I am the forgotten item to be packed before a trip...

I've forgotten the "silence of the internet" late at night...where is everone?


Last month, it was my friend Aaron's b-day. Welcome to the dirty 30 my friend. This is the first time I've ever been to his b-day celebration, which is strange, considering we've known each other for about 10 years. Crazy how time flies, in'it? Anyway, it was fun to see him get drunk. He ended up yakkin in the urinal that I would eventually try to take a leak in, but it was a good night nonetheless.

Well, it's 1:30AM and I'm still up...well, I'm usually up at this time anyway...but I'd like to be asleep like an hour and a half ago...but I'm up because I'm waiting for my laundry to finish drying because I'm going to Hawaii later today...and yes, I'm a total procrastinator. I need to pack the stuff that's in the dryer - actually, I only need to really pack only one thing from that load, but hey, I didn't want to wash it alone...it would be too lonely. And no, it's not my one underwear that I wash everyday, it's a pair of shorts I REALLY like and want to take with me. I packed only 1 pair of jeans and 2 nice shirts. The rest are shorts and tanks, and my flips. Of course, I packed my running shoes...because, who knows. Anyway, excited cannot fully express how I feel about going on this trip. I have absolutely nothing specific planned...other than my flight there and back. I want to just wake up each day and figure things out as I go...maybe run, maybe go to the beach, maybe just sit on my arse and watch the waves crash early in the morning after a long night of drinking. No matter what I decide to do, I am totally looking forward to it.

With each passing day, I feel that I am getting closer to my goal...and in that light...here's a little pick-me-up.
[The following letter is from a site called Zen Habits. It is a truly incredibly inspiring letter...and one I would totally read and write to my own son/daughter. I really couldn't agree more with everything this guy has to say. It's something I hope I can do one day for my kids, should that the path God decides to put me on. Thanks to P Nibby for sending it my way. He also has it on his site.]
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
Couldn't have said it better myself...

I am truly blessed to have supportive people in my life. This is a special shout to those people who have been there for me and have supported the various things I do and want to do. You people give me the confidence I need to pursue my passions in life. And, I, in turn will support you as well. That's what friends are for isnt' it? being there for each other? After all, life is all about community.

Aloooooooooooooha!!!!!!

I am the time and space inbetween dreams....

(Dangit, this was SUPPOSED to be posted yesterday. I forgot to hit publish...)

A big happy (belated, now that I'm a day late) b-day shoutout to my friend Leizl, from the ENN WHY SEE!!!!! Happy bday homegirl. Drink too much and wake up w/ a b-day hangover :)


Today's(er....yesterday's) picture is dedicated to Esther and Russell - who got married a few weeks ago, on May 10th, 2008 to be exact. This is wedding #2 of 8 for me this year...I know, one word...KRIKEY!!! The ceremony was awesome...and of course, so was the reception. I got drunk pretty early(before dinner...reminds me of Iya and Chris' wedding, he he he) but I was able to last out the whole night and still row the next morning :). I'm very happy for the two of you, and I wish you a lifetime of happiness and lots of kids, he he he.

Of sleeping and the occurrences therewith...
I've always contended that dreams are nothing more than your thoughts, be they random or not-so-much, being played out while you sleep. Hence, why the random people that appear and events that occur. I have some pretty insane dreams sometimes...at times, they are absolutely vivid and realistic. I can remember the smallest details, of what people were wearing, proximity to people in my dreams, etc. Other times, they are just off the wall bonkers...like one time I had a dream that I was a cartoon character, with a dog...I think I kinda looked like that one cartoon kid with the black hair and his dog has a eyepatch? I'm not sure though...anyway, I was a straight up cartoon...running through wooden fence panes where they would spin after passing through them, and running straight up a tree. But then there are times that I have dreams I don't want to. I don't want the people in the dream to be there, nor do I want what's happening to be happening. Now of course these can go back to the whole any thought, memory, image in your brain being played out...but sometimes, there seems to be a little more than just randomness. And I often wonder why it happens. I know some people believe that dreams have a deeper, message-like meaning...but I just don't know. Anyway, I had said dream last night, and it really threw me for a loop. I think it was one of those random mixed with regular thoughts-type dreams.

You know, thinking about yesterday's post...a friend mentioned how I really get worked up by stuff like that(i.e. negativity and the like)...and I thought about it for a bit. I could easily let it go, which, for the most part, I think I do...but at the same time, you can't just let it happen all of the time, especially when you think in terms of groups of people...because the naysayers and party poopers can always bring a party down quicker than anything. Bad energy for some reason, has a stronger and faster current than good. So think on the + side people! Look for that silver ligning! Keep ya head up! Alrighty then!

55 small things you can always do
5. Say "please" and "thank you" as often as you get the chance.
There aren't many situations where you can ever really overuse these two small phrases. A simple "please" or "thank you" can really go a long way. A lot of the times, we just want people to show some appreciation and gratitude, and of course, a little respect. I think sometimes we fall into a state, where we EXPECT things...par example, good service, or service period, when we're at a restaurant...we don't say please to our server, and don't say thank you. Service is a two-way street...if you're nice to them, they'll be nice right back. But evenmoreso with friends and fam...often times, we let the "please" and "thank you's" go simply because of the level of comfort we're at with them. But let's not let those 3 little words fall by the wayside...

I am the final countdown...

I often take pictures with my camera phone and sometimes send them to my friends...but for the most part, they stay on my phone, unshared and I really only look at them when I feel like changing my wallpaper, when I'm bored, or when I'm just trying to clear space(which is usually when I'm bored). So in an effort to share those pics with the world, however un-crisp they may be, I will attempt to also post a pic from my camera phone every now and then.


Here's the bubs, holding up her 1st place ribbons from this weekends Track Invitational at Palisades. Good job London! Get this, she wants to be a gold medalist in the Olympics...now how cool would that be. I hope I can come out to more of your track meets soon!

It amazes me how there are times in our lives when we can get so mired in negativity. I remember days when I used to wake up and just dread the day to come. I would already be thinking bad thoughts and how I wasn't gonna enjoy it. But dude, that's so weird, because the day hadn't even started yet and I'd already assume that it was gonna be bad. Now that type of thinking is very anti-"Secret," he he he, but seriously...why start the day by deciding to make it an uphill climb? Granted, we all experience moments in our life where, you're thinking, "Shit man, when it rains, it pours" - but I'm talking about the days when we just get in that rut where negativity seems to abound... It's all about thinking positive and hoping for the best. Yes, be prepared for anything, but it's important to hold on to the thought of knowing that it's you that can walk into any situation looking for something positive or by tainting everything with a negative spin, and therefore, loathing the unexpected experiences and events that occur throughout the day. Is your glass half-full? or half-empty? Either way, the positive person sees that, there's still half a glass of water left to drink...period.

Oh yeah, I spent some QT w/ sister and the bubs this weekend. Watched Ironman(my 2nd time watching it this past weekend - but worth it). London really liked it. She called Obadias a big fat meanie, he he he. And Jos kept covering her(London's) eyes everytime there was something particularly violent - which, thank goodness, didn't happen much. But it was great to spend time with them. I don't do it often enough. And I wish I could go to more of London's track meets.

55 small things you can always do
4. Overtip your breakfast waitress
Here's one I never really thought about. Breakfast is generally the cheapest of the three meals - and from the places I've seen, usually the busiest times as well. These servers work just as hard as those lunch and dinner servers, yet they get the short end of the stick because we tip usually based on the total bill... So keep that in mind and put a smile on your breakfast servers' faces.

I am a room with no lights...

Happy belated b-day Karen!!! Only reason this didn't go up sooner is cuz I haven't had time to post...


Dang, I didn't know there was a New Jason Mraz album out already?! It has the I'm Yours song...I was wondering when he would finally release the album w/ that song on it. Thanks to P-nibby I have it. So far, I like it a lot. A lot a lot. A lot of tracks are from his other live shows that he's done in the past. I now have 3 different versions of I'm Yours on my Itunes.

Oh yeah...I forgot, my latest pics have been posted w/ my new camera. I finally replaced my old Optio that I lost in the NYC with the newer version. For some reason it seems to be a tad harder to use...the shutter seems a little slower and you really gotta do the halfway down and then click thing before you take a shot. But still waterproof and still durable. I just gotta get used to it again.


MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.
This is sick...

55 small things you can always do
3. Remember other peoples' birthdays
I don't know about you guys, but for me, I feel very special when my friends remember my birthday. Not because I want all the attention(contrary to popular belief)...it's just nice that people remember your day. It's one of those things that always puts a smile to my face. So if you feel the same way when people remember your b-day, imagine how it must feel when you remember theirs. We're all so busy nowadays, that a b-day text, message, or whatever can go a long way in someone's day. There's so many ways to help yourself remember...esp if your memory sucks...like mine; people use those b-day alarm clock things, or those myspace ones...I just have my own calendar of b-days that I check out. So whatever helps you...remember those b-days!

I am my loosening grip...

Pics I've been meaning to post:

Lori and Alex's wedding! :) A big congrats to you two. Belated, but congrats nonetheless :)


This is a pic at mile 4 from the Santa Monica Heal the Bay 5/10k. It was a nice cool day until about mile 3.5 when the sun busted out and it got way hot, he he he. But it was nice to get back into running events again. Hopefully, I can keep it up.


And last but not least, here's Joes..."the King," he he he. Look at how awesome in the gear and all!

You know, taking the higher road...not always easy. We run into situations where we have one of two choices...and I think these are decisions we are faced with every day: You have the choice to let that person who cut you off on the way to work see the love from your middle finger, or you have the choice to just let it go; you have the choice to give back the extra $5 bill the cashier gave you at target, or to keep it to yourself and go buy a hot dog. You also have the choice to get revenge on people who slight you, hurt you, or whatever, or the choice to not take that road. We don't always take the high road, because let's face it, it's easier to walk downhill than uphill. But just remember how fleeting the reward is for getting "even," so to speak. How good do you feel after flippin the bird, or cussing someone out, or trying to make their life miserable? How good do you feel about yourself after something like that? Well, for me, I the feeling does not last long at all...and I feel even worse after. As difficult it is to suck it up and walk the higher road...it's called the high road for a reason...you can see the bigger picture from up there, and the air is much clearer.

Man, again, time works against me...more to post, but I still have to get my pics up from this weekends events...which, by the way, were EFF to the YOO to the ENNNN!!!!

55 small things you can always do
2. Watch a sunrise at least once a year
I would add, sunrise or sunSET once a year. There is something magically uplifting and the same time pacifying about seeing one of natures most simple, yet beautiful occurrences. I haven't seen the sunrise in a few years now...but just thinking about it relaxes me a bit...and I definitely have to get out and do it. I'm definitely watching the sunset in Hawaii...and hopefully the sunrise too.

I am one day more...

Before I go into my next blurp...big belated B-DAY shout-out to my mom (May 6th) and a b-day shoutout today to Jan! Happy b-day bud!

I probably won't get to post this weekend, so here's to the madres in my life...

My mom. Gotta love her. Hard to believe that she just celebrated the 45th anniversary of her 21st b-day this week. She seems like she's still my age. She stays up late(I probably got it from them) watching TV or whatever, and always has put our family above herself - sacrificing a lot with pop to give Jos and me everything we've needed throughout our lives. It's tough to leave your family and the comforts of home(in the Philippines) and venture out completely on your own to a new world and raise your own family. So mom, Happy mother's day, and I love ya dearly.


She's not MY mom, but she's A mom...London's mom, to be specific. Jos and mom, as much as they'll deny it if you ask, are SO like each other. They both have incredible strength and always put the needs of the little ones above themself. It might seem biased for me to say what a great mom my sister is because I am her brother after all, but ask anyone - and they'll tell you the same.

So....moms, you guys rock. You really do help make this world a better place. Ma deux meres precieuse, je t'aime beaucoup. Et, je suis tres navré que je ne peux pas passer les temps avec vous - mais je le rendrai(man, my french is SO shoddy)!!!!

and onto other things....it's almost 6 and the Laker game is at 6...so I really want to get out of the office. Here's a little tidbit on my agenda for the weekend and stuff I'll probalby wanna post about...
-Esther and Russ' wedding(which I have to post about weddings in general)
-Life and doing what you want to do
-Dragonboat race this weekend
-I got a new toy today! (a replacement one, to be exact)

Before I jump off the blogwagon right quick, I wanted to include this on my next "List" of things to post.
55 small things you can always do
In pursuit of making our lives just a little better everyday, at the end of each post, I will be including 1 item of a total of 55 small things you can always do to bring happiness to people around you. And yes folks, the little things matter...and I think that doing things in little steps helps you get to your goal faster. So......
1. Compliment three people everyday
You never know how much your compliment will affect the person you are complimenting. We all go through so many things throughout our individual days, we have ups and we definitely have downs...so your positive comment just might be the thing to bring them out of a funk and turn their day around as well. I can't count the times that I've been having such a blah day and one little comment from even the most random people reminded me that there is so much to be thankful for and to be happy about.

Happy friday kids. Don't forget those compiments...and GO LAKERS!!!!

I am the few remaining straws....

Today is one of the more relaxing after-work days I've had in a while. I don't know why...

I know I'm late...but Lakers kid!!!!

Here we go Lakers, Here we GO!

You have to be frickin kidding me...

Do you jenkem? Yuck. I can't believe what lengths people will go to for a high... Watch the vid ALL the way to the end of the broadcast...frickin hilarious. HA HA HA!

"That's history. There are times you miss and times you're just glad are history."
-unknown