Day: November 9, 2011

Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder…

yrreskrap1 Comment


Everybody told me that long distance would be trouble. That it would hurt. That it wouldn’t be worth all the stress–especially during my senior year.

But I, being the stubborn love-struck puppy I was, didn’t listen. Nope. I didn’t want to believe what people said, so I didn’t. I told myself that it would be easy.

Now, here I am sitting in my room in Ojai, California. 2643.071 miles away from my boyfriend of two and a half years.

It’s funny. In the beginning, I had kind of wished Kai was a recluse that veered away from any female contact.

But again, the beginning was the hardest part. The time difference made it even worse. He was already at school when I would wake up most days and by the time study hall ended, it was around 12:30 in the morning where he was.

And boy, would we argue. Over the most minuscule things. I argued because we were so far. He argued because of the time difference. We argued because we missed each other. We argued. And. We argued.

I began to wonder if they were right. If long distance was too much for me to handle. It seemed, with all my college applications and school work, that they might be right.

But, as much as we fought and as much as I hated the distance, I did not want to give up.

And I didn’t. Things got better, and I honestly don’t think that long distance is all that horrible. Sure, it takes a while to get used to but if you love him (or her), all of those frustrations–those initial arguments, getting used to the time difference–was worth the greater moments when I would get to hear his voice on the phone or see his face on Skype.

I still miss him dearly and love him so much. And I don’t regret choosing to be in this long distance relationship with him. He makes me happy although I don’t get to be with him nearly as much as I did last year which turned out to be a good thing. I have more time for friends and more importantly, when I do get to see him, it makes it all the more special. It’s almost like we just started dating. There isn’t anybody I’d rather have than him.

So let me tell you from my experience that eventually, distance truly does make the heart grow fonder.

The End of the Cross Country Season

thehungryrunnergirlLeave a comment

Yesterday, the Ojai Valley School cross country team had the last meet, the league final, at Midland. We drove down for about 2 and a half hours.
Also participating were Thacher, Cate, Midland, Dunn, Besant Hill, Laguna Blanca and Providence Hall.

The birls’ race started at 3 and the boys’ at 3:30. We all ran our best and gave everything. The course is very flat and there were tiny hills but I wouldn’t call them hills. I didn’t really like the course because flat courses just give me constant pain and is not fun compared to hilly course.

Me and my roommate are about to run, listening to the instruction and course overview.

Intense,right?

My coach and I were talking about how I should run that course in the bus on the way to Midland. My strategy is always to stay maybe behind 4 or 5 girls and let them lead the race until the very end. It is then that my body tells me, “Now, sprint! It’s time to out run these girls.” The worst thing to do is to rush so I tell myself not to go in front of anyone!

The entire Ojai Valley School cross country team improved a lot and it’s sad that we can’t practice together anymore…

Good times…

I would just like to thank my coach (thebrownguy) for coaching me I couldn’t have won without him!

AWESOME CROSS COUNTRY SEASON!!!

IS IT TRACK SEASON YET?

Jitters

yrreskrapLeave a comment

Four and a half hours. 270 minutes. 16,200 seconds. For this long period of time, I was sitting on a bus to Williamstown from Boston.

Of course, once I arrived at Williams College, the scene took my breath away. It was so picturesque. Snow encrusting the roofs of the cathedral. The spiral staircase of the nation’s oldest observatory powdered with white. The magnificent grey stone dormitories that rose so high into the cold sky. It was beautiful.


But now, back in sunny California, I am worried.

I am worried that perhaps, this school, although I do want some privacy, is a bit too isolated for me.

This was my dilemma for a good few days. But the more I thought about it, the more confused I was.

But words of wisdom from my cross country coach came to me as I vented my fears. He told me that I had no reason to worry because I hadn’t even gotten accepted yet. Which is true. I was just getting too nervous. If I do get in, that is the time to worry. And besides, he said with a smile, if that’s the worst of my problems, than that’s a pretty good problem to have.

Ah. He is right. I guess it is just in my nature to worry about college. But everything happens for a reason, so if I do get accepted (or don’t) it was meant to be.

But until December 1st, I just need to wait…without worry.

Wish me luck.

Not A Love Poem

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This might sound like a love poem.  But it’s not.  This is dedicated my former roommate and one of my closest friends.  I miss you.

Somewhere

Somewhere far beyond the sea
I know that you are there
Still waiting up for me
On that sun-drenched island cove
Bathed in golden light
Dreaming of your arms
Where once my heart took flight
You held me through the day
Watched the waves crashing on the shore
Our ears rang loud with laughter
Our cheeks were sore with smiles
The moments rife with feeling
Nothing held a speck of guile
Safe and trusting arms
Always open wide
We had no need for fear
No even of riptides
Days full of joyous sunshine
Nights covered in blazing stars
My life was cut by beauty
So deep it left long scars
We never though it’d end
Always thought that we’d have more
The island air so sweet
The days so long and warm
But the day we had to leave
I felt my heart, so torn
Now, not a single day goes by
That you’re not in my heart
No hour leaves me peace
Without tearing me apart
And since I left that island
Since I left your strong embrace
I’ve never seen such beauty
On another person’s face
My love will stay with you
Now and forevermore 
That fierce hot flame of summer
Always burning in my core

Sunrise over Toyon Bay: Dawn Drumming, 2011

Winter Winds.

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Autumn
Yes, Winter is coming. Although the sun is still shining in sunny California, the  temperature change does not reflect this warmth. Stepping out into the crisp, cool air it is evident that the Winter winds have began to blow and with this the cold weather has arrived.

The seasons of Winter andAutumn are really picturesque. As the tree’s leaves begin to fall and the ground transforms into a carpet of the auburns and oranges, everything else begins to turn green and return to life. Walking out among the beauty, one can’t help  but to gaze in amazement at the array of colors.

This time of year is a period when you need to put on your big coats, layer up and put on your warm boots. Now that the cold weather has come it’s beautiful to venture out but afterwards you have every excuse to stay at home and be lazy. Gather your blankets, make a large mug of hot coco, put on some classic films and snuggle on the sofa in front of an open fire.

Many complain about the cold temperature change, but for me it’s pure luxury.

Crazy Beginning to a probably crazy week

backinphilly1 Comment

Death and funerals are crazy. I’ve never been a fan of death, but sometimes that just kinda happens. That is what happened last night to a fallen Olivo. John Olivo Sr., my grandfather, passed away. It was a long time coming and I will be returning to Hammonton, New Jersey following the OVS boys football game against Laguna. It is a sad time, but a time where I will be able to go back to my home state and enjoy time with my family in our time of mourning.

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The Great Barrier Reef

thehungryrunnergirl2 Comments

Look at how pretty this is.

The Great Barrier Reef is 500,000 yeas old, located in the coral reef off the coast of Queensland which is the North Eastern part of Australia. It is the world’s largest reef system. There are more than 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands scattered over 133,000 square miles. In 1981, The Great Barrier Reef was selected as a World Heritage Site.

I have traveled to Fitzroy Island, which is one of the islands of The Great Barrie Reef, when I used to live in Australia. We had to travel by boat for two and a half hours there. It was very windy, and I remember my mom getting sick very badly. I was little so I was just sitting away from her getting confused how to help…

I snorkeled there and the corals and fishes were too pretty… The ocean was light blue, and the sun makes the ocean prettier. The corals had a lot of colors and fishes were hiding between the corals which was fun to watch.

If I get a chance to go there next time, I would definitely scuba dive. I miss Australia so bad…

Bring on the Iron

venturatreker1 Comment


As a little kid and still I guess, I have always loved superheroes.  My favorite ones have always been marvel characters (minus the Green Lantern).

In my opinion the greatest Marvel characters are obviously the Avengers.  Who the true core team is always in flux as well as who is indeed their leader, their affiliation with S.H.I.E.L.D, which stands for Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.

The core Avengers though are: Iron Man, Captain America, The Hulk, Thor, Ant/Giant Man, and The Wasp.

Personally I think it is all about Iron Man.  Tony Stark is a normal human, with no powers of his own except for what he can create. Allow though he is a genius, he lacks the physical supernatural powers of the others.

Although he is not as strong as the Hulk, courageous as Capt. America, or commands the power of Asgard as Thor does, he is still perhaps the most capable warrior of all.  His ability to adapt to any circumstance is what allows Iron Man to always come out on top.

Truly the Man in Steel or rather some other incredibly rare and unknown metal has the brains, power and ingenuity to be the greatest Avenger.

If I Were Brave

theycallmedame5 Comments

If I were brave,
I would straddle the tallest cliff-side,
Waver from low to high pride,
And fall just for the view.

If I were brave,
I would light myself on fire,
Let the flames crawl higher and higher,
Until the heat felt like you.

And if I were a lion
Not a mouse, instead,
I would survive every evening
And not cower in my head.

If I kept my eyes open,
With no fumble or flinch,
I would see every moment
Of I life that I miss.

If I were brave…
If I were brave…
If I were brave…
But I’m not.

So I will cower!
And cringe!
And flee from every shadow!

I will cry out!
And miss
The life that others borrow.

Because I am not brave.
I hide from every cliff.
But what if I were brave?
What if, what if, what if.

Trucks Take Over

rangerthecat1 Comment

As I was driving today in the predictable evening LA traffic, I realized just how many different types of cars there are on the road. In my family alone, we have a truck, two sedans, and two vans, all by different companies. All of this thinking brought a question to my mind:

What is the most popular car in America?

I tried to answer it myself as I was driving by counting a few different types and thinking about what types of cars that people I know own. I finally concluded that it was the Toyota Prius. They are hybrids, so they tend to be very fuel efficient and are a great smallish size, and I see so many of them on the road I didn’t even second guess myself.

But, after looking up the most popular car in America, it was quite a surprise to me to discover that the Ford F150 takes the title.

I mean, in my opinion, they are beautiful. I LOVE trucks. But, when purchasing my own car, I realized that they are not very sensible (especially for a teenager) and that they are not really necessary unless a person is hauling around things or towing trailers, like some businesses do.

It’s crazy to think that a huge gas-guzzling truck would be the most popular, especially with gas prices being so high. I have seen a lot of them on the road, but it still came as a big surprise to me.

Maybe it was just my wishful thinking that people would choose more fuel-efficient cars in order to start caring for the environment!