Just the Three of Us.

     It started three years ago when we decided to take a trip to New York City for Mother's Day weekend. It has been a year since my dad passed away and we wanted to do a girls trip to start the new chapter in your life, since it is just going to be the three of us now. It started in 2010, in New York City, for four days we ran around eating and seeing as much of the city as we can. It was the first time, since my father's death, that we were able to share a laugh together and be happy with just being the three of us. It brought us closer together but also established us as three very independent and strong women. Looking back, I would have never predicted that life could have lead us to where we are now. We have survived a loss together and from that we have all been able to build a life for ourselves while maintaining the relationship that we had with one another, my father would have been proud. 

NEW YORK, NEW YORK 2010

GERMANY & PARIS 2011 

HONOLULU, HAWAII 2012

Captain's Log

<<//Winter Regatta on February 25, 2012//>>

"If you want to be the best then you have to learn from the best. And that is exactly what I have been doing each time I sail with Sly McFly. I want to introduce you to the fabulous team and provide you with the Captain's Log, written by Captain James Baumgart, of the most recent regatta that I participated in. The team that day consisted of Captain Jim, a jolly fella who man the helm. The deck hands consisted of Victor and John, who were the bowmen, Joannie and Me who were the trimmer of the sails, and George, who can basically do everyone's job, but in this race he was the extra muscle power that I needed to help combat the crazy gust of wind that we encountered. Be warn that there are a lot of sailing terminologies and if you are not familiar with them, then you are going to be lost or bored. I hope you enjoy reading the adventure that I embarked on with Sly McFly Race." -GT
 

“We hit the water well before the race time so we decided to practice tacking, gybing, and setting the asym, gybing, and dousing. The first asym gybe was a disaster as all kinds of lines got tangled. The sail blew through the foretriangle and wrapped. We were out of control, sailing up to land, we urgently needed to gybe, douse, and sail back into the water.”

“Fortunately the crew got this done without too much yelling and we rehoisted, got a good gybe done, got a good douse done, and checked in. We continued to sail around pre-race, and got our course. This time it was an upwind start, and I think we got a pretty good start. We were the leeward boat, right on the line, and middle of the starting line.”

“No one laid X mark on the start, we all tacked to port, and we got a nice lift and made the first mark on just two tacks. We rounded the mark within 2 inches and did not hit! But somehow we were already several minutes behind Mad Hatter. We did pass the J-24s and were in 3rd or 4th place out of 10 boats. After the next mark, upwind, we were in the middle of the pack. Winds were very strong, about 18 knots. We rounded and did not put up the spinnaker. It was a medium close reach back down the bay. We passed Fiasco, while Cat 34 Rio del Mar was trying very hard to pass us.”

"Winds were gusting, changing direction, and there were wild puffs and holes and all kinds of changes. We did not let Rio get above us and went way across the bay to force them to duck low. Normally this would have been a correct tactical move. We ended up in a position to take a very nice close reach to the downwind mark – our best point of sail. Rio was going up with their symmetrical spin. I called for the Code 3A – a big mistake (wish I had called for the Code 0 – or just left the jib)."

"The crew did a good hoist in very windy conditions. Boat speed was in the 7s. I was looking for 8s. As we cleared the Bali Hai and sailed into that slot between Shelter Island and Harbor Island we got some really big puffs and shifts. We saw the winds go to 23 knots and quickly shift forward from an AWA of 75 to an AWA of 50. This resulted in radical spin knockdowns, round ups and we were totally out of control. I think we had at least 5 roundups, one was really grand."

 "Grace, our most petite crew, was battling with the spin sheets trying to dump and ease. Main was all the way out. Spin was not quite in the water on some of the bigger wipeouts. This was a day when we could have really used more people, and bigger people, on the rail. Crew learned what a roundup is. While the boat is out of control, she spins to windward, stands back up, and I turn it down and then it happens all over again!"

"While we were battling this, the entire fleet passed us. I was calling for the spin down but before they did that I managed to get the boat turned downwind just enough to get it under control. Twinging the spin sheet would have helped. Radical mainsail twist or a reef would have helped. We sailed to the mark. On the way we got a nice little luff from Alinka 2 – not in our class – and not on our course – and not flying a spin - which resulted in another near spinnaker knockdown."

"My fault, I should have been watching BEHIND and we could have avoided them easily. The luff was legal. We did an early jib set and douse. We rounded in good shape with a couple of Class 4 boats. Our tack up the bay for the next lap was uneventful. We need to do a better job watching for puffs, shifts, and tacking on headers. Crew was learning to tack quickly in heavy air. As we rounded the upwind mark, no one wanted to set the spin again. I couldn't blame them but winds were down to 10 – 12 knots. We needed the spin badly. It was not repacked and the lines were a mess but we had the code 4 ready to go and the backup lines ready. I was calling for it. But crew really insisted we stay under jib. Now, we didn't lose any places under jib but we didn't make up any ground either. We had a nice rounding, nice upwind leg to the finish."

Paying It Forward.

<<//My Sewing Machine//>>

    "I've recently started crafting a lot as a way to start focusing on myself and spending some time doing what I want to do. I have a sewing machine, that my dad left behind, but I never learned how to use it. So I taught myself by sewing a few simple things, such as cases for my iPhone and nook. I was fascinated by some of the pieces that I was making by simply running a line of thread over two pieces of fabric. However, this story is not about me but about two very hard working women and a sewing machine." -GT

     Last night I went to bed knowing about Kiva's complimentary $25 loan credits for new lenders, and this morning I woke up with a determination to donate. I laid in bed refusing to get up this morning because I was on a quest to search for the right candidate. I was hoping to find a rural health clinic in need of medical supplies, unfortunately I was not able to find such a scenario. However, my determination prevented me for giving up and I started looking at the different types of services that individuals were providing within their local community. I found an abundance of individuals, from a handful of countries, who knew a trade which allow them to provide for their family. I can't help but be envious of their stories, considering that I am someone who have decided ten years of my life into the education system and came out a little disappointed in the fact that I did not obtain a trade that I can use to support a family.

     There were beauticians, auto mechanics, photographers, electricians, barbers, tailors, and the list goes on as I kept reading one story after another. I came upon may different groups of female entrepreneurs who were requesting loans so that they can buy a sewing machine in order to start a sewing business. Quickly my head started filling with memories of my childhood. I remembered that shortly after we immigrated to the United States, from Vietnam, my parents bought two sewing machines and started receiving large bulk of fabric patterns. They would sew the pieces together at home and bring the completed shirt, pant or dress back to a warehouse in exchange for cash. I have memories of weekly trips to the warehouse where my mom would pick-up or drop-off the orders. As a child I did not realized that, for several years, my mom was doing a job analogous to someone who was working at a sweatshop. What I did realized, at that age, was that by having the sewing machines, my mom was able to work comfortably at home while being able to spend more time with her children. I have fond memories of her working diligently through out the night while we slept mixed in with memories of our many walks to McDonald's for a Happy Meal or the park after school to play on the slide. Looking back now, both my sister and I can account our hard-working nature to years of observing my parents work multiple jobs in order to provide for our family.

     Eventually, my parents were able to save up enough money from their sewing job and we were able to move out of our first apartment and into our first condo home. This move meant that we would be parting ways with the sewing machines because my mom was able to find a stable job once she got her cosmology license. It put an end to the sounds of the sewing machines hard at work while I slept at night and no more extra scraps fabric for me to design outfits for my Barbies. One day, when I got older, my mom shared with me the story of how she have received a loan from a family friend in order to purchase the sewing machines. She mentioned that without the sewing machines we probably would not be able to be where we are and have what we have today without he extra funds that she have saved from the sewing job. Those two big heavy sewing machines, which became fixtures in the apartment, ended up making a big impact in our lives.

     Growing up I was hesitant about sharing this story with my friends because I was ashamed, but now I realized that I was just ignorant. I am proud of everything that my parents have done and hope to live by their example of hard work and dedication. Therefore, it was without hesitation that I decided to established my mom as a new lender with Kiva and started a $25 loan to support a group of women living in Pakistan, who were requesting a new sewing machine in order to start their sewing business. Ironically, they are called Asia's Group and from their picture they seem to be the happiest bunch of women which drew my attention. Asia's story of how she is using her skill of sewing in order to be able to support her children's education is very similar to what my mom's story. Stories similar to these are not going to end with Asia, it will probably continue on some where else around the world. I believe that by providing women with the right tools, like a sewing machine, women like Asia and my mom can stay out of the sweatshop. They can work comfortably at their own leisure while being able to raise their children and generate an income to help support their family. I am a big believer in empowering and supporting one another for the better good of our community, society and planet. So take some time today to reflect on your own life story and find a way to pay it forward for someone else.

Quote : Some Fatherly Advise

<<//My Father and I; circa 1983//>>

New York

November 10, 1958

Dear Thom:

We have your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.

First - if you are in love - that's a good thing - that's about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don't let anyone make it small or light to you.

Second -there are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you - of kindness and consideration and respect - not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn't know you had.

You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply - of course it isn't puppy love.

But I don't thing you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it - and that I can tell you.

Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.

The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.

If you love someone - there is no possible harm in saying so - only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometime the saying must take the shyness into consideration.

Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.

It somethings happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another - but that does not make you feeling less valuable and good.

Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I'm glad you have it.

We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.

And don't worry about losing. If it is right, it happens - The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.

Love,

Fa

A letter written by John Steinbeck to his son Thom. His words of wisdom about love. More of Steinbeck's personal letters to family and friends can be found in "Steinbeck: A Life in Letters" 1989.

Sail Me Away.

     I started sailing a little more than a year ago with my ex-boyfriend, Joe. He stared taking lessons and was hooked. Then my birthday came around and he bought me a few lessons and I become hooked as well. Looking back, it was the best birthday present I've received from him because I will not be sailing today if he never turned me onto it. After completing our lessons, every Saturday we would rent a small 24-foot sail boat and cruise around Mission Bay (located in San Diego, California). We took turns manning the helm, while the other learned to trim the jib. Unfortunately, my relationship with Joe did not last as long as my relationship with sailing, we went our separate ways by the end of last year. The beginning of this year brought new found hope when I was referred to Sly McFly, a great sailing team that participated in the local regattas in San Diego. I quickly bonded with the team after a few sails. With one race in particular, an ocean race around the Coronado Islands that was supposed to take 12 hours ended up taking close to 24 hours due to lack of wind, but it sealed my faith and trust in the captain and crew.

  "When I am out on the water, I am free. I see the world from a different point of view as I follow each puff of wind to new discoveries." -GT

     If I have sparked your interest in sailing, then you can contact me or Sly McFly to participate in the next regatta in San Diego. Otherwise stay tune, more photos to come and a captain's log of the last regatta.

Be Present.

Summit to the Summit
<<//Read my post, below. Then watching the film, above//>>
Summit on the Summit: Kilimanjaro - MTV Shows - Full Episodes

     Last week I saw a Tweet which read "Climb Kilimanjaro for a good cause? Yes, Please!" From that tweet the wheels my head started turning once again. My love and fascination for Mount Kilimanjaro started two years ago. Before that my ignorant mind only registered it as a mountain located in Africa. But after watching a documentary on MTV about the mysterious mountain, a seed was planted in my head and I wanted to learn more.

     In 2010, I stumbled upon a documentary made by MTV called Summit on the Summit. It is an inspiring story about how a man gather together a group of his friends, who came from all different walks of life, in order to raise awareness and bring change to the global water crisis. First of all, I am still amazed that MTV actually went out side of the box and produced an educational film, instead of their typical documentary which show cased teen pregnancies or benign drinking. After recently watching it again, I would characterized  it as combining Bear Grylls's "Man vs. Wild" survival skill with Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservation" philosophical insights.

     Every time I hear the word "Kilimanjaro," it brings back the urge of wanting to see how far I can push my body and my mind. For inexperienced mountaineers, Mount Kilimanjaro is considered a good alternative to the Yosemite or Everest of the climbing world. It is made up of three volcanic crater that varies in size and rises up to 19,341 ft. Climbing it consists more of trekking around these craters instead of danging off of massive stabs of granite. One day, maybe within this year or a few years down the road, I will take this challenge.

     In the mean time, I have decided to share this documentary with you (my friends). I hope that it will open your mind and heart about wanting to bring more awareness to some of the social issues that might not be happening in front of our face but definitely occurring behind our back on a daily basis. I can sit here and type up list of reasons why I find this film so inspiring, and also why I find it a bit of a cliche. But that would be boring and tedious. So, I want you to watch the film and take what you want from it. I hope that it gets the wheels in your head turning and possibly motivate you to take the first step towards putting yourself out there and pursing what you want to do while helping others around the world.

     From the documentary, I learned that you should try to take the time, in this life time, to do something worth wild for yourself and someone else. As an individual, we are all capable of helping ourselves. And sometime, as a individuals, we will try to take it one step further and try to help others. But the only problem with that scenario is that sometime we do not succeed in the latter step. Therefore, we must learn to come together and help each other with our dreams, quests and journeys (especially when it involves help others). For a long, I've been motivated to step outside of my comfort zone to see if I can conquer some of my passions in life. Recently, I've discovered that through the help of social medias I can share my passion with my friends and see if anyone share my same passion or can help me along my journey. I am very grateful for all of the support and advise that my friends have given me. And I look forward to hearing more of what my friends has to say.

     At the beginning of the year, I participated in a "Handmade Pay it Forward" project, which basically means that someone will make something "handmade" for me and in return I'm was supposed to "Pay it Forward" by doing a similar project of my own. Since Valentine's Day is around the corner and I am spending it as a single gal this year, I want to spread the love to some of my friends. So for my Handmade Pay it Forward project: I will send any of you a handmade heart "felt" Valentine's Day card via mail if you watch the documentary and post a comment by Wednesday (February 8, 2012).

     Two Rules:

1. If you participate, you should try your best to replicate with your own version of "Paying it Forward." 
2. Comment with you ideas on how I should go about Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for a good cause, and if you are interested in coming with me, I am looking for optimistic climbers.

Here's to Now.

     Growing up you always think in the mind set of "when I get I older, I want to be doing this..." But what happen when you actually get to that point and realized that you have not yet achieved what you said you would do. I turned 29 earlier this year and I feel like I have finally reached that point in my life. Over the years, I have learned more lessons then actually succeeding at anything. The biggest lesson was how to become a stronger person when you are dealt with obstacles and challenges in your life. Looking back at my 20s, I felt like I have wasted my time and dragged my feet on doing a lot of stuff. Scared of failing, I allowed other people to decide what I should do or needed to do. As a result, I discovered that I have failed myself.

     I have recently ended a big chapter in my life, which resulted in a lot of pain and heart ache. Eventually, you will find out more about that chapter. But I have learned that it has given me the opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start from starch. I take it as a sign that I should start focusing on myself, since I have lived in the shadow of doubt and fear my whole life. I remember the first time I heard the Gandhi quote which said that "We must become the change we want to see," I was so empowered by those simple words. But I never believed in myself enough to actually make the changes. So this is the year, that I start making the changes that I wanted to see in my life.

     After quickly losing my dad to cancer, I have discovered that life is to short for me to keep postponing the things that I have wanted to do on my Bucket List. An interesting question comes to mind, "when am I actually going to start doing things on the Bucket List?" A good approach to this situation would be to first answer the question and then create the Bucket List; in order to save yourself any feeling of disappointment or pressure to come. So I've decided to kill two birds with one stone by start doing the things on my Bucket List and blogging about it. My life for the next year is going to be an open book for everyone to read. I want to warn you in advance that my words could be raw at times. My sister has told me that I can be frank and bold with my words. But know that I am not a girly girl who is going to sugar coat every word that she said. Know that I do try best to look at both sides of an argument. Therefore, I wish that you would take what you can from it since this is a learning process for me.

Here's to Now!

So here is the Bucket List that I have created for this year. I'm not going to call them resolutions since I have missed out on both New Years (calendar and lunar). So I've decided to call them "The Dirty Thirty" because I wanted to see how much I can do before I turn 30. The reason why I took so long to come up with them is because I wanted to make them as realistic and concrete as possible. I will cross them off the list once I have provided the proof that I have completed it, by posting it on the blog.