02/28: I sat quietly in front of the window, sipping on my Juniper Latte and gazing out at the view while rehearsing the notes I had spent hours compiling and studying. I usually don't treat myself to Starbucks unless it's some kind of special occasion. It just happened to be my Regular Day Off, so I had plenty of time to rest and prepare for this job interview. As crazy as it seems, a part of me actually enjoys job interviews. Sure, it's a nerve-wrecking experience. But in the end, I'm really just talking about myself. (And who doesn't like to do that?) I often compare the experience to the countless piano recitals and competitions I'd participated in as a kid. Sure, stage fright is hard to overcome (and still bothers me even after decades of experience!) But once I'm in the spotlight, it's my chance to shine.

When the time came closer, I walked a few blocks to the building on top of the hill that I'd seen before only from a distance, then crossed the walkway over the huge pond surrounding the entire building, which, despite being dried up (probably for renovation or repair), I assume is usually filled with water. It reminded me of a modern-day moat, and I couldn't help but entertain myself by imagining the addition of a huge drawbridge and some swimming crocodiles. After downing the remainder of my Latte, it was finally showtime.

In my opinion, I did pretty well at that interview, given that the questions asked were pretty much exactly what I had anticipated. (The coffee definitely helped too!) Unfortunately, it wasn't good enough. The problem with job interviews is that no matter how well you do, there's always the chance that someone else does better. (And in the City's case, it's highly probable that the hiring department already has an ideal candidate in mind.) But it would not be my last time crossing that waterless pond for interviews. In fact, over the next few months, I went there so frequently that I knew the visitor security procedure by heart. And now, I'm glad to say that in just over a couple weeks, I'll be able to bypass that security desk with my own badge as I take the next step forward in my City career by working for the Department of Water and Power.

Technically, this is not a promotion. But in many ways, it actually is. Those who are familiar with LA City careers should know exactly what I mean. But for those who don't, let me explain.

This isn't a promotion because it's a lateral transfer, meaning I didn't take any promotional Civil Service exam and will still be keeping my current title as Management Analyst, doing work that falls within the scope of that classification. Some people apply for transfers because of shorter commutes or more suitable department-specific benefits. Others transfer to build up their resumes with more diverse experience. As someone who values commitment, I've always personally felt that unless there's a very good reason, it would be difficult to explain to a manager or supervisor that I'm essentially choosing to keep my salary and overall scope of work but simply work for somebody else instead.

So why transfer now? Of all the City departments, there's only one that has the authority to set its employees' pay grades independently from the rest of the City, and that's the Department of Water and Power (DWP). And the only reason you would want to go rogue in the first place is that you believe you can do better on your own, which is precisely the case here. By making this transfer, even though my classification remains the same, I'm essentially getting a pay increase similar to that of the promotion to my current position, which wasn't exactly too shabby. DWP also has a separate retirement system from the rest of the City. That's a factor that actually discourages many City employees from wanting to enter the Department; if you've already accumulated many years in the regular City retirement system, it simply doesn't make sense to start from zero again. But for newer and (relatively) younger employees like me, it's a perfect opportunity that's beneficial both immediately and in the long run.

To be honest, just half a year ago the idea of applying for transfer opportunities didn't interest me at all. But two specific factors sparked the initial flame. First, a staggering number of my colleagues successfully made the jump, including those who worked in my unit before me, those who I worked alongside every day, and those I studied for the Analyst exam with back in my previous position. Second, the unexpected financial burdens that resulted from my less-than-stellar experience with home purchasing coupled with anticipated future financial needs to support the baby left me with no choice but to immediately look for ways to boost my income. As an Analyst, the next logical step would be to take the Senior Analyst exam. But when the registration opened last year, my experience wasn't sufficient to qualify, and as with pretty much all other Civil Service exams, God only knows when it's going to be offered again. Transferring to DWP was pretty much my only option. And thankfully, it's not exactly a bad one.

Of course, even though I didn't have to take an exam or be placed on an Eligible List, I still had to apply and interview for each opportunity. Based on the number of people I know that successfully landed DWP transfer jobs, I knew that opportunities would open up quite frequently. Still, given how many other City employees are probably also eager to get their feet in DWP's doors, I didn't want to set my hopes too high. For a few months, I simply did my part - I sent out applications and resumes each time there was an opening I was interested in. In November, I showed up for my first interview, complete with the aforementioned Juniper Latte. All the interviews after that one were not coincidentally scheduled on my RDO, meaning I had to break the news to my supervisor that I was actively pursuing transfer opportunities. It was difficult for me to initiate that conversation, but when it comes to going to DWP, no honest supervisor will deny it's the right thing to do. I admit that getting rejection letters was very disheartening, and after a while I lost much of the enthusiasm that drove me to jump at every opportunity I found. But I knew that if I didn't continue doing my part, I would have no one to blame but myself; there was enough evidence to show that what I wanted was certainly not impossible, and if DWP would indeed be God's answer to my need for a means of providing for the baby, then surely that huge imaginary drawbridge would fall one day and I would confidently step across when the time was right.

Tiffany and I had spent countless nights praying together about this. Mom had offered me the comforting reminder that if the baby is a gift from God, then surely He would provide the means to support him. To me, getting a job offer is always a very humbling experience - a divine combination of being noticed and chosen among others and being tremendously blessed by God. I had just returned to my cubicle after a breaktime nap when I received the unexpected call from DWP offering me the position. Being still half awake, I was cohesive enough to say "yes" to the offer. But the truth didn't sink in until moments later, when I couldn't help but rush to the bathroom, lock myself up in a stall, and let the tears fall from my eyes as I thanked God for His gracious provision. I had prayed not simply that God would give me a job at DWP, but that He would do what's best according to His will and His perfect timing. In my prayers, I acknowledged that any gift that would distract me or cause me to turn away from God would not be in the best interest of a loving Father who knows what's best for His children. The fact that God blessed me with this new job is a precious reminder that He is in complete control and has not abandoned me.

And that means that my response should be one of humble worship and continued dependence on Him rather than on my abilities. After all, there are still many challenges ahead, beginning with learning the details of my new job followed shortly by juggling that with the birth of the baby. I'm thankful for those challenges, because they remind me that I'm not self-sufficient and must continuously depend on God and remain rooted in Him to find true and lasting satisfaction. The farther He leads me down this road of life, the more certain I should be that He will not let me go and that He will always be, as He always has been, unchanging and faithful.

02/18: Thanks to a lucky combination of holidays, RDO (Regular Day Off) weekends, and the Floating Holiday I used for the Nor-Cal trip, I'm currently enjoying the sixth of seven consecutive three-day weekends. These long weekends have definitely played a crucial role in getting things in order at the condo; as of today, everything is finally organized and in the right place, and I just hooked up (most of) my music equipment to resume arrangement/composition projects that had been put on hold for about three months. Of course, there's still a lot of other things that need to be done - some crucial pieces of furniture are still missing, the plants in our yard are in desperate need of trimming, and most of the garage has yet to be cleaned. Plus, there's only a few months left before the baby comes, meaning there's another whole set of planning and preparing to do.

The busyness never seems to stop, but in the middle of it all there's plenty to be thankful for. For the first time since we bought our home, there's a glimmer of hope for the future that's worth clinging onto in the area of financial concerns. God has certainly shown His faithfulness to provide for us in both small ways and big ways. Just when I thought I'd get a little break between cleaning our home and getting ready for the baby, a new change began coming my way, one that will take some getting used to but should ease most of my worries about how to raise the baby while continuing to earn our incomes. I'm still waiting for all the details to be confirmed, but at this point, it's likely that the change will take place within the next month, or even the next few weeks. Who knows, maybe the return to my first two-day weekend since early January will also mark the end of one chapter of my life and the beginning of another!

02/05: A great adventure usually points to a great destination. But what makes a great destination even more memorable is an equally great journey surrounding it. When I found out that Joseph and Kimmy were getting married in San Jose, I knew that this was an opportunity to not only celebrate a great cause, but also plan a road trip up north similar to what Tiffany and I did over two years ago. We both took Friday off from work, giving us three days to enjoy a fun-filled adventure taking us almost 900 miles to various destinations across California, from picnic to steakhouse, from ocean to mansion, from historic to quirky, from sacred to haunted.

Friday 2/1: After a quick breakfast at home, we were on our way. The high chance of rain forecasted across California had been a big concern as the trip came nearer, but by then we had reason to be hopeful that we would be able to enjoy at least parts of the outdoor activities we had planned. I had almost forgotten that it was still a typical Friday morning, meaning there would be a good amount of traffic with everyone commuting to work. But once we steered clear of the more urban areas, it really began to feel like a vacation - long stretches of open highways leading us along the coast and through the mountains.

Our first destination was the Monarch Butterfly Grove at Pismo Beach. This isn't your typical zoo butterfly exhibit where the insects are raised and kept in a man-made setting. The Monarch butterflies naturally migrate here each year, and visitors can see them flying around or bunched up in clusters. We enjoyed a walk down the trail, admired a few Monarchs up close, and saw a large cluster of them from a distance. Then we proceeded to the nearby Dinosaur Caves Park for a scenic walk along the coast. Other than the dinosaur next to the park's main sign (which we took a picture with) and the dino eggs in the playground, there's not much to indicate where the park got its name. But yes, there's an interesting history behind the name, so go do a little research if you're curious.

There's nothing like the humbling yet refreshing feeling of standing at a cliff overlooking an endless stretch of ocean. A bunch of seals on a distant rock only added some more fun to the experience. The sky was cloudy, but we were thankful that no rain had fallen yet. We found a table at the park and enjoyed a simple picnic lunch together. Even the fanicest restaurants we've been to don't provide such a majestic view.

Our northbound journey then took us to San Luis Obispo. The downtown area is an interesting blend of the historic and the modern. We wandered down to the creek, then crossed a bridge and arrived at the hidden but popular Bubblegum Alley. Yes, as the name so clearly suggests, it's an alley filled with bubblegum on the walls - so much bubblegum that the place is now a major tourist attraction. Being there on a weekday meant that there were almost no other people, so taking pictures was an easy task.

Next, we went to probably the most well-known attraction in San Luis Obispo - the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, originally founded in 1772. We visited the surprisingly large museum and enjoyed a walk around the building and in the church courtyard. Then we went to the nearby History Center - one of the surviving Carnegie libraries now turned into a small museum. We were given an interesting history lesson on Carnegie and his role in establishing free public libraries, which I had probably studied in elementary school but long forgotten about. The museum also has a room of locally-discovered historical artifacts that visitors get to try to identify. We managed to figure out almost half of them. By academic standards, that's still an F. Isn't it great to appreciate history as an adult without worrying about getting graded on it?

It wasn't until we were leaving downtown SLO that the rain began to fall. Thankfully, our next destination was not only just minutes away, but also indoors. Just the previous night, I had tossed out two options for Tiffany to choose from - either find a random local restaurant in the downtown SLO area for dinner, or celebrate Valentine's Day two weeks early with a fancy dinner at a place where we otherwise wouldn't have a chance to go. She chose the latter. And of course, I already had a place in mind - Alex Madonna's Gold Rush Steak House.

For those who don't know, the Madonna Inn is filled with hidden treasures. Its many interior surprises include the famous rock waterfall urinal, which of course I visited and used a few times. The Steak House, which is part of the Madonna Inn, was an unforgettable experience, with booths surrounding a giant tree and everything ornamented with a reddish-pink and gold theme. The result is a whimsical blend of Rainforest Cafe, Disney magic, and classic American fine dining that somehow fits our occasion perfectly. We were, amazingly, able to get a reservation with less than a day's notice, probably because SLO's Restaurant Month (January) had just ended and Valentine's Day crowds are still over a week away. For obvious reasons, we didn't partake in any alcoholic beverages despite the temptation. But the food alone was far beyond satisfying - truffle fingerling potatoes, portobello mushroom fries, and huge fine steaks smoked with oak wood. Despite being so stuffed we could barely walk, we had to top off the meal with the famous Pink Champagne cake, which definitely did not disappoint.

Then came the drive up to San Jose which, despite the rain, was very smooth. We made a quick stop for gas, then arrived at our hotel - Holiday Inn Express. We were surprised to discover that we got upgraded to a bigger room - a great way to end an exciting but exhausting first day of our trip.

Saturday 2/2: One of the main criteria we used in choosing a hotel for this trip was complementary breakfast. We were definitely not disappointed with what this Holiday Inn had to offer to help us start off the morning. After breakfast, we were on our way to probably the most popular tourist destination in San Jose - the Winchester Mystery House. Regardless of whether or not you believe that the mansion is haunted by ghosts, it's interesting to see how Sarah Winchester's beliefs and her great wealth prompted her to create something so grand yet so bizarre. Coincidentally, this was also the one-year anniversary of the Winchester movie's release. We signed up for the first guided tour of the morning, which left us with plenty of time to wander around the gardens and museums with few other people around. Amazingly, the rain gave way to some sunshine during pretty much the exact time we were outdoors.

This marked the end of the first half of our trip, which we enjoyed with just the two of us. From then on, we would be visiting friends and spending time with them, catching up and celebrating the friendships we've been blessed with.

First, we met with Sophia in Santa Clara for lunch at an almost entirely Korean plaza. We enjoyed our meal at Kunjip, where the big crowd, including mostly Koreans, left us without doubt that the food would be both tasty and authentic. No, it wasn't Korean BBQ. And no, it wasn't tofu. That's what basically everyone (us included) thinks of first when it comes to Korean food. But apparently Korean noodle soup is quite a treat too. I'm definitely looking forward to Sophia's Yelp review. Afterwards, we went to Moo Bar to try their Raindrop Cake, which Sophia had recommended to me for our previous Nor-Cal visit over two years ago but we didn't get a chance to try then. It's definitely a unique and tasty (not to mention photogenic) treat. My suggestion to those who have never tried it - Do a little research on what it is first, otherwise you might find it bland. We tried the original (syrup) and strawberry flavors, and both were delicious.

Back at our hotel, it was time to get dressed and ready for the event that brought us to San Jose in the first place - Joseph and Kimmy's wedding. We met up with Ken, who opted to fly up north but was staying at the same hotel just a few doors down, and drove together to the San Jose Women's Club where the wedding would be. The venue doesn't have guest parking, but thanks to us arriving early, we treated ourselves to the open parking spot right across the street, saving us both the five bucks to park in the nearby structure and the time/hassle of walking in the rain.

Being at a wedding is always a wonderful experience, especially when it comes to someone I've known for so long. I've known Joseph for as long as I can remember and have also met Kimmy on a few occasions over the last few years. I still remember back when we were all single, living with our parents, and free to stay out late on random weeknights. Things have definitely changed, and I look forward to our continuing friendships as married couples. The wedding was sweet and simple, and getting a second full plate of food was a nice bonus, along with getting to take home the two tall centerpiece vases on our table (since we only had one tall vase at home and I broke it while cleaning). It was definitely raining much harder by the time we left to go back to our hotel. Thankfully, we were only minutes away. And because we didn't stay out nearly as late as expected, there was plenty of time for us to rest (and for Ken to catch up on his work) before the next morning.

Sunday 2/3: Ken, Tiffany, and I enjoyed a nice breakfast at the hotel, followed by some time to relax in our room until Tiffany and I had to check out and leave. We met with Elizabeth at the nearby Vietnam Town for lunch. Even with a large portion of the newly developed property still empty, there were already too many Vietnamese restaurants to count. We chose "Pho 90 Degree" (which may have been named after the fact that it's on a corner forming a 90-degree angle?) and enjoyed tasty pho bowls, perfect for the cold and occasionally rainy weather. Speaking of rain, we were treated to what I thought was the strangest combination of spontaneous rain and spontaneous sunshine. Apparently our huge umbrella was an easy giveaway that we weren't from the area; I guess Nor-Cal people simply got used to frequent rain and learned to deal with it. Thankfully, Elizabeth didn't mind being embarassed by us tourists.

After lunch, we walked over to the unforgettably-named Teahee for some drinks. Those drinks played a crucial role in helping me stay alert during the drive back south, which consisted of some of the heaviest rain I've ever driven in, as well as some of the most beautiful scenery when the skies cleared up. The coffee I had originally brought from the hotel would be saved for later. As the sunset hour approached, we made a spontaneous stop in the northern part of Pismo Beach to find a path to the ocean and soak in the gorgeous view. While I love planning out vacations ahead of time to make the most out of our resources, sometimes it's the unexpected moments that leave us most amazed. After a brief walk and some pictures, we then went back to the now-familiar Dinosaur Caves Park for a quick restroom break before proceeding with the journey.

There was one last stop to make before going home - dinner with Steph in Santa Barbara. We visited Steph and Royce's home first and checked out their special Japanese-themed room that Ken had previously told us about. Then we had dinner at Black Sheep Restaurant - a unique blend of American cuisine and a hint of Asian influence. We ate a rabbit. Ironically, it was served with carrots. Hey, if we already came this far away from home, why not try something new? After all, a big part of what makes vacations so memorable is simply the fact that they are new experiences - a break from the norm that lets us both have a good time and appreciate our daily life more.

Then it came time to drive home. It was a little later than we had planned, but the coffee I had saved from the hotel kept me awake. Soon we reached areas where city names and landmarks became familiar. Then we were home, unloading everything off the car and getting ready for a good night's sleep before returning to a week of work.

It's easy to get too caught up in daily life and forget that there's so much more out there than what I'm comfortable and familiar with. Looking back now, most vacations I've planned began with some kind of spark - either an opportunity worth seizing or a special occasion to attend. In this case, I'm glad Joseph and Kimmy invited us to celebrate their big day with them, resulting in this adventure. There's really only one thing we could have asked for - more time. With only a three days, including the wedding and time on the road, we were only able to meet up with friends we would otherwise rarely have a chance to see. (So please don't take it personally if we didn't contact you to meet up this time!) We can't help but realize that, with the baby coming soon, this would probably be our last vacation in a while. I'm glad we were able to make the most of this trip. More importantly, I'm glad to see that, despite having gone through different stages of life, friendships that I hold close to heart are still strong, and I have no reason to doubt that they will continue to be that way.

01/23: I woke up this morning to discover a pleasant little surprise - my most popular YouTube video has just hit 1 million views. This news comes about a month after another large milestone - reaching 10,000 subscribers on the channel. As Exotic Affinity nears its 9th birthday, I can't help but be amazed by the growth that has taken place over the years and especially in this past year.

Personally, I think getting 10,000 subscribers on the channel is a much bigger accomplishment than getting 1 million views on a single video despite the smaller number. To be honest, the million-view video (which, surprisingly, was only recorded and posted less than a year ago) really isn't all that special, and there are definitely much more interesting and view-worthy videos on the channel. I didn't really do anything to make it popular; in an ever-growing sea of complex search algorithms and tags, it somehow ended up in the right place at the right time, and the numbers exploded from there. This only draws attention to what I think is the biggest problem with trying to be successful on YouTube (or any other form of social media) - in a world where we have access to pretty much everything right at our fingertips, new information and media is being added far faster than anyone can actually receive it, and no matter how good your content is, it's nearly impossible to let it reach its target audience without first fighting a popularity battle. And I'm really not interested in popularity at all.

I've been asked on several occasions why I don't record myself or include any commentary in my videos. My main reason? The channel isn't about me. I don't want to be someone that's instantly recognizable wherever I go. In fact, I purposely avoid letting my face or voice show up in my own videos. I take much more pleasure in personally meeting other car enthusiasts at events and introducing myself only to see the surprised looks on their faces when they tell me they've enjoyed my videos for years and now finally get to meet me in person. There are already plenty of kids out there doing "vlogs" (and admittedly becoming quite popular and rich through them). Exotic Affinity is about cars - nothing more, nothing less. It's not a reality TV show, and it's not about my life, my personality, or my opinions. Sure, I have my own personal views on the different cars I capture. But if you want to know them, you'll have to talk to me personally. Opinions and personalities change over time, but my weapon of choice is consistency. That's why Exotic Affinity has not vanished from the scene like so many similar channels, even after nearly a decade. The content I posted half a decade ago, despite the lower video quality, is just as interesting and meaningful now as it was then. True art isn't about chasing fads or being popular, but rather creating works that will stand the test of time. With over 1,200 videos, consisting of not only the newest cars but also rare classics that few have heard of, Exotic Affinity is certainly one of the most diverse collections of automotive videos on YouTube today.

One other advantage of posting videos without additional commentary is that very little editing is required. After upgrading to Premiere Elements about a year ago, I created a template-based procedure (similar to what I used before with Windows Movie Maker) that allows most videos to be fully edited in about ten minutes, giving me a constant stream of content to post even during extremely busy times. As for actually shooting the videos and attending events, I try my best to find a healthy balance of various priorities in my life, committing reasonable amounts of time to the hobby and making the most out of every moment I commit to it.

Of course, in more recent years Exotic Affinity has been not only a hobby, but also a small source of income. And given its steady growth coupled with my recent financial needs, I believe this income will soon contribute to not only financially sustaining the hobby, but also supporting household needs. I definitely haven't forgotten that, once the baby comes, it would be a miracle each time I'm actually able to attend a car event. But trust me, I had been anticipating this from the day Tiffany and I got married. The truth is that over the years, I've been recording much more footage than I've actually edited and posted. Even if I don't collect any new footage, there will be enough content to keep the channel active for at least several years. Like I said earlier, Exotic Affinity isn't about chasing after the latest and greatest, but rather appreciating unique cars as works of art. And just as I look forward to these cars standing the test of time as works of art, I look forward to Exotic Affinity continuing to grow as a means of sharing those artworks with the rest of the world.