Thanksgiving 2024.
Each and every year, I look forward to celebrating Thanksgiving. It is a time for food, family, fun, and—above all—love.
Thanksgiving this time around was even better than I had thought it would be. Multiple family members who I don’t get to see every day were in town, the food was delicious, and we even fit in an entertaining game of Jenga in the afternoon on the 28th.
I have so much to be thankful for, but if I had to distill all this down to one word, it would of course be love. I love my family, I love my friends, I love my animals, and I love myself.
My late grandmother, Marguerite, always enjoyed Thanksgiving, and not a year goes by without me thinking of her. For her, family always went first, and I try to emulate that attitude in all that I do, and especially on this hallowed day.
Thanksgiving this year was most definitely over the top. My contribution to the culinary festivities was to make my favorite vegan shredded tofu dish, which went over very well. My mom made vegan mashed potatoes, which were the best I had ever tasted. My dad barbequed his famous salmon, and my sister and her girlfriend made soybeans and Brussels sprouts, respectively. To top it all off, the day after Thanksgiving, I had lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant with my aunt, uncle, parents, and paternal grandmother.
My very favorite musical artist is Lady Gaga, and my very favorite song is one of hers titled “You And I.” This piece, in my humble opinion, is the best love song ever written. A few years ago, while on YouTube, I discovered that she had posted a video of herself performing this very special song on Thanksgiving day. How perfect that a song about love becomes one with a holiday that is designed to be spent with loved ones. After all, what is Thanksgiving but an elaborate love song to those who matter most?
In order to love others, one must first learn to love oneself. During this last year, I feel that I have truly come into my own. I have a new leadership position with Toastmasters, a thirty-chapter future book all outlined, a medal from my first 10K, and the unwavering and unconditional support of those in my life who are near and dear to my heart.
I expect next Thanksgiving to be even more monumental than this one. Something good can always be made better, and when it comes to me and my friends and family, the sky is the limit. The one regret that I have for this year is that I forgot to ask someone to take pictures of all of us during the festivities. However, in place of that, you have this piece. If you have made it this far, I just want to thank you. In reading it, you have unwittingly become a part of what has made Thanksgiving so special for me this time around.
My New Vegan Cookbook.
For those of you who don’t know, I am a proud vegan, and have been so for years. My Aunt Sue has been vegan for even longer. We both appreciate good food, which was why, a few weeks ago, when Sue recommended a vegan YouTuber’s videos to me, I got excited. I quickly went on the channel, Rainbow Plant Life, and saw that the owner, a gal named Nisha Vora, was getting ready to publish a vegan cookbook, complete with exactly one hundred and fifty original recipes. I was so persuaded, and I decided to pre-order a copy immediately.
The very first recipe of hers, from the book, I decided to cook was called Sesame Tofu. My parents and I split it. It was delectable. I was so enticed that I then went on to make spicy brown rice, masala tofu, pasta with red sauce, pancakes, cashew cheese, ginger snaps, and something called “adult grilled cheese.” I have yet to encounter a recipe of hers that I don’t like. I now have my eye on a confection known as a “celebration cake,” which is a yellow cake covered with “buttercream” frosting.
My parents and I have a new routine: every other week, I go to Vons to stock up on essential ingredients—enough to make one Nisha Vora recipe a week. We decide together which recipes we want to cook. I feel as though I am running a mini vegan restaurant in my home kitchen. The recipes are so premium, so delicious, and simply so flavorful—which makes sense, because the book is after all titled Big Vegan Flavor.
I very much admire the time and effort Nisha has put into developing her recipes. I believe she made pancakes over two dozen times, just to find the right balance of vegan sour cream, and other ingredients, to use. She works hard at this so we don’t have to.
During this time, I have learned a valuable lesson: the more time and effort you put into cooking, the more you will be rewarded. Hard work always pays off; and with cooking, you get something tangible for your troubles, which is a tasty meal. The more elaborate you become, the more delicious your reward is. On top of it all, cooking has allowed me to share the fruits of my labor with my parents, who are always along for the ride.
To conclude, I would highly recommend looking into purchasing Big Vegan Flavor. Acquiring it would be a decision you would most definitely not regret. I personally believe that even non-vegans would enjoy the recipes in this book. They are very indulgent, no matter what your dietary preferences are. My Aunt Sue recently bought herself a copy, and we are enjoying swapping stories about how certain recipes have worked for us. I love food and cooking, just as I have loved exploring the intricacies of this very special book.
Another Short Fiction Piece.
It was a quiet, almost dreary day at the library, until Asher’s phone rang. He took one look at the caller ID, and excited trepidation flooded his body.
“Hello??” he stammered nervously.
“Yes…this is your classmate Samhain,” said a sensual voice on the other end of the line. “Do you by any chance remember our assignment for psychology for next week?”
“Just give me a second,” replied Asher.
“Can you please watch my stuff for a quick minute?” he asked the total stranger sitting next to him.
After the student nodded, Asher almost sprang from his post in the library, eagerly desiring to continue the telephonic conversation with a boy he had quietly lusted over for months now.
The plan was simple: Asher would wow Samhain, a noted psychology buff, with his expertly researched presentation on the effects of the love hormone oxytocin on the brain and body. Their psychology class met in just a few hours, and, even though Asher did not have his presentation memorized, all the relevant notes were sitting there at the library table where he had been studying all morning.
The phone conversation went very well, but keeping Asher’s stuff safe did not. As soon as he got back to his seat, not only were all the studiers sitting at his table gone, but his notes had disappeared as well. The delicate Samhain bubble inside him, which had been growing and swelling all morning, suddenly and violently burst.
What should I do now? Asher asked himself. He did not know who he was more angry at—himself for being careless, or the stranger who had just so rudely violated his trust.
A few hours later, Asher entered the psychology classroom without a plan to salvage either his crush or his grade. When it came time to stand up in front of the class, he said the first and only thing that came to his mind: “Have any of you ever wondered why people at the library, when something comes up, feel confident trusting the stranger sitting next to them to guard their stuff from the other total strangers sitting nearby?”
To his surprise, this ended up sparking a lively discussion, and the professor applauded Asher as he eventually took his seat. After class, Samhain approached Asher.
“I was so impressed by your presentation,” said Samhain.
Asher blushed. “Would you by any chance want to grab dinner at the dining commons later with me?” he blurted out.
On his way to dinner that evening, wearing his best red blazer, Asher, a very philosophical person, thought to himself: You know, sometimes if life doesn’t give you lemons, just make lemonade anyway, and often your beverage will taste even better than it could have tasted if you had had lemons to use in the first place.
My Experience at Disneyland This Year.
There is no place as nostalgic for me as Disneyland. During my 32 years of life, I have probably been there almost two dozen times. However, the magic never gets old.
This iteration, I elected to go with two of my very best friends, Christina and Anthony. We spent a record-breaking twelve hours in the park last Thursday. When we first arrived, it was virtually empty, but by the time we left, the crowd size had swelled markedly. One highlight for me that day was being able to basically walk onto my new favorite ride, The Matterhorn.
During this particular trip, I noticed that, while much of Disney has stayed the same, much has also changed since the days when I was a child. They now have an iPhone app that gives users live ride wait times, lets visitors purchase merchandise, and allows food to be pre-ordered. Additionally, the park now features a section known as “Star Wars Land.”
There were two things that I neglected to do last time I was at Disney, and made sure to do this time: number one, purchase a piece of Disneyland souvenir clothing, and, number two, try one of the colored vegan Star Wars “milks.” This just goes to show that you can have anything you want in this life, as long as you are willing to be patient and to work for it. I know that these examples are relatively minor and mundane, but the message imparted, for me, will always remain the same.
Every time I contemplate going on the intergalactic rollercoaster known as Space Mountain, I without question get nervous. Oftentimes while I am in line, the trepidation will build, until I finally board the coaster and end up surprising myself by having an incredibly enjoyable time. Anthony sometimes will push me to go on rides that I perceive as being out of my comfort zone, and I almost always end up feeling grateful to him for inspiring me to face one of my ultimate fears.
Back when I was a youth, if you had asked me what my favorite ride at Disneyland was, I would have instantly told you that it was It’s a Small World. If you had to encapsulate my childhood into one attraction, that would be it. I greatly look forward to taking my future kids on that ride one day. The message is just so inclusive, and so inspiring. As I type this post, I can hear the “Small World” theme song playing on repeat in my head.
Whenever I am at Disney, I think of family, of friends, and of fun. Back when my late grandmother was still with us, we used to frequently pass the time at her house by playing Disneyland Monopoly together. I almost always won, and she preferred things that way. In comparison, going to Disney is always also a win. I cannot name one truly negative experience that I have ever had there, and I cannot think of anyone who has really and honestly told me that they do not like the rides offered. Out of all the theme parks that I have ever been to in my life, Disneyland most definitely has to be my absolute favorite.
Me with friends in front of the It's a Small World ride at Disneyland.
A Brief Fictional Piece.
When Fawzi was a child, he had a massive sweet tooth. “The Cookie Monster,” his friends would affectionately call him. Anything with sugar in it was a treat for Fawzi. He loved chocolate and he loved candy, but, most of all, he simply loved chewing bubblegum. He could go through a whole pack in a day. His sister finally got tired of seeing all the gum wads in the trash, and decided to take action.
“Did you know, Fawzi,” she said one day, “that if someone accidentally swallows gum, it gets trapped in their stomach forever?”
This was a blatant lie, of course, but Fawzi was little, and prone to believe anything his big sister told him. Coincidentally, the next day, he accidentally swallowed some spearmint-flavored gum. Immediately, he thought about what his sister had said, and became terrified.
What was once a source of joy to him had quickly become a source of anxiety and discomfort. He decided to go cold turkey on the gum, and eventually stopped consuming sweets entirely. By the time he reached young adulthood, he couldn’t even remember the name of his favorite brand of chewing gum.
Fawzi was a very ambitious person, and out of all the myriad of career choices available to him, he eventually decided to become a dentist. He had always wanted to be successful. He ended up being very wealthy, but, at the same time, very unhappy—until, one day, an idea came to him.
“What if I were to invent a special type of chewing gum, that can be safely swallowed after each use, and which has a flavor so distinctive that the taste never disappears?” he thought to himself.
He told his family, friends, and co-workers about his idea, and none of them believed that it was possible. But he did.
Fawzi had wealth, but not happiness, and he truly wanted both, and believed that they were not mutually exclusive—so he quit his job at the dental practice, and devoted all his time to working on his special, new brand of chewing gum, with the knowledge that this plan was not without risk.
After several false starts, Fawzi’s gum was eventually ready for prime-time. He even swallowed several pieces of it, and noticed that there was no gum in his stools, which meant that it had successfully decomposed in his gut, like it was supposed to.
After a decade of selling his product, Fawzi becomes famous and is worth billions of dollars. He is fulfilled, and, finally, because he is doing something he loves and that benefits others, he feels happy. “Nothing is impossible, as long as you are willing to put the work in and believe in yourself,” he thinks.
Fawzi ends up living a very long life, filled with love, and once he eventually passes, his children follow the instructions he left them in his will, to the letter.
To this day, if one were to visit the graveyard where Fawzi is buried, on the gravestone would be the following quote, taken from a well-known poem by Robert Frost: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that had made all the difference.”
My New Position With Toastmasters.
For those of you who do not know, I have been a member of my local Ventura Toastmasters public speaking club for roughly a decade now. Since I joined, my social skills have greatly improved, as well as my leadership and collaboration skills. The members of Club 24 are like family to me. Each and every Monday, I look forward to our stimulating and productive meetings.
The highest level of achievement in Toastmasters is represented in the DTM credential, which stands for Distinguished ToastMaster. Sometimes members work for years to obtain this honor. It is my ultimate goal to someday acquire it.
As part of my research, I discovered that in order to obtain a DTM, one must potentially serve in a capacity known as Area Director. Shortly after encountering this, I decided to apply for the position. I assumed that it would be very rewarding for me to give back to an organization that has, in the last ten years, given me everything.
The application process was fairly straightforward, and a few weeks after I submitted everything, I learned that I had gotten the position. I ecstatically shared the news with my parents and sister, who were incredibly proud of me.
The main function of an Area Director is to look after the clubs in their area, by visiting them twice a year, and then reporting back to Toastmasters International what they think of their progress. It is my goal, during my tenure, to turn our Area into something known as a Distinguished Area. This means that each and every club in Area B1 will meet certain membership and productivity criteria.
The training process so far for my new position has been very rewarding. A veteran Toastmaster, who is a member of over a dozen clubs, Debbie Allmon, has decided to take me under her wing, and I have already learned a lot from her. Back in the day, she was an Area Director as well.
For me, the Area Director position will bring more responsibility, and also more reward. I welcome the challenge that is serving Area B1. I see my new job as something resembling a roller coaster at Disneyland—sometimes stressful, always fun, and ever-changing. By the time I relinquish this duty, I anticipate that I will be a different, and even better person.
To conclude, I am incredibly grateful that this opportunity is available to me. I am looking forward to working with friends and colleagues to make all four clubs in this Area even more superior than they already are. I feel that I have much experience to bring to the table, and so much to teach these individuals, and, yet, they also have a lot to teach me.
My Experiences in Hawaii This Summer.
Just the other day, I got home from a five-day Hawaiian vacation with my parents and my younger sister, Holly. I have been to Hawaii well over a dozen times in my thirty-two years, and Kauai still is, and will always be, my very favorite island out of them all. It is colloquially known as “The Garden Isle,” and anyone who knows me well at all knows that I love nature. This is why I always feel drawn to Kauai. The only other two places in the world that I am as drawn to are the city of San Francisco, and my alma mater, Occidental College. My parents booked our airfare for this trip way back in December, so suffice it to say that I was really looking forward to this particular excursion.
I had a very enjoyable and positive experience flying with United out of LAX. Our plane was a relatively new 737 Max, and it was my first time boarding the controversial jet. By the end of the vacation, I ended up deciding that the Max is my new favorite narrow-body aircraft. The windows are large, and the cabin feels very airy and spacious. I also noticed that the noise of the engines is greatly reduced compared to older aircrafts. For those of you who do not know, my late grandfather on my mother’s side used to be a pilot with United, so I always look especially forward to flying with them.
The south shore of Kauai never fails to remind me of my childhood, because many special summers were spent there with my immediate family and friends. Since I last stayed in Poipu when I was a kid, it was interesting to see what had changed, and what has stayed the same. The Kiahuna Plantation resort was the same as ever; however some of the restaurants nearby had been changed out since the days of my youth. It had been years since we last stayed on this part of the island—our last few Hawaiian vacations found us on the north shore in Princeville.
In a way, even more special than the island was the valuable time I got to bond with my family. We did everything together; from relaxing at the local beach and pool to exploring the Allerton Botanical Gardens, which were simply splendid and constituted one of the best experiences in nature I have ever had. Father’s Day and my dad’s 60th birthday made the vacation even more invigorating and unique than it would have otherwise been.
As I write this, I can almost feel the humid island air, energizing me as I breathe it in. Displayed in my bedroom is a small souvenir map of Kauai. I basically have it memorized. I truly feel like, as we flew away, a part of me was left behind on this island. That part of me will always reside there, and will always welcome me back, should I ever decide to visit The Garden Isle again. I am certain that, in the future, I will elect to do so.
Me enjoying a POG smoothie at my dad’s favorite restaurant on the island, Keoki’s Paradise.
My Birthday Trip to San Francisco.
Every year around my birthday, my parents are kind enough to sponsor a trip to San Francisco for my dad and I, because they know that that city is my favorite spot on Earth. Each winter, I eagerly anticipate the vacation, and every spring, I come back from the Bay Area full of energy and inspiration. This year was no different.
The voyage began when I got on the plane in Burbank, a peppy little Boeing 737-700 painted with the colorful livery of Southwest Airlines. After roughly an hour in the air, we were descending into paradise. As soon as I exited the puddle-jumper and walked onto the jetway in Oakland, I breathed a sigh of satisfaction, as I was going home.
From Oakland International, it was only roughly a half-an-hour BART ride under the bay until we entered the city of San Francisco. Once we dropped our bags off at the hotel, we decided to start the trip off strong by hiking up to the Coit Tower, which offers sweeping, panoramic views of the city and of the East Bay. Unfortunately, we discovered that the elevator in the Tower was closed, but this did nothing to dampen my spirits, because the beauty of San Francisco can be found on any street, and in any park, within the idyllic city.
The great skyscrapers of S.F. are a sight to behold, but the peninsula also boasts some of the best restaurants that one could ever frequent. Right after leaving Coit Tower, my dad and I headed down to Tony’s Pizza in Little Italy, which boasts the best cheese pizza slices I have ever tasted, outside of New York and Italy itself.
The next day, we met up at Golden Gate Park with my cousin Aaron, his significant other Candice, and my Aunt Lori and Uncle Alan. Our experience inside the Japanese Tea Garden there was so immersive that I felt that if someone had been blindfolded and driven there, once brought to their senses, they would mistakenly think that they had been transported to Japan itself. I additionally couldn’t help but notice that there is an abundance of running trails in the park, which I had read is even larger than Central Park in Manhattan.
The feeling I get when I enter San Francisco is almost impossible to describe. It is basically a sensation, which, this year, I experienced as soon as I got off the plane. While I was in the city, I felt physically healthier. When I got back, I suffered a phenomenon that I jokingly call “San Francisco Withdrawals.” I truly feel that it is exceedingly rare that one person can feel such a strong connection to a physical place. It is my ultimate dream to one day own property within the city.
If you have not experienced the phenomenon that is San Francisco for yourself, I would highly recommend giving the Bay Area a try. Like a casual smoker that sometimes cannot help but light up, I for some reason simply cannot stay away—and I truly feel that this phenomenon is not unique to myself. I am aware that any urban area has its benefits and drawbacks, but in my humble opinion, there just isn’t anything negative about San Francisco to be found.
My dad & I at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park.
My Very First 5K.
Victory, sweet victory, is what I thought when I crossed the finish line of my very first 5K just the other day. With my dad running at my side, and my mom and Grandma Melinda cheering me on from the sidelines, life just couldn’t get any better. Not only was completing the race doable, it was EASY.
Way back in the day, when I was much younger, my parents decided to sponsor a 5K put on by my high school. My dad proudly ran in it, but on race day, I was nowhere to be found. Just running a mile on a treadmill at the Y was challenging enough for me. When my freshman English teacher took one look at my legs and said, “You must be a runner!” I laughed at her and said no.
However, as I have recently discovered, no challenge is insurmountable, and nothing is impossible. These last few weeks have been very beneficial for me, and have turned me from a spectator into a true runner. Training for the 5K on the 6th of April was one of the most rewarding things that I have ever done in my life.
My dad’s philosophy with running is to over-prepare and overcompensate, so that on the big day of the race, everything goes without a hitch. I found this strategy to very lucrative. For a couple weeks before the 5K on April 6th, we were regularly running 3.5 miles at a time. A 5K is roughly 3.1 miles, just to let you know.
I looked forward to the 6th Annual Stronger Families Safer Kids 5K from the moment my dad and I registered, and when race day finally arrived, I was giddy with anticipation. The chilly morning weather in Oxnard Shores did nothing to quell my bourgeoning need for cardiovascular exercise. As soon as we were off, I reminded myself to not expend all of my energy right away, and to save some resources so that my dad and I could finish the race strong.
I very much enjoyed the route, and of course appreciated the volunteers who pointed us where to go. Something about the “officialness” of the event really caused me to bring my A Game. Think of studying for a test, versus actually taking said test. There were something about the circumstances of the race that really lit a fire under my feet, and the resulting experience was one that I will never forget, even though my dad and I are, even now, regularly running 4.5+ miles at a time without a sweat.
Right as the finish line came into view, I poured on the steam and took the final few seconds at a sprint. The startled onlookers let out a cheer of surprise, and I could just feel them thinking, Look at that guy go!
To conclude, I wish to reflect back on that day when my high school English teacher asked me if I was a runner and I said “No.” That statement was both a mistake and a lie. The proper answer is: “Yes! Of course I am!”
Me & my dad finishing my first 5K.
Finishing The Process of Outlining Parapenda.
As I am sure you all know by now, one of my ultimate bucket list items is to become a published author. I like to think that I am a gifted writer who, if published, would be very successful and admired. During my career as a writer, I have authored all kinds of pieces, from academic papers to short stories. The longest academic essay I have ever written is 44 pages, which was my capstone paper that was required in order for me to graduate from Occidental. Additionally, my longest fictional piece so far is The Accidental Traveler. Both of these works have been posted on this website.
In other words, I have never written a full-length novel before. Originally, this task seemed sort of daunting. However, I have learned to attack it by breaking down novel writing into its constituent parts. With help from my dear friend and fellow writer Monica, I was able to create some literary templates. This has allowed me to fully flesh out potential characters, by including their backstories, favorites, and more. Additionally I was able to produce a one page summary for each chapter of my future book Parapenda. There are to be thirty chapters in the novel—hence there are thirty pages of outlines.
The planning process for this novel so far has been one of the most rewarding tasks I have ever completed. For a few months now, I have been living and breathing Parapenda. The only analogy I have to describe my fervor during this time was my excitement after re-reading all seven Harry Potter books fairly recently. It is possible for me to fully immerse myself in fictional worlds, which makes me an even better writer, in my humble opinion.
The next step for me is to physically type each chapter of Parapenda. This process will be made vastly more rewarding because of my outlines and in-depth character sketches. I have found that, the more I have developed Parapenda, the more excited I get about the eventual writing process. I am incredibly proud of my book so far, and fully believe that it will sell millions of copies and garner rave reviews once it is eventually published.
I truly and honestly feel that the most challenging, and yet most rewarding process of writing a book is outlining the plot and developing your characters. Once this is done, for all intents and purposes, the book is finished. This means that, as of right now, Parapenda is basically already written.
While doing some research, I discovered that, among writers, there are “pantsers” and “plotters.” Pantsers just write about what is on their mind in any given moment, while plotters carefully outline everything before beginning to write. I am definitely in the latter category. To reiterate, fleshing out Parapenda during these last few months has been one of the most enriching and exciting things I have ever done, and it can only get better from this point on until the completed work is in the hands of interested readers.
Our Dog Maizy.
For those of you who do not know, last summer, my family and I adopted a pit bull puppy, who we quickly christened Maizy. She is incredibly near and dear to my heart, and as I write this post, I am sitting on the couch next to her. I love to lay down with her, and rest my head on her belly while she basks in the sun outside in our backyard. She is everything to my parents and I.
When I was younger, I did not like dogs—however, while I was an adult and in college, my parents decided to adopt a yellow lab named Bentley. This changed my opinion about dogs completely and totally. I eventually became incredibly close with him, and was devastated when he passed away in the spring of 2022. To fill the void, we ended up getting Maizy.
For as long as I can remember, I have always loved animals. I grew up with primarily cats in the house, and was fairly young when my sister got her first dog, Phyllis. Since then, we have adopted multiple dogs and cats. Even though felines will always be my favorite animals, I cannot help but admire the devotion and love that dogs almost always direct toward their owners.
I truly feel that one of the best ways to get to know someone is to examine how they act toward their “inferiors,” which means that the way some humans treat animals can often be incredibly revealing. I personally feel that animals were put on this earth to happily live out the duration of their lives, without being exploited or mistreated by human beings.
When I look in Maizy’s eyes, I see unconditional love and adoration. I know that she trusts me, and values the bond that we share. She has made my life so much better, and in return I like to care for her and look after her as much as I can. Whenever we get back from a vacation, I always look forward to seeing and interacting with her, and I miss her when we are separated.
Being partially responsible for the welfare of an animal has been incredibly rewarding for me. In a way, it is like having a child. There is something that is just so enriching about caring for someone you love. The way my parents look after Maizy almost reminds me of the way they supported me during my childhood. One day, of course, I hope to have children of my own.
I have heard of studies, which basically mention that human beings are healthier and happier if they have cherished pets in their lives. There is just something about the bond between animal and human that is so strong, and so rewarding. If you are going through something challenging, I would highly recommend having a feline or canine friend by your side, to ease you through the pain. For as long as I can remember, there have been animals in my house, and Maizy is just our latest addition.
To conclude, I truly feel that, without Maizy, my life would simply not be the same. I am incredibly grateful to my parents for adopting her. She is one of my favorite pets we have ever owned, and because she is so young, I anticipate enjoying her companionship for years to come.
Me cuddling with Maizy.
Why I’m Taking Up Running.
Have you ever faced a challenge you thought would be unsurmountable, and then succeeded? Just the other day, I was watching the Diana Nyad movie on Netflix, and I was stunned by Ms. Nyad’s ability to persevere in the face of extreme challenges. On one of her attempts to swim from Cuba to the U.S., she was stung by a jelly fish, but nothing stopped her from getting right back in the water, and trying again, until she finally succeeded in her record-breaking journey.
I, of course, am not even going to begin to compare myself to Diana Nyad—however, like her, I have so far been able challenge myself by completing something that has taken great effort and will power. That “something” for me is running.
In high school, for P.E. class, we regularly took a bus to the local YMCA, and it was there that I began running on the treadmill. For our physical fitness tests, we had to run a mile in a certain time, and I was able to pass. However, running was no fun for me, and I regularly struggled with going long distances. At that time, I did not envision making running a permanent part of my life.
However, for the past few months, I have been working out regularly at 24 Hour Fitness with my dad, as well as taking bi-weekly Zumba classes there with my Grandma Melinda. I wanted to take things to the next level, and, while I was giving a presentation at Toastmasters about working out a little while ago, a random thought popped into my head: Why don’t I try running? This new implementation could theoretically be the “cherry on top” of my new fitness routine.
I typically tend to think of myself as a highly motivated person, who can eventually achieve anything he sets his mind to. This, of course, includes running, as I was about to find out. Once I proposed the idea to my dad, who has run in dozens of marathons and half-marathons, I could tell that he was overjoyed at my suggestion. I was incredibly excited to begin.
A few weeks ago, my dad and I went on our first run together, as father and son. The distance was a mile, and before we left the house, I did not know what to expect. However, as soon as our feet hit the pavement, I felt a burst of confidence, and by the time we finished the route I was beaming with joy and satisfaction. We finished in roughly thirteen minutes. Since then, we have run several times, and now our new distance is two miles.
Taking up running has been extremely rewarding for me, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is seeking to up their fitness game. The vast part of the challenge is all in your head, in my humble opinion. Once one realizes this simple fact, they empower themselves to succeed, not just in running, but additionally in all other areas of life.
Me running by the beach in Ventura.
My New Year’s Resolutions 2024.
As I stood, gyrating to the beat of the disco music at Paddy’s bar on New Year’s Eve, midnight was fast approaching. Before I knew, it the friendly and attractive D.J. was counting down. At long last, 2024 had arrived.
This year holds so much promise for me. I truly and honestly believe that it will be one of the best years of my life. Already, so many good things are in the works. I am flying up to San Francisco with my dad in May, and we are taking a family vacation in Hawaii in June. I also am looking forward to visiting my alma mater Occidental in February with some of my best friends, and celebrating my 32nd birthday later on this spring.
Every year, I set resolutions for myself, and this year is no exception. But this time is different because all three of my big goals for this year were initiated in 2023. It is easy to predict that one will achieve their dreams if they know exactly what it will entail to make these dreams a reality, which I most certainly do.
My first resolution is to become more physically fit. For those of you who do not know, over a year ago my grandma Melinda encouraged me to join a Zumba class at our local 24 Hour Fitness. We go together every Monday. I truly feel that each and every session is better than the last. My growth in class has been exponential since I first decided to join. In addition, my dad has taken to working out with me twice a week. Under his tutelage, the weights I am using have increased, and the repetitions have also gone up.
My second goal is to practice mindfulness at least once a day. When I was a child, my mother always meditated, but I was frequently skeptical as to the effectiveness of this particular technique. It wasn’t until my psychiatrist recommended the app Calm a few months ago that I truly was able to experience the power of voluntarily clearing one’s mind. I have become an addict. Luckily for me, a new meditation is released on the app every single day. My ultimate goal is to graduate from doing fifteen-minute meditations, and transition on to practicing mindfulness for up to one hour. During this process, I have discovered that it is easy to enjoy something that you are proficient at.
You all know my third resolution: to continue to work on my future novel, Parapenda. It is my ultimate bucket list item to become a published author. For Christmas, my parents thoughtfully gifted me a book titled The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published. I have recently been outlining potential chapters for my book, and populating character profiles. This process has been incredibly rewarding so far, and I am very excited to see where all this preparation will take me in 2024.
To conclude, I truly feel that every new year is firstly an opportunity for a fresh start, and secondly a chance to do even better than you may have done the year prior. I would be very curious to see the various resolutions you all may have. If you believe it is appropriate, please feel free to let me know some of your plans for this year in the comments. Setting goals and then achieving them is very rewarding for me, as I am sure it also is for you all. Happy 2024!
My Latest Project: Working on Parapenda.
For those of you who do not know, it is my ultimate dream to become a published author. For years, I have had this idea of writing a novel about a perfect society known as Parapenda. Every denizen of this civilization has so much love that all flaws—the flaws that “make people human”—have been stripped away.
However, a few months ago, it was brought to my attention that any story without a villain is not one that will make the bestseller list. So, the Parahata virus was born. This disease infects people’s minds, and since reality is subjective, this does incredible damage to Parapenda. In fact, shortly after the Parahata virus arrives via asteroid, the entire perfect society of Parapenda is destroyed.
There is a prophecy that, one day, there will be a person born without the Parahata virus. By falling in love, this person alone has the ability to bring Parapenda back to the earth. This person is my hero; and this person’s name is Caron Meyer.
Caron searches for years for romantic love, until he finally meets Dorian. However, the Parahata virus is aware of this love, and risks everything to try to destroy it. Can Caron and Dorian defeat this evil infection, thereby consecrating their love, and in the process, can they also save the perfect society of Parapenda?
I hope that this brief synopsis intrigues you. Over the past few weeks, I have been working toward making Parapenda a reality; harder than I have ever worked on it before. I have been receiving some sage advice from a colleague of mine about the processes of outlining and publishing a full-length novel. This would be my first time writing a piece this long. I am shooting for a fairly voluminous book, by the way.
I have created templates for outlining potential chapters. I plan to fill out a one-page outline per chapter. Additionally, I have made a pre-formatted document which can be filled out—by me—as a way of detailing the unique strengths and flaws that make each character tick. I want us to feel like we know the characters. I want to be familiar with their backgrounds, their personalities, and even their favorites.
This process has been incredibly rewarding for me so far—ten times more rewarding than I originally would have pictured. It is one thing to imagine publishing a novel, and another to actually begin working on it. These early plans make me very confident that Parapenda has the potential to become a real novel one day. All of this outlining so far has reminded me that anything is possible, if only one is willing to put in the work to achieve it.
Thanksgiving 2023.
Every year, without fail, on Thanksgiving I think of my grandmother. It was one of her very favorite holidays, and each November, she would be in her element, surrounded by the love of her family. To this day, I can remember sitting at her and my grandfather’s wooden table in the living room eating turkey—the very same table where we always played Monopoly, and I always won.
I wholeheartedly feel that I have so much to be thankful for this year. If I were to list everything, it would probably take pages and pages, so I will be brief. I am incredibly grateful for the love that surrounds me—the enduring love of my friends and family. Every day, I feel so supported by my loved ones, and so valued. This summer, it will be six years since my grandma passed, and I continue to be thankful for the very close relationship I had with her. We used to talk on the phone almost every day.
I am thankful for my health, and for my Occidental education. I am very lucky because I get to exercise at Zumba class every Monday with my other grandma; Melinda. Every once in a while, I am able to take the train up to Santa Barbara with my mom. In just a few weeks, I will be going camping in Malibu with my dad. A few months ago, I drove into L.A. with my friend Anthony and his mom to go to Hurricane Harbor. Every Sunday, I get to FaceTime my Aunt Sue, and every Saturday, my favorite political podcast comes out. I am also very privileged because, every three weeks, I get to update this blog. In short, it is sometimes the little things in life that can have the most meaning.
Yesterday, my younger sister Holly and her friend J. came over, and we had homemade sushi for Thanksgiving dinner. The food was delicious, especially because I got to observe exactly what went into creating it. It was also rewarding to be able to contribute by going to the grocery store to procure some of the requisite ingredients. As we sat in the backyard with chopsticks in our hands, I could not help but drink in the moment, knowing that it would be another year before this tradition resumed again. A year during which, I hope, many good things will come to pass.
As I am sure you have derived, Thanksgiving is one of my very favorite holidays, and I like to think that I value the occasion in the same ways that my grandma always did. Every year, I try to think about how fortunate I am to have the life that I lead. Every Thanksgiving, I always acknowledge the fact that love is the most important thing. So is connection. I am hoping that, way back in the 1600s when this uniquely American holiday was first celebrated, the European settlers and the Native Americans were also able to acknowledge the power of collaboration and the importance of gratitude. Without it, we could never hope to blossom into the proud and exceptional nation that we are today.
Me with friends and family on Thanksgiving 2023.
My Halloween Experience This Year.
What is your favorite part of Halloween? Is it possibly the trick-or-treating, or the costumes, or the pumpkin carving, or even all of the above? The one thing about Halloween that I always look forward to most each year is most definitely the roasting of fresh pumpkin seeds. There is something about biting into a freshly harvested seed—coated in olive oil and sea salt—that is just so nostalgic and delicious for me. It hits the spot every time. I am, of course, fully aware that whole pumpkin seeds are readily available at most grocery stores; however, I always treasure the process of collecting them myself, and the taste of freshly cooked pumpkin seeds is simply unparalleled.
This year, I decided to dress up as one of my very favorite fictional characters: Harry Potter. This was perfect, as I am currently re-reading all seven Harry Potter books on my new Kindle. They read even better now that I am processing them as an adult. I feel like I am now able to fully understand the hidden meanings that lie behind J.K. Rowling’s carefully crafted sentences, paragraphs, and chapters. I am currently so absorbed in the books that it is almost an addiction.
Last night, I met my close friend Anthony at Paddy’s Bar in downtown Ventura, for what turned out to be an epic Halloween party. He showed up early at around eight, dressed as a demonic and possessed clown. His masquerade was so complete that I almost did not recognize him. He was not alone—that night I ended up introducing myself to Lord Voldemort, some characters from the Barbie movie, and even a U.S. Founding Father. The Halloween decorations at Paddy’s were so over the top that it almost reminded me of the “Haunted Mansion” ride at Disneyland. After a little while, our friend Mo showed up, and we spent the evening gyrating to the peppy beats of Lady Gaga, blaring through the bar’s carefully placed speakers.
Earlier in October, Anthony, his mom, and I had driven down to Knott’s Scary Farm, as is our yearly tradition. We traipsed through ten haunted mazes, and even attended a haunted buffet dinner at the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel. I look forward to these special indulgences every year, and I found myself appreciating Knott’s even more this time, because I originally thought I might not be able to go due to a minor foot injury.
I would like to leave you with a few thoughts about Halloween that I have been considering these past few days. Firstly, after my experiences at Paddy’s, I could not help but conclude that Halloween is just as much for adults as it is for kids. Of course, this does not mean that I do not look forward to trick-or-treating with my future children someday. I also re-discovered that dressing up can be incredibly rewarding, especially when people recognize your costume and complement you for your thoroughness and attention to detail in creating it. Finally, I truly feel that Halloween is isn’t necessarily only about the candy; it is also about the meaningful and loving interactions with others—even total strangers—that are bound to occur on the evening of every October 31st.
Me and my friend Anthony at Paddy’s Bar in Ventura on Halloween.
My Spanish Vacation.
On Wednesday, my parents and I got back from Barcelona, Spain, in what was one of the most unique and special vacations of my life. The entire experience was very eye-opening. During this trip, I conquered my fear of flying, went on a funicular for the first time, got a bad case of the stomach flu, ordered tapas in Spanish, and watched a flamenco dance performance right at my hotel. I came home a different person from the man I was when I left, just eleven days ago.
Before we even boarded the plane at LAX, I had already carefully researched the equipment and specifically selected the seat I was to occupy for the roughly eleven-hour journey to Zurich, Switzerland. From there, it was just a short puddle-jumper flight to Barcelona. For those of you who do not know, I used to have a fear of turbulence on planes. However, there were so many constant bumps on this flight that the fear basically broke itself. I am calling it the “hair of the dog” approach. You have no idea how enabling and empowering these flights were for me. By the time we were whizzing back to Los Angeles on one of the latest Airbus A350s, the fear was so long gone that when there eventually was some turbulence, I actually enjoyed it. It was like I was on a ride at Disneyland, without a care in the world.
Spain itself was enchanting. I loved everything about it, from its beautiful architecture, to its friendly people, to its delicious churros dipped in piping-hot chocolate. We stayed in two hotels: the first was called the Hotel Continental Palacete, which was sort of by the main thoroughfare titled La Rambla, and the second was called the Hotel Nouvel, which was situated in our favorite part of the city, named the Gothic Quarter. Walking down the streets of the Quarter was like going back in time. It is impossible to accurately describe this experience in words, which is why I have attached the picture below.
On one of our last full days in Spain, we decided to journey up to Montserrat. For those of you who do not know, the name Montserrat means “serrated mountains” in Catalan, which is one of the two languages that most Barcelona residents speak. The view from the monastery near the top of the mountain was outstanding. The environs were so peaceful and green that I envisioned, next time, staying at the local hotel simply to detox, get in touch with myself, and write to my heart’s content.
Towards the end of the trip, I contracted a nasty bit of stomach flu, which has now basically resolved. It was my first time getting this illness in a long while, so I was very unprepared for what to expect. What I did end up concluding is the following: when I look back on this special vacation in the years to come, I won’t remember feeling crappy a few of the days. Instead, I will only recall how privileged I was to be able to bond with my parents during this excursion, and how rewarding it was to be able to explore the remarkable city of Barcelona for the very first time.
A pedestrian’s perspective of the Gothic Quarter.
What It Feels Like to Have COVID.
A week or so ago, I tested positive for COVID for the very first time since the worldwide pandemic began. I used to think I was above the Coronavirus—I used to think I was invincible. I have been vaccinated a total of four times, and, like many others, I just assumed that the worst days of COVID were over. I had obviously stopped wearing a mask. Then, just a few days ago, my whole world was torn asunder when I saw two condemning little red lines on my test kit, indicating that I had the virus. There was nothing I could do but quarantine immediately, and hope for the best.
I was recently in Las Vegas with my friend Anthony for his thirtieth birthday. I must have been exposed to my COVID strain there. While on that vacation, we went to a couple of nightclubs, and coincidentally, the morning after our escapades I had developed a rather throbbing headache. I dismissed it as a symptom of mere dehydration and tiredness. However, once I made it back home to Ventura, my parents politely requested that I take a COVID test, and you all of course know what result popped up.
My symptoms have been fairly boilerplate so far. After my initial headache had subsided, my sinuses became plugged up. After that, I developed a bit of a sore throat. Then, while eating Chipotle, I noticed that I had temporarily lost my sense of taste. My dad told me that this is normal and to be expected. As I write this, I have transitioned into what I firmly believe is the final stage of the virus, which just involves a general sort of lethargy. I am anticipating testing negative, for the first time, sometime within the next few days. It is very hard for me to compare COVID to the various other illnesses I have had, because I have discovered that it is a different animal entirely.
My number one response to getting this virus has been to aggressively quarantine. I would be very upset if anyone else got COVID from me. My parents have been thoughtful enough to make meals for me, and place them on a tray outside my bedroom door. I have been making sure to get a lot of sleep, and, almost right away, I politely requested that my dad procure some Gatorade, so that I could stay hydrated. Whenever I do leave my room, I make sure to don a protective mask. I have been keeping busy by doing some leisure reading, and watching one of my new favorite shows on Netflix.
To be honest with you all, my number one feelings during this time have been frustration and disappointment. I am very ready to test negative, but so far, all my tests have come out positive. However, I do not want to complain, because during this time I have really been able to get in touch with myself. Being alone has been very relaxing, and it has in a way been refreshing for me to take a brief break from my various duties and responsibilities.
There are multiple lessons to be found here, in my humble opinion. Firstly, I discovered that no matter how careful one is, or how much they do right, they can still be susceptible to the virus. Getting COVID does not make you a bad person. Additionally, an individual’s “worst case scenario” (i.e. getting the virus) is often never going to be as bad as they are wont to make it out to be in their imagination. Patience is, of course, a virtue. I also have found that, when I have been ailing, I have been able to appreciate the love of family and friends more than I otherwise may have if I were healthy. It is always good to maintain a positive attitude. You cannot change the fact that you are infected, but you certainly and definitely can control your response to it. To conclude, I wish to state that I currently—and always will—believe that adversity makes a person stronger.
Going to Santa Barbara With My Mother.
For those of you who do not know, the other day, my mom and I took the train up to Santa Barbara for an afternoon of food, fun, and exercise. The entire idea came about because a month or so previously, I had gone on a camping trip at Lake Casitas with my dad. That was my father-son time, and this was my mother-son time. Each excursion was incredibly special. I love the city of Santa Barbara, and in the days leading up to the trip, I was very much looking forward to returning.
The train ride from Ventura up north is incredibly magical. There is just something about train travel that feels so majestic to me. On this particular route, the tracks are parallel to the ocean, and with the way the windows are oriented, it almost looks as if you are submerged in the water. It reminded me of my once-yearly flights to the San Francisco bay area on Southwest Airlines. Whenever my dad and I arrive in Oakland, it almost always looks as if we are going to land in the Bay, but then, right at the last second, the runway reassuringly pops up. This reminds me of the old adage: the journey is often more important than the destination.
We planned to eat lunch at one of my all-time favorite restaurants in Santa Barbara, the China Pavilion. I have often frequented the place with my friend Anthony, but my mom had not been in months. I was overjoyed to reintroduce her to the dining experience there, which is something I so treasure. She ordered Imperial Shrimp, and I got my favorite—the Kung Pao tofu. I would dare to say that this is the best tofu dish that I have ever tasted. It was so delectable that I even ended up licking the back of the serving spoon that was handed to us by the friendly waiter, just to savor the Kung Pao sauce. It was almost as if I was a frisky cat, getting hooked completely and mercilessly on a toy loaded with catnip.
Earlier that afternoon, it was my mother’s idea to visit the Santa Barbara Courthouse. I was stunned as I took in the majestic Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, and very gob smacked to hear that the building was finished way back in 1929. The views from the top floor were almost too splendid to put into words. While I was there, I could not help thinking about how much I admire my parents, as the very prolific and hard-working lawyers that they are. I aspire to be as successful as them one day. Of course, as I’m sure you all know, I truly believe that any goal, no matter how seemingly out of reach it may at first appear to be, is almost always entirely possible to achieve.
To sum things up, I felt that that day was incredibly special—not exclusively because of how fun Santa Barbara is, but because of the fact that I got to bond with my mom. I was incredibly touched when she bought me an iced latte at Cajé Coffee, not necessarily because of the drink, but due to the kindness of the gesture itself. She was very attentive to our needs during the day, and I could clearly tell that she respects me as a both a fellow adult and her son. Additionally, my mom is an incredibly fun-loving person—so much so that any activity can be made more enticing if she chooses to participate. She is also a very giving and selfless person, in the fashion of my late grandmother. I truly feel that I share some of the same tastes as her—including Santa Barbara. I am very much looking forward to our next expedition up north.
Me & my mom in front of the Santa Barbara Courthouse.
A Visit From My Aunt Sue.
The last time I saw my Aunt Sue in person was back in 2017, during my Occidental College graduation ceremony in Eagle Rock. She was so excited to be attending. During the ceremony, it was so sunny that she even bought herself a new hat from the bookstore, emblazoned with the OCCIDENTAL logo. She still has it to this day.
Sue Milner is my aunt on my mother’s side. She lives happily in Citrus Heights, California, in close proximity to her son and daughter in law, and their two boys. Sue is proudly vegan, and perpetually advocates for the well-being of animals. She was such a strong and positive influence on me that one key reason why I myself became vegan is because of her. She inspires me each and every day with her dedication to animal rights.
Sue has a very cute and loyal dog named Indie, age 4. Initially, I was a bit apprehensive about Indie coming along, because I was not sure how well she would get along with our new puppy, Maizy. However, this ended up not really being an issue. During her visit, I discovered that Sue bends over backward to take care of Indie. She personally peels and prepares sweet potatoes for Indie to eat. She even has a special dog seat belt, in the back of her Subaru, that is designed to keep Indie safe while the two of them are in transit. Indie loves her owner, and I cannot help but feel that Sue is a model pet owner, who always puts the needs of animals before her own.
For those of you who do not know, Aunt Sue and I FaceTime each other every single Sunday. I always look forward to our phone calls. Oftentimes, when we contact each other, I am hanging out with my friend Anthony in downtown Ventura. I have FaceTimed her from a quaint little park by the Clock Tower Inn, and I have even chatted to her at a local bus stop, where Anthony used to get a ride back to his home in Oak View. It was one thing to FaceTime Sue from these locations, and another to have her visit these incredibly special sites in person. Once we got downtown, the first thing out of her mouth was: “Where is the bus stop where you always wait with Anthony?” I was incredibly touched by how much she cares about me and Anthony, and overjoyed to see how much she liked experiencing Ventura in person.
The day Aunt Sue arrived, I was scheduled to go to Paddy’s Bar with Anthony—so I thought, why not invite her and my mom to accompany us? To my surprise and delight, they both said yes. This was their first time at the bar. All afternoon, I was so excited to show my family a piece of my life that they, up till that point, had not directly experienced. The evening ended up being incredibly special. As we were sitting at the bar with Anthony, Sue bought me a Sprite, and I could tell that Anthony was incredibly overjoyed at seeing my family visit his special place. At Paddy’s, he knows virtually everyone, and they know him. To conclude, I had the time of my life that evening—and I loved the fact that I could both show off Paddy’s to my family, and show off my family to Paddy’s. It was like two disparate parts of my life intersecting, and eventually becoming one.
I truly feel that my unique weekend with my parents, Anthony, and Aunt Sue ended up defying all my previous expectations. Every moment I spent with friends and family was a moment treasured. I also ended up discovering something that I secretly already knew, which is that Sue loves to engage in fun, captivating, and new activities with her family, friends, and animals. She is always so positive, and always such a joy to be around. She is so pleasant that I am greatly looking forward to both our phone call this coming Sunday, and the next time she decides to travel back down to Southern California to visit us in person. I just wish to end this post by formally saying that I am incredibly fortunate in life to be surrounded by such exceptionally loving and caring people in the way that I am. My loved ones are everything to me, and I know that I am everything to them. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Me with family and friends at Paddy’s.