Relationships
0. Get a girlfr-
Ha! kidding.
Experiences
1. Attend a regular season Packer game
I didn't get to achieve my goal last year of going to an NFL game, but I still want to shoot a little higher. Though I'm not always terribly obvious about it, I follow the Packers as religiously as perhaps anyone I know. I just haven't gotten the chance to get to Lambeau to see a real game. I'm hoping that in 2012, with a somewhat favorable schedule of home games against non-marquee teams (Tennessee, Jacksonville, Arizona), I can finally try to network a ticket-holder connection that I've never had, or at least get to a lower-hype game via the resale market. This resolution doesn't preclude me from making it to an away game (road games against the miserable/nearby Rams and Colts are strong possibilities), though getting to the Frozen Tundra is preferred.
2. Drive in two more states in which I have not previously driven
Third straight year for this old resolution theme, but I like that it pushes me a bit more every year. The window of my life where I can freely travel (cheaply) by road without consequence is coming to a close at some point. Most of the states near Wisconsin have been driven in by me, although options with moderate proximity include Indiana, Michigan, Missouri and Nebraska. You know, the best states.
3. Visit Tampa again
I haven't been back for a while, and I just don't shut up about it either! My love for the city might just be due to some positive associations, but let me have it. Some people have "up north" or "Europe" or "Disneyland" (barf), but this is my idyllic escape. I don't know if I'll ever live there again, but after my years at UW I can't imaging flying back into TPA without my heart being warmed (and my rest of me, for that matter).
4. Go to a Tampa Bay Lightning game during the 2012-13 season
I didn't get to go to one this year because they didn't play in Chicago this season, and their one Minnesota game was on a Monday night during school. I'm at the mercy of the NHL schedulers, and I guess, looking back, I was just fortunate enough that they played in St. Paul on a Saturday last season. Hopefully they'll play the Wild on another weekend, or play at Chicago next year, or at least a more reasonably-timed Columbus or St. Louis game (both of them this year conflicted with exams). That having been said, if I achieve resolution #3, #4 is probably coming down with it. I also hope they aren't terrible again next season, but that should be their resolution, not mine. Also, if the NHL misses any games to lockout, I'm giving myself this one automatically, because screw that.
5. Go to MLC call day
I've always been intrigued by MLC's call day process. It seemed like the NFL draft (which I love), with all these young college graduates getting told where they will live for, you know, the start of their adult lives. I can imagine it would be exciting and a little nerve-wracking at the same time. With some of my friends graduating/getting calls in May, and with me no longer graduating the same weekend, this seems like a good year to do it.
Personal Improvement/Achievement
6. Get a worthwhile experiential internship
Now that I'm in a field in which I have a desire to strive toward being one of the best, I'm hoping that will show and I'll have more success when it comes to landing related work than I have in the past (related: I always laugh when I see people complaining online about having applied to 10 jobs and not hearing back...I used to apply for 10 jobs a week, at very least). Hopefully some combination of hard work, age, talent and connections will finally result in scoring some legitimate career-related work experience.
7. Run a little bit!
I've had this as a resolution, or at least something similar, here before. Now that I have a girlfriend who has a history of the dreaded "run for fun" it may be worth it to get a little better at the art of distance running. I've probably been over the fact that a large percentage of my friends always seem to be cross-country runners, and how I almost ran cross-country in high school, but maybe I can challenge myself to at least run a 10k or something.
8. Expand the range of my cooking abilities/go out to eat less
I think these could go hand in hand. I don't go out to eat ALL that often (a few times a week), but it's still more than I think I should be. I'd probably be less apt to go out to eat if I was capable of making a wider range of more satisfying food at home. Part of that has to do with having to share a kitchen with 6 other people and having limited ingredient storage, but I could be making more of an effort than I am. I'm beginning to look forward to having a place more to myself, but that can wait until I'm done with college. I'm fortunate enough just to have my own room at the moment.
9. Finish the year on track to graduate in one more semester
Hopefully I've finally nailed down what will be my final change of academic plans, as I think I'm really going to be ready to be done with college by May of 2013. However, better to have to sit and marinate in school for an extra year than to jump into the work world completely unprepared, armed with only a degree in hand. Hopefully by next year I'll be more confident in my ability to compete in the work force and I'll be looking forward to graduation rather than dreading it. There is much work to be done to get there, but I'm relishing the opportunity.
10. Accomplish at least half of my New Year's Resolutions
Not counting numbers 0 or 10.
Showing posts with label Resolutions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Resolutions. Show all posts
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Seward's Folly
Let's see, did I do better on my resolutions than I did on blogging this year (oof, happy 7 years on life-support, F109)?
Relationships
1. Create some forward motion in my love life
Got 'em! It certainly wasn't unresolved for long, as I'm now closing in on a year in my current relationship, which is far and away a personal record. I won't have much else to say about it since I have a contract with Us Weekly concerning relationship details, but I'd check TMZ for leaks if you're interested.
Experiences
2. Enjoy my first drink on my 21st birthday
Just after midnight on December 22nd, I had a Spotted Cow in the comfort of my bedroom. It had the essence of Cheerios, I thought. With a final exam looming that evening, I didn't get too buck wild until the next night, where I got taken to a classy bar to have a reasonable amount of drinks. Usually that sentence would be taken as tongue-and-cheek, but come on, it's me we're talking about here. I don't know if I'll ever get drunk.
3. Attend a regular season NFL game
Boooo. I had tentative plans set up to hit up the Dolphins at Chiefs game on November 6th, but school got in the way of the 6 dollar tickets (remember when both of those teams hadn't won yet? Only a sports addict like myself would want to watch such miserable football). Both teams ended up being exceedingly mediocre, which I guess is kind of the goal when you're hoping to score cheap tickets to see two teams you don't care about. So this dream is still on hold, but I've got plenty of life ahead of me. Someday maybe I'll finally make friends with someone who holds Packers tickets.
4. Drive in TWO states in which I have not driven before
In August, I think, I drove a good chunk of Oklahoma and in Kansas from the Oklahoma border to Kansas City in the family van while driving Evan back from Los Alamos. The drive through those states was about as interesting as it sounds.
5. Attend a hip-hop concert
The best! My lady-friend and I went to the Kanye West/Kid Cudi show at Summerfest with one of my roommates and his girlfriend. It was absolutely fantastic. I consider myself quite a Kanye fan (after being quite an ironic Kanye fan), so I'd enjoy it either way, but he's an impressive performer. I think the setlist was 30 songs or so. "Good Life" will probably always be one of my favorite songs.
Personal Improvement/Achievement
6. Fully pay off my sophomore and junior years of college
Nope, and what's more, I decided it might be fun to pay for another year of school on top of it! That decision will probably get detailed a bit more in another post sometime in January, and the machinations behind that decision are a big part of why I didn't have it in me to blog with any regularity. In short, I've totally been cheating on Flight 109. It makes me so sad to think of it that way, but it's for the best, hopefully. We'll see. To be continued.
7. Start playing some piano again
Nope, but at least I started playing bass again. That has to count for something, right?
8. Accomplish things on Fridays
I'm going to give myself this one. I did make an effort here, and my most important task of the semester (year? college career? life?) was accomplished on a Friday. Even more on that later as well.
9. Get professionally published
Not technically, but almost and kind of. And hopefully in the future. This one goes with the vagueness of resolutions 6 and 8. Stay tuned.
10. Accomplish at least six of my first nine New Year's Resolutions
Now what business did I have shooting for higher than 50 percent? That's what I hit every year! Nonetheless, despite a paltry showing in the third category, I hardly consider this to be a lost year on the self-improvement front. I'm getting there, and I find it nice to be able to end the year on an upward trend, just like I was so excited about last year. But like I said, stay tuned. This was a year of loose ends. We'll see what kind of knots they find their way into.
See ya on the other side of New Year's.
Relationships
1. Create some forward motion in my love life
Got 'em! It certainly wasn't unresolved for long, as I'm now closing in on a year in my current relationship, which is far and away a personal record. I won't have much else to say about it since I have a contract with Us Weekly concerning relationship details, but I'd check TMZ for leaks if you're interested.
Experiences
2. Enjoy my first drink on my 21st birthday
Just after midnight on December 22nd, I had a Spotted Cow in the comfort of my bedroom. It had the essence of Cheerios, I thought. With a final exam looming that evening, I didn't get too buck wild until the next night, where I got taken to a classy bar to have a reasonable amount of drinks. Usually that sentence would be taken as tongue-and-cheek, but come on, it's me we're talking about here. I don't know if I'll ever get drunk.
3. Attend a regular season NFL game
Boooo. I had tentative plans set up to hit up the Dolphins at Chiefs game on November 6th, but school got in the way of the 6 dollar tickets (remember when both of those teams hadn't won yet? Only a sports addict like myself would want to watch such miserable football). Both teams ended up being exceedingly mediocre, which I guess is kind of the goal when you're hoping to score cheap tickets to see two teams you don't care about. So this dream is still on hold, but I've got plenty of life ahead of me. Someday maybe I'll finally make friends with someone who holds Packers tickets.
4. Drive in TWO states in which I have not driven before
In August, I think, I drove a good chunk of Oklahoma and in Kansas from the Oklahoma border to Kansas City in the family van while driving Evan back from Los Alamos. The drive through those states was about as interesting as it sounds.
5. Attend a hip-hop concert
The best! My lady-friend and I went to the Kanye West/Kid Cudi show at Summerfest with one of my roommates and his girlfriend. It was absolutely fantastic. I consider myself quite a Kanye fan (after being quite an ironic Kanye fan), so I'd enjoy it either way, but he's an impressive performer. I think the setlist was 30 songs or so. "Good Life" will probably always be one of my favorite songs.
Personal Improvement/Achievement
6. Fully pay off my sophomore and junior years of college
Nope, and what's more, I decided it might be fun to pay for another year of school on top of it! That decision will probably get detailed a bit more in another post sometime in January, and the machinations behind that decision are a big part of why I didn't have it in me to blog with any regularity. In short, I've totally been cheating on Flight 109. It makes me so sad to think of it that way, but it's for the best, hopefully. We'll see. To be continued.
7. Start playing some piano again
Nope, but at least I started playing bass again. That has to count for something, right?
8. Accomplish things on Fridays
I'm going to give myself this one. I did make an effort here, and my most important task of the semester (year? college career? life?) was accomplished on a Friday. Even more on that later as well.
9. Get professionally published
Not technically, but almost and kind of. And hopefully in the future. This one goes with the vagueness of resolutions 6 and 8. Stay tuned.
10. Accomplish at least six of my first nine New Year's Resolutions
Now what business did I have shooting for higher than 50 percent? That's what I hit every year! Nonetheless, despite a paltry showing in the third category, I hardly consider this to be a lost year on the self-improvement front. I'm getting there, and I find it nice to be able to end the year on an upward trend, just like I was so excited about last year. But like I said, stay tuned. This was a year of loose ends. We'll see what kind of knots they find their way into.
See ya on the other side of New Year's.
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
To picture my life, boy you need a higher resolution
Another good resolution pun.
Relationships
1. Create some forward motion in my love life
Last year I was able to take the big step of getting my head on straight again, but the fact remains that I’ve spent a long time single. Since last year I’ve met and grown closer to a lot of compelling individuals, so it seems like at some point I’ve got to at least step up and get a date or something. I’ve had this resolution in mind since summer of last year, and I’m hoping that it won’t be unresolved for long.
Experiences
2. Enjoy my first drink on my 21st birthday
I don’t have to do all that much to achieve this resolution, other than stay the teetotaling course and have a drink on December 22nd. However it’s something I’ve been working at for quite some time, so now that I’m in the homestretch there’s no reason to stop challenging myself now.
3. Attend a regular season NFL game
Now that I’ve got tickets for my first NHL game, I’d like to consider the possibility of filling in another hole in my much-treasured sports experience spectrum. While I did get the chance to go to a Packers preseason game against the Broncos in like, seventh grade, I’d like to take the leap and go to a game that matters now. Given the difficulty of getting Packers tickets for a first-generation Wisconsinite like myself, I like the idea of traveling somewhere to watch my first regular season game. Possibilities include a Bucs game during another Tampa vacation, weekend trips for the Vikings, Lions or Bears, a road trip to a Chiefs or Rams game to culminate in even more delicious barbeque, or a Panthers game if Evan ends up in North Carolina for grad school. The possibilities are there, and with my flair for US travel, they honestly all sound appealing to me.
4. Drive in TWO states in which I have not driven before
Yes, building off of last year’s resolution, this one is obviously harder because it requires not one, but two more states, and also because by now I’ve driven in all the gimme states touching Wisconsin. Which states will this resolution force me to visit on my own time this year? Missouri? Indiana? Oklahoma (where I’m presently writing this)? Beats me, man!
5. Attend a hip-hop concert
Haha...I don’t even know what I’d do with myself once I got there, and I also am well aware that Wisconsin is pretty incapable of drawing decent acts. However, there usually ends up being a handful of mid-tier hip-hop artists who find their way to Madison for JAMZ events or whatever, so it would be fun to see what one is like for once. To this day I’m still kicking myself for not going to the T.I. show in Tampa when I had the chance, regardless of how out of place I would have been (very much so).
Personal Improvement/Achievement
6. Fully pay off my sophomore and junior years of college
I couldn’t quite get sophomore year paid off last year, but the free rent involved in the equation this year gives me the hope that I might have only my senior year left to pay for by 2012, or even that I could be (temporarily) debt-free by the start of fall semester. It’s exciting! And it means I’m so close to being done with college.
7. Start playing some piano again
I took a good 6-8 years of piano lessons (I don’t really remember, actually), but I haven’t played consistently since grade school. I don’t feel the need to get back to a regular level, but I should at least start plunking around again, relearning some of the songs I knew and maybe learning some new ones. It’s not quite natural for me anymore, but I feel like it’s a good skill to have.
8. Accomplish things on Fridays
It wouldn’t be a resolution list if there wasn’t an incredibly vague one, eh? Friday is far and away my least productive day of the week during the school year (as I suppose it is for a lot of people), in which I generally only have morning classes, come back, watch Community and The Office on Hulu, and then be a worthless heap for the rest of the day. I generally just find myself too mentally exhausted and unmotivated to do anything constructive on Fridays. Sure, I’d still like to be able to relax and watch TV and go to parties on Fridays, but surely it wouldn’t kill me to find a way to get some productive use out of the day.
9. Get professionally published
Despite the non-cohesive ramblings on this blog, I like to consider myself a decent writer from time to time. I even have one (minor) magazine credit to my name. Though my time is pretty limited, I'd like to be able to try to get back to that a little and hone those skills a bit more. Obviously I'm not referring to a scholarly journal here, but instead I could see the possibility of writing an article for Cracked or a soccer site or something else along those lines. I'd have to step it up a bit and it would definitely challenge me to improve the entertainment value of my writing, but it's always been kind of a goal of mine.
10. Accomplish at least six of my first nine New Year's Resolutions
No more counting this last one in the tally.
Relationships
1. Create some forward motion in my love life
Last year I was able to take the big step of getting my head on straight again, but the fact remains that I’ve spent a long time single. Since last year I’ve met and grown closer to a lot of compelling individuals, so it seems like at some point I’ve got to at least step up and get a date or something. I’ve had this resolution in mind since summer of last year, and I’m hoping that it won’t be unresolved for long.
Experiences
2. Enjoy my first drink on my 21st birthday
I don’t have to do all that much to achieve this resolution, other than stay the teetotaling course and have a drink on December 22nd. However it’s something I’ve been working at for quite some time, so now that I’m in the homestretch there’s no reason to stop challenging myself now.
3. Attend a regular season NFL game
Now that I’ve got tickets for my first NHL game, I’d like to consider the possibility of filling in another hole in my much-treasured sports experience spectrum. While I did get the chance to go to a Packers preseason game against the Broncos in like, seventh grade, I’d like to take the leap and go to a game that matters now. Given the difficulty of getting Packers tickets for a first-generation Wisconsinite like myself, I like the idea of traveling somewhere to watch my first regular season game. Possibilities include a Bucs game during another Tampa vacation, weekend trips for the Vikings, Lions or Bears, a road trip to a Chiefs or Rams game to culminate in even more delicious barbeque, or a Panthers game if Evan ends up in North Carolina for grad school. The possibilities are there, and with my flair for US travel, they honestly all sound appealing to me.
4. Drive in TWO states in which I have not driven before
Yes, building off of last year’s resolution, this one is obviously harder because it requires not one, but two more states, and also because by now I’ve driven in all the gimme states touching Wisconsin. Which states will this resolution force me to visit on my own time this year? Missouri? Indiana? Oklahoma (where I’m presently writing this)? Beats me, man!
5. Attend a hip-hop concert
Haha...I don’t even know what I’d do with myself once I got there, and I also am well aware that Wisconsin is pretty incapable of drawing decent acts. However, there usually ends up being a handful of mid-tier hip-hop artists who find their way to Madison for JAMZ events or whatever, so it would be fun to see what one is like for once. To this day I’m still kicking myself for not going to the T.I. show in Tampa when I had the chance, regardless of how out of place I would have been (very much so).
Personal Improvement/Achievement
6. Fully pay off my sophomore and junior years of college
I couldn’t quite get sophomore year paid off last year, but the free rent involved in the equation this year gives me the hope that I might have only my senior year left to pay for by 2012, or even that I could be (temporarily) debt-free by the start of fall semester. It’s exciting! And it means I’m so close to being done with college.
7. Start playing some piano again
I took a good 6-8 years of piano lessons (I don’t really remember, actually), but I haven’t played consistently since grade school. I don’t feel the need to get back to a regular level, but I should at least start plunking around again, relearning some of the songs I knew and maybe learning some new ones. It’s not quite natural for me anymore, but I feel like it’s a good skill to have.
8. Accomplish things on Fridays
It wouldn’t be a resolution list if there wasn’t an incredibly vague one, eh? Friday is far and away my least productive day of the week during the school year (as I suppose it is for a lot of people), in which I generally only have morning classes, come back, watch Community and The Office on Hulu, and then be a worthless heap for the rest of the day. I generally just find myself too mentally exhausted and unmotivated to do anything constructive on Fridays. Sure, I’d still like to be able to relax and watch TV and go to parties on Fridays, but surely it wouldn’t kill me to find a way to get some productive use out of the day.
9. Get professionally published
Despite the non-cohesive ramblings on this blog, I like to consider myself a decent writer from time to time. I even have one (minor) magazine credit to my name. Though my time is pretty limited, I'd like to be able to try to get back to that a little and hone those skills a bit more. Obviously I'm not referring to a scholarly journal here, but instead I could see the possibility of writing an article for Cracked or a soccer site or something else along those lines. I'd have to step it up a bit and it would definitely challenge me to improve the entertainment value of my writing, but it's always been kind of a goal of mine.
10. Accomplish at least six of my first nine New Year's Resolutions
No more counting this last one in the tally.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Oh you fancy, huh?
In which I judge how I did on this year's resolutions
Relationships
1. Finish the year proud of the relationship decisions I've made.
I didn't get a girlfriend or a date or any of that, but that wasn't the goal this year. I had to sort out of a lot of other things in my life and not let other distractions get in the way of that. And I didn't, getting some confidence back and a better head on my shoulders in the process. Certainly something worth being proud of, and something to build off of for sure.
Experiences
2. Take a new pineapple picture
If you insist.
3. Attend an NHL game
All right, I know it's sort of a cop out, but I'm going to give myself half-credit on this one. No, I did not make the trek outside of Wisconsin to catch a pro hockey game in 2010, but my parents did give me tickets to the Tampa Bay Lightning-Minnesota Wild game in St. Paul for my birthday. So I at least got tickets this year, even if I won't go until April of next year. Assuming I'll get to wrap it up into an MLC trip weekend, it might be near the top of the growing list of things I'm really looking forward to next year.
4. Watch the DVD of "Hotel Rwanda" that I own
Just watched it yesterday! It's been sitting on my desk literally all year, and I always put it off assuming I'd eventually find the time. It was a good film. It was quite moving at parts, definitely pretty heavy in a lot of ways. Don Cheadle had a very impressive performance. Also, it's probably like the first time I've ever watched a movie alone.
5. Drive in a state that I haven't driven in before.
I actually bagged two new states this year, running my total up to seven. I drove in Iowa for the first time, from Des Moines to Davenport during my summer road trip, and I drove in Colorado on the drive home as we picked up Evan from New Mexico at the end of summer. Colorado especially was kind of interesting, getting to drive in a mountainous region, and also navigating our big conversion van through Denver. I really liked this resolution, since it forced me to bat around ideas of road trips, so I may very well make it a part of 2011's.
6. Celebrate Stabby the Green Pepper Day
It's second nature now.
Personal Improvement/Achievement
7. Get a legitimate summer internship with a legitimate company.
No dice. I didn't put in nearly the effort to get an internship this year as I had the year before, but it's a different story when you have the safety net of a job. I worked full time all summer at Target and that worked out just fine, as I got good hours (8-4:30 all week) and flexibility on my days off, something that clearly came in handy for watching world cup games and other social events.
8. Play soccer competitively
Not surprisingly, this never went down, as I was just too busy for it. I got to play a few pickup games while the weather was still warm, so hopefully I'll be able to keep that up.
9. Do something creative on a large(r than usual) scale
I didn't really get a chance to do this in 2010. Well, my friends and I continued our series of nonsense Saw parodies that started in like...2004, and "Saw IV - Rise of the Vice-BROsident" most assuredly has potential, but it was more screwing around than something on a larger than usual scale. I just don't have the motivation or time to devote to it that I used to, and I'm not the type whose creativity simply bursts at the seams if I don't have an outlet. Maybe I just used it all up on Loaded Questions answers.
10. Serve the Chapel in a capacity that I have not yet served
Yep, I've been a housefellow for a few months now, which has led to all sorts of service capacities. It's been a good experience thus far.
11. Go Running
...Not enough to be able to count it as a successful resolution. If I would just run to class, but that presents its own problems.
12. Swear less
I would say so. Darn straight. (See??)
13. Pay off my sophomore year student loans
I was unable to do so. I came awfully close, and a few decisions like going on a summer road trip probably made the difference, but that's all right. I'm barely in debt, especially when compared to most college students, and it's better to make memories like that while I still can.
14. Accomplish at least half of my New Year's Resolutions (8.5 out of 14)
Yeah! And this year I didn't even need to use the loophole of the last resolution to do so!
Relationships
1. Finish the year proud of the relationship decisions I've made.
I didn't get a girlfriend or a date or any of that, but that wasn't the goal this year. I had to sort out of a lot of other things in my life and not let other distractions get in the way of that. And I didn't, getting some confidence back and a better head on my shoulders in the process. Certainly something worth being proud of, and something to build off of for sure.
Experiences
2. Take a new pineapple picture
If you insist.
3. Attend an NHL game
All right, I know it's sort of a cop out, but I'm going to give myself half-credit on this one. No, I did not make the trek outside of Wisconsin to catch a pro hockey game in 2010, but my parents did give me tickets to the Tampa Bay Lightning-Minnesota Wild game in St. Paul for my birthday. So I at least got tickets this year, even if I won't go until April of next year. Assuming I'll get to wrap it up into an MLC trip weekend, it might be near the top of the growing list of things I'm really looking forward to next year.
4. Watch the DVD of "Hotel Rwanda" that I own
Just watched it yesterday! It's been sitting on my desk literally all year, and I always put it off assuming I'd eventually find the time. It was a good film. It was quite moving at parts, definitely pretty heavy in a lot of ways. Don Cheadle had a very impressive performance. Also, it's probably like the first time I've ever watched a movie alone.
5. Drive in a state that I haven't driven in before.
I actually bagged two new states this year, running my total up to seven. I drove in Iowa for the first time, from Des Moines to Davenport during my summer road trip, and I drove in Colorado on the drive home as we picked up Evan from New Mexico at the end of summer. Colorado especially was kind of interesting, getting to drive in a mountainous region, and also navigating our big conversion van through Denver. I really liked this resolution, since it forced me to bat around ideas of road trips, so I may very well make it a part of 2011's.
6. Celebrate Stabby the Green Pepper Day
It's second nature now.
Personal Improvement/Achievement
7. Get a legitimate summer internship with a legitimate company.
No dice. I didn't put in nearly the effort to get an internship this year as I had the year before, but it's a different story when you have the safety net of a job. I worked full time all summer at Target and that worked out just fine, as I got good hours (8-4:30 all week) and flexibility on my days off, something that clearly came in handy for watching world cup games and other social events.
8. Play soccer competitively
Not surprisingly, this never went down, as I was just too busy for it. I got to play a few pickup games while the weather was still warm, so hopefully I'll be able to keep that up.
9. Do something creative on a large(r than usual) scale
I didn't really get a chance to do this in 2010. Well, my friends and I continued our series of nonsense Saw parodies that started in like...2004, and "Saw IV - Rise of the Vice-BROsident" most assuredly has potential, but it was more screwing around than something on a larger than usual scale. I just don't have the motivation or time to devote to it that I used to, and I'm not the type whose creativity simply bursts at the seams if I don't have an outlet. Maybe I just used it all up on Loaded Questions answers.
10. Serve the Chapel in a capacity that I have not yet served
Yep, I've been a housefellow for a few months now, which has led to all sorts of service capacities. It's been a good experience thus far.
11. Go Running
...Not enough to be able to count it as a successful resolution. If I would just run to class, but that presents its own problems.
12. Swear less
I would say so. Darn straight. (See??)
13. Pay off my sophomore year student loans
I was unable to do so. I came awfully close, and a few decisions like going on a summer road trip probably made the difference, but that's all right. I'm barely in debt, especially when compared to most college students, and it's better to make memories like that while I still can.
14. Accomplish at least half of my New Year's Resolutions (8.5 out of 14)
Yeah! And this year I didn't even need to use the loophole of the last resolution to do so!
Saturday, January 02, 2010
Light in the dark as I search for the resolution - 2010
Relationships
1. Finish the year proud of the relationship decisions I've made.
In the past year and a half, I've over-analyzed, acted before thinking, convinced myself of things I didn't believe, given up, and just about everything in between. This isn't particularly different from last year's, but with new wording comes new progress?
Experiences
2. Take a new pineapple picture
Some would call the pineapple/'myspace mirror shot' profile picture iconic. I mean, actually probably not, but I always felt like it captured me a bit better than any other picture could. I don't really look like I did as a sophomore in high school (or even close for that matter), so it could use an update.
3. Attend an NHL game
I've been to games in the NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS and several NASCAR races (in addition to 3 international soccer matches and lots of college football, basketball, hockey, and soccer), but despite being a pretty big fan of the EXTREMELY underrated National Hockey League (primarily the Tampa Bay Lightning) I've never been to a pro game. Obviously a lot of this would be chalked up to there not being a pro hockey team in Wisconsin, but that's a pretty bad excuse since I lived in an NHL market for a year. I'd like my first NHL experience to be a Lightning game, but I think I'd enjoy it either way.
(I like sports way too much for my own good. Being a Sportscenter anchor is like my dream job.)
4. Watch the DVD of "Hotel Rwanda" that I own
Because I got it for free at Target. It's probably a good movie, I'd imagine.
5. Drive in a state that I haven't driven in before.
Therefore, any state that isn't Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Florida or Georgia. Road trip implications! OR just a stupid day trip to Iowa and back.
6. Celebrate Stabby the Green Pepper Day
And hopefully get others to celebrate what is obviously a great holiday.
Personal Improvement/Achievement
7. Get a legitimate summer internship with a legitimate company.
Hopefully I'm in a much better position to get a respectable summer internship than I was last year. The biggest thing, though, is that even if I don't get the kind of resume-improving job that I want, I at least have a pretty solid job with the ol' Targs that I really wouldn't mind working all summer.
8. Play soccer competitively
I'm on the books with a local club team, but I've already had to turn down an invite to their first winter tune-up league. I'm hoping I can get to playing some tuneups with some of the guys on the team before hopefully joining up in time for the full 11v11 spring outdoor league. Intramurals eat your heart out, this is mildly legit!
How is this a resolution, you ask, if I'm already on the team? Well, the reason I haven't been able to play yet is that I've been way too busy with other stuff. Hopefully I'll have a better outlook next semester with improved classes and a diminished work schedule.
9. Do something creative on a large(r than usual) scale
Well this is generic. I do a fair amount of creative things throughout the year, but I'd like to create something for the sake of creating something. Record a new song, make a short film, write a book. None of that stuff is particularly productive, but it's refreshing. I'm not trying to write the great American novel or something, but it's an escape that I've been mostly keeping myself from.
10. Serve the Chapel in a capacity that I have not yet served
I'm a fan of the Chapel but I haven't been able to spend much time there in my first semester at Madison. I've lent a hand here and there but I'd like to get a lot more involved, whether that means being a housefellow or not.
11. Go Running
This doesn't even have to be regularly, I just haven't made an attempt at it in some time. I have a feeling that with a little training I'd be a whole lot better at it by now than I ever had been before.
12. Swear less
Ok, for serious this time.
13. Pay off my sophomore year student loans
It would be great to be just about caught up. Getting the first year free was a huge blessing.
14. Accomplish at least half of my New Year's Resolutions
Because last year's last resolution was a stretch.
1. Finish the year proud of the relationship decisions I've made.
In the past year and a half, I've over-analyzed, acted before thinking, convinced myself of things I didn't believe, given up, and just about everything in between. This isn't particularly different from last year's, but with new wording comes new progress?
Experiences
2. Take a new pineapple picture
Some would call the pineapple/'myspace mirror shot' profile picture iconic. I mean, actually probably not, but I always felt like it captured me a bit better than any other picture could. I don't really look like I did as a sophomore in high school (or even close for that matter), so it could use an update.
3. Attend an NHL game
I've been to games in the NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS and several NASCAR races (in addition to 3 international soccer matches and lots of college football, basketball, hockey, and soccer), but despite being a pretty big fan of the EXTREMELY underrated National Hockey League (primarily the Tampa Bay Lightning) I've never been to a pro game. Obviously a lot of this would be chalked up to there not being a pro hockey team in Wisconsin, but that's a pretty bad excuse since I lived in an NHL market for a year. I'd like my first NHL experience to be a Lightning game, but I think I'd enjoy it either way.
(I like sports way too much for my own good. Being a Sportscenter anchor is like my dream job.)
4. Watch the DVD of "Hotel Rwanda" that I own
Because I got it for free at Target. It's probably a good movie, I'd imagine.
5. Drive in a state that I haven't driven in before.
Therefore, any state that isn't Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Florida or Georgia. Road trip implications! OR just a stupid day trip to Iowa and back.
6. Celebrate Stabby the Green Pepper Day
And hopefully get others to celebrate what is obviously a great holiday.
Personal Improvement/Achievement
7. Get a legitimate summer internship with a legitimate company.
Hopefully I'm in a much better position to get a respectable summer internship than I was last year. The biggest thing, though, is that even if I don't get the kind of resume-improving job that I want, I at least have a pretty solid job with the ol' Targs that I really wouldn't mind working all summer.
8. Play soccer competitively
I'm on the books with a local club team, but I've already had to turn down an invite to their first winter tune-up league. I'm hoping I can get to playing some tuneups with some of the guys on the team before hopefully joining up in time for the full 11v11 spring outdoor league. Intramurals eat your heart out, this is mildly legit!
How is this a resolution, you ask, if I'm already on the team? Well, the reason I haven't been able to play yet is that I've been way too busy with other stuff. Hopefully I'll have a better outlook next semester with improved classes and a diminished work schedule.
9. Do something creative on a large(r than usual) scale
Well this is generic. I do a fair amount of creative things throughout the year, but I'd like to create something for the sake of creating something. Record a new song, make a short film, write a book. None of that stuff is particularly productive, but it's refreshing. I'm not trying to write the great American novel or something, but it's an escape that I've been mostly keeping myself from.
10. Serve the Chapel in a capacity that I have not yet served
I'm a fan of the Chapel but I haven't been able to spend much time there in my first semester at Madison. I've lent a hand here and there but I'd like to get a lot more involved, whether that means being a housefellow or not.
11. Go Running
This doesn't even have to be regularly, I just haven't made an attempt at it in some time. I have a feeling that with a little training I'd be a whole lot better at it by now than I ever had been before.
12. Swear less
Ok, for serious this time.
13. Pay off my sophomore year student loans
It would be great to be just about caught up. Getting the first year free was a huge blessing.
14. Accomplish at least half of my New Year's Resolutions
Because last year's last resolution was a stretch.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
While I'm wide awake
Here is the original for those types who turn on the director's commentary while watching DVDs.
Relationships
Well, my relationship decisions for this year were as follows:
Winter and Spring in Tampa: I took myself completely off the market as I transitioned from a short but whirlwind relationship.
Summer at home: I burned a bridge and spent months trying to prevent myself from rebuilding it while busying myself with work and friends.
Fall and Winter in Madison: The bridge was rebuilt. And I was too exhausted and jaded from school and work to figure myself out enough to become someone worth dating.
So were my decisions wise or unwise? I guess it's a shade of gray. But it isn't exactly progress, is it? If I'm keeping myself accountable with these resolutions (which is the point), then I can't possibly give myself credit for this one.
2. Spend no more than a month in "No Man's Land"
A month? I don't know if I could say that I spent a day in No Man's Land this year. Which has its positives and negatives, really. All told an improvement though, I'd say.
3. Find myself a good MLC marriage track girl
I only spent a couple days this year visiting MLC, and I definitely did not spend those days actively searching for a wife. That's ok. This resolution is facetious, but I still maintain that I'm almost infinitely more likely to find someone there that I'm on the same page with than I am at UW.
Experiences
4. Half-facetious resolution that was lost on the cutting room floor.Wasn't accomplished, wasn't attempted, wasn't serious, and didn't belong in the "Relationships" section before. Ha.
5. Go to at least one MLS game
(September 26)
I went to my first MLS game with my roommate and his girlfriend, as we watched Chicago tie Toronto 2-2 in a thriller. We had such a good time that we went down twice more (for playoff games), even appearing on Sportsillustrated.com as a result. Jordan and Heidi got season tickets for next year and I'm sure I'll join them for a number of those games. It's a passion now. Go Fire!
6. Go Clubbing
Regretfully, no. I think it's regretfully, at least. I do think that it would be an interesting experience.
7. Actually go to the beach.
(February 21)
I did, on several occasions. They were some of the many pleasant memories I have of my second semester at USF. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone in a week.
8. Remember to celebrate Stabby the Green Pepper Day
(April 10)
And to great fanfare! This will probably be a resolution next year too, after which it will just annually become second nature.
Personal Improvement/Achievement
9. Finish with a cumulative 3.9 GPA at USF(~May 2)
A surprise 4.0 for the second semester ensured that I ended my time at South Florida with a 3.93 GPA. Good thing, too, because I could only dream of doing that well at Madison. It's a whole different world.
10. Learn to cook passably
I didn't really even attempt to do this. Oops.
11. Find a way to play soccer at least twice a month
(up until October)
I was doing so well with this one, but predictably it got totally derailed by the Wisconsin winter. I even had a fall/winter indoor league lined up, but I was way too busy with work to do much more than entertain that idea. However I played often during the summer and took every advantage of the Florida weather to go outside and kick around. A winless intramural season was tough, but then again I was one of like 3 people on that team that had even played soccer before.
12. Keep the Lord in my life
Although I fret about the other things on this list so much, at least I've still got the most important one.
13. Work and find enjoyment in it
I started working at the ol' Targs in July and it's been way more enjoyable than my first (fast food) job. Sure, it's not always a blast to stock tampons or fold clothes for hours on end, but I have definitely found enjoyment in a lot of it. Particularly when Shallow Blake goes to work.
14. Swear less
What is it about living on campus that makes it so easy to swear? Oh, probably that everyone around you does so constantly. Even so, I'm always careful about who can or can't hear it...mostly it's done in the confines of my dorm room. Knowing that anyone and everyone can see what you do on the internet, I maintain the "Al Michaels Standard of Verbal Decency" while I do my social networking.
15. Get a scholarship
I thought about giving myself this one, considering that I do have a fairly substantial corporate scholarship at the moment. However, I mentioned at the start of the year that I wanted to get a scholarship in addition to that one, which is not something that I accomplished or even tried to do. I guess there were just other pressing needs over the end of the summer.
So I accomplished 7 out of 15. That's just under half...
16. Accomplish at least half of my New Year's Resolutions (8 of 16)
...until now. I'll be back tomorrow.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Here have some
I see via many facebook statuses that today is the WSMA day (for at least some high schools) and also the day of Lakeside's regional basketball final against Edgewood at Watertown High School.
Boy, do I miss Lakeside sometimes.
No, I don't miss being in high school. I'm perfectly okay with moving on to college and all, but it makes me remember a year ago where the Calebs and I went from WSMAs in Poynette to Watertown to watch Lakeside play the regional final against Edgewood. I think that was included in my second half of senior year/summer recap earlier in blog world, and was hands down one of the best days of high school for me. I'm not even certain why...of course it was fun and all, but it seemed special for some reason. I guess it just felt like a precursor to summer, with almost a mini-road trip with all the driving we did and a memorable Wendy’s jaunt with a number of running jokes born.
But, life goes on. Edgewood/Lakeside/Poynette WSMA day won't ever happen again, but lots else will. Stay tuned.
The power went out here a while ago. Fortunately, the network's still up and my laptop has 3 hours of battery life. So I can still be unproductive. haha.
Spring Break's a-coming and I'm pretty excited for that. There's an outside chance for a Jay Gatsby party, and all sorts of other possibilities (no to mention not being busy with school...of course). One of those possibilities, speaking of Jay Gatsby, is doing a video remake of the Great Gatsby to help Paul for his American Lit project. That would be splendid, old sport.
Also, my time in Tampa is slowly coming to a close (probably) and I'll be able to reflect on that more in a week as I sit in the Tampa airport waiting for my plane to take off. Because what better time to blog than that?
Other than next week's exposition, there's not much to hit on since the last post. The Real Salt Lake game was fun, I got to meet a few players including the dreadlocked and pictured Kyle Beckerman, who was predictably a cool guy. Also, February's over and for the first time I have officially locked down one of this year's resolutions: #7 - Actually go to the beach. I went to Clearwater Beach with Evan, James, Brittany, and Nick and it was a good time. Cold for the beach, but oh well. It's warmer than Wisconsin. One resolution down, 7 more to go to achieve #16. The soccer one is looking good at the moment, because I'm on an intramural team now. It's hard work - soccer is tough in Florida humidity.
A week later, Brittany and I went to Clearwater Beach at night to get ice cream, for the heck of it I guess. Sometimes the view at night is better than the view during the day. I had a lot of fun doing that. It's nice to get out for the sake of being out, and it's nice to see the ocean.
See y'all in a week.
Boy, do I miss Lakeside sometimes.
No, I don't miss being in high school. I'm perfectly okay with moving on to college and all, but it makes me remember a year ago where the Calebs and I went from WSMAs in Poynette to Watertown to watch Lakeside play the regional final against Edgewood. I think that was included in my second half of senior year/summer recap earlier in blog world, and was hands down one of the best days of high school for me. I'm not even certain why...of course it was fun and all, but it seemed special for some reason. I guess it just felt like a precursor to summer, with almost a mini-road trip with all the driving we did and a memorable Wendy’s jaunt with a number of running jokes born.
But, life goes on. Edgewood/Lakeside/Poynette WSMA day won't ever happen again, but lots else will. Stay tuned.
The power went out here a while ago. Fortunately, the network's still up and my laptop has 3 hours of battery life. So I can still be unproductive. haha.
Spring Break's a-coming and I'm pretty excited for that. There's an outside chance for a Jay Gatsby party, and all sorts of other possibilities (no to mention not being busy with school...of course). One of those possibilities, speaking of Jay Gatsby, is doing a video remake of the Great Gatsby to help Paul for his American Lit project. That would be splendid, old sport.
Also, my time in Tampa is slowly coming to a close (probably) and I'll be able to reflect on that more in a week as I sit in the Tampa airport waiting for my plane to take off. Because what better time to blog than that?
Other than next week's exposition, there's not much to hit on since the last post. The Real Salt Lake game was fun, I got to meet a few players including the dreadlocked and pictured Kyle Beckerman, who was predictably a cool guy. Also, February's over and for the first time I have officially locked down one of this year's resolutions: #7 - Actually go to the beach. I went to Clearwater Beach with Evan, James, Brittany, and Nick and it was a good time. Cold for the beach, but oh well. It's warmer than Wisconsin. One resolution down, 7 more to go to achieve #16. The soccer one is looking good at the moment, because I'm on an intramural team now. It's hard work - soccer is tough in Florida humidity.
A week later, Brittany and I went to Clearwater Beach at night to get ice cream, for the heck of it I guess. Sometimes the view at night is better than the view during the day. I had a lot of fun doing that. It's nice to get out for the sake of being out, and it's nice to see the ocean.
See y'all in a week.
Monday, February 02, 2009
It looks a little different.
Q: How many WELS members does it take to change a light bulb?
A: What?! Change?!?!
Well, the new layout looks a little different, but boy howdy, now that I have the power to be able to have a reasonable idea of who's reading my blog at any given time...I could not pass that up at all.
As far as things that...aren't about my new big-brother power. The Super Bowl just happened, and it was fairly exciting. No phone calls though. And now it's Groundhog Day, which has little to no significance when you live in Florida.
Not that it's that significant anywhere else, but that Bill Murray movie is kinda funny.
I plan to celebrate Groundhog Day by taking a bio exam that I didn't study much for. We have a drop test, so I'm not that worried...but even so, I think his tests will probably be easy. The information is so basic. We shall see.
And because this post is otherwise kinda worthless, I'll do the first of my monthly check-ins on the New Year's Resolutions (how I'm doing on the year-long ones, and if any of the one-time ones have been accomplished)
1. The vague girlfriend one is doing fine, because I think I have yet to make a bad relationship decision this year. I also have yet to make any relationship decision this year, but I guess that's part of the resolution anyway.
2. Doin' fine on the no-man's land.
5. The MLS schedule was released this week, and I've already got plans in place to go to Chicago vs. LA in August with Heidi. Planning is the first step toward going, so I like my chances on this one.
6. Actually, last night I went to Ybor City (Tampa's clubbing district) with a few friends, and we walked by but didn't go in any of the clubs because the prices were jacked up for Super Bowl weekend. Patience.
7. I came close to going to the beach, but instead it was a pier in St. Pete that stretched out into Tampa Bay. It was at night anyway. I am sure to get this one eventually.
9. Uh...my grades seem ok. It's hard to tell this early. Last semester, I got about a .5 swing from midterms to finals, so we'll see. If I don't get it, I wouldn't be broken up - as long as the grade was respectable.
10. No cooking has been done whatsoever. But I'm trying to stop eating dairy. That's food-related at least.
11. I guess so. Kind of a stretch, but I guess so.
12. I have yet to miss church this year, so I guess that's saying something. It helps.
13. Jobs are hard to come by in these parts. As long as I get a good summer job in Madison I'll be happy.
14. I have been making a conscious effort to stop the casual swearing.
3, 4, 8, 15, 16. Irrelevant or N/A
This will force me to update at very least once a month.
A: What?! Change?!?!
Well, the new layout looks a little different, but boy howdy, now that I have the power to be able to have a reasonable idea of who's reading my blog at any given time...I could not pass that up at all.
As far as things that...aren't about my new big-brother power. The Super Bowl just happened, and it was fairly exciting. No phone calls though. And now it's Groundhog Day, which has little to no significance when you live in Florida.
Not that it's that significant anywhere else, but that Bill Murray movie is kinda funny.
I plan to celebrate Groundhog Day by taking a bio exam that I didn't study much for. We have a drop test, so I'm not that worried...but even so, I think his tests will probably be easy. The information is so basic. We shall see.
And because this post is otherwise kinda worthless, I'll do the first of my monthly check-ins on the New Year's Resolutions (how I'm doing on the year-long ones, and if any of the one-time ones have been accomplished)
1. The vague girlfriend one is doing fine, because I think I have yet to make a bad relationship decision this year. I also have yet to make any relationship decision this year, but I guess that's part of the resolution anyway.
2. Doin' fine on the no-man's land.
5. The MLS schedule was released this week, and I've already got plans in place to go to Chicago vs. LA in August with Heidi. Planning is the first step toward going, so I like my chances on this one.
6. Actually, last night I went to Ybor City (Tampa's clubbing district) with a few friends, and we walked by but didn't go in any of the clubs because the prices were jacked up for Super Bowl weekend. Patience.
7. I came close to going to the beach, but instead it was a pier in St. Pete that stretched out into Tampa Bay. It was at night anyway. I am sure to get this one eventually.
9. Uh...my grades seem ok. It's hard to tell this early. Last semester, I got about a .5 swing from midterms to finals, so we'll see. If I don't get it, I wouldn't be broken up - as long as the grade was respectable.
10. No cooking has been done whatsoever. But I'm trying to stop eating dairy. That's food-related at least.
11. I guess so. Kind of a stretch, but I guess so.
12. I have yet to miss church this year, so I guess that's saying something. It helps.
13. Jobs are hard to come by in these parts. As long as I get a good summer job in Madison I'll be happy.
14. I have been making a conscious effort to stop the casual swearing.
3, 4, 8, 15, 16. Irrelevant or N/A
This will force me to update at very least once a month.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Light in the dark as I search for the resolution
Relationships
1. Get a girlfriend/improve relationships or whatever
I am intentionally leaving this one ambiguous because...I'm not really dying to have a girlfriend right now. Nor do I want to, actually at all. I am very much sworn off of girls until at very least summer, by which time I will probably be in an apartment (/the Chapel) in Madison with a job and a future in Wisconsin. Obviously I couldn't start dating again in Florida because I'll be leaving soon, and it's not worth trying to get something ready back home for my return. But that's not to say I want to be single all year...I'm just not ready for anything for the foreseeable future. Thus, the ambiguity. I'm not sure how all of this can be translated into a goal for the year, but I will say "I wish to make wise relationship decisions this year". Which leads me to my next resolution:
2. Spend no more than a month in "No Man's Land"
This actually stems from a discussion I had after midnight, but I felt it was a really good New Year's Resolution. The 6 or so people I was talking with described No Man's Land as "that awkward close friend, almost relationship zone" which is something that I have spent way too much time in. And it's not a good thing at all. I put that I want to have less than a month, because I realize there needs to be at least a little time there before a relationship can start, but I'd personally not like to spend any time there at all. Long forays into No Man's Land just haven't brought me anything but disappointment.
3. Find myself a good MLC marriage track girl
Heh.
4. There's also another half-facetious one that was lost on the cutting room floor.
Experiences
5. Go to at least one MLS game
This was on last year's, but the summer proved to be too busy. But this year I've already got 3 travel partners in line to hop down to Bridgeview and watch the Fire, of whom I have purchased a t-shirt. And I guess have pledged my allegiance to. I never wanted to commit to a team, but it may as well be the Chicago Fire. They are the closest to me right now, and being that Chicago is in my (tentative) long-term plans, they probably will be the closest team to me for some time yet.
6. Go Clubbing
I am in the right place, Tampa is a major clubbing hot spot. I want to go this summer with some high school friends too, but whether there is a club scene in Madison remains to be seen. I guess there's Milwaukee too, but I kind of hate Milwaukee.
7. Actually go to the beach.
Even though Tampa Bay is home to some of America's best beaches, I haven't been to any since I've been going to USF. Hopefully, I'll have a little more time to see some of the nicer parts of the area.
8. Remember to celebrate Stabby the Green Pepper Day
Personal Improvement/Achievement
9. Finish with a cumulative 3.9 GPA at USF
Which would require me to get four A's and one A-
10. Learn to cook passably
I would consider it a necessary step toward independence and well-roundedness.
11. Find a way to play soccer at least twice a month
I truly love it. The Sun Prairie foreign men league was pretty great last summer, maybe I can pick that up again this year. It would be great for staying (er...getting) in shape, and I think I'm just happier when I get to play regularly.
12. Keep the Lord in my life
I wanted a spiritual goal, but I couldn't pinpoint anything specific. Just as well. Spirituality isn't by nature a very specific thing.
13. Work and find enjoyment in it
I would like to be employed for second semester and the summer because I'm going to need to pay for college now, not to mention I could use the experience. The only other job I ever had, at Culver's, I truly despised. So, hopefully I can find a job I will enjoy (not food service) and will pay well so I can smoothly transition back home, financially speaking.
14. Swear less
Especially at Mario Party.
15. Get a scholarship
All the scholarship application trouble I saved by going to USF, I will get to experience this year as I try to find a way to pay for Wisconsin. I've got one external scholarship already, but the more the merrier. It's going to be a rude awakening to see all the money I saved this year evaporate in one semester.
16. Accomplish at least half of my New Year's Resolutions
Because I didn't last year.
1. Get a girlfriend/improve relationships or whatever
I am intentionally leaving this one ambiguous because...I'm not really dying to have a girlfriend right now. Nor do I want to, actually at all. I am very much sworn off of girls until at very least summer, by which time I will probably be in an apartment (/the Chapel) in Madison with a job and a future in Wisconsin. Obviously I couldn't start dating again in Florida because I'll be leaving soon, and it's not worth trying to get something ready back home for my return. But that's not to say I want to be single all year...I'm just not ready for anything for the foreseeable future. Thus, the ambiguity. I'm not sure how all of this can be translated into a goal for the year, but I will say "I wish to make wise relationship decisions this year". Which leads me to my next resolution:
2. Spend no more than a month in "No Man's Land"
This actually stems from a discussion I had after midnight, but I felt it was a really good New Year's Resolution. The 6 or so people I was talking with described No Man's Land as "that awkward close friend, almost relationship zone" which is something that I have spent way too much time in. And it's not a good thing at all. I put that I want to have less than a month, because I realize there needs to be at least a little time there before a relationship can start, but I'd personally not like to spend any time there at all. Long forays into No Man's Land just haven't brought me anything but disappointment.
3. Find myself a good MLC marriage track girl
Heh.
4. There's also another half-facetious one that was lost on the cutting room floor.
Experiences
5. Go to at least one MLS game
This was on last year's, but the summer proved to be too busy. But this year I've already got 3 travel partners in line to hop down to Bridgeview and watch the Fire, of whom I have purchased a t-shirt. And I guess have pledged my allegiance to. I never wanted to commit to a team, but it may as well be the Chicago Fire. They are the closest to me right now, and being that Chicago is in my (tentative) long-term plans, they probably will be the closest team to me for some time yet.
6. Go Clubbing
I am in the right place, Tampa is a major clubbing hot spot. I want to go this summer with some high school friends too, but whether there is a club scene in Madison remains to be seen. I guess there's Milwaukee too, but I kind of hate Milwaukee.
7. Actually go to the beach.
Even though Tampa Bay is home to some of America's best beaches, I haven't been to any since I've been going to USF. Hopefully, I'll have a little more time to see some of the nicer parts of the area.
8. Remember to celebrate Stabby the Green Pepper Day
Personal Improvement/Achievement
9. Finish with a cumulative 3.9 GPA at USF
Which would require me to get four A's and one A-
10. Learn to cook passably
I would consider it a necessary step toward independence and well-roundedness.
11. Find a way to play soccer at least twice a month
I truly love it. The Sun Prairie foreign men league was pretty great last summer, maybe I can pick that up again this year. It would be great for staying (er...getting) in shape, and I think I'm just happier when I get to play regularly.
12. Keep the Lord in my life
I wanted a spiritual goal, but I couldn't pinpoint anything specific. Just as well. Spirituality isn't by nature a very specific thing.
13. Work and find enjoyment in it
I would like to be employed for second semester and the summer because I'm going to need to pay for college now, not to mention I could use the experience. The only other job I ever had, at Culver's, I truly despised. So, hopefully I can find a job I will enjoy (not food service) and will pay well so I can smoothly transition back home, financially speaking.
14. Swear less
Especially at Mario Party.
15. Get a scholarship
All the scholarship application trouble I saved by going to USF, I will get to experience this year as I try to find a way to pay for Wisconsin. I've got one external scholarship already, but the more the merrier. It's going to be a rude awakening to see all the money I saved this year evaporate in one semester.
16. Accomplish at least half of my New Year's Resolutions
Because I didn't last year.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Monkey See...
Well, I guess it's about that time to recap the ol' New Year's resolutions before coming up with some new ones.
Last year...last year was not exceptional as resolutions went. Not only did I only come up with 5, I didn't do a particularly good job of accomplishing them, on the whole. And let's see how...
1. I will attempt to make and keep friends in all facets.
Well, how about that. In a bad year for resolution success, I accomplished this old classic. I managed to not only keep my closest friendships from high school, but I also seriously strengthened a few of them, despite the distance. Additionally, I call this one a classic because it was a vague rewording of the usual "Get a Girlfriend" resolution, and I accomplished that one too. I'm disappointed with myself for how I went about some of it, but at least I proved to myself that there isn't some secret agreement to not date me that was signed by all girls ever. Apparently only Wisconsin girls signed said agreement.
2. Be happy with all my decisions.
This sums up how I did with that one. It took me less than one semester to go back on my decision to go to USF, I've changed my class schedule at least 3 times since I built it, and I can't even pick a favorite MLS team. This year, I have changed my mind like a girl changes clothes, to put it in radio-pop terms.
3. Learn to appreciate mornings.
I have...gained a better understanding of the benefits of waking up early. I have not successfully put it into practice. I still stay up late and sleep late. But I guess I do appreciate mornings, just not enough to wake up in time for them.
4. Go to an MLS game.
I straight up failed this one...but I should be able to take care of it next year. I already bought my Chicago Fire shirt, so I guess that's who I'll be cheering for. They're the only team I could feasibly go see anyway.
5. Eat a full-size Mr. Goodbar.
Yeah, for all intents and purposes. While golfing.
So that's...what, 2 for 5? That's not great, but hey, I should have more resolutions for next year. I've already got a few thought up, but I'll come up with a few more in time for New Year's. Perhaps one of my resolutions should be to accomplish at least half of my resolutions.
Last year...last year was not exceptional as resolutions went. Not only did I only come up with 5, I didn't do a particularly good job of accomplishing them, on the whole. And let's see how...
1. I will attempt to make and keep friends in all facets.
Well, how about that. In a bad year for resolution success, I accomplished this old classic. I managed to not only keep my closest friendships from high school, but I also seriously strengthened a few of them, despite the distance. Additionally, I call this one a classic because it was a vague rewording of the usual "Get a Girlfriend" resolution, and I accomplished that one too. I'm disappointed with myself for how I went about some of it, but at least I proved to myself that there isn't some secret agreement to not date me that was signed by all girls ever. Apparently only Wisconsin girls signed said agreement.
2. Be happy with all my decisions.
This sums up how I did with that one. It took me less than one semester to go back on my decision to go to USF, I've changed my class schedule at least 3 times since I built it, and I can't even pick a favorite MLS team. This year, I have changed my mind like a girl changes clothes, to put it in radio-pop terms.
3. Learn to appreciate mornings.
I have...gained a better understanding of the benefits of waking up early. I have not successfully put it into practice. I still stay up late and sleep late. But I guess I do appreciate mornings, just not enough to wake up in time for them.
4. Go to an MLS game.
I straight up failed this one...but I should be able to take care of it next year. I already bought my Chicago Fire shirt, so I guess that's who I'll be cheering for. They're the only team I could feasibly go see anyway.
5. Eat a full-size Mr. Goodbar.
Yeah, for all intents and purposes. While golfing.
So that's...what, 2 for 5? That's not great, but hey, I should have more resolutions for next year. I've already got a few thought up, but I'll come up with a few more in time for New Year's. Perhaps one of my resolutions should be to accomplish at least half of my resolutions.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
I got dreadlocks fallin' all over me
Well, here's the new year, so it seems fitting to make a new blog post. I think (I'm not sure about this) that this is the longest blog drought in the history of the ol' Flight 109 (all 3 years of it!). Basically, this site has been pretty worthless, because a lot has happened between July and now. Or has it?
So I'm not really going to try to catch up, but I think it's fair to try to cut my losses and push forward for this new year. Although, to keep a little connection to last year, I may as well conclude the last few New Years Resolutions of 07 and close with a few for next year. As I recall, here were the ones still hanging.
-Get a girlfriend: There's always next year!
-The soccer one: I didn't technically accomplish either goal, but I would hardly call it a failure. I wasn't captain, but that allowed me to have more fun and focus more on self-improvement. Also, I wasn't top 3 in goals, but I was 4th on the team in goals and I was in 3rd until the last game of the season. I also had the top scoring percentage for shots taken, so I was really happy with how the season went.
-Get a job: Not yet, but I do have a pending Walgreen's application, so we'll see what happens with that. I suppose I could live with that sort of job.
-Eat a full-size Mr. Goodbar: I put this one off for too long, and couldn't achieve it at the end of the year due to a full day of travel. How unfortunate, I'll bet it would have tasted really good.
And speaking of this full day of travel on New Years Eve, an explanation of my current surroundings would probably be in order. The family flew to Florida yesterday so I am blogging from Evan's laptop in a Tampa hotel room.
We decided to go to Tampa on vacation for a couple of reasons. For one, the Badgers just had their bowl game at the wonderful Raymond James stadium. Unfortunately, they lost, but it was still a cool experience, just to go to an NFL stadium and see a bowl game.
Ultimately, though, the real driving force of the trip was the fact that I am considering the University of South Florida, which is in Tampa, as a legitimate option. We will be touring the campus tomorrow, and maybe I'll post later with thoughts on that.
It's interesting (to me, at least) that I would be considering South Florida so late in the college decision process. It seems like a pretty crazy, out there college choice, but it has held up this long as a realistic possibility. There's something to be said for staying around and going to Madison, but maybe I would enjoy a drastic change. If not, there's always such a thing as transferring. Who knows, right now it's at about 50/50.
What experiences do I have to gain from going?
What relationships do I get to keep by staying?
It's a lot to think about.
How about some new resolutions then...
1. Girlfriend? If I go to USF, that might be the least of my relationship worries. So I will attempt to make and keep friends in all facets, and if a girlfriend happens, sweet.
2. Be happy with all my decisions. I've got a lot of them to make (not just college), and there is a certain amount of worry that comes with each one that I will make the wrong one. I should know by now that no matter how the decision seems to be going, it will work out for the good, so once I make up my mind, I will try to be satisfied with it.
3. Learn to appreciate mornings. I hate getting up early, or really getting up at any time before I would naturally wake up. To be more productive, it would probably help if I could, if not get up fairly early, be ready for the day when I do wake up.
4. Go to an MLS game. I've always sort of planned to go to a pro soccer game, but it never happened. In addition, I'd like to go see the US national team play again, but that would be pending on if they are playing nearby for any of their games.
5. Eat a full-size Mr. Goodbar. I've got another 366 days to net this one.
I suppose that will be all for now, I'm sure I'll have more goals for the year, but at least I've got something to start with. Here's to a great 2008.
So I'm not really going to try to catch up, but I think it's fair to try to cut my losses and push forward for this new year. Although, to keep a little connection to last year, I may as well conclude the last few New Years Resolutions of 07 and close with a few for next year. As I recall, here were the ones still hanging.
-Get a girlfriend: There's always next year!
-The soccer one: I didn't technically accomplish either goal, but I would hardly call it a failure. I wasn't captain, but that allowed me to have more fun and focus more on self-improvement. Also, I wasn't top 3 in goals, but I was 4th on the team in goals and I was in 3rd until the last game of the season. I also had the top scoring percentage for shots taken, so I was really happy with how the season went.
-Get a job: Not yet, but I do have a pending Walgreen's application, so we'll see what happens with that. I suppose I could live with that sort of job.
-Eat a full-size Mr. Goodbar: I put this one off for too long, and couldn't achieve it at the end of the year due to a full day of travel. How unfortunate, I'll bet it would have tasted really good.
And speaking of this full day of travel on New Years Eve, an explanation of my current surroundings would probably be in order. The family flew to Florida yesterday so I am blogging from Evan's laptop in a Tampa hotel room.
We decided to go to Tampa on vacation for a couple of reasons. For one, the Badgers just had their bowl game at the wonderful Raymond James stadium. Unfortunately, they lost, but it was still a cool experience, just to go to an NFL stadium and see a bowl game.
Ultimately, though, the real driving force of the trip was the fact that I am considering the University of South Florida, which is in Tampa, as a legitimate option. We will be touring the campus tomorrow, and maybe I'll post later with thoughts on that.
It's interesting (to me, at least) that I would be considering South Florida so late in the college decision process. It seems like a pretty crazy, out there college choice, but it has held up this long as a realistic possibility. There's something to be said for staying around and going to Madison, but maybe I would enjoy a drastic change. If not, there's always such a thing as transferring. Who knows, right now it's at about 50/50.
What experiences do I have to gain from going?
What relationships do I get to keep by staying?
It's a lot to think about.
How about some new resolutions then...
1. Girlfriend? If I go to USF, that might be the least of my relationship worries. So I will attempt to make and keep friends in all facets, and if a girlfriend happens, sweet.
2. Be happy with all my decisions. I've got a lot of them to make (not just college), and there is a certain amount of worry that comes with each one that I will make the wrong one. I should know by now that no matter how the decision seems to be going, it will work out for the good, so once I make up my mind, I will try to be satisfied with it.
3. Learn to appreciate mornings. I hate getting up early, or really getting up at any time before I would naturally wake up. To be more productive, it would probably help if I could, if not get up fairly early, be ready for the day when I do wake up.
4. Go to an MLS game. I've always sort of planned to go to a pro soccer game, but it never happened. In addition, I'd like to go see the US national team play again, but that would be pending on if they are playing nearby for any of their games.
5. Eat a full-size Mr. Goodbar. I've got another 366 days to net this one.
I suppose that will be all for now, I'm sure I'll have more goals for the year, but at least I've got something to start with. Here's to a great 2008.
Friday, July 13, 2007
EveryBODY needs P.E.
There's way too much to cover since the last time I posted, but I will eventually. But tonight I am tired, so because we are more than halfway through the year, I will check in on how I'm doing on my ten new year's resolutions.
1. Get a girlfriend. Ha!
2. Eat a full-size Mr. Goodbar. Not yet, but this one's pretty easy to accomplish. I think I will save it for a memorable moment.
2b. Get a pet turtle in college. Simply impossible.
3. Write some songs that don't suck. I semi-accomplished this in a manner I didn't expect. It was not for Eisenhower, but actually it came in the form of the Pet Song, which campers from New London to Wautoma to Racine have enjoyed. I'm not certain that it doesn't suck, but at least some people like it.
4. Get a "720 on my ACT". I'm through with the ACT, so I'd say this goal is virtually accomplished, all hyperbole aside.
5. Not get last on the team in every cross country meet this year. I'm not doing cross country anymore, so I'll change this to an "or" goal. my goal is to be captain or to be one of the top 3 goal-scorers on the team.
6. Blog more often. Fail.
7. Become absolutely dominant at scrabble. I've only lost to two people this year, and I beat those two people as often as they beat me, but I haven't been playing much scrabble lately.
8. Get a Job. I'll wait until after camp.
9. Sleep. I'm at camp a lot, this is virtually impossible, although I did go to bed at 9:30 last night.
10. Have ten new year's resolutions. What a bogus resolution...at least it's guaranteed.
So, four of my resolutions (numbers 3, 4, 7, 10) have been accomplished (or basically accomplished), and two (numbers 2 and 8) are essentially a cinch as soon as I put in the very minor effort. 6 and 9, if we're counting history of the entire year, are basically lost for good, leaving 1 and 5 as the only unsure ones.
The first goal is basically always unsure, and always a new year's resolution, so now 5 is the one I will focus on. Sounds like fun.
We'll see what happens when I make the resolution year-in-review post.
1. Get a girlfriend. Ha!
2. Eat a full-size Mr. Goodbar. Not yet, but this one's pretty easy to accomplish. I think I will save it for a memorable moment.
2b. Get a pet turtle in college. Simply impossible.
3. Write some songs that don't suck. I semi-accomplished this in a manner I didn't expect. It was not for Eisenhower, but actually it came in the form of the Pet Song, which campers from New London to Wautoma to Racine have enjoyed. I'm not certain that it doesn't suck, but at least some people like it.
4. Get a "720 on my ACT". I'm through with the ACT, so I'd say this goal is virtually accomplished, all hyperbole aside.
5. Not get last on the team in every cross country meet this year. I'm not doing cross country anymore, so I'll change this to an "or" goal. my goal is to be captain or to be one of the top 3 goal-scorers on the team.
6. Blog more often. Fail.
7. Become absolutely dominant at scrabble. I've only lost to two people this year, and I beat those two people as often as they beat me, but I haven't been playing much scrabble lately.
8. Get a Job. I'll wait until after camp.
9. Sleep. I'm at camp a lot, this is virtually impossible, although I did go to bed at 9:30 last night.
10. Have ten new year's resolutions. What a bogus resolution...at least it's guaranteed.
So, four of my resolutions (numbers 3, 4, 7, 10) have been accomplished (or basically accomplished), and two (numbers 2 and 8) are essentially a cinch as soon as I put in the very minor effort. 6 and 9, if we're counting history of the entire year, are basically lost for good, leaving 1 and 5 as the only unsure ones.
The first goal is basically always unsure, and always a new year's resolution, so now 5 is the one I will focus on. Sounds like fun.
We'll see what happens when I make the resolution year-in-review post.
Friday, January 05, 2007
I put the "I" in "I hate going to Indiana because usually it means one of my relatives died"
Well, I was in Indiana the past few days. It was because of the death of my Grandma. She was 94, and died of, on top of everything else, kidney failure.
It's alright though, her quality of life was not good at all, so it's kind of nice that she can finally be done with the junk this world has to offer. It sounds cliche, but I'll see her again.
Aside from that, I decided to do more than one new year's resolution, perhaps inspired by others to do so (yet keeping last year's one intact). Here goes nothing.
1. Get a girlfriend. This one sounds as lame as it is, but it's a classic. Maybe next year I won't need to have it up here.
2. Eat a full-size Mr. Goodbar. Basically all the Mr. Goodbars you see are mini, so I'd like to eat a full size one. They are pretty good when small, so they'd probably be just as pretty good when large. "Mr. Goodbar" is also what I plan to name my pet turtle in college.
2b. Get a pet turtle in college. Actually I can't do that this year, but I should at least document it, so that if I forget it, my dedicated blog readers can remind me. I shall also name it Mr. Goodbar, but you should know that by now.
3. Write some songs that don't suck. I have not found inspiration very much lately, and for some reason I haven't written a decent song in forever. It wasn't too hard with "Seattle" so maybe the inspiration just needs to be flowing or something.
4. Get a "720 on my ACT". Okay, 720 is not possible on an ACT (despite these words from Jason Schleef, I believe it was during the same night of Red Dawn where our incredible "Look, it's Schleef, he's god at this game" strategy took place), but I'd like to stop underachieving and sort out this pre-college junk, and hopefully find a decision that makes me happy, seeing that these decisions will be nearly made by the end of this year.
5. Not get last on the team in every cross country meet this year. This will be my first year of cross country, and for someone who was never athletic whatsoever, this is a pretty major step. My expectations aren't high, but I'd like to at least be able to compete within my team. Better step up the training.
6. Blog more often. I like to blog, I do. But I tend to go forever without a post. I'm not sure if I disappoint anyone except myself with that, but I do need to get better with it. 70 posts in about 25 months. That's like a post every 11 days, which means I must have posted way more in the past. But those posts were horrible, so I think it evens out.
7. Become absolutely dominant at scrabble. I've actually been playing scrabble a lot lately, with my friends and what not. It's surprisingly really fun. Scrabble is worth my time.
8. Get a Job. Actually, I don't want to. at all. I've got the rest of my life to work, as I've basically determined it'll be white collars and ties and offices for the rest of my life. But I could definitely use some extra funds, but I don't even have to pay for car insurance and gas and stuff. There are some definite benefits to not driving.
9. Sleep. I am tired a lot. and I like to sleep. I think this one should be a no-brainer.
10. Have ten new year's resolutions. I guess I kind of do already with the 2b, but that one doesn't even apply to this year. Ten is such a more complete number than 9, although 9 is the number of dribbles I had in my free-throw routine in grade school. Not sure how I chose that, but I actually think I might have been about a 50% all time free throw shooter, which is not awful for 6-7th grade. Maybe it is, but oh well. I had 10 points in a game once. Which is hereby in about the top 5 of sports accomplishments of my life. From 5th to 1st:
5th: I returned an interception for a touchdown while playing linebacker in 8th grade. Unfortunately, it was in practice. But it was sweet.
4th: In my first and only year of actually competitive little league, I led my team in batting average and also was the first kid that summer in the league to catch a fly ball as the catcher. Of course I was like 9, so I'm not sure how much that counts
3rd: Dropping 10 points against the Utica Christian "Uticorns" (actually I don't remember their team name, but we used this name to mock them. It didn't work too well, as we went 1-3 against them all time...before we didn't have enough boys to have a basketball team. Grade school sports sucked). I hit some free throws, jumpers, and layups, I never recorded another single double in any of the other maybe 7 games I started. I guess starting was an accomplishment in and of itself, but there were like 8 kids on the team total.
2nd: Winning the one wrestling match I ever participated in, 3-2 by merit of a slick double-leg takedown and an escape after I deferred after the first period and my opponent chose the strategically unsound position of "up". I escaped, got my takedown, and we took it to the 3rd period. I went neutral, because he wasn't doing much, and we basically both stalled my way into a stunning 1-point victory. We were the only two in the bracket, and I medalled too. It was pretty sweet.
1st: In 8th grade I played football through Lakeside's program, and each week, coaches picked 3 honorary captains for their work in the previous game. I am filled with the slightest bit of pride to say that I was once an honorary captain. The game which won me the honor was against Deerfield. They, on the opening kickoff, decided for some reason that they wanted to throw us off with an onside. They put all the kids who weren't good at offense or defense on the kick return team, so I ended up right in the front. By some chance, the kick went straight to me. It was kind of my chance to prove myself I guess? The ball went over my head, but I batted it down, turned around, and fell on it. My teammates went crazy, because I was pretty socially inept then and no one thought I'd actually come up with it. Unfortunately, we went on to lose like 45-7 (but as it turns out, that same bunch of kids we played are the varsity team in Deerfield now, and they went to the state championship game). But I was totally happy for the rest of the game, and since everyone else on the team lost so bad, I was voted an honorary captain.
Wow. I wasn't planning on writing about my sports career today, but it was kind of fun. I haven't actually thought about any of those times that much lately, so though it may not be fun to read, it was a neat walk down memory lane for me. I hope it was enjoyable.
Til then, War and Peace out.
It's alright though, her quality of life was not good at all, so it's kind of nice that she can finally be done with the junk this world has to offer. It sounds cliche, but I'll see her again.
Aside from that, I decided to do more than one new year's resolution, perhaps inspired by others to do so (yet keeping last year's one intact). Here goes nothing.
1. Get a girlfriend. This one sounds as lame as it is, but it's a classic. Maybe next year I won't need to have it up here.
2. Eat a full-size Mr. Goodbar. Basically all the Mr. Goodbars you see are mini, so I'd like to eat a full size one. They are pretty good when small, so they'd probably be just as pretty good when large. "Mr. Goodbar" is also what I plan to name my pet turtle in college.
2b. Get a pet turtle in college. Actually I can't do that this year, but I should at least document it, so that if I forget it, my dedicated blog readers can remind me. I shall also name it Mr. Goodbar, but you should know that by now.
3. Write some songs that don't suck. I have not found inspiration very much lately, and for some reason I haven't written a decent song in forever. It wasn't too hard with "Seattle" so maybe the inspiration just needs to be flowing or something.
4. Get a "720 on my ACT". Okay, 720 is not possible on an ACT (despite these words from Jason Schleef, I believe it was during the same night of Red Dawn where our incredible "Look, it's Schleef, he's god at this game" strategy took place), but I'd like to stop underachieving and sort out this pre-college junk, and hopefully find a decision that makes me happy, seeing that these decisions will be nearly made by the end of this year.
5. Not get last on the team in every cross country meet this year. This will be my first year of cross country, and for someone who was never athletic whatsoever, this is a pretty major step. My expectations aren't high, but I'd like to at least be able to compete within my team. Better step up the training.
6. Blog more often. I like to blog, I do. But I tend to go forever without a post. I'm not sure if I disappoint anyone except myself with that, but I do need to get better with it. 70 posts in about 25 months. That's like a post every 11 days, which means I must have posted way more in the past. But those posts were horrible, so I think it evens out.
7. Become absolutely dominant at scrabble. I've actually been playing scrabble a lot lately, with my friends and what not. It's surprisingly really fun. Scrabble is worth my time.
8. Get a Job. Actually, I don't want to. at all. I've got the rest of my life to work, as I've basically determined it'll be white collars and ties and offices for the rest of my life. But I could definitely use some extra funds, but I don't even have to pay for car insurance and gas and stuff. There are some definite benefits to not driving.
9. Sleep. I am tired a lot. and I like to sleep. I think this one should be a no-brainer.
10. Have ten new year's resolutions. I guess I kind of do already with the 2b, but that one doesn't even apply to this year. Ten is such a more complete number than 9, although 9 is the number of dribbles I had in my free-throw routine in grade school. Not sure how I chose that, but I actually think I might have been about a 50% all time free throw shooter, which is not awful for 6-7th grade. Maybe it is, but oh well. I had 10 points in a game once. Which is hereby in about the top 5 of sports accomplishments of my life. From 5th to 1st:
5th: I returned an interception for a touchdown while playing linebacker in 8th grade. Unfortunately, it was in practice. But it was sweet.
4th: In my first and only year of actually competitive little league, I led my team in batting average and also was the first kid that summer in the league to catch a fly ball as the catcher. Of course I was like 9, so I'm not sure how much that counts
3rd: Dropping 10 points against the Utica Christian "Uticorns" (actually I don't remember their team name, but we used this name to mock them. It didn't work too well, as we went 1-3 against them all time...before we didn't have enough boys to have a basketball team. Grade school sports sucked). I hit some free throws, jumpers, and layups, I never recorded another single double in any of the other maybe 7 games I started. I guess starting was an accomplishment in and of itself, but there were like 8 kids on the team total.
2nd: Winning the one wrestling match I ever participated in, 3-2 by merit of a slick double-leg takedown and an escape after I deferred after the first period and my opponent chose the strategically unsound position of "up". I escaped, got my takedown, and we took it to the 3rd period. I went neutral, because he wasn't doing much, and we basically both stalled my way into a stunning 1-point victory. We were the only two in the bracket, and I medalled too. It was pretty sweet.
1st: In 8th grade I played football through Lakeside's program, and each week, coaches picked 3 honorary captains for their work in the previous game. I am filled with the slightest bit of pride to say that I was once an honorary captain. The game which won me the honor was against Deerfield. They, on the opening kickoff, decided for some reason that they wanted to throw us off with an onside. They put all the kids who weren't good at offense or defense on the kick return team, so I ended up right in the front. By some chance, the kick went straight to me. It was kind of my chance to prove myself I guess? The ball went over my head, but I batted it down, turned around, and fell on it. My teammates went crazy, because I was pretty socially inept then and no one thought I'd actually come up with it. Unfortunately, we went on to lose like 45-7 (but as it turns out, that same bunch of kids we played are the varsity team in Deerfield now, and they went to the state championship game). But I was totally happy for the rest of the game, and since everyone else on the team lost so bad, I was voted an honorary captain.
Wow. I wasn't planning on writing about my sports career today, but it was kind of fun. I haven't actually thought about any of those times that much lately, so though it may not be fun to read, it was a neat walk down memory lane for me. I hope it was enjoyable.
Til then, War and Peace out.
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