~:[CH7 - Day 365]:~ And Just Like That ...

~:[CH7 - Day 365]:~ And Just Like That ...

Sadly, I had a lot of work to do today. Since I am leaving soon, I had to finish everything today along with the cooking and errands to prep for the dinner later on. Deadlines are the worst, but they do keep you on top of your game and that I was. I was efficient and as the dinner approached, I was finishing up with my work. Before the ball dropped, I was done. It could have easily been a moment where I complained about having to do the work, but I tried my best to bounce back and forth, as I worked and talked to get it all completed. Life is too short to complain about all we have to do or all that we don't have, rather, we need to find a way to balance what we have to do, with the opportunities that lay before us. Not everything is going to go well in life and if you sulk day after day, you're only going to live a miserable life and drive others away from you. Enjoy what you have and think not about what you don't because just like that, the day, the week, the month, the year, the life will reach its end. In life, there are definitely things we cannot control, but we can control how we react to them. Moments can be devastating, but if we let those moments break us, it becomes even more so. As I close out my 2018, I am so grateful for all the friends I made, all the ones I kept in contact with, the family that I have been able to love and all that I've been able to do. It hasn't been perfect, but that's part of the process of life. Keep moving forward and you'll find yourself much further along and finding a lot more opportunities in the process. Tomorrow is no different than today and while many will begin the year with resolutions, it's just another day. It's just another day that we can chose to live and move forward or get dragged down by what life has in store for us. I have a pile of deadlines waiting for me, but as I move into 2019, I'm not going to let myself ever stop moving forward. As while resolutions are meant to be broken, we must be resolute in our promise to ourselves to keep moving forward because just like that we'll find ourselves at the end of another year that can be wonderful or not. Let's all aim for wonderful. Happy New Year!

~:[CH7 - Day 364]:~ Down Memory Lane

~:[CH7 - Day 364]:~ Down Memory Lane

As I watched the ball roll down the lane, I thought of how similar bowling is to life. You spend a year of your life traveling down a particular path, trying to avoid the gutters. When you're younger, you have the bumpers to keep you from failing, but as you get older, you move past that and try your best to keep things focused on your goal. Some of us speed down that path, while others kind of just make it. We all chose what resources we use, but sometimes it's limited to the strengths we have. Ultimately, we try to reach our goal and knock down all the head pins and sometimes when we do everything write, we don't quite get everything we had hoped for, that dreaded ten pin. Regardless, whether we gutter or not, we are all successful. We are out there trying do something and even if we fail, we can adjust and take another shot at it. In bowling, you get ten tries, in life, those tries can be limitless. Even if you slip and fall, if you can get past those memories, you can allow yourself the success you seek. It's been a year with many great memories and others that I can learn from. I hope that I can fix those mistakes I made along the way so that I can keep aiming at the goals I have in front of me. On a day where I was lucky enough to catch up with a number of people, I also remembered so many memory as my ball rolled down memory lane. 

~:[CH7 - Day 363]:~ Food = Memories

~:[CH7 - Day 363]:~ Food = Memories

Today I had a date with my favorite in the whole world - food. After a day where I did more loads of laundry in a day than most people do in a month, it was nice to get out of the house, especially because I wasn't too confident in the progress I was making. I finally saw the outdoors, but unfortunately, I never saw daylight today. As from sunrise to sunset, I was working to get ready for the new year. It's an annual tradition where I clean like no other and throw out more trash than one could ever imagine. It's my world. I don't know how this happens ever year, but it does. As grueling as the day was, it was the food and company that would turn the day around. It's great to be around those people who are easy to talk to, who you can relate to and even if things aren't the best, they keep the vibe positive. Although it was a bit loud, we were able to load up on some good food, while reminiscing and catching up on the new. With some people, it feels like you never skip a beat and you pick up just where you left off and I was glad that it was the case tonight. I guess there are a lot of gaps that never really get filled when you're apart for so long, but with some people, it matters not, as what matters is that you're there making more memories. I ate a little too much for my liking, but went home satisfied and happy about reconnecting. As I headed back home, I got back to the laundry, as I kept cleaning, as slowly progress was made. Maybe it was just that all my hard work was finally paying off or possibly is that the good food made good memories that made the challenge a lot easier to handle. Even after all the labor of the day, I was content, as my stomach was filled, almost as much as my heart was. I guess that's what good food and great people can do to you.

~:[CH7 - Day 362]:~ The Sky is Falling

~:[CH7 - Day 362]:~ The Sky is Falling

Yes, that is right folks, I was home for once. I had an early lunch with an alum, as I was able to reminisce about the past and to catch up on what was going on in the world. It's not easy keeping up with so many alumni, but sometimes, it's nice to hear the well-connected ones being able to keep you up to date on all that is going on. To hear about those who are getting married, getting jobs or just growing old, it fills my heart with joy to hear that they are all living life. I ventured out to catch up with the Pokemon crews as I spent a day raiding, meeting people along the way and just enjoying the fact that I was back home even as the sky was falling down on my above. Yes, it was true, the tree kept raining down on us. I guess it was a bird trying to get me to move, yet, I did not give way. I stood my ground, because I was home. I had a laundry list of things to do (including my laundry), but I didn't allow that to kill my mood. I finished up my recommendation letters, prepared for my next working adventure (which will also have some playtime), and caught the Los Angeles rivalry game sans Lebron. It felt relaxing and it felt nice as while I was doing work, I was doing it from the comforts of my own home - calls and reservations, finalizing logistics, and a little bit of research. As while I was just about to call it an end to a successful night, an alumni sends me a message just to remind me about how big of a part cross country was in her life and since then, I couldn't help but smile. Even if the sky was falling today, the final message of the day would have made it all right. As coaches and teachers, there is a lot of time put into the job and people thing that we don't get paid enough for what we do, but there is a lot more ways than you can become rich. The paycheck you receive can add dollars to your bank account, but the only thing that's going to matter when the sky is falling and the world is about to end, can't be bought. Today I was reminded of that again and inspired for all that is ahead.\, no matter how long that may be. 

~:[CH7 - Day 361]:~ Not Quite Thawed

~:[CH7 - Day 361]:~ Not Quite Thawed 

I didn't really want to go outside today. I checked out of my hotel and braved the winter sans all my layers with just enough clothing to stay warm, but not too much that I was uncomfortable on the flight home. I survived. I ran down the block to a Vietnamese restaurant to grab some lackluster pho, then back to the hotel and worked on a video while waiting for my shuttle. I didn't add to my accomplishments while I was there, but anyone else from Los Angeles who would have been with me, probably would have done the same. The weather may not have been cold for some, but an Angelino ain't built for that type of weather. I ventured home annoyed by two little boys who reeked havoc on the plane and left a mess for the crew to cleanup. Due to a delay, I had to swiftly walk to my connection, unknowingly having to go through security again and US customs in Vancouver. It was strange to be welcomed into the US while still in Canada, but I guess that's how they do it. My second flight was a lot more peaceful aside from a girl who loudly confessed her love to her boyfriends over Facetime while drunk without headphones. I learned a little too much about these two and we were lucky enough to hear more as our plane was delayed because of our previous delay, as we awaited baggage to clear customs. As I arrived home, sans the layers I had in Edmonton, I couldn't thaw as I was met with Los Angeles cold (40s) as I headed home. Despite all the craziness and still be frozen, my heart and soul were warmed, because I was safely home. There are so many things to complain and vent about, but if we allow them to be apart of our day, we become cold to the world around us. Even when we are surrounded by this cold, it is up to us whether we warm up or not. Today, I let the cold get to me a bit, but by days end, I found the warmth I was searching for all along, even if the SoCal air didn't provide it for me. 

~:[CH7 - Day 360]:~ Frozen in Time

~:[CH7 - Day 360]:~ Frozen in Time

Today I felt what death must feel like as the temperatures in Edmonton dropped to 1ºF as I wandered around the city. I ended up walking about six miles in temperatures below 10ºF, surprising myself that I lasted that long. It was quite gorgeous to be in such a snow covered city in such extreme temperatures, as while I've been to Boston and New York, this definitely had a different feel. I wandered through the University of Alberta and stopped to warm up with a bowl of pho. I needed time to thaw in the hotel and ventured back out. Luckily I did, as I saw the gorgeous legislature building at night, as the whole area was lit for the holidays. I did my best to grab dinner and things I would need to spend the rest of the night indoors. This was definitely a lot tougher than I had imagined, but in the end, I completed what I wanted to do. As I went back through my camera roll, I didn't realize how incredible my shot of the legislature building was, as it truly was a moment frozen in time. While I will be glad to head home, at least there will be snapshots reminded me of all these incredible views and the not as incredible temperatures of this area. It truly was nice to witness a white holiday, as while it's great to be in the warm California sun during the holiday, there's just something about being here that makes it even more festive. 

~:[CH7 - Day 359]:~ All Wrapped Up

~:[CH7 - Day 359]:~ All Wrapped Up

This year's Christmas Day was going to be a little bit different. Most of the time we sat around and watched Jordan rip the wrapping paper off the gifts, paying more attention to the wrapping paper than the gifts themselves. We figured that in the future we could just give him wrapping paper and that he would be fine. As the time passed, I thought that I would just end up canceling my trip if this process took too long, but it ended just on time as I jetted out of the house and made it to my flight with time to spare. A little backstory to the flight is that I thought it was scheduled on the 26th, but somehow, I booked it on the 25th. Global Entry seems to be a blessing as I flew through security and even got upgraded to the emergency exit aisle. It would be my first white Christmas and while I was completely frozen when wandering around the city at night, it was quite the experience and wish I was even more wrapped up like the gifts earlier in the day. Realizing it was Christmas Day, I grabbed dinner in the hotel before calling it a wrap. 

~:[CH7 - Day 358]:~ Happy Holidays

~:[CH7 - Day 358]:~ Happy Holidays

As we round out another wonderful year, I want to take the time to thank you all for being a part of my life. There are a lot of great things in this world, but none is greater than the love of family and friends. We often get so caught up in working so hard, but we can forget that we work hard so we can share these special moments together. It's days like these that remind us that there is nothing more important than those loved ones who continue to be around. I am grateful for them and for all of you. It definitely was a Blessed day as I got to celebrate Jordan's first Christmas along with the normal joys of being with family. I know that in a given year, all will never be perfect, but all those imperfections can be helped by love. Love one another with all your heart and all of your soul and leave not an ounce of love to waste. In a time where it seems as there is a rocky road ahead, it will be the love of friends and family that make it all the better. Thank you again for making my life as amazing as it is and I wish nothing but the best for you and your families. Happy holidays to you all!

~:[CH7 - Day 357]:~ The Search for Magic

~:[CH7 - Day 357]:~ The Search for Magic

Santa photo bombed out picture and there was a little bit of bah humbug in him today. I never knew he was a Cardinals fan and no, I'm not a Rams fan either, but when we discussed trying to catch one more came in the season and also seeing some UC-alum, it ended up that the closest game would be in Arizona, so we decided, let's do it! Eight weeks removed from the last game we all ran into each other, we actually did it. We drove out early in the morning to Arizona and ventured through a beautiful stadium and caught a game at a great value at that! There were Rams fans around, but I was pretty impressed at how good of a turnout they had despite their miserable season (of course, they did beat my team this year). I also enjoy how supportive they were for one of their players, Fitzgerald who declared that he would retire as a Cardinal and his loyalty to them was seen through their loyalty to him as they cheered "Larry, Larry" and the like. Would his 15th season be his last? Who knows, but if it is, they would have sent him off with a memorable one, including a touchdown pass on a trick play. Regardless, this long one day trek for a football game was a little crazy, but was worth every moment we spent together. I was a little worried on how it would all turnout, but in the end, it was amazing. As while the magic of Christmas was not found in Santa today, it was found in the ability to take another opportunity presented and make it into another unforgettable memory. Most people would not take on this journey, yet most don't believe in magic either. Little do they know that it's all too real; just ask Santa. 

~:[CH7 - Day 356]:~ Frame It

~:[CH7 - Day 356]:~ Frame It

It's too bad that I wasn't able to get a picture of him performing, but regardless, his banner was quite nice too. After a morning of getting work done, I was able to enjoy the beautiful sounds of Yiruma. My body was not happy with me as sickness reigned supreme, but there was something about him that made it all go away, even if it was just for those moments at Dolby. His strokes across the key were like butter as he quickly moved from key to key and his commentary between pieces was truly classic. One of the things he mentioned was about taking the time to frame the memories in our lives and keep it for ourselves or to share with others. Truly the opportunities we find in life are moments to be framed and displayed, much like was the case this evening. The frames we store within our minds should be kept near and dear and truly remain as moments that we will treasure forever. Framing something often means it becomes a special memory as typically it is something to be put on display. Let's be sure to frame these wonderful moments in our lives and treasure them forever. 

~:[CH7 - Day 355]:~ The Perfect Break

~:[CH7 - Day 355]:~ The Perfect Break

Today was the final day. I wasn't feeling well by day's end, but part of me felt good knowing that tomorrow I would be able to relax and enjoy without very many deadlines to meet. Yes, I have work to do, but overall, it will be relaxing. I spent a few moments working on a project that I will be taking with me to Japan soon before I headed back out and shot some pool and relaxed at a Korean food joint that I like. As I shot, it felt good to finally have a lot of the weight of a school year off my shoulders, at least for the time being. While there is work to do, there's always some time to enjoy the opportunities provided in the day ahead. As I drove home, the fog rolled in and it almost felt like I was driving into a dream, yet strangely, the dream had already begun. It's winter break.

~:[CH7 - Day 354]:~ Moments You Can Never Replace

~:[CH7 - Day 354]:~ Moments You Can Never Replace

Sometimes you make a decision to be apart of something or attend something and with it comes a moment you cannot replace. If it is an outing with friends and family, an event such as a wedding or concert, or being apart of a team. At times, people take being apart of a team for granted and when they finally realize how big of a part that it is to their lives, the time has already passed. A lot of my seniors reminded me about that at our banquet and today was a moment where I saw just how special being apart of a team is and I hope they realize it to. Today was one of those moments you can never replace. As a below .500 team, we were matched up against the #4 team in the area who had a 12-1 record. We were expected to lose, but we kept it close and even went on a run that put us up by nine. They fought back and took the lead and it seemed as if we were doomed. We battled back and forth and down by one, Downey hit a shot to take the lead. It left us with one possession and one of our boys took the jumper, knocked it down and the rest, you can see captured in this moment. I can think of almost a hundred moments in my life that I've had where I could easily have not had. They were moments I was left breathless, where I smiled, where I laughed and where I felt love. No, it's not FOMO (fear of missing out), it's taking the opportunities presented to you and making the most of them. For these athletes, they will have to decide if they invest their time and energy into their team and have more moments such as today and for all of us, it's about putting ourselves out there and giving ourselves the most opportunities to make moments we can never replace. I think trying to hard to make those moments memorable is a common mistake, as you need to realize is that the same experience won't be as magical for you or everything you do will not be one of these moments, however, the more times you put yourself out there, the more chances you'll find yourself pegged with another irreplaceable moment. Aside from the fact that I got to catch up with an alumni I ran into or got to spend an incredible evening with my friends and my family, this very moment on the court could have been easily missed had I passed on this opportunity to attend (which I almost did). I smiled, I was in awe and today became another moment in my life that cannot be replaced. I hope that this holiday season and beyond, these types of moments are common for you, as they are not always hidden in high-priced seats or exotic locations, but rather, many of these moments can be found in your own backyard. Tomorrow's a new day, let's make that first step towards a life filled with moments like these as I'm sure you won't regret it. 

~:[CH7 - Day 353]:~ Music to My Ears

~:[CH7 - Day 353]:~ Music to My Ears

Today was not at all a day to relax. Giving out a test during a short period, grading assignments, hosting our final dance performance for cross country, trying to get everything organized before break on top of fixing an oversight I made for our upcoming MUN conference, all led to a bountiful amount of stress that I wasn't quite prepared for. However, that is part of the daily life in the classroom and a part of those crazy days you just want to put on the shelf. Of course, the morning is what kept me moving through the day, as we enjoyed the music of the jazz band and choir, who also sang some wonderful parodies made by our wonderful principal who always makes this breakfast a great event. My friend asked me if I could give up what I do on a day-to-day if there was a bigger project with my name written on it and when I think about it more and more, the answer continues to be no. Why? In all the stress that a day presents and all the frustrations that a student may present, I see the challenges that I must tackle in my life, but also the opportunities to grow, both for myself and those around me. I may yell or be frustrated inside, I may not be able to do something because we are short on funds, or simply have a pile of work that is insurmountable, but that is the path I've chosen and I welcome it with open arms. Many in this profession get burnt out because there is so much time and commitment and often times, there isn't the support you need to get it all done. However, if you enter with the right attitude, it can help ease some of those issues. Tomorrow, I get to work with the basketball team at their game at the Staples Center, which gives me a bit of a reprieve from this chaos, but still, I am waiting to get back into the trenches as all these experiences, both good and bad, is what brings music to my ears.

~:[CH7 - Day 352]:~ The Intro

~:[CH7 - Day 352]:~ The Intro

I don't like speaking in front of people, but for some reason, when I am announcing, I get taken away. I get into the role and just do it. I was happy to have been able to do my first introduction of the season at the basketball game before spending the rest of the night at TapEx for the staff potluck. Yes, I attended a staff potluck It was the end of a beautiful day filled with quality time with my colleagues at soup kitchen, dancing in the quad and just some chit chat here and there to make the day great. Lunch also provided us entertainment in the form of a premiere wit the theme of La La Land being introduced. As I sat down in TapEx, I felt amazing as I wasn't worried about any deadlines and ran into a few people I knew. I realized just how nice it feels to relax and do nothing, something I hope I can do more in the near future. For now, I'll accept the day as a introduction into what may be coming my way. Sometimes we get so busy that we forget that we could use a break every once in awhile to discover a day like this where you just shoot the breeze and enjoy the day without any worries whatsoever. Today was definitely a good fit for the theme, it was definitely a day in La La Land. 

~:[CH7 - Day 351]:~ With Time to Spare

~:[CH7 - Day 351]:~ With Time to Spare

I rushed out after school because I knew that I had to write two tests and also do some cooking for the soup kitchen tomorrow, so I jetted out and headed to the market. After I ran into person after person, I finally got out of there and started prepping to cook. People rarely realize what actually goes into the saltado as the dish is mainly composed of chicken, onions, cilantro, tomatoes and french fries; however, the sauce has cabbage, red bell peppers, three types of peppers, cilantro, onions and garlic. Thus, the afternoon was spent chopping away, but somehow it was quite therapeutic. I took breaks as I did to focus on writing my test, I edited some photos and took care of some logistical planning for MUN. As I converted the saltado de pollo into a soup, I got more done and realized I finished more than what I had hoped for the night. I wondered if this is what I've been missing all these years. I normally don't get home until at least 7pm and so getting home at about 4pm was a dream and that extra three hours felt like an eternity. While I would get bored if I did that too long, it felt nice as I enjoy the evening cooking and getting work done without a load of stress on my shoulders. I chatted with friends and started getting things prepped for the holidays. I finished with time to spare and while I will be waiting on my soup through the night, it was nice to not have to stress too much as the holidays quickly approach. I am read, are you?

~:[CH7 - Day 350]:~ When Things Run a Foul

~:[CH7 - Day 350]:~ When Things Run a Foul

I landed on the floor as I kept sticking on the lane at the bowling alley. I picked up my spare but technically, I got a foul. That game was not that great, as I was too scared of falling. Sometimes, when things go a foul, we limit ourselves while trying to protect ourselves from harm. Often times doing this is exactly what we shouldn't be doing, as we keep ourselves from growing and allow a moment to scar us for the rest of our lives. Failure, heartache, and disappointment all can keep us from moving on, but it is something we must do sooner rather than later. It took a bit of time, but I eventually started to get back to normal and all ended up being good. We never really know where we are headed and what we have the potential to do, but what I can tell you is that when we limit ourselves, we limit our possibilities. While at times we must take the responsible conservative route, there are many times where we are fully capable if we just believe in ourselves, especially after our previous attempted went a foul. 

~:[CH7 - Day 349]:~ Hard Labor, Great Times

~:[CH7 - Day 349]:~ Hard Labor, Great Times

My body was so sore by day's end. It was about nine hours of moving, monitoring and cleaning as we ran our annual Stussy sale. There isn't much to worry about, but on the day of, there is a lot to do. The great thing is that at the end of the day, I got nothing but praise for the work this group did and I was also proud of how they did. It's not easy spending that much time doing all that work, but they stayed on top of it through the day and I was so proud. From labor to celebration, we held our annual captains dinner where the new trainees join our current and departing group in a changing of the guard. We will have a fairly young captains core next year with only one senior, but we also have a frosh/soph heavy team as well. As usual, it was a great dinner at one of my favorite places and helped me recover a bit from an insane week of work. With that, I now have some time to relax and enjoy as I have a fairly light week ahead before the craziness of the holidays. Sometimes we complain about all the hard work we have to do, but when all is said and done, celebrating and relaxing afterward becomes even more appreciated and for that we can appreciate both the hard work and the opportunity to enjoy it afterward! 

~:[CH7 - Day 348]:~ In the Holiday Spirit

~:[CH7 - Day 348]:~ In the Holiday Spirit

I was lucky enough to visit the Disney Concert Hall again. I am so grateful for the opportunity I was given to visit this beautiful place and appreciative of the generosity to allow the local citizens to see a performance. It was the first time in awhile that I was able to sit back and enjoy something without having to worry about any deadlines. Yes, tomorrow I have to work, but at least I am working only needing to show up and make sure people are doing what they need to do. I always feel so relieved after banquet, as a weight is lifted off my shoulders and going out right away allowed me to go out and feel the holiday spirit blooming in my soul for the first time. I've locked myself inside for quite sometime now preparing for this and now it's time to enjoy the holiday season. I've got a lot of cleaning and preparing to do, but at least it will be enjoyable. As busy as this season may get, let's be sure to be grateful for all the we have, especially those loved ones who surround us. 

~:[CH7 - Day 347]:~ Saving a Sinking Ship

~:[CH7 - Day 347]:~ Saving a Sinking Ship

A few years ago, I almost stopped coaching. I looked towards the athletes to give more than just being apart of the program, rather to be the program. This group, as sophomores, made the push that kept me engaged and I became better because of it. I got a new crop of athletes that helped grow the program and the dedication level of the athletes grew with it. Talented or not, all I ask for is that athletes put their best foot forward and spend the time to improve. I ask that they give back to the program, rather than just reaping the benefits of it and I have been glad to see that happening as of late. In life, you'll come across situations where you're sitting on a sinking ship and you have to decide whether you try to fix it or if you abandon it altogether  This group was able to save that sinking ship. On banquet days (and weeks), I think I work harder than during any time in a given year. I am always so exhausted and beat up afterwards and just want to hibernate for a year or two. However, when all is said and done, I look back at the pictures and videos and think, this was all worth it. To see the athletes reminisce about their season and to appreciate all that they were able to share together makes it worth it, despite the number of hours I have to give up to do so. Of course, this year, that work became even more worth it, as this was the class that decide, "we should save this sinking ship." Whether I would have left at the end of that year, we will never  know, but what I do know is that in part, this group contributed to the continuation of something I hold so dear and tonight reemphasized that to me, as every banquet in the past has done. Tomorrow, I may be dying of exhaustion, but I'll still be smiling, as I know that there will be another day and I'll get to share it with my ohana.  For that, I am forever grateful. 

~:[CH7 - Day 346]:~ Standing Out

~:[CH7 - Day 346]:~ Standing Out

As we prepare for the upcoming Stussy Sale, I have thought about different signs that I have used that stood out and demanded attention. In thinking about it, I ordered the brightest posters that I could find. However, I also realized that simply being bright may not be enough. We live in a world where we strive to stand out. We strive to our best in a field and ultimate find success. No matter what we are involved in, many times, we strive towards the top of that given field. In the process of doing so, sometimes we lose the reason why we started in the first place. As great as it is to top your field or to stand out, hopefully we can see that we must keep focus on why we are doing it all in the first place. In a society where we are so pressured to succeed, we must also remember to enjoy life, as we work hard and do all of these things more so for the life experience than to win, as the memories will outlast the trophies or awards we collect. As I wrap up preparation for the banquet, I will continue to remember the reason why I coach, not to win, but to give these athletes experiences they cannot get elsewhere and in the process, I know each of them will have the opportunity to stand out in their own way, not at the top, but together as one.