Day 34: Personal Best Alex ran in his first race as a freshman member of the Oliver Ames HS Cross Country Team today. He didn’t take first place or break any records, but it really didn’t matter at all. It was so heartwarming to see the camaraderie he shared with his teammates and even among the opposing high school runners. On the way home, I asked Alex whether he held back for any reason. He said “no dad, I gave everything I got from start to finish.” I said “that’s good.” I was very proud of him today.

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Donald Jin > Day 31: Precious Times
Dani still chooses to spend her Saturday afternoons climbing trees rather than going out to the mall. She still prefers blue jeans and t-shirts over mini-skirts and tank tops. She likes her hair up in a ponytail rather than fancy hairdos and make-up on her face. I know it’s only a matter of time but she is precious just the way she is now.

Donald Jin > Day 32: Self Portrait 2
I got bored waiting for Kate to come out of the supermarket. Fortunately, I had my favorite toy with me. This SUV comes equipped with what’s called a conversation mirror. It’s a small convex mirror located above the rear view mirror that folds down giving the driver a fish eye view of the back seats. This allows the driver to see everyone in the back and hold conversations while driving. There's a brilliant idea. In other words, it’s completely useless and I never found the true use for it until today.

Donald Jin > Day 33: The Daily Catch
My family and I spent Labor Day afternoon walking around Faneuil Hall and ended up at the Daily Catch restaurant in the North End. I used to frequent this place during my college days. This spatially challenged restaurant is comprised of about 6 tables that seats around 10 to 15 people. Their menu is written on a blackboard and wine and water are served in plastic Dixi cups. The kitchen area is completely open and manned by one cook. Everything he needs to prepare any meal on the menu is literally an arms length away.

We came early to avoid the dinner crowd and we were seated at a table about 4 feet away from the kitchen. The Linguine with Calamari still tasted like it did when I was a younger man – the pasta cooked al dente and the calamari blanched just long enough to lose its translucency. I noticed the prices on the menu has gone up significantly and the portion has been reduced somewhat. Otherwise, the menu items on the blackboard, the worn out tables, chairs, even the peeling green paint on the wall remained pretty much the same. Much to my surprise, the chef was still the same man that I knew twenty five years ago. Of course, he was no longer a young cook but a master chef who creates magic behind open flames.

Donald Jin > Day 34: Personal Best
Alex ran in his first race as a freshman member of the Oliver Ames HS Cross Country Team today. He didn’t take first place or break any records, but it really didn’t matter at all. It was so heartwarming to see the camaraderie he shared with his teammates and even among the opposing high school runners. On the way home, I asked Alex whether he held back for any reason. He said “no dad, I gave everything I got from start to finish.” I said “that’s good.” I was very proud of him today.

Donald Jin > Day 35: Sunset over Sandy Burr
My golf partner, Andy and I lost our match today dropping us out of the running from the company golf league championship. It was a bittersweet ending to a long and arduous season. Ironically, I played one of my best games today but so did my opponent. As luck would have it, I think my opponent shot his best game. With the season over now, maybe I can get back to enjoying the game for what it is. With the sun setting behind the first green, it was a beautiful scene at Sandy Burr Country Club in more ways than one.

Donald Jin > Day 36: Sam, I Am.
“My life and his were twisted into a single strand. Cut one, and you cut both. If he were gone, I would not be able to live through that. If I were gone, he wouldn't live through it, either. And a world without Edward seemed completely pointless. Edward had to exist.” Stephenie Meyer is not a literary genius and neither was Dr. Seuss. Yet, each has their own audiences and fans. As for me, I’ll take Clive Barker, Anne Rice and Stephen King, oh yeah and Dr. Seuss, of course, of course!

Donald Jin > Day 37: Age 46
Today, I celebrated my 46th birthday. 46 is not a milestone age, not like hitting 16, 21, or even 40. I’m not sure what other milestones are left after 40, maybe 60. Anyway you look at it, 46 is a pretty non-significant birthday as birthdays go.

As a present to myself, I took the day off from work and played golf. I ended the round with three straight birdies, something I have never done before. I admit, it was an easy course, but it was still an amazing feat by my standard. I took it as a wink and a nudge from the golf gods wishing me a happy birthday. After dinner, I was presented with cards and presents from my family and a birthday cake. Not just any cake, but an original Carvel ice cream cake, my favorite. This was a sweet ending to a sweet day.

Donald Jin > Day 38: Well balanced, Quite Matured with a Lovely Bouquet
This is my father’s old camera. He must have bought this back in the late 70’s. This camera was considered a low to mid tiered model in the Pentax line-up. The camera is fully automatic with only an aperture priority mode and no speed dial and the resulting shutter speed is displayed in the viewfinder. The body feels extremely solid and well balanced with all metal construction and sits very nicely in the hand. He owned one lens with this camera and that’s the 50mm f/1.4, what is now often referred to as the “nifty fifty.” Coincidentally, this photo was made with Canon’s version of the same lens. Though the Pentax ME wasn’t the most expensive camera in the line-up, I know this must have been a major investment for him. My mom told me how he loved taking photos even when they were dating. I seldom use this camera to take photos, but I have it out on my desk all the time. I often find myself holding it in my hands, feeling the cold metallic body, pressing the shutter few times and even putting it up to my nose to appreciate its bouquet.

Donald Jin > Day 39: Secrets
“There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and there is nothing secret that will not become known and come to light.” Luke 8: 17

Donald Jin > Day 40: Baby Back
This place is loud, rowdy and scores very high on the "cheesiness" meter. They play awful country music (redundant, I know…) way too loud and worst of all, every thirty minutes or so, all the waitresses line up in the middle of the restaurant and line dance. So why do I keep coming back to this place? It’s their ribs. New England isn’t known for serving up good ribs. I have never tried anything else in this restaurant so I can’t speak for their steaks or any other items on the menu. However, their ribs are pretty darn good. They are crispy outside, meaty, but not fatty, covered with tangy BBQ sauce but not smothered. It’s worth suffering through their hokey country theme décor, bad music, and stumping waitresses.

Donald Jin > Day 41: Waiting
I was parking my car on Commonwealth Avenue this afternoon in Brookline when I noticed this person waiting for a train at the T stop. She looked completely lost in her thoughts as the setting sun was lighting her from the back. Her quiet, contemplative look reminded me of Norah Jones, a singer/songwriter who has been at the top of my playlist lately. I listened to Norah all the way home that night.

Donald Jin > Day 42: Life
Life is like a roll of toilet paper…
It’s wasted and taken for granted in the beginning, but as it gets close to the end, you are counting every square and they all seem so precious.

Donald Jin > Day 43: Red Hot Chili Peppers
We arrived in Seattle today for my niece’s wedding. We only had couple of days here, so we made the best of it by taking a tour of downtown Seattle before checking into our hotel. I’ve been to Seattle several times in the past but never visited the Pike Place Market. I was impressed with how lively this market was. This was a real outdoor market where locals come to shop for groceries, flowers, fish among other items and not just a bunch of souvenir shops. There were several produce vendors in the market with chili pepper swags on display for sale. I was captivated by how bright and colorful they were. I wish we had more time to explore this wonderful city.

Donald Jin > Day 44: The Glow
The kids and I had the day free until the rehearsal dinner later tonight. I promised Dani that I would take her to the town of Forks today. Alex grudgingly tagged along. On our self-guided tour, we visited the town hall, Forks HS (home of the Spartans), the town hospital where Dr. Cullen worked, the Cullens residence, and the "official" Swans residence. We had lunch at a local diner with a crowd of lumber yard workers and shopped at Dazzle by Twilight, the town souvenir store. We found a replica of Bella’s red pick up truck parked in front of the town hall.

Sitting inside my rented car on a four hour trek back to Seattle, I questioned whether this was the best way to spend the only full day we had in Washington. Looking over at Dani and seeing the glow on her face, the question dissipated and I realized I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Donald Jin > Day 45: Forever and Ever
Father Guido Sarducci of the SNL fame once asked why we needed the second “ever” in the phrase “forever and ever.” He contested that the first “ever” pretty much covered everything from now to eternity. He was a smart man. Today, my niece got married. Everyone wished the newlyweds a happy life together. I added “forever and ever” just for a good measure.

Day 34: Personal Best
Alex ran in his first race as a freshman member of the Oliver Ames HS Cross Country Team today. He didn’t take first place or break any records, but it really didn’t matter at all. It was so heartwarming to see the camaraderie he shared with his teammates and even among the opposing high school runners. On the way home, I asked Alex whether he held back for any reason. He said “no dad, I gave everything I got from start to finish.” I said “that’s good.” I was very proud of him today.

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