On maturity

For as long as I can remember, I never really had a problem speaking with adults- the only issue I can recall facing was that I didn't like it when they talked down to me. I hated the condescending tones and the childish questions- I'm a person just like you; please treat me like one. To be fair, it didn't really happen that often, but when it did, it really bugged me- maybe because I matured a little earlier, and was able to perceive how someone saw me as we spoke.

I don't really face this problem anymore, which is definitely a good thing, but as I get older, I'm starting to understand why adults do this. Now let me qualify what I just said by saying that I don't agree with it at all. Many kids are a lot more mature than we think. Obviously this isn't always the case, but I like to give people the benefit of the doubt.

Recently, I had a really nice conversation with a family friend who I've known for basically her whole life. It was the first time we had a real, real conversation and it was so refreshing to hear what she had to say. She had such mature views about life that were far beyond her sixteen years, and it was awesome to get a sense of how she saw the world. I was also fortunate enough to share some insights based on my past experiences, because I could relate to the things she was talking about.

Like I've mentioned in past blog posts, there's nothing better than good conversation. The best part is that you never know where you're gonna find it.

On relapse

Sometimes we have to pass our destination a few times before we actually get there. Just because you can see the end doesn't necessarily mean you're ready for it. I know this really sucks, but it'll be that much better when you finally cross that finish line.

On simplicity

"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated."- Confucius

As complex as our lives can get, we learn that sometimes the simple things are the best things. It's so nice to take certain things, appreciate them for what they are, and not feel the need to expect anything else. Beautiful laughs and contagious smiles can really go a long way, and in the end, what more could we ask for?

On leadership

"To be able to lead others, a man must be willing to go forward alone."- Harry S Truman

“A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader, a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves.”- Unknown

In life, there are leaders and followers, and most of the time, it's fairly easy to distinguish who's who. However, like many things, it's not quite that black and white. I think leadership is both a natural skill and a technical skill- many are born leaders, but don't quite know how to lead. In addition to the quotes above, I also believe in the saying, "You have to learn how to follow before you can lead."

A successful leader, manager, or boss isn't just someone who simply barks out orders to people who will listen. Instead, he's someone who not only understands the people he's leading, but also knows how to communicate with them (versus at them), and he's also got to be a good listener. A great leader needs to be confident in himself without being too cocky, and must instill this confidence in those he leads. He has to be able to inspire and motivate with clarity regarding his intentions, without discouraging those who follow.

Being a leader is not a right, but instead a privilege, and those given the opportunity to lead need to rise up to the challenge and act with honor, integrity, and perseverance. Most importantly, he needs to care and show that he gives a damn.

On doing your best

"Whatever you are, be a good one."- Abraham Lincoln

On national championships

Congratulations to the UCLA Women's Golf Team for winning UCLA's 107th NCAA title!

At 107, UCLA has the most NCAA National Championships in the nation, including U$C. It's a great day to be a Bruin!!!

Championships include:
Men's Basketball (11)
Men's Tennis (16)
Men's Volleyball (19)
Women's Softball (11)

On the inverted fountain

UCLA has a tradition where you touch the water in the inverted fountain in South Campus for the first time at orientation, and that's when you officially become a Bruin. However, you can only touch it one more time, and that is after you officially graduate. Legend says that if you touch the water when you're not supposed to, it will add another quarter onto your college career- the same goes for stepping on the sixth step of Janss Steps.

Devan and I both got to touch the water in the fountain after we graduated, and even though to some, it may seem rather insignificant, it was truly awesome. So to all those who are about to graduate this Spring, I'd like to congratulate you on your success, wish you luck in the future, and urge you to touch the water in the inverted fountain.

The Inverted Fountain, UCLA

On line cooks

So I've been working at Curry Up Now for a little over a month now, and things are definitely not like I thought they'd be, but in a good way nonetheless. I originally applied to work there as a food runner, but as a newer restaurant, things are constantly changing. I made the move from food preparer and drink refiller to cashier, and now I spend most of my time cooking on the line. It's super intense- definitely not something I thought I'd be doing, but as hectic as it can get, it's kinda fun.

I just gotta say that I have such a new found respect for anyone who cooks in a restaurant.

On time management and productivity

"The key is in not spending time, but in investing it."- Stephen R. Covey

I think one of the most important aspects of being successful- in any aspect of life- is knowing how to manage your time effectively and being productive. This became most apparent to me during college. I feel that although I definitely didn't master it, I managed my time quite well during my four years at UCLA, and was fairly productive whenever I needed to study or do work. However, the concept extends way beyond the classroom- it relates to every part of our lives.

As you go through college, you find yourself getting involved in so many different things, and eventually you realize how pressed for time you are. You want to hang out with your friends, maybe get some food and watch the game, but you have homework due tomorrow and that midterm worth half your final grade is coming up next week. Not to mention, your volunteer group is meeting tonight and your enrollment time for next quarter is tomorrow morning and you haven't picked out your classes yet. It's pretty overwhelming stuff- and for other people, it's even more hectic.

The key is to sort out our priorities- knowing which things on our "to do" list are more important or pressing can really help us figure out where to start. Also, we need to be efficient and productive as we go about completing tasks (not wasting time), and starting on things early never hurts. I completely understand that we can't spend every moment working on something, but that's why we shouldn't over-commit ourselves. It's also important to give ourselves time to relax and wind down- just gotta make sure this isn't all we're doing, because then we've wasted our whole day away, and that's never good.

The sad truth about all this is that it never really ends- there always so much to do, and as we get older, there's gonna be more and more. During my assurance internship last summer, I remember having tons and tons of things to do everyday I was at work. Even though I was only working for eight weeks, it was a great indicator about what working full-time will be like. I think that college really helped me in that respect- figuring out how to balance all my assignments and being able to work on multiple projects simultaneously.

In the end, it's simply about knowing what we have on our plate and managing it the best we can. Obviously, everything isn't going to work out exactly the way we want, but that's out of our control. Personally, I just try to be as efficient and effective in everything I do, and this allows me to have more free time to allocate to things I enjoy.

On the end of the world

So yea, it's officially May 21 and I'm still here, and you're still here. I guess that's that lol.

On awesome seats at the ballpark

Tonight, I went to AT&T Park to see the Giants take on the A's. OUR SEATS WERE AMAZING!!! It was so epic- we sat in the fifth row behind the visitor's dugout- definitely one of the best views I've ever had. To top it all off, it was an awesome game!

Earlier this month, I wrote a blog titled On the Bay Bridge Rivalry, in which I discussed the dilemma of being an A's fan first and a Giants fan second, while going to the rivalry game in SF with Giants fans. Well, I decided to rep the home team so I threw on my Giants hat and uni. However, I was secretly rooting for the A's- what can I say, they're my team. The game was really fun to watch and was exciting til the very end. It was a little bittersweet to see the Giants walk off on an Aubrey Huff single. I was kinda sad my A's lost, but happy the Giants were the ones to pick up the W.

Also, we got San Francisco Giants World Series Champions Snuggies!

AT&T Park
(more pictures on facebook)

On age

"Everyone is the age of their heart"- Guatemalan Proverb

On buying the Dodgers

So apparently the current owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Frank and Jamie McCourt, are getting divorced, and there is an outstanding court order for the immediate sale of the team. This poses a problem, but first things first- it's too bad that they're getting divorced. Really, I would never wish that upon anyone and I wish both of them well. However, on the up-side, THEY DON'T HAVE TO OWN THE STUPID DODGERS ANYMORE. Herein lies the problem: someone is going to purchase the team, and that's a bad move because they suck. Really, WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD WANT TO BUY THAT FRANCHISE?!

I have compiled a list of better things to do with the money. Let's call them potential business ventures:

- Buying the remaining stock in Enron

- Buying lots and lots of candy

- Giving the money to me (because then it would go into an actual investment)

- Putting it into a banana stand (Arrested Development anyone?)

- Donating it to any charity :)

*Please note that this blog was written with extreme fan bias (Go A's and Giants!). However, from a business standpoint, I cannot commit to saying that the purchase of this franchise is a smart decision and would strongly advise against it.

Beat LA!

On "me time"

At this time in my life, I believe whole-heartedly that this is exactly where I need to be. It may not be where I want, and I might not be doing exactly what I want, but instead what I need to do. For the first time, I'm doing this for me, and only me, because I deserve it. Things are different now, and I have been freed from what had quite possibly been holding me back. The time is now. It's me time.

On Relay for Life

This past weekend, I took a road trip down to Santa Barbara to visit Nicole and participate in UCSB's Relay for Life. Let me first say that the almost five hour drive was the longest I've ever taken alone, and it went super smoothly. It went by really quickly and gave me time to think about tons of stuff, evidenced by the numerous blog posts I've written tonight haha. Okay, back to Relay...

The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life is such an amazing event. Over the years, I've been a part of maybe five or six of them throughout California, and each one has been fantastic. I started doing relays because I thought it was a good cause. At the time, I didn't know many people affected by cancer, but still understood the importance of raising money for research, so I was glad to participate.

In 2007, a kid I knew was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and unfortunately passed away in November of that year- he was only fifteen. This hit home for me because, even though I didn't know him as well as I would have liked, I could see that we were similar in many ways. To this day, he inspires me to live my life as best as I can, because I know he would do the same. Since then, he is the reason I relay and each subsequent event has become a little more personal.

One of the most popular and emotional parts of Relay for Life is the luminaria ceremony. At each relay, you can donate money for a bag, on which you can honor the memory of someone who has fallen victim to cancer, or celebrate the life of someone who has survived. These bags are later filled with sand and candles, and are placed around the track. When it gets dark, the candles are lit and the track becomes illuminated. At the beginning of the ceremony, some bags are placed on the bleachers, spelling out HOPE. The ceremony is usually comprised of some combination of speakers, which can include survivors or those who have lost loved ones, and sometimes performers. A few years ago, my friend, Taylor, was in charge of running the luminaria ceremony in Fremont, and she asked me if I would play the saxophone. I was honored to be a part of it, and played Somewhere Over the Rainbow in front of everyone.

During the ceremony, it's almost impossible to find a dry eye. From everyone's experience with cancer, emotions always run high. It's really sad to see how many people have been so affected by this terrible disease. The good thing, though, is that everyone at the event is experiencing the ceremony together, and this creates such unity among everybody. By the end of the ceremony, the luminaria bags on the bleachers have been changed from HOPE to CURE. Although emotional, it's a great thing to experience.

This was actually the first year that I personally made a donation to the American Cancer Society, and I was so glad to do it. This was also the first relay I made a luminaria bag. Mitchell Louie truly was an awesome kid, and will forever remain in our hearts.

I strongly encourage you to participate in a Relay for Life- it's such a powerful experience.

Luminaria Ceremony

On having a revelation

To me, the word "revelation" carries quite a bit of hype and grandeur, and therefore, I don't like to throw it around very often. However, yesterday I had a HUGE revelation, and it has allowed me to see things so much more clearly. Special thanks to those of you who have helped me get here :)

On drama

Despite what people might say, everyone wants and needs at least some drama in their lives. Without it, life would be boring. Unfortunately, most get more than they bargained for and in many cases, everything becomes too hectic.

There is an upside, however, and it's that the play has been left unfinished, and sometimes we're given the opportunity to write the ending.

On heroes

"Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid. The detective must be a complete man and a common man and yet an unusual man. He must be, to use a rather weathered phrase, a man of honor."- Raymond Chandler, The Atlantic Monthly (1945)

On Janus

From the Roman God of beginnings and transitions, Janus, we learn that people have two sides. They have a good side, a bad side, a past, and a future. We must embrace both sides in someone we love. It's not smart, or fair for that matter, to only accept the aspects about them that we like. We need to receive them as a whole, and not expect to change them into the person that's most convenient for us. I'm not saying that people shouldn't change; just let them be who they are, and allow them evolve into the person they're meant to be. Love all of them, with all of yourself.

On family

"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them."- Desmond Tutu

When you feel like you're unable to go any further and you're on your last breath, there will always be one group of people to help you keep going, and the love of your family runs deeper than blood.

On karma

Karma is a funny thing because it's pretty intangible- it can't really be measured. I believe in it though: what goes around comes around. Even if I was wrong and there was no such thing, I wouldn't live my life any differently. I would still take the initiative to do good and treat people the way they deserve to be treated. Why wouldn't I? What's the alternative?

Am I human? Yes. Do I make mistakes? Of course. Do I believe that karma may be the cause for any type of misfortune resulting from poor judgement? Sometimes. But do I try? I do. Do I believe that effort counts? You bet.

"Men may not get all they pay for in this world; but they must certainly pay for all they get."- Frederick Douglas

On the Bay Bridge Rivalry

Being a huge baseball fan and growing up in the bay area has resulted in my favorite teams being the Oakland Athletics and the San Francisco Giants. The two teams have this rivalry, a friendly rivalry, but a rivalry nonetheless, and many people in the bay area have chosen sides. To the dismay of many of my friends, I am an A's fan first; I'm still a loyal Giants fan (and was unbelievably ecstatic when they won the World Series last year!!), but the A's have always been my team. My mom grew up following them with her brother, and our family had season tickets to the Coliseum for a few years, before I left for college. It's more difficult to be an A's fan now because the team isn't as strong as they were about ten years ago, but they're still fun to watch. I love the way they play ball- their philosophy is very similar to mine when I used to play- balls to the wall and leave it all on the field.

The Giants and A's play a couple of series against each other every year during inter-league play and this year, I get to go to AT&T for the first game of the weekend series (which turns out to be the night they're giving away Giants Snuggies). My mom and I are going with some family friends, and I'm super excited for the game. The only thing is, who do I root for? The A's are my team, but we're gonna be in San Francisco, and we're going with Giants fans. I have hats and jerseys for both squads, but I'm not sure how I'm gonna play this one, and I only have a week to figure it out :/

On food

First of all, I'm a total foodie if you haven't figured that out already. It's been a while since I dedicated a whole post to food so I thought, why not do it now, especially since I'm currently working in the food service industry. I'm going to tell you right now that this particular post is going to be pretty scattered, so don't be too surprised if I jump around haha.

Working at the restaurant is going really well and I absolutely love it- it's the perfect job for me right now. I'm one of the head cashiers (woohoo! lol) and every so often, I jump on the line and prepare food for our customers. The best part of the job, besides the people and the tips, would have to be the fact that I get to take food home everyday, and it never gets old. Everything we serve at the restaurant, although fairly spicy, is super good so I always get an awesome meal after work. Curry Up Now is definitely not your traditional Indian restaurant- the owner described it as the Indian version of Chipotle. However, its modern aspect attracts so many people- we have thousands of followers on twitter and facebook and the day I worked in the food truck in SF on Bush Street, we served over 260 people in just three hours. People love our tikka masala burritos, kathi rolls, and deconstructed samosas.

Switching gears- If you haven't already heard, Safeway (yes, the grocery store) has an amazing deli sandwich called The Pub. It's so awesome, and this is coming from the guy who has had many, many great sandwiches in his life. It's roast beef with caramelized onions and blue cheese, with honey mustard dressing. It may not be for everyone, but it's ridiculously good.

For mother's day, I got up early and got my mom some pastries from Copenhagen Bakery & Cafe on Burlingame Ave. All I can say is that if you're nearby, you have to try the Chocolate Pastry. It's indescribable- really, I don't know what else to say- just get one, and share it with everybody. You won't regret it.

Also for mother's day, my dad's side of the family came over for dinner, which was to be prepared by all the guys. I decided to make coconut bread pudding for dessert because we have a recipe that worked really well before. Personally, bread pudding doesn't sound appealing in any way. I'd guess that many would feel the same. However, if you tried this warm coconut bread pudding (which really isn't too difficult to make) and have it with homemade caramel sauce (to be fair, my mom made the sauce), it will change your mind about it forever.

"One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating."- Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright, Pavarotti, My Own Story

On "Little Lion Man"

Alexis, thanks again for introducing me to this song; it's so awesome...

Little Lion Man- Mumford & Sons

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLJf9qJHR3E

"Weep for yourself, my man,

You'll never be what is in your heart
Weep Little Lion Man,
You're not as brave as you were at the start
Rate yourself and rake yourself,
Take all the courage you have left
Wasted on fixing all the problems
That you made in your own head

But it was not your fault but mine
And it was your heart on the line
I really fucked it up this time
Didn't I, my dear?
Didn't I, my...

Tremble for yourself, my man,
You know that you have seen this all before
Tremble Little Lion Man,
You'll never settle any of your scores
Your grace is wasted in your face,
Your boldness stands alone among the wreck
Now learn from your mother or else spend your days Biting your own neck

But it was not your fault but mine
And it was your heart on the line
I really fucked it up this time
Didn't I, my dear? (x2)

Didn't I, my dear?

Ahhhhh......

But it was not your fault but mine
And it was your heart on the line
I really fucked it up this time
Didn't I, my dear? (x2)

Didn't I, my dear?"

On missing you

I didn't think I'd miss you as much as I actually do, but I guess that's a good thing...

So Very Hard to Go- Tower of Power

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BsnmMkdPOM

"Ain't nothin' I can say, nothin' I can do,

I feel so bad, yeah, I feel so blue.
I got to make it right for everyone concerned
Even if it's me, if it means it's me what's gettin' burned.

'Cause I could never make you unhappy, no, I couldn't do that girl,
Only wish I didn't have to love you do, makes it so, so very hard to go.
(So very hard to go) 'Cause I love you so,
(So very hard to go), ah, I love you do.

I knew the time would come, I'd have to pay for my mistakes,
I can't blame you for what you're doin' to me girl, even tho' my heart aches.
Your dreams have all come true just the way you planned them,
So I'll just step aside, I'm gonna step aside and lend a helping hand then.

'Cause I could never make you unhappy, no I couldn't do that girl,
only wish I didn't love you so, makes it so, so very hard to go.
(So very hard to go) 'Cause I love you so
(So very hard to go) Oh, I love you so

(So very hard to go) And it ain't easy to walk away when a man love some body
(So very hard to go) Hey, hey, hey, hey."

Tracks of my Tears- Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNS6D4hSQdA

"People say I'm the life of the party

Because I tell a joke or two
Although I might be laughing loud and hearty
Deep inside I'm blue
So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears..

I need you, need you
Since you left me if you see me with another girl
Seeming like I'm having fun
Although she may be cute
She's just a substitute
Because you're the permanent one..
So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears..

I need you, need you
Outside I'm masquerading
Inside my hope is fading
Just a clown oh yeah
Since you put me down
My smile is my make up
I wear since my break up with you..

So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears"

On limits

Defying Gravity- Wicked (Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlMBcTGJ4YM

On losing

One Art- Elizabeth Bishop

"The art of losing isn't hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster,

Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

Then practice losing farther, losing faster:
places, and names, and where it was you meant
to travel. None of these will bring disaster.

I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or
next-to-last, of three beloved houses went.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,
some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster.

-- Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture
I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident
the art of losing's not too hard to master
though it may look like (Write it!) a disaster."

I hate sore losers- they're the worst. I would know, because I used to be one of them. Sore winners suck also- I was one of those too. I was just too intense about it all. You know, what they say is true: you need to learn how to lose before you can truly learn how to win. Unfortunately, some people never learn; it's really sad, and in fact quite embarrassing. A bit of humility here and there is always good for the soul.

I've always been super competitive- even to this day- in sports, in school, and in life. I'm a lot more relaxed about everything now though because, like in Ms. Bishop's poem, I'm learning to master the art of losing. Now this may sound pessimistic, but that's not my intent. I'm just saying that as I have become more mature, I've learned that losing is simply part of life, and knowing how to deal with that makes all the wins so much sweeter.

I think that what she's really trying to say is that as we experience loss in our lives, we learn from it (whatever it may be) and become stronger.

On twitter

@scottiewun: Ever since I met up with @SashieBoosh in Boston, and then subsequently downloaded the twitter app on my Blackberry and started following tons of people, my tweeting activity has increased exponentially. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Either way, it's her fault lol.

On fear and courage

"Courage is the mastery of fear, not the absence of fear."

It's fairly easy to avoid (or back down from) the things that scare us, and quite frankly it's totally understandable. If you deem yourself fearless, then congratulations I guess. Now what? To acknowledge what you're truly afraid of, and then proceed to stand up to it- stare it right in the face- now that's real courage. I'd like to think that most of us become more courageous as we get older.

You ready? You might surprise yourself.

On baseball

Baseball truly is the best sport- that's why it's called America's national pastime. However, it doesn't generate as much interest as it deserves, and if you ask me, it's really a shame. It's such an amazing game, and has been one of my greatest passions for as long as I can remember- so many great memories out there on that field.

To most, "baseball is boring- it's too slow." I can understand where they're coming from, but don't agree one bit. That's the thing about the sport- many don't understand the intricacies of the game, the wonderful aspects that make it unique, and are quick to dismiss it. For me, there really isn't much that needs to be changed.

There is no time limit on baseball, and that's so awesome. You can't have the clock help you win a game- you gotta earn every out. The mental aspect of the sport is unlike any other. Hall of Famer Catcher Yogi Berra once said that "baseball is 90% mental, and the other half, physical." So true. You can't just be athletic to be a good baseball player- you gotta have all the tools. A complete, five tool player has to be able to hit for power and hit for average. He also needs to be able to run fast, throw hard and accurate, and field with minimal errors. Not easy things to accomplish. A few years ago, Guinness Book of World Records stated that hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in all of sports. Think about a guy standing on a mound sixty feet, six inches away from you, throwing 85-95 mph. That's about 1/1,000 of a second reaction time. Pretty crazy, huh?

I basically grew up on a baseball diamond; it was like my second home. I remember getting up on Saturdays and immediately throwing on my uniform. It didn't matter if my game was at 8am or 6pm; I was always ready to play. Doubleheaders were my favorite- getting to play twice in a day was awesome- I never got tired of it (we even had a couple tripleheaders over the years). For a few years, I played almost year round- Spring, Summer, and Fall- three different teams, three different leagues. I also umpired for about six years and somedays were comprised of playing two games and umping one- I was at the field from basically dawn to dusk.

Our Burlingame Summer All-Star Tournament Team was the best. Those guys were basically my brothers- Merch, Schmitty, Dommy, Neeley, Simpson, EZ, Hahn, and Sully (and more)- our core group played together for like seven years. Our 12 year old A Team was the best year- winning the tourney in Santa Clara and playing in Cooperstown, NY. Unforgettable.

I got to play during my sophomore year of high school and hit .333, so that was good. Unfortunately, that was pretty much the extent of it because of my broken legs. And towards the end, things got kinda political and I wasn't respected because of my size, which led to less playing time (that, I didn't like). It was tough, but I eventually proved myself and won them over. I'll never forget my last hit- last inning of an elimination game, tied at six, bases loaded with two outs- went with the outside pitch and drove it to right- brought in what ended up being the winning run. I still have that game ball, among others. You don't forget stuff like that- your first homer, hitting a ball 340+ feet with your Omaha Classic, stealing home for the first time, talking to that college scout, having Krukow say you pitched well.

Growing up, baseball was my life- it was the most fun game in the world, and I was good at it. It's pretty cool when you come to bat and the other coach calls timeout to back up his outfielders. To this day, I miss it so much. When I was on that field (fresh cut grass, cleanly dragged infield, nicely chalked baselines), diving in the outfield, sliding headfirst into second, or throwing people out as catcher, it just felt right. And it's always fun to get out to the Oakland Coliseum or AT&T. Watching games on TV is chill, but it's really not the same. I hope to coach one day- teach them everything I know. Can't wait to come home.

2004 Burlingame "A" Team

On meltdowns

meltdown [melt-doun]; noun: 1) the process or state of irreversible breakdown or decline 2) the Los Angeles Lakers 2010-2011 season

- related terms: classless, immature, cheap-shot, lame, embarrassment, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, loser, inferiority, tantrum, failure

On mothers

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts." -Washington Irving

Happy Mother's Day to my mom and grandma (and to all moms and grandmas)! I hope you understand how much we truly appreciate everything you do for us.

On routine vs "rut"ine

Please note that I'm kinda stealing the foundation for this blog post from How I Met Your Mother's Barney Stinson. I acknowledge that credit should be given when it's due. Also note that this post is similar to one I wrote in January titled, On what could have been and taking the leap. That said, I don't mean to be redundant- the implications of the two posts are in fact different.

Everyone's got their own way of doing things, and it's so easy for us to develop some kind of routine as we go about our daily lives. Our routines provide us with a certain level of comfort and can keep us safe from the unknown. However, as the weeks go by and the calendar pages turn, our routines can become "rut"ines. We get stuck doing the same tired old thing day after day after day, and fall into this never-ending cycle. That's no way to live.

It is so important for us to change our routine from time to time, and step outside of our comfort zones. As I'm sure almost all of you have previously heard, that of which is unknown to us can enrich our lives in ways we can't even fathom. How do we know if we like something unless we experience it? We have to make a preemptive strike against monotony and take advantage of new opportunities when they present themselves.

Now it's important to understand that some level of consistency is healthy. We don't want to go too overboard with this. It's just that, from my personal experiences, a whole different world can be opened up to you if you allow it. Don't get stuck in a "rut"ine- change things up and see what happens.

On watching too much TV

I've recently had a few conversations with various people about the TV shows we watch. I watch way too much TV, and it's been that way ever since I can remember, although I wouldn't say it's really a problem lol. I truly can't think of many people who watch more than I do. I don't know how I managed to make it out of college haha.

Here's a list of shows I watch/watched on a fairly consistent basis (updated 7/15/11): How I Met Your Mother, The Office, Family Guy, Mad Love, CSI, CSI: NY, CSI: Miami, NCIS, NCIS: LA, Two and a Half Men, Hawaii Five-O, Castle, Shark Tank, ESPN (baseball, basketball, football, poker, etc), Top Chef (Original, All-Stars, and Masters), Top Shot, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, Throwdown! with Bobby Flay, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Chopped, The Good Wife, Modern Family, The Mentalist, The Middle, America's Got Talent, Criminal Minds, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, Friends, Glee, Pawn Stars, Dancing With The Stars, Master Chef, The Big Bang Theory, Rules of Engagement, Flashpoint, Rookie Blue, Blue Bloods, Body of Proof, Boy Meets World, Saved by the Bell, Crossing Jordan, Jeopardy!, Franklin & Bash, Suits, Necessary Roughness, Hell's Kitchen, MasterChef, Big Brother, as well as various re-runs including My Wife and Kids, George Lopez, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Yes Dear, House of Payne, Las Vegas, Numb3rs, and I'm sure I've missed some...if it's possible...

For me, it's a stress reliever- I'm the kind of person who likes to constantly be doing something. Because of this, it can sometimes get to be overwhelming, and planting myself in front of the TV (or watching online) gives me the opportunity to relax and let the actors be the ones always on the go. Also, watching television was one of the ways my family spent time together, and it worked for us. Yea, it's a lot of TV. However, I can assure you that I do pick up a book every once in a while :)

On opportunity and miracles

"Great moments... are born from great opportunity. And that's what you have here, tonight, boys. That's what you've earned here tonight. One game. If we played 'em ten times, they might win nine. But not this game. Not tonight. Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them. And we shut them down because we can! Tonight, we are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players. Every one of you. And you were meant to be here tonight. This is your time. Their time is done. It's over. I'm sick and tired of hearing about what a great hockey team the Soviets have. Screw 'em. This is your time. Now go out there and take it."- Herb Brooks (1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York)

On spiders

Earlier today when I was driving to work, I felt something crawling up my arm. Trying to keep my eyes on the road, I took a quick glance and saw a decently sized spider making its way past my shoulder up to my neck. It was super creepy. And now it's super dead.

On the past

"Don't bring the past with you, unless you can build on it"- Unknown

On dancing

A lot of people like to dance, and many are quite talented at it. I was in neither of those two groups, until very recently.

Dancing is the thing I'm the most self conscious about- I don't know why. I consider myself to be a pretty self confident person in general, just not about my dancing abilities. With music being such a huge part of my life, you would think I was at least somewhat decent, but unfortunately, you would be wrong. And thanks to the major skills of Mike Chang from Glee, being asian isn't an acceptable excuse for me anymore.

This past weekend, I went to UC Santa Cruz to visit my high school friend Anita. I had an awesome time: ate at some great places in downtown and mission (the English Burger at 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall was ridiculously good), roamed around their beautiful campus (including the Squiggle and the Arboretum), and saw Water for Elephants (which was a fantastic movie!).

Last night, Anita and I, along with tons of her friends, went to El Centro's Quince- a huge dance party, not too far from downtown SC. To be perfectly honest, when I first heard it was a dance party, I was a little hesitant because I didn't want to embarrass myself in front of anyone. However, I'd like to think that I'm up for almost anything, so I was happy to go.

Best. Dance. Party. Ever. It was so much fun, and I danced probably more than ever before, and didn't really care how it looked haha. Everyone was so warm and inviting; I couldn't help but enjoy myself (and a little liquid courage never hurts lol). I was a little intimidated because there were so many great dancers there, but it was an amazing night nonetheless, and I'm so glad I was able to have that experience. Thanks Anita!

I once heard that the best dancers are the ones having the most fun. I guess I danced pretty well last night.

On May 1, 2011

Let it be remembered that May 1, 2011 was an extremely significant day in our country's history.

Death is never something to be cause for celebration, but in this particular case, it feels right.

God Bless America.