My MJ Experience update

Okay, I meant to post this a bit ago, but here is a little update from our adventure seeing LaToya Jackson driving out in her nice, gray Bentley, from Michael's place on Sunset Boulevard in L.A. My cousin sent me this YouTube clip from a tabloid site. The hilarious part is that toward the end of the clip, somewhere around the 1:00 mark, I think, you can hear my cousin ask LaToya, Could you drive us back to our car? I couldn't stop laughing when I saw this.

Dreams

I know we all have dreams, especially those weird ones that wake us up and make us think, What was that about? Once in a while, I have these dreams, well, not really weird dreams, but those that make you say, hmmm. Anyway, last night, I dreamt about this girl that you could say, was my very first crush. We never really dated but in those grade school days, I really, really liked her. In high school, we were cool, we'd see each other once in a while at school dances and such. Then she went away to the East Coast for college and now is married and living in Chicago. I haven't seen her in years but here she is in my dreams, where it seems like we're dating or i'm courting her. I've even had a dream where I see her at an amusement park and she has a kid and is expecting another one. Not sure where she's coming from but there she still is in my dreams.

Back from L.A., again

Just got back yesterday from a little getaway to L.A. We had people from the Philippines over our place for the past couple of weeks and a trip to L.A. was on their agenda so we decided to drive them down there. We also got to see my nieces and nephew again before they headed back home to Maryland. It was a very nice weekend.

It started off with a nice late afternoon on Saturday at the ballpark with my friends watching a little minor league baseball. And right after, we drove down to L.A. at about 10:30 at night. We arrived at 5 in the morning. It was a nice stressfree drive without the heat and traffic. After a good day of sleep and relaxing, Saturday found its way into Sunday, where we visited my mom's aunt and had some great BBQ and one of my favorite Filipino dishes, kare-kare. It was delicious!

Then, Monday was fun day, we drove down to Port Hueneme, where my cousin, who is in the Navy, is stationed. We got to spend the day with the kids by the beach. Oxnard is a quiet little agricultural place with a pretty nice quiet beach. It was nice to just lay back, fly some kites, build sandcastles and play around with my nieces and my nephew.

We got back yesterday after a nice, hot drive back home in the afternoon.

Track Workout

Ahhh, I had a very good track workout yesterday. Thank god it wasn't as hot as last Tuesday at 6 or 7 at night. I think it was the first workout that I completed all the way through. We did three sets of three whole laps around the track. I am definitely getting stronger and better at running. I know that probably a month ago, I couldn't have done all that. I am definitely getting there...half-marathon here I come!

Rock Urge

On Saturday, we went out to spend half the day in Monterey. We strolled down 17-Mile Drive in Carmel and stopped by the little beaches and little areas along the way. At one stop, there was this area where you could go down some rocks and sand and get a bit closer to the ocean. Just a bit down the way, there was this tall rock wall that was about 10 feet or so. I remembered when I was younger, I was a Cub Scout and on one excursion, we went rock climbing. That urge to mountain climb went through me...

It was very cool...I just need to figure out where we went to climb when I was a wee Cubbie Scout. Or I could research other places that I could mountain climb. It would be fun! I love the idea that the memory of when I was a kid stirred that urge in me to want to start mountain climbing. I'll definitely look into it, plus I have great calves! haha

Quote of the Week

Look, don't ever let the fact that you can't be perfect stop you from doing your best.

Murs, I'm Innocent, from the Murs For President album


I have had this album for a while but I was listening to it in my car yesterday. I heard this line and it hit me. Hard. I have a long list of things that I have always wanted to do but being a perfectionist puts that list on hold. It seems that everything has to go a certain way before I start a project. It is frustrating!

Lately, I have been trying to get my creativity back. To get on that list and start the projects that I have always wanted to. I do understand that nobody's perfect and you'll get nowhere if you just stand in place and do nothing. The problem is is that I think a little too much. I just need to stop thinking and let it flow. I just need to do my best and, more than likely, good things will come.

My Crush of the Week

Zooey Deschanel


Zooey's been doing the talk show circuit for her latest movie, 500 Days of Summer, the past weeks. I know I've seen her in a few movies like Yes Man or Elf, but I saw her recently on Conan and said, Wow, this chick is gorgeous! Her eyes are absolutely amazing! Plus she can sing too! So Zooey is my current crush of the week until my next crush...

Why I Run...

At every Team-In-Training workout run, there is always a special honoree that speaks with all of us to tell us of their story of their battle with cancer. It is always a great time to appreciate them and get to learn more about them and what we are doing all this hard work for. It is great to meet these honorees before, during and after our long runs. It is definitely a great inspiration.

Last week, ESPN did their annual week of Make-A-Wish Foundation: My Wish stories that featured kids with life-threatening medical conditions to grant their biggest sports dreams. The story of Cole Johanson, an 11-year old, who is battling lymphoma, and his wish to meet New Orleans Hornets' point guard, Chris Paul. Cole seems wise beyond his years and has a great looking shot (I should know, I coach basketball to kids his age.) It was great seeing Cole and Chris just play ball and eat lunch and talk like they were old friends. Just in that little segment and seeing what Cole's been through is a great inspiration to keep going as I run.

Training Progress

I've been super busy lately, but have definitely been squeezing in my training for my marathon. I am officially going to run the Nike Women's half marathon in San Francisco. My training this week has been great. I think this is the first week that I've been able to go to each training activity. On Tuesday, we had the track workout, where we had a hill workout. We had to run up and down a hill, it was grueling but awesome! On Thursday, I joined a few others in Campbell and ran about 4 miles. It wasn't too bad. And yesterday, it was a Coaches' led run and we ran in downtown San Jose. It was a great run...I ran 5 miles, the most that I've ever ran. My body is feeling good and is getting used to all the pounding that it is getting. And it is worth it, doing it for a great cause! It is definitely a great feeling!

Quote of the Week

You'll never leave where you are until you decide where you'd rather be.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy belated 4th of July, everyone! I had a pretty good July 4th weekend, lots of eating! haha The weekend started with a BBQ/poker night for my friend's birthday. Then the 4th was full of BBQ's starting with a friend's little party, and then off to my family friend's BBQ. It seems like the economy has definitely affected the fireworks everywhere! There were cancelled fireworks displays and the ones that went on weren't as extravagant as they used to be. But I did see fireworks going off all over the city. It did make me wonder if all the cities around here thought it was worth it to save money but have a higher risk of burning someone's house. I don't know but we'll have to see how it goes for future 4th of July celebrations!

Happy 4th of July!