History in the making...

Whichever way the elections go today, history will be made, for better or worse...

The Next Chapter...

It all begins today...

While My Guitar Gently Weeps...

Dope tribute to the George Harrison penned "While my guitar gently weeps".  Prince's guitar needs a vaccination because his solo is S-I-C-K...

It's a privilege...

Just wanted to remind you that we have a pretty important election coming up this November. No matter who you intend to support, go out and show that the true power is in your hands.

Nike 10K Human Race

Woo hoo! The Nike Human Race 10K was freaking awesome. Nike organized 10K races all over the world, where 1,000,000 runners raced for humanity. I ran in the Los Angeles, CA edition (the last leg of the world wide race). Our race started at 8:31:08 PM Pacific Time (significant b/c the race was held on 8/31/2008) so it was nice and dark. The evening turned out to be pretty humid. I ran well, despite the other 12,500 runners determined to stand in my way. I started at a good pace in the beginning and gradually increased my speed towards the end to finish strong.

I finished in an hour and 3 minutes, ran with some of my bestest buds, and topped it all off with a hyped up concert from Common Sense and Kanye West. What a night!!!!

Life is not about surviving the storm, it's about dancing in the rain...

Sometimes we become consumed with the everyday troubles (these, of course, do not include situations such as extreme illness, the passing of loved ones, etc.) which sometimes are blown way out of proportion. It is natural, and all together human, to become stressed out when life doesn't proceed as planned. All too often, however, we let these troubles weigh too heavily on our shoulders. We lose focus on the balance of life and forget about all the great experiences life has to offer.

Rather, we should try to appreciate all that is going well in life, such as a child's laughter or an elderly couple holding hands. It is these types of moments that make the everyday issues trivial, allowing us to devote less energy to stress and worry, and more to life's little treasures. Sometimes, you just have to dance in the rain...

Dragon Boats are you ready.... ATTENTION!!!!!!

Wow! That was one intense weekend. This past July 26/27 was the annual Viewsonic Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival. About 110 teams converged onto Marine Stadium for a weekend of water fun.

As a team, we had 5 races over the 2 days; 3 on Saturday and 2 championship races on Sunday. We didn't collect any hardware this year, but man did we put on a strong showing. In our first championship race, we were a mere 7 tenths of a second away from winning a medal. In the second race, we had to surge all the way from 6th place to wrestle 2nd place away. That was such an awesome feeling. Even though we didn't get the hardware, I could still feel positive energy from the team. They truly enjoyed the battle.

I'm so proud of this year's team. We were basically a new team, considering all the rookies we had accumulated this year. Our rookies were outstanding. They did not succumb to the chaos of splashing water or screaming callers. As a team, so much work and effort was placed into our training, and it was evident in our poise and our concentration. The other teams didn't know what hit them.

Thanks 2008 team for making this season so memorable.

Randy Paush, an inspiration...

Last month I published a post on Professor Randy Paush's "The Last Lecture". The book detailed the many lessons that the good professor wanted to pass onto his children, lessons that he would not be able to teach personally because of a terminal illness. Please take a moment of silence today for him and his family, as he
passed away today.

Thank you professor, for all the inspirations. Thank you...

Sesame street makes music fun...

This is just too good to not enjoy.  A lot of work was put into syncing up the music with the mouth movements.  MOP + Bert & Ernie... who woulda thought.  Sesame Street not only makes numbers fun, it also makes music fun!

OK, one more to four =P...

Well, I just got back from my second viewing of Pixar's "WALL-E", and I must say, it is no less impressive than the first time.  Forget the gorgeous graphics and the excruciating detail exuding from the screen, this movie succeeds because of the strength of the story.  A story that people could relate to, even if the main subjects were merely metal, plastic, electronic.  Pixar effectively captured the robots' emotions (e.g., eye shape and tilt, body posture, moans and chirps) without the need for a script.  On every occasion, I could feel what each robot was experiencing:  the need for companionship, the feeling of rejection, the dread of losing a loved one. I'm such a sucker for these types of stories =D

Oh Thank Heaven, 7-Eleven...

Ok, this is just a quick post as I have to get ready for the J-O-B.  But I just woke up at 7:11 AM, on July 11.  That's 7:11AM on the 7th month on the 11th day.  Normally, on any other day, I would pass this off as just a quirk.  But today is no ordinary day is it?  Of course, today is the day I turn the big Twenty-Seven.  WOW... Is the universe trying tell me something?  Or am I just searching for meaning as I realize time keeps passing me by?  Hehehe, maybe both. So I woke up at 7:11AM, on 7/11, on the day that I turn 27 (I know I'm reaching  hahaha).  Numbers are fun.  Seasame Street can testify to that!

Awesome Team Building...

We sooooooo have to do this!!!!!!!!






Happy Friday everyone!!!!!

One at a time...

Ok, let's concentrate on tomorrow night's game. Let's come out w/ a sense of urgency, ferocity, and focus...

A day for Fathers...

A few weeks ago I finished reading Randy Pausch's "The Last Lecture".  I wanted to publish a post then, but I felt it more appropriate to wait until father's day.

The book's author, Professor Randy Pausch, talks about many of his life's lessons, lessons that he feels needed to be shared (he has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and has been given a short time to live).  Yet it is much more about happiness and dreams than it is of sadness and death.

Throughout the book, Randy discusses some of his life experiences (e.g., being a Disney Imagineer and experiencing weightlessness) and the people (e.g., his family, mentors, friends, etc.) who have helped form the person that he is.  He takes these stories and he passes on the lessons that he has learned.  The amazing thing, however, is that Randy never intended to pass this knowledge to his class.  He only had a small audience in mind when he gave this "Last Lecture" because he would not have the proper opportunity to pass the lessons on (spoiler alert!!!!!!  If you want to skip this part, use your browser to search for the word "ephemeral" to go to the next paragraph):

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his three young children, though I'm sure you could've figured that out considering this is a Father's day post =D, hahaha

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Ephemeral

I am such a sucker for these type of stories, stories that can gently pluck on your heart strings.  To be honest, I actually teared up a bit when I began reading the prologue/1st chapter.  But it is such a happy and uplifting story that should be shared.

Growing up, my dad was less about words and more about actions.  I generally found it difficult to go to him and talk about things.  My conversations were generally saved for my mom.  However, I still learned much from my dad since his actions had a profound impact on me.  He always worked hard in everything he did, instilling in me the need to not do something half-assed.  He always visits my lola (grandmother), teaching me the value of respecting and loving your elders.  Even though I never really talked very deeply w/ my dad, I learned many things about living life through him, and I appreciate it greatly.

So to all the fathers out there, whether you taught through words or through actions, enjoy your special day.

PS.  There is also a video of Professor Pausch's "Last Lecture". The book greatly compliments the video.

Nostalgia...

Bringing back the glory days...

Rain Delay

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Our bike trip has been delayed due to the unexpected SoCal percipitation =....( why oh why doest the heavens hinder our venture north!?!?!? (a little too dramatic huh? sorry, hehehe) Oh well, let's see which way the winds blow on the morrow.....

Vacation!!!!

Finally getting some time off of work this coming week.  Planning on doing a ride up PCH w/ my brother to the Santa Barbara area and spending a few days there exploring.  I'll be keeping you guys updated w/ pics and news.  Looking forward to a relaxing ride up the coast through beautiful SoCal...  Have a great week =D...

Life can be great...

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to share the following with you (it was taken from www.zenhabits.net).  I can really relate to the way this guy views life.  Life will always have its ups and its downs, but in the end, life will always depend on how you approach it.  Please read the letter and take from if what you will...

Enjoy...

A Letter to My Son, on Starting Out In Life

Dear Seth,

You're only three years old, and at this point in your life you can't read, much less understand what I'm going to try to tell you in this letter. But I've been thinking a lot about the life that you have ahead of you, about my life so far as I reflect on what I've learned, and about my role as a dad in trying to prepare you for the trials that you will face in the coming years.

You won't be able to understand this letter today, but someday, when you're ready, I hope you will find some wisdom and value in what I share with you.

You are young, and life has yet to take its toll on you, to throw disappointments and heartaches and loneliness and struggles and pain into your path. You have not been worn down yet by long hours of thankless work, by the slings and arrows of everyday life.

For this, be thankful. You are at a wonderful stage of life. You have many wonderful stages of life still to come, but they are not without their costs and perils.

I hope to help you along your path by sharing some of the best of what I've learned. As with any advice, take it with a grain of salt. What works for me might not work for you.

Life Can Be Cruel
There will be people in your life who won't be very nice. They'll tease you because you're different, or for no good reason. They might try to bully you or hurt you.

There's not much you can do about these people except to learn to deal with them, and learn to choose friends who are kind to you, who actually care about you, who make you feel good about yourself. When you find friends like this, hold on to them, treasure them, spend time with them, be kind to them, love them.

There will be times when you are met with disappointment instead of success. Life won't always turn out the way you want. This is just another thing you'll have to learn to deal with. But instead of letting these things get you down, push on. Accept disappointment and learn to persevere, to pursue your dreams despite pitfalls. Learn to turn negatives into positives, and you'll do much better in life.

You will also face heartbreak and abandonment by those you love. I hope you don't have to face this too much, but it happens. Again, not much you can do but to heal, and to move on with your life. Let these pains become stepping stones to better things in life, and learn to use them to make you stronger.

But Be Open to Life Anyway
Yes, you'll find cruelty and suffering in your journey through life … but don't let that close you to new things. Don't retreat from life, don't hide or wall yourself off. Be open to new things, new experiences, new people.

You might get your heart broken 10 times, but find the most wonderful woman the 11th time. If you shut yourself off from love, you'll miss out on that woman, and the happiest times of your life.

You might get teased and bullied and hurt by people you meet … and then after meeting dozens of jerks, find a true friend. If you close yourself off to new people, and don't open your heart to them, you'll avoid pain … but also lose out on meeting some incredible people, who will be there during the toughest times of your life and create some of the best times of your life.

You will fail many times but if you allow that to stop you from trying, you will miss out on the amazing feeling of success once you reach new heights with your accomplishments. Failure is a stepping stone to success.

Life Isn't a Competition
You will meet many people who will try to outdo you, in school, in college, at work. They'll try to have nicer cars, bigger houses, nicer clothes, cooler gadgets. To them, life is a competition — they have to do better than their peers to be happy.

Here's a secret: life isn't a competition. It's a journey. If you spend that journey always trying to impress others, to outdo others, you're wasting your journey. Instead, learn to enjoy the journey. Make it a journey of happiness, of constant learning, of continual improvement, of love.

Don't worry about having a nicer car or house or anything material, or even a better-paying job. None of that matters a whit, and none of it will make you happier. You'll acquire these things and then only want more. Instead, learn to be satisfied with having enough — and then use the time you would have wasted trying to earn money to buy those things … use that time doing things you love.

Find your passion, and pursue it doggedly. Don't settle for a job that pays the bills. Life is too short to waste on a job you hate.

Love Should Be Your Rule
If there's a single word you should live your life by, it should be this: Love. It might sound corny, I know … but trust me, there's no better rule in life.

Some would live by the rule of success. Their lives will be stressful, unhappy and shallow.

Others would live by the rule of selfishness — putting their needs above those of others. They will live lonely lives, and will also be unhappy.

Still others will live by the rule of righteousness — trying to show the right path, and admonishing anyone who doesn't live by that path. They are concerned with others, but in a negative way, and in the end will only have their own righteousness to live with, and that's a horrible companion.

Live your life by the rule of love. Love your spouse, your children, your parents, your friends, with all of your heart. Give to them what they need, and show them not cruelty nor disapproval nor coldness nor disappointment, but only love. Open your soul to them.

Love not only your loved ones, but your neighbors … your coworkers … strangers … your brothers and sisters in humanity. Offer anyone you meet a smile, a kind word, a kind gesture, a helping hand.

Love not only neighbors and strangers … but your enemy. The person who is cruelest to you, who has been unkind to you … love him. He is a tortured soul, and most in need of your love.

And most of all, love yourself. While others may criticize you, learn not to be so hard on yourself, to think that you're ugly or dumb or unworthy of love … but to think instead that you are a wonderful human being, worthy of happiness and love … and learn to love yourself for who you are.

Finally, know that I love you and always will. You are starting out on a weird, scary, daunting, but ultimately incredibly wonderful journey, and I will be there for you when I can. Godspeed.

Love,
Your Dad

Mama's boy...

It has been said that, once you have children, the World no longer revolves around you.  The bouncing baby boy/girl is now the center of your universe.  Now charged with the  raising of the child, you carefully need to mold the child's plastic mind and soul by instilling ethics and values.  The child will need to grow from your experience and wisdom.

Mind you, this is no easy task.  The parent can either view the child as a gift or as a personal sacrifice.  Fortunately, my mother chose to view my brothers and me as her prized gifts.  She took our upbringing very seriously.  She regularly disciplined us when we were out of line, but not in a way that constituted only strict spankings.  She always tried to teach us why our actions were wrong.  She would also discipline us differently, because we each had unique personalities.  She knew which of our buttons to push -- who else knows you better than your own mother.

She is also quite a character.  She's an ardent Lakers fan (Go LA!!!!) which was passed onto me.  She is becoming a dedicated SD Chargers fan, because of her kids =D.  The funny thing is that she can't watch the games (it makes her too nervous).  She also has a quirky personality, which is very endearing.  We love her so dearly.  (My brothers and I don't mind going shopping with my mom, even if it isn't "cool" - it must be funny to see three grown men shopping with a tiny lady - she frequently gets the "Are these three your kids?" question).

She (of course with my dad, but come on, this is a Mother's Day post) raised each one of us the best she could.  The person I am today is directly attributed to how my mom brought us up.  I appreciate all her efforts in raising me and my brothers.  Thank you so much mom... Happy Mother's Day!!!!!

Bless me!!!!!

Watery eyes, itchy ears (yes itchy ears), intense pressure building behind in my nostrils.... Aaaaaachoooo!   Man these allergies are insane, especially after the weather heated up last weekend.

The allergy symptoms drive me crazy.  The absolute worst, however, is when the itch feels like its inside my ears.  How the heck am I supposed to relieve that nuisance?  The only solutions I have found involve using the middle of my tongue to "scratch" the top of my mouth (this is the best I can explain it) and making a sort of cat hiss that irritates my throat.

Anyway, I hope these allergies pass soon enough.  I'd hate for it to hinder my outdoor activities.  Hold on, my nose is irritating me again......

Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!

Congratulations to the Los Angeles Lakers! WooHoo!!! So who's next?????

Happy 1st week in the real world KJ!!!!

I decided to take a road trip today to visit my 1 week old niece KJ in beautiful San Diego.  Its been a long minute since I visited my family last and thought what better reason to take a ride.

The ride down was pretty good, but uneventful.  I could already feel the heat accumulating in the early morning as I ventured down the 5; it was going to be scorcher.  Thankfully, there was no traffic so I was able to get to my parent's place rather quickly.  Of course I took a quick breather from riding for a quick photo op of my baby with her blazing Ducati-red wheels =D.

At my parent's house, I spent most of the day just catching up w/ the family: current events, hilarious anecdotes, and future plans.  Man I love my family.  They are the most important part of my life, and they always will be!

Before coming back up to LA, I went and visited KJ.  I would have made a proper introduction of myself but she was fast asleep.  She looked so content with her dreams, not knowing what the real world may or may not have in store for her.  I watched her sleep for an hour before taking off for 2-hour ride back to LA.  Hopefully I'll be able to sleep like that tonight (and dream of lovely SoCal)...

Oh ya, had me a Cali-burrito today.  Mmmmmmmmmm.  Trust me, you've not lived until you've consumed this little piece of evil =D....

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger...

Meant to write about this on Tuesday but the days seemed to just slip on by.  Anyhow, attended the Glow In the Dark Tour on Monday (4/21/2008).  Lupe Fiasco, N.E.R.D., Rhianna, and Kanye performed (though I only truly knew the Lupe and Kanye songs) in the brand new Nokia Theater here in LA (right across the street from the Staples Center).  Paid a good amount of loot for the tix but it was well worth it.  Lupe performed songs from his first two albums (boy can he flip his lyrics with great ease).  With a great amount of energy, he effortlessly rode the beats to each of his songs.  He definitely is gonna be a hell of a performer if he decides not to retire after his next solo album.

As I said before, I really didn't know many of the N.E.R.D. and Rhianna songs, so I'll go ahead and skip that discussion.  

As far as Kanye's set was concerned... it was awesome.  He really put a lot of thought and creativity into his production, from the set and video visuals to the song selection (the playlist complimented the "Space Adventure Story" Kanye was trying to tell).  His performance was packed with energy and passion.  It looked like old boy was gonna have a heart attack; for a solid hour and a half, he rapped with so much intensity and fire, rarely taking time to breathe.  He practically performed the entire set on his own, aside from a cameo from Lupe during "Touch the Sky".  I did not sit down during the entire performance.  It was definitely a great time.

Zzzzzzzzzz...

Man, I have been having a horrid time trying to wake up in the morning.  The snooze button on my alarm is pressed at least 3 to 4 times (I think the snooze is for about 7 minutes, so that's an additional 28 minutes of fighting the morning - why is it so easy to press that button?).  What gives?  Before, I would jump up and out of bed as soon as I heard my alarm.  Maybe I'm staying up too late at night.  I have been trying to catch up on all those episodes of "Scrubs" (an awesome show btw) that are accumulating on my DVR, not to mention those MotoGP and WSBK races.  Or maybe all my other activities (running, hanging out, gym, web surfing, etc.) are taking up too much time.  Whatever the case, I have developed a bad habit (at least in my opinion) of lingering in bed a little too long in the morning.  Oh well, I'll just have to change that then...

Ok, one more...

Back in the day...

As of late, I have been thinking about how much I have changed since my high school years (Go H-town Lions!!!! -- Wow, its been almost 10 years!).  Other than losing the extremely baggy clothes and ditching the coke-bottle glasses for contact lenses (if you ask nicely enough, maybe, just maybe, I'll post a picture), I feel that I haven't changed much.  I know that I'm a different person because of all the new people that have shaped my life and all the new experiences that have molded my perspective on life.  However, I still feel the same as I did back then (at least I think I do).

Maybe I thought that I would have a eureka moment where adulthood would dawn on me.  After this eureka moment, maybe I would understand the elusive meaning and purpose of life.  Of course, that eureka moment never came (or I've decided that I don't want to wait for it anymore =D ).  Instead, I've come to understand that you learn about life by living.  The more that you live life, the more you learn about it.  You can't wait around for life to happen - You are what needs to happen.  Take advantage of your opportunities before they pass.

Sorry about that.  I sometimes get carried away when talking abstractly.  I tend to spit out cliche after cliche.  Oh well, cliches are merely universal truths broken down into their simplest forms.  Ok, I'm getting tired because my train of thought is constantly switching tracks.  I'll go ahead and leave you with this song.  Reminisce about the past, but never forget to embrace the future...

Hello World!

Wassup! This is officially my introduction to you. I'm not exactly sure what this blog is going to be about so we'll see how it goes. Hopefully you'll stick around for the ride (you're going to need your own helmet though, hehehe) =D