The good feelin's outside

You know that feeling inside you get after doing a good deed? Yeah. Yeah. Well I didn't get it today.

I'm supposed to, right? I mean after donating blood, I'm supposed to be all "I'm dizzy, nauseous, in pain, and I just threw up all over my dog... but I saved some lives by donating! Today is a good day!". Well that wasn't the case for me. I sat around waiting and drinking water for 10 minutes, answered "no" for every questionnaire question (for I am not sexually active), got my finger pricked (that hurt), laid on a table for another 20 minutes, had the nurse puncture my elbow pit for a couple minutes to find a vein, and stayed their squeezing a ball in pain every 5 seconds. If you do the math, that's two hours of boredom and pain.

Am I a bad person? I'm pretty horrible. I get no satisfaction in saving a life. I DID LAST TIME THOUGH. But all I could think of this time was "dang... this is boring. I could be reviewing math in class right now." Punch me now!

On a happier note, the food was good. Had 3 bags of cracker stuff and 4 Oreos.

Love, trackie

Track season.

is finally...

OVAH!!!

("over", not "ovary".)

Does saying "finally" imply that I wanted it to end? I didn't mean for it to, but it's somewhat true I guess. Unlike XC, track season usually slowly dies down because only SOME people make it to finals, then SOME people make it to CIF Prelims, then SOME people make it to CIF Finals. The track family slowly dwindles down until the team consists of 6 sweaty boys and a coach who's is closely identified with fried chicken.

Anyway(s), I gotta recap the last few meets before I forget! I'll try to use as many analogies as I can to not lose you non-trackies.

League Prelims (Gahr)
400m - I don't run the 400! Well I'm not supposed to anyway. Time: 57 flat. Gross slow EEWW!
200m - Yeah I run the 200... but I didn't do too hot. Bad start + LOOSE SHOE!? Every step with my right foot slowed me dooowwwn, sucks more than lollipops.

No relays for prelims.

I gotta tell ya guys, I wanted to run the 100m so badly. I probably could've scored some points, AND, I love running the 100! But I didn't sign up for it. Sad. It's like wanting some curly fries but realizing you ordered just the regular kind of french fries! Yeah, it'll get you full, BUT IT'S NOT AS GOOD! Not as toasty!

Oh some bad news! Alvin was disqualified for the 400 and Albert ran half his race before he realized he was called back for a false start.

League Finals (GAHr)
4x1 relay - First leg YES AWESOME START! Medal HUHAH!
400m - I didn't pace well. Hey, Sattik caught me after 100 meters... but I did alright. Felt horrible, but did alright. Time: 55.9?(!)
4x4 relay - Oh wait I didn't run it. HAHA. I was supposed to, but honestly, I shouldn't have. Thomas ran it instead of me. ALL PART OF MY PLAN!

MINI-STORY!

Ysee I didn't wanna run the 4x4 relay because I knew other people were faster, so I was planning to be all "eehh! eehh!!! I just ran my 400! I'm sooOOooo tired!!" and tell coach about it. So after my lap, I was scrambling around looking for the guy. I found him manning the long jump pit and stumbled towards him. I totally looked tired! "Hey coach Eric, Thomas is running the 400 instead of me". Now I was expecting him to get pissed and make me run it anyway, since that's what I always got before, but he did something a little weird instead. He hugged me. He said okay to the Thomasubsitution and we started walking, me still in his arms, and he talked about how proud he was of me, and that I did well that season. I was so, dare I say, effing relieved. Talking to coach is usually impossible because he can be stubborn and sorta dumb, but that day he was really cool.

The end. EXCITING!

Oh some bad news! Edward was disqualified for the 400 and Jaydee was disqualified for the 110 hurdles. Also, Daniel got hurt.

Oh some weird news! They had to re-run the 110 hurdles because they didn't catch the times. Many were mad.

Oh some GOOD news! JAYDEE BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD YAY! BOYS 4X4 BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD YAY!! I got videos of both of them YAY!!!

Congrats, family!CIF Prelims (Carpenteria)
Two... hour... drive...
4x1 relay - MY LAST TRACK RACE! First leg MY START suuuuckkked, dagit! My run-throughs went really well, but my actual start sooooocked. It's like taking a PSAT and scoring 2400, then taking the SAT and scoring a 1900. Thas not how you were supposed to perform! We didn't PR.

That's weird, huh? Not doing well on my last race. In movies, the last thing is ALWAYS the best. The last play, the last dance, the last battle. It always ends on a high note! But that's not how real life is. I know life is not like a movie, but the reassertion of that idea is almost eye opening. Must've been squinting a bit.

Right before the 4x4, Thomas twisted his ankle. This sent Alvin and I in a frenzy (or maybe just me), realizing that we might have to run the relay as alternates. We ran a warm up and did some stretches. I totally didn't plan for it! I totally ate a Tri-tip sandwich! (Which was pretty good, nothing mind blowing though.) Luckily Thomas DID run it and we were off the hook, but GEEZ! Talk about a false alarm! It's like if you have a project presentation due for school, but then you're totally not ready because you started working on it at midnight so it's a piece of poop, so since not everyone would present today you hope other people will present and you can go tomorrow, giving you time to work on it later tonight, but then someone's pen drive breaks so you are called on to present, and then you are screwed, but then it turns out the person's pen drive still works if you hold it at a certain angle, so you don't have to go until tomorrow. False alarm.

CIF Finals (Cerritos College) - that's today!
Psych! CIF Prelims wasn't my last race! HuHAH! Also, it's a good show. (GET IT, CRAIG AND VERONICA!? SNAAAP!)
4x4 relay - Since Jan and Thomas had to go dance it up with Aprwil (Happy Birthday btw!), I was the team's second alternate and had to run the relay. My season was supposed to be over! And then you go about telling me I have to run ANOTHER race?! That's like being ready to go home after 30 battles of war when the lieutenant tells you that you've got one more mission. You might not come back alive! It's like a bad movie! Oh yeah, see, life is sometimes like a movie.

We didn't break any records with a 3:35, but I ran well. A 55 split, my first 300 felt awesome.

And uh... yeah!

I'll miss track so much. Just gotta wait for banquet!! But for now, this is my last official post about my high school career as a runner.

...whoa.

Just because I don't type anything in my Kanga, doesn't mean nothing's happening with my life. I do have lotsa deep thoughts and do do lotsa crazy stuff and blah blah blah. (DODO!)

For example.

Today my dad wasn't here this morning, so I couldn't get my weekly Sunday morning donut delivered to me today. I ended up just going to the donut shop on my own. On my way back, I saw a black guy in my neighborhood sitting on the sidewalk. I thought he was depressed, but it turns out he was just talking on his cell phone. A few streets down I saw another black guy outside talking on HIS cellphone too. Then I thought "Hm. Maybe they're talking to each other. Haha that's funny. WAIT A MINUTE just because they're both black doesn't mean they're talking to each other! HAHAHAHHA! It's possible, though, right? HAHA."

The end.

So see? Life happens that I don't show here. Why I'm telling you this, I don't know, but I thought you oghta.

GOTTA WRITE SENIOR WILL!

Free comics.

Twenty one comics.

That's how many I got today.

No, I didn't get them ALL free, only about half of them. But technically I only paid $2.00 for all that (I bought 10 for $2 as a deal, the rest were free.) It's all from FREE COMIC BOOK DAY if it didn't register yet. If it didn't send in its SIR yet. Nevermind.

The gang was me, Pandrew, and Pogawa, later we met up with Jan and his bro James. We visited 4 comic book stores and the Cerritos library. And uh... yeah! I think all I wanted to say was that I got 21 comics.

OH also a nice sketch here!

His name is Brodie McNeil. It's by a guy named Brett Nance, he's the artist for the webcomic ManBoys! He and his colleague friend guys were at one of the comic book stores signing copies of their comics. No, I don't read and or have never heard of their comic... but they were cool and nice! So here's a plug for them.

http://www.drunkduck.com/ManBoys/


Thaaaat's right. Be jealous.

Slice? Or low-cut?

Hey look another post title that's a question.

Yesterday was senior service day and I had to help some kids at Gonsalves with some tests. Twas an alright experience. Not as cool as a FOOD TRUCK, but some kids were pretty chubby, so it was sorta like helping some food trucks. HAHA just kidding there weren't any chubby kids. Just a few Whites, Hispanics, and a bunch of Asians. Skinny Asians.

Speaking of which, I saw crazy Charlie from Quest there. Surprisingly not as crazy as Quest Charlie, he's more regular Charlie (although he had to stay in for recess because he was in trouble). No, I'm not talking about a unicorn or a baby.

Speaking of speaking of which, during recess I REALLY wanted to play handball. I haven't played that since... well last year actually, but I would've TOTALLY rocked on that court. Honestly, if handball were a real sport I would go pro.

OH WHAT IS THIS?! <--...click

Alright well professional handball just isn't the same.

Oh yeah, but I didn't get to play handball because I was stuck in the classroom having a conversation with the teacher...

Sure, the talk was pleasant. But was it as pleasant as wacking a nice red ball against a hard brick wall? I don't think so.

Is sleepover one word?

Yesterday (morning) was senior sleep over! To be continued...

Spring break ended a week ago. You think I care? DO YOU THINK I CARE THAT A SPRING BREAK POST WOULD BE RIDICULOUSLY LATE?! WELL... Eh I dunno where I was going with this.

Beach w/ Track
Tuesday

HARDCORE WORKOUT! As in we work out and get hard cores. Haha. Write that one down.

-Commentate a good caption for this please!-
Volleyball! Chips with dip! Fish sandwich! Lifeguard tower w/ Cinday! Sexy waves! Boogie boardin'! I'm a badass driver! Just a typical day of fun at the beach. WITH TRACK TEAM!

Bowling w/ Friends
Wedendsay

Played with CraigPaulDarrenTaylor! My fore arm got so sore. Luckily my three arm was still aite. Ey no...

I dunno. 116 + 100 = good games??

Breakfast w/ PTA
Thursday

Free breakfast is always good breakfast (unless it's gross food). Twas weird, I had to say the pledge of allegiance with everyone in the room, and 75% of them were adults. It's really weird! Really! Have YOU ever said the pledge of allegiance with more than two adults at a time? Didn't think so! They sounded like an army of zombies, I should've recorded it.
ZOOMBAY!!

After getting my award and plaque (!!!), we just totally boned out.

Friday Saturday and Sunday spring break I don't remember what I did. YAY FORGETFORIES.


Rewind to last year...

On another note, here's the video (in two parts) of last year's Comic-Con fun.

San Diego Comic-Con Adventures! With Jan and me.





If you're interested in going this year, tell me or Jan or Cindy or Amanda or Samee or Connie, CUZ WE'RE TOTALLY GOING THIS YEAR! I'm the "so" kind of excited.


Fast forward to this week...

Track Meet!
League 3 Oxford
Thursday

4x1 - I ran well! I think I got a good start, hand off was spot on. Good chap.
400m - WHOA haven't run this since last year. I though it felt pretty good, but I got a 57.12. HAHA (Translation: It felt okay, but I ran slow. Aw man.)
4x4 - 3rd leg this time! I wasn't SUPPOSED to run. But due to technical difficulties (but not really technical), I had to run it. I did quite swimmingly though! Totally got increased our Alvin lead.

This past meet I realized how amazing the 4x4 relay is. The anticipation builds up not only throughout the whole meet, but also during the actual. I run 2nd or 3rd leg on my team. As soon as my teammate before me is running his lap, I have to step onto the track. I fidget around with excitement, anxiety, and fear as he turns the corner. I see the Whitney jersey come first on the straight away followed closely by the other schools. He's closing in and looking as exhausted as I will be in one minutes time. He comes within a few steps and I start to lead off. His arm reaches out to pass the baton; Connect, grab, and run.

I burst out of the turn hoping that whoever is close behind isn't too close behind. I pump my arms and lift my knees to break out of that start. Before I know it, I'm striding on the back stretch of the track. I constantly monitor my speed. I have to resist from exploding forward so I don't run out of energy, but at the same time I pick myself up to keep my pace just slightly faster than the guy behind me. It's a mind game of not too fast, not too slow, and before I know it I'm already and finally at the 200 meter mark. Half way done.

The second turn I try to stay consistent, leaning in slightly to get an edge. It's now that I want to throw in the towel and turn down the intensity to a simmer, but I can't. I'm almost there. Will I make it? Do I have enough energy to sustain this lead and bring it in all the way? My body says no but my mind contradicts. Teammates are there to cheer me on, screaming their heads off to keep on going. It's just what I need. They give me enough fuel to bring into the home stretch.

I flip the cradled baton out for an easy pass. 100 meters left. Suddenly there is no need for a lean and all that's left is a straight line. I give it my all. I turn my whole body up a notch, giving every last bit of strength I have into the parts of my body that can keep me running. I close my eyes, it's hard to see. My form is sloppy, it's hard to stay conscious. My body begins to break down - it isn't meant to push this hard, last this long, run this fast. But it does. It's been chipping away and I'm ready to crumble, but somehow, it does. I run on empty but sprint like I'm filled to the brim.

20 meters to 10, I pass the line but it's not over. My arm extends as I enter the passing zone. I reach out and my teammate grabs the baton from my hand. Connect, release, and stop. I run off the track into the crowd where my legs know no strength and my heart knows no pause. He's running his lap with the baton cradled just like mine. I know my teammate is going through the same power and atrophy as I did, so I cheer for him with what breath I have left. It's the idea of competition and speed that compels us, but the feeling of passion and unity that drives.


In the end, I love track.


Continuation...

Senior Sleep over!

FINALLY. I GET TO WRITE ABOUT THIS. Yknow half of this post got deleted so I had to rewrite that whole track part. I think it was about a paragraph longer the first time. Good thing or bad thing? I dunno, but SUCKS FOR ME. Anyway.

Senior Sleepover!
Lotsa fun!

Since it's super late, I'll just summarize it, Veronica-style.

• SNACKS! Shouldn't have bought dinner...
• Pictionary (I used my abilities to draw a standing stick figure)
• Where the wind blows -> Do you love your neighbor? = Fun until someone gets hurt.
• I lost my socks, but I don't care they're old
• What the heck dance?
• What the heck LAN?
• Egyptian war = scary Tim
• Sleep and wake up.
• Body tangles
• Crotch in face
• Fart trails
• Farting in faces (sorry Darren, but I don't think you noticed?)
• Rearrangement and pillow sharing
• "HEHEHEHEE"
• Sleep and wakeup.
• Morning! Yummy croissants.
• We're all zombies... go home.

Yay.

OKAY IT'S SO LATE

I NEED SLEEP!

I WAS GONNA SLEEP EARLIER, but again, I HAD TO RETYPE HALF OF THIS.

zogzmz.

Today was so hot.

I got so sticky. I could've just thrown myself against a wall and I would've stayed there. But then I was also sweaty, so I would've slowly slid down the wall. Wait, how can I be sweaty and sticky at the same time? Is it like sticky water? Eh, one of life's mysteries.