Monday, July 9, 2012
It's Been Awhile...
Greetings world!
More than 4 months have gone by since my last post. Since I moved to Grand Rapids, I have been living without internet. Surprisingly, I haven't missed it very much, since I stare at a computer all day at work. Why would I want to stare at one while at home? Well, tonight I was able to 'borrow' some wi-fi, so I thought this would be a great time to talk about how the last few months have been.
First, last time I posted, I had just got the job working for MDOT in Grand Rapids. So far, it has been amazing. It's great to be on my own and have my own place and my own responsibilities. Currently, I'm living in the suburb of Grandville in a 2-bedroom apartment. It is a very quiet neighborhood, so I definitely don't have any complaints. My drive to work is only about 8-10 minutes, so that's also a bonus. I get to sleep in an extra few minutes in the morning. I am really starting to settle into a routine too, which has been good and keeps me going to the gym. Now, if I could get the take-out food under control, I'd be in business.
The job itself has been great. The people I work with are fantastic. It reminds me of Boeing a bit, because most everyone is very friendly and helpful. It's a far cry from Camp Grayling, which now that I look back on it, was good for a college student who was home for the summer looking to make a few extra dollars, but always seemed to be a shitty place to have a full-time job, unless you enjoyed being stuck in your hometown and not getting out and exploring what life could offer.
Alyssa and I are still together, and things continue to get better and better. She is always there to cheer me up and make me laugh, and I try to return the favor as best that I can. I love her so much and hope to be with her for a long time.
And in current news, Fourth of July weekend was great. I took a couple days off of work and spent a few days in Kalamazoo with Alyssa just relaxing. It was nice to not have responsibility for a couple days. This upcoming weekend, we're going to Wisconsin for the wedding of my fraternity brother, Nick, and his bride-to-be, Theresa. It will be nice to see a lot of old friends and introduce Alyssa to all of them.
I can't really think of anything to rant on right now. I could talk about the Red Wings sucking it up in the playoffs and then striking out trying to get Parise and Suter, but I'm over it. Maybe after the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, I'll have something to talk about. In the meantime, I'm going to sit back, watch some long balls, and have a beer.
It feels good to be back and write some things down again. I'm not sure how often this will be, since I don't have reliable internet quite yet, but it'll be before 4 months, I promise!
More than 4 months have gone by since my last post. Since I moved to Grand Rapids, I have been living without internet. Surprisingly, I haven't missed it very much, since I stare at a computer all day at work. Why would I want to stare at one while at home? Well, tonight I was able to 'borrow' some wi-fi, so I thought this would be a great time to talk about how the last few months have been.
First, last time I posted, I had just got the job working for MDOT in Grand Rapids. So far, it has been amazing. It's great to be on my own and have my own place and my own responsibilities. Currently, I'm living in the suburb of Grandville in a 2-bedroom apartment. It is a very quiet neighborhood, so I definitely don't have any complaints. My drive to work is only about 8-10 minutes, so that's also a bonus. I get to sleep in an extra few minutes in the morning. I am really starting to settle into a routine too, which has been good and keeps me going to the gym. Now, if I could get the take-out food under control, I'd be in business.
The job itself has been great. The people I work with are fantastic. It reminds me of Boeing a bit, because most everyone is very friendly and helpful. It's a far cry from Camp Grayling, which now that I look back on it, was good for a college student who was home for the summer looking to make a few extra dollars, but always seemed to be a shitty place to have a full-time job, unless you enjoyed being stuck in your hometown and not getting out and exploring what life could offer.
Alyssa and I are still together, and things continue to get better and better. She is always there to cheer me up and make me laugh, and I try to return the favor as best that I can. I love her so much and hope to be with her for a long time.
And in current news, Fourth of July weekend was great. I took a couple days off of work and spent a few days in Kalamazoo with Alyssa just relaxing. It was nice to not have responsibility for a couple days. This upcoming weekend, we're going to Wisconsin for the wedding of my fraternity brother, Nick, and his bride-to-be, Theresa. It will be nice to see a lot of old friends and introduce Alyssa to all of them.
I can't really think of anything to rant on right now. I could talk about the Red Wings sucking it up in the playoffs and then striking out trying to get Parise and Suter, but I'm over it. Maybe after the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, I'll have something to talk about. In the meantime, I'm going to sit back, watch some long balls, and have a beer.
It feels good to be back and write some things down again. I'm not sure how often this will be, since I don't have reliable internet quite yet, but it'll be before 4 months, I promise!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Everyone gets their chance sooner or later
Well, it's been quite some time since I last sat down and wrote anything here. The Giants won the Super Bowl, the Tigers picked up Prince Fielder, the Wings won 21 (and counting) straight home games, and more coked-out singers died. I don't really have an excuse for not writing, just laziness for the most part. However, the past two weeks have brought great happiness into my life.
Let's start where I left off. Last time I wrote here, I was preparing for a job interview in Grand Rapids and for adventures in Houghton for Michigan Tech Winter Carnival. Well, after the interview, I had good feelings. I was definitely expecting something good. That came on Thursday, February 9th. I received a call to do a second interview. I was excited and nervous at the same time. It made me feel much better about what happened Monday. I proceeded to enjoy my time in Houghton and spend time with many old friends and make some new ones as well.
Monday came. The second interview (over the phone) took about 15 minutes. I guess I expected a little more. I had more mixed feelings about this interview. I felt like there was one question they asked that could make or break my chances, and I was leaning towards break for some reason. Nevertheless, I kept a positive attitude and just waited to hear the news, good or bad. Until about 4pm this afternoon, the week was full of ups and downs. On Tuesday, I bowled the best game I've ever had (172), but I also started coming down with a sinus infection, which is still having its way with me. Then, this afternoon, the news came.
I answered the phone with some doubt. I tried to hope for the best, but just couldn't get the worst out of my head. Some hesitation on the other end of the phone sure didn't help. But then, the offer came! I was their chosen candidate for the job! Pending a drug test and physical of course, but since I don't do drugs and I'm in the best shape I've probably ever been in, I'm not very concerned. I was so ecstatic. Tears of joy flowed uncontrollably. Two years of searching had finally paid off, and it ended with a job that I am really looking forward to doing.
Since this is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me, I feel the need to thank some people. First, my parents, for never doubting me and always helping me through the tough moments in life. Second, my girlfriend, for filling me with positive energy and believing in me these past couple months as I settled back into Michigan. Third, Lindsay Worden, for thinking of me when there was an open job at Boeing. Without that opportunity, I don't think I would have had this chance. Finally, to all my other friends and family who were really pulling for me. I appreciate all of you!
The next step is to look for a place to live in Grand Rapids. I am so excited to start a life on my own that doesn't include living 2300 miles away from home, only 170. I'm still in a little bit of shock and at a loss for any more words to describe how excited I really am.
That's all I really have for now. Now that I have more to write about, I'll get back to this more often.
P.S. - I lost 2 pounds while in Houghton, and all I did was get drunk and eat not so healthy food. Maybe it's a sign....or not...
Let's start where I left off. Last time I wrote here, I was preparing for a job interview in Grand Rapids and for adventures in Houghton for Michigan Tech Winter Carnival. Well, after the interview, I had good feelings. I was definitely expecting something good. That came on Thursday, February 9th. I received a call to do a second interview. I was excited and nervous at the same time. It made me feel much better about what happened Monday. I proceeded to enjoy my time in Houghton and spend time with many old friends and make some new ones as well.
Monday came. The second interview (over the phone) took about 15 minutes. I guess I expected a little more. I had more mixed feelings about this interview. I felt like there was one question they asked that could make or break my chances, and I was leaning towards break for some reason. Nevertheless, I kept a positive attitude and just waited to hear the news, good or bad. Until about 4pm this afternoon, the week was full of ups and downs. On Tuesday, I bowled the best game I've ever had (172), but I also started coming down with a sinus infection, which is still having its way with me. Then, this afternoon, the news came.
I answered the phone with some doubt. I tried to hope for the best, but just couldn't get the worst out of my head. Some hesitation on the other end of the phone sure didn't help. But then, the offer came! I was their chosen candidate for the job! Pending a drug test and physical of course, but since I don't do drugs and I'm in the best shape I've probably ever been in, I'm not very concerned. I was so ecstatic. Tears of joy flowed uncontrollably. Two years of searching had finally paid off, and it ended with a job that I am really looking forward to doing.
Since this is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me, I feel the need to thank some people. First, my parents, for never doubting me and always helping me through the tough moments in life. Second, my girlfriend, for filling me with positive energy and believing in me these past couple months as I settled back into Michigan. Third, Lindsay Worden, for thinking of me when there was an open job at Boeing. Without that opportunity, I don't think I would have had this chance. Finally, to all my other friends and family who were really pulling for me. I appreciate all of you!
The next step is to look for a place to live in Grand Rapids. I am so excited to start a life on my own that doesn't include living 2300 miles away from home, only 170. I'm still in a little bit of shock and at a loss for any more words to describe how excited I really am.
That's all I really have for now. Now that I have more to write about, I'll get back to this more often.
P.S. - I lost 2 pounds while in Houghton, and all I did was get drunk and eat not so healthy food. Maybe it's a sign....or not...
Monday, January 23, 2012
The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter...
To recap last week, ran 6 miles total. Want to ramp that up a bit this week, but the weather isn't cooperating so far. Skated again and was 100% better than two weeks ago. Will go again this week, probably Thursday. Didn't lose any weight, but didn't gain either, so I'll take it as a minor win.
I signed up for my first race of 2012. The AlphARace in Midland. It's a 3.5 mile run with military obstacles mixed in. It's also a night race, which should be interesting. Two things drew me to this. 1) it's more than just a run, which keeps things fun, and 2) I already know someone who is also doing it, which always makes it better. Still plan on doing a Warrior Dash as well, but probably not until September, since the other Michigan one is on a weekend where I have a wedding to go to.
Got some great news this morning. I have an interview scheduled with MDOT for the week after the Super Bowl. It's for a Business Analyst position in Grand Rapids. I'm super excited, but I'm trying not to get too jacked up about it and then be all depressed if things don't go well. I'm definitely hoping for the best though. If I was to work somewhere in Michigan, I want to either work in the UP or Grand Rapids.
RIP Joe Paterno. You were a great coach and a great role model for thousands of men who came through Penn State. However, for all your accomplishments, there will always be a black mark. I don't think you can talk about the good without the bad anymore, or vice versa. They will now go hand in hand. In my eyes, you held yourself and your players to a higher standard and expected them to go above and beyond, but when it came to the atrocities that occurred under your watch, you only did the minimum. Why? But regardless, You're still one of the best college coaches there ever was, and still deserved to be remembered for the great, not just the horrific.
A weekend of letdowns in the NFL. Special teams wasn't the shining light for Baltimore and San Francisco. However, one person cannot win or lose a game. It takes a team, and there are plenty of events that you can point to in those games that could have changed the outcome. A penalty here, dropped pass there. It all adds up in the end. I'll save my Super Bowl prediction for next week.
In other NFL news. Can anyone really justify Matthew Stafford being left off the Pro Bowl roster? I didn't think so. No one with common sense should rank Cam Newton ahead of Stafford. But apparently 5,000 yards, 40+ touchdowns, and getting your team to the PLAYOFFS isn't good enough these days. Also, if Indianapolis goes and hires Jim Tressel, they will be dead to me. Peyton or no Peyton, they will be completely dead.
Glad football is winding down. Now I can focus on my true love, Red Wings hockey. They are looking unstoppable right now. Tonight, St. Louis looked like a talented team, but they are nowhere near the level of the Red Wings, or some other veteran teams for that matter. That won't bode well when the playoffs arrive. Hopefully I can make it to a Wings game before the end of the year.
Well, that's all for now. This week should be most of the same. Working out, applying for work, spending quality time with family. This weekend is the Sno-Drift Rally as well. Will definitely be checking that out.
I signed up for my first race of 2012. The AlphARace in Midland. It's a 3.5 mile run with military obstacles mixed in. It's also a night race, which should be interesting. Two things drew me to this. 1) it's more than just a run, which keeps things fun, and 2) I already know someone who is also doing it, which always makes it better. Still plan on doing a Warrior Dash as well, but probably not until September, since the other Michigan one is on a weekend where I have a wedding to go to.
Got some great news this morning. I have an interview scheduled with MDOT for the week after the Super Bowl. It's for a Business Analyst position in Grand Rapids. I'm super excited, but I'm trying not to get too jacked up about it and then be all depressed if things don't go well. I'm definitely hoping for the best though. If I was to work somewhere in Michigan, I want to either work in the UP or Grand Rapids.
RIP Joe Paterno. You were a great coach and a great role model for thousands of men who came through Penn State. However, for all your accomplishments, there will always be a black mark. I don't think you can talk about the good without the bad anymore, or vice versa. They will now go hand in hand. In my eyes, you held yourself and your players to a higher standard and expected them to go above and beyond, but when it came to the atrocities that occurred under your watch, you only did the minimum. Why? But regardless, You're still one of the best college coaches there ever was, and still deserved to be remembered for the great, not just the horrific.
A weekend of letdowns in the NFL. Special teams wasn't the shining light for Baltimore and San Francisco. However, one person cannot win or lose a game. It takes a team, and there are plenty of events that you can point to in those games that could have changed the outcome. A penalty here, dropped pass there. It all adds up in the end. I'll save my Super Bowl prediction for next week.
In other NFL news. Can anyone really justify Matthew Stafford being left off the Pro Bowl roster? I didn't think so. No one with common sense should rank Cam Newton ahead of Stafford. But apparently 5,000 yards, 40+ touchdowns, and getting your team to the PLAYOFFS isn't good enough these days. Also, if Indianapolis goes and hires Jim Tressel, they will be dead to me. Peyton or no Peyton, they will be completely dead.
Glad football is winding down. Now I can focus on my true love, Red Wings hockey. They are looking unstoppable right now. Tonight, St. Louis looked like a talented team, but they are nowhere near the level of the Red Wings, or some other veteran teams for that matter. That won't bode well when the playoffs arrive. Hopefully I can make it to a Wings game before the end of the year.
Well, that's all for now. This week should be most of the same. Working out, applying for work, spending quality time with family. This weekend is the Sno-Drift Rally as well. Will definitely be checking that out.
Monday, January 16, 2012
It's been awhile. Nothing new to really report in my life. Just working out and skating and swimming. Weighed myself on Friday. Currently I sit at 257. Still thinking about going the Weight Watchers route to get a stranglehold on my dieting issues. We'll see how the next couple weeks go. I did run two miles today in 19:24. I'm working on getting the time down, and so far I'm shedding a few seconds each time. I decided that in addition to running another 5k in the Spring and perhaps a 10k this Summer, I want to do a Warrior Dash. That just seems like an awesome thing to do. Still looking to do the Spring hockey league as well. After skating last week, I wish I hadn't waited almost two years since I skated last. I missed it so much.
What a weekend for football! Unfortunately, I was 50% picking games. The best game of the weekend was definitely New Orleans and San Francisco. The last 4 minutes were so entertaining. Such great back and forth action. Worst game could go to any of the other three games, depending on where your allegiance was. The New England/Denver game was ridiculous because it was over 2 minutes in. The Baltimore/Houston game was a little sloppy, and definitely not a good game if you like offense. But for me, the worst had to be Green Bay/New York. That game was an absolute blowout. If the refs hadn't screwed up the one fumble and had kept their flags put away on the ridiculous roughing the passer penalty, that game could have easily been 37-6, or worse. I know there are probably a whole book of excuses you could come up with for Green Bay, but for me, the bottom line is they just flat out weren't ready to play that game. From Rodgers to Woodson, they all looked out of sync. Maybe taking the game off against Detroit wasn't the best idea. The offense looked similar to how some college offenses look after having 40 days off before a bowl game. It's really a shame that their title defense had to end with such a lackluster performance.
As for next week, here are my predictions. For New England and Baltimore, I'm torn. I'm probably as big of a Patriots hater as anyone, but I do like Tom Brady, mostly because he's a Michigan alum. Baltimore was my initial Super Bowl pick out of the AFC, so I think I'm going to stick with them, and they will win as long as their offense doesn't play as bad as it did against Houston. 24-21 Baltimore. As for New York and San Francisco, These two teams are almost carbon copies, at least as of late. They create pressure on the QB, cause turnovers, have good running games, and more than adequate QB's. San Francisco won the first meeting, and even though Green Bay won the first meeting with NY and lost, I don't see the same happening again. I'm predicting an all Harbaugh Super Bowl. 27-17 San Francisco.
As for this week, we're continuing the lifting, the skating, and everything else. Hoping for some more snow, so the snow shoes can make an appearance. Continuing the job search as well. Just gotta keep plugging away. Just have to remember to stay positive and keep pushing forward!
Last thing, Happy birthday tomorrow to one of my best friends, Brian Borchers. Don't worry, we're going to go shoot stuff soon!
What a weekend for football! Unfortunately, I was 50% picking games. The best game of the weekend was definitely New Orleans and San Francisco. The last 4 minutes were so entertaining. Such great back and forth action. Worst game could go to any of the other three games, depending on where your allegiance was. The New England/Denver game was ridiculous because it was over 2 minutes in. The Baltimore/Houston game was a little sloppy, and definitely not a good game if you like offense. But for me, the worst had to be Green Bay/New York. That game was an absolute blowout. If the refs hadn't screwed up the one fumble and had kept their flags put away on the ridiculous roughing the passer penalty, that game could have easily been 37-6, or worse. I know there are probably a whole book of excuses you could come up with for Green Bay, but for me, the bottom line is they just flat out weren't ready to play that game. From Rodgers to Woodson, they all looked out of sync. Maybe taking the game off against Detroit wasn't the best idea. The offense looked similar to how some college offenses look after having 40 days off before a bowl game. It's really a shame that their title defense had to end with such a lackluster performance.
As for next week, here are my predictions. For New England and Baltimore, I'm torn. I'm probably as big of a Patriots hater as anyone, but I do like Tom Brady, mostly because he's a Michigan alum. Baltimore was my initial Super Bowl pick out of the AFC, so I think I'm going to stick with them, and they will win as long as their offense doesn't play as bad as it did against Houston. 24-21 Baltimore. As for New York and San Francisco, These two teams are almost carbon copies, at least as of late. They create pressure on the QB, cause turnovers, have good running games, and more than adequate QB's. San Francisco won the first meeting, and even though Green Bay won the first meeting with NY and lost, I don't see the same happening again. I'm predicting an all Harbaugh Super Bowl. 27-17 San Francisco.
As for this week, we're continuing the lifting, the skating, and everything else. Hoping for some more snow, so the snow shoes can make an appearance. Continuing the job search as well. Just gotta keep plugging away. Just have to remember to stay positive and keep pushing forward!
Last thing, Happy birthday tomorrow to one of my best friends, Brian Borchers. Don't worry, we're going to go shoot stuff soon!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Like a rollercoaster
The week is only half way over, but it has already had some ups and downs. On Monday, I got back into the gym. Somehow, I ran 4 miles without stopping. I had never ran that far at one time before, and I did it in 39.19! I was so pumped after that. Tuesday, I skated for the first time in over two years. It felt great to be back out on the ice again. It really is like riding a bike. Took me a couple minutes to get my bearings back. But after that, I was able to focus more on puck handling instead of what my feet were doing. Bowled Tuesday night as well. Bowled a 168, but then had a couple stinkers after that.
But of course, there always has to be something that ruins the fun. Now, as I'm about to write this, I feel like a douche for complaining about something like this, but oh well. When I left Seattle, I knew that even though I was leaving a great job, I would be happier closer to home. I knew that would mean I would be back to looking for work for awhile. Well, I decided to file for unemployment so that I would have money to pay off my student and car loans. I just didn't want to rely on my parents for that, they have already done so much, and maybe too much for me. Well, I called on Tuesday to make my first claim, and their system must have been messed up, cause they had the date of my claim as 00/00/0000. Really?!
And while I'm at it, I'm going to vent a little. When I first called, they asked me for my address. After telling them, the lady asked me if I lived in the UP, because she hadn't heard of Frederic. I said no and figured things would move on, but no, they didn't. She continued, and basically tried to convince me that I lived in the UP. 'Are you sure you don't live in the UP? But isn't that a UP zip code?' Listen bitch, I fucking know where I live. It really makes me wonder how some of these people have jobs, and so many people I know who are far more educated are struggling to find work and make ends meet. I know if I was a bigger kiss-ass, I could probably have a job by now, but that's not the type of person I am. I want someone to hire me based on my real personality and my real qualities, not some bullshit I make up just to please the boss. Does that hiring method even exist anymore? If anyone knows of a place that hires real people, please direct me to them!
Alright, I think I'm done for now. Hoping that the rest of the week goes well. Hoping to goto the gym again tomorrow, but if we get this snowstorm, I won't be going anywhere. Oh well, more snow means I can go snowshoeing. A silver lining in every dilemma!
But of course, there always has to be something that ruins the fun. Now, as I'm about to write this, I feel like a douche for complaining about something like this, but oh well. When I left Seattle, I knew that even though I was leaving a great job, I would be happier closer to home. I knew that would mean I would be back to looking for work for awhile. Well, I decided to file for unemployment so that I would have money to pay off my student and car loans. I just didn't want to rely on my parents for that, they have already done so much, and maybe too much for me. Well, I called on Tuesday to make my first claim, and their system must have been messed up, cause they had the date of my claim as 00/00/0000. Really?!
And while I'm at it, I'm going to vent a little. When I first called, they asked me for my address. After telling them, the lady asked me if I lived in the UP, because she hadn't heard of Frederic. I said no and figured things would move on, but no, they didn't. She continued, and basically tried to convince me that I lived in the UP. 'Are you sure you don't live in the UP? But isn't that a UP zip code?' Listen bitch, I fucking know where I live. It really makes me wonder how some of these people have jobs, and so many people I know who are far more educated are struggling to find work and make ends meet. I know if I was a bigger kiss-ass, I could probably have a job by now, but that's not the type of person I am. I want someone to hire me based on my real personality and my real qualities, not some bullshit I make up just to please the boss. Does that hiring method even exist anymore? If anyone knows of a place that hires real people, please direct me to them!
Alright, I think I'm done for now. Hoping that the rest of the week goes well. Hoping to goto the gym again tomorrow, but if we get this snowstorm, I won't be going anywhere. Oh well, more snow means I can go snowshoeing. A silver lining in every dilemma!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
It's time to move on
It's been a few days...but oh well. Spent Friday with some of my favorite people, watched football Saturday, and saw my cousin and her baby today. Always good to spend time with family.
I swear, those Weight Watchers for Men commercials are on every time I turn on the TV. Well, I think they might finally be getting to me. I'm very tempted to give it a try and see what kind of progress I can get started. I've got a great workout routine, and have still been running, and swimming and playing hockey again now, but the diet has always been my downfall. Maybe if I had a structured system that I'm paying for, I'd have more motivation to not eat like a fuckin' idiot!
What a crazy Wild Card football weekend. There was definitely a big difference between the games though. There were boring games and two exciting games. To me, the Houston/Cincy and NY/ATL games were absolutely brutal. I had such a hard time watching those games. New York could give Aaron Rodgers fits though if they can keep up that pass rush. The Detroit/Nola game was hard to watch just because the Lions defense looked more pathetic than it did against Green Bay's JV team last week. They had those lucky breaks on the fumbles in the first half, but then it all fell apart right after halftime. And don't go blaming Stafford just because he threw those interceptions. He was just trying to make plays when they were down. If they had any sort of running game, maybe they could fool the defense into believing they might not pass it. And how about those new overtime rules? They worked for perfection, and it only took 11 seconds. Congrats to Tebow and the Broncos. They made the plays when they needed. Pittsburgh just looked older and slower, and the injuries finally caught up to them.
I'll throw some predictions out for next week. I think New England will handle Denver, just like they did a few weeks back. 31-20 NE. Baltimore has the type of defense to make a rookie QB really look like a rookie, and holy shit, they have a home playoff game! 24-10 Baltimore. The Giants could really beat Green Bay, but I have to give the Packers this one. 31-28 Green Bay. San Francisco HAS to slow down Nola, because they don't have the offense that can go back and forth with Brees. If they don't, it could get ugly quickly. 31-21 Nola.
This week, I'm going to start weighing myself and seeing how things progress. I'll post the results weekly on here, and I have a record of it. The plan is to lift weights 3-4 days a week, run 3 days a week, swim at least once a week, and start skating again 1-2 times a week, and in a month or so, start playing hockey again. I want to get to the point where I can play in the Spring Men's League in Gaylord and not be totally dead after the first shift!! I am also bowling again for my dad's team Tuesday. I had a personal best 166 last week, so hopefully I can get close to that, or go even higher.
Hope everyone else had a great weekend as well! Bring on week 2 of 2012!!
I swear, those Weight Watchers for Men commercials are on every time I turn on the TV. Well, I think they might finally be getting to me. I'm very tempted to give it a try and see what kind of progress I can get started. I've got a great workout routine, and have still been running, and swimming and playing hockey again now, but the diet has always been my downfall. Maybe if I had a structured system that I'm paying for, I'd have more motivation to not eat like a fuckin' idiot!
What a crazy Wild Card football weekend. There was definitely a big difference between the games though. There were boring games and two exciting games. To me, the Houston/Cincy and NY/ATL games were absolutely brutal. I had such a hard time watching those games. New York could give Aaron Rodgers fits though if they can keep up that pass rush. The Detroit/Nola game was hard to watch just because the Lions defense looked more pathetic than it did against Green Bay's JV team last week. They had those lucky breaks on the fumbles in the first half, but then it all fell apart right after halftime. And don't go blaming Stafford just because he threw those interceptions. He was just trying to make plays when they were down. If they had any sort of running game, maybe they could fool the defense into believing they might not pass it. And how about those new overtime rules? They worked for perfection, and it only took 11 seconds. Congrats to Tebow and the Broncos. They made the plays when they needed. Pittsburgh just looked older and slower, and the injuries finally caught up to them.
I'll throw some predictions out for next week. I think New England will handle Denver, just like they did a few weeks back. 31-20 NE. Baltimore has the type of defense to make a rookie QB really look like a rookie, and holy shit, they have a home playoff game! 24-10 Baltimore. The Giants could really beat Green Bay, but I have to give the Packers this one. 31-28 Green Bay. San Francisco HAS to slow down Nola, because they don't have the offense that can go back and forth with Brees. If they don't, it could get ugly quickly. 31-21 Nola.
This week, I'm going to start weighing myself and seeing how things progress. I'll post the results weekly on here, and I have a record of it. The plan is to lift weights 3-4 days a week, run 3 days a week, swim at least once a week, and start skating again 1-2 times a week, and in a month or so, start playing hockey again. I want to get to the point where I can play in the Spring Men's League in Gaylord and not be totally dead after the first shift!! I am also bowling again for my dad's team Tuesday. I had a personal best 166 last week, so hopefully I can get close to that, or go even higher.
Hope everyone else had a great weekend as well! Bring on week 2 of 2012!!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Getting back into it...
Today is what I would consider a good day, especially since I was able to get back into the gym this afternoon. Ran 2 miles in just under 20 minutes. Will start ramping it up again once I get my legs back under me a little more. I plan on doing another 5k once Spring rolls around, and then a 10k this Summer. I would love to do a Warrior Dash at some point as well.
I was finally talked into joining my Dad's bowling team as well. I am definitely not a good bowler. My dad forgot to pass those genes down to me. However, I was impressed with myself. I improved every game, and ended with a personal-best 166. I'm sure with a little practice, I'll improve more.
Once in awhile, I will probably rant and rave about something related to current events or sports. Tonight, there are a couple things. First, the presidential campaigns. I'm actually really looking forward to finding out what Republican candidate will scare me into voting for Obama again. They all suck. Need I say more?
Finally, Congrats to Michigan State for finally winning a bowl game, and beating an SEC team to boot! But I must say, that was the ugliest overtime sequence I have ever seen. 9 points combined in 3 overtimes? C'mon man! And while we're on the topic of field goals, what a lackluster day for kickers yesterday. Georgia's misses and Stanford's misses definitely cost them those games. But you also can't settle for a field goal when your QB is Andrew Luck. BTW, the Colts should cut Peyton Manning, draft Luck, and just move on.
That's all I have for today. Hopefully I can run again tomorrow, and make time to swim this week too!
I was finally talked into joining my Dad's bowling team as well. I am definitely not a good bowler. My dad forgot to pass those genes down to me. However, I was impressed with myself. I improved every game, and ended with a personal-best 166. I'm sure with a little practice, I'll improve more.
Once in awhile, I will probably rant and rave about something related to current events or sports. Tonight, there are a couple things. First, the presidential campaigns. I'm actually really looking forward to finding out what Republican candidate will scare me into voting for Obama again. They all suck. Need I say more?
Finally, Congrats to Michigan State for finally winning a bowl game, and beating an SEC team to boot! But I must say, that was the ugliest overtime sequence I have ever seen. 9 points combined in 3 overtimes? C'mon man! And while we're on the topic of field goals, what a lackluster day for kickers yesterday. Georgia's misses and Stanford's misses definitely cost them those games. But you also can't settle for a field goal when your QB is Andrew Luck. BTW, the Colts should cut Peyton Manning, draft Luck, and just move on.
That's all I have for today. Hopefully I can run again tomorrow, and make time to swim this week too!
Monday, January 2, 2012
New year, new rules
Hello, and welcome to my blog. I'm not sure if anyone will ever read any of this, but this is more for my benefit. I decided that I needed a medium where I could just talk about things that were on my mind and get them out in the open. It's meant to be a stress reliever and a way to track progress of various things I plan on doing this upcoming year.
First order of business: goals for 2012. Overall, 2011 was not a bad year. It did have some ups and downs. I finally had a job that was related to my degree. I got a lot of good experience out of it, and I loved being in Seattle again, but I didn't like being so far away from my family. I met some great people this year who have become some of my best friends. I ran my first 5k race and lost about 25 pounds during the year. However, I am not satisfied. I had to work another summer at a job where I know there are a few of us who are getting the shaft. I let myself get way too attached to a girl, which tore me up for no good reason. Things will be different this time around.
Goal number 1: Work on myself physically. I know a lot of people set a goal to lose weight and whatever for the new year. That simply doesn't work. You end up putting too much pressure on yourself when you attach a number to the goal. I plan on continuing to run, working out, and watching what I eat and how much I eat and drink. Whether I lose 5 pounds or 50, I know that I'll have put in the work and will be satisfied.
Goal number 2: I want to be mentally stronger. I feel like a lot of time, I overreact and over-think a lot of things. I don't take the time to assess a situation before investing myself into it. I feel like I'm already making strides because I really struggled with the choice to move back home instead of staying out in Seattle, but in the end, I know I'll be happier closer to home, and happiness is the most important thing to me.
So far, I feel like my time back home has been great. I've spent quality time with friends, old and new. I've really gotten to know a special someone, and hope that it can turn into something bigger and better. And finally, its snowing! I missed that in Seattle.
I'm not sure this will be a daily thing, but we'll see how things progress. Go Blue! Beat the Hokies!
First order of business: goals for 2012. Overall, 2011 was not a bad year. It did have some ups and downs. I finally had a job that was related to my degree. I got a lot of good experience out of it, and I loved being in Seattle again, but I didn't like being so far away from my family. I met some great people this year who have become some of my best friends. I ran my first 5k race and lost about 25 pounds during the year. However, I am not satisfied. I had to work another summer at a job where I know there are a few of us who are getting the shaft. I let myself get way too attached to a girl, which tore me up for no good reason. Things will be different this time around.
Goal number 1: Work on myself physically. I know a lot of people set a goal to lose weight and whatever for the new year. That simply doesn't work. You end up putting too much pressure on yourself when you attach a number to the goal. I plan on continuing to run, working out, and watching what I eat and how much I eat and drink. Whether I lose 5 pounds or 50, I know that I'll have put in the work and will be satisfied.
Goal number 2: I want to be mentally stronger. I feel like a lot of time, I overreact and over-think a lot of things. I don't take the time to assess a situation before investing myself into it. I feel like I'm already making strides because I really struggled with the choice to move back home instead of staying out in Seattle, but in the end, I know I'll be happier closer to home, and happiness is the most important thing to me.
So far, I feel like my time back home has been great. I've spent quality time with friends, old and new. I've really gotten to know a special someone, and hope that it can turn into something bigger and better. And finally, its snowing! I missed that in Seattle.
I'm not sure this will be a daily thing, but we'll see how things progress. Go Blue! Beat the Hokies!
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