Summer time, some time before that, and some time after too

It is now September, and while many of you know that this month is significant for me (and no, not just because it's my birthday month), it is also brings about it the conclusion of an interesting summer.

This summer brought with it some challenges.  These challenges, as some ring too personal to mention, are now coming to a close (hopefully) very soon.  I am optimistic about how things will turn out this month as it progresses.

The challenges have caused me to post some obscure and vague blog posts, hence why I haven't really posted anything of substance since April.

However, many parts of this summer, and spring since I'm still talking about April, have been very good to me, which remind me that I should have no real cause for complaints.

This May, my little brother graduated college!  A great feat for him and my family.  Congratulations Scott on your great achievement!

the proud family waiting in the stands

congrats to this kid

As another school year ended, I later realized that I was reaching the start of year five at my job, meaning it had been four years since my adventures in Korea.  That's crazy to me, however, I am highly appreciative still of all the great people I met there and the fact that we still keep in contact through our journeys.

The summer started off with my friend Gina marrying Johnny, her super duper long time partner in crime.  It was great to see them tie the knot and to also see a lot of my post-college familiar faces.

As an active member of the Internet world via social networks, blogs and video posts, there are certain people from the viral world whose body of work I admire, and iJustine is definitely one of them.  During her book tour (a great read that I completely recommend), I got to meet her and her up-and-coming vlogging sister Jenna too!  I was really stoked to meet someone whose technological insight, alongside a very personable demeanor, I truly admire.  In the world of blogs and YouTube, she is definitely one of my go-tos and the fact that I met her and got her to sign my book was something unforgettable.

Thanks iJustine for the best autograph ever!

Tech nerds unite

Jenna Ezarik, a great personality in her own right too

I had been to Spain in the Spring, and because summer tends to be an extremely busy time for me at work, it's harder than you would think for me to get away.  In lieu of not going anywhere too far this summer, I committed to a Disney Resort pass for a year.  It has been the greatest stay-cation investment I have made, made even better by the fact that many people I love to hang out with have one too.

Thanks to my friends, Mickey, and his friends, for the awesome times

The theme-park-ness continued at Universal this summer too with the family :-)

Cawobunga!

My brethren and I

I then took it upon myself to (yet again) start a new blog.  Whilst this one will be more for my own reflecting, and while I do have some professional ones floating about out there, I wanted one that spoke to my main interest, technology.  If you have a moment, take a look at theosctech website and see what that new venture of mine is about.

Enjoying LA is always great fun, but me being me, I had to get out, even for a short while, so I was greatful that my friends Pati and Nick joined me on a trip to Vegas.  From zip lines, to pool sides, to a Michael Jackson show, I always know how to have fun with those guys.  Of course it wasn't complete without a car towing story from Victorville back to our beloved South Bay.

More than ever grateful to have these two as friends

An LA summer wouldn't be complete without Angelino activities such as the Hollywood and its Mariachi Fest and a good ol' Dodgers game

Mariachi Fest 2015

Dodgers versus Angels, and of course, we won!

The summer then ended with a San Diego trip for the wedding of Pam and Jack sea side.  Congrats to these two who are now enjoying the Hawaiian sun.

I cannot enter Pumpkin Spice Latte season and it definitely wouldn't be a summer without my races!  Keeping true to my "a race a month" word still.  In fact, I have the Dodgers 10k coming up in a week that I'm really looking forward to.

April, (though not an actual race)- Walk Now for Autism Speaks

May, Cinco de Mayo Tacos and Beer Run 5K

June, LA Galaxy 5K

July, Cheetah Runners Long Beach 4th of July 5K

August, OC Fair Fun Run 5K

With all these racing updates, I am also announcing my first half marathon.  I am excited as I am nervous about it.  However, it is definitely a challenge I want under my belt and want to meet head on.

Observing Labor Day weekend has allowed me update my blogs, but most of all enjoy those around me.

I want to end this by saying that looking back and realizing as I write this blog, how blessed I am.

Also, LA rocks!

August cut off

Summer has ended and with it always comes renewal.

As an educator, it indicates a new school year.

As a life liver, it means certain activities take their rest while others start a new.

The weather, though not sure how this works in LA, also comes to a calm.


It's been an eventful summer to say the least, but I thought I'd highlight some events in a later post.

I just didn't want August to end without posting something. :-)

Why do certain songs resonate with us for years?

My answer at the moment is so that you can relive them in your mental archives because they can express the things you feel exactly when you feel them.

Angeltread---

Crickets rhythmically sing

Their mournful melodies

A monotone by request

But they fail, they fail

To soothe the mess

Hands rhythmically grope

The sheets again for you

And off-rhythm the time slows

To make moments eternal

Moments eternal

Is this some kind of holy test

To stitch the trademarks off my chest

To get up walk outside my head

On a holy search for angeltread

The moon within its ball

Washes white the darkened wall

With a milky veil of silk

And I see, I see the spirits lilt

Now I've lost my fear

So I pray that you come near

With a million sparkly lights

And help me, help me through the night

The milky prints of spirits near

I pray that they have lost their fear

A million wisps of sparkly light

Weaving through the walls...

By Sixpence None the Richer

Submitting

Last week was amazing.  This week shook me a bit.

Last week I went to Spain for the first time and it was amazing.  My friend Yaya and I had  blast cruising through Madrid and Barcelona enjoying the sites, food, and history of those European streets.  The weather was very comfortable and I had a blast through and through.  From the last time I blogged, which was a while ago, I also got to do a couple of “overseas visits” on a more local level.  By that I mean that I was able to once again see my friends Mark and Brooke in Colorado, but this time and Durango, and got to see many other friends I met in Korea in Vegas.  Time to give my luggage a little resting time as I try to figure out where the next trip should be.

Upcoming events include my brother’s birthday, who also graduates from college shortly after.  The concept of someone who I swear is still (and forever will be) eight years old in my mind completely perplexes and boggles it all at once.  He wants to take some time to intern and/or volunteer before he decides on a graduate school path, which I think will suit him well.  This brings me to the topic of submission.  I don’t mean it in the sense of giving power to someone else or adhering to someone’s commands, but rather in sending things out.  One sends things out to many deciding parties and doesn’t know whether the correspondence from those parties will come back with good or bad news.  A huge chunk of our lives have been based on submitting.  Whether we submitted an essay to a teacher and didn’t find out the grade until weeks later, applied to college not knowing who or what was going to make your educational decisions for you, or applied to job not knowing if anyone was going to give you an interview or even give your resume a second glance…it’s a tough process.

As humans, one of our biggest frustrations is not knowing.  We like knowing.  Especially when it takes Google 2.3 seconds to come up with 10 million search results, it’s hard not to want to know.  So when we submit, we submit to an air-like ether of not knowing, much of the time affecting major decisions.

With that said, I’ll touch a little on this week and some news I just got about some people whom I hold near and dear.  They made a choice, and although it may be altering, I trust their decision, because it is better to know.

Side note: this Saturday I will be walking for Walk Now for Autism Speaks! http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1124950&lis=1&kntae1124950=3F3446622A4F4469906A4B21D4142266&supId=419673361

Since the last post, I've completed two 10Ks, I really need to start signing up for more races:

Four corners, four states: New Mexico, Arizona, Utah & Colorado

Visiting my awesome friends from Korea (and Italy) in Vegas:

 Madrid:

Royal Castle of Madrid

Gate of Toleto

Barcelona

La Sagrada Familia

Pasage de la Paz

Port of Barcelona

Barcelona Beach