Author: thehebrewhammer

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Thanksgiving With Renji

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This past week was Thanksgiving break, and I had the lucky opportunity to have my friend Renji, who’s from Tokyo, Japan.

It was such a beautiful week with him and here’s how we spent it:

Friday 11/21: We had a day of classes but no sports, so we got picked up and headed to my house. We didn’t do too much, just ate dinner, played with my dog, and got him situated in the house.

Saturday 11/22: Today was jam-packed! We took my dog, Coco, on a walk in the morning, played tons of Fortnite and Clash Royale as two teenage boys should do. We cleaned up my room to help him get around, walked downtown, and played more video games after dinner.

Sunday 11/23: Easily the chillest day of break, stayed home all day waiting for my older brother to return home for the week from college, and that was it!

Monday 11/24: We’re finally joined at the gym by my brother, and that was nice. Renji benchpressed for the first time, and it was amazing! He was sore till Friday, but at least he had fun.

Tuesday 11/25: Renji and I went to Soule Park Golf Course with my friend Wyatt and hit balls at the range, which was a burst of pure joy! Watching Renji slice every ball for 45 minutes made my day! After, we went back to my house and played in the pool.

Wednesday 11/26: Wyatt came over, and I, Renji, Brody, who is my older brother, and Wyatt all drove down to Oxnard and went to Dick’s Sporting Goods, then Target in Ventura. Renji caused a scene in Target, and we had to leave immediately.

Thursday 11/27: Thanksgiving Day! We went to see my dad’s family in Seal Beach, and I told Renji to speak Japanese to all my family, but the lights were too bright for the kid, and he couldn’t.

Friday 11/28: Thanksgiving day 2, we had my mom’s side of the family’s dinner at our house, and it was very chill, we all ate more turkey and mashed potatoes, and all had food comas.

Saturday 11/29: Brody was gone! But Jay was here? Yes, Jay came late Friday night and spent the night. We all went to dinner at Ojai Pizza, then watched a movie that was insanely good, and I loved it and am obsessed. Sentimental Value, my good friend Ian joined us, and it was amazing.

Sunday 11/30: The worst day of them all, school was tomorrow, and Renji and Jay had to go back to upper, but it was a great week, and I’d do it again.

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Jay and Me

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I love the rain. I love chilling at my house. I love my best friend Jay. Combine the three? Perfection.

This rainy weekend, which left me stuck inside alongside my best friend, was amazing. We ate like kings, played numerous Fortnite matches, and watched hours of Family Guy. On Saturday night, we went out to dinner together at Soule Park Golf Course, and Jay was granted permission to drive my mother’s Audi to the golf course. It was an immaculate vibe combined with Drizzy’s vocals and the rain at night, a time was had.

The next morning had that delicious after-rain smell in the streets as we walked ourselves to Bonnie Lu’s for some breakfast. I tried something new for the first time at Bonnie Lu’s, and it paid off as the taste factor was through the roof in my mouth. Perfection on Ojai Ave is Bonnie Lu’s.

After that, we pretty much did the same thing for the rest of the day, played some fort, watched Family Guy, played a bunch of Clash too, and lay in bed. While that might seem boring to most, I enjoyed it because Jay was with me the whole time.

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Food Share Frenzy

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This Wednesday the boys flag football and girls volleyball team all went to Food Share together in Oxnard to distribute food to those in need. While some students may dread it, I tend to find peace in it. I sort of like talking to and meeting new people, I don’t want to be friends with everyone, I just want to be nice to everyone. And the experiences I’ve got in Food Share have really opened my eyes.

A simple “Have a nice day!” Does so much for some of those strangers in their cars, it really cheers me up. It also does make me realized how spoiled I am and how grateful I should be.

Seeing those tiny kids helping their parents just makes me want to spend more time with mine. I think I’m a great kid but you know that feeling, you just feel like you have done so many wrong things and just want to be nice.

That’s how I want people to see me, as a nice kid.

All in all I do enjoy Food Share, it brings experience and joy like no other.

pc: Ojai Valley News

Sharing Snacks

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Woke up this Wednesday and I had an orthodontist appointment, I knew today we had no sports, so why not treat myself and prepare a lunch with some snacks for myself. So I grabbed my retainer case and headed to pack my lunch. I first grabbed two bars because I know my friend Jay will want one, so I grabbed one for him. I opened to fridge for a wild surprise of a premade sandwich that I instantly put into my Trader Joe’s lunchbox. (Shoutout Ms. Ruby u da goat fr) I also grabbed my Burt’s Bees chapstick for my chapped lips. (Shoutout Ms. Ruby u da goat for getting me da chapstick 2 fr) Then, finally, I got a big ziplock bag and jammed it full of red grapes, cold, crunchy, tasty red grapes. Delicious.

I then finally got to school, and when my friends Nola, Savannah, Bennett, and Leia saw my lunchbox, they grew brimful with curiosity about the contents encapsulated in my lunch pail. I opened and their jaws dropped at the sight of a bag overflowing with red grapes, cold, crunchy, tasty red grapes. Delicious. So I shared some of them, and I shared my Chapstick with Nola.

My shorts are untied, and my shirt kind of has a collar but also doesn’t, it’s weird. I’m also wearing white socks and some fuzzy slides. I’m sitting next to Bennett, too. Eat some grapes if you read this.

Hammer out.

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SpudFest Catch-play

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Lunch had just finished, and Jay and I were prepared to walk down to the field early and play catch. That’s when we were stopped by Rumi, Stirling, and Chloe, and the trio were all wearing safety vests, and they were the first aid team for SpudFest. Obviously, they weren’t that good because a kid still broke his elbow, but that’s beside the point.

Jay and I jogged down to the field, hit a little quick stretch, and started throwing the baseball around. We quickly went to 40 and then 60 yards, just letting the big dog EAT. And then tragedy struck. Team comp games started. Dang!

After the gruesome 30 minutes of Team Comp, we picked up the gloves again, and our arms were still hot, then we were launching the ball 70 and then 80 yards. Clearly, every girl was impressed by my ability to throw the ball nearly 100 yards. Right?! I knew they were even if they didn’t show it, the ladies loved watching us.

PC: Ojai Valley School Instagram

Evil Pringles

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Wednesday afternoon, Jay, Chloe, and me, sitting in the college counseling room, eating and rating 4 weird flavors of Pringles while creating art for the 2nd podcast episode for Hill Talk. We had ate and rated 3 chips already, nothing too terrible, but it was time for the last chip, Carnitas Taco, which originally we all had high hopes for. Chloe opened the can and smelt the chips and was instantly disgusted, I didn’t think much of it though. When we all got the chips, ‘cheersed’ them and ate we were all blown away. That had to have been the worst chip I have ever put in my mouth. Jay instantly gagged, Chloe threw half of her chip on the table and I instantly went for a piece of gum. Chloe said it tasted like cat pee and Jay said it feels like the type of thing you eat then brush your teeth and the flavor is still reminiscent in your mouth. Needless to say, Pringles is you read this, please mass produce the All Dressed flavor chips because those were a 10 and me and Jay HOUSED them, and please have an immediate recall on every Carnitas Taco Pringle can EVER. Now that I think about it, that distinct smell of beef is still in my nose and that weird and rancid taste is in my mouth. I need to brush my teeth with a broom and floss with some rope because I NEVER want to taste that taste again in my life.

pc: google

Shove Day

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Sunday. Normally, a day us high schoolers tends to not love so much, even though it is a weekend day, it really means doing homework and going to bed early for school the next day. But today, I had a great day.

I woke up early to go to the gym, came home, made myself a breakfast sandwich, showered, got dressed, and then headed off to UCSB. There was a baseball showcase at UCSB today, and I was fortunate enough to be in attendance as a PO (Pitcher Only). Fulfilling my dreams, I was as I got to go into the locker room, meet the players, meet the pitching coordinator, and pitch 2 innings on the field. I pitched very good, letting up no runs with 3 strikeouts and only 2 hits.

It was great meeting all the new faces, getting to talk 1on1 with the coaches, and becoming friends with division 1 athletes.

Afterwards, one of my long-time best friends was there, so we went to dinner. I got a salad with shrimp and avocado in it. It was okay.

But the good performance made the trip worth it and hopefully my dreams can come true in the next few years.

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Heat, and trying not to get beat

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Baseball, America’s favorite pastime, is a sport normally played in the spring and summer. Through the sunshine, the little white ball is hit, thrown, and caught. But for me this fall, I had to beat the heat of Scottsdale, Arizona, and also try to pitch my way to not get beat by the #1 ranked team in Arizona.

It was Saturday, 8 am, the game was just about to start, and it was already a brisk 88 degrees in Scottsdale, and my coach had given me the nod to pitch against the #1 team in Arizona, Swarm Red Elite. With me already shaking in my boots and beaming with sweat, it was already an uphill climb. The game started out hot with me picking up a quick out on 3 pitches, but then giving up a 2-strike single to the next batter, but I came out with no runs.

The bottom of the first was a huge inning for my team as we put up 3 runs with only 1 out. The game progressed, and I only got better until I gave up a huge 2-run single to their 3rd hitter, who was a big lefty. In the 4th inning, it was 3-2 us, and we haven’t gotten a hit since the first inning. When I went out to pitch, missed calls from the umpires and a couple of mental mistakes put a runner on 2nd base with no outs. I got a huge flyout, which advanced the runner to third. Runner on third, 1 out, and a 3-0 count, the batter pops the ball up to right field. The right fielder catches, throws to the cutoff, who throws the ball away, letting the runner score with ease, tie game, 2 out. I strike the next batter out.

I went on to finish the entire game, throwing a great game against a very good team that scrapped together another run on a sacrifice fly to left field. They kept us hitless from innings 2-6, which ended the game when we got no hits in the last inning, which happened to be the 6th due to time.

What was a great game for me turned into a devastating loss for the team, which took us out of bracket play for the weekend.

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Eugene, Oregon

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It was 11:00 am on Thursday, I got the text from my Dad he was at school to pick me up and we were on our way. We picked up our friends, went to the store and hit the Santa Barbara airport. We landed in San Francisco then walked to our gate for Oregon. Then we grabbed dinner and went to bed. When we woke up and drove to PK Park my mind was blown. The size of every sports complex blew my mind, and I had a great first day of my showcase. Hitting my personal best 95 mph exit velocity to becoming friends with 3 kids from Hawaii, today was very blessed.

Tomorrow I play my first game of the weekend at the University of Oregon against my best friends team and I’m very excited. From the soccer field to the baseball field and the football stadium, I fell in love with Eugene, Oregon.

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Rainy Day Shenanigans

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I woke up with my mind racing of the dream that had woke me up. Half-asleep I forced myself out of bed into my normal morning routine which consists of 1, going to my parents room to say what’s up to my dog, 2 going into my room to shower and brush my teeth and finally 3, get dressed and leave.

However, this morning was different whether it was my cold shower being not so cold this morning, or the feeling of wearing a jacket to school for the first time this year. Today was different.

That was when I looked out my window to see water droplets had covered all the windows in my room. Then it hit me, last night was rainy. But I didn’t feel down because of the weather, not me, no this cat likes the rain. I ran outside with my wet hair and shoes untied and took a big nice American whiff of that rainy air.

I smiled ear to ear, with that rainy day smell in my body I knew today would be a great day.

PC: Google