Shopping and HW (Ashima Day #2)

Day 2 with a Doughnut Plant start.

I met Keith Woo there to grab some food before spending our entire morning at the flagship UniQlo store. A dream come true, Keith and I found some great deals. After carefully choosing some things for my friend Dawn whose heading for Argentina, I was told that black friday would knock everything I had chosen in half. I quickly returned the items, but just as we were walking out the door Keith spotted the UniQlo Undercover collection, and we were back in full shopping mode. In the end I found a down jacket I had to have, and resorted to taking it off a mannequin so I could get the last my size. Best part? It was 50% off.

After some hand made noodle soup and korean pancakes, we headed to Brooklyn for day 2 with Ashima. Sasha was there climbing as well. I kept my mouth shut the whole time so I could get a better idea of how Ashima interacted with her. It was amazing to see two wonderfully talented climbers do their thing. 

Ashima was having a good day, both in and out of the gym (more info on that coming later). After we got home, Ashima's mom made us ramen, and then it was time to get some homework out of the way. It's amazing to see how focused Ashima can be. It's not only in climbing, but in academics, that she gets things done. I realized it was only when I was getting her off topic that she got distracted. Working till nearly midnight on her homework, it was time to say goodbye and let Ashima get her outfit for the next morning sorted out.

Overall a wonderful day of food, friends, and film pre-production.

Bad, better, best! (Ashima Day #1)

Everything felt wrong.

Driving to the airport, I felt like my life was falling to pieces. I was losing control. 

The one thing I had confidence in was my ability to move swiftly through security, but right when I was told to step aside, I knew this was going to be one heck of a trip. Oh course I would leave my favorite knife in my down jacket pocket. Amateur mistake.

With three hours of sleep, I wandered around the streets of NYC with a dead smartphone. Eventually I found the Doughnut Plant, and charged up while enjoying a vanilla bean, cinnamon apple, and creme brulee doughnut. 

As I inched closer to the Shiraishi home I couldn't help but feel anxious. What if we didn't get along? What if my "vision" is totally off. What if...

Luckily, from the moment I met Miko and Poppo, to when Ashima greeted me with bed hair, smiles were the constant theme of the day. Ashima and I went through old films, photos, KidRobot toys, traded stories from Japan and fashion, did homework, and we even danced a little to gangnam style. I was humbled in the climbing gym, but couldn't help laugh at receiving a personal lesson from an 11 year old. 

And yes, I ate at McDonalds for lunch, ending my 8 year hiatus from the fast food chain. 

The cherry on top came from an old college classmate, TK. She and her brother found me a place to stay for a few nights! Struggling artists gets divine intervention. Thank you TK and company! Words cannot explain how thankful I am for what you've done, but for the effort you put into this. 

A terrible day, turned wonderful!

Nothing like amazing friends to remind you how blessed you are.

An Example

Desire ✓
Faith _

"I had all these reason not to _______, but this is where faith comes in."

Sometimes a desire to be better, to do good, is the easy part. We know the what's and the how's, but it's actually rolling up our sleeves, and getting to work that sometimes deters us from taking the best of paths.

She decided who she wanted to become, no matter how scared she was.
She acted.