Reflect Forward...

  The Asian Fusion Confusion Source: CNN 2021 Source: CNN 2021 Presidential Proclamation 6130 in 1990 designates the month of May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month also known as AAPI Month. On this month, while much of the news is focused on the rise of anti-Asian American hate crimes, I reflect upon the public's inadvertent and misguided fusion of Asian identities. Don't get me wrong, the reporting of anti-Asian hate crimes and the eventual signing of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act are important and very much appreciated. Somewhere in this conversation though, my personal feelings about how my identity is fused in the all-encompassing "Asian" term makes me cringe sometimes.  Over the years, I have heard anti-Asian remarks that are laughably ignorant. "Go back to China, chinky-eyes!" "So, are you Asian? But you said you're Filipino?" "Your husband is white. Did he meet you in the navy and brought you here?" "It's AAPI ...

  La Jolla Secret Swing and Secret Garden Trail Seeing pictures of La Jolla's Secret Swings on social media inspired me to discover them, so when my son wanted to visit the  Birch Aquarium , I knew today was going to be the day - a  two birds, one rock sort of deal. Searching for any easy-on-the-knees trails in the surrounding area revealed two  - Secret Swing Trail and Secret Garden Trail.  The location though is not-so-secret as it basically begins at the free parking lot of the Birch Aquarium. You just need to know where to look. The parking lot is one-way, shaped like a U. Right at the top of the U-Turn is where the trail begins. The (not-so) Secret Swing is right after that short climb (see below). There's usually a line for pictures and today was no different. However, as it was early in the day I only had to wait behind a small group. The spot is beautiful and serene. It calms the soul and brings out the best in people. One member of the group even v...

  EL CAPITAN COUNTY PRESERVE In one word, describe... ... this hike? TOUGH! ... how you feel after the hike? TOUGH! After Mt. Gower County Preserve hike the previous week, we rested our bodies and nursed our knees - for a week - just to get ourselves ready for this one. The last and toughest hike in the SD County Tour Our Trails Challenge , the El Capitan County Preserve hike photo-op evidence is the El Cajon Mountain Peak Sign after 11+ miles and at 3675 elevation. One blogger even called County of SD Parks and Recreation as " mean " for including this hike. In fact, we didn't even think we'd actually do this, telling a park ranger, " we might not finish the Tough Trails anyway... " when we insisted on picking-up our prizes for the Easy and Moderate Trails categories. But, after finishing 14 trails, we could not possibly not finish this challenge. This trail is tough; so is life!  How tough? Read for yourself.  We saw this image from a blog. This sign motiv...