~:[CH2 - Day 324]:~ Pack Your Bags

~:[CH2 - Day 324]:~ Pack Your Bags

Traveling is something I learned is more valuable than owning things. The experiences you get while traveling are much more valuable than the latest bit of technology and while technology is a big part of my life, I rather do without something new for a new experience that may last a lifetime. I am not sure what did it this year, but I've took a leap and started to explore more, finding new adventures at every turn and while I do not have the time to take a long trip, I've been able to plan a lot of smaller trips to start me off on my adventure. Awhile ago, I got  a fortune that started it all that said it is time for me to be spontaneous. In response, I took a number of trips and haven't stopped since. I got another one yesterday which I shared that said, take a trip with a friend. I guess that could be my next project :) ... regardless, I hope I am ready for the different environments in all the places I will be as their temperatures are all over the map if I looked right now ... San Diego (60s), Las Vegas (50s), Seoul (30s), Green Bay (30s), San Antonio (70s), New York (40s). 

~:[CH2 - Day 323]:~ Compiling the Numbers

~:[CH2 - Day 323]:~ Compiling the Numbers

This time of year is always crazy, as I have to compile all the numbers from the races this season as I begin to prep for our banquet. There are so many numbers in each race that sometimes your eyes just want to pop out. Regardless, I made a lot of progress for the banquet today and while I may feel ahead of schedule, I will be behind once I begin traveling around this weekend. Pweh, another day down, a few more days to go!

~:[CH2 - Day 322]:~ Sock It To Me

~:[CH2 - Day 322]:~ Sock It To Me

It's amazing what a new pair of socks can do to you. I felt so good wearing these socks and it was only for a little bit. I decided to model them. Regardless, socks can sum up life so well. There aren't many matches for socks and in many cases, each sock has it's perfect match. However, sometimes, socks end up forever alone, once with their perfect match but never to be again. Socks also come in a range of colors, shapes, etc. Isn't it strange how socks can emulate life itself? Aside from the socks, today was a good day as class went smoothly with one of my favorite topics, the Renaissance, our tower building contest, topped off with a nice team run. Now it's time for bed after making a few more reservations and also setting up my personal cloud, yahoo!

November 18, 2013 ~ True Happiness

"Realize that true happiness lies within you. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside. Remember that there is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving. Reach out. Share. Smile. Hug. Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself" - Og Mandino

I have a lot of things that I have wanted in life, however, in most cases, they make this truly glaringly true, that nothing you can buy will bring you true happiness. The best times of my life have been spent with my family and friends, in seeing the growth and progress of students, and to share in so many wonderful experiences with others - a smile, a hug, a shoulder, or simply a word of encouragement. There is so much going on in this world and we are always busy in a world full of stress. With very simple gestures, you can relief the stress in someones life and maybe even change their life completely.

I've always wondered if I am truly happy and wondered if not, what would that feel like. However, when you wake up in the morning with a smile and can smile at numerous moments throughout the day for no reason, maybe you have found the secret to happiness and ultimately success. As while some may use money as a measure of success, I feel that happiness should be the ultimate measure of success.

I have so many great family and friends around me, I am gifted with opportunities because of all of the great people around me, I have all that I need to survive and each day, I am able to take a deep breath in a country where I am free with a job that I love and a life that I live with no regrets. I guess if that is not true happiness, I am not sure what is.

I am on a quest to spread this happiness and hopefully get a few drops on myself as well. I hope to reach out to as many of you as possible soon in 1000 Ways to Say by IglooSUNDAY. Hopefully it will not only bring happiness in your life, but allow you to spread happiness to others. As the world is not where happiness is found, but in the people who live in it. Let's make sure that the happiness within us is shared with all around in hopes of bringing peace, contentment and joy to the world.

~:[CH2 - Day 321]:~ Real Men (and Women) Wear Pink

~:[CH2 - Day 321]:~ Real Men (and Women) Wear Pink

After a day at CIF, I headed to Arcadia to go to another race, this time to watch some of our athletes run in the association meet of the junior olympics. With a team mixed with athletes of different schools, it was great to see them all together and having a good time. There were some fast times on the day and even some PRs set. Yes, the team wears pink with the team name Go Bananas. The hope is that there will be a greater connection to the breast cancer awareness community in the future. We'll see what comes out of that. Afterward, the team headed out to eat some Korean BBQ. I ate a little too much, but enjoyed every bite.

~:[CH2 - Day 320]:~ Ends and Beginnings

~:[CH2 - Day 320]:~ Ends and Beginnings

The last day of cross country is always a sad day. You see a group that has worked with you for so many months together for the last time. While there is always next year, there will always be seniors who graduate, some who do not return, and new athletes to create new bonds with. This group has been polar opposites, with the girls being a fairly inexperienced group who progressed their way through the season and ran to the third fastest CIF time in school history. To give you an idea, this team ran a 110 minute team time in September and worked their way down to a 102 this past weekend. The boys have been together for four to five years, as some of them ran together on their junior high teams. Five guys being four year athletes and two first year varsity athletes. We had two guys injured during the race and yet still finished with the second fastest CIF time in school history and  a gap of 1:07 from our 1-7. While it was the end of our season, we now begin our focus on our new season in 2014. Unfortunately, my plans had me in rush to head out to another event directly after CIF. I had to change plans due to this and found someone at the last minute who lived in LA to go with me to meet Clara C before her concert (Thanks Melody). We were able to eat a light dinner at a cool Beer Garden near Hotel Cafe with Clara C and it was cool just to sit and chat. We also go to sit at the front table and enjoy with the best view. With her support of World Vision, I was able to have a new beginning with another child in the Philippines to replace my former sponsor child who was too old for the program. It was great to be able to find a replacement and also help a child in desperate need in an area hard hit with disaster. After saying our goodbyes, we also had a little additional time with our new friends we met, as we hit up Thaitown before calling it a night. It was a bittersweet day, but I could not be more proud of team for their efforts today, yesterday, and all the days that came before that.

PHOTO CREDITS - Jessie Lee is an amazing artist who is still training but has already created some amazing work! Look at this piece she drew of me and Clara that Clara signed!

~:[CH2 - Day 319]:~ Royal Dinner

~:[CH2 - Day 319]:~ Royal Dinner

The queen herself went around and took photographs with everyone and I was lucky enough to get one with her. An exhausting day that ended an exhausting week finished with my second time to Macaroni Grill in two days. It was quite funny that the celebration ended up here, but in the end, I got to try something different and the food was, once again, delicious. Regardless, we celebrated and enjoyed the company of so many people. Did we feel like royalty? Maybe not, be we did feel special in the presence of the queen!

~:[CH2 - Day 318]:~ Great Feast

~:[CH2 - Day 318]:~ Great Feast

It was a great feast, celebrating something often taken for granted. While we have qualified for CIF every year, there are many teams who do not. Thus, I always remind our team, that being here is something special and not something that should be taken as a given. It is something you earn. It was a great day and a great night, however, I was exhausted and passed out as soon as I could.

~:[CH2 - Day 317]:~ Beauty Day After Day

~:[CH2 - Day 317]:~ Beauty Day After Day

I am not sure what has been up with the sky lately, but it has been truly amazing. Each time I look up, I am so pleased to see what is up there. I love it so much and plus the warm evenings have also been pleasant. Not too hot or humid and not too cold. However, in every day, there is such great beauty, whether it is a small gesture, small successes, or even great friendships. Today, I got to celebrate a special day with an old friend and I got to catch up with another friend over a wonderful dinner. There is always something so beautiful about having people around you who you can just pick up where you left off and continue on like you haven't missed a beat. I am so lucky to be blessed with so many wonderful people in my life and am glad to have them all in my life. Simply beautiful.

~:[CH2 - Day 316]:~ Just Sweet Enough

~:[CH2 - Day 316]:~ Just Sweet Enough

Sometimes it can be a bit overpowering, but today was just sweet enough. With enough time to catch up on work and the enjoyment of some good food and treats throughout the day, today had to be up there among the better "first days of the weeks" this year. While I have no clue what the future beyond this weekend holds for our practice, I'll just have to assume that this will not be the end but just the beginning of a grand adventure that is just sweet enough.