A hero among heroes

It’s been a long journey to get here, but I finally arrived to the point of being fully vaccinated. This is something I haven’t shared with many people, but a little over a year ago when COVID-19 first hit the U.S., I had caught it badly to the point where I was hospitalized and diagnosed with having pneumonia in both my lungs. Hearing the doctor say that had to have been one of the scariest things in my life. During my time hospitalized, the thought of dying from this had crossed my mind for sure. For a short time, it really messed with me physically and mentally, but thankfully I bounced back. Not a day goes by where don’t count my lucky stars to have somehow pulled through a situation like this where not many were so lucky, that being one of my family members as well. Here’s to being fully vaccinated. I hope those planning or waiting to get vaccinated do so sooner than later. https://www.instagram.com/p/COi4bSqHPj1mbQV8PiJlglKKcFv8pS-Y_19ME80/?igshid=1j5vbd9x4q96v

If you look hard enough on the internet, you can find almost anything, like a brand new Viper GC modchip. #gamecube #modchip #retrogaming #vipergc https://www.instagram.com/p/CN2-N1EHMmxnbMCfGUymC-ZB0CVUIoOYJxEGMg0/?igshid=1p660lrvc1bsg

Got some Christmas gifts from @indian_uncle_bargains. A Maruchan t-shirt and a Cowboy Bebop vinyl! Thanks so much dude! #christmas #christmasgift #maruchan #ramen #tshirt #cowboybebop #vinyl #record https://www.instagram.com/p/CJKqeG3nalNYQtn-PR2lhMBY5F70PP90KLrqV80/?igshid=1hkealsn1g5bz

Looks like Christmas came earlier this year! Got a new PC case from @thermaltakeusa and I’m loving the look and amount of space inside! Definitely a sturdy case with lots of breathing room all around. I know it’s a small thing, but having the glass panel to look inside is pretty relaxing. Thanks @_me_noah_ for the gift! #pc #pccase #thermaltake #airflow #bluelights #relaxing #christmasgift #christmascameearly https://www.instagram.com/p/CITchB2nQJp6Ylo6QbdatZAENTzwVtuZ_FTauU0/?igshid=yhuvf55u336d

Voted early today! #election2020 #ivoted #govote #earlyvoting https://www.instagram.com/p/CGuyLqxndYUZ6DB9ucbrvF3gR1XTtkcteapOSo0/?igshid=8bo0jqmdmdwg

A few days have passed, but I still can’t believe it... I got accepted to the MS Taxation program at the Zicklin School of Business for the Fall 2020 semester! If this experience has taught me anything so far it’s this: no matter how many times you fall, get up and try again. I want to thank my friends and family that helped me get to this point in my life. I’m so grateful for all the help and support. Folks, I’m heading to grad school! #gradschool #nextstep #betterlatethannever #taxation #seeyouintwoyears https://www.instagram.com/p/CCXOif3HO6n_E9N1ZwVVtpfcHI8SyMioa48ETw0/?igshid=nvms7phe6ty2

Joined a peaceful protest in Jackson Heights with @mynoa today for Black Lives Matter. Glad to know my community stands strong against racism and injustices towards PoC. #blacklivesmatter #jacksonheights #peacefulprotest https://www.instagram.com/p/CBHeulJHjjKeXCiWKdf6svfWKknyS5laJSnxZQ0/?igshid=qi1myc0mef0e

Never been big on birthdays, mainly because I never felt the need to feel special, but perhaps that something that should change. Here’s me cheesing it up with my bro @mynoa Every time my birthday comes around, I’m always reminded of all the people that love and care about me, even if we don’t see each other often. I also consider my birthday as a checkpoint in life. The questions that always come up are “How do you feel about your life now?” and “What changes can you make in order to make yourself happy?” But life is what you make of it, right? The job you work, the people you surround yourself with, and the way you take care of yourself, both physically and mentally. Last year, I made some big changes that led me to this point, and I’m glad I did. Thanks to all the people who took a moment to wish me a happy birthday! Here’s to 34, I certainly don’t feel (and look 😉) this old, but damn I’m glad I’m here! #happybirthday #34yearsold #dontfeelthisold #feelsgoodthough https://www.instagram.com/p/B7aHz8fHp5Mmr4F10XwlxTMLclF_u1gWOb6g4Y0/?igshid=l2178wtivgs2

This Instagram page called @subwaycreatures featured me in one of their posts titled “A few interesting reads for your commute”. I’m over here just trying to mind my own business and read my book in peace, but the internet is roasting me!! 😫🤣 It’s cool haha I’d laugh at the title if I had no idea what the book was about too! It’s official folks, I am indeed a Subway Creature! Thanks to @mynoa for pointing this out! #reading #books #howtocloneamammoth #science #subway #itsofficial #subwaycreatures https://www.instagram.com/p/B7UdhyjHr_mGy7MDfMPEdzLj90YlAd1sxHXiIw0/?igshid=f7iip3hi3rr

Got myself another ugly Christmas sweater, this time with even more penguins! Here’s me cutting up a Holiday Ham I prepped which turned out pretty good! To all you filthy animals out there, Merry Christmas! https://www.instagram.com/p/B6gLEg5HnzWWx9iSOrPgnppD-dedLTJgYoE9O40/?igshid=mjqlurfrm63i

It’s should be mandated by the state of New York, that all bodegas have at least one cat on premise. Her name is Rosita. She’s very calm and quite photogenic. 😸#bodega #bodegacat #calicocat https://www.instagram.com/p/B11MYMHHCX2SXPriEdN6MkZSTYndmkXVxbOIdY0/?igshid=1mpnd71x4l3kz

Count me in fam #area51 #luchador #tan #shenanigans #elchanchon #luchalibre #mexico #weouthere #thisismenow https://www.instagram.com/p/B0ZiYlwHzwKxR81o63UaW7QCBFdP_c7pF3HF780/?igshid=1h55jeuvrjttm

How I lived it up in Cancun. Cigar in one hand 🚬 and whiskey in the other 🥃. #cancun #mexico #livingitup #cigar #whiskey #vacation #justchillin https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz6ozApnS0cIOdvErUR5Mk7nYiv3upAmPB2-Gs0/?igshid=17myh9hekkz5y

It’s been about 5 years since I’ve flown outside of the country. Looking forward to my trip to Cancun for a much needed vacation and tan! 😎😎 (Fun fact: it’ll be my first time seeing a Palm Tree in person! 🌴🌴) #summer #vacation #trip #mexico #cancun https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzx2RHAnwX6OF8WWCBb0Ea6yxGvBI311pjzHQo0/?igshid=1neb2pwzomqe6

For Record Store Day this year, Crosley released a mini record player with 3 inch records. I was lucky enough to find one in the wild! For what looks like a toy record player, the sound quality is quite good! Not sure if all of these come with the same vinyl record, but mine came with the Foo Fighters Big Me record inside. Thanks to @hifirecordsastoria for selling me the last one and for the free IPA! #crosley #crosleyrecordplayer #inchophone #foofighters #bigme #threeinchrecordplayer https://www.instagram.com/p/BwNg1ftnrKYbl-O_9mjCRcrJQSyqSexmOlPc3Q0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ubuh9p1n3qsp

I never noticed until today, but there’s a penguin statue in Jackson Heights! Apparently his name is Wink and someone in the neighborhood dresses him up depending on the holiday or event, like July 4th and Christmas! Hopefully he stands tall on his rock for years to come! #wink #penguin #statue #winkthepenguin #elmjack #elmhurst #jacksonheights https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv27f4THtQ96eeRtfB74_T4b7ksx5735X6FQtg0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=gkynb4ibl7uh

Here’s me. Just turned 33. Already glad 2018 is gone, and the first I want to do is start the year right. Thanks to @rajmahal_15, I get surprised with a birthday cake. I stare into the candle lights, thinking about all the good and bad stuff the last year brought. But when I set my sights on a wish and blew, I was greeted with a cloud of white and brown. I hadn’t realized that the cake was covered in some light powdered sugar and some chocolate shavings. And I blew hard, making sure that damn wish comes true! Here’s to 33, may you be rewarding and challenging as can be! #happybirthday #birthday #chocolate #birthdaycake #33 #birthdaywish #ifuckedup https://www.instagram.com/p/Bstv2bXnvCbxsG_tlpHVuiphxhsvWLOV4LuTO00/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=10t6pqree6j00