I can appreciate living on the "main street" of UCI now.  I think literally there's a bus that comes by every 5 minutes going in one direction or the other.  It makes me think -- would a bus lane be work on this street from 8a-7p on weekdays?  The busses are pretty regular already so it might not be the most important thing, but it might be a good place to show how this could work in an environment like here at UCI.

It's also interesting to have the view out your window every morning, afternoon, and evening of this major street--people riding their bikes, walking, in their cars, on the UCI bus and the OCTA bus.  Makes for a nice "view" of life outside the window.

Writing on 9/11 + 10 years

I was thinking about the topic of 9/11 due to all the media coverage of the 10th anniversary.  I remember being in bed, sick, on 9/11/2001.  The time that has passed seems to have been literally the blink of an eye.  Since that day when I was 17 until now that I'm 27, I feel as if I've grown so much as a person, but also that so much in the world has changed.  It's hard to quantify and express what I feel like has changed but I can feel in my heart that many things have changed both within my life and also in my environment.

In these past 10 years...

As I write these words, the weight of the time passed seems to suddenly hit me more.  In 2001, I was planning a SGI-USA peace festival.  In 2011, I am a Zone YMD leader.  In 2001, I had started my first month of Senior year in High School.  In 2011, I have finished my last day of work and have been preparing for life as a grad student.

In the next 10 years...

As of yet, I don't know.  What the course of my next ten years will be is obscured; however, the image that was there before was even more obscure!  The challenge is to fight where I am as best as I can.  In 2021, where will my life be? Where will my country be?  I am going to be working and contributing in a significant way to the propagation of the buddhist humanist ideals that I share with my mentor.  I am going to be a father.  The US is going to be in the forefront of efforts for a peaceful world.  My family is going to be united and joyful.  These things will be a thing of wonder but with friends in-faith and a correct guide, I am certain to see the day.

Today, I met with my Zone to plan for our future activities.  Discussion centered on what to do for our Zone 11/28 celebration.  We've come up with some tentative plans.  Want to discuss more and unite in our daimoku toward this event.  Feeling the need to chant more determined and serious daimoku right now as we start the movement toward this event.

Afterward, the West Territory Soka Spirit team had a videoconference to encourage and kick-off our daimoku, study, and disassociation efforts toward 11/28.  I was amazed by the quality of the call! United disciples are a powerful force for justice!

Then went to visit the Plaza to commence work on a LGBT Group It Gets Better video.  I am lax for having it let sit until now to start work on it; however, I want to finish it as soon as I can so that we can encourage as many people to attend the LGBT Group FNCC Conference in 2012.

Later, I got to hang out one more time with my buddy from 2006 before she returns back to Japan.  I love my Class of 2006; I think we're all social people who are probably one of the most social of the founding classes.  Got to talk with other people as well and was able to see that it's so important to trust your daimoku about your mission, honestly, that will only reveal it self until later, but the spirit to never give up is key!  Tomorrow hope to spend time talking more with others that are around right now to catch up and share, hear, and make a new departure toward the end of the year together with them.

Fighting away a cold right now and am doing my best to not overwhelm myself with stuff.  On my plate still is resumes for paid internships, transcribing the raw video for the IGBP video, and an LGBT Group meeting tomorrow.  Fighting side by side with my mentor right now, learning to create unity and strength!

Halfway through the year

It's halfway through the year and so far in the past 3 months I feel like I have had no roots.  Time to put them down in these next three months.

Looking at my life in the longer-term perspective here's what I see:

I've got goals:

1. Pay off my credit card debt without tapping into extra resources.  That looks like its going to be around 600 a month over almost 3 years! *yowza*

2. Get back down to 200#.  That looks like its going to be pretty regular lifting and cardio training over the next year to year and a half.  Working on about a pound per week.

3. Enriching the lives of the YMD in SoCal-West Zone.  That's looking like reaching out and inspiring YMD at least two to three times per week, one-to-one, life-to-life.

4. Start, advance, and take-off on my new career in Urban and Regional planning.  That's looking like I'm going to need to spend a lot of time studying for the next 12 months. It's both exciting and daunting all at once.

That's all for now!

RE:# (Rehash)

Was exploring my e-mail mailbox earlier today at work.  I found some interesting things...at the beginning of the month I was ready to challenge my human revolution regarding relationships of the three existences -- past present and future. :-)  After a week of intense daimoku it seemed like things would be fine and then over that weekend several things happened -- someone whom I dated before moved back into town, a former boyfriend e-mailed asking for a favor, a friend I pined for a long time checked me out, and a few of my dates from Colorado hit me up randomly.  I guess the past existences all just decided to pop up at once; now to see about exitstences present.

Israel & Security Lessons for the US?

I read a news story about What Israel can teach us about security in Canada & the US.  Interesting read.

What caught my attention was a quote by soHonestly, a little bit of community outrage over inefficient and

The bonds of the heart...

I love this time of year; I don't get to say it much because I'm usually running around, but 2011 has afforded me time to enjoy hanging out with my alumni friends.  I have so many things to do, but I have a few minutes to spare today before I go to bed.  It's so amazing to meet people who have bonds linking hearts.  Soka is like Glee for 4 years or Hogwarts or something else.  All those similes fail to explain it so well, but it's amazing to see a group of friends that you have this bond with, one that you can't explain so easily to people who haven't experienced it but a bond that lasts over time not dependent on space.  One that you gradually come to realize refreshes you and helps you stay focused on what your dreams are.  As the world is in transition and the things that we used to assume were quite sure are showing themselves to be not so sure, it's nice to know these bonds don't change character, they grow, strengthen, and deepen.  I love you all :D Alumni :D I lovvvveee youuuu!