10 Years Later...

Has it been that long since I've written here? I actually stumbled back onto my Blog because I'm getting my Google Educator Certification (Level 2), and I need to re-familiarize myself with this tool. Geez... where did all the time go? Quick Recap: I am still married to HieRan - I'm leading off with this because, well... it's one of the more (pleasantly) surprising facts of my life (mine, not hers, I'm sure). The kids are amazing and awesome. Mia graduated fromo Monte Vista High School last year and is attending Champman University online (due to the COVID-19 pandemic). She played softball for her varsity team (before being shut down again, due to the virus). She has become such an amazing young person - I'm so happy that I've been able to see her grow up like this. Currently, in addtion to attending classes, she works as a manager over at Jamba Juice (Danville). Her brother, Jacob, promoted from 8th grade at Diablo Vista Middle School last year. Unfortunately for both kids, there were no ceremonies due to the virus. Jacob has continued playing baseball for the last 8 years or so - catching for all of the teams he's played for (TVLL: Cardinals, Giants, Rangers, Giants, Reds, and All-Stars; Travel Ball: AS Outlaws, Headfirst, Bulldogs, NorCal, TriValley Babe Ruth, and TVBR All-Stars). He's travelled and played all over the country: New York, Utah, Nevada, and all over California. Like his sister, Jacob has turned out to be a pretty amazing young man, currently enrolled as a freshman at Monte Vista High School. As for me, after 8 years teaching at the local elementary school (as the Technology Instructional Assistant), I made the decision to earn my single-subject teaching credential in mathematics through CSU, East Bay. All of the classes are online (yay), but it's pretty intense, having to write 3-4 papers a week. I'm in my 2nd of 3 semesters, and I should be student-teaching someplace. I'm not, unfortunately, due to the fact that there aren't a lot of Coordinating Teachers who are willing to take on some additional work in this new "distance learning" environment. Other things... We lost dad back in January 2011. My brothers, my mom, Auntie Cel, and I travelled to the Philippines to take care of his affairs, and to bring his ashes back home. My kid brother, the one who I was preparing to marry the last time I wrote in this blog, has since divorced the girl who cheated on him. I know he's moved past it, but I can't forgive her for how she hurt him. I guess that makes me the a-hole. But he's doing fine - has a $1.5M house in Sunnyvale, and has a global title with Yahoo (he's the sh*t at what he does, don't let his goofiness fool you). My older brother and family are all doing great! Kyle is in his 2nd year at CSU, Sacramento; Tim is a senior at Washington High School. Paul and Maria continue kicking colllective asses in their jobs - and still plan to get to Disneyland / Disneyworld as soon as they open the parks back up. Oh, in the last 10 years, I've also become a responsible supporter of the 2nd Ammendment. I think I've been instrumental in getting my kid brother, and two cousins into it, as well. I shot competitively for a couple years with GSSF, but I used the membership to get discounts on firearms, so it was more of an investment for me. Still, I was recently recorder drawing and hittng an 8" steel target from 7 yards in 1.06 seconds (I actually did it once at 0.96 seconds, but it wasn't recorded). Donald Trump is up for re-election, and I hope he wins. This country has become so divided because of all the crap the Democrats have takent his country through. Joe Biden is as dishonest as they come - but in his defense, I don't think it's dishonesty more than it is his degenerative cognitive decline that is evident anytime he speaks. In other words, he's not aware that he's lying - he's just senile due to his advanced age (78). The country has been locked down since March 16 of this year - that's when the schools all closed and moves were made to restrict people from gathering just about anywhere. Restaurants, gyms, movie theaters, shopping malls - all closed in an effort to lessen the impact of the virus on local hospitals. It never happened, never came close to being filled to capacity. Still, the governor of the state continues to mandate a lock down, only allowing certain businesses to open. We all know things will start to clear up once the election is over - but that's another troubling event that will continue to divide this country. No matter what happens, I still need to take care of my family, and loved ones. Just bracing for impact at this poing...