~:[CH10 - Day 120]:~ Flying High

 
~:[CH10 - Day 120]:~  Flying High

I got home and my body was sore. From the early morning to the evening, I was at school. This is actually normal, but not for the past year. My body wasn't ready for it. Regardless, I survived even after taking photos for over five hours. I could feel the strain on my body, yet it was so fun to do so. Although it's tough taking photos in the gym because the lighting is so inconsistent and pour, I still was able to get a few shots. Sadly, the best shot of the day was a little out of focus, so I had to adjust it just a bit to make it work. I still got a little work to do on it, but was fairly happy with how it came out. It was a pretty good day for the teams as we came out with three victories out of four with a few dominating performances. I know our teams are not as sharp as they would be, but hey, they are coming into form and starting to fly high. It will be the same story for us all. We will be a little rusty starting out, but let's slowly get back into the cycle and find our way back to where we were and beyond. We are all different people than when this pandemic started and I just hope we can all make the most of this opportunity we have in our hands. Let's look to fly high and see just how high we can go!

~:[CH10 - Day 119]:~ It's Not Fry-day

 
~:[CH10 - Day 119]:~ It's Not Fry-day

I had a Panda Express type craving and so I cooked up a few recipes similar to what I would order. Well kind of. I'm not really an orange chicken type person, but I thought it would be a good dish as my parents often order it with the beef & broccoli. My shipment of mushrooms had just come in as I had to rehydrate them and then slice them for the hot & sour soup. In a funny moment, I interpreted the 0.3oz of mushrooms ( x3 varieties ) as 3oz and ended up rehydrating ten times too many mushrooms. I may have been too ambitious as the amount of work, even with the early prep, was quite a lot in the end. Regardless, I finished it up and it ended up coming out pretty good. There was a little frying going on, but for the most part it was a cook fest on a Thursday. I got my craving fulfilled and ended the long day with a chance to just lounge out at the end. One of the best things about the pandemic has been increasing my versatility as a cook and it's exciting to add more to repertoire. What should I make next? 

~:[CH10 - Day 118]:~ Beyond a Quick Fix

 
~:[CH10 - Day 118]:~  Beyond a Quick Fix

I had some issues as I made these soft sugar cookies. I rushed it a bit in an attempt to get back to work and it was just my test run, so I didn't care too much how it turned out. Even though it was just okay, it was a sweet treat to end a beautiful day filled with the time to catch up and hear good news about our WASC review. While there were definitely some bumps in the road today, by night's end, I was happy how everything panned out and was proud of the staff for the work they did to get the results we had. I'm not sure I will ever get these cookies perfected, but I am not sure if it matters or not. What matters is that I keep at it, adjusting, adapting and finding ways to make it work. The final product may never be perfect, but we should always be looking for ways to make it better. Even when these cookies turn out sharp and crisp, I will find ways to make it even more special and interesting. For now, this is the result, but in time, the results (if we work at it), will be lightyears from where we are today. While many are looking for the quick fix, I hope we can all take the time to find our way to results that can last. 

~:[CH10 - Day 117]:~ Just Rollin' Along

 
~:[CH10 - Day 117]:~  Just Rollin' Along

A full day after I finished the chashu prep, I pulled it out of the fridge and slice it to make this ramen dish. It was definitely a rich broth with wonderful ramen noodles and the perfecting ending to a wonderful day that just rolled along. I was sad not to have visitors yesterday, but today, I finally got one. We did our normal speeches with feedback and it was well received. Later on, during our committee meeting, we addressed all the questions they had pretty well. We did spend a lot of time going over the different aspects and it came together just like this ramen dish. The time it took to make homemade chashu and the marinated egg with marinated bamboo shoots ended up showing through the final product like our WASC visit. Ramen can be such a simple dish, however, throughout this pandemic, I pushed the limits to show how it could be an art. Teaching can also be a very straightforward trade, but for every teacher, they find their own combination of things to make it special. Today solidified that idea as I saw many of my fellow colleagues shine through with what they are doing in their classrooms. I am proud of them and am glad to be working with them. I know we are all glad that this process is over (for now) and even better that we just seemed to roll right through it, pandemic and all.

~:[CH10 - Day 116]:~ WASC Me Away

 
~:[CH10 - Day 116]:~  WASC Me Away

We have been doing so much prep for this visit and finally the day was here, the WASC visit. I prepared my class as we did something we normally would do, but just timed it so it would fall on these days. I didn't have to change much, but spent the time to go over things to make sure things went well. They did, but sadly, nobody visited. Tomorrow is another day, but I was a bit sad that despite the efforts, it was just another class day. It was quite hectic as one thing after another happened. Finishing class, I got to meet with Larry Knuth who was a coach at USC among a number of other programs. He handed over a number of valuable things such as books and visuals my athletes could use. I took care of a few other things before headed back to prep the long process of making chashu, stopped by practice, go to our training meeting for the International and then attend an AAPI meeting as well. It was a crazy day and after wrapping up my homework for the day, my normally calm Monday turned into one loaded with back-to-back responsibilities. Of course despite all the craziness, it was great to be able to have so many things to do after such a long period of nothingness. Just like my chashu, maybe the excitement of WASC will have to wait until tomorrow. We will have to wait and see.

~:[CH10 - Day 115]:~ Surprise!

 
~:[CH10 - Day 115]:~  Surprise!

There are good surprises and sometimes not so good surprises. As I made the tonkatsu for dinner, I wanted to add a good surprise, as I tried something becoming more popular in Korea, adding mozzarella in the center of the tonkatsu, not bad. The crispiness of the breading with the gooeyness of the middle was a great contrast. Another good surprise was getting through all my grading in the night. The bad? Finding out that I had another video I needed to finish by the next day. It wasn't really a surprise, but I just had put it off a few days because of other obligations that surprised me as well. Regardless, life will throw things at you and it's up to you how you response. You can waste your time getting upset about it all or you can simply put your head down and spend that time getting to work, feeling the satisfaction when you complete it. While we all like the good surprises, sometimes those bad ones will help show yourself who you truly are and what you're capable off. As I munched away on my dinner, I enjoyed the surprise I created for myself and even found joy after I finished this final challenge given to me before the day's end. Life is full of surprises, but keep yourself in check and whether good or bad, you can turn any surprise into a reason to celebrate.

~:[CH10 - Day 114]:~ Back on Track

 
~:[CH10 - Day 114]:~  Back on Track

It's not normal, but there is more normalcy out there. We hit the track and the athletes got the opportunity to attend an invitational. With our dual meeting getting canceled, we joined a lot of the Sunset teams in the skeleton of the Beach Cities Relays with only a handful of teams being allowed to join in. Luckily, we were one of them. We had some struggles early on, but then we had a few PRs, they came up with some big wins. From even huger PRs to even a more elite mark, the day itself ended well and it was nice to have some normalcy. Of course, it would have been easier had I not had an MUN conference at the same time. The good thing? Virtual conferences allowed me to attend both, albeit, not the situation I wanted, but I still was able to check in. After getting home, I got to stop by every committee for a bit and finally send out a few messages to delegates. In the end, the conference ended up being great too as about half our delegates received awards including four best delegates (as far as I know now). It's not normal, but it feels more like it and while all of it led to a short nap after conference, it was a nice feeling to be somewhat busy again and back on track.

~:[CH10 - Day 113]:~ Way to the Bucket

 
~:[CH10 - Day 113]:~  Way to the Bucket

We all find our own routes, much like in basketball, every player has their own way to score. As I talked to a friend over lunch, we talked about the challenges they were facing, but also how others had found their own paths, while other took paths only to realize it wasn't the path for them. For all of us, this discovery provides the challenge in life that we must figure out. Where do WE want to go and how do we get there. Far too often, we do what our parents want us to do or those around us. There are many cases when they are right, but other times when they are not. Ultimately, for each of us, we need to figure out the way to the bucket that is right for us. As I took photographs at the game today, my first of the year, I could only keep thinking about that conversation. Why? For me, I don't need to go and reexplore my route, however, for my students, I only hope that they can find the approach that works for them. It is helpful to have a stable income and good job, but it is also just as important to be happy. Thus, I hope all of my students and all of you, can find what makes you happy and use that to determine your way to the bucket of life. Don't just follow the directions of those around you or mimic those who are successful, rather find the way that is right for YOU.

~:[CH10 - Day 112]:~ Warming Up

 
~:[CH10 - Day 112]:~  Warming Up

It's been quite chilly the past few days. It's weird how it could be so hot, then all of a sudden get so cold. Regardless, I cozied up through the day and survived. With our distance getting in a strength run, I went to school, after editing and then headed back to cook up dinner, which was another opportunity to warm back up. My "sister" tagged me in a post and it was perfect timing for my onigiri for my curry, this time, it was Snoopy. It was actually pretty simple and while the sample was sushi, it works for this dish. It was a heartwarming dish to motivate me as I finished up the final edits of the WASC video. It was a grueling week of work, as I had to finish a number of vides on top of this one, but about 14 hours later with conversions and rendering, it was done. I'm behind on grading and still have one video to edit, however, it felt good to finish a video I honestly wasn't sure I would have enough time to finish. I guess it all combined to make the day have that warm and fuzzy feeling as I headed to bed. I thought I might be up late tonight again, but I'll save the MUN edit for another day and just call it a night. We all have those things that warm our hearts, what is it for you?

~:[CH10 - Day 111]:~ Putting in the Time

 
~:[CH10 - Day 111]:~  Putting in the Time

In track and field, one of the hardest areas is pole vault. Not only do you have to be athletic, you have to really work on your technique, focus and more. It takes a lot of time to be able to perfect everything and our vaulters area always one of the groups who is last to clean up. They've definitely have battled through some tough moments when they couldn't clear the height they wanted or when their body kept making the same mistakes, but the time they put in helps them get to where they hope to be. While I always give them a hard time since moving their poles from place to place is a challenge, ultimately, I have a lot of respect for them because I know how hard it is (believe me, I tried).

~:[CH10 - Day 110]:~ The Missing Link

 
~:[CH10 - Day 110]:~  The Missing Link

I adapted to the virtual teaching environment pretty well. Sure, it took more time and was definitely (and still is) a challenge, however, I found the routine, much like I would have during a normal year. As much comfort as there was with it, there definitely was a gap between what we had and what we were doing. As we ventured back on campus, the hindrances of the hybrid systems were evident, but the missing link shone through. The selfies that my best friend and I took daily was just one of the reminders of the normalcy that were simple, but were the missing link that made the days go. The his and hellos and even waiting in line for the restroom were part of the pleasures we never knew we would miss. That's life though. We discover what is the most important, often too late. Luckily, we will have the opportunity to appreciate many of the things we didn't realize were as important as they are. It may look like a simple selfie, but have no doubt just how important this brief by meaningful interaction with a best friend is - it was the  missing link. 

~:[CH10 - Day 109]:~ Music to the Ears

 
~:[CH10 - Day 109]:~  Music to the Ears

At 2am, an alum and his group released their song. It would be one of their last things for a bit as one had already enlisted in the army, as they vowed to wait until they were whole again. Their albums have been a series called The Book of Us and in a way, their music told a story of the various emotions we face in life. One of the last related to us in the difficulties we faced during the pandemic, yet the feel of this album brings the ending we are seeking, music to our ears and our lives. Often times we face these struggles in life, but when we do, we find an ending that is even greater and even better. It the negentropy of life. The order of which things play out. Life is full of its ups and downs, but when we continue to fight and trust in ourselves, we discover the place we were destined to be all along. It always feels like those around us find those places before us or are always there, but each of us are on our own road and have our own timing. We have our own timeline and our own order and it's up to us to find it. As the pandemic slowly begins to fade, we must find our own timeline and our own path forward. Don't feel as if there is a set path, rather, find the direction you want to go and stride forward at your own pace. As the music rang through my ears and the lyrics through my mind, I closed my eyes and saw the very sunset on the cover, taken away to the beauty that lies ahead. We've wandered through the shadowlands too long and soon, we'll find what we lost temporarily. Let's be patient, but also let's look forward to all the beauty that lies on this road ahead. 

~:[CH10 - Day 108]:~ (Not Just) Passing By

 
~:[CH10 - Day 108]:~  (Not Just) Passing By

It's weird how the last 13 months have been. All that has gone on has caused Alyssa to miss her birthday and Jordan to miss two. It's a life many of us faced with at least one birthday celebrated under these conditions. However, it always does make you realize that it's not about the celebration itself, but about the people who make the celebration amazing. As we rolled by for this drive by celebration, just seeing everyone stop by made it an enjoyable day. Luckily, I was taking photos through the day and could capture may of the moments include seeing Jordan waving to all the cars. I am not sure how much of this they will both remember, however, I hope they realize that although people came and went quickly today, that they are not people who are just going to pass by in their lives. We all have those people who we know will be there for us through thick and thin and I hope that they can see that these are the people who are those people. It was a great to celebrate their birthdays in a house full of April birthdays and even if it was just for a little while, it will be stored with the many memories ahead that are stored deep within my heart. 

~:[CH10 - Day 107]:~ When We Meet

~:[CH10 - Day 107]:~  When We Meet

We only had a few weeks to prepare, but I guess everyone else did as well. The reality of life is, there will be many obstacles in life we need to hurdle and if we face it head on and don't back down, we can definitely find our way to success. While it was a little crazy to try and get everyone in shape, learning what they had to, equipment ready and then piece it all together, our meet ended up running as smoothly as possible. I might have had one of my fastest 1600m races on an opening race and for the most part, everyone did what they needed to to make the day go by so quickly. Of course, at meet's end, my day was not over as I popped over to Zoom and jump in the International conference, day 2. It has been great working with this school in Korea. The students had their last chances to connect, we wrapped up awards and called it a night. I was impressed by how well our students ran the conference, as while I created the framework, they did everything else to make it run. Regardless, whether track or MUN and whether in person or virtually, when we meet, we have that chance to connect, to learn and grow. Sure it is disappointing to have to do some things online but maybe better than not all all. For the students who took on the challenge, I am grateful and as busy as today was, it was also a day to enjoy and soak in all of its wonderfulness.

~:[CH10 - Day 106]:~ The Last Ounce

 
~:[CH10 - Day 106]:~  The Last Ounce

It didn't dawn on my how challenging of a day it would be to back up a full day at school with a night conference. It didn't help that right at the start, we had a number of our delegates have issues and not be able to show up. Luckily, we had a few amazing students who stepped up and stepped in at the last minute until the original delegates were able to join. By the end of the first voting block, you could see the fatigue, so we called it a bit early. Regardless, the ability to connect with delegates across the globe was amazing. We gave the delegates time to meet each other and learn more about each other. It was cool to see the interaction and despite the energy we all expended, I think it was worth every last ounce. Sometimes you are tired and can't find the energy to keep going, but you find a way to squeeze out just a bit more out of yourself. Some say it's overworking yourself, but in some cases, it's simply making the most of your day. As an individual, you need to choose where to expend your energy and for me, this is the pace. By night's end, I wanted to go to bed to prepare for tomorrow's race, however, I was glad we successfully maneuvered through all the challenges of the day and make it, using every last ounce. 

~:[CH10 - Day 105]:~ Spin Cycle

 
~:[CH10 - Day 105]:~  Spin Cycle

Sometimes life gets so crazy, you're trying to keep up after getting tossed around like a spin cycle. In those cases, it can be hard to get back up, but if you stay strong, you will. After class, I ran some errands for cross country, then came back for practice. It was fun to "try" to learn something new and fail miserably at it. Why? Because that's part of the process, get beat up bit and come back to work to get better (if you choose to do so). Between that, running back home to quickly finish up dinner and getting odds and ends completed for the Mini-International on Friday, it was definitely like a whirlwind, but at the same time, it's great to learn that I am capable to do it all. Even though days are crazy, if you keep your focus, you can get back on track and even when you can't, you can find a new route to blaze. The day ended up with a bonus as the meme crypto Doge shot up, adding to a wonderfully nice year of trading. It's been crazy for us all, but the good thing about getting tossed around in the spin cycle is that we will be fresh and reading to go when it's time to come back out into the open. 

~:[CH10 - Day 104]:~ Just Add Water

 
~:[CH10 - Day 104]:~  Just Add Water

Smoke in my house filled the air, as the dish I was cooking started to burn. It didn't completely burn, but the smoke filled the house just enough to burn the back of your throat. I had a meeting and wasn't thinking about the food, as it was suppose to simmer for 30 minutes, then 30 minutes more. The problem? In my haste to get it all done before my meeting, I didn't transfer enough water into the dish, hence, the dryness and the burning which left a stain on my favorite dish. There were so many extravagant ingredients in this dish, many of which I did not have around, but the ingredient that almost ruined the dish was the simplest and easy to access, water. That's life. We put all our ducks in a row and focus on all the large moving parts of our life, but then we forget the small screw that holds it all together. It is the least valuable of all the part, but maybe the most important. This brings me to two points. One, is in life, you may be that water. You may not have the title or get any or all the credit, but you may be the reason "the dish" doesn't burn. Thing about it, when you think of a dish and you ask for the ingredients, do you even pay attention when they say water? Some may, but most, wouldn't think of it. Even if you did, would you get the best quality water? Never sell yourself short. Even if you feel insignificant, understand the roll you play. Second is simply the fact that in our haste to get ahead, we forget about the simplest things that are important. Family and friends, love and caring and the like. There are so many amazing things such as trips and luxuries that we often forget that those things are far less valuable than what we should truly treasure. These things are the water to the dish. They are the reason that our life doesn't fall apart or burn like the sauce of my dish. Luckily today I salvaged it and for many of us, we salvage it when we forget these important factors, however, let's never forget the importance of what may seem the simplest, commonplace or least thought about and realize just how important it is. By evening, I was eating the delicious dish which had a bit of a smoky flavor (which actually added to the flavor), but with every bit I smirked knowing how badly the process went. Let's truly take the time to think who is the "water" in our lives and take the time to give it the attention it deserves. 

~:[CH10 - Day 103]:~ How You Frame It

 
~:[CH10 - Day 103]:~  How You Frame It

It was definitely a crazy day. I had a full day on campus with practice, after which I rushed home to cook dinner. I jumped over to my computer for an interview, which lasted for almost two hours before I jumped back on the computer for class. As crazy as Tuesday are and will always be, it was nice to have a more normal day. It was also nice to catch up with people I haven't seen in awhile. As I've said many times, the pandemic has limited us, but also empowered us. It's how you view it; how you frame it. As we chatted about all that was going on, you begin to see all the things we see and how different they are then how someone else sees it. The same question came up in my class in terms of how one country viewed an event in history versus another. We all find a way to frame thing. Whether we do it in a way blocking what we should be seeing or we give our self that dose of reality and force ourselves to deal with it is up to us. As the interview went on, I heard about the struggles and dilemma, but also saw a framing that kept a positive spin on many of the things we discussed. It's definitely a difficult time, but are we going to only focus on the struggle or can we open our eyes and also frame all the good that came out of this. As I reflected back on the day, I was reminded, the balance between everything is life is what we need. We need the bad just as much as we need the good. We need failure just as much as we need success. It's a process, but as we go through the ups and downs in life, we must find the perfect way to frame it all so we can progress through our days with the right image in mind. Think back and see how you framed so many moments of your past so that you can really think about how you want to frame the moments of your future. 

~:[CH10 - Day 102]:~ Back ... Sorta

 
~:[CH10 - Day 102]:~  Back ... Sorta

I actually felt safer at school than I did when running errands. It's not necessarily because the changes on campus, but because my classroom looked like this, empty. For high school, it's been a little bit of a hassle, as we have the majority of our students virtual and a handful (or less) in seats. The good thing is, no student has to sit in the same seat, but the sad thing is, my focus has to mostly be on the computer. In my eyes, I don't mind being back, but having to do both, it a little bothersome. Regardless, you could see the relief on some of the students faces just to be on campus. For some, learning at home is a challenge and they need to be out and about. I understand it. Regardless, we shall learn and we shall adapt and hopefully by the fall, things can be more normal than this. We shall see how the road ahead pans out, but for now, I'll just deal with the hand I am dealt.

~:[CH10 - Day 101]:~ Up in Smoke

 
~:[CH10 - Day 101]:~  Up in Smoke

I did my normal shopping run and in the distance I saw that smoke. I was a little worried because it was in the direction of my house and so I called home. It was a little ways away and sadly a business burned down. It was a reminder of just how quickly times can change. I think we've realized that this past year and while I don't think many are going to take things for granted moving forward, today was a reminder to appreciate what we have. Life has a strange way of giving us great things, but also has been known to take things away just as quickly. The things in life we enjoy has a limit and so while we can, enjoy them, whether it's the love of a family member or friend, the joys of a celebration or whatnot. Don't put off until tomorrow what you should be enjoying today as you never know when it will be gone. 

I pray for those who faced a setback today and thank those who quickly put out the flames.

~:[CH10 - Day 100]:~ 100

 

~:[CH10 - Day 100]:~  100

There was no big birthday party, but we still go to celebrate. Although it wasn't the normal weekend visit, we got a extra visit with Jordan for his birthday! There wasn't a gathering, rather just a small group to celebrate. However, it still was just as special to be able to gather and even have him try to blow out his candle. Regardless, it was nice to just enjoy before things get a lot busier. To enjoy these simple moments is probably the best thing about the pandemic. The every day moments we should have treasured more have become those treasured moments. It was a milestone day of the year and it ended up being one to celebrate. With all going on, it will start to get a little crazy, but at least it was nice to get a little celebration. It's amazing how time flies, so let's all make sure to treasure even the simplest of moments before they pass us by.

~:[CH10 - Day 99]:~ Fight On!

 
~:[CH10 - Day 99]:~  Fight On!

If things were normal, I would probably be wrapping up my third or fourth shoot in Asia. Instead, I was still home, but ended up wrapping up a shoot locally. Things will not always go as planned, but when a door closes, another opportunity opens. Sure it would be a dream to be back walking the streets of Shinjuku after a shoot, but there is something equally nice about just being able to connect with those you know and be able to create memories with them. It was great to capture these wonderful moments and while traffic slowed us down, it allowed us to have just the right timing. Life is like that. Instead of throwing your hands up and giving up when all is wrong, fight on and see what comes your way. It would be easy to allow these disappointments to get the best of you, but instead, just consider taking another step forward. Don't back down, you can do it; we can do it! Fight on!

~:[CH10 - Day 98]:~ Bird's Eye View

 
~:[CH10 - Day 98]:~  Bird's Eye View

Have you ever wanted to fly like a bird? I stood and watched the birds for an hour before wandering through the low tide sand and simply enjoying the outdoors. It was nice that it wasn't crowded and alone when watching the birds. As I watched them, it reminded of how in life we need to see things from a different perspective. It's easy to simply see things from our view, but when we can see from the views of those around us, it allows us to open more doors to success. As I wondering how the bird's eye view would be from above, I can think about how my view is different from those around me. What are they thinking? As I think about the movie, What Women Want, Mel Gibson can hear the voices of the women around him. Similarly, as I go about my days, I sometimes think about what someone I encounter would be thinking. I think the ability to think about that before making any decisions has helped me find a more successful path than had I not. You are never going to get it right all the time, but when you do, you probably have opened yourself up to those around you and really encompassed the ideas of those around you into your decisions and plans. I think more than ever, this is something we need in our society. As I hear about those close to me struggle with discrimination, I am hoping that those around us can see the struggle we are now facing. Similarly, we must all see the struggle of those around us as well. It's definitely not easy, but at the very least, when we open up our ears to those around us, we widen our views and give ourselves a better shot at understanding each other and making a decision that is stronger than if we had just forged our own path. Yes, one day I do want to fly like a bird and skim across the surface of the water, but for now, at least I can open my eyes to get that bird's eye view to help me make a better decision for us all. 

~:[CH10 - Day 97]:~ Spring Cleaning

 
~:[CH10 - Day 97]:~  Spring Cleaning

I really despise spring cleaning. After a long year, the last thing I want to do on my break is clean. However, it did feel good to shed a lot of the old. Our shed has been broken into a few times, things stolen and other things damaged. However, today I wrapped up the cleaning I would do for now. I accomplished about 70% of the cleaning with just some organizing and sweeping to do. Most of the heavy lifting I did myself and got through it, before moving on with the day. My meeting later in the day was canceled so I planned to get some work done, instead, I rested, exhausted from the clean. Every once in awhile, whether you like it or not, you should go through and clean up all the loose ends in your life. Sometimes we get so used to the rhythm of things or we just get overwhelmed, that we let that dust pile up in our lives. Take a day or two and sweep it away, so you can move on without that extra weight. I was tired today and my lungs, well I know they suffered (even with the mask), but my shoulders did feel a lot lighter, despite being sore. Spring cleaning is not just for your house, etc., but it's also for our lives. Let's get everything in order! 

~:[CH10 - Day 96]:~ No MisSTEAKs

 
~:[CH10 - Day 96]:~  No MisSTEAKs

The end of the night finished with dinner, a Clippers game and class of a day filled from start to finish. I had a little trouble sleeping, but still was able to get up for practice. Our team got their workout in, we chatted for a bit and then continued on with the day. From watching the Angels through the end, it became one of those days that just flowed seamlessly. A day with out misSTEAKs or mistakes. The perfectly planned day is a dime a dozen, but when you have them, it's like a luxury meal, soaking in all the wonderfulness of it all. Yes, it does take a little bit of planning, but sometimes you can also do it on the fly and still avoid any mistakes. Today was one of those on-the-fly days that just seemed to pan out. As tired as I am now, as I think back, a full and flawless day is something that never should be taken lightly. Appreciate these moments as you never know when you'll get another chance, something we've realized more than ever over this past year. Make no mistake, despite having nothing outstanding from the day, it still truly was amazing. 

~:[CH10 - Day 95]:~ Back at It

 
~:[CH10 - Day 95]:~  Back at It

Cross country wrapped up so quickly and just like that, we were back on the track. From cleaning to shopping, I was able to get a lot of work done today. While today was not the practice day for distances, I was able to check in the various teams and get them on schedule. It was have taken a lot out of me as I ended up taking a nice nap, which felt great before the championship game. However, while well played, it ended up not being the most exciting game. The more exciting game came in the way of the Angels comeback which was great to watch and enjoy as I did just a little bit of work for the day. It's a little strange to only have a few areas at a time, but nice to be back at it again. Wish us luck!

~:[CH10 - Day 94]:~ Refocusing

~:[CH10 - Day 94]:~ Refocusing

One of the benefits of the pandemic has been our ability to refocus on our priorities and all that we are doing in our lives. We can see a lot of what we need to fix and also what we've been distracted by. One of the things that we've been able to refocus on is the purpose of this holiday. As I sat in on the message in service today, it was a great way to refocus. To forget the festivities that come on this day and rather fill it with the purpose of the day itself. It was a good day to remind ourselves of the struggles we've faced and how we dealt with them, but also in most of our cases, just how privileged we were in these times. Not all of us were so lucky, but many were able to maintain their health or keep their jobs with their biggest complaint being what they are limited in doing or the discomforts of the times. For others, the loss of a job or even worse, the loss of a loved one became the reality. As while the Lord may not always be felt or heard, he is truly ever-present. I often think back to the poem Footprints as it discusses the set of footprints in the sand and the single set of footprints that existed when the times for the subject of the poem were most difficult. It wasn't that they were abandoned in those times, but rather they were being carried. While the pandemic is improving and maybe there will be more normalcy moving forward, let's take these days we have to refocus to ensure that we are headed where we want to be. In all aspects of our lives, we can use a little realignment and tune up and on this day, it can start with the reason behind this special day.  

 

~:[CH10 - Day 93]:~ Just EGGcelent

 
~:[CH10 - Day 93]:~  Just EGGcelent

We are all on our own "egg" hunt of sorts in life. We are seeking out the best opportunities, some of which are so evident and some of which hidden. Do you rush to pick up all the visible eggs or do you seek out those hard to find eggs to find the true prize. In actuality, the prize is not always better, but do you remember the challenge of finding that egg more? As I talked with my friend about the choices ahead, it reminded me of an egg hunt. To think about how every choice has its consequence and sometimes the most obvious choices, don't always provide the most satisfaction. Regardless, we all make our choice and in that, we find our own satisfaction. It was a joy to see Jordan and Alyssa search around for eggs. From coins to little prizes, they were scattered around the yard and they both pick up some. Jordan loved picking up eggs as once he found one, his attention was finding another. In fact, even after he found them all, he kept looking for more, so I kept hiding the ones he found around. Alyssa enjoyed the coins since it rattled, but hopefully it's a sign of future wealthy ;) As the day finished up, it was nice to have our own little hunt and some quality time that was truly EGGcelent. 

~:[CH10 - Day 92]:~ The Lazy Days

~:[CH10 - Day 92]:~  The Lazy Days

Some days you decide to do nothing. Absolutely nothing. Well I did a little, but overall, I kicked up my feet, enjoyed a bit of cooking and just slept. No alarm, no schedule, and nothing on my mind. It was definitely a needed unwinding day as I was able to just sort through all the things I wanted to do for myself since the beginning of the year, but never had time to do. I did send a few emails and did some MUN assignments, but it felt nice to be by choice rather than requirement. Take those lazy days, put your phone away and get away from the computer. Sure, it may have been nice to go for a hike or to go out and take photos, but instead, I just lounged around and boy did it feel nice. The days ahead, I'll see if a drive or a photo day in the cards, but for now, I'll just soak in all the rest time I have until it's time to get back to the grind again.

 

~:[CH10 - Day 91]:~ When Azaleas Bloom

~:[CH10 - Day 91]:~  When Azaleas Bloom

Spring break arrived and our azaleas were blooming. I guess it was a beautiful start to the break. If you know anything about azaleas, they only bloom for a few weeks until the wait begins again. I guess similar to the cherry blossoms, you wait until those beautiful moments and hope for them to come again. As things look up as we head into the break, it will be nice to get a break, although we will not get the normal freedoms we normally have. However, just like the azalea, we will have our moment to bloom once again, however, when we do, I hope it will be for good. As we take the time to enjoy the beauty of the azaleas we must take our time and treasure those moments as we never know if they'll come back to us again. As while it may feel routine each year to have them bloom, one day, they may cease to bloom. Enjoy it, soak it in and enjoy the beauty of the days you have especially when they're as magnificent as these days. After the azaleas fall, I hope with all my heart they'll come back again, but if not, at least I know I treasured my moments with them.