MotoGP 2013

Another year of pilgrimage to watch the MotoGP races at Laguna Seca, and another year of fun.  This year, I took my best friend Stephen and Lea to the races with me for all three days.  Because of Steve’s hurt ankle, he did not go on Saturday to give his ankle a time to rest.  I always have fun hanging out with those two.  It doesn’t matter what we do, we have a blast.  I took a lot of photos as usual, and I can’t wait to start editing them.

Steve and I on the first day

The front of Rossi’s garage. Rossi is on the far right

Holding the photos that Rossi autographed for me

Third day and look how sunburnt I look

End of Class – HRM/498

It’s been another five weeks since I started my twenty-first class with the University of Phoenix on May 24, 2011.  This class was the easiest and I liked the instructor.  Again, the good thing is that this was my last class and now I will have my BS degree.

So, what did I get in the class?  An “A.”  My GPA is 3.84, so I am quite proud of myself for everything that I have accomplished in these two years.  Now, a few months off before I start with my Master’s degree.  Woooo!

Graduation 2013

After receiving diploma

On July 13, 2013, I accomplished another goal that I thought would take a lot longer to complete.  I cannot believe that after so many years of putting my education aside and trying to figure out what I wanted to study, I finally got my Bachelor in Science degree in Business Management with a concentration in Human Resources.

The ceremony was nice.  The speakers did not take a long time speaking, I met and spoke to a couple of fellow graduates who helped pass the time, and what took longer was the hundreds of people walking to get their degrees.  The ceremony was made extra especial when Jason Jones (who worked for a different department at Ohlone College and we talked a lot), who now works for University of Phoenix, was handing out the diplomas and he gave me mine.  He remembered me and gave me a hug on stage.  That made it feel special.  It was really nice to have my kids, my mom, my grandma, Julie, Peter, James, and Lea attend my graduation and making my day memorable by also going to lunch with me.  It was also nice knowing that my friend Steve was watching my graduation online, and also receiving so many people’s congratulations on Facebook.

Originally, I started going to school to get my Bachelor’s in Psychology. I took two classes and as I did more research, I found out that it was a depressing career. Also, I wanted to be able to move outside of California and if I had a license to practice in California, it meant that I would need to qualify in another state. After careful consideration, I decided to switch majors.

I spoke to my friend Julie and she told me that her boyfriend (now husband) was going along far with University of Phoenix. At first, I was considering the cost, but with all the economic problems the State of California was having, which included cutting funding to education, I knew it would take a long time before I could even get my degree. Also, I wanted to change careers as soon as possible, and taking longer to get my degree was not an option. I do not regret taking this route, except for the cost. But, education is not free.

I started school on May 24, 2011. I was taking one class at a time for five weeks. It was very hard to do because it was a lot of reading to do in a very short period of time. Somehow, I managed to chug along. Also, I was striving to get the best grades possible because I wanted to graduate with honors. I managed to graduate with a GPA of 3.84 and I belong to the Business Honors Club. I am very proud of my accomplishments!

I wanted to start by saying that I love my family and friends. I had great support from my kids, who saw me working hard to get my homework done. Also, my mom and my grandma helped me a lot by taking care of Alexis and Michael. I also had great support from my friend Stephen, who never gave up on me and always believed I was able to do anything I set my mind on. Then, there is Julie, who gave me the idea to go to University of Phoenix in the first place. James, who encouraged me and would tell me he was proud of me for going back to school. Of course, Heidi, whose wit made for some stressful days less stressful. Lea, for always smiling and making me see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Other people who supported me through this process was Jennifer Druley, who helped by being the first person to allow me to do an internship with the Human Resources at my work with the blessing of Shairon Zingsheim, the Associate Vice President of Human Resources and Training. The unpaid internship became a part-time job while I went to school. Shairon had the blessing of my boss, Steve Osawa, and she put me under the supervision of Vy Anderson to help me further with my education. Working in that HR department allowed me to learn so much and to get to know people in a different way.

Now, I plan to take a few months off from school because I need a break. I do plan on going back to school to get my Master’s degree. I am still trying to figure out in what field I want to get it in… Global Management or Organizational Management. Or, in something my aptitude test said I would be strong in something that is… Creative. I would be great at something related to the arts, design, music, photography. Go figure! I guess this is something that I will need to figure out a little bit down the road.

Sharks Prospects Scrimmage

Today I decided to try entering the little contests that the Sharks put on Facebook or Twitter.  Well, Twitter paid off.  I won two tickets to the Prospects Scrimmage at the Sharks Ice in San Jose.  I had to choose how to take, and Michael decided to let Alexis go.  We had a little trouble because my car battery decided to die at the last minute and while I borrowed my mom’s car and drove there, we got there with only 15 minutes to spare.

The scrimmage was not bad.  Definitely nothing like a real game.  Alexis did not seem very interested and I told her that the actual games are much better.  The scrimmage is basically where all prospective Sharks players try to play the best so the Sharks will sign them on.  They played a couple of short periods, followed by an “overtime” period, and finally a “shootout.”  The team and prospect player I chose (Team Marchent and Mirco Muller) won.

I was good enough to fill my hockey withdrawal, but I can’t wait for the real season to start in a few months.

Daughter-Mother time

SJ Sharkie

Scrimmage time!

Alexis’s 8th Grade Promotion

I cannot believe how time flies.  Alexis did not have a very successful year on her last year at her school.  No matter how much I nagged her, she was not studying or turning in her homework.  I tried telling her that if she kept doing what she was doing that she would end up repeating the grade, and she came extremely close.

The last three weeks of school, she was told that she could not participate in any class activities, which included the promotion ceremony, and that she needed to go to summer school otherwise she would repeat the grade.  She texted me crying and promising that she would do better next year.  Well, somehow she managed to pull her grades up and on the day before the last day of school she was told she could be a part of the promotion ceremony.  She wanted her gown and I told her that it was already bought.

On June 13, 2013, three days before her 14th birthday, she proudly walked with her rest of her classmates signifying the end of her middle school life and starting her high school life in a few months.  My mom, grandma, Kevin, Michael, and her dad were there with me to share on this wonderful time.

Before being promoted

Receiving her promotion certificate from Vice Principal Mr. Yaeger

Shaking hands with the School Principal, Pat Avila

Alexis is so happy!

End of Class – HRM/434

It’s been another five weeks since I started my twentieth class with the University of Phoenix on May 24, 2011. Things are near the end and I only have one class left. This class was easier and I liked the instructor. Again, the good thing is that I only have one more class to take, or five weeks to go, until I have my BS degree.

So, what did I get in the class? An “A.” My GPA more than likely will only be a 3.84, so I will not graduate with honors, though other universities would have given me honors. Oh, well! At least I will only have one class left until I graduate.

Strategic Human Resource Management and Emerging Issues (HRM/498), I am so ready to see you for the next five weeks because then I will be done with school.

Playoffs Round 2

So, tonight I went to my third hockey game, which turned out to be the sixth game of the Round 2 Playoff games, or semifinals, between the Los Angeles Kings and the San Jose Sharks.  I am getting really hooked on hockey.  I brought Lea and James along to the game and we had so much fun.  The little parties that the Sharks put before the games are really exciting.

Before the game started, I decided to buy James and Lea a t-shirt so they could properly represent the Sharks.  We had fun sitting together, and I will say that they are a joy to have as company for a game.

I will have to say that this game was somewhat stressful.  I can feel the rivalry between the Kings and the Sharks, and they sure play with passion.  I am still trying to figure out which rivalry is bigger… the Sharks and Canucks or the Sharks and the Kings.  Maybe they are tied?

The game ended with the Sharks winning 2-1 over the Kings.  This does not mean that the Sharks won the series yet because now they are tied 3-3, which means that the next game is the deal breaker… we either move to the division finals, or the season is over.  I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Here are a few photos from the game:

James by the Sharks Zamboni

Me by the Sharks Zamboni

Lea by the Sharks Zamboni

Warm up

Proudly representing

Happy Sharks fans after the game

Claiming Ohlone College as Sharks Playoffs Territory

The Sharks SWEEP the Canucks!!!

Okay, I am getting really hooked on hockey.  I never thought I would say this, but I actually prefer it to MotoGP.  Of course, Rossi will always be king, so no need to panic there.  No one will ever replace Rossi!

The venture started when Steve and I went to dinner together before the game.  That was really great Italian food.  Once we got to the HP Pavilion, we got Chomp Cards (to use for the Power Plays) and we also got our pictures taken together.  Also, Steve promised me he would let me take a picture of us together inside, and he did as he promised.  I thought we looked great together though in the second picture he looks a little crazy.  Our seats were better than the ones on Sunday though they were a little higher.  But, we sat on the Canucks’ goal so we would be able to see the Sharks score.

This game was quite stressful for me to watch.  During the second and third periods, the Sharks were behind and I honestly thought they were going to lose.  I was not a very happy camper.  I guess I did provide Steve with a great source of entertainment because he said I was a total rookie.  Gee!  Go figure!  Near the end of the third period, the Sharks scored, so the game was tied.  Steve said this is the kind of game he preferred… where it is so close that you do not know who is going to win.  To me, that is stressful, but I can see where he is coming from. Steve also said they were going to go into overtime, and he was right.  The first to score would win the game.

We have to be thankful that the Canucks were desperate and made a boo-boo that cost them a penalty… a Power Play in our favor.  The Sharks took them opportunity and scored.  That was a SWEEP, BABY!!!  The Sharks won the series 4-0.  Way to go Sharks!!!

While heading home, Steve said this was even better than Sunday’s game.  I agree!  Why?  Because I love hockey, and the company was wonderful.  We did agree that when the Sharks make it to the Stanley Cup that we would go together.

Here is a few pictures from the game:

Warm-Up

Me and Steve (Steve is in the hockey witness protection program)

Start of Game – Sharkie Glowing

Start of Game

San Jose Sharks Fan!!!

I went to my first hockey game, and I can honestly say that I am a major hockey fan.  I cannot believe I wasted all this time and never went to a game.

My friend Steve has been a major San Jose Sharks fan since I have known him.  I think he tried to get me to go to a game, but I never really cared to do it.  Then, we talked about going to a game when I was supposed to go visit him in Oregon in January, but the NHL strike was still in full force and I was unable to get the time to go.  He happened to be here to help his mom out and at the last minute, we decided to go to the first home game of the first playoff games.

We got there with about 30 minutes to spare and I bought me my own jersey.  A black, players’ designed one.  I was going to get me a teal one, but I noticed it was a women’s cut, which I did not care for, and Steve noticed that it had a pulled thread.  He immediately told the salesperson we were not going to take it without even asking me.  He took charge of the situation, and I liked it.  We also got white playoff towels.  I did not know at the time that you swirl them around, so it makes for a big impact.

It was the best game I could have watched.  The Sharks kicked the Vancouver Canucks’ butts 5 to 3.  The Sharks even scored two goals within 9 seconds from each other.  Steve said that in his 20 years of watching hockey, this game rates second as the best game he has ever watched.  To me, this is the best game so far.  So, after the game was over, I asked Steve that if I could get tickets for Tuesday’s game, if he would go with me and he said “Yes.”  Another thing I liked!  I just wish he lived here so he and I could go to more games together.  C’est la vie!  At least I have a date for Tuesday’s game.  Woo hoo!!!

Hockey

On May 05, 2013, I discovered a new sport that I now love… Hockey!  I went to my first hockey game with my friend Steve.  He had been bugging me for years, if not decades, to go to a game with him, but I was never interested.  As an item I wanted to check off my “Things To Do” list, I asked him if he wanted to go to a game while he was visiting from Oregon, and of course he said “Yes!”  Since my first game, I am a huge fan of the San Jose Sharks.

It is a complete different experience than the MotoGP races.  Here, you are in an arena with thousands of fellow fans, and very few fans of the other team, rooting for your team to win.  It’s exciting.  It is amazing seeing all those hockey players move so fast, and at times get hurt badly (like a puck or stick to the face), which requires them to leave the ice only to return a few minutes later all patched up and ready to keep on playing.