lunchbreak
Final pic of the day
Me in action ... or the lack of it
Snow + Friends + Skiing = Freakin’ great time
I love LA
Archived Posts from this Category
October 30, 2008
I can’t remember when exactly I started running. What started out as a casual gym warm up exercise has now turned into a passion. I started running when I was new to this place and didn’t really have a lot of friends. I ran at the gym. When I met J, little did I know that my running would get elevated to another level. Like me, he found a passion in running. We just finished the Disneyland half marathon. A month from now, we are set to run the Rose Bowl half marathon. Four months from now we will run the LA Marathon.
Running through the Angels Stadium during the Disneyland Half Marathon
There is more than one reason why I run. Running is my catharsis to the stresses in life. Running makes my cholesterol and blood pressure at a safe level. Through running I have met new friends. Running makes me feel young. Running pumps up my endorphins and gives me a certain sense of high. With all that being said, there is no wonder why people “run” away from their problems.
To meet other runners, go to:
September 7, 2008
“Pain is temporary but victory is forever.” I’ve read this on a contestant’s shirt at the San Diego Rock’n Roll Marathon. This has been my mantra when time came for me to run the Disneyland Half Marathon. I sprained my foot. I might have landed on the wrong spot, but I pushed hard if only to meet my time goal in the disneyland half marathon. And I did. Everyone did. I finished at 2:30, Val and Shashanna my two other teammates finished at 3:01, and Muj Drahousek finished his current personal best at 1:43. It was a victorious day for us and all the effort we put into our training were paid off.
sunset at Mojave National Preserve
To celebrate our victory, Muj Drahousek and I went on a camping/hiking trip to Mojave Desert. I didn’t expect much about the place but I was astounded by the beauty of it. I don’t particularly like dry, arid conditions but this one is remarkable. With this trip I have realized that I am evolving. I have completely traded my mall-going, spa-visiting self for nature girl. Somehow all the luxuries that I used to like seem too shallow. There is much more out there that needs to be explored and experienced.
We camped at the Hole in the Wall campground, where coyotes hovered around us and the desert wind relentlessly tried to blow off our tent. We went to Kelso Dunes where the sun seemed to be biting off our skin. We visited Amboy Crater where traces of the volcanic eruption that happened a century ago can still be seen. My foot was hurting through it all due to the 13.1 miles I just ran. My old self would’ve told me to lay in bed, take it easy or go to the spa. But I didn’t. I trudged the hard terrain of the desert and survived its unforgiving climate. And guess what, it was all worth it.
August 30, 2008
I feel like I’m hitting two races this week. First one: submit my plant’s HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) Plan. Second one: Run the Disneyland half marathon. I just got through the first one and it was mentally exhausting. Now, I am saving my energy to go through the second one which will be physically exhausting.
I am already visualizing the victory ahead. Oh, how sweet it will be.
June 24, 2008
Last weekend, my very dear friend Karen, came by to see me in LA. She was on her way to Virginia for a product standards conference and decided to drop by. Time was limited, but every moment spent with good friends are precious moments. Even with the 3 years since we haven’t seen each other, nothing really changed. She is still the same Kikay that I knew in college. By accident, I saw that she had a red passport. I then wondered if passports these days now come in red. But much to my innocence, it was because she is an official of the Philippine government and thus is considered a diplomat. “Ay, kahilas!”
May 23, 2008
I had high hopes when I first got here. I thought it would be that easy to land the job that I want and get better with my craft. On another token, I also thought that I needed to shift away from being an “expert” in quality assurance and just focus on other things. Still as a food technologist, but not in QA. I thought my few masteral units in statistics would just go to waste. I thought this day would never come.
But God has other plans for me. He knew my heart’s desire and true enough, he granted me what I wanted. I am now officially the new Quality Assurance Manager at Interstate Bakeries Corp., one of the nation’s leading food companies. I knew I have done this before, but to do this in an entirely different country is another story. I am confounded with mixed emotions— both confidence and fear. Due to my small stature, I am not sure how people will take me seriously for who I am. But at the same time, it is also a very good chance for me to showcase how brilliant I can be.
The game is on. This is my time to shine.
December 19, 2007
One of the most amazing things about LA is the climate. You need not go very far to experience all four seasons. Now that it’s winter, my friends and I finally went on that ski trip. We chose Big bear due to proximity, comfort and level of challenge that the mountain gives to first time skiers. I was so excited that I hardly got any sleep the day before.
Saturday came and we finally headed out to the slopes for skiing. My excitement became frustration when I had a hard time balancing myself on the skis. It wasn’t easy as I expected. They make it look easy! I thought all I needed were strong legs, a little bit of balance and some coordination. Well in reality that’s all there is to it. But to have all three at the same time was a bit difficult. Now that’s the challenge. I almost gave up and quit, but Muy Drahousek was very patient and persistent in teaching me how to ski. I couldn’t give up. If not for myself, then for him at least. I can feel he was a little bit frustrated too by my stubborness but he never gave up on me. That’s what kept me going.
After 2 full days of skiing (or trying to ski), and more than 10 times toppling over, I was finally able to ride my skis on Sunday. It was then that I realized that I like it. The feeling of having the wind blowing on my face, the sharpness of the turns, the good balance and the smooth speed I got were enough to compensate for the bumps and frustrations. My muscles are still aching now but it was all worth it. Will I go skiing again? DEFINITELY!
October 22, 2007
Eversince I was a kid, riding a boat has always been a mode of transportation for me and my family in going to my grandparents’ house in the province. I was always so brave. I never get sea sick. But this all changed when I had a bit of a roller coaster boat experience while in college. Soon after that, riding a boat never appealed to me anymore. This weekend, my friends and I decided to rent a boat at the Marina just for the heck of it. At first, I was nervous but later on I felt really good just being on the boat. It was so relaxing. I never though I’d get over my fear of boat riding, but this experience proved otherwise.
In LA, anything is possible.
October 15, 2007
With the changing season, my friends and I are trying to enjoy the last few “warm weather days.” As such, we have gone through a bike ride from Santa Monica to Manhattan Beach last week and held a barbecue party at Balboa park this week. This is probably one of the best things about LA. You never run out of things to do.
Now with winter coming up, ski trips are already being planned. But I don’t know how to ski to save my life. I have only been to the snow twice and it was not a ski trip. I was just there to see snow. Oh well, with the help of good friends, I will surely master skiing in no time.
July 18, 2007
I have never been fascinated by sports figures. But I think this time, I will be. Word has it that soccer star David Beckham and his family are already in town. He just had a big press conference last Monday announcing his arrival and incorporation into the LA Galaxy. What even got me more interested is the fact that he is playing for Herbalife. Now the herbalife dream is slowly becoming a reality.
