Sunbeams broke through as the train passed — and for a moment, I felt everything I never said.
Photo: “The Crossing” by JM, 8/1/2025
The train just passed, the light broke through, The sunset whispered thoughts of you. Though shadows fall and skies turn gray, Your warmth still finds me in the day.
The clouds may cry, the skies may grieve, But in my stillness, I believe. That even storms can feel you near, In silent echoes, soft and clear.
And when the veil feels soft and thin, Your memory lingers deep within. A sacred bond not seen by eyes, But felt beneath eternal skies.
Minutes before boarding at Salt Lake City International Airport, I received an urgent text about a disabled Azure AD account. I opened my laptop, tethered to my phone’s hotspot, connected to Cisco VPN, and got to work—resolving the issue securely without relying on public Wi-Fi
Introduction: Last Friday, just as I was getting ready to board my flight to JFK from the Salt Lake City airport, I received a message from an end user:
“I think I’m blocked. I can’t access Outlook, Teams, or OneDrive.”
Time was limited, and I was already seated at the gate with my laptop ready. Instead of panicking, I tethered through my phone’s personal hotspot and launched Cisco AnyConnect VPN. I deliberately avoided the airport’s public Wi-Fi to reduce the risk of a security breach.
Once I authenticated and connected securely, I logged into Azure. I discovered that the user’s account in portal.azure.com was disabled. Fortunately, there are two ways to quickly resolve this kind of issue:
✅ Method 1: PowerShell (Quickest & Most Efficient)
If you have the AzureAD or Microsoft Graph PowerShell module installed and proper permissions, this method is the fastest.
Step-by-step using Microsoft Graph PowerShell:
# Connect to Microsoft Graph
Connect-MgGraph -Scopes "User.ReadWrite.All"
# Re-enable the disabled account
Update-MgUser -UserId [email protected] -AccountEnabled $true
Note: Replace [email protected] with the actual UPN or Object ID of the affected user.
Advantages:
Fast (under 30 seconds)
No GUI needed
Can be scripted for multiple accounts
🧭 Method 2: Azure Portal (GUI Approach)
If you’re not ready to run PowerShell or don’t have the module available, the Azure Portal offers a visual way to fix it.
Both approaches—PowerShell and the Azure portal—get the job done. However, for IT professionals constantly on the move, PowerShell is king. It’s fast, efficient, and doesn’t rely on a graphical interface.
That said, having the flexibility to switch between GUI and scripting tools is essential. Some situations demand precision and speed; others might call for a visual confirmation or audit trail.
In the end, what matters most is being prepared. Whether you’re at your desk or at an airport gate, the ability to jump in and resolve an issue on the fly is what defines a reliable IT Engineer.
No roar, no rush. Just resolve in motion—above it all.
I walked the fire and bore the weight, Yet silence taught me not to break. Beyond the noise, beyond the call— I stood my ground above it all. That’s resolution, not hesitation.
“Remember, success is a journey, not a destination. Have faith in your ability. You will do just fine.” — Bruce Lee
Captured in silence at Yosemite’s Tunnel View — February chill, bulb exposure, and a single LED light to find focus. In darkness, I discovered a sharper image and a quieter soul.
I stood alone where shadows climb, Where granite guards the edge of time. The wind was sharp, the night was bare— But still, I knew Thou would be there.
I could not see my hands or feet, Just trembling limbs in silent beat. One LED—my only spark— To chase away the endless dark.
Each breath was frost, my fingers numb, Yet I refused to yield or run. A tripod, lens, and faith I gripped, Till starlight through the valley slipped.
And while I waited, heart bowed low, The Spirit whispered what I know:
“There are so many things to be endured: illness, injustice, insensitivity, poverty, aloneness, unresponsiveness, being misrepresented and misunderstood, and, sometimes, even enemies.”
Still I remained, though cold and worn, Refusing night to leave me torn. I stayed until the shutter’s breath Returned a frame that conquered death.
Not for the praise or photograph, But proof that I had passed the path. That even here, beneath despair— With frozen limbs and unanswered prayer— Thou art there.
The storm flashed miles away, but I stood under fair skies. Sometimes light travels far to reach you. — Jet Mariano
Feelings of forever come so strong. They echo deep like an old, familiar song. They follow us like gems that brightly shine, Lighting paths once yours and mine.
Calendars of time we nearly knew Trembled in a lamp of gold and blue— A flame much brighter than the sun, Marking where our hearts had once begun.
I recall the morning you arose, A star above where silence gently flows. Shining through a sea of endless sand, The child within you reached for my hand.
The compass stirred, the veil grew thin, We felt the world dissolve within. And though we feared what lay ahead, We followed truth where angels tread.
And now we lift the veil and try to see, What once we were, what we might still be. We reach across the veil of then, To start anew—yet feel again.
Something’s at the gate and rushing through, No rusted chain can hide what’s true. A thousand lives we’ve lived in kind, Now breaking through the veil of time.
Mem’ries rise where silence grew— The feelings are so strong… and coming through.
Where moonlight crowns the silence, and thunder humbles the earth—there, I remembered who I was
When the veil was thin and silence reigned, The heavens wept, the earth remained. The moon arose in royal grace, And time stood still within that place.
No trumpet called, no chorus sang— Just lightning’s whisper and heaven’s clang. The rocks bore witness, tall and true, That something sacred passed right through.
I felt it brush against my skin— A touch from where all things begin. No need for words, nor signs, nor proof… The veil was thin— and love was truth.
Feelings of forever come so strong, They follow like a sacred song. Jewels of light along the way, Outshining even break of day.
Calendars of time we knew, Now tremble in a brighter view— A lamp far fiercer than the sun, Where all our years dissolve to one.
I recall the morning you arose, A flame where starlight softly glows. Your eyes held truths no words could say, A child’s hope that lit our way.
And as the compass pulled us near, I took your hand and drew you clear— No vow was sworn, no need to speak, Forever touched us—meek to meek.
And now we lift the veil to understand, And reach for who we were, not what we planned. To circle back where time began, And walk once more where we once ran.
Intro: When internal emails from trusted coworkers suddenly stop showing up in your focused inbox or fail to trigger your Outlook rules, it’s easy to miss critical messages. In my case, one sender was previously blocked due to a spoofing incident, and although removed from the block list, her messages were still bypassing my folder rules—buried in the inbox. Message Trace confirmed the emails were delivered, but not filtered correctly. Here’s how I resolved the issue using PowerShell.
🔍 Problem Recap:
Despite the sender being trusted and allowed, her emails:
Skipped my Outlook inbox rules
Did not show up in Focused Inbox or designated folders
Were confirmed delivered via Message Trace
Were previously on the Blocked Sender List, but later removed
The Exchange Admin Center (EAC) didn’t offer the flexibility I needed to create an accurate spam bypass rule. So I switched to PowerShell.
🛠️ Solution: Create a Transport Rule via PowerShell
Instead of struggling with the limited dropdowns in the modern Exchange portal, I used the New-TransportRule cmdlet to create a spam filter bypass rule in just a few lines.
Conclusion: PowerShell remains the most powerful tool in any IT administrator’s arsenal—especially when the GUI can’t keep up. If you ever run into stubborn mail delivery or spam issues, consider creating targeted transport rules using PowerShell. It’s fast, clean, and gets the job done without frustration.
Where heaven kissed the earth at sunrise, the echoes of eternity began
Photographed at the Laie Hawaii Temple By Jet Mariano
The Echoes of Eternity
Sometimes I wonder, when we walk in light, Did we once stroll through stars before the night? Before this life, beyond the skies above, Were we already bound by truth and love?
Each sacred step feels strangely known— As if I’ve never truly walked alone. Though time may veil what souls recall, There’s something here that echoes all.
Not dreams that fade or worldly mirth, But love that whispers of eternal worth. A promise felt with every gentle sign— That someday, always, you’ll be mine.
Taylorsville Utah Temple at first light—quiet watch at dawn, one frame when the grounds glowed.
Excerpt “Beyond the frail, scant promises of time.”
Intro Second sunrise in a row at Taylorsville. Waiting in the quiet before the grounds woke, I felt the same steady whisper—and remembered a Seminary song I grew up with.
Notes from the song Patience over haste. Choose carefully. Build real friendships. Seek what lasts beyond quick feelings and trends.
Perspective (direct quote) “True happiness is something I must earn.”
Practice (today, not someday)
Slow one thing down.
Invest in one real friendship.
Re-anchor: Grounded • Rooted • Established • Settled.
Final Reflection Sunrise teaches covenant pace: night yields to light; hurry to peace. What matters most isn’t in time’s quick promises, but in what endures beyond them.
Pocket I’m Keeping Choose the lasting over the loud.
What I Hear Now (paraphrase) Love carefully chosen and patiently sealed outlives the clock.
Where stillness speaks and silence teaches, my lens captures the unseen—moments of light and truth that words alone cannot carry. In reflections framed, I remember not what was lost, but what endures.
Jordan 4s laced, knee braces locked, and 20s in hand—another stair session. I train to stay ready, not just fit.
I train to stay rooted in purpose, faithful in service, and prepared for life’s demands. Fitness clears my mind and sharpens my focus. The goal isn’t just strength—it’s being able to make a difference.
That’s why I wear McDavid knee braces, elbow support, and back support. My workouts are non-stop—compound, high-rep, and uninterrupted. You have to train smart. No shortcuts. No injuries.
Tonight’s training flow?
30-minute stair run (1st floor to basement, non-stop)
120 reps each of:
Pushups
Sit-ups
Leg raises
Abs crunches
Bird/Dog exercise for balance and core control
Crab-walks to engage hip and glute strength
20-minute plank rotation
All while my laundry spins in the background
Tilapia fillets thawed and ready for a clean dinner
Playlist? Pure Church music, filling the air with purpose
This is a multi-tasked project of body, spirit, and home.
During sacrament, the hymn “Because I Have Been Given Much” played softly—but its message roared inside me.
It asked me: What are you giving in return?
I reflected:
👉🏼 I give my focus to study—choosing AZ-104 over passive scrolling 👉🏼 I give my energy to fitness—choosing movement over comfort 👉🏼 I give my rest to quality sleep—choosing recovery over distraction 👉🏼 I give my time to the Lord—choosing temple service over idle time 👉🏼 I give my work my best—choosing to document, secure, and improve
This isn’t boasting. This is realignment. When you’ve been preserved, protected, and placed where you are for a purpose— you can’t just sit still.
You move. You give. You train. You serve. Because you’ve been given much.
I love Integral Calculus. In today’s digital world, I revisited that concept and expressed it in three ways: JSON, PHP, and Python. Below are the format:
Introduction Ransomware is a digital hostage situation—and it’s getting worse. It can freeze hospitals, paralyze billion-dollar businesses, and devastate small IT shops. I’ve survived multiple ransomware attacks in my career, and I’ll tell you how: I never put all my eggs in one basket. This blog explains what ransomware is, how it spreads, and how I protected myself. My defense? Layered backups. Not just the cloud—Veeam, Commvault, and old-school external drives.
What is Ransomware? Ransomware is a form of malware that encrypts files and demands payment for the decryption key. It comes in two common forms:
Locker Ransomware: Locks you out of your device or system.
Crypto Ransomware: Encrypts your files and threatens to destroy or leak them if payment isn’t made.
It often arrives silently—via phishing emails, malicious downloads, or exposed ports—and acts fast. In just minutes, entire systems can be taken hostage.
Real-World: How I Survived Ransomware
At Tarzana Medical Center, ransomware struck without warning. Medical data became inaccessible in minutes. I’ve seen even global giants like Ingram Micro fall victim to attacks.
Yet every time, my systems stayed intact. Why? My systems always stayed intact—because I followed one simple rule: diversify your backups.
Here’s how I stayed ahead of attackers:
I never relied solely on cloud backups (they can be corrupted or locked by the same attack).
I used Veeam for virtualized workloads, giving me granular recovery options.
I ran Commvault for enterprise-grade backup and disaster recovery.
I manually created offline backups to external drives and physically disconnected them to avoid remote encryption.
This multi-layered approach allowed me to recover in hours—not days—and saved thousands in downtime and potential ransom.
How Ransomware Spreads
Phishing emails with malicious attachments or links
Weak RDP access without MFA
Unpatched vulnerabilities in apps or OS
Rogue websites and drive-by downloads
How to Prevent Ransomware Attacks
Educate Your Team Train staff on email safety, suspicious links, and phishing red flags.
Patch Everything Keep OS, firmware, and all third-party software up to date.
Lock Down RDP & Admin Access Use MFA and limit RDP access with strict firewall rules.
Deploy EDR or XDR Tools Use behavior-based endpoint protection—not just signature-based antivirus.
Segment Your Network Don’t allow lateral movement. Use VLANs and access controls.
Adopt a Backup Strategy That’s Offline-Friendly
Veeam for VM and application backup
Commvault for large-scale environment coverage
External drive backups add a final safety layer against data loss.
Test Your Backups Frequently A backup that isn’t tested is a gamble. Run simulations regularly.
Responding to a Ransomware Incident
Isolate the infected systems
Notify your incident response team or external partner
Do not pay the ransom—this only fuels more attacks
Restore from offline or clean backups
Report to authorities (FBI, IC3)
Conclusion Conclusion Ransomware attacks are relentless—but with the right strategy, you can stay ahead. A strong backup routine, tested regularly, makes all the difference.
Avoid relying on just one cloud backup. Use multiple layers—offline, cloud, and local. Act now—before a breach locks you out.
Confidence is earned — often forged in quiet moments when no one’s watching. Often, it’s forged in quiet moments when no one’s watching. Whether I’m at a blank PowerShell console or gripping a loaded barbell, the principle is the same: discipline, consistency, no shortcuts.
I’ve Always Been an ABC Person
I’ve always lived by three words: Always Be Curious.
That curiosity pulled me into IT. I lacked credentials, but I had grit and a drive to learn. I’ve never believed in shortcuts — not in spiritual growth, troubleshooting IIS, or transforming your body. Temporary fixes cover symptoms — but they rarely solve the root cause.
You don’t fix problems with assumptions, Google, and a quick prayer. You fix them with logs, tools, and patience. That’s what I’ve learned — the hard way — through years of trial, error, and persistence.
Why I Don’t Believe in Band-Aid Fixes
Quick fixes fade fast. They treat symptoms, not root problems. Take IIS, for example — a broken SSL binding or 503 error might vanish temporarily, but it usually comes back with greater risk.
That’s why I value discipline over speed. Precision over panic.
It’s the same principle my son applies as he preps for his first fitness competition. He doesn’t rely on shortcuts or crash diets. And definitely no “quick fixes” to look lean. Just clean eating, consistent training, and unwavering focus — day in and day out.
Watching him chase excellence reminds me of my early days — hungry, overlooked, and determined to make noise through results, not volume.
I didn’t wait for permission—I made my own path. I spoke up when others stayed silent, dove into neglected technologies…, and taught myself to harden and scale IIS in real-world, high-pressure environments. I wasn’t the loudest voice in the room, but I became the go-to problem solver—delivering solutions that worked the first time.
Triple D: Discipline. Dedication. Determination.
Tonight’s fuel: Baked Atlantic salmon with lemon, garlic, and power greens — topped with walnuts and 42g of clean protein. Discipline doesn’t stop at the keyboard — it continues at the dinner table.
Confidence isn’t found. It’s forged — through repetition, patience, and precision. Knowledge doesn’t come overnight. Much like getting fit, it takes what I call the Triple D: Discipline. Dedication. Determination.
Tonight’s early dinner? Fresh Atlantic salmon baked with lemon, garlic, and a bed of power greens. To boost nutrients, I topped it with walnuts and washed it down with 42g of Fairlife protein. I eat twice a day — every bite calculated, nutrient-packed, and designed for peak performance..
As for training, I’m in the zone six days a week — no shortcuts. Mostly bodyweight: push-ups, sit-ups, glute bridges, crab walks, planks, and shadow boxing. I train with intensity — until the burn says I’m done..
That’s how I’ve kept my edge for decades — by showing up, sweating, and sticking to the plan.
You train your body the way you train your mind. Log files are your feedback loop. Errors are your instructors. Study. Adapt. Try again.
That mindset shapes how I approach IT and life.
Bruce Lee Said It Best
“If you always put limits on everything you do — physical or anything else — it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.” — Bruce Lee
I carry that with me daily. In both IT and fitness, mastery is a moving target — the moment you think you’ve arrived, growth demands a new challenge.
My Son’s Grit, My Quiet Pride
24 days out from competition.
“Starvation is at its highest for me… it feels like I’m crawling my way to survive all day long. This is the toughest sport I’ve ever experienced.”
Those are the words my son texted me as he prepares for his upcoming debut at TheFitExpo in Anaheim on August 2, 2025.
His commitment to clean eating, intense workouts, and honest prep — no shortcuts — mirrors the way I built my IT career: with sweat equity.
He used to dominate dance stages as a four-time All-Male hip-hop champion with West Covina High School. After college, he became a CNA and now works as a gym personal trainer — turning his passion for fitness into purpose. He’s carrying the torch of discipline — and I couldn’t be prouder.
From IIS to Iron: A Shared DNA
Take IIS — often dismissed as legacy tech, yet it powers critical internal systems beneath the buzzwords. But the reality is, it still powers critical internal applications..
When it breaks — when HTTP 500 errors fill your logs — assumptions won’t fix it. First, trace the issue. Dig through the logs. Slow down. Understand the root cause — then take action.
That’s the same mental muscle my son flexes in the gym. He logs his intake. Monitors results. Makes adjustments.
We train differently — I with bodyweight and discipline, he with prep meals and physique goals. The goals differ — but the grit is the same.
Here’s a script I wrote to search the most recent IIS log file for errors — the same kind of tool I use to avoid assumptions and find the real issue:
🧰 PowerShell Script: Digging Through IIS Logs
# Find the latest IIS log and search for error codes
$LogPath = "C:\inetpub\logs\LogFiles\W3SVC1"
$LatestLog = Get-ChildItem -Path $LogPath -Filter *.log | Sort-Object LastWriteTime -Descending | Select-Object -First 1
Select-String -Path $LatestLog.FullName -Pattern " 500 " | Select-Object LineNumber, Line
If it’s worth fixing, it’s worth fixing the right way.
Conclusion: Carry On
This week’s Church hymn, “Carry On,” stirred something quiet in me — It reminded me that sometimes, the holiest thing we can do is simply hold our ground. It reminded me:
It reminded me:
“Firm as the mountains around us, Stalwart and brave we stand…”
We don’t walk this path alone. Others cleared the way — now it’s our turn to keep going.
This isn’t about spotlighting effort. It’s for the ones working in silence. In server rooms. In waiting rooms. In small spaces where no one claps.
The message doesn’t seek attention — it invites action: carry on.
They say when you see a man on top of the mountain, he didn’t fall there.
He planned the climb, stumbled on jagged trails, and kept going even when the sky turned gray.
This post isn’t just about photography, or starting a new role, or PowerShell scripts. It’s about finding your footing again when life shakes your routine—whether you’re debugging a script, chasing stars at 2AM, or collecting a laptop that brings back a hundred memories.
You’ll find stories about IT challenges, career shifts, Milky Way photography, emotional storms—and most of all, how to rise above the blues when everything feels heavy.
Carrying the gear, chasing the stars—because purpose isn’t found at the summit, it’s carried every step.
⛰️ New Job, New Mountain
They say starting a new job is like standing at the foot of a mountain. The view is exciting—but the climb? Uncertain.
No one really tells you what it feels like to start over. You’re learning people, process, and pace all at once. Even if you’re an expert, you’re blind on day one. And if you’re in IT, like me, the terrain can feel like a minefield.
Pros:
A fresh start
The chance to sharpen or add new skills
A clean slate to prove your value again
Cons:
Culture shock
Pressure to perform quickly
Emotional whiplash, especially when you’re still letting go of the last place
I’ve lived this cycle more than ten times—moving from job to job, project to project. From my first IT gig where I got fired after just a few days (yes, really), to roles in telecom, manufacturing, finance, education, government, and now infrastructure engineering—every restart brought unexpected lessons.
That early firing? It broke me. But it built me too. It taught me to expect the unknowns. It made this scripture real to me:
“For of him unto whom much is given much is required.” – Luke 12:48
And that’s what they don’t tell you: Starting a job doesn’t just mean you’re on probation— it means you’re learning the language, the culture, the personalities, and the systems. Sometimes you’re expected to run before you even learn where the shoes are.
So how do I handle it?
Soft skills. Empathy. Active listening. And above all, humility.
The technical side is always tough, but people are the real challenge. Knowing how to adapt, how to read the room, and when to ask versus when to figure it out—those are the survival tools.
“If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” – D&C 38:30 That verse? It’s more than a motto. It’s how I show up—every first day, every new login, every fresh deployment.
I’ve seen people not make it past the 90-day mark. Sometimes they didn’t fit. Sometimes the job was the problem. Sometimes—let’s be honest—they oversold their résumé, got lucky at the interview, and then the real work revealed the truth.
Others just get carried by the blues—barely holding it together until their tank runs empty.
That’s why preparation matters. You don’t go to war without gear. You don’t climb a mountain without checking your boots. And you don’t start a new role without anchoring your mindset.
Finally, land where you love. A job shouldn’t just pay the bills — it should fuel your purpose. When you love what you do, it’s a win-win: You rise, and so does the company.
But if you’re stuck in a rut just to make ends meet… eventually, it drains more than your energy — it drains your spirit.
So don’t just look for a job. Climb toward work that gives you life.
A glimpse of the heavens through earthly shadows—chasing the Milky Way isn’t just about light, it’s about learning to see in the dark.
🌌 Chasing the Milky Way
There’s something sacred about standing in the desert with the Milky Way overhead.
I’ve chased it from Joshua Tree in California to Grand Canyon in Arizona, Monument Valley in Utah, and Moab—and every time, I feel the same awe.
My process is disciplined and deliberate. I survey the area in daylight, using the PhotoPills app to map the galactic core. Then I visualize my composition, mark the safest route from the car, and prep all my gear.
Primary lens: Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G
Backup: Nikon 24mm f/1.4G
Tripod, remote shutter, red LED headlamp
Pre-focus and manual mode to avoid lens hunting
ISO, shutter speed, aperture—all dialed in
Everything is anticipated—just like in IT. One missed step, and the whole shot—or system—can fail. Just seeing the Milky Way with your own eyes is breathtaking—but to compose it meaningfully, that takes skill.
A great Milky Way shot is not just about stars— it’s about how you prepare in the dark.
🛠 When PowerShell Becomes Armor
It’s Monday morning. Your inbox is full. A user can’t log in, the SQL service is down, and your boss wants answers.
If you’re not ready, it feels like going to war without armor.
That’s where PowerShell becomes your weapon.
Let’s say you’re troubleshooting remote system uptime across 50 servers. Instead of logging in one by one:
📊 Real-time uptime scan across multiple servers using PowerShell – one script, instant clarity.
In just 10 seconds, you’ve got eyes on the entire server fleet. Who’s up. Who’s down. Who’s silent. The sharp tech doesn’t panic—he pinpoints, isolates, and executes. Fast. Focused. Fix deployed.
PowerShell isn’t just a tool—it’s your recon drone.
Like photographing the Milky Way, the best troubleshooting happens when everything is ready before chaos begins.
🎈 Rise Above the Blues
You’re not a machine. You weren’t built to be immune to fear, fatigue, or failure.
Unlike AI, we can’t predict everything. Life throws us emotional landmines—doubt, loneliness, weariness, fear and grief. And sometimes, it hits out of nowhere. A memory. A song. A walk past an empty office.
But here’s what I’ve learned:
You don’t need to erase the blues— you rise above them.
Just like launching a balloon skyward, it takes intention:
You eat clean even when you feel messy.
You work out even when your spirit is sore.
You create even when motivation lags.
And yes, you kneel—asking God for strength.
Whether you’re debugging a failed script, standing under a galaxy of stars, or simply trying to make it through a quiet night…
💪 The Endurance Factor
Endurance isn’t just for the gym — it’s a mindset I carry into every part of my life. Whether I’m hammering out code at 2AM or waiting patiently for the perfect light in photography, the principle is the same: lasting through the grind matters more than talent alone. Battle rope training reminds me that breakthroughs come after fatigue — in the gym, in IT, and behind the lens. Those who endure, evolve. Those who push past comfort zones, create lasting impact.
Each battle rope rep runs 180 seconds — just like a boxing round. I push through up to 6 rounds, simulating the intensity of a 12-round fight. It’s not just training — it’s conditioning for IT, for life, for the moments when quitting is easier. Endurance is the quiet strength behind every breakthrough.
🎯 Precision Under Pressure: Shooting, Striking, and Showing Up
Whether I’m at the range or on the mat, the ritual is the same: Prepare. Focus. Repeat.
When I train with my pistols, I practice daily with dummy rounds—loading, unloading, chamber checks, slide control. I break them down, clean them, reassemble them blindfolded—until every movement is instinctive.
It’s the same with MMA and air punching drills. My body is conditioned not just for strength, but discipline. Every strike, every stance, is deliberate. I don’t train to show off—I train to be ready.
You see, when it’s Monday morning and something breaks at work—your system is down, a PowerShell script fails, a teammate’s counting on you—that’s your moment. That’s your live fire.
You don’t rise to the occasion. You fall back on your training.
Whether I’m troubleshooting a crashed server, hiking a steep trail for that perfect Milky Way shot, or helping someone start their climb—discipline is the thread. I’ve learned that showing up prepared is half the victory.
Just like the range:
No second chances if you’re not ready.
Precision comes from practice.
And calm comes from confidence.
🏁 Conclusion
There are mountains I’ve climbed—in IT, in life, and in silence.
From my early days as a PC Support Specialist at USC, through roles in telecom (Verizon), manufacturing (Alcoa), local government (City of West Covina), law firms, education (The Claremont Colleges), our Worldwide Church, regional banking (City National Bank), fintech (Payforward), retail (Monster Energy), global finance (PIMCO), and now as an Infrastructure Engineer in Utah—none of those summits came easy.
Even when I chase the stars with my camera, it’s the climb that makes the view meaningful.
So to anyone out there starting over, picking up the pieces, or doubting their path:
You don’t fall on a mountaintop. You climb it. And you keep climbing. Even when you’re tired. Especially when you’re tired.
One of the highlights of my day wasn’t technical. It wasn’t a solved ticket or a deployed server. It was a little surprise from home — a thoughtful gesture from my daughters that reminded me how blessed I am to be surrounded by a family who loves and supports me.
When your daughters don’t just mark territory… they mark your heart.
After a long day, I walked to my reserved parking space and saw something new. My daughters had added their personal touch to my Tesla’s spot. It wasn’t about the car or the space. It was their way of reminding me, “Hey Dad, we see you. We love you. And we’re proud of you.”
When life gets intense — when the systems are crashing or the network’s down — this photo reminds me of what really matters: family, laughter, and the small moments that say everything without needing words.
Captured from Coronado Island on the 4th of July — a night of light, a heart full of gratitude, and a quiet prayer for the generations who will carry our name forward. Photo by Jet Mariano.
Intro: Every Fourth of July brings with it more than fireworks and flags—it brings reflection. For me and my family, this day is a reminder that freedom isn’t just an idea, it’s a reality we prayed for, waited for, and worked for. As an immigrant father and a lifelong believer in divine purpose, I wrote this for my children, as a quiet reminder of where we came from, what we’ve been given, and why I remain grateful for this land of promise.
Main Post: We are immigrants, you and I. We waited 15 long years before our U.S. visa was approved. And when we finally arrived, I didn’t start in a fancy office—I started by hauling office furniture off 30-wheelers in Burbank from 4 PM to midnight, earning $4.25 an hour.
Hard work was not an option—it was survival. But in this country, effort doesn’t go unnoticed. I went back to school, studied IT, and eventually earned a degree in Management in Telecommunications. No shortcuts, just faith, sweat, and purpose.
In the words of Paul H. Dunn:
“We are immigrants, you and I, because the Lord made immigrants of us and brought us here. We have done as well as could be expected, and are richly blessed despite our shortcomings because the Lord has thus far held us in His hands and worked His purposes, His ultimate purpose, through us. We’re wanderers, you and I.”
This nation welcomed me. And in return, I gave it my best. I built a career, provided for my family, and used my knowledge to bless others. Not as a way to boast—but as a testimony of what’s possible when freedom is honored and faith is kept.
President Thomas S. Monson once declared:
“When we safeguard the heavenly virtue of freedom, when we honor it, when we protect it, we will walk with Washington, we will pray with patriots, and we shall have peace on earth, good will to men.”
And as N. Eldon Tanner taught:
“We are all a part of America’s future. Our job is to learn and benefit from the past and to go forward in righteousness, keeping the commandments of God.”
My story is not unique—but it is deeply personal. I share it today not only as a celebration of America, but as an invitation to never take freedom for granted. To all those I love and care about: your future in this land is filled with promise—but always remember where we came from, and how far we’ve come.
This is the land of the free. This is the home of the brave. And I am forever grateful to be part of it.
