Music Lessons

One of the biggest regrets of my life... is never having learned music.  As a very young kid... I had violin lessons.  But I hated it.  Of course I did... I was a kid.  Personally... I don't think my parents did enough.  And I wasn't paired with the right teacher. 

Many many years later... I picked up the guitar and learned a few chords and strum patterns.  Enough to get by... and jam to myself.

And then today... I officially joined my first instrument class - Drums.  Ha!! And it was taught by teenagers. Youths... from our church.  I loved it.  Every minute of it.  And I hate to say it... but I think I was top of the class.  I was able to follow the patterns.  Able to keep up with the metronome. I was able to identify blindly the different parts of a drum set.  I think.... I'm going to start my own garage band!!!!  LET'S DO IT!!!! 

This moment in time...

Game 6 of the NBA finals... and we did it.  We closed it out. (Yes, we). One of my direct reports said he's not going to eat pizza... cuz every time he does, we lose.  We were up by 12 in the final minute... and I was still nervous.  Boston put in their bench guys to give them a "Finals experience" and I was still nervous. And now... I'm planning on the parade with dad... WITH DAD!!!!

I think: this is one of the happiest moments of my life cuz the kids were also present and cognizant
I know: this lightning in a bottle may never happen again
I want: a Super Bowl more than a NBA Championship
I have: this thing stuck in my teeth, but I can't get it out
I wish: the Warriors could've closed it out at home
I hate: that the Giants and Warriors have won... but not the Niner
I miss: the days of MCC
I fear: that this will be the last one for a looooooooong time
I hear: Bill Simmons on the BS Podcast
I wonder: if we can keep this dynasty going
I regret: not going to a game with Dad this year
I love: the fact that NN understands what's going on in a game
I ache: on my shoulders cuz of the sunburn from last Friday
I care: that sports is so meaningful to my family
I always: use sports analogies at work
I am not: a good loser
I dance: because my daughter is an amazing dancer
I sing: Perfect by Ed Sheeran
I cry: when I watch Chicago Med
I do not always: treat someone the way they oughta be treated
I fight: to keep my managers interested and connected
I write: because I was once complimented to be one that "paints with words"
I win: when the Warriors win!!!!
I lose: when the Niners lose
I confuse: red from green cuz I'm color blind
I listen: to the voice of the Holy Spirit
I can usually be found: smiling
I need: a promotion
I am happy about: playing basketball with my kids after work
I should: get my PhD while my parents are still around

Hank from San Jose

Called into KNBR sports talk radio and announced myself as "Hank from San Ho" and I killed it!!! I rehearsed what I was gonna say.  My heart was beating at 200 mph while I was on hold.  And when I was live... I delivered one of the best calls ever... to a point where the host, FP Santangelo, said that's the strongest call since he started hosting and he invited me back. 

I love sports.  I really do. 

Getting back to normal...

 Been two days since I've tested negative.  

Immediately... on Friday.. I took the kids to the beach.  We had a wonderful lunch at Rock Bottom brewery.. followed by 1.5 hr of traffic before ending up at Rio Del Mar beach in Capitola. SW and NN had a wonderful time.  Ironically... of all the coastal beaches... of all the spots at Del Mar... we camped out next to Royce without any pre-planning.  Go figure.

Then on Saturday... we headed out to get some Hong Kong Style Cafe for lunch.  Followed by a shopping/reading stint at Target.  Before coming home and DLC-ing for the rest of the day.

On Sunday... I found every excuse to not go to church, which was met with welcoming hands and applauds from the family.  But when I tried to snake my way out of a family gathering... it was met with resistance.  Ended up spending my nephew's 9th bday with the in-laws. Grace planned for us to sneak out for 1.5 hour to pick up dinner and grab a drink at Lazy Dog.  Haven't felt so free in a long time. 

Warriors won game 4 on Friday. Giants swept the hated Dodgers over the weekend. I led TWA with some of our older population on Sunday.  And on Sunday night... I'm balling my eyes out over another episode (or three) of Chicago Med. 

Yeah.. life is finally getting back to normal. 

The Case of the Dual Personalities

When Jesus was on earth during those 33 years... the people He despised most were the hypocritical Pharisees and Sadducees. Those who say one thing (parochial) but act another (wordly).

I've made it my mission in my Christian life to not be that "brood of vipers."  Say what I practice and practice what I say (I try... doesn't mean I succeed).  Taking the spotlight is social injustice... specifically... homosexuality.

Earlier this evening... I was invited to be a panelist for a bunch of College and Young Adults on the subject of LGBTQ+... to present a Christian view in a worldly environment.  I quickly responded... based on my personal political views, I may not be the best candidate to speak on this issue.  To which the inviter said... an Elder from church recommended me.  

This Elder... either he knows me VERY well or I have him fooled.  I'm hoping for the former. 

Unbinge-worthy

There are some things you can binge... like Friends... HIMYM... Breaking Bad... Survivor.

There are some things you can't binge.  Chicago Med.

I started watching it cuz it was recommended by someone.  On a quiet, lonely, helpless night... when I had no one to turn to... I found Dr. Rhodes... Dr. Connor... Dr. Choi... who started curing my many depths of illnesses.  Love the light it shines on our front line workers revealing they're not just health workers, but they're also humans.  They have fear.  They have pain.  They want a beer after work. 

But there's only so many times you can watch an actor pretend to intubate someone.  So many times you can hear "Charge to 200. Clear!" So many times there's an ethical vs medical dilemma. 

The formula was not meant to for binging.  And yet.... it's 2:30AM and I just got done with another episode!! #BOOM!! 

Near normal

Day 13. Still positive. But I'm walking around the house now with a mask on.  More so... I'm doing stuff around the house while wearing gloves. Gives me a chance to clean... and cook meals.  Joyce finally gets a break. 

For lunch... I tried to clean out the fridge.  And indeed I cleaned it up.  The 5 day old Chipotle leftover.  Tossed.  The 6 day old Nachos.  Tossed. 8 day old gnocchi - I ate it.  And I got sick.  May not have been from the gnocchi... possibly from the milk and cheerios which got me sick last Thursday. Half-meal after half-meal... I cleaned up the fridge.  Gosh it felt good... but it killed me that I'm wasting so much food.

Zihuatanejo - Day 11

"All I want is to be back where things make sense. Where I won’t have to be afraid all the time. Only one thing stops me: a promise I made to Andy.”

Day 11 - or is it Day 10.  

Whatever.  It's the day that, per the CDC, I can break from quarantine and escape isolation.  Why?? Why do anything?? Why not hide in my cave... my cell.. my prison? Warm meals are served 3x a day. I get coffee in the morning and tea in the evening. I now can take a stroll up and down the stairs (with a mask on, mind you) and be with the family.

What is it... that the first thing I do this Saturday morning... is drive 20 minutes to someone's house, to help her fix her iPad and fill out a bunch of low-income housing forms?

Then after lunch and some Mario-Kart... from 2PM - 7PM sharp... I gutted and sweated under the sun.  Lifting. Carrying. Setting up A/V. Directing traffic.  Taking control of the carnival games. Then breaking down everything I set up. More lifting. More carrying.  To a point... where my muscles were screaming, "Take a damn break!!  You just recovered."  And to which I slapped back, "Shaddup...."

Why not ease back into society? Why?  Cuz I made a promise.  I promised 小嫻 I would. I promised 大家姐 I would.  

Shaws-HANK 2022 - Day 10

 "Same old sh!t. Different day." 

Shaws-HANK 2022 Day 9

Today's quote... brought to you by Red who misses his friend, Andy.  

“I have to remind myself that some birds aren’t meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up does rejoice."

Around 10:15AM... Joyce texts me, "Omg.  It's the worse.  Worst!" 

Apparently... a bird flew into our garage yesterday.  SW thought he saw it fly out.  Or maybe there were two birds. But this morning when she was in the garage, she saw the bird banging into window trying to fly out.  (Birds aren't that smart).  

She hates birds.  Afraid of them.  No matter how big or small.  She summoned the kids and they ended up scaring and cornering the bird underneath the dryer. The next two hours were video calls and texts on how to lure and free the bird.  Oatmeal. Water. Cheerios.  They just couldn't get the bird out.  

And then... at 12:52PM, "We released the bird."

Turns out they let the bird alone of a bit.  When NN snuck back down to the garage... she saw the bird on the garage window sill.  She "scoops" it into a box... traps it... and then liberates the beast.  Some birds... aren't meant to be caged.  When will I be freed??

Shaws-HANK 2022 Day 8

Taking a break from Shawshank Quotes today to bring you.... one of the most intense near-real time texts from a NorCal Little League championship game.

6:17PM: 4-1

6:17PM: We're losing

6:20PM: 4-2

6:51PM: T scored

6:51PM: 5-3 I think

6:52PM: Or 5-4

6:55PM: 5-4

6:55PM: He (T) had an amazing hit

6:56PM: Pass 1st 

6:58PM: It was a triple

7:09PM: 5-5

7:10PM This message was deleted

7:19PM: 5-6

7:20PM: Bottom of the 6th

7:20PM: They're batting

7:21PM: 6-6

7:21PM: 😬

7:22PM: Swamping in another pitcher

7:23PM: No outs

7:23PM: Aye

7:23PM: Runner on 3rd

7:23PM: Aye

7:24PM: They won

7:25PM: Kids crying

Then I started crying.... sports.  It can be so lift you to cloud nine.  Or rip you up apart into shreds.  So real.  So pure.