First 90 Days: Reflections So Far

What's the family vote?

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Moments (Nov 4-10)

• I dropped off our election ballots and tried watching the election results live. Five minutes in, I tuned out – wasn’t the outcome I hoped for, and it felt all too familiar. Last term, we watched from Berlin; the distance made it easier to disengage. Now what?

• Feris may have had her best day ever, again: chocolate muffin for breakfast, cheeseburger for lunch, and an afternoon spent at Walk Through California, an immersive library history experience that she loved.

• Lea started volleyball, which is more like extended P.E. in a crowded gym of middle schoolers. She’s counting down to badminton season, convinced it's where she truly shines.

• Jero’s enjoying the cooler, colorful fall bike rides. "Had a driver yell at me today," he said. I filled him in on the history of drivers vs. cyclists.

• I discovered I’ve been shaving all wrong. A few months back, I switched from electric to a safety razor, and while I don’t cut myself every time, the pulling felt off. YouTube to the rescue – turns out it was the angle. Makes me wonder, how many habits could a quick video or AI tip improve?

• Instead of a hike, we hit the park for frisbee. Everyone’s pretty good, but Jero really shined. Gained points in my book for his athleticism – he’s at another level.

Thinking Out Loud

Maricar had a dream that left her smiling. The plot? Our house burned down, and we were left with nothing. Strangely, this made her happy—fewer things to worry about and the idea of heading back to Hong Kong.

And the Rest of the Crew?

Jero is still buzzing from his fall water polo season. He’s improved a lot, loves the camaraderie with his teammates, and he’s already signed up for winter club water polo. The structure is doing him good—he’s doing better in school than he ever has.

Lea’s enjoying her own space with her room and seems to be doing well socially—at least, that’s the story she’s giving us! School is going smoothly, and she’s made a solid group of friends.

Feris is all smiles lately, and we get enthusiastic daily recaps of her “best days ever” at school. Swimming? She still claims to hate it, but there’s a bit of a shift—compliments from her coach, new friends on the team, and a growing comfort with stroke techniques. She might just be coming around.

My Take?
We are keeping life simple, each making personal connections, finding local adventures and there’s still plenty to explore: Tahoe, the Dipsea Trail, Mt. Diablo, more Yosemite, camping, LA, the holidays, catching up with friends, Highway 1 road trips…

What gives me pause?
-The recent U.S. election made the country’s divisions feel more obvious than ever.
-I haven’t found the right job yet—wondering if I should be worried.
-The house could use a few more personal touches to feel like “home,” but I know that’ll always be a moving target.
-We miss the big, open-ended trips we took while living abroad.
-And Maricar, who led the charge to move back, is ready to head out again if the chance comes along.

All in all, we’ve got a good setup, and there’s a lot we can do to make it feel right. The family vote is 4 to 1. We’re staying put and I’ll have more substantial thoughts in the end of year letter.

On the Move

Run With Me on Strava - 88.33 mi, 7,992 ft (Year: 2,621 mi, 212,559 ft)

Daylight savings is a blessing for early morning runners. Getting out of bed is easier, and even if I start my run in the dark, I’m finishing with the sunrise—a front-row seat to greet the day. Some mornings are better than others, and this Tuesday, with partial clouds, the sky lit up brilliantly for a brief two minutes as the sun’s rays reflected off the clouds. How many people get to witness a sunrise like that?

DVHS Track: Ran a 5K at a 6-minute pace, followed by 4 sets of 3 minutes at a 5:40 pace. I wore my fast shoes and hit the 5th lane—felt strong. On the intervals, I focused on high knees and heels to the sky.

I’d been wanting to explore Oakland Redwood Regional Park’s trails and had my opportunity. Without a set route and fuel for 26 miles, I let myself wander, connecting trails as I ran, finally getting a sense of the area’s layout. By the time I hit mile 15, the ups and downs had worn me down. I dragged myself through the next 9. Now, it all feels smaller and familiar.

I stacked the weekend with 13 miles the next day.

I’d been eyeing the Miwok 100k, but I missed registration on Saturday, and now it’s sold out. So I’m turning my attention to Inside Trails’ race calendar—there are a few 50Ks and a 50-miler that look promising.