Catastrophic Failure

 Saturday afternoon we took NN to MVVC for Club Volleyball tryouts.  OMG.... there were easily 200+ girls on 4 courts.  Girls from different age and sizes... all vying for 10 spots each on 4 teams.  There was no way.  As good as NN is... she's no where near the level of play of these girls.  No harm no foul.  Cuz Sunday... we're gonna go to Panda Volleyball.  The name, already, sounds less competitive.  Of course she'll get in!!  OMG.... the quality and skill of these girls were even better than MVVC!!! What a friggin waste of time.  And the organizer did a very unprofessional job of letting the contestants know their fate.

Needless to say... NN did not make either of the team.  And last night... after doing some research, I find out the deep, dark world of Girls' Club Volleyball.  How all the teams hold tryout on the same weekend - thereby making players choose which one to go to.  Teams also want the best of the best.  So all the teams form their teams of 10-12 on the same weekend.  And literally, hundreds of girls go home empty handed.  Girls who want to play professional. Those who want a scholarship and play in college.  Or even dear little NN... who just wants to play.  

I feel like I failed her as a father.  Shoulda gotten her into sports at a much younger age.  Now that she's in her teenage years... it's already too late!! Plus, she's not especially gifted physically in height and strength. 

Why is it so hard?!?!??  NN is forced to grow up way too fast.  This isn't fair.  Life is unfair.  

親力親為

 Hire a property manager...and they'll take care of the tenants.  Manage it yourself.. and you'll find yourself sucked into every little thing.  Including hiring a contractor and spending the entire time as his assistant.  No other landlord would do that.

Shaws-HANK 2023 - Day 4

For the first time in 5 days... I slept through the night without waking up 4-5 times, drenched in sweat.  Getting better.

Then when I finally did wake up... I spent 90 minutes on Insta.  What is my life coming to?

Shaws-HANK 2023 - Day 3

 Binging Suits on Netflix... gwarsh I wanna be a corporate lawyer, oozing with confidence, not a care in the world, with men and women swooning over me and my 50th floor office overlooking Manhattan... 

Shaws-HANK 2023 - Day 2

 Quaratining sheds new light into someone's life... particuarly mine.  

Was able to stare at myself in the mirror for a long period of time today... and I just noticed how many more strands of gray/silver hair I have all over my head now, not just the sides.

What can possibly be stressing me out so much these days? I know.... every night... at 9PM... I do this thing called Immaculate Grid.  A3x3 grid of baseball IQ.  I admittedly was never a huge fan of baseball.. but for those 5-15 minutes every night... I am in deep, DEEP, thought.  Go through roster after roster.  Play after player.  Overturning every lost or hidden memory or shadow of a baseball card.  All in hopes of chasing that elusive dream of calling myself.... Maculate.  That day... has yet to come.  But the gray... is here to stay. 

Shaws-HANK 2023

Shawshank Redemption is a novella written by Stephen King.  It was a one and done movie that supposed ended at Zihuatanejo with Red and Andy spend the rest of their days in paradise.  Never has there been a mention of... what's next??

Well... there is a what's next!!  Andy... out of the kindness of his heart... takes care of the inmates left in Shawshank.  He cooks and cleans and does everything (and then some) for them.  He sleeps on the couch.  He's fighting off feverish symptoms but never run a temperature.  His body is weak from expiration.  And when it's all said and done... I won the lotto, for the second time.  Back to Shaws-HANK I go! 

Almost became a hero

 At around 11AM this morning... I heard a consistent siren.  I first thought it was construction across the way and some big rig was being used.  But when I walked outside to investigate... it turns out my neighbor's alarm was blaring.  His patio door was wide open.  I knocked... I ran his doorbell.  No respond.  I started to get worried.  What if something happened?? Or was happening?? I called and emailed the property manager... but no response.  I banged his door again.  No response. He has a security alarm placard in front... so I call them.  But their answering service offered to call me back in 30 minutes.  

I was this close to jumping the banister and walk into his house to check on things.  What if it's a robber? What if there's a fire?? What if???

I waited a bit more... and the security company finally called back.  They weren't too helpful... for the right reasons.  They can't reveal too much of the neighbor.  All they can say were... ambiguously... that if an alarm went off... the owner and their emergency contacts would be notified.  That's it?!?!??!  That's all they were willing to share???

The property manager still didn't get in touch with me.  This was driving me nuts.

And right when I was about to break in.... the alarm stopped.  I guess the crisis was averted.  Or was it.....?

It's a matter of when...

For almost 3 years now... we keep saying, "Not a matter of if... it's a matter of when."

Came back Friday night... Saturday morning, woke up to Joyce's text, "I woke up feeling warm.  Took a test and it's positive."  Holy Cannoli.  The titan has fallen.  The most careful in our family.  And is she got it... then the kids are probably next.  Spent all day Saturday cleaning up after the trip... getting groceries... and taking care of a quarantined patient.   Then today... our biggest fear comes to pass.  Siu Wah tests positive.  Double quarantined.

Where did they contract it from? ESL Celebration? The plane ride up? In Seattle? Who knows... 

This strain.. supposedly.. is a lot more potent and easily transmissible.  But the symptoms are fairly mild.  And that's exactly what it's been.  So now... it's just me and NN 相依為名.  

Seattle Trip

"Vacations" are fun and relaxing (depending on your definition).  "Trips" are getaways that is not a vacation, quite possibly, an obligation hence, the title. We could have gone to Vancouver... but the kids' passports expired and we didn't want to expedite and live under the stress of missing those dates.  In spite of all the family drama behind setting this up... the stars aligned where we were able to meet in Seattle to have a mini-reunion of sorts with Aunts/Uncles that are in their late 70's and early 80's. 

And with all trips/vacations... I did my part planning.  "Failing to plan is...."  (kid's in unision)  "... Planning to fail." 

Did my 5-Day Seattle trip research.  Found different types of cuisine. Researched things to do for all age range... from an 8 year old to an 80 year old.  Took into account different weather patterns, different physical capabilities - hikes for beginners, intermediates and advance, different interests, and finally.....  the touristy spots.

 I unveiled the itinerary to the kids days before the trip and got their approval.  They loved it.  All throughout the trip... "What's next on the itinerary??"  Heh... 

Day 1 - Arrival

We took the first flight out of San Jose - 6:45AM, with an early arrival of 8:30AM, so we get an entire day in Seattle before the Aunts arrived.  But that meant waking up at 4AM - it also meant saving $400.  But boy did we pay... the kids were so tired and sleepy.  No one wanted to walk and just wanna hit the hotel.  I was ready for this. I planned for landing, brunching, brief walk and just chill.  Very, very much needed.  

Highlights - Tried out an Amazon Go, where you walk in with your Prime Account, shop, walk out without paying, and you get charged.  And right when we stepped out of a restaurant in the middle of Pike's Place... we run into SW's best friend from church.  Of all the places...of all the moments... of all the locations...

Lowlight - Everyone was in a bad mood except for me. HA!!  "How do you have so much energy daddy??!"

Day 2 - Aunts Arrive

Headed to the local Starbucks Reserve in the morning.  The kids were fully rested so they had a pretty good time.  Then headed to "The Spheres" that ended up being a disappointment because you need to reserve 15 days in advance to get into Amazon HQs.  Killed enough time to pick up the aunts... and everything just went from 1x to 0.75x.  We're gonna go slooooooooooooooooooow for the duration of the trip.  

Highlights - Space Needle and Glass Museum.  The food at A+ Cafe and running into Keno / Siu!! 

Lowlight - Not getting a seat at Din Tai Fung despite me calling ahead and them saying the wait is only 15 minutes. 

Day 3 - July 4th

The Aunts met up with some friends in Seattle and this was suppose to be the first of several outdoor days - including a 27 mile backride around Lake Washington.  Did it happen??? NOPE!!! Ended up going to a yucky beach infested with algae.  Ugh....  we then headed to MPOP - overrated - and ended the night at a brewery.  Ok... it wasn't a bad day.

Highlights - Kids spending almost 2 hours in the video game museum.  Running into David and Sandy!!

Lowlights - Not doing my 27 mile bike ride or outdoor hike.

Day 4 - Aunts Depart

Woke up in the morning and decided to take the Aunts to the Starbucks Reserved by myself.  C'mon... kids, wake up at 7AM!? To drink coffee?!?  Please.  We then headed back to the hotel for them to pack, got them checked out, and off we went to.... Bruce Lee's grave.  To my surprise..  they were NOT comfortable with visiting a cemetery at all.  I thought they'll be excited - like me.  Oh well... big FAIL.  Went back lunch at Chinatown... then headed to the Seattle Aquarium.  Boy do we have it good in Monterey... this Aquarium is so tiny.  Took the kids on a spin of the Giant Wheel and we headed back to the hotel to chill before dinner time.  When we got to the train station... and everyone was in line to board the train, Amtrack says there's a mechanical issue and they re-routed everyone onto a bus.  Mad scramble!! Glad that Joyce and I were there - otherwise who knows what would've happened to them. 

Highlights - Visiting the Dragon

Lowlights - Dough Zone - bleah!!  And sending pics of the gravesite to my family.  Oops! Big no no, apparently. 

Day 5 - Clear the Board

The aunts were gone... now we can go do our own thing. Originally wanted to do a Kayak around the bay... but there were too many hurdles and piss poor planning (on my part, mind you) to make it happen. Plus, I don't think anyone other than me, SW, and NN really wanted to do it.  So we planned it so we can hit up some of the eateries at Pike's Place that we missed on the first day - including the "#1 rated food item, not in Seattle, but on Yelp." And also that "Piroshky" place.  Ok... they were good, not great, but good.  Then drove 30 minutes to hit up a Rock and Jump place, but smaller.  Headed back home to chill... only... I made a stop at the Mariner's Team Store at what was formerly known as SafeCo Field, now T-Mobile Park, where I got to shop for a good 45 minutes.  Ended the night at Din Tai Fung... where we should've ended up on Day 2.

Highlights - SW getting his fix for Clam Chowder.  He asked for it since day 1 when we arrived.  Kids getting an hour and 15 minutes of free time to run, jump, and play.  The laser maze where Joyce/NN beat me and SW - although, they knew exactly what to do after seeing us do it twice.

Lowlight - This really tears at my heart, cuz I single-handedly ruin the trip here. 

Day 6 - Homeward Bound

Last day of the trip... got some brunch, headed to the cruise, hit up a Mall and Children's Museum and time to head out.  Planned to take the last flight out of Seattle.. cuz as late as we were to land... we get to sleep in our own bed that night.  Ahhhh.... Home Sweet Home.

Highlights - Motorized scooter in the streets of Seattle.  Street parking and Park and Go app.  I spent exactly half of what Grace spent for parking... cuz I was cheap enough and willing to walk a little.  

Lowlights - well.... in summary.  Me.  Woe be me.

Come and see.

ES Men's Prayer Group sponsored a BBQ lunch for Saturday ESL.  They invited all the pastors (none showed up) as well as all the regular teachers.  His email subject was "Come and see." I'm going to sub for a couple of weeks in July, so I might as well go observe.  But the cool thing was... I subtly brought the family with me.  I didn't ask them... I told them... to come with me Saturday morning.  Not knowing what to expect... I wouldn't look them in the eye.  I was just hoping, praying, wishing, that they won't give me the stink eye, and actually give ESL a chance.  Give it a chance... and they'll experience for themselves the joy of paying back to society.

For the first 15 minutes... they didn't know where to go.  I didn't know where to go.  So they just sat in the back of class.

Then the teachers split the class and it was just us 4 in one class.  SW and NN were so bored... they walked out.  Then we broke up into groups and the Teacher Assistants had to help each of the groups with pronunciation.  I naturally took my 7 people under my wing.  And out of the corner of my eye... I see that Joyce and then NN... owned their own group.  They were doing it.  Investing in it.

Then it was break time.  Everyone went to get pastries... coffee... drinks.  And I saw NN, SW, and some of the students' kids playing volleyball!!!!  Barriers broken.

Back from break... we had more group exercises.  Led by NN and Joyce.  SW... hung around. 

I didn't know what to expect when I brought the fam.  But as we were driving home..  they couldn't stop talking about the positive experience in serving those in need.  So glad that they were able to "come and see."  Now... it's time to "Go and tell."