~:[CH14 - Day 304]:~ A Version of Myself

 
~:[CH14 - Day 304]:~ A Version of Myself

Halloween is always a fun day to dress up and be a character. Sometimes it's the easiest costume you can find, sometimes it's the happening trend, or something that you like. With the KPOP Demon Hunter craze, I decided early to take on a series of costumes. On top of it, we themed our cross country rally around it, so it fit perfectly. As I look back on the images, I wonder, how much of the characters do we make into a version of ourselves. Do the costumes we wear change as we become the character themselves? I've always had fun buying into the characters and I wonder if I represented the character as is or if the character changed as I played it. Regardless, I enjoyed this series of costumes, but at the same time, it made me wonder how people survived cosplaying. What is your most memorable costume? Hope your day was full of treats :)

~:[CH14 - Day 303]:~ Up, Up, Up

 
~:[CH14 - Day 303]:~ Up, Up, Up

Rally day is a bit chaotic. I not only have to worry about work, but about making sure that everything is aligned for the rally. We did a lot of work early to prepare, however, not much was done after that, leaving us scrambling to get things done. Regardless, we figured it out. In the end, we had our five dancers and I got to play the role of Bobby, the manager of the Huntrix, which was fun to do. I always hope that things will run smoothly and everyone will do their part, but I think part of the adventures of teaching and coaching are seeing how these athletes deal with these situations. Like parenting, I think that we have to allow them to fail and struggle from time to time, so they learn how to help themselves rise up and overcome the obstacles they face. We ended with a celebration and our final food run of the regular season. There's always a bit of sadness on this day as we wonder, "where has the season gone?" Still yet, I am appreciative we had the opportunity and look forward to making the most of the days ahead. 

~:[CH14 - Day 302]:~ Right Under Our Nose

 
~:[CH14 - Day 302]:~ Right Under Our Nose

I got an invitation for a free screening of Stitch Head and so I took it. I didn't look into the movie at all and thus, I didn't know what to expect. I won't rave about it and tell you it's the best movie ever, but I did appreciate the movie and it was better than I had expected. I think one lesson to learn in life that often times we search the world for where we belong and for the great things that await us, but sometimes those things are right under our nose. Sometimes on our journey for greatness, we actually miss the opportunity to reach greatness, because we are looking too far ahead. Have you ever lost something only to realize it's right next to you? I think the classic example is looking for your keys and it's on the lanyard around your neck or when you look for your sunglasses that are on top of your head. Just like these mistakes, we often miss out on what is closest to us, like our parents, friends, and other family. As we head into the holiday season, I hope we seek out great things, but also remember that sometimes that opportunities lies in the things that are right under our nose.

~:[CH14 - Day 301]:~ The Beautiful Sunset

 
~:[CH14 - Day 301]:~ The Beautiful Sunset

It's a little nicer taking a lesser role sometimes. I realized you get to sit back and relax a little bit, while also focusing on finer details. I arrived earlier after finishing up a quick food social media review in the area and then waited a top the hills at Clark Park. It was nice to wait in various locations where I knew I could get a good shot and this was one of them. This team needed a lot of work in the hills and they've been focusing a bit more on their strength and it's beginning to show. We had a fairly large group join in and I love how they focused in and worked. As the sun began to set, I knew our workout would be wrapping up, but before it did, a few of the athletes pushed through a final few repeats before they could no longer. As while their is a little bit of a void when you take a step back, you can find ways to fill those voids with new pieces that you never thought would have fit. As I figure out this puzzle, I know that with each passing day, I'll appreciate all that I can experience as I discover where I want to go from here. For at least today, I stood a top the hill and enjoyed the sunset, as each of these athletes passed on by. There was a sense of tranquility, as the weight on my shoulders was lighter, allowing me to better appreciate the work that they all were putting in. Appreciate each day and each opportunity and hopefully we'll all be able to enjoy life's sunsets, as we look forward to what the new day brings.

~:[CH14 - Day 300]:~ Spirit Week

 
~:[CH14 - Day 300]:~ Spirit Week

We've been doing a spirit week for a few years now, trying to get the athletes more engaged and involved. Today was twin day! It was fun to see some of the athletes join in the fun, as this day requires them to coordinate and ultimately figure out a plan. I think that when you coach or do anything with a group, finding connections is the first key to success. Sure you can figure out ways to train better or to find success in whatever you are doing, but until they are willing to work together and give their all for each other, you're never going to get the most out of them. This is one of the many things we do to try and get them to form those connections that will hopefully last a lifetime.

~:[CH14 - Day 299]:~ Half & Half

~:[CH14 - Day 299]:~ Half & Half

I was pretty exhausted today after a long day yesterday. I didn't set an alarm and woke up when I felt like it. It was still early. I was able to go through my normal Sunday routine as I transferred my photos for the week, charged my batteries, and got some work done. I decided to pop over to the gym to catch the early session of scrimmages since I missed the early one last time. I was glad I got to go as it was fun to watch them play for their final time together. I went home and got to work, as I had to catch up on a number of projected that I was backlogged with. It's not fun to sit around and think about what you need to do, but it also motivates you to wrap it up. Because of it, I stayed home for the remainder of the day to get my work done and it allowed me to catch the Packers game as well. Just like my day, the first half was much different that the second. Luckily, the Packers pulled out the victory and looking back, I also had a pretty successful day. My thought process in life has often been, full speed ahead as I try to get everything done and all the bases covered, but sometimes, cutting back and allowing yourself a little bit of breathing room will help you find yourself at a place you can be glad you are at. 

~:[CH14 - Day 298]:~ The Haunted Hills

 
~:[CH14 - Day 298]:~ The Haunted Hills

If you run cross country, you're most likely familiar with Mt. SAC. The course is legendary. Some people love it, while others fear it. When the weather gets warm, it is quite scary to have my athletes on it, as it's a variable that is hard to predict. Regardless, the weather stayed relatively mild and even cold at times. The athletes did what they needed to do, we collected a few medals, and called it a day. It felt a little strange as we sat a lot of our athletes on the day to rest for league finals, but those who needed to get on the course did. I quickly cleaned up and headed to my family Halloween party. It was great to see how festive everyone was. I was hungry, so the taco setup was perfect, of course, I forgot about it and filled up one plate with food already, which meant, I had two plates. Regrets. Of course, the party always is the most entertaining since we get to play some games. Although the last game was a little questionable, it still ended up as a fun night and even better since our team won this year! We walked out and had to brave the scary lawn decorations that were setup at my cousin's house, however, just like Mt. SAC, when you have the right perspective and conditions, you'll be well prepared and able to deal with any scary situation that may come your way. 

~:[CH14 - Day 297]:~ A Little Bit of Pop

 
~:[CH14 - Day 297]:~ A Little Bit of Pop

Halloween is always a fun time of year where you can get creative and dress up. Typically, our Halloween potluck is the start of all of it. This year, I themed all of my costumes so that they would all align and it was actually relatively economical. With the new hit KPOP Demon Hunters out, I decided to be one of the characters. I originally ordered some of this to use for something else, but it came in handy for this costume. The sweater that I ordered was a bit too small and thus, I ended up improvising and figuring out an alternative. It worked out just right. I realized I had to go to Walmart after and so I cleaned up my hair so at the very least, I didn't have the wig on. I still stood out as I carried my basket around, but it added a little pop to the day. In the end, it seemed like everyone enjoyed themselves spending the evening together. It's always great to have a bit of fun to add to the mundane life we live. Whenever you get a chance, add a little pop into your day and lighten the mood for everyone around you whenever possible! 

~:[CH14 - Day 296]:~ Tears in the Eye

 
~:[CH14 - Day 296]:~ Tears in the Eye

Life is emotional. There are a lot of different emotions and reasons to express them, but tonight, there was a bit of happiness and sadness that counteracted each other, living us with an evening that was bittersweet. The last competition for someone in an organization is tough. As the girls realized it was their last game, the sadness was evident, still yet, you wonder if it countered the happiness that was express by the team throughout the match. Despite the rough starts, down 8-16 in the second, the girls excelled in the second half. They nearly took the second set and had it not been for a controversial call, they may have been able to pull it out. They rolled through game three and nearly mounted another comeback in round four, but ended up falling a bit short. As the tears filled the eyes of many of the players, I slowly made my way out of the gym, as watching that emotion is a bit tough. It's hard not to get teary-eyed, however, it was easy to applaud them for their efforts as they mounted a few charges to keep them in it. In the end, those tears they shed demonstrate the love and passion they have for the sport and/or their team. Sadly, today was the end of the road for the volleyball team, however, there's no doubt in my mind that they will be gathering together, sometimes down the line in the future remember these many moments they shared including the moments they comforted each other as the tears rolled down their face. 

~:[CH14 - Day 295]:~ In a Snap

 
~:[CH14 - Day 295]:~ In a Snap

Some days, it just feels like everything is crammed together. With a fifth period this year, it's been increasingly difficult to complete what I need to for cross country. I've had to arrive just as practice begins to complete the work I need to do, plus avoid the afterschool traffic. Similarly, today became a lot tougher. Typically, I have enough time to grab my equipment and get all setup before the media day beings. Today, I had just about fifty minutes to setup, take the photos, and also clean up. I flew through the shoot so quickly and was able to capture some of the images I hoped for. Obviously, I didn't end up with incredibly gorgeous photos, yet, I still was able to capture some of the many moments we had. It would have been easy for me to cancel something or throw my hands up in the air and give up, but I stuck with it, planned it all out, and executed it to perfection. Next time your schedule gets in a bind, do your best to believe in  yourself and ability to do what you need to do and more, however, also don't forget that this process takes time and thus, don't forget to be patient, as life moves quickly and passes by in a snap.

~:[CH14 - Day 294]:~ The Steep Climb

 
~:[CH14 - Day 294]:~ The Steep Climb

The first loops is always a little more scary as they athletes are just getting use to it. With a large group of freshmen, I saw the fear as they completed their first loop. Slowly, however, they eased into it and got a bit more comfortable, as they began to focus on pushing their limits, rather than stressing about what could happen. Life is like that. It can be a bit scary at first, but when we are able to have the confidence to move forward, we slowly find our confidence and our ability to overcome the obstacles ahead of us. These athletes learned a lot about themselves in the hour workout, as they began to realize what they were capable of, while giving them more confidence to reach higher. Hearing athletes say, I can do a few more ... always has a warm place in my heart as they show that they're willing to push their limits even when the road ahead of them is steep. The sun began to set a bit as we arrive back after our run, but as I watched the beautiful sunset, I was grateful for the effort the athletes put into today as they prepare for the final stages awaiting them.

~:[CH14 - Day 293]:~ Excel

 
~:[CH14 - Day 293]:~ Excel

I went through  most of the assignments and they checked the boxes and completed the work. They did what they needed to do. That's the majority of society, they meet the standard. It's always a joy as a teacher, however, when a student shows a little extra effort and goes beyond what was required of them. You see the work and you know they'll be ready for the world ahead. As I went through the assignments I found about three or four that fit this standard. I wonder what will motivate the students to excel. I am not talking about meeting the standards, but going above and beyond. I feel their struggle with trying to stay on top of everything. With piles of emails and tasks, I've overlooked a few things here and there. However, in my daily life, I try to go above and beyond when I am working to do something more than what I am expected to do. I was raised like that and I only hope that I can see something similar from my students. In life, I hope we all push ourselves to excel. It's easy to simply focus on our goals, but when we have confidence in ourselves that we can go above and beyond those goals, we truly find ourselves in a better place and one in which great success is likely headed our way. With about 1/4 of the school year done, I am hoping that the months of ahead bring droves of students who push the limits and find that they can excel beyond what is expected. I may be dreaming when I say this goal is achieved, but just like what I expect from my students, I will look to excel and surpass my own expectations. 

~:[CH14 - Day 292]:~ We're Different

 
~:[CH14 - Day 292]:~ We're Different

We're different and that's okay. I came home after an exhausting day of an exhausting week and watched a J-drama. One of the scenes caught my attention as one of the girls was a selective mute. She was different in the eyes of many and function differently at home than at school. She wasn't the same as her classmates, but that's okay. As a spoiler, my eyes teared up a bit during the episode. However, I started to think about this weekend and exactly how it applied. As I walked around the convention center, I saw so many different types of people. From the person themselves to the languages they spoke to the styles them embraces and they were all different. I saw high energy introverts, the behind-the-scenes introverts, and even the digital v-tubers who we may never know how they are like. For all of us, we have different interests, different styles, different personalities and more, but being different is okay, it's actually the norm. Conformity is something of the past. This generation embraces our diversity, our various interests, and welcomes our different styles. Instead of judging others, embrace their differences and welcoming it. Appreciate the diversity they have to offer and welcome them, allowing them to feel more comfortable to be themselves. The truth of the matter is, it's not always easy to do so. We are often quick to judge and isolate others, when we should be ready and willing to accept that we are all different, even from our own flesh and blood. I chuckle as I think of the range of the types of people I encountered this weekend and I think it's what made this convention interesting. I ended up the convention by listening to the performance of a band. They played the song "Golden" from K-POP Demon Hunters and while it ended up being a different style than the original, I appreciated their take on the song itself. Let's welcome our differences so that we can build bridges, rather than destroy them. Let's build community, rather than divide it. Let's be sure to work together and uplift each other, rather than trying to undercut each other or outcast them. Life is already tough enough and we don't need others to make it tougher on us. Thus, let's help each other out by understanding and supporting each other, so we can be the ones that helps us find our voice. As the tears filled my eyes, I wondered if it was just from exhaustion from the weekend. However, I realized that the emotions that came to me went beyond the screen and straight to my heart as I realized that I need to make an even greater effort to accept the differences of others and reach out a helping hand when those around me are struggling, as no matter how many differences we have, the struggle is the same for us all. 

~:[CH14 - Day 291]:~ Way Too Early

 
~:[CH14 - Day 291]:~ Way Too Early

My alarm rang, but it was way to early in the morning. I wanted to hit the snooze button, but it was already time to leave. By 5:20am, I was out the door and picked up a few things before heading to school. It would have been a little easier, but I had events almost every night this week, so it became increasingly difficult to wake up. It was way to early, but it was also worth it. I enjoyed watching the athletes run and many reaching new personal bests. The faces of the athletes when they tell you about their new PR or first medal is magical. It got a little warm by race's end and made it a bit more challenging to unpack the car, still yet despite it being way too early, it was wroth every minute. Inconvenient things become convenient when there is value that comes out of the effort. Waking up early resulted in a good experience for many of these athletes and for that, I would be willing to do this a million times. For those around us, we often do things we rather not do, but in the process of it all, remember to think of the benefits that come with it. Thinking from that perspective, I'll set my alarms that early once again without hesitation!

~:[CH14 - Day 290]:~ Let's Roll

 
~:[CH14 - Day 290]:~ Let's Roll

I was a little tired in the morning and so I rested a bit before heading off to the event. Luckily the event was a bit later, so I didn't have to rush out. I averted a number of issues upon arrival as the parking lot was full, yet they let me in and they were strict on baggage, but I chose the right line. Once I got in, I relaxed a bit realizing that things had gone smoothly. It continued throughout the day as things just flowed together. I got to where I needed to be and almost everything was spot on. Why almost? I joined in on the fun while taking photographs and to my dismay, my roller didn't help me very much. In the end, I made all the wrappers by hand and everything turned out okay, which fit with the theme for today. I guess you could say, things just rolled along. I definitely was tired, but still had to stop by Walmart on my way back. I actually had to trek back and forth from the event to home as we had a race tomorrow, however, I didn't mind too much, as I was able to fulfill a number of responsibilities. I was exhausted, but glad that I took this on as things played out as I had hoped. Sometimes trust your intuition and take on what you want to as when you are willing to take it on, you often are better able to ensure that things just roll along.

~:[CH14 - Day 289]:~ The Crisp Cool Night

 

~:[CH14 - Day 289]:~ The Crisp Cool Night

Tonight's events weren't in the original cards starting the week, but it just got shuffled in. With a last minute request, I squeezed in the event and headed to BMO. Luckily, I had the experience in the area before and so I was able to plan everything out to perfection. The parking location, the timing, and movement to the site went smoothly and all I had to worry about was capturing the requested shots. One of the reasons I changed things around this year was to be able to take on these types of projects. Last minutes projects, where I could change things up and just accept them and today was one of the first. I always love the energy of Seventeen when they perform as it makes it so much easier to be there. With a camera full of good content, I headed home with lots of energy and excitement for the editing days ahead assembling the work from the night. It was a perfect night with a cool crisp air and you wonder how all the pieces of the puzzle just fell into place to allow this last minute shuffle to occur. In life, sometimes things just don't work out no matter how you move things around, but at other times, the stars align and it truly becomes a moment that is magical. Soak it all in and appreciate it!

~:[CH14 - Day 288]:~ These Moments

 
~:[CH14 - Day 288]:~ These Moments

It was a packed day. Even though I didn't try to complete the trifecta and take on a shoot in LA, it was an exhausting day. Picture day is always a challenge, but it's also one that is full of memories. To capture a number of pictures that the team wants with their friends is something that will last beyond just today. These pictures will circulate, be looked back up, and appreciated for many years, which is why I love taking them so much. After a busy day, I wrapped up the photos, quickly packed up, and headed to the Nationals tryouts where another group of students were trying to make memories by qualifying for the team headed to New York. It always is great watching how much improvement my freshman have made after two years and sometimes it's a bit excruciating as I have to make the decision on who to bring and who cannot make it. Luckily, I can take everyone who demonstrates the skills necessary for the conference, which make the decision a little bit easier. I was thinking about creating one final moment, but realized I wouldn't make it to the site on time for the shoot and thus, I called it a day. It's always a challenge to have these types of packed days, but when you do, you create more opportunities to create moments that will last a lifetime. For now, I may only see the stress of it all as at times it can be overwhelming, but down the line, I will appreciate the grind that I went through to capture moments like I did today. 

~:[CH14 - Day 287]:~ Can't Stop, Wont' Stop

 
~:[CH14 - Day 287]:~ Can't Stop, Wont' Stop

It rained today. For many, it would mean take shelter and cancel everything. For runners, it's get mentally prepared for it. A lot of sports play in the rain and cross country is one sport that also does so. In life, we're going to get rained on, but the question is, do we take shelter or do we get ourselves prepared for what's ahead? It was great to see the team out there with great spirits. While we were missing a few given it was our first practice with rain (that I can think of), for the most part, most of them braved it and understood the assignment. I hope that in life, we can all find that grit to keep pushing through during those difficult times and don't allow those storms to stop us from the work that we can do to make ourselves and the world around us better. 

~:[CH14 - Day 286]:~ I'll Pass

 
~:[CH14 - Day 286]:~ I'll Pass

I had a few things lined up today. I passed on them all. I decided to clean, get some work done, and work on another project I've been meaning to get to. What is it? I'm not revealing it quite yet. Sometimes you realize that when your schedule is loaded, your mind and body and not quite ready to follow along. Listen. I did and ended up not setting an alarm, resting and in the end, felt better when I got a few things organized and am more prepared for the week ahead. Did I finish everything I wanted to do? Of course not, however, at least I was able to feel accomplished when I looked at my project to realize that I am almost done with it! Yahoo! Don't be afraid to pass on things just because you feel bad of what you're missing, as sometimes you truly need to time to rest and recover. If you get a choice, make the one that is best for you in the long run. Today I did and I don't regret it at all.

~:[CH14 - Day 285]:~ A Golden Day

 
~:[CH14 - Day 285]:~ A Golden Day

After my morning class, I headed to Irvine to catch my friends at a KPOP Demon Hunters event. It was cool to see them in action as they greeted the many who lined up for upwards of an hour in order to get their drinks and get a photo-op. One of my friends plays the perfect Zoey and it's pretty impressive how similar she is to her. It was fun to see the faces of the children light up as they saw them in person and it really felt like they were meeting the real characters. One little girl gave her mom her ice cream before going up to meet them. She was so in awe when meeting them. It was the cutest thing. When her mom asked her if she wanted her ice cream or to spend more time with Huntrix, she stayed with the group. In the end, she finally headed off, but like so many others, they wanted to stick around and chat. It's truly amazing how this show has taken the world by storm, but so cool to see all those involved also take part in it. To know a variety of people who either sing, act or cosplay in relation to the show is pretty cool and I guess it will continue for a little while longer. Afterwards, I headed to the basketball gym to catch a scrimmage. It was definitely fun, but my fatigue hit me a bit. I was supposed to catch one final event for the day, but I decided to cancel the shoot and just relax. I think it was for the best, as I ended up sorting through the photos and relaxing. It ended up truly being the right decision and ended up being the icing on the cake of a truly golden day.

~:[CH14 - Day 284]:~ Farewell Long Weekend

 
~:[CH14 - Day 284]:~ Farewell Long Weekend

It was a long weekend, for most of us. For us MUN advisors and students, it wasn't. The Edison Conference was held the weekend after ours, thus, we headed on a bus on Saturday morning to Edison High School. Although it's still nice to get two days for the weekend, it's always a bit saddening when a conference falls on a long weekend. Regardless, it was cool to watch the students in action. They actually were pretty engaged and a lot of them were quite passionate about their performance, which is always a good sign. As always, there were delegates excited about committees, some exhausted and ready to go home, while others were frustrated. The range of emotions that comes with an MUN conference is immense. I struggled a bit as I forgot my charger so I could no longer use my phone for pictures and video. Luckily, I always carry my DSLR and camcorder for this very reason and still captured a few moments. Overall, it would have been nice to be lounging around somewhere enjoying a day off, but I didn't mind being at the conference since the students were working hard to represent our school. I headed home a bit tired from the week, but glad I could have a few days to clear my mind and catch up on the work I need to do. 

~:[CH14 - Day 283]:~ Playtime

 
~:[CH14 - Day 283]:~ Playtime

It was our first minimum day at the end of the quarter. Honestly, I could have used a full day today to wrap up a few lessons, but you deal with what you are given. It was nice to wrap up practice early, although we did have a long run since we didn't have race this weekend. I got home and played around with the niece and nephew, showing of my new wigs and giving them a pack of Pokemon cards. Of course the pack I give away has a full art, but at least it wasn't a mega valuable one. I placed them in cases and now they own something cool. I was a bit exhausted so I laid around a bit, but having just a bit of playtime is always nice to break the routine of work. There is a lot of work stacked up for me to catch up on this week and I only hope that I'll be able to do it. I guess we'll have to see. For now, I'll forget about it all and enjoy this stress-free playtime with a little soda pop.

~:[CH14 - Day 282]:~ Finally

 
~:[CH14 - Day 282]:~ Finally

It was still a little crazy today, but it finally was a day without planning. I was grading for the quarter, wrapping up things I didn't have time for, and finally started to chip away at my stacks of backlogs that I haven't had time for. Finally. I felt a sigh of relief as some of the pressures of the past week and a half started to subside. While I have a conference this weekend, it pales in comparison to the responsibilities that have been overwhelming both physically and mentally. My body was so sore when I woke up this morning after carrying everything yesterday, but there was a sense of accomplishment as I survived this stretch pretty unscathed. After a long day, I headed down south and ate with some friends, catching up after awhile. We found a nice place that had a nice ambiance and wasn't too expensive. It was a nice relaxing way to end the day, even though there was still work to do. As I look forward in life, I know there will be many more stretches like this where I am exhausted, but I'll also remember this feeling that I get when all is complete and I am able to wrap everything up. I finally reached this finish line. I will soak it all in, but quickly get ready for the next journey, as I know that this cycle of life never ends. 

~:[CH14 - Day 281]:~ Run Your Race

 
~:[CH14 - Day 281]:~ Run Your Race

Another league race with a number of athletes out. You do what you can. I always tell my athletes to run your race. Don't try to run what someone else is running, rather try to control the style of race and ultimately, don't worry about how others approach it, run your own race. Especially on the girls side, we were short-handed, but they did what they could and went out there and battled. We finished 1-2, but fell short in the end, with a squad who had three freshmen. Our girls JV, who was also shorthanded, ran a smart race and moved up slowly through the race. While we took the top spot, it was tough to take the win with a few scorers out. Still yet, they did what they could and improved from the last time we ran. Similarly, our boys did what they could and kept it close with our boys winning the individual race by sixteen seconds. In the end, you may not win the race, but if you go out there and control how you run and give it your all, there's no reason to be disappointed. Sometimes, the opponent is just better than you and sometimes you are just not feeling it, but what you can control is giving everything you have every time you are out there. While we need to nurse some illnesses and injuries over the next few weeks, for now, we did what we needed to survive and that's all we can ask. In life, it's easy to get caught up in the comparison game seeing what those around us are doing, but do your best to run your "race" and do what is best for you at a pace that is just your style. 

~:[CH14 - Day 280]:~ Just a Little

 
~:[CH14 - Day 280]:~ Just a Little

The aroma of fish sauce filled the air as we sprayed a little on the fries. I saw this place on a TikTok awhile back and since then, I've revisited occasionally. It was an unplanned break from the chaos of this stretch of back-to-back events. Did I have the time to do this, maybe not? I carved out a bit of time and made it work. It meant I had to stay up later, but it was worth it since I got a last minute visitor. Just a little can go a long way. The little spray, the little break all allowed me to better my day. A little more flavor on my food and a little spark to keep me going through the night, it was a perfect addition to an exhausting day. The past week or so has been quite brutal, but it's moments like these that allow you to truly get the motivation to keep pushing through. I may pay for this tomorrow, but for now, I'll enjoy a little bit more flavor and a little bit of a break from all the stress. I only hope that it only affects me a little bit in the end. XP

~:[CH14 - Day 279]:~ Unpacking

 
~:[CH14 - Day 279]:~ Unpacking

The Monday after the conference, we do a little bit of unpacking. Our freshman talk about the conference and what they learned. We discuss what they can work on for their next conference and begin to think about ways to improve. Our seniors briefly discuss their committees and then get to the work of sorting out all of our materials and putting it away for next year. It's not easy to organize and event, but when you have an event where nearly 600 people attend and you're working with a staff of 50, it takes a lot of coordination and work. Luckily, this year, it seemed like things ran smoothly and we were able to end the weekend on a good note. When Monday rolls around, we begin to figure out what we need to fix and we always hope that there isn't much. In life, we should always do this. Complete our tasks, but don't forget to look over how it went and how you can improve for the next time. Some people avoid criticism, but it's the process of analyzing how we did that we've managed to fix some of the problems we've faced in the past. Make yourself vulnerable sometimes and welcome the feedback so that you can allow yourself to learn, grow, and spread your wings even further in the future. Thanks to all those who made this weekend possible. 

~:[CH14 - Day 278]:~ Late Night, Rough Mornings

 
~:[CH14 - Day 278]:~ Late Night, Rough Mornings

After the conference, I headed to an event. Late night events means rough mornings the next day. It was fun to see all the people gather and while it was a small venue, the energy of those who came was high. It's great to see people around you be able to have events that gather an enthusiastic audience and was glad at the end of the night when they ended with a successful event. I arrived home early in the morning and used the rest of the day to catch up on grading and the like. I kept the day light as I had to edit the photos from the event, plus prepare myself for the week ahead. Yes, it was a late night, but at least I didn't have anything on schedule, otherwise it truly would have been a rough morning. There are those moments that I regret packing back-to-back days full and this would have been one of them. Luckily, I was smarter than that. Let's have a wonderful week!

~:[CH14 - Day 277]:~ An Exhausting Day (Night) (Day)

 

~:[CH14 - Day 277]:~ An Exhausting Day (Night) (Day)

It was a long day. A LONG day. I arrived at school around six and got to work. From getting ice to packing the coolers, the morning labor is exhausting, but a good workout at the same time. Strangely, the morning went very smoothly as we made announcements, distributed the tables, and completed the setup. No additional desks were needed and all the placards and credentials were available. We rolled from one task to the next and while this and that came up, overall, the conference ran smoothly due to the work of these seniors and the juniors who helped as well! Our delegates also seemed to do well in their committees, which always is comforting. While there will be some who will need some encouragement and other help, for the most part, the day went pretty well. Of course, knowing me, I also added something to my schedule after the conference and thus, after a shower, I headed out to Arcadia for the reopening and one year anniversary celebration event for Arcane Cafe. It was fun taking photos as it felt like a different environment and the setting was a fun one to work with, challenging, yet fun. I headed home late into the morning making it a nearly 22 hour day, but by night's end (or shall I say morning), I was glad on how the day went. Life sometimes gives you options and whether you choose the more leisurely day or the jam-packed day, do it the best you can and soak it all in, as you only get one life. I appreciate all these moments and while the full day will leave me exhausted, there's no doubt that I would do it the same if I had a chance to do it all over again. 

~:[CH14 - Day 276]:~ Food & Togetherness

 
~:[CH14 - Day 276]:~ Food & Togetherness

After a busy week, I still had another event to prep for. I picked up the items for the potluck and headed to the event. It was our first of the year and we had a pretty good sized group show up. It's always nice to see new faces around and we ended up with a lot of them. There's something about food that connects people and these potlucks truly do the trick to allow these athletes to spend more time together and get to know each other a bit more. They are a collective group of people with varying interests, but when you put them together, they tend to grow together and find a connection that they otherwise would not have found. I always cred the food as the source of it all, but whatever the case may be, it's events like this that truly bring the team together. 

~:[CH14 - Day 275]:~ Hanging In

 
~:[CH14 - Day 275]:~ Hanging In

I am often asked, "how's it going?" Often, I respond, "hanging in." During these types of stretches, survival is the name of the game. I stayed up a bit later do a few things for work, before heading to bed, sore from setting up the course and moving things around. Today, my mind was overwhelmed as I had to take care of this and that with the little time left in the week. Printing this, creating that, collecting this, completing that. It was an endless and vicious cycle today. Class ended up being one of the few moments of piece and two of my classes were taking quizzes, but otherwise, I was running around trying to keep things in order. I was hanging in. After school, I picked up the drinks for the conference on Saturday, adding to my workout routine for the week and then dragged in the coolers from home as well. There still is a lot to do and the clock is quickly ticking down. I love deadlines as it gets me to work harder, but during those stretches, the rest of my day are truly moments when I am hanging in. I find joy in getting all this work done, but at times, I just look forward to the moments it all wraps up and I can lay on the couch for a bit without a worry in the world! Until then, I'll keep hanging in ...

~:[CH14 - Day 274]:~ Chase After It

 
~:[CH14 - Day 274]:~ Chase After It

It took most of the day to setup the course. A cool morning turned into a warm afternoon, but I was glad it wasn't hot. It took a little longer to setup as we had to reroute our course a bit. I was excited for today. I always enjoy welcoming schools to our course and look forward to the fast times produced. One of my athletes has continuously been chasing his goal. He hit a tough patch as he was out for a few weeks during the season, but he focused in, and came back ready to go. At the start of the process, he had planned to cruise along, but he hit the ground running - literally. The past few weeks, he's been so determined and that determination paid off. He constantly talked his performance into existence and he continuously reminded himself of what he wanted to run. He ran smart, he ran tough, and he added in that determination to get the race he wanted, #12AT in school history as just a sophomore. He still has bigger things on the horizon, however, for me, I was reminded that we are always capable of reaching our goals. We will face setbacks, we will have disappointments, but we always have to keep chasing after it, if we really want to accomplish it. For him, he accomplished it very quickly and now can set loftier goals. I was not at all surprised at how quickly he got to where he wanted to be, as he made it a point to get there. For all of us, let's trust ourselves, let's push ourselves, and let's give ourselves a shot at reaching the place we want to be. Let's chase after it and go get it!