I am a new installation...

I've become reseigned to the fact that my entries will be fewer and further between...it's just the way the world is going now, what with twitter, fb, and all the like. Not only that, but there is just so much goin on as of late. More work, less people, more errands, more things to do. Nonetheless, my head is still full of ideas; and therefore, I shall still post - if only to vent at times even, which half of my entries seem to be at times.

Started hitting the gym again. Won't say regularly just yet...but tonight will be the 3rd time in a week. We'll see if I can get regular again. I've actually had opportunities to go in previous weeks, but I've just been lazy. After getting on the scale the other day and seeing that I've gained about 5 extra lbs, I decided...it's time to stop being such a "fatty." Here's to a normal routine in the gym!!!!


Today's picture comes from one of the many Halloween events celebrated this year...this is Leila's b-day party/halloween party, so all the fam was dressed up. There were seriously hundreds of trick-or-treaters all over the place; you gotta buy lots of costo-sized candy packs. But it was fun, and hopefully next year, I can participate in the candy collection tasks :)

Of the holiday season
It seems that the holiday season is fast approaching; which means Christmas songs on KOST, holiday decorations up and about, and big sales at retail stores all around. To me, the Holiday season doesn't officially start until Thanksgiving(the onset of Black Friday), but that's just me. I can't wait tho, because I think this is just one of the best times of the year. People seem to be friendlier(except in mall parking lots and in lines and stuff), but in general...they do. Smiles all around. Family and friends come and go to visit

of Jury Duty
I have to be honest and say that it bugs me when people avoid jury duty and and bitch about having to go. It's inconvenient, and it gets in our way of doing what we want to do. Personally, I think it is selfish thinking. We have one of the few justice systems in the world that presumes a man...or woman...innocent until proven guilty and the right to trial by jury. And when we get called in to be a part of that, to provide our service, we avoid it like the plague. It's true that some jobs do not compensate jury duty service, which would severely impact some people financially, but in most cases, I do not see that as the issue. I wonder if one day, say we were to go on trial, and realized that everyone sitting in that box didn't want to be there, and they tried everything they could to get out. When we need justice, we want it served, when it involves us directly. This is a total rant, but I think I've just heard one too many comments about how BS jury duty is. I just think our culture is so, "What's in it for me?" that we've forgotten how to serve each other and be a community. Ok, rant over.

Thought for the day
At the end of GI Joe cartoons, they used to do these lil segments that about being smarter about various things, fallen power lines, crossing the street, etc. And at the end of those segments, they would say, "Knowing is half the battle." As of late, I've also heard on numerous occasions, "Showing up is half the battle." So with that said, knowing and showing up is the full battle? =p

I am my next sneeze waiting to happen...

I got my California Dreamin Racing Series medal last weekend; upon my completion of the Long Beach Half Marathon. It was the least trained I'd been throughout any of the three I've run this year, but the most worthwhile, cuz I finally got my coveted "extra" medal and jacket. I feel so accomplished. Now if only I could train and improve on my times, he he he.

Of sneezes and then some..
Allergies have been not-so-good to me. I had to go home early from work yesterday I was suffering so bad. Not even my Claritin D has been working for me lately. Blech, I don't know why my allergies actually get worse as summer comes to an end and changes to fall; but it does. They passed out H1N1 kits at work today, complete with kleenex, hand wipes, hand sanitizer, and get this; face masks! ha ha ha. I gues my sneezing yesterday was more than some people could handle, he he he.

Of voicemails and checking
Okay, so I have some, correction A voicemail issue. With that said, I would like to try to establish a worldwide...protocol, for leaving voicemails, thereby improving the listening experience. I always get a call from some people that leave the following vm, "Jay, this is _____. I just had a question to ask you, call me back." Well, the question is never posed on said voicemail. Only to call to find out what the question is and then formulate an answer. Um, can't you just ask me on the voicemail? That way, I'd at least feel like there was some substance to it and could already prepare my mind for a response. Otherwise, you might as well just text me to call back or something. It's not that major, just popped in my head :)

With all the b-day parties over, and trips come and gone, and activities mostly finished, I've had more time to organize and clean lately. Not as much as I would find ideal, but more than the youscsh. I like it. It's nice. And it's probably only the calm before the holiday storm. But enjoying it I am.

Man, I need to run...haven't run since the half and the Nike Human race is on Friday...krikey!

I am the ants in my pants...

This is kinda funny and cool, but kinda weird. Pretty talented tho, frickin ay. Thanks to Ray for sending me the link...he he he.


Today's picture hails from Cat and Joemama's wedding...wow, almost a month ago now...my goodness time flies. Anywho, so another congrats to the happy happy couple, thanks so much for letting me be a part of your wedding! I even got to do the invocation, which I was completely nervous about, so I hope I didn't botch it up too badly.

Of loyalty on TV
I find myself to be quite a loyalist when it comes to TV shows. Currently, I'm watching quite a few of them...from my old ones; Lost, Smallville, Heroes, HIMYM to new ones; Modern Family and Glee. Heroes seems to have taken a turn towards the less exciting; in fact, even the season finale of the pilot season was kinda ehhh....but i stuck with it and I'm still entertained. HIMYM, I've stuck with it through it's 5 seasons so far and I'm also not that thrilled w/ this season thus far; some have even gone so far as to say that the show has "Jumped the Shark," which for those of you who don't know, is the reference to Happy Days when the show completely lost it when the Fonz jumped over a shark while on ski's and in his trademark leather jacket...but I digress...where was I... oh yes, HIMYM, so yah, people think it might've jumped the shark, and altho I'm not as excited about the show as I used to be, I still stick with it, in hopes that it the ship will right itself, just like they did in Lost. So is it because I'm such a loyalist that I stick it out with these shows? Or merely because of the fact that I'm easily entertained. I'd like to say it was the former, rather than the latter...

I'm too lazy to write more today, but I definitely have more to mention...

I am the set-up...

Happy B-day bubs! Yesterday, London turned 9 years old...wow. 9 already? Look at how small she used to be! Now she's in the 4th grade and chattin up a storm and being a little know-it-all and gettin all grownz up! How quickly time passes...

of open-mindedness and the opposite
I always talk about open-mindedness, how it kinda annoys me when people can be so completely close, or narrow-minded about things. But then, I got to thinking, isn't it a little close, or narrow-minded to get annoyed with people who one might think are exactly that? Isn't that part of not accepting all things as they are and just understanding that there are just a lot of options out there? I've caught myself lately, thinking that I might know better than someone else, or that my way is more efficient, or that my perspective is more...well, "open." But after some thought, I've arrived at the realization that whatever "it" is; "it" is more efficient, better, or whatever, for me, based on my own experiences, and that's all I know. That's all that I can say, and only offer it as another perspective - and well, if another party is open enough, then they can take it or leave it. So here's to being more open-minded about being open-minded :)

Of the simplicity of life...
I once read that life only gets hectic and stressful because we make it so complicated. Chris always tells me the same thing; if we uncomplicate things, and just think simply and act simply, then decisions and life would be easier. He's definitely right; the more stressed I get, it's because I'm the one who makes it complicated. Even in Math, we're taught that to make adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions easier, you simplify. And we all know that math is absolute, you can't argue it(as my friend Drich would say). You know, even in the bible, it says somewhere that if your right hand is getting in your way, causing you to sin, then cut it off. I think we can follow suit, figuratively, of course, he he he. I didn't think about this topic because I feel that my life is complicated or anything...the exact opposite, actually. I think that my life is not too complicated right now. It was merely one of those random thoughts...

I haven't travelled much lately for work. I think the last trip I took was out to Sunnyvale the day after the Superbowl. No big trips since last year...well, here comes travelling season again. There have been a few changes as of late, so travel might come around more often than not for me...and I don't know if I'm welcoming that idea, or getting a sense of foreboding... I remember when I used to have to travel two weeks at a time almost every month...and it really got to be a little too taxing. I don't like living out of a suitcase and getting my routine all jacked up(workout-wise, socially, spiritually, etc.)...it's just a life I do not really prefer anymore. Even back then, it was just okay...at least I get to visit friends that I don't get to see on the regs. So here's to NYC in a few weeks; plus I can rack up some more mileage on my ff awards =p

Big game tonight, championship for Titans League. Here's to gettin that monkey off our back!

Fortune Cookie Fortunes
If you find yoursel in a hole, stop digging
Ironically, today's fortune relates to the simplification thought...and it couldn't have been said any better!

I am a step towards regularity...

in my continuing effort to publicize my pics...here's our pic of the day. From Millicent and Jevon's wedding. Jevon's been my friend since...well, as he will happily recall, since I was his SPOP staffer @ UCI the summer before his freshman year. I met millicent soon after they got together, but they'd already known each other for a while. A happy relationship eventually led to the picture above, a moment from their big day! Congrats again you two!

I guess I was wrong with that last post; I didn't quite start up a normal pace for writing...almost a month apart? Daaaang. Sooo many things have passed since then...weddings, trips, weddings, trips, and yes...more weddings. I think with the inception of Twitter and FB, the updating on normal life portion of blogging has come to and end...but to me, my blog is so much more than a historic account of what I'm doing. Actually, rarely is it that at all... Anyway, I digress...I really do need to get "back to basics" and try to write..even if it's at least once a week. So here's to ANOTHER attempt at posting on the reg.

Of regularity and routine
I guess one thing in life translates to everything in life; I haven't been writing regularly, nor have I been working out regularly, nor reading. With all of these events occurring lately(weddings, picking up the new gig as a wedding emcee, introduction of gf into life =p - of course I had to scoot that in here somewhere!), it's jarred the regularity of my old schedule. Now these things are important, so it's important to bring them back in. These are all helpful things in my life...they keep me balanced, healthy, and mentally stimulated. Now if that routine was hurting more than it helped...then I would have to think that these recent changes were good because they helped me rid myself of my hurtful routine...

Of Work Ethic and Working Hard
Always a touchy topic...what defines one as working hard? Working every single second of the work day, being busy the entire time? Or is it simply doing what you need to do and not being overly lazy and well..."procrastinatory"? What defines proper work ethic? Is it merely one who follows all the rules "to a T?" Or one who doesn't abuse priveleges and freedoms offerred in the work place? The correct answer, I definitely do not have. But I do have my own general perspective on it. I think both work ethic and working hard have quite a bit to do with... HONESTY. It may not be entirely ethical to show up late to work or take long lunches, but if one makes up for it, I think it can be justified. I think stepping away from hard work and ethics takes being DISHONEST and ABUSING the priveleges which you have been given. It boggles my mind sometimes...

Fortune Cookie Fortunes
Faith is the ability not to panic
If you have true faith, it will keep you calm. So few of us have such strong faith; I definitely falter more than my fair share, and I truly wish my faith was unshakable. Well, here's to the pursuit of faith and the ultimate peace.

I am my attempt to reach my happy place...

Wow...been a while since I got to exercise these "legs" Life has been...well, life lately. Just a little chaotic at work and I haven't had much time for much else...anyway, that shouldn't be an excuse. I used to write at all hours of the day...well, here's my attempt to get back into the groove, along with all my other grooves...such as working out, he he he.


This is sweet....it's Mike Song from Kaba Modern. I wish I could dance like that...

Of being oh woe is me
It's one thing to be in a tough position, a sad disposition, or any type of sad-ition...but it's another thing to go parading it around, wearing it like a badge, or even making it your cross. I can be the worst person at this sometimes, taking venting to a whole new level and making it seem like I have it worse off than other people. I often look back and I'm a little embarassed at myself for having done that. That's being a "one-upper" in the worst kind of way... So instead of playing a "Who'se life sucks more game," it's often prudent to realize that hey, my problems might be bad, but someone will always have it so bad that I couldn't even compare my issues to theirs. Of course, everything is relative...the biggest heart-break of a 14-year-old's life at that time, may just be one of the biggest heartbreaks they will experience...but as we get older, it becomes more apparent that we have experienced, and WILL experience so many things in our lives. And of these experiences, along with the good...must come the dark and difficult. How much more would we savor and relish and appreciate those good times after having experienced the toughest ones? Yes, we all have our issues... bad things happen to all of us, and by all means, reach out and rely on those around you who love and support you, but by NO means don't go around putting it on blast for a grand pity soiree. It's unbecoming, but worse, it doesn't help the situation at all. How do you move forward and overcome obstacles and tough situations if one's mindset is "This is so bad, it's so hard, etc..."? One of the saddest things to see is to bear witness to someone giving up before they even try. I was once told to have a private pity party, wallow for only a minute, and move on... I can only advise the same...

Of casting the first stone
This thought first popped into my head after MJ's recent passing... how so many celebrated his life and had good things to say, and yet there were those who still wanted to continue to bash and just say negative things. I think it was summed up well in a quote that went something like, "He was an imperfect man who made perfect music." We're all imperfect... and when we pass, do we want people remembering all the terrible things we did? A catalogue of our shortcomings? No, I for one would like to be remembered as someone who tried...wasn't always successful, but always tried to do the right thing. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone!" Who are we to point fingers at someone's failures and shortcomings, esp in death.

Things to be caught up on...
-the SF half
-Vegas (Hollywood Dodgers)
-Summer? not so much

Okay, the last post said I hope this was a sign of more to come, but maybe THIS is the first of many posts.

I am the space between my ears...

My posts have been so few and far between that a month has almost passed
since my last entry...where does the time go?


In the spirit of posting a pic with each entry...the following pic of the day is of Robyn. Who celebrated her dirty 30 last month. I met Robyn when I first started going to UCI (man, 13 years ago?!?!) and didn't really get to know her well until last year. Since, we've become good friends. As of late, we've been training for the SF half and pushing each other to keep up on training. Cheers Robyn!

Of death and taxes...
I found out recently that our neighbor Henry passed away....almost THREE months ago! I was wondering why the cars in there were just chillin all the time, but never really thought about it. There was always activity next door...the gardeners doin their thing on SATURDAY mornings at 7AM, which is never a pleasant way to start my weekend...and just general chore-type activity that I could hear out my window, so I never thought anything of it. After the roomies told me, I started to freak out a tad, but then those fears were quickly erased with their telling me that someone had been maintaining the house for the past few months since his passing. Such a sad thing when someone passes. Granted, I never knew Henry all that well, but we did have about a 10 minute conversation once when I came over to let the neighbors know that we were going to have a party for Halloween last year. I told him to just come over and let me know if it got out of hand and he asked if he was invited. He was an old guy, so I told him, of course, you can come and dance the night away w/ us. We laughed, and I remember he said thank you for letting him know. And now, he's gone... I now wish we had more conversations. I wonder what kind of life he lived, and the adventures he went through throughout his life. I hope he was well-loved and loved well. Cheers, Henry...

His passing led me to think about the other people around us. There is quite the peculiar make-up to our neighborhood. Lots of young kids and hispanic families raising their young...and then there are a lot of old folk that live on our street...people that have lived here a long long time. It's a shame we live in a time where one doesn't really get to know his neighbors anymore. It's all about doing our own thangs. Usually, the most convo that's had btwn me and a neighbor is a quick hi and bye. Well, I hope I can get to know some of our neighbors a little better. I think it would make life just that much more enjoyable. :)

Of tick-tock ya don't stop
Isn't it amazing how time flies? And even more amazing how time flies when things are going swimmingly? That's how it's been for me lately, which is why I'm surprised, yet not too surprised at the length of time that has passed between entries. Not that I haven't had ANY time to write, just that I've been busier than the yousczh(prounounced yoooozch - =p) lately and just occupied. There are still slow days, but for the most part, I feel like I'm blinking and the day has already passed me by. My commitments have actually decreased as of late; we've taken the season off for our Sunday bball league, and I'm off of choir until August...so it's not like I got busier. I'm just happy, and when you're happy, time passes you buy quicker, so as to make you realize just how precious time is, and how you should really try to enjoy every minute of it. Because in a flash...it's gone.

I've been doing so many things since my last post...too many things to mention and too little time to mention them in. Pics speak volumes tho, I would say just to check flickr, ha ha ha.

Hopefully, this is a sign of more to come...there's so much goin on in this lil head o'mine.