~:[CH9 - Day 121]:~ Reasons to Celebrate

~:[CH9 - Day 121]:~ Reasons to Celebrate

It's always nice to have reasons to celebrate at times like these. There were definitely a number of amazing reasons to do so! I woke up on time to do my job of taking out the trash, got to see Max, Jordan and Alyssa (as well as my brother and Laura), completed my laundry list of things to do and the biggest prize of them all, finished cleaning my home office, which has been years in the making. Not only was it cleaned, but cleaned exactly how I've always imagined. Everything filed, all that was useless tossed and the only thing left to do is vacuum. My drawers are even organized! If you knew what my office was like, you knew it was impressive in some ways (how I can fit so much stuff in a small space), but now since it's actually orderly, your draw might just drop. Regardless, as much as it has been a pain for this stay-at-home order, it has been beyond a blessing in disguise and today, I finally had a reason to celebrate. Of course, the other half has still yet to be done. As while it's a lot less work than what I just finished, it won't be an easy task. Wish me luck!

~:[CH9 - Day 120]:~ Out & About

~:[CH9 - Day 120]:~ Out & About

In actuality, I didn't go "out," but going outside is going out I guess. I volunteered to help with cap & gown distribution. With no meetings on the schedule until later, I figured, why not spend some time helping, bu also getting a chance to see the seniors. It was truly a blessing to be able to do that, to see my friends and colleagues, as well as just being on campus again. It's strange how when things that are so routine are taken away, you begin to realize just how special they are. Since we finished up early and they were short handed, I also ended up helping to distribute lunches and got my workout in. It actually ended up being a pretty fun and productive day. I was tired when I got home, but I still cooked up lunch and dinner and cleaned like no other. I pretty much wrapped up my home office cleanup with just a box of things to take care of. It actually looks like how I imagined it would look like so many years ago. I am just adding a few more things to the setup and I'll be off and running. It feels good to clear out the extra weight, enjoy the memories and start anew. Of course all that was topped off just by being out for a few hours, even if I ended up working up a bit of a sweat. 

~:[CH9 - Day 119]:~ Acquired Tastes

~:[CH9 - Day 119]:~ Acquired Tastes

Some things in life take getting used to. Since I was young, I grew up eating natto. There aren't that many people outside of Japan that would be asking for it, but every time I am in Japan, I always am craving it. Luckily, it's always something that is in my fridge. On a day where I wasted so much energy really getting to the bottom of my room and coming towards the end, I needed something refreshing and this was the answer. It wasn't a big meal, but a satisfying one. Strangely enough, my dad ate this same thing right before me. This stay-at-home order got me thinking about how some times it just takes a bit of time to get used to something. As while some people are waiting to get out, I've been pretty content working from home, aside from missing my students and all the events that we normally have around this time. The routines, the workload and the discipline to stay on top of everything has been key. I had my meetings, finished up my videos and cleaned up a bit as I was satisfied with the taste this day left in my mouth. At first I didn't like it, but it isn't half bad. 

~:[CH9 - Day 118]:~ Getting Down to Business

~:[CH9 - Day 118]:~ Getting Down to Business

Maybe I jinxed this a bit. Back in January I was thinking to myself, I would never be able to clean up my house, I would need a month of doing nothing to have that happen. Well, I got what I asked for and more. Sure, there are still things to do, so I didn't actually get a full month, but I am starting to make progress and incredibly, I am about to accomplish something I never thought possible. It could still be a week a way for a 100% completed mission, but I am quite close and it's quite exciting to be where I am at. At the same time, I picked up my drive and began editing a video I was suppose to start in 2018. It's funny how all these things that got put off are magically what is keeping me focused and far from bored. I miss the connection with people, but with a load of things to do, the time is passing much quicker than anticipated. After a department meeting and wrapping up our conference, today may have been busier than most of my days normally, but the type of productivity I have had has left room for a lot of personal satisfaction. There is still a ways to go around the other parts of the house, but for now, I am content that this office just may see the organization it has always dreamt of, but never realized. Let's get down to business and finish this up so we can make this happen!

~:[CH9 - Day 117]:~ In Control

~:[CH9 - Day 117]:~ In Control

Have you ever looked at a keyboard and wondered why certain letters were located where they were? I always wondered, why do we have to live in a place where these keys are set in place. While it may not be a wise idea to do this in reality, I got around to moving these keys around and making my own reality. We live in a time, that more than ever, we feel like we have no control. I know that cabin fever already gets to some of you, but having that feeling of no control can drive you up the wall. When I looked at this keyboard, it wasn't simply about the keys, but the fact that we have more control than we think. We have the power to win over our minds, our hearts and our souls and we have control of how we handle ourselves. When all this madness starts to subside, let's keep control and head in a positive direction. Some situations seem so hopeless, but when we keep ourselves focused and avoid going out of control, we will find that the path ahead is a lot simpler than we could have ever imagined. Stay strong and keep staying positive! 

FUN GAME - What is the longest actual word you can make using only the keys on your keyboard ONCE! No cheating by looking it up!

~:[CH9 - Day 116]:~ Uncomfortably Comfortable

~:[CH9 - Day 116]:~ Uncomfortably Comfortable

The daily routines at home have become more comfortable and the excitement of finishing a task I never though would be done is starting to grow,  however, even on days like this, there is a discomfort that can come along with it. I spent the evening with my friends playing poker online. Strangely, I get to see them more often than I did when in person before all of this. With a few of them being in the medical field, to hear them having to work on the front lines makes me worry while others are carefree about the situation and making their jobs more dangerous. The issue hit even closer to home as a friend shared his experiences with Covid-19. He is the second friend I knew of who got it, but his situation seemed a bit more dire than my friend in Hong Kong. There are a number of things I wish I could be doing and a lot that I've missed out on and as uncomfortable as staying in as much as possible is, I have to remember that when I do what I want just because I feel I deserve my "freedom," we risk so much more for those around us. Our actions can take away the most important freedom from someone else, the freedom to life. As I said before, my routine at home has become a lot more comfortable, but one of the reasons I think it has become that way is because I know that as uncomfortable as I am, my discomfort will lead to comfort coming to us all sooner rather than later. Patience is a quality I think a lot of people have lost in this "high speed" age and while there is a lot that will weigh on our minds moving forward, we must not forget that our discomfort will preserve for the greatest number of people the greatest freedom we have - life.

~:[CH9 - Day 115]:~ The Same, Only Different

~:[CH9 - Day 115]:~ The Same, Only Different

It was the same, only different. At the end of our first day of the first ever Cerritos MUN online conference, our chairs had a quick meeting and the overall impression was very good. Despite the fact that a car accident knocked out power to a small section of Cerritos right before we started and a few having technical issues, the conference itself ran pretty well. Sure, there were things that needed to be figured out and snags along the way, but in the end, the committees ran smooth and the chairs were chatting away seemingly in a good mood. I was grateful to have so many volunteer their time to make this happen so that the freshmen didn't miss out on their last conference. Surely, this situation has led to the cancellation of so many things, however, at least we were able to salvage something and even though it was a little different, it ended up being pretty much what we come to expect from an MUN conference. 

~:[CH9 - Day 114]:~ Appreciation

~:[CH9 - Day 114]:~ Appreciation

It was easy to complain when you were sitting outside in 90 degree temperatures. Today was one of those hot days and sans Covid-19, I would have been baking under the sun at a track meet today. However, you can complain when you're in the midst of something like that, but when you look back on it, you can appreciate the fact that you had the opportunity. While I kept busy today, today was one of those days where I missed what we had lost these past few weeks, which soon will be months. Sadly, all the energy spent on setting up meets, going to practices and baking under that sun, are things that I miss, as along with those things came the excitement of competition, the joys of success, and the routine, yet special daily interactions. I'm sure we will all grow a little more appreciation for those things that seem tedious, exhausting or routine, as while it never was a though, living without it is something that we see could become a reality. More than ever, we can understand that life isn't predictable and there is no guarantee for tomorrow, so make the most of each and every day that you have, even when you're stuck indoors, there are still things to appreciate and to celebrate.

~:[CH9 - Day 113]:~ Earth

~:[CH9 - Day 113]:~ Earth

I started out titling this post "our" Earth, but that is not the truth at all. We do not own this place and we are not the only ones on this planet. We live in an ecosystem where we all depend on each other to survive. I've seen some beautiful places in my lifetime and one of them was about five  years ago as I stood above the clouds on my ascent to the top of Mt. Fuji. I went before hiking season opened, so the mountain was quiet and with every stop, there were peaceful moments and gorgeous views. As while today is Earth Day, every day is one that we must remember to protect this environment as much as possible. At the very least, let's pick up our trash and keep this planet clean. The one good thing about us being in quarantine, is I despise seeing the amount of trash left on campus after snack or lunch. Similarly, when walking from place to place, it's not uncommon to see trash thrown here or there, sometimes when there is a trashcan nearby. When visiting Japan, I am always reminded of what a place would look like if we all just did our part to keep it clean. As while they have to clean up their act on packaging, like we all do, the cleanliness and treatment of their surroundings is top notch. It's been sad to see the reduction in protection of National Parks and the push to change our environment into money without attention to sustainability, however, it's still not too late to continue to speak up so that the generations that come after us can enjoy this place as much as we did. As while the cold breeze cooled me off after a tough climb, I was left in awe of the beauty of this place we call Earth.

~:[CH9 - Day 112]:~ Mixing It Up

~:[CH9 - Day 112]:~ Mixing It Up

I normally only make this dish during the holidays or special events, but I decided with the ingredients I had that I could make an adapted version of it. I had picked jalapenos instead of a fresh one with no chili or habanero, plus I used steak instead of chicken, leaving me with lomo saltado. I fried my own potatoes and made it with the amount of cilantro I had, but it ended up being okay. Sometimes you don't have everything you need, but you still find a way to make it work. During lunch, I wanted to try something different, so I used milk in my ramen instead of water and threw in a bunch of different things and essentially ended up with a quick pasta dish. This time is definitely one that we are going to have to make it work. It's not convenient, it's not easy and there are many concerns moving forward, but we must find a way to make it through. Surprisingly it was a busy day and I accomplished so much from sunrise to sundown and beyond. While all this was not planned time, I've been happy to be able to change things up and have this time to catch up on organizing myself and also spend quality time with my parents. As while it's been a bit of a drag missing out on a lot of things that we had on schedule, we have to adapt, mix it up, and work with what we have to make something just as special as if all had went to plan. It's not easy, but we can do it if we put our minds to it!

~:[CH9 - Day 111]:~ Just a Bit of Magic

~:[CH9 - Day 111]:~ Just a Bit of Magic

The reality, we're at home, however, it doesn't mean we can't add magic into our day. Today was our first week of online spirit week! It was movie character Monday and so I decided to be a Hufflepuff. Sure it's not a "character," but still managed to dress up like something and edit it up a bit to make it more magical. Throughout my adventures, I've picked up pieces of this costume and while I couldn't find my actual wand, I had another one I used from Ragnar in 2015. Yes, it was a day of distance learning and meetings, a little bit of cooking and cleaning, but it didn't mean I couldn't add a little bit of magic to the day. We can't control what's going on in the world around us, but in many cases, we can control our own world and our own space. As while we may wish we can magically wish this all away, let's make what we can control magical and help those around us add a little magic to their day as well.

~:[CH9 - Day 110]:~ In Who We Trust

~:[CH9 - Day 110]:~ In Who We Trust

It was another day of cooking and cleaning. Life is getting routine and while staying inside is a pain, it also has led to productivity. Honestly, I am doing more than I expected. However, not everyone is in the same groove as I have gotten into, with many because of the worries of what's ahead. I was quite upset at seeing some of the protests going on, as they went against a lot of what we are being asked to do. If it leads to another spike, it honestly means that our time spent at home is a little less meaningful, yet as I thought about it, a lot of the problems stem from the trust we have. More and more people are afraid because we aren't getting a clear message. I feel comfortable with the messages we are getting closer to home as while businesses are suffering, it's but a step that we must take to keep the numbers down. People say, "the numbers aren't as high as predicted" and simply put, it's because we are doing what was asked. The numbers will be somewhat telling later on, but as of now, they're doing their best to figure out what might be the best path for us. However, when we get a mixed message from the top, it leads to less people confident in these bold steps that are being taken. Instead of cooperating, we're getting messages from our leaders saying to LIBERATE places that are being lock down, retweet posts that ask to fire those such as Dr. Fauci, and just tearing down anyone who is against him such as saying I can't work with someone who is capable because of a grudge. As while the other side is not always innocent as well, the lack of working together is what is the biggest issue, because there is no trust. Emmanuel Macron of France stepped up and admitted his faults and took some blame. Piers Morgan pointed that out and talked about how this is not a partisan issue. People are suffering and people are dying. Instead of trying to gloss things over, we're starting to hear things that are bringing greater doubt into the future. Whether our actions are right and whether we are too strict or we ease up too quickly, we'll never know and we don't have to agree with the decisions being made, but maybe it's time we get some truths. I rather hear something like Macron who admits that they need to do more to deal with this crisis (as he stated they weren't prepared) than someone who says we are a 10/10 and the "king of ventilators" after pushing most of the responsibility to fix or secure them to the states. There's been a loss of trust and that's what is leaving us in a state of disarray. Personally, this has been a reminder to myself to make sure that I carry things through as I should such as meeting deadlines or even something simple like cleaning up my room. If I set a goal or make a promise, I either need to get there or face up to it, as I don't want to lose trust, as I am seeing it unfold before me. Luckily though, I am surrounded by people I trust and hope that we all can reflect on ourselves and how we move forward from here. As while we may not always clean like we should, but covering up that fact will only leave dirt that will be unveiled later on. 

~:[CH9 - Day 109]:~ Saving the Core

~:[CH9 - Day 109]:~ Saving the Core

I've really made progress in cleaning things up. It's not yet visually apparent, but soon, the organization will be the telling factor in this makeover. In most things, I try to do the best job possible to not only present something that looks good, but is well put together. When cleaning, however, it wasn't always the case. I made it look clean, but in reality, there was a lot to clean and fix. Today, I continued that process and instead of sweeping the dust under the rug, I actually am going in and doing a deep cleaning. I'm tossing out what I don't need and keeping the core and just a bit more since I am not quite going to the minimalist direction as I'm far from a Marie Kondo. It's going to be exhausting and tiring while I suck in a bunch of dust of things that I haven't seen in years, but I've got the time and right now, I'm in the right mindset to do this. Let's see how this goes. 

~:[CH9 - Day 108]:~ Don't Mind the Line

~:[CH9 - Day 108]:~ Don't Mind the Line

It was the first time I had been out twice within a week. It was a little strange. However, looking at our stash in the fridge, I figured, I'd fill up our fridge again just in case so we'd be good for the next week. The line was quite long, but the weather was beautiful. I didn't mind waiting in line mainly because it meant I could soak in these outdoors I hadn't seen in so long. I've been surrounded by dust balls all around and so to breathe in this air, even though I had a mask on, was literally a breath of fresh air. I ended up coming home with more food than I had planned on. I ended up making omurice, soup and pasta to the surprise of my parents. I finished cleaning up my shelf and just have to sort things back in and even had a bit of time to catch up with friends, have a little fun with family via text and enjoy this wonderful day. It's really strange how you get used to this daily grind and in my mind, it's just a long spring break, however, when you go outside, it makes you miss what you once had. Regardless, at the same time, it's about making the most of your day. 

~:[CH9 - Day 107]:~ The Ups & Downs

~:[CH9 - Day 107]:~ The Ups & Downs

I found another one of those places I vowed to myself that I would clean one day. Today became the first of one of those days. You wonder, how does it take you more than a day to clean out a shelf. You'd be surprised what I have to deal with. As I digitize my world, I've inhaled more dust than I can imagine, yet came across memories I had forgotten. It's the ups and downs of life. Mentally, I needed a few breaks so I picked up a few Kdrama episodes and even kept watch over some new stocks. I know it will be a volatile market, but it's a nice little way to keep things interesting during these troubling times. What kind of treasures and gems have you found while cleaning or what to-dos have you finally completed now that you have to keep yourself occupied? 

~:[CH9 - Day 106]:~ Meaningful Minutes

~:[CH9 - Day 106]:~ Meaningful Minutes

I average about an hour outdoors a week at most. When I do, it's normally getting food and the sad realities of a new normalcy. It's so strange not to greet each other, to be so aware of others, and to think about everything that you need to do to be in compliance, However, these minutes are quite meaningful, especially when you're indoors almost literally 24-7. It's a scary time to live. My friend in Hong Kong told me that he and his friend contracted the virus, yet luckily since recovered. As while many will recover, we have to do our part to help in these times, yet still mindful of our own mental health. I've been doing pretty well, but I know that these handful of minutes keep recharging me, whereas normally being home did just that. I read a post today that got me a little sad, as I heard about the mental struggles of someone I know. It's definitely a difficult thing to face when we are in these types of moments, but I hope that everyone knows that my ears are always ready and open and that I know a lot of people around you are ready for you as well. We all need to do our part, but that also means taking care of ourselves and knowing what we need to do to keep ourselves healthy. As while for the most part I will be found staying at home, I am grateful for these few meaningful minutes where I can get outside and even run into a familiar face here and there. Even six feet apart, it helps fill some of the void left by these challenging times.

~:[CH9 - Day 105]:~ Broken But Not Beat

~:[CH9 - Day 105]:~ Broken But Not Beat

My parents called me to the garage. Our garage door broke. It reminded me that so many things in life have a shelf life. Even humans have a limit to their time here. We never really know when that date will come. Even when we take care of things, they can break in an instant. We're going to face a lot of things that are broken when we return to "normal" but the question is, are we going to allow this to beat us? We're going to have moments where we break down, but can we rise back up? It's true, life will be forever changed, but sometimes when things break, it just means, it's an opportunity for us to build it up better than before. As I pieced together our dinner for the night, I wondered what I was going to make. I didn't want to make the same old thing. I was tired of it, however, in my frustration, I created something new and it wouldn't have happened without all of this. Expect things to be broken and not up to our expectations, but don't get frustrated, rather find a way to make it work, to build it up better so that when our opportunity to comes, we will show that we will not be beaten. It's much easier to say than to do, but I have confidence that we can and we will. Who knows how much longer this will last and how many things will be left broken after all is said and done, but all I know is, I'm excited for all the innovative and creative things that will rise from what once was.

~:[CH9 - Day 104]:~ Powerful

~:[CH9 - Day 104]:~ Powerful

Every so often, I would take the top few things off a stack of papers I wanted to clean. Every time I did it, I would put it back thinking, I'll never get this done, so why start. I've been blessed with the opportunity to get this done and finally, that stack has disappeared. Trashed or scanned with a few keepers, I found my way through the stack discovering that it wasn't an insurmountable task. Life is like that. We discover that truly we are able and that we are powerful. I think many feel hopeless in these difficult times, but I am also confident that we can rise out of these ashes to come to this same realization. We don't need a directive from above, we have it in us and in those who are around us. As I cleaned, my inspiration and motivation improved as I got messages of support and found old memories including letters that reminded me of what I am able to do. It reminded me of what's important and why those intangibles are things we need to pay attention to, as those are the things that empower us. I think we've been focused on the numbers game that we've forgotten the importance of things we cannot measure. Let's motivate each other, support each other, inspire each other, and love each other, not for what we gain or how it will improve the "numbers," but rather simply for the sake of helping all of us grow together. We often get caught up in working with those who can be of the most benefit to ourselves, but why don't we gravitate to those who truly help all of us become more powerful. Instead of bringing each other down, why don't we build something greater than we could have ever imagined. Instead of trying to get ahead, while don't we try to get more people to come along. We live in a world that has been engulfed in lies and people working towards self-promotion and in their own self-interests, yet I am hoping that this time can help guide us towards a place that is more about throwing our support to those who sacrifice and build, rather than look up to those who are perceived as the most powerful. Today this letter among the many other inspiring things I found are but bricks that I will use to help me build. I'm sick of people who constantly tear down so that they can appear to stand superior. Let them stand there, but in the meantime, let's build something around them that will make their power pale in comparison to what we build. As while it may be brick by brick, with patience and perseverance, we will eventually show where the true power lies. Just like my pile of papers, less get rid of all those things we no longer need and let us remain with those things that will help us on this long road ahead. We may be beaten and become discouraged, but if we work together, we can help each other realize just how powerful each of us are.

~:[CH9 - Day 103]:~ Hidden Gems

~:[CH9 - Day 103]:~ Hidden Gems

When many think of Easter, what comes to mind is a bunny or an egg. It's a day often spent with family at a park or a beach, however, with many locked away in our homes, it was an opportunity to think more deeply about the importance of this day. Our world has become so commercialized that the purpose of any given day sometimes gets overshadowed. Today is one of those days, but this year, for many Christians, the ability to focus on the importance without all the distractions became more doable. It reminds us about sacrifice and miracles, it helps us reflect on how we are doing in our own lives, and allows the echoes of compassion, grace and love to be heard in our minds. Sometimes, being locked away has its perks and with the chance to reflect, appreciate and love, I found that to be the case today. As normally the eggs in hunt can sometimes we difficult to find, the true gem of this miraculous day is not hidden away from us all. Let's rejoice today and everyday.

~:[CH9 - Day 102]:~ Signs (of Hope)

~:[CH9 - Day 102]:~ Signs of Hope

I never saw the rainbow, but still the view was spectacular. I am not sure if there was an actual rainbow or not, but looking up at the sky for some reason lifted some weight off my shoulders and helped me relax. It's almost been a month in this quarantine state and I can count the number of times I've been outside on my hands. We're not there yet, but days like this give you that feeling that there are signs of hope in our future. Life has a way of showing us things in its own way and I got the sense that today, this is the way I was being shown or was it? It's a terrible situation and it's an inconvenience for all us, but it's also a good opportunity for us all. My family sat around and we ate the steak that I had cooked up. If this had been a normal day, I would have still been at a track meet. It made me rethink my earlier thought. Sign of hope? In reality, maybe all this was just a sign; a reminder. As while I may not have caught this rainbow that did or did not exist, I didn't need it to see the magnificence of the day. All I needed was a nice meal and some time together. For me, that's what this time has become. The beautiful display has not been in all the wonderful things I get to do, to have or to see, but simply in the beauty of our quality time together. Forced or not, it has been beautiful.

~:[CH9 - Day 101]:~ Distance Between Us

~:[CH9 - Day 101]:~ Distance Between Us

I think we all can relate. As we stare out our windows wishing that we could be out and about, yet stuck inside. I felt a bit of that cabin fever today, but mostly because it was Jordan's birthday and we could only celebrate with him via Zoom. It's definitely not the same when you can't physically celebrate together. Social distancing is beneficial and is working, but it's not easy, especially on days like these. However, you manage and you figure out a way to keep moving on. The distance between people may have been maintained, but the reality is, it's also going to force us to be closer together in the end, as we will appreciate the time we get to spend with each other and every moment that we have. I've appreciate the time that I have had to get work done and to do things I only imagined that I'd have time for, but missing out on these things can sometimes be hard. However, as many moments as we may miss during these few months, there are many more great moments ahead and we can just keep looking forward towards those days. For now, there is a glass that keeps us from those moments, but if we look, we'll be able to see what's ahead. For now, a virtual hug and a happy birthday message online Jordan, but I can't wait until we can give you a proper celebration and eliminate this distance between us. I know many feel the same. 

~:[CH9 - Day 100]:~ Delivery

~:[CH9 - Day 100]:~ Delivery

The 100th day of the year should be one to celebrate, but once again we were indoors. I went over presentations for our advertising projects in the morning and then cleaned some more in the afternoon. I still can't believe how much I kept over these years and it felt nice to shed some of it. I had to pick up a few things before dinner, so I made my rounds and then rushed to get dinner done. The work was a little messy because I wanted to finish on time, but in the end, I enjoyed how things turned out, aside from the blush I tried to put on that just drooped. The day got better, however, as I joined my mom to make the dinner delivery. It's been hard being cooped up so much and it was nice to see some family. Although we can't embrace each other, just being in each other's presence was good enough for me, at least for today. As much as I enjoyed looking back at this dinner design, it was the delivery that was the best part of the day, by far. It truly was a day to celebrate. Happy 100 days of 2020 everyone. Hoping that the next 266 are better than these first 100.

~:[CH9 - Day 99]:~ The EGGcelent Way

~:[CH9 - Day 99]:~ The EGGcelent Way 

There is definitely one good thing about all this madness, it's that it's an EGGcelent way to force us all to be productive about the chores we've put off around the house. I always have piles of things I need to take care of at home and when I say piles, I really mean it. However, today was a wonderfully productive day. After I whipped up a quick lunch, I got to it and cleared out all the filing cabinets I had been meaning to get to. It was wonderful to see the shredder work it's magic as I filled two trash bags of things I never really needed to keep. I never imagined it would get like this, but somehow, you're pushed to do things like this to avoid the madness that may ensue from watching Kdramas during all that extra free time. Aside from grading, I have a feeling that this week has good things in store, as I begin to uncover more and more things that I forget existed. One of the dramas I was watching talked about how our mind forgets things in order to make room for new memories. I think there is a lot about this time period that we are going to want to forget, but just remember that it is also in these times that we can remind ourselves of those memories that we forgot. The cherry on top was hearing some unreleased music from one of my favorite artist, as it inspired me to make a new vlog which should be coming over the weekend! Stay safe, stay healthy, but most importantly, stay EGGcelent.

~:[CH9 - Day 98]:~ Love Like It's Your Last

~:[CH9 - Day 98]:~ Love Like It's Your Last

My day was a productive one. I did all I wanted to finish and even had a bit of fun. It's been such a strange feeling, disconnected from the world, yet trying to stay focused and do what you need to do. I'm sitting inside, while outside in this world, there is fear and sadness and even death. It's been said many times before that we are going to have to re-evaluate our lives after all this is done, however, someone timing somehow falls into place. Instead of going to bed, I clicked on the link searching round for a new Kdrama. Strangely, I found a two episode one that just popped up. I wasn't disappointed as it hit all the emotions that we are facing at this point. The struggles of life and death, the separation we sometimes face in life that we wish didn't exist, the disappointment in those closest to us and the attempts to reconnect, especially when we know these moments could be our last. I think during all the holidays and celebrations, we always say those words we should be saying to each other, but now is a better time than ever to love each other like it's your last. As I made dinner tonight, I thought about how this process is part of the way I can show my love. It's not how good it tastes or even how it looks, but the fact that you spent the time and energy to piece it together. That goes that same for many things in life. Make the effort to do something for someone to make them feel special and also appreciate when someone does the same for you. As much as we might be worried, as much as things might not go our way, and as difficult as the times we face may be, don't forget to appreciate, but even more so, don't forget to love. We never know when our time will be up, thus don't forget to live each moment as if it were your last. In the end, my click meant that I would stay up later than I had hoped to, but at least the time invested reminded me of something more important than those two hours I lost. Time is precious and since it's going to pass anyway, make sure that none of it goes to waste. 

~:[CH9 - Day 97]:~ Trapped

~:[CH9 - Day 97]:~ Trapped

Today was one of my busiest days of this quarantine. From waking up to sleeping, I worked aside from my meal breaks. Sure, my lunch break was a little long, but otherwise, it felt like old times, working from start to finish. Grading, post assignments, and editing lectures with a few logistical items, today felt jam packed. The good news that came out was that what we are doing seems to be working, although it is not time to celebrate yet. Our social distancing and stay-at-home campaigns have slowed the spread, but we should be reminded that it's not time to stop just quite yet. As I thought about what I should write about, this whole time period has felt like going in slow motion through Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Taisha. For those who haven't been there, you've probably have seen the pictures. I've been there a few times, but as you walk, you just see row after row of the torii gates. Just when you think you've surpassed them all, it keeps going. The first time I went, we didn't have much time so we took a quick zip up and then back down. The last time I went, we went a bit further, but got turned away because of an incoming typhoon. Regardless, our journey has been like this road through these gates. It feels endless and even though we haven't seen the end yet, we must keep going knowing that in the end, something amazing awaits us. Yes, I feel trapped from time to time, but I just continue to work and try to forget about it for now and I'll be waiting when I get to see that light at the end of the tunnel. Keep pushing forward. We can do this. #stayathome

~:[CH9 - Day 96]:~ Time Well Spent

~:[CH9 - Day 96]:~ Time Well Spent

I'm trying to find ways to be productive. I actually have so much to do that I've always put off, but have to find the motivation to get up and do it. I finally cleared out one of my filing cabinets as I uncovered papers from my freshman year. I've always knew I was a hoarder, but finding all this made me glad that I was. The memories continue to trickle in as a I clean and in some ways, this time has been a blessing. Every day there are moments I am sad that I am home and find myself bored, but then moments like this pop up and make it all worthwhile. I finished transferring another hard drive and have to organized it, plus closed the night out by editing a short lecture that I posted for tomorrow. I don't want to be teaching this way, but since I am doing it, I might as well make use of this time that I have. "Lecturing" takes about 4x more effort that doing so in class, but at least by the end of this, I'll know that I did my part and put my effort in for my students. It was a productive day, but it ended on a bright note, as I got a message from a musician today and looks like I'll be doing a collab when all this is over. Hope you're finding your days well spent, whether it's working on yourself personally or finding productivity. 

~:[CH9 - Day 95]:~ Money Down the Drain

~:[CH9 - Day 95]:~ Money Down the Drain

I finished my taxes today. In 2017, my federal return was nice, however, since the "Christmas gift to the middle class" tax reform, I barely got a return last year, and had to pay for the first time in my life this year. I know, it's more complicated than what I get back, but I've never been close to paying and this year, sadly my payment will be greater than my stimulus deposit. I'm just tired of hearing promises that are lies, which people will believe. I never believed it would be a better setup for me and expected this, but still, it's sad when you see the reality. With the recent Covid-19 chaos, we've heard similar statements, falsehoods, deception, and more. It's disappointing to have a POTUS who acts to protect his ego, doesn't maintain the professionalism and calm we need right now, and trusts his gut, which has been wrong quite a bit, however, sadly, the problems are all around in our leadership. The leadership in government, but also the leadership in companies need some direction. However, as I said in a previous post, instead of us waiting for solutions, we can find ways to make thing work and turn the tide at least a little in our favor. I've been inspired by seeing posts of people raising money for the medical workers, more companies and the wealthy stepping up to donate, the lab workers trying hard to develop tests and a vaccine, and people just helping others and stepping  up to keep doing their job. My friends and I started a weekly virtual poker game. As we talked, I was inspired as I hear them talking about going in and continuing to work to face this battle. Although they are not the first line of defense, they still put themselves out regularly to work in the hospitals. I didn't win our poker game. However, at least I didn't feel like it was money down the drain. It wasn't the way I wanted to end my day, however, on a day when I uncovered great memories from high school, my first few years teaching, whipped up a good meal for my family, and had some virtual time with my friends, it only became a speck of dust on a squeaky clean window. Even when things bring us down, find a way to turn that "money down the drain" moment and make it into a "money well spent" one. We all have a right to happiness, but in order to find it, we first have to allow ourselves to. Don't wait for others to do things for you, but take the reigns and make it happen.

~:[CH9 - Day 94]:~ Art of the Heart

~:[CH9 - Day 94]:~ Art of the Heart

It really doesn't matter the content that I am editing, somehow when I edit, I get a great joy. I don't always have the time to do the editing that I want to, but I've been able to get some time to do just that. It's strange how this time has been a blessing in disguise, as I've enjoyed things I have missed. As an art major, I never thought that I would want to come back to do this, as I pulled an incredible 23 hour work day in a 24 hour period. It was one of my most impressive feats, but also one of my worst nightmares. However, as time has past, editing becomes something I can enjoy. Sure, the quality is not always what I know I can do, but just producing something makes me happy and has been able to keep my mind off of things. Like many, I cannot wait until we find even 50% of our normal routines. Like many said, we are never going to "return back to normal" and maybe that's okay, because maybe that just means that I'll find more time for the things that I forgot I enjoyed. Find those passions and get to those unfinished projects if you can, as while I know some of you have a lot more to worry about, there is just something about doing what you love that helps make life itself that much better. I played around with a second video later in the day and am excited as I will attempt to finish another video tomorrow. This is not normal personal productivity for me, but I guess it's just what I needed to discover what should be my new normal. 

~:[CH9 - Day 93]:~ Heartbreak is What Makes

~:[CH9 - Day 93]:~ Heartbreak is What Makes

I am a teacher. I am a coach. I am an advisor.

However, what makes me into those things are the students and athletes on the campus. Working from home sounds like it would be a wonderful things and I think that some of them were embracing it at first, but it didn't take long to realize just how important being around one another truly is. I believe that we all realized that very quickly. Even as an introvert, while keeping myself occupied and content is easy, I still long for those small interactions. Sadly, the students got the news that the school year would be ending as it would be focused on a distance learning environment. For the class of 2020, it meant that the last few months they would be spent looking at a screen. When hearing this and thinking about them, I started writing to my students and athletes and started to help brainstorm ideas of what we could do to salvage what we could of the year. It would be easy to say that we should appreciate every moment, but rather, to the class of 2020, I want to say, make the most of every opportunity. As I wrote to my students and athletes, I implored them to figure out ways they could improve themselves, both physically and mentally; I challenged them to find ways to not let these moments go to waste, but to make their moments better than those who came before them, and I also wanted to console them, because I knew it would not be an easy task for many. I do not want to diminish the importance of events like prom and graduation, but also want them to remember that just like a diploma, we should make the most of those opportunities that we have, as it's value becomes exponentially greater when we make use of it. While I hope that we will find a way to give them the best experiences and opportunities in alternate ways, I also hope that they can lift themselves up and lead the way in finding ways to make the most of the moments they have left as high school seniors. I hope that instead of having to talk about what they didn't have, that they can talk about all the things they had that the previous classes didn't. To my seniors, I hope that you know that even though you're down and these times feel so dark, that it only means that when you find the light, it will be so much brighter and more glorious than ever before. While the initial struggles may be tough, I know you have the strength and willpower to pick yourselves up and guide yourself to the great moments and opportunities that await you ahead. I know that while some of the traditional events and moments the classes had before you may be gone, I know that you have the ingenuity and drive to create something that no other class has had before. I am a teacher. I am a coach. I am an advisor. However, I am nothing without my students and athletes and I hope that they understand that they are the reason why teachers and coaches work so hard. As while at times you may feel like you are getting the short end of the stick, I think that the class of 2020 will be one of the most appreciated classes we have ever had, as it was in this time that we were reminded of that. Thank you for helping make us all the richest people alive because while it may not be a job that lands us on the cover of a Forbes magazine, because of you, it's a job that many of us would not trade to get our picture on that cover. To the class of 2020, I look forward to all that you will make of these opportunities that await you.

The co2020 Project

I wanted to start a project where the class of 2020 would get uplifting and encouraging messages and I hope that people will post videos, pictures and post for them, giving them encouragement and more. As while I initially wanted to try to collect them and put them in a single location for the class, just having those messages out to them will be a blessing in itself. #co2020project

~:[CH9 - Day 92]:~ A Little Bit of Heart

~:[CH9 - Day 92]:~ A Little Bit of Heart

It arrived. I ordered an 8lb jar of chili garlic sauce (sambal). I wasn't sure when it would arrive, but I wouldn't be able to cook this dish without it as my stash of sauce went bad. Last summer, I cooked for someone from Japan and when I gave him his meal, I asked him how it was. His response was it was more delicious because you could feel the love in it. Honestly, I didn't think much about what he said at that point, but as I've been cooking at home and plating food, I can see what he means. Plating my food has always been a fun activity that stems from my art background. Yes, for those who didn't know, I majored in art in college. I just feel creative energy when I cook and look for ways to make things look nice. It's easier when I'm cooking one meal a week, but tougher, when I'm cooking more regularly since I am home. Regardless, with less options since I am using what we have around the house, I still have fun and can even make some of my signature dishes. As I finished up today's dish, I thought about that comment and as I placed the heart-shaped strawberry down, I realized exactly what he meant. I guess when I cook for myself simplicity is more acceptable than when I cook for others where I put more effort in. As I thought about it more, I think that many of us do that. We work harder when we know that it will benefit others and for that, I am so grateful. To be surrounded by people who put so much though and love into what they do when it's for others is truly a blessing. As today is a day to say "gotcha" to some of your closest companions, there's no doubt that it's no joke that some of the most amazing people are those around me. As while these times are tough and will be tough as we move forward, let's be sure to put a little extra love in everything we do, as little do we know just how far that love will go.