or did I really lose? The other projects also had interesting moments from a nuclear drill, to great power points and fun activities. It's great to see some creativity and in exchange, good scores. After grabbing Northern Cafe and having a canceled visitor and meeting, I ventured out to collect more bags before calling it a day at work. I did a little more work at home before heading off to meet with an alumni who had some questions. It's always great to catch up and also to help out, as we all need someone to ask questions to and I was glad to be of service. In the end, we work things out and it helped me remember some things I needed to do. I worked more on my Asia itinerary and just have a few more things to do before I call it a night. It was a great day and even when I had so many different little things to do, it simply came together in the end.

~:[CH5 - Day 137]: ~ Build the Wall

~:[CH5 - Day 137]: ~ Build the Wall

With this ridiculous talk of building a wall, it was interesting to see this topic being discussed in relation to the cold war in the Berlin Wall presentations today. One of our groups had the class try and build a wall by getting additional pieces every time they answered a question correctly. They went on to discuss the issues with the wall and ultimately, it's fair to conclude that the wall was a disaster for East Berlin, East Berlin and the Soviet Union. So why would we even think about doing something of the sort now? I know that it's a different time and different situation, but it is something we should take into consideration when the elections come in November. Is a solution like this really the answer in this day and age? In any case, this group did well and I was excited to start the presentations off with a few solid presentations. It will be a good foundation for the rest of the presentations who must now match these presentations. I grabbed some TapEx before having a quick meeting at lunch. After school, I got that empty feeling of what should I do?  After collecting a few bags and jerseys, I ended up going home and getting some work done. I did a lot and always forget how much time most people have after work when coaches have to stick around after school. It's kind of nice but I would definitely become bored of it as there is way too much time to waste. I finished up the night solidifying plans for my stop off up north this weekend and also my adventure into Asia in a month. I can't wait! 

~:[CH5 - Day 136]: ~ Eating with the Star

~:[CH5 - Day 136]: ~ Eating with the Star

I had to wake up early in the morning in order to deliver paperwork from CIF. I don't mind doing the favor, it was just hard to wake up after a late night. Regardless, I made it with time to spare! Cha-ching! I rested a little before heading out to Pasadena for a play at Boston Court, the Golden Dragon. I knew nothing about the play going in and I was definitely left a little confused when it began, but I knew, it would end up tying all together at some point. Being an avant-garde theater, I knew that it would be a little artsy and a little bit deeper in the message and so I was correct. It was a challenge to keep everything together, but as it progressed, things were a lot easier to figure out. In the end, I loved the deeper meaning that the play tried to portray and while it is left open for how you interpret it (as was discussed in the director talk back after the play), to me, it definitely sent me a strong message on how your actions or inaction can impact a number of other things whether you realize it or not. Again, Justin was a star, playing his role well and was definitely one of the more talked about characters in the play, as people came up to him after and he was also discussed through the talk back. I was very impressed by his versatility on stage and you definitely need to check it out! Afterward, we headed out to Magnolia House, a place I've passed by so many times. It has a great vibe to it, but while the food choices were interested (maybe a little limited) and pretty good, the service itself was not the best. The meal still was enjoyable and of course, topping it off with Tpumps was definitely a great way to finish off the evening. Stephanie was working too! I headed home and was able to enjoy dinner with my family before retreating back to the preparation for the next day. It will be a full week, but I know it will also be enjoyable. 

~:[CH5 - Day 135]: ~ The Long Road

~:[CH5 - Day 135]: ~ The Long Road

Part of the process of going to CIF, especially as an underclassmen, is that you get to learn what the higher levels of competition are about. You learn that success in March means a lot less than making sure you're prepared in May and that everything up to that point was gaining experience for this point in the season. The day started off a bit strange as we left late and then ran into traffic. It mean't we were in commute for about two hours to CIF. When we finally arrived at Moorpark, our normal spot was taken and so we camped out on the visitors side. It was a pain to walk our stuff across, however, it ended up working out, as we had a good view of the field events. My distance runner had a pretty good 1600m race and while it warmed up, he battled through three laps, but had trouble hanging that last lap. The race went out just about how we predicted and qualifying was fairly close to what we had thought. Doubling was a tall order, so the energy expended in the 1600m, did impact the 3200m, but we definitely covered what we need to work on for next season and as I said, it was a good learning experience. In both a scary and amazing moment, one of the top pole vaulters broke his pole right in front of us. With only one height needed to advance to CIF Finals, he had to try and get back up and clear the height after injuring his hand. Amazing, after some unpromising run-throughs, he vaulted and cleared 14-6 with essentially one hand. Everyone who witnessed it, was pretty amazed and impressed and while next week is not a certainty for him, it was definitely a moment that many will remember for a long time. Overall, we didn't have the performances that we had hoped for, but we were also fairly proud of the performances we had, especially among a fairly young group of athletes. I have been so proud of our team this season and to see so many reach this level of competition this year, it definitely bodes well for the future of our program. While I headed home groggy and as I fell asleep, I couldn't help thinking of how proud I am of this group and with the right focus and work ethic, what the long road ahead of this team could look like. I celebrated the evening as I celebrated in Santa Monica with my friends, as one of my friends will have one of his last days here in the US, as he heads back to Thailand. It was a bittersweet moment, much like the rest of the day, but I know that there are good times ahead, both for him and for my team and for that, I am excited. 

~:[CH5 - Day 134]: ~ Not So Unlucky

~:[CH5 - Day 134]: ~ Not So Unlucky

It seems like "Friday the 13th" isn't so unlucky after all. It always seems like these days tend to be good ones and today was no exception. After being able to get a lot of work done at school due to a double late start, I made my way through my classes and got even more work done. By the end of the day, I had finished most everything. I met up with Eileen for lunch at Poke Bar and while the first time I had it, it wasn't too enjoyable, it was much better this time, as I changed what I added into the mix. It was a little disappointing that they ran out of brown rice at the tail end of a lunch rush, but I guess you can't always have everything. After a great conversation, we stopped at Fusion before heading our separate ways. Practice went smoothly as we went over splits and strategies for the race. I cleaned up a bit and put some track and field equipment away, before grabbing my coolers and heading to Costco. I forgot my membership card and my Amex, but still was able to grab what I needed between Costco and Ralph's. I ate dinner at home before heading to the TC to meet up with Mama Grace and later on, JT. I haven't seen Grace in awhile and so it was refreshing to do so. It's funny how long we've known each other and it was definitely nice catching up with her and JT. It never fails that I run into a bunch of people at the TC from Chao to Steven to Pliss and more! Regardless, it was an amazing night filled with all the small things that make life grand. Appreciate it and even when the day is suppose to be bad, know that there is much good awaiting you. Today, it was more than good, it was great. 

~:[CH5 - Day 133]: ~ Reasons to Celebrate

~:[CH5 - Day 133]: ~ Reasons to Celebrate

The day flew by as the cryptography game had its moments as usual. It can be a challenge to get things to work right, but today, things seemed to play out pretty well. As while most spy-heavy groups struggled, a few of them still found success despite the obstacles. The rest of the day just seemed to roll by with dinner on the horizon. It's always a challenge to get to Olive Garden on time and not have to wait. We ended up going at about 5pm and we waited almost an hour. It may have been faster, but Artesia was actually there before us, which meant, they ate a pretty early dinner. We enjoyed ourself and despite the large group, we were still missing seven people plus me, so it could have been a much more expensive night. We ended up stopping at Afters and the line was pretty long but it moved pretty quickly when it got to us since we paid in one transaction. It's been a fun stop and interesting to see how my stomach reacts. Today, it actually hasn't been that bad yet. I also downloaded clash royale today. Probably a bad idea, but I guess I can just toy around with it a bit. In the end, it was a day to celebrate, as I continued to make the most of the day and also enjoyed the company of this group of young men and women who have represented our school well. I am definitely proud to have celebrated with them tonight, as they deserve every bit of pampering they receive this week. 

~:[CH5 - Day 132]: ~ In Exchange

~:[CH5 - Day 132]: ~ In Exchange

I'm not sure what made me think of it, but running to Daiso to pick up a few things to make goody bags for the exchange students was an idea that I am happy with. As usual, I may have overdid it a little, but all in all, it was a good additional gift I could provided to these students. Being able to speak only a little Japanese, it was difficult to communicate with them, however, we had a little conversation and used our Japanese students to translated when needed. After covering the US budget in econ and genocide and showing a short video in world, I visited the exchange students one last time before heading out to TapEx. It was really great to see them all, as it was the first time I was able to meet the whole group. At practice, our frosh/soph athletes ran two relays to make an attempt at breaking the school records. Unfortunately, they fell short in both, running the #2 times in both the 4x16 and the DMR. However, I was proud of their efforts on a less than ideal day. I was a little tired, as I ran along with them just for a little bit, but even that can wear me down. After another stop at TapEx, our family had dinner together and just relaxed, before I retreated to get some work done. As I look back on my day, I smile, as I was pretty happy on how things worked out. Sometimes, you make a decision you are not sure about it and that decision ends up being the right one. Today was one of those days. You really never know if it will work out or how it will be received, but you must trust yourself enough to know that the decision you make will be made in your best judgement and everything else is simply out of your control.

~:[CH5 - Day 131]: ~ A Little Fun & Games

~:[CH5 - Day 131]: ~ A Little Fun & Games

Today was suppose to be a normal practice day, but with the rain on Friday, the frosh/soph athletes had to make up the pole vault. After covering the Holocaust today, I had to quickly head off campus. Sadly, I was missing a Holocaust survivor speak at our school (ironically on the same day I covered the topic). I jetted out and grabbed lunch before heading back to school to pick up my one athlete competed. While she was disappointed with her performance, I was proud of what she accomplished through the season and am not upset or disappointed one bit with how she performed, as sometimes, things just don't fall into place. As we talked, we discussed how it's from these types of moments that you find the motivation to pick yourself back up and get going again as this moment can go one of two ways. It can be the catapult to send you to new heights or it can be a moment where you continue to dig yourself deeper into a hole. I have no doubt that she will catapult herself up and find heights that she never knew before. After venturing back to school to put the pole away, the sprint team "borrowed" the pole before I put it back to reenact a scene they saw online. Using the pole, they practiced 4x100m hand offs. It was fun to watch with a combination of two varsity boys, a varsity girl, and a sprint coach enjoying the moment. It would be funny to see them run the entire race that way, however, next time, it'll be with a pole that we don't use much. I headed home and grabbed some items from Daiso to make goody bags for the Japanese exchange students who are coming tomorrow. Who brings visitors from Japan, goods from a Japanese store??? Me. Haha ... anyway, I spent most of the night wrapping that up before calling it a night. I still have a few planning items to take care of, but regardless, it ended up being a pretty good day and a nice and relaxing night. Until tomorrow ...

~:[CH5 - Day 130]: ~ A Greater Message

~:[CH5 - Day 130]: ~ A Greater Message

I worked late into the night as I redid my Japanese Internment power point. While not perfected, I improved it drastically from what I had prior, incorporating items from when I visited Manzanar and also things I learned in talking to George Takei after two performances of Allegiance. I still remember how overwhelmed I was after watching Allegiance and while the Japanese internment was an important topic to me, Allegiance showed me more than I could have ever imagined and inspired me to make this message stronger and clearer, not to put Japanese-Americans in the limelight, but to remind the students that discrimination is not acceptable and to stay silent, you could aid in the allowance of something like this to happen again. In a time where the direction of our country is unpredictable, we all need to be ready to do our part to ensure the safety and security of all people who love this country and call it home. I am not sure how impactful the lecture ended up being, but I felt inspired to cover it and was glad to incorporate a few songs and clips from Allegiance that I found online to spread the message that George Takei was hoping to spread. While the future of Allegiance is still unknown, the message of it can be carried on through word of mouth. I still cannot put into words how grateful I am to the caste of Allegiance who made the wonderful experience possible for me, a friend, and also my students in two different performance and I only wish that many others could experience the amazingness that was Allegiance. For now, I will take this week to ensure that the students understand that discrimination comes in many forms and it is our job to stop it. Through the topics of internment, the Holocaust, and genocide, I'm sure that this message will be passed on, but it's not enough that I do it in my class, each of us has a responsible to ensure that we work together and unite to make this world a better place. I guess that's why I feel refreshed to work in an environment that while not perfect, has grown to embrace our differences and hopefully our student body can take the next step in promoting unity by denouncing discrimination. As a child, George Takei spent his boyhood behind barbed wire and wanted to share his experiences with more people and while for a brief time, I am glad that you got to send out your message, as I heard it loud and clear. 

~:[CH5 - Day 129]: ~ The Love of a Mother

~:[CH5 - Day 129]: ~ The Love of a Mother

I have been truly blessed to have a mother who has given so much to me and my family. Like many mothers out there, she took it upon herself to put the family on her bike and proceed to walk up the insurmountable hills that stood before her. She sacrificed the last morsel of food, she sacrificed her time so that we could have the times of our lives, and she always was there for us, whether it was to keep us in line or just to give us a kiss goodnight. I couldn't imagine what kind of person I would be without her and the many mothers who go above and beyond to make this world a better place by making us better people. At times when I feel frustrated or upset with my mom, I have to stop and think of all the things she has done and how this mound of an inconvenience or issue does not even compare to the galactic pile of issues she faced because of me and for that, I am ever grateful. I wonder to myself, how I can even get upset, as I will be indebted to her for all that she has done for me over a lifetime. To all the mothers out there, thank you for all that you sacrificed, as while you have done it so frequently that you don't think much of it, to us, it means the world. 

~:[CH5 - Day 128]: ~ In a Fairy Tale

~:[CH5 - Day 128]: ~ In a Fairy Tale

I planned to sleep in late after league finals ran long and I got home past midnight after dinner. I knew I needed rest because later in the day, we had prom. I did some odds and ends before heading out on my way to the Phoenix Club. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how beautiful and magnificent everyone looked as they arrived, as prom is the night that everyone has their chance to look and feel like a king or a queen. As I wandered the grounds of the site, I started to see how in reality, our lives can all be that fairy tale. We really have the choice to make our lives a fairy tale. How? In the end, a fairy tale is nothing more than what we imagine our perfect ending to be. It's all about perspective. I may not live a glamorous life in the car I drive or live in a multi-million dollar home or own my own private jet, but I live a life where I've got to see the world, do things I never thought I would have, and work some place where I am at my happiest. As I wandered the grounds and encountered student after student and colleague after colleague, I thought to myself, life truly has become a fairy tale. Sure there will be tragedy and death, failures, and heartaches, but each fairy tale story has its share and it's whether we let all the dirt pile up or sweep it away so that our road ahead is just as magical as the last. As the carriage rolled through the grounds of the site, with it rolled another page in this fairy tale that will live with me for the rest of my days. With every person I ran across, I couldn't help think, nothing could beat this. I'll prepare myself for the trials and tribulations ahead, but know that with the right perspective, in the end, the ending will be just as great as today, tomorrow, and the next day. As I thought I arrived at the last page today's story, I came home to do the chore of trying to fix a clogged drain, only to be succeeded with the greatest moment of the day, sharing a late night meal with my mother on what ended up being our first meal of mother's day. Let our fairy tale adventures continue by allowing ourselves to live happily every after. 

~:[CH5 - Day 127]: ~ Breaking Through

~:[CH5 - Day 127]: ~ Breaking Through

All day it looks as if the storm would be an issue. The clouds loomed overhead, but it did not pour on us. As the day finally passed and it was time to head to Artesia, the clouds still lingered overhead, with misting occurring from time to time. The meet started off a little crazy between the weather, a parking lot full of casino-goers and a driver who gave us issues with something that was normal. We survived it and the day went on. The weather held on as the field events quickly made their way through. The day started with its highs and lows as a few of my athletes didn't do as well as I hoped. One of my athletes though, after suffering an ankle sprain two weeks ago, not only made it to finals, but ended up winning the whole event, PRing and tieing a record in the process. With his mother there to watch, it was definitely a touching moment. Numerous other great performance showed up throughout the day, as we did fairly well, collecting medals in the process. The rain began pouring down as we knew a wave would be coming through. It delayed a few things as we tried to take care of the equipment, but things got back on track. The day had it's frustrating moments, as it's difficult when people just don't listen to directions. It's not okay to claim ignorance, but I do have some tolerance for people who actually don't know; however, when you blatantly do what you're not suppose to repeatedly without any regard for others, it's a challenge to handle. Regardless, I let the day be highlighted by the athletes and it ended that way as we celebrated as we should have; with our faces stuffed with food. When looking back on how my distances kids did, I didn't realize just how good of a day it was even though I knew they did well. We had fourteen athletes make it to finals with ten setting new PRs in 15 events, two setting new season PRs and one of those who didn't, won two varsity league championships and was crowned the league MVP. I would say, that was a pretty great day, despite the storms that were thrown at us. Our team should be proud, as I ended the evening so proud of what they accomplished and all that they endured and overcame tonight and throughout this season. Thanks for a great season! 

~:[CH5 - Day 126]: ~ An Impending Storm

~:[CH5 - Day 126]: ~ An Impending Storm

It was getting dark and you could almost feel a storm coming our way. Yes, it was a storm coming and while there was a lot to celebrate today, you could feel it coming. It was Children's day, Cinco de Mayo and also the birthday of two of my cousins, yet my cold and the laundry list of things to do made it a challenge to celebrate. The gloom showed overhead as the day dragged on. However, even with the challenges faced, good spirit can sometimes trump the impending storm. I felt energized after practice despite my cold, as my athletes seemed ready despite their bumps and bruises. My head and throat cleared a little as the tea from TapEx and the soup from Sweetee Thai soothed my soul. Then a nap helped my body rest and all weight was lifted from my shoulders as I finished up the last of the paperwork for tomorrow's league finals. I ended the night with solidifying my trip to HK and also hearing good news for my Asia trip this summer. Yes, there is a storm coming, however, regardless of the challenges that we will face because of it, we have done what is necessary to counter it so that it cannot bring us down. Much like any storm in life, what you do in preparation, can help make even the most hopeless of situations a positive one. 

~:[CH5 - Day 125]: ~ Hoping for Peace

~:[CH5 - Day 125]: ~ Hoping for Peace

Even though his season was over, he came to practice to improve and so did a few other athletes. While some levels of dedication are following, it's great to see some of it improving around me. It was a pretty intriguing day though as I watched the vaulters as they prepared for Friday's finals. My body broke down a little today as I got hit with another small cold. It's been a pain, but I know I will get rid of this eventually. Everything else seemed like a normal day as I spent some time with my family and got some work done. Of course, normal was replaced with amazing, as I got to bed early this evening, mainly because of my cold. Regardless, in a day where we wished the "fourth to be with you" and when I began wrapping up World War II, I looked forward to good times ahead. 

~:[CH5 - Day 124]: ~ Just a Thought

~:[CH5 - Day 124]: ~ Just a Thought

There was a lot on today's agenda. I got up and started on my long laundry list of things to do in order to prepare for the meet today. I got it all done and headed out in order to pick up a few things before the meet. I had just enough time. It was a push, but I made it. We headed over to the meet and finally it was time to get this meet going. We had a pretty good meet with strong performances in both distance events and athletes in all events qualified into finals, securing good positioning for finals. The pole vault was the event I was most worried about as one of my athletes was able to overcome some obstacles in order to qualify into finals when it looked like there was no hope at all. As I saw him clear the bar, I was so ecstatic. It truly made my day and there were really no words. The meet itself was filled with annoyances (the same as normal) with coaches asking to add athletes or this or that. In the end, however, the meet went well, the timer was on top of it and the night ended with a joyful dinner celebration at Sweetee Thai. It was definitely a great ending to a wonderful day and with a few "Easter eggs" hidden through the day, it simply was magical. After getting home, I wrapped up the results and rewarded myself with something special for November! I can't wait!

~:[CH5 - Day 123]: ~ Under Repair

~:[CH5 - Day 123]: ~ Under Repair

I had a lot of things to work on today. I was catching up with my errands, finishing up lessons, and making sure I had everything set for the race tomorrow. In practice, we were trying to get healthy while in some cases, just trying to stay away from whatever pain and discomfort our athletes were facing. However, it was definitely a day that I worked on a few things. Sure, I fixed eight of my watches so that they were working for league finals, using the lessons my father taught me. I also worked on a few things on my own, trying to scrape out time to reflect and grow. It's always important that we always keep ourselves under repair. We always have room to improve, to correct ourselves and to grow. We shouldn't always be doing it, however, I believe that our lives are a work in progress and when we ultimately are satisfied with where we are, we will have passed on. I constantly try to evaluate myself and I know what more I need to work on. I do have the problem of not always working on it, but at the same time, I am able to correct a lot of my issues. In the end, continually doing this can help make us better people and just like my watches, even when we think that our will to go on has ended, we find a new source of energy and continue to function for the many moments that lie ahead. 

~:[CH5 - Day 122]: ~ Binding It Together

~:[CH5 - Day 122]: ~ Binding It Together

I had two goals for the day, to get some sleep and to get work done. I did both. I slept in a bit and then got to work once I awoke. I started with updating our records and while I still have things to add to the file, it's nice for the athletes to see some of the records. Some of the records may never fall such as a 50' triple jump or a 19' 4" long jump (female), etc., however, you never know. It goes to show the types of athletes we have had come through Cerritos and it's truly amazing to see. The fun things is, we have begun slowly knocking at the distance records and slowly, the athletes I coaches are starting to push the old marks into the past. I ended up printing over 300 pages of material for the meet, from heat sheets to instructions to field passes and more. It's my one full day of productivity for the meet and by powering through it, I have nothing to worry about until the meet itself. I ended up stopping off to visit a friend who stopped off in Newport for the weekend. It was nice to have a small gathering, while short, was well worth it. On my way home, I stopped at TapEx and ran into a few people including one of our former counselors and my friend, Melissa! I am always so sad that she no longer works with us, but definitely glad that she is happy where she is at. I hope that we can catch up soon instead of just running into each other! As I headed back, I did some cleaning and more prep for the meet before catching up on my blog and prepping for the week. It's going to be a busy week, but I'm used to it and the more work I have, the faster it will go and the sooner it will be to my next summer trip! I can't wait!