- None of this shit will be important in 10 years. What you think matters now will be irrelevant.
- Live life to the fullest and don't sweat the small stuff. Enjoy this time, because being an adult brings a crap load of responsibility.
- You do NOT know it all. Those people older than you DO understand what you are going through, they HAVE been there before.
- Cherish your friends that are your true friends, distance yourself from those who aren't.
- Don't worry about your math homework...you will NEVER need algebra as an adult!
Monday, February 11, 2013
30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 4
List 5 things you would tell your 16 year-old self if you could.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 3
What is the greatest amount of physical pain you have ever endured?
Anyone who knows me knows that I'm fairly accident prone, in fact it is very rare that I don't have a bruise somewhere on my body, most likely from running into something. I've been this way since I was a little kid, not to mention that when I was younger I was pretty fearless (or reckless) and did a lot of dumb shit and would often end up with some bruises or most likely a sprain or some stitches. Surprisingly I've only broken bones a few times. The first time was my forearm, the second was my ring finger and the third time was some fractured ribs. Pretty amazing that I didn't break more but believe me I'm not complaining! Now for the greatest amount of physical pain I've ever endured...I'd have to say me breaking my ring finger. Sound funny that a small finger could be the worst out of all the shit I've done, but here's why. That pain was not only pretty severe at the time, but it also lasted a while because I eventually needed surgery on it, after it healed. So here is what happened. When I was about 14 I was skateboarding at my grandparent's house with some friends. Now I was never a great skateboarder, but I could hold my own. So here I am on a ramp, and I just lost it for some reason and fell forward, and as I landed my hand was sideways and my forward momentum caused my hand to kind of roll under my body. I immediately felt this really sharp pain in my hand and when I looked down my ring finger was pointing almost 90 degrees toward my thumb. It was literally sideways at the knuckle. I go running inside and my grandpa, who I need to add is NOT a doctor, thinks my finger is just dislocated, so he attempts to "pop it" back into place...bad idea. So after he did that a couple times without fixing it we decide it's time for the ER so real doctors can fix it.
So after a quick trip to the hospital and some x-rays the doctors tell me its broken (no shit right?) and because I broke it so far down they would need to call in a specialist, who couldn't be there until the morning. So all they do is wrap my whole hand and cast it, as is, to protect it until the morning. They give some pain killers and send me home.
The next morning I go back to the hospital where they remove the cast and the doctor comes in. Now this doctor looked like he was about 90 and had the bedside manner of a brick. He asks me to hold up my hand, which I do...then he grabs my finger and gives it a yank and twist. No pain killers, no warning, no nothing. It was about this point that I began to pass out. Now when your body is in so much pain that it literally says "fuck this, I'm going to sleep" you know that hurts! I woke u a few seconds later to the a-hole of a doctor giving the nurse instructions on how to cast it and out the door he goes.
About 6 weeks I get the cast off and I get a good look at my finger and I'm like "what the fuck" my finger is crooked! Between my knuckle and the next joint my finger has what can best be described as a bend in it, to the point where my fingertip actually overlaps my middle finger completely! Time to see a specialist. So I meet with a new doctor who tells me that he can fix it, but it would require surgery where he would cut the bone, twist it, re-position it then put two pins in it to hold it together while it heals. Ok then, surgery gets done, they cast my entire hand (why everyone put a cast on my entire hand when it was a single finger I'll never know) and about 6 weeks later they remove the cast, but I still have to have my finger splinted and taped to my middle finger for another few weeks, then after that it would be another few weeks until the pins came out. This was not fun, because there isn't a lot of flesh, muscle or whatever between the bones of your joint and the top of your skin, so every time I bumped my knuckle I could feel the pins and it would hurt like hell. Half the time it felt like the pins were going to pop through my knuckle. Not fun. And after all that my finger is still a bit crooked! Not so bad that it really interferes with anything, but enough to notice.
Anyone who knows me knows that I'm fairly accident prone, in fact it is very rare that I don't have a bruise somewhere on my body, most likely from running into something. I've been this way since I was a little kid, not to mention that when I was younger I was pretty fearless (or reckless) and did a lot of dumb shit and would often end up with some bruises or most likely a sprain or some stitches. Surprisingly I've only broken bones a few times. The first time was my forearm, the second was my ring finger and the third time was some fractured ribs. Pretty amazing that I didn't break more but believe me I'm not complaining! Now for the greatest amount of physical pain I've ever endured...I'd have to say me breaking my ring finger. Sound funny that a small finger could be the worst out of all the shit I've done, but here's why. That pain was not only pretty severe at the time, but it also lasted a while because I eventually needed surgery on it, after it healed. So here is what happened. When I was about 14 I was skateboarding at my grandparent's house with some friends. Now I was never a great skateboarder, but I could hold my own. So here I am on a ramp, and I just lost it for some reason and fell forward, and as I landed my hand was sideways and my forward momentum caused my hand to kind of roll under my body. I immediately felt this really sharp pain in my hand and when I looked down my ring finger was pointing almost 90 degrees toward my thumb. It was literally sideways at the knuckle. I go running inside and my grandpa, who I need to add is NOT a doctor, thinks my finger is just dislocated, so he attempts to "pop it" back into place...bad idea. So after he did that a couple times without fixing it we decide it's time for the ER so real doctors can fix it.
So after a quick trip to the hospital and some x-rays the doctors tell me its broken (no shit right?) and because I broke it so far down they would need to call in a specialist, who couldn't be there until the morning. So all they do is wrap my whole hand and cast it, as is, to protect it until the morning. They give some pain killers and send me home.
The next morning I go back to the hospital where they remove the cast and the doctor comes in. Now this doctor looked like he was about 90 and had the bedside manner of a brick. He asks me to hold up my hand, which I do...then he grabs my finger and gives it a yank and twist. No pain killers, no warning, no nothing. It was about this point that I began to pass out. Now when your body is in so much pain that it literally says "fuck this, I'm going to sleep" you know that hurts! I woke u a few seconds later to the a-hole of a doctor giving the nurse instructions on how to cast it and out the door he goes.
About 6 weeks I get the cast off and I get a good look at my finger and I'm like "what the fuck" my finger is crooked! Between my knuckle and the next joint my finger has what can best be described as a bend in it, to the point where my fingertip actually overlaps my middle finger completely! Time to see a specialist. So I meet with a new doctor who tells me that he can fix it, but it would require surgery where he would cut the bone, twist it, re-position it then put two pins in it to hold it together while it heals. Ok then, surgery gets done, they cast my entire hand (why everyone put a cast on my entire hand when it was a single finger I'll never know) and about 6 weeks later they remove the cast, but I still have to have my finger splinted and taped to my middle finger for another few weeks, then after that it would be another few weeks until the pins came out. This was not fun, because there isn't a lot of flesh, muscle or whatever between the bones of your joint and the top of your skin, so every time I bumped my knuckle I could feel the pins and it would hurt like hell. Half the time it felt like the pins were going to pop through my knuckle. Not fun. And after all that my finger is still a bit crooked! Not so bad that it really interferes with anything, but enough to notice.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 2
Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and describe how they became fears.
1. I'm afraid of heights. I honestly have no idea how this came to be. When I was younger I had a slight fear of falling, but not so much that it would really hold me me back from doing things. It was more just a slight sinking feeling in my stomach when I got too near the edge of something high up I could fall off of. That was the key...I had to be able to fall, so if I was inside a high rise building, or a glass walled elevator I was was OK, more or less. I mean hell, when I was 18 I even went bungee jumping so my fear was able to be controlled. But as I got older my fear got more pronounced, and at times it becomes almost debilitating and I have to literally force my self to climb up something high or go near an edge, and even then the adrenaline and the fear would be almost overwhelming. I really don't know why this is, because it's not like I ever had some traumatic experience with heights in my past or anything.
2. Fear of failure. Sounds generic right? I guess what I mean is that all my life I've had confidence issues, probably stemming from being shy and somewhat withdrawn as a child. Sometimes this lack of confidence will cause me to stay in my comfort zone and avoid taking risks in life. I think this is why I'm so determined to get working on my bucket list. Sometimes it is too easy to stay in a place that you are comfortable, even though you may not be fully happy, than to take a chance and risk failure. I've worked hard to break out of that mold and start taking risks and not worry about the possibility of failure, but I still sometimes worry that I will regress from time to time.
3. The unknown future. This is a new one for me. I think this is because up to about two years ago I had a plan for my future. Once that all changed, and my plan was basically erased, I had to get used to the idea of the unknown, and for me that is a little scary. But as I've adjusted to this new life, I've tried to not let the unknown be something that scares me, but rather something to embrace as exciting and open to all possibilities.
1. I'm afraid of heights. I honestly have no idea how this came to be. When I was younger I had a slight fear of falling, but not so much that it would really hold me me back from doing things. It was more just a slight sinking feeling in my stomach when I got too near the edge of something high up I could fall off of. That was the key...I had to be able to fall, so if I was inside a high rise building, or a glass walled elevator I was was OK, more or less. I mean hell, when I was 18 I even went bungee jumping so my fear was able to be controlled. But as I got older my fear got more pronounced, and at times it becomes almost debilitating and I have to literally force my self to climb up something high or go near an edge, and even then the adrenaline and the fear would be almost overwhelming. I really don't know why this is, because it's not like I ever had some traumatic experience with heights in my past or anything.
2. Fear of failure. Sounds generic right? I guess what I mean is that all my life I've had confidence issues, probably stemming from being shy and somewhat withdrawn as a child. Sometimes this lack of confidence will cause me to stay in my comfort zone and avoid taking risks in life. I think this is why I'm so determined to get working on my bucket list. Sometimes it is too easy to stay in a place that you are comfortable, even though you may not be fully happy, than to take a chance and risk failure. I've worked hard to break out of that mold and start taking risks and not worry about the possibility of failure, but I still sometimes worry that I will regress from time to time.
3. The unknown future. This is a new one for me. I think this is because up to about two years ago I had a plan for my future. Once that all changed, and my plan was basically erased, I had to get used to the idea of the unknown, and for me that is a little scary. But as I've adjusted to this new life, I've tried to not let the unknown be something that scares me, but rather something to embrace as exciting and open to all possibilities.
So as you can see I'm trying to overcome some of my fears, but it is a process and I'm sure I will stumble from time to time.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 1
List 10 Random Facts about yourself.
- I'm an only child
- I have two middle names
- I have 3 tattoos (currently)
- I have zero relationship with my father who I barely know since my parents divorced when I was a small child.
- I love music
- I'm a pretty damn good cook
- I'm afraid of heights
- I'm a huge Chicago Blackhawks fan
- I'm completely shy and insecure when I'm out of my comfort zone
- I love craft beer and whiskey
Ok, so that actually took longer than I thought it would. Seemed so simple when I started but after the first 3 I had to start really thinking. Oh well, day 1 done.
The 30 Day Blog Challenge
When I first started this blog, one of the things that I struggled with (and continue to) is figuring out what to blog about. I've had some suggestions from my girlfriend, hence the posts I've actually came up with, but then I came across a 30 day blog challenge. Actually I came across a ton of them, and I found several that seemed interesting, so I decided "what the hell." Problem was I found several that had some great blog ideas, so I created my own list and picked the ones that I knew were applicable to me and I knew would foster an interesting (sort of ) post. Now I'm sure this will take more than 30 days, because sometimes I just don't feel like sitting in front of my computer, but here is the list.
Day 1: List 10 random facts about yourself.
Day 2: Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and describe how they became fears.
Day 3: What is the greatest amount of physical pain you have ever endured?
Day 4: List 5 things you would tell your 16 year-old self if you could.
Day 5: What are the 5 things that make you happiest right now?
Day 6: What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
Day 7: A photo that makes you happy?
Day 8: A photo that makes you sad?
Day 9: What defines you?
Day 10: Describe something you are proud of.
Day 11: What are your pet peeves?
Day 12: Favorite band and why?
Day 13: Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
Day 14: Describe 5 strengths you have.
Day 15: If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
Day 16: What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
Day 17: What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
Day 18: Someone or something you couldn't live without?
Day 19: If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
Day 20: Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
Day 21: If you could have 1 superpower, what would it be and what would be the first thing you did with it?
Day 22: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
Day 23: Something you wish you hadn't done in life?
Day 24: Describe your first job.
Day 25: If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
Day 26: Have you ever considered giving up on life, if so why?
Day 27: Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days?
Day 28: Something you wish you had done in life?
Day 29: What were your three favorite toys/games as a child?
Day 30: List 5 things you would hope to be remembered for.
Day 1: List 10 random facts about yourself.
Day 2: Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and describe how they became fears.
Day 3: What is the greatest amount of physical pain you have ever endured?
Day 4: List 5 things you would tell your 16 year-old self if you could.
Day 5: What are the 5 things that make you happiest right now?
Day 6: What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
Day 7: A photo that makes you happy?
Day 8: A photo that makes you sad?
Day 9: What defines you?
Day 10: Describe something you are proud of.
Day 11: What are your pet peeves?
Day 12: Favorite band and why?
Day 13: Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
Day 14: Describe 5 strengths you have.
Day 15: If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
Day 16: What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
Day 17: What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
Day 18: Someone or something you couldn't live without?
Day 19: If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
Day 20: Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
Day 21: If you could have 1 superpower, what would it be and what would be the first thing you did with it?
Day 22: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
Day 23: Something you wish you hadn't done in life?
Day 24: Describe your first job.
Day 25: If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
Day 26: Have you ever considered giving up on life, if so why?
Day 27: Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days?
Day 28: Something you wish you had done in life?
Day 29: What were your three favorite toys/games as a child?
Day 30: List 5 things you would hope to be remembered for.
Monday, February 4, 2013
More bucket list items checked off!!!
What an amazing weekend I had! That friend that I recently become closer with and with whom I planned to drag along my bucket list adventure, has now grown into something even better. For me it was a series of stumbling baby steps as I tried to remember what it was like to date again, and I'm so glad she is such a patient and amazing person for putting up with my silly bullshit. Anyway after a few mildly awkward moments on my part, things started going very well and I realized that not only am I starting to live again, but that I'm actually happy. I think I had forgotten what happiness felt like, not that I was always miserable or sad, but it was more just a feeling of indifference as if I was just coasting along. Now I that I remember what happiness feels like, it makes doing these bucket list things even more amazing.
So anyway, one night we were talking (texting actually) about things downtown that we wanted to do and she casually mentioned that one night we should just stay downtown, so we could do a bunch of stuff off our bucket lists. Well, no sooner did I agree with her, I was on the internet looking at booking a room at the Hard Rock Chicago, a place listed on Jessi's bucket list as somewhere she wanted to stay. After finding an amazing last minute room deal, I suggested we plan an overnight excursion for the upcoming weekend. Crazy, I know for two people who only recently started officially dating, but than again that is the type of people we are. We both like adventure and and are somewhat free spirits who live in the moment, so it didn't come as much of a surprise when Jessi said she was up for it. So anyway, now it's back on me to plan the afternoon / night. After combing through our individual bucket lists I came up with a plan. Again, big on the planning, but short on the details, but screw it, that's how I am. I decided we would try to go ice skating again, but if that failed, I had a back up plan. Also, one of the things on her list was to eat dinner in Little Italy, and I wanted to have drinks at the Signature Room on the 96th floor of the Hancock Building.
So with this general plan, we set out for the city. Of course before we even left, I realized the weather would once again not cooperate as it was cold as shit out! Cancel ice skating...again. No worries, revert to plan B, the Shedd Aquarium. Luckily The Shedd was open this time. I didn't mention in my earlier post that after Jessi and I went to the Skydeck, we attempted to go to the aquarium only to find it closed, forcing us to check out the incredibly dull planetarium, at which we still had fun because it was so dull! Well anyway this time we were lucky and found it to be open. So after watching the beluga whales swim, now I have to steal another one of Jessi's bucket list items - swim with beluga whales.
After the aquarium and a long cold walk to find a cab, seriously it's the city of Chicago, the aquarium was closing, you think there would have been some cabs nearby, but NOOOO. After finding a cab and just barely avoiding frostbite, we made our way back to the hotel to change for dinner. Now I didn't make any dinner reservations (that's a detail issue) mainly because I didn't want to lock us into a dinner time, and I had picked three different restaurants, all of which were within a block or two of each other. So I pick the first one that comes to mind and we hop in a cab. Once we got there I saw reservations might have been a good idea, but we were able to be seated in the bar area immediately. As I look around I realized the restaurant was perfect, cozy, a little dark, not too loud, kinda romantic. Then came the food...largest piece of lasagna I had ever seen, but also the best tasting I've ever had. So dinner was a HUGE success!
After that it was time for drinks at The Signature Room on the 96th floor of the Hancock building. Another short cab ride, and a quick elevator to the top and we were there. No line, and we were able to immediately get a table, not on the glass though, bummer. We still were able to take in the AMAZING night time views of the city as we both started sampling their specialty drinks. I don't think we were there for longer than ten minutes and Jessi stated that we had to come back again as this was most probably the coolest place to have a drink. Now anyone thinking of going I must warn you, it's the city of Chicago...drinks in the city are expensive...this is no exception. Keep in mind though you are not just paying for the drinks but the the atmosphere as well, and when taken all together it is so worth going to.
Now I know I don't have any pictures of the view, but I wanted to make sure I got really good ones, and since we weren't sitting right on the windows, I decided to wait until next time.
The next morning as we were checking out of the hotel, Jessi noted a photo booth in the lobby, so sure enough... #65.Take silly photos w/ someone in a photo booth.
All in all it was one of the most amazingly fun weekends I've had in longer than I can remember and we are already making plans to go back! Thanks Jessi...you are AMAZING and I'm so glad you came into my life at the perfect moment!!!!
So anyway, one night we were talking (texting actually) about things downtown that we wanted to do and she casually mentioned that one night we should just stay downtown, so we could do a bunch of stuff off our bucket lists. Well, no sooner did I agree with her, I was on the internet looking at booking a room at the Hard Rock Chicago, a place listed on Jessi's bucket list as somewhere she wanted to stay. After finding an amazing last minute room deal, I suggested we plan an overnight excursion for the upcoming weekend. Crazy, I know for two people who only recently started officially dating, but than again that is the type of people we are. We both like adventure and and are somewhat free spirits who live in the moment, so it didn't come as much of a surprise when Jessi said she was up for it. So anyway, now it's back on me to plan the afternoon / night. After combing through our individual bucket lists I came up with a plan. Again, big on the planning, but short on the details, but screw it, that's how I am. I decided we would try to go ice skating again, but if that failed, I had a back up plan. Also, one of the things on her list was to eat dinner in Little Italy, and I wanted to have drinks at the Signature Room on the 96th floor of the Hancock Building.
So with this general plan, we set out for the city. Of course before we even left, I realized the weather would once again not cooperate as it was cold as shit out! Cancel ice skating...again. No worries, revert to plan B, the Shedd Aquarium. Luckily The Shedd was open this time. I didn't mention in my earlier post that after Jessi and I went to the Skydeck, we attempted to go to the aquarium only to find it closed, forcing us to check out the incredibly dull planetarium, at which we still had fun because it was so dull! Well anyway this time we were lucky and found it to be open. So after watching the beluga whales swim, now I have to steal another one of Jessi's bucket list items - swim with beluga whales.
After the aquarium and a long cold walk to find a cab, seriously it's the city of Chicago, the aquarium was closing, you think there would have been some cabs nearby, but NOOOO. After finding a cab and just barely avoiding frostbite, we made our way back to the hotel to change for dinner. Now I didn't make any dinner reservations (that's a detail issue) mainly because I didn't want to lock us into a dinner time, and I had picked three different restaurants, all of which were within a block or two of each other. So I pick the first one that comes to mind and we hop in a cab. Once we got there I saw reservations might have been a good idea, but we were able to be seated in the bar area immediately. As I look around I realized the restaurant was perfect, cozy, a little dark, not too loud, kinda romantic. Then came the food...largest piece of lasagna I had ever seen, but also the best tasting I've ever had. So dinner was a HUGE success!
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The next morning as we were checking out of the hotel, Jessi noted a photo booth in the lobby, so sure enough... #65.
All in all it was one of the most amazingly fun weekends I've had in longer than I can remember and we are already making plans to go back! Thanks Jessi...you are AMAZING and I'm so glad you came into my life at the perfect moment!!!!
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Road to a half marathon
So apparently I'm not an invincible teenager anymore. It seems all the running I did last summer took a bit of a toll on my body. In the past I've had shin splints, and for anyone who doesn't know what they are, it basically feels like the muscle running down the front of your shin is literally tearing in half as you take as step. Luckily, shin splints are treatable and with a little ice, rest, Advil and some stretching they go away. Needless to say as I began running more and more I was very careful to take preventive measures to make sure I didn't get them again. Well back in late July, 2012 I was running a 5k with a friend of mine, and although we had run in practice together and even done some of the same races, this was the first time her and I actually ran together during a race. Oh, I forgot to mention that the two of us are VERY competitive, and this particular race was organized through our work, so we had a bunch of friends and coworkers there at the finish line. Now as we neared the finish line I noticed that we both began to pick up our pace a bit...I don't even know if it was initially a conscious decision, but there was no way in hell I was going to let her finish even one inch ahead of me! The last tenth of a mile were almost at a full sprint, and by the time I crossed the finish line, ahead of her, we were at a full sprint. Well I noticed the next day a slight pain in my right shin, but it didn't exactly feel like shin splints, as this was more of minor ache. Anyway as time went on, and more races were run, this minor ache became more pronounced, still not painful, but definitely more noticeable. So to play it safe, I started treating it like shin splints, icing, Advil, etc. etc, I even took a bit of time off of training in between races. So as time went on the discomfort didn't go away and started to move into slightly painful, but it still didn't feel like shin splints, as it didn't bother me when I was running, but it would ache when I was just sitting, not even moving. Then a coworker suggested it might be a stress fracture, which now started to concern me, as I've got a bunch of runs planned for the upcoming year, so finally in early January 2013 I met with a doctor. Now the good news, apparently I one of the approximately 13% of the population who has a foot structure that pretty much guarantees me shin splints. It seems that all the treatment I did only prevented the discomfort from becoming pain. Basically I was told I couldn't run for 3 weeks and I would need to run with custom shoe inserts to hold my foot into a position that won't completely fuck up my shins. Not great news, but at least it wasn't a stress fracture So like any typical male, I blew off the part about not running for three weeks as I already had a 5k scheduled for the following weekend. And besides if it wasn't a stress fracture, and I've been running on it for the last five months, what's another week? But after that run I did follow his advice (sort of) and didn't run for about 2 and a half weeks. Now I've been cleared to start running again, and rewarded myself with a easy jog of 3.1 miles. While running I thought to myself "damn, I missed this" while at the same time I also thought "why the hell am I doing this?" Should be an interesting year...stay tuned.
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