Just wanted to take some time out and write a bit here - cause I haven't for some time.
I'm actually quite happy looking back and realizing I did post earlier this year - albeit it was one of my weaker (shorter) posts and also 8 months ago.
Unfortunately due to time constraints I'm going to try my best and keep this one short too.
Things are finally starting to slow down a bit for me. I feel like I've been running and pushing non-stop. But now the holidays are here and maybe I can get more than a few hours of free time in one week. Maybe.
My son is now over the age of 1. Admittedly it has been the hardest year of my life but has taught me so much and made me realize there is more to me than I previously thought.
There is strength and energy when I thought I had none.
There is the ability to function on less than half the sleep I used to get - which was already not a lot.
There is time...there is so much time when you remove "time wasters" (TV, Internet, etc.)
Things (chores, errands) are a lot easier when you don't have to also watch a toddler/carry a toddler while doing them. I curse the day I thought that doing that work was annoying/hard.
It's softened me up. I was probably pretty soft to begin with - but I used to like to think I was the young professional who could do anything. Put in those long hours and work harder than everyone else - cause they had a family.
Now I'm one of them. And it's good and it's bad. But as I've heard before - it's way more good than it is bad. Tonight we had some great family time - like we always do. Everyone sharing a good meal and quiet time before bath and bed time. The family reading stories together and laughing. It might seem cheesy - but it's better than what I had. More good.
Half the reason why I wanted to post something however was because of the massacre in Newtown. Previous to being a father I would have felt terrible about things - but now that these children were killed it really struck me to the core.
When I first heard about it at work I was shocked. Then on the radio on the way home I heard parents retelling the stories of those who walked in to the fire station to retrieve their children and those who did not come out with them. Immediately I was able to put myself in their shoes. Fast forward to my son being a 1st grader...and I could not handle it.
On Sunday night the nation watched a speech by Obama where he referenced a quote by Ellen Cantrow which I also wanted to share here. For me it defines how I feel about my son - and I'm sure how many parents feel about their kids: “Making the decision to have a child–it’s momentous. It is to decide
forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”
We just recently put my son in daycare and of course he's been sick almost as long as he's attended. Some of the things that we faced over the past few weeks were some of the scariest and trying times I have ever lived through. But after seeing what happened in Newtown it has definitely put things in to perspective for me.
All of those parent's hearts that aren't walking around anymore...
I've prayed plenty - to keep him safe - to keep him healthy. I know that I can only do so much to protect and shield him - and I pray that will be enough.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Sunday, April 08, 2012
Last Published Over One Year Ago
Plenty of drafts.
Nothing published.
Crazy
What to do
1st world top 10% problems
Not saving enough
Baby was born, mom doesn't want to work.
Not saving enough means retirement is further away.
Retirement is further away means stuck at work longer assuming career trajectory remains stable. Because we all know that isn't true.
Money available to gamble. Market would garner highest possibility of returns. Dreams of tripling, quadrupling the money in short periods of time. Dreams of being a 30 year old with one million dollars cash. Taking the family out for a nice dinner to celebrate.
Makes it hard to sleep. Makes the stomach turn and the brow sweat. Makes me wonder if this time is different because it's for a family and not just purely for my own sake.
I want to get more money so mom doesn't have to work forever unless she wants to and my retirement is back on track.
Risk equals return
Risk equals loss
I recently read that one of the top reasons that millionaires got to where they were was due to the amount of risks they were willing to take. I continue to struggle with this decision. Because you rarely hear about the guys who took their shots and lost.
The wealthiest group of millionaire households overwhelmingly said that smart investing was the key to their wealth. That’s in stark contrast to the least of the mass affluent—those with net worth of $100,000 to $1 million. That group attributed their wealth chiefly to frugality.
Nothing published.
Crazy
What to do
1st world top 10% problems
Not saving enough
Baby was born, mom doesn't want to work.
Not saving enough means retirement is further away.
Retirement is further away means stuck at work longer assuming career trajectory remains stable. Because we all know that isn't true.
Money available to gamble. Market would garner highest possibility of returns. Dreams of tripling, quadrupling the money in short periods of time. Dreams of being a 30 year old with one million dollars cash. Taking the family out for a nice dinner to celebrate.
Makes it hard to sleep. Makes the stomach turn and the brow sweat. Makes me wonder if this time is different because it's for a family and not just purely for my own sake.
I want to get more money so mom doesn't have to work forever unless she wants to and my retirement is back on track.
Risk equals return
Risk equals loss
I recently read that one of the top reasons that millionaires got to where they were was due to the amount of risks they were willing to take. I continue to struggle with this decision. Because you rarely hear about the guys who took their shots and lost.
The wealthiest group of millionaire households overwhelmingly said that smart investing was the key to their wealth. That’s in stark contrast to the least of the mass affluent—those with net worth of $100,000 to $1 million. That group attributed their wealth chiefly to frugality.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Long Time
Ok.
Short post tonight. I've started about 8 blog posts over the past 4 months but never finished them.
They'll probably just sit in draft status forever now. Most of them I just couldn't figure out an ending (or middle) to - and the rest were just either boring or annoying to read.
But - something sparked in my mind tonight
Assuming you were going to bring a child in to this world - what would you want for them? I was thinking about that today.
And I thought - I'd want every day to be full of opportunities:
-Time to learn, grow and change
-Time to have fun
-Time to relax, reflect/meditate
And when I was thinking of this I wondered why I hadn't treated myself like this (lately - or ever?). Why would I have this desire for "full" days for my future children but not for me? Was I not good enough for my own special treatment?
It was Sunday afternoon epiphany time. Let's see if anything changes once I come up with an answer for this question.
Short post tonight. I've started about 8 blog posts over the past 4 months but never finished them.
They'll probably just sit in draft status forever now. Most of them I just couldn't figure out an ending (or middle) to - and the rest were just either boring or annoying to read.
But - something sparked in my mind tonight
Assuming you were going to bring a child in to this world - what would you want for them? I was thinking about that today.
And I thought - I'd want every day to be full of opportunities:
-Time to learn, grow and change
-Time to have fun
-Time to relax, reflect/meditate
And when I was thinking of this I wondered why I hadn't treated myself like this (lately - or ever?). Why would I have this desire for "full" days for my future children but not for me? Was I not good enough for my own special treatment?
It was Sunday afternoon epiphany time. Let's see if anything changes once I come up with an answer for this question.
Sunday, January 02, 2011
The Obligatory New Years Post
You can find last year's post here.
I'm not exactly sure why I called last year's post the new decade post. Maybe this year should be the new decade? It's probably because I think from 0-9 is the decade and not from 11-20. If that makes sense.
Quick rundown of my year:
The first few months were scary/dead months. I was unemployed. Struggling to find something...anything.
I thought becoming a cop was a viable option but no one ever requested me for an interview - even after passing the test with flying colors. The physical portion of it is one of my greatest physical feats ever - I plan on framing the results sometime.
Finally the interviews started in early March - and I had a few good job leads. Just none of them fit as well as going to work up in Everett.
Which leads me to the last 7+ months of my life:
Diving head first in to work. Meeting all new people. Becoming a basketball referee and winning 2 volleyball championships. Figuring out how to succeed and succeeding. Reconnecting with friends back home and basically rebuilding things here because the last couple of years I haven't really been here.
And it's been good - great even. My life in 2010 reflects the "post-recession" (in quotes for a reason) economy. We both fell from great heights - but we persevered, moved on and although there's still a bit of lingering effects we try our best not to focus on it.
Score breakdown/review for 2010 resolutions:
-Write less/higher quality posts: 1 out of 2 points for this one. Definitely wrote less. And it felt better writing less. I didn't feel as much of an obligation to this blog as I had in previous years. I don't however feel that I had any "gems" this year as far as quality is concerned. I'll work on that. I also plan on writing more this coming year because I've realized recently that I do enjoy writing - and as soon as I drop this obligation I lose part of that.
-Get a job, pay off the HELOC: Again, 1 out of 2. Getting a job was huge. I thought I would've put something about this being my #1 priority on last year's post but I didn't. I can't imagine not having something to do with myself if I had been unemployed still to this point. Even writing that makes me depressed. The HELOC balance is still there (albeit smaller than last year) and realistically I won't be able to pay it off until the end of 2012. So that'll be on next year's resolution.
-Put on bulk. No way. Going back up on the resolution board.
-Start preventative care/remove all notions of invincibility. Yes. There are so many things this year that I have changed for myself health-wise it's kind of sad how old I'm trying to treat myself. For the first time in my entire life I am regularly taking a multivitamin. Is it helping? Not sure. I'm also eating less fatty/acidic/spicy foods than I have in the past - especially late at night when I know it might hurt me before going to bed. Not sure if this has made a difference either. I've paid more attention to my posture when staying in the same position for long periods of time. I started using special eye cream and am trying to treat my skin better. So yes, extra mucho points for this one.
-Have faith. I didn't really have faith in 2010. But I think my faith has grown however. Especially my faith in us as human beings.
On to 2011's resolutions:
-Put on bulk (more lean muscle)! Everyone (older) keeps telling me this is going to happen, "Just wait until you hit 30 and that hummingbird metabolism of yours slows down." Well, it hasn't. And I'm not sure when it does if I'll bulk up or not. I don't want to throw my body out of whack with a crazy diet - but I want to be serious about this now. Included with this is my desire to do 10 consecutive pull ups. I thought I wrote that on last year's resolution (glad I didn't - cause I can only do 6) so it's going on this one.
-Start my MBA. It's going to happen (and it's getting paid for)! I've already talked to my manager about it and I will be scheduling my GMAT (and studying) shortly. It's almost sad how excited I am about this. I'm going to do everything to get back in to UW starting this September (weird to say "this" September) but I know my chances are very slim. I'll either be at SU or SPU. I'll be treating my masters differently than my undergrad due to my motivation.
-Do something musical. Recently I've rekindled a lot of things from my past which I used to find so enjoyable but have lost in the past few years. Playing in a band - singing in a choir. These used to be every day occurrences for me. I hope to add at least a one night a week activity for a few months because just listening and playing music on my own isn't really enough.
-Make a baby. I really wanted to have one earlier because I wanted to be a young dad. I wasn't ready. I'm still probably not ready. But only the truly crazy are ever fully prepared for something like that.
-Learn to have as much fun/be a social butterfly without drugs or alcohol. Because the last 10 years of my life has been as much. I don't really want it to be the next 10. Not that I'm going to turn down drinks when offered, I just won't make it a point like I have in the past.
-Have the best summer of my life (so far). There are a lot of things which are already in the works to make this the best summer ever. I'll do my best to to make sure they surpass expectations (hopefully the weather cooperates though).
That's a tall order for now - I think I didn't hold myself to a high enough standard last year (even though I didn't knock them all out). This year should be pretty memorable given the table I've set for myself.
Always interesting times ahead. Happy New Year.
I'm not exactly sure why I called last year's post the new decade post. Maybe this year should be the new decade? It's probably because I think from 0-9 is the decade and not from 11-20. If that makes sense.
Quick rundown of my year:
The first few months were scary/dead months. I was unemployed. Struggling to find something...anything.
I thought becoming a cop was a viable option but no one ever requested me for an interview - even after passing the test with flying colors. The physical portion of it is one of my greatest physical feats ever - I plan on framing the results sometime.
Finally the interviews started in early March - and I had a few good job leads. Just none of them fit as well as going to work up in Everett.
Which leads me to the last 7+ months of my life:
Diving head first in to work. Meeting all new people. Becoming a basketball referee and winning 2 volleyball championships. Figuring out how to succeed and succeeding. Reconnecting with friends back home and basically rebuilding things here because the last couple of years I haven't really been here.
And it's been good - great even. My life in 2010 reflects the "post-recession" (in quotes for a reason) economy. We both fell from great heights - but we persevered, moved on and although there's still a bit of lingering effects we try our best not to focus on it.
Score breakdown/review for 2010 resolutions:
-Write less/higher quality posts: 1 out of 2 points for this one. Definitely wrote less. And it felt better writing less. I didn't feel as much of an obligation to this blog as I had in previous years. I don't however feel that I had any "gems" this year as far as quality is concerned. I'll work on that. I also plan on writing more this coming year because I've realized recently that I do enjoy writing - and as soon as I drop this obligation I lose part of that.
-Get a job, pay off the HELOC: Again, 1 out of 2. Getting a job was huge. I thought I would've put something about this being my #1 priority on last year's post but I didn't. I can't imagine not having something to do with myself if I had been unemployed still to this point. Even writing that makes me depressed. The HELOC balance is still there (albeit smaller than last year) and realistically I won't be able to pay it off until the end of 2012. So that'll be on next year's resolution.
-Put on bulk. No way. Going back up on the resolution board.
-Start preventative care/remove all notions of invincibility. Yes. There are so many things this year that I have changed for myself health-wise it's kind of sad how old I'm trying to treat myself. For the first time in my entire life I am regularly taking a multivitamin. Is it helping? Not sure. I'm also eating less fatty/acidic/spicy foods than I have in the past - especially late at night when I know it might hurt me before going to bed. Not sure if this has made a difference either. I've paid more attention to my posture when staying in the same position for long periods of time. I started using special eye cream and am trying to treat my skin better. So yes, extra mucho points for this one.
-Have faith. I didn't really have faith in 2010. But I think my faith has grown however. Especially my faith in us as human beings.
On to 2011's resolutions:
-Put on bulk (more lean muscle)! Everyone (older) keeps telling me this is going to happen, "Just wait until you hit 30 and that hummingbird metabolism of yours slows down." Well, it hasn't. And I'm not sure when it does if I'll bulk up or not. I don't want to throw my body out of whack with a crazy diet - but I want to be serious about this now. Included with this is my desire to do 10 consecutive pull ups. I thought I wrote that on last year's resolution (glad I didn't - cause I can only do 6) so it's going on this one.
-Start my MBA. It's going to happen (and it's getting paid for)! I've already talked to my manager about it and I will be scheduling my GMAT (and studying) shortly. It's almost sad how excited I am about this. I'm going to do everything to get back in to UW starting this September (weird to say "this" September) but I know my chances are very slim. I'll either be at SU or SPU. I'll be treating my masters differently than my undergrad due to my motivation.
-Do something musical. Recently I've rekindled a lot of things from my past which I used to find so enjoyable but have lost in the past few years. Playing in a band - singing in a choir. These used to be every day occurrences for me. I hope to add at least a one night a week activity for a few months because just listening and playing music on my own isn't really enough.
-Make a baby. I really wanted to have one earlier because I wanted to be a young dad. I wasn't ready. I'm still probably not ready. But only the truly crazy are ever fully prepared for something like that.
-Learn to have as much fun/be a social butterfly without drugs or alcohol. Because the last 10 years of my life has been as much. I don't really want it to be the next 10. Not that I'm going to turn down drinks when offered, I just won't make it a point like I have in the past.
-Have the best summer of my life (so far). There are a lot of things which are already in the works to make this the best summer ever. I'll do my best to to make sure they surpass expectations (hopefully the weather cooperates though).
That's a tall order for now - I think I didn't hold myself to a high enough standard last year (even though I didn't knock them all out). This year should be pretty memorable given the table I've set for myself.
Always interesting times ahead. Happy New Year.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Stubby
It's story time boys and girls.
I'm not sure if I've shared this one on here before - but it's one of my favorites and I'm sure everyone I know has at least heard it once before.
Chris Langbang (names have been changed to nicknames to protect the innocent) was one of my heroes in college. Of course, I was new to the scene and he was the embodiment of basically all that was amazing and impressive in movies about college.
He was spectacular. When I saw him he was either drunk, completely shitfaced, half awake but still drunk from a long night of drinking or trying to ride his bike somewhere because he knew he couldn't drive - because he was fucked up from drinking from his flask while riding. If someone was going to get a DUI for riding a bike it was him. I'm pretty sure he got at least one. He was a scrapper. Probably about 5'10, square jaw, brown hair and a beard he would grow every so often when he was afraid he would kill himself with a razor because he couldn't hold it straight - because he was seeing double (or infinite!) in the mirror. One of those guys you didn't really want to mess with because you knew he had this crazy monkey inside of him just waiting to eat you alive.
A fellow tuba player in the band - I respected him not only for his drinking abilities, but his massive chops. And of course the nickname of "Langbang" stems from his ability to bang the most of the best chicks on, around, near and off campus. One evening during an away game in a hotel the male tubas decided to have a penis measuring contest (measured by an unbiased 3rd party) and he was the only one I looked up to (on the list). However, out of all of us only the top few names were given to help avoid embarrassment for the others.
There are only a select hand few of people that will stay with me forever in my memories and Langbang is one of them for the Arizona State trip that we took in October of 2001.
This wasn't my first rodeo. I had been on the road before and partied at other schools. Chris I'm pretty sure at that time was a 6th year senior (I don't actually really know if he ever graduated from UW or if he actually went to school there - I could check FB but it's more fun this way) and still had that twinkle in his eye of a 14 year old getting his first taste of Budweiser.
I had no idea. We were sitting there near the field and I watched as not only the cheerleaders ran by - but then there was an army of the pom squad. And then...in utter disbelief I turned to Langbang and I could see the wheels turning up in that foggy noggin of his. He forearmed me and said, "Look!" I turned back to the field, mouth agape, as a dance team floated past.
What was this place? Did they want to outnumber the football players (all of them?) on the field by a 3:1 ratio? It was insane.
And there's something about the desert that melts the pounds off of bodies and bleaches the hair a lighter color. Maybe.
In my mind I can't remember how I ended up going from the field - to getting included in an invite from one of these women to a Halloween party - to going back to our hotel and having no idea what to wear to this party.
So of course we ripped the sheets off of our beds, stripped down to our boxers and went in togas.
We had full on free shuttle service from the party hosts. The only problem was it was clown car style and we had to fit about 13 guys in to a '93 accord. We made it though...and couldn't wait to drink as soon as we got out.
As soon as I stepped through the door a fellow tuba from the ASU band slaps me on the back and says, "You've got to try this Yucca."
Let me back this up a bit. You have to remember that I am 19 years old at this point and still feel invincible and that I can take on any challenge. End rewind.
We head over to the bar and the guy hands me a keg cup full of what looks like either coconut milk, or regular milk, and ice. I don't even smell it. I just gulp.
"WHOA! Whoa whoa...holy shit!"
"What?"
"Dude, that was everclear."
So the rest of the night - I grabbed another cup of Yucca and walked around the party and just sipped. Within an hour I had hit the wall and really couldn't talk. Not that I needed to. The music was loud - and lucky us: the big hit for Halloween that year? Was dressing up like the ladies of Moulin Rouge. And a majority of the girls there got the memo.
So I just circled the party. Socialized. High fived. Until our driver said it was time to go. I had no idea what time it was - only that I knew as the only one that was probably still on his feet it was more than likely my responsibility to round people up.
I found people and told them to find the accord out front and that we were leaving in :10. The only person I couldn't find was Chris. It was probably because I wasn't looking low enough...because on my final tour around the house I found him on a couch underneath what looked like to be a vicky secret's angel...dressed in all white lacy lingerie - mounted on top of him and sucking face like they were underwater.
"Chris!" I yelled at him - but it more than likely came out like, "Chss!"
He didn't hear me.
I reached in and grabbed an exposed shoulder hoping it was his.
"Hey Chris! We're getting out of here man - you look like you're having fun though, so we'll see you tomorrow!"
Suddenly an arm reached out and pulled me in close. It was Langbang and he was yelling in my ear.
"Get me...the fuck out of here!"
I thought he was flipping me shit.
"What? You're crazy man! We'll just see you tomorrow."
From there, I brown out and pile in to the car and somehow ended up sleeping at the hotel (not sure if I was in a bed) until morning and then frantically packed for the trip home.
And here is one of the best parts about drinking. Is that morning look. Nothing needs to be said because the brains hurt too much and noise is bad. It's just that shared look among friends that you experienced something amazing together - and now you were all beat. Or hoping you weren't going to puke on the plane.
Little did we know we'd get much more entertainment that morning than just a shared hangover in what was already a dry 82 degree desert heat.
The last to board the bus was typically our director. And he'd always do the head count before we left - no child left behind or some BS.
But this morning for the first trip all year...there was someone missing. So the yell went through the caravan:
"Who are we missing?! Everyone look around and see if you can figure out who we're missing."
As we're looking around the bus we see this old corolla pull in to the hotel parking lot and park parallel to the parade of buses. Immediately we all look over and someone yells out, "It's Chris!"
We've all had our walks of shame. But I think this one takes the cake. There was Chris. Completely disheveled and hung over, sitting in a car in only his boxers and not wanting to get out - in front of 250+ band kids anxious to get moving.
But he sucked it up, opened his door and got out. Little did we know that his vicky secret gal pal was also going to accompany him and hug and kiss him goodbye. So as he's walking towards the bus, she opens her door - and struggles with it a bit.
As she steps out the realization then hits me as to why Langbang didn't want to live up to his nickname the previous night. Why he was so adamant about coming back to the hotel with us. And it was because as she kissed him goodbye and reached around to give him a hug - the entire audience saw nothing there. There were no fingers. No knuckles. Not a thumb to be seen or even wrists.
Only stubs.
We sat there dumbfounded. Had Chris done the unthinkable? I mean, was she really that good with her toes?
A hush turned in to a dull roar which then turned in to all out laughter. It's OK - we all know that we reserved our place in hell a long time ago.
Chris hung his head a bit and waved goodbye to the car and as he climbed aboard - a chant was started from the back...
"Stah...be
Stah-be
Stah-be
STUB-BY!
STUB-BY!"
The whole bus was chanting it. It was all of Chris' glorious debauchery on display for a moment in time. And to this day I still tell this story so that his legend lives on - in the hearts, minds and palms...of some of us.
Stubby indeed.
I'm not sure if I've shared this one on here before - but it's one of my favorites and I'm sure everyone I know has at least heard it once before.
Chris Langbang (names have been changed to nicknames to protect the innocent) was one of my heroes in college. Of course, I was new to the scene and he was the embodiment of basically all that was amazing and impressive in movies about college.
He was spectacular. When I saw him he was either drunk, completely shitfaced, half awake but still drunk from a long night of drinking or trying to ride his bike somewhere because he knew he couldn't drive - because he was fucked up from drinking from his flask while riding. If someone was going to get a DUI for riding a bike it was him. I'm pretty sure he got at least one. He was a scrapper. Probably about 5'10, square jaw, brown hair and a beard he would grow every so often when he was afraid he would kill himself with a razor because he couldn't hold it straight - because he was seeing double (or infinite!) in the mirror. One of those guys you didn't really want to mess with because you knew he had this crazy monkey inside of him just waiting to eat you alive.
A fellow tuba player in the band - I respected him not only for his drinking abilities, but his massive chops. And of course the nickname of "Langbang" stems from his ability to bang the most of the best chicks on, around, near and off campus. One evening during an away game in a hotel the male tubas decided to have a penis measuring contest (measured by an unbiased 3rd party) and he was the only one I looked up to (on the list). However, out of all of us only the top few names were given to help avoid embarrassment for the others.
There are only a select hand few of people that will stay with me forever in my memories and Langbang is one of them for the Arizona State trip that we took in October of 2001.
This wasn't my first rodeo. I had been on the road before and partied at other schools. Chris I'm pretty sure at that time was a 6th year senior (I don't actually really know if he ever graduated from UW or if he actually went to school there - I could check FB but it's more fun this way) and still had that twinkle in his eye of a 14 year old getting his first taste of Budweiser.
I had no idea. We were sitting there near the field and I watched as not only the cheerleaders ran by - but then there was an army of the pom squad. And then...in utter disbelief I turned to Langbang and I could see the wheels turning up in that foggy noggin of his. He forearmed me and said, "Look!" I turned back to the field, mouth agape, as a dance team floated past.
What was this place? Did they want to outnumber the football players (all of them?) on the field by a 3:1 ratio? It was insane.
And there's something about the desert that melts the pounds off of bodies and bleaches the hair a lighter color. Maybe.
In my mind I can't remember how I ended up going from the field - to getting included in an invite from one of these women to a Halloween party - to going back to our hotel and having no idea what to wear to this party.
So of course we ripped the sheets off of our beds, stripped down to our boxers and went in togas.
We had full on free shuttle service from the party hosts. The only problem was it was clown car style and we had to fit about 13 guys in to a '93 accord. We made it though...and couldn't wait to drink as soon as we got out.
As soon as I stepped through the door a fellow tuba from the ASU band slaps me on the back and says, "You've got to try this Yucca."
Let me back this up a bit. You have to remember that I am 19 years old at this point and still feel invincible and that I can take on any challenge. End rewind.
We head over to the bar and the guy hands me a keg cup full of what looks like either coconut milk, or regular milk, and ice. I don't even smell it. I just gulp.
"WHOA! Whoa whoa...holy shit!"
"What?"
"Dude, that was everclear."
So the rest of the night - I grabbed another cup of Yucca and walked around the party and just sipped. Within an hour I had hit the wall and really couldn't talk. Not that I needed to. The music was loud - and lucky us: the big hit for Halloween that year? Was dressing up like the ladies of Moulin Rouge. And a majority of the girls there got the memo.
So I just circled the party. Socialized. High fived. Until our driver said it was time to go. I had no idea what time it was - only that I knew as the only one that was probably still on his feet it was more than likely my responsibility to round people up.
I found people and told them to find the accord out front and that we were leaving in :10. The only person I couldn't find was Chris. It was probably because I wasn't looking low enough...because on my final tour around the house I found him on a couch underneath what looked like to be a vicky secret's angel...dressed in all white lacy lingerie - mounted on top of him and sucking face like they were underwater.
"Chris!" I yelled at him - but it more than likely came out like, "Chss!"
He didn't hear me.
I reached in and grabbed an exposed shoulder hoping it was his.
"Hey Chris! We're getting out of here man - you look like you're having fun though, so we'll see you tomorrow!"
Suddenly an arm reached out and pulled me in close. It was Langbang and he was yelling in my ear.
"Get me...the fuck out of here!"
I thought he was flipping me shit.
"What? You're crazy man! We'll just see you tomorrow."
From there, I brown out and pile in to the car and somehow ended up sleeping at the hotel (not sure if I was in a bed) until morning and then frantically packed for the trip home.
And here is one of the best parts about drinking. Is that morning look. Nothing needs to be said because the brains hurt too much and noise is bad. It's just that shared look among friends that you experienced something amazing together - and now you were all beat. Or hoping you weren't going to puke on the plane.
Little did we know we'd get much more entertainment that morning than just a shared hangover in what was already a dry 82 degree desert heat.
The last to board the bus was typically our director. And he'd always do the head count before we left - no child left behind or some BS.
But this morning for the first trip all year...there was someone missing. So the yell went through the caravan:
"Who are we missing?! Everyone look around and see if you can figure out who we're missing."
As we're looking around the bus we see this old corolla pull in to the hotel parking lot and park parallel to the parade of buses. Immediately we all look over and someone yells out, "It's Chris!"
We've all had our walks of shame. But I think this one takes the cake. There was Chris. Completely disheveled and hung over, sitting in a car in only his boxers and not wanting to get out - in front of 250+ band kids anxious to get moving.
But he sucked it up, opened his door and got out. Little did we know that his vicky secret gal pal was also going to accompany him and hug and kiss him goodbye. So as he's walking towards the bus, she opens her door - and struggles with it a bit.
As she steps out the realization then hits me as to why Langbang didn't want to live up to his nickname the previous night. Why he was so adamant about coming back to the hotel with us. And it was because as she kissed him goodbye and reached around to give him a hug - the entire audience saw nothing there. There were no fingers. No knuckles. Not a thumb to be seen or even wrists.
Only stubs.
We sat there dumbfounded. Had Chris done the unthinkable? I mean, was she really that good with her toes?
A hush turned in to a dull roar which then turned in to all out laughter. It's OK - we all know that we reserved our place in hell a long time ago.
Chris hung his head a bit and waved goodbye to the car and as he climbed aboard - a chant was started from the back...
"Stah...be
Stah-be
Stah-be
STUB-BY!
STUB-BY!"
The whole bus was chanting it. It was all of Chris' glorious debauchery on display for a moment in time. And to this day I still tell this story so that his legend lives on - in the hearts, minds and palms...of some of us.
Stubby indeed.
Monday, November 29, 2010
30 Minute Bucket List
I've always had items in my head for things I want to accomplish before I die. This will of course be a living document...really I just wanted to get a post up November because it's missing one.
So items I've mentally checked off:
-Hit a game winning buzzer beater (from almost half court nonetheless and to win a championship game)
-Hit a grand slam (a real one that goes over the fence)
-Ride a motorcycle
-Drive a convertible
-Go to Europe (and everything that entails)
-Go on a cruise
-Get in a physical fight (got my ear punched - awesome)
-Drive across the country (4 times)
-See all the major US cities (seen most)
-Get my 15 minutes of fame (they've been clips here and there)
-Play in a world series of poker tournament
-Make thousands of dollars in a day trading the stock market
-Swim in both the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans
-Live in another state/city for more than 3 months.
That's all I can think of for now. Now on to the list waiting to be accomplished:
-Rebuild a car motor - or build some sort of "project" car.
-Become a millionaire in cash - not net worth. Roll around in hundreds when I reach that point.
-Learn how to play the Cello and then learn Bach's Prelude No. 1
-Learn how to play the drums and at least be "OK" at them.
-Once I've learned these things, record myself playing at least 4 different instruments and singing a song that I've written. 1 man band. Try to get someone to buy it on iTunes.
-Go to Australia, Japan, China, Brazil, South Africa, some spots in the Middle East.
-Brew my own beer.
-Own a real library/study in my house with only books that I've read entirely. Learn how to speed read.
-Be 6'2 and 210 lbs of lean muscle - might as well throw the 6 (4) pack on there for good measure.
-Hit a hole in one on the golf course (probably will die before this one happens)
-Be fluent in another language.
-Run a marathon
-Have a wiki page created about me - but for something I did or was famous/infamous for.
-Do a stand up routine at amateur night
-Donate a majority of my life savings before I die a la Buffett/Gates.
This took me longer than 30 minutes. It seems very short but I've lived a great life so far. Also - there are many items in the "checked off" section of my bucket list which I didn't think were worthy of sharing which we probably all have. Small victories and memories count too.
So items I've mentally checked off:
-Hit a game winning buzzer beater (from almost half court nonetheless and to win a championship game)
-Hit a grand slam (a real one that goes over the fence)
-Ride a motorcycle
-Drive a convertible
-Go to Europe (and everything that entails)
-Go on a cruise
-Get in a physical fight (got my ear punched - awesome)
-Drive across the country (4 times)
-See all the major US cities (seen most)
-Get my 15 minutes of fame (they've been clips here and there)
-Play in a world series of poker tournament
-Make thousands of dollars in a day trading the stock market
-Swim in both the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans
-Live in another state/city for more than 3 months.
That's all I can think of for now. Now on to the list waiting to be accomplished:
-Rebuild a car motor - or build some sort of "project" car.
-Become a millionaire in cash - not net worth. Roll around in hundreds when I reach that point.
-Learn how to play the Cello and then learn Bach's Prelude No. 1
-Learn how to play the drums and at least be "OK" at them.
-Once I've learned these things, record myself playing at least 4 different instruments and singing a song that I've written. 1 man band. Try to get someone to buy it on iTunes.
-Go to Australia, Japan, China, Brazil, South Africa, some spots in the Middle East.
-Brew my own beer.
-Own a real library/study in my house with only books that I've read entirely. Learn how to speed read.
-Be 6'2 and 210 lbs of lean muscle - might as well throw the 6 (4) pack on there for good measure.
-Hit a hole in one on the golf course (probably will die before this one happens)
-Be fluent in another language.
-Run a marathon
-Have a wiki page created about me - but for something I did or was famous/infamous for.
-Do a stand up routine at amateur night
-Donate a majority of my life savings before I die a la Buffett/Gates.
This took me longer than 30 minutes. It seems very short but I've lived a great life so far. Also - there are many items in the "checked off" section of my bucket list which I didn't think were worthy of sharing which we probably all have. Small victories and memories count too.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Randoctober
I swear if I got paid for a certain worthless skill it would be the ability to combine 2 words in to one.
Even when I completely use 1 word out of the 2 like "October".
Here is a story:
Plain Jane got more plain as she got older. She got more in to routine, more about comfort and security because the world was uncomfortable and scary at times. Unfortunately her best friend Saucy Suzy was all about trying new things. Suzy wanted to see the world - she wanted to step on all 7 continents. She wanted to try every type of food and meet as many people as possible. Plain Jane wanted the same thing on her sandwich every day because she liked it like that. She wanted to keep the same friends because they were always there for her and she knew what to expect from them.
You all know how this story ends. And that's where the story will end.
Sometimes I look at my retirement account balance and then I go car shopping at the same time.
And then I look back at my balance and I look at my dream car - the Audi RS4. And I say...maaannnnnnnn. That is what I say in my head. I want to rent the car for a year and see how I feel about it afterward. I would be willing to pay $850 a month to rent one. So if for some reason someone out there was somehow willing to do a year long lease of their RS4 for $850 a month - then please get in contact with me.
Where do I sign?
I think if I rented it, the feeling would be like renting a house. I would never feel like it was actually mine. And ownership is satisfying. Especially paying off something that you now completely own.
I struggle. Cause the smart thing to do would be to wait another 5-7 years when electric cars are everywhere and then get a super slow car that gets 200 miles on a charge and save $2300 a year on gas (not inflation adjusted for the 5-7 years from now).
But sometimes I hate being smart. And the car would just be for me. It wouldn't be about anyone else. The S4 has always been the car I've wanted - ever since I first found out about it. Sure there are plenty of other cars out there with similar specs, some even for lower cost...but all of the other car manufacturers didn't get it right like they Audi did with theirs.
And sadly as it reads - the car just fits me. I told the wife the other night that sometimes it's embarrassing to get out of my car. I think both of us were actually kind of surprised that:
-I admitted to that
-Somehow I actually cared about what kind of car I drove?
And yes. I don't know why. I should only feel embarrassed because others are judging me - but in this case it might just be me tihnking that other people are judging me - which they might be.
Today on the freeway I was driving behind an old school Acura legend and the driver side door was tied shut and flung halfway open during a hard brake application and the driver had to grab it so it didn't hit any other cars on the freeway. That is definitely open for judging. As in ghetto.
I watched excerpts from this video:
Jay-Z and Buffett
And one thing that always strikes me about Buffett is how quickly he jumps to the "luck" factor. For someone at the top - rarely do I hear that from people I would consider his peers. There's a point at which he admits if he had been born in to different circumstances things would obviously be completely different for him.
But at the same time - at what point do we all find something we are passionate and actually good at? And do we actually believe we have talent due to a few successes which then snowball in to a confidence and possible future successes?
It really could be 70% mental.
Or more.
I suppose knowing that it gives guys like me hope.
This is my current favorite commercial. The faces are just priceless. I'm glad the NBA is back - but I'm still pissed about the Sonics.
I was just sitting there tonight watching opening night imagining what it would've been like to have the Sonics playing the Lakers in the playoffs last year.
And how I'd own a Durant jersey by now.
It's really frustrating. Please bring basketball back to Seattle. The college team is not enough.
Even when I completely use 1 word out of the 2 like "October".
Here is a story:
Plain Jane got more plain as she got older. She got more in to routine, more about comfort and security because the world was uncomfortable and scary at times. Unfortunately her best friend Saucy Suzy was all about trying new things. Suzy wanted to see the world - she wanted to step on all 7 continents. She wanted to try every type of food and meet as many people as possible. Plain Jane wanted the same thing on her sandwich every day because she liked it like that. She wanted to keep the same friends because they were always there for her and she knew what to expect from them.
You all know how this story ends. And that's where the story will end.
Sometimes I look at my retirement account balance and then I go car shopping at the same time.
And then I look back at my balance and I look at my dream car - the Audi RS4. And I say...maaannnnnnnn. That is what I say in my head. I want to rent the car for a year and see how I feel about it afterward. I would be willing to pay $850 a month to rent one. So if for some reason someone out there was somehow willing to do a year long lease of their RS4 for $850 a month - then please get in contact with me.
Where do I sign?
I think if I rented it, the feeling would be like renting a house. I would never feel like it was actually mine. And ownership is satisfying. Especially paying off something that you now completely own.
I struggle. Cause the smart thing to do would be to wait another 5-7 years when electric cars are everywhere and then get a super slow car that gets 200 miles on a charge and save $2300 a year on gas (not inflation adjusted for the 5-7 years from now).
But sometimes I hate being smart. And the car would just be for me. It wouldn't be about anyone else. The S4 has always been the car I've wanted - ever since I first found out about it. Sure there are plenty of other cars out there with similar specs, some even for lower cost...but all of the other car manufacturers didn't get it right like they Audi did with theirs.
And sadly as it reads - the car just fits me. I told the wife the other night that sometimes it's embarrassing to get out of my car. I think both of us were actually kind of surprised that:
-I admitted to that
-Somehow I actually cared about what kind of car I drove?
And yes. I don't know why. I should only feel embarrassed because others are judging me - but in this case it might just be me tihnking that other people are judging me - which they might be.
Today on the freeway I was driving behind an old school Acura legend and the driver side door was tied shut and flung halfway open during a hard brake application and the driver had to grab it so it didn't hit any other cars on the freeway. That is definitely open for judging. As in ghetto.
I watched excerpts from this video:
Jay-Z and Buffett
And one thing that always strikes me about Buffett is how quickly he jumps to the "luck" factor. For someone at the top - rarely do I hear that from people I would consider his peers. There's a point at which he admits if he had been born in to different circumstances things would obviously be completely different for him.
But at the same time - at what point do we all find something we are passionate and actually good at? And do we actually believe we have talent due to a few successes which then snowball in to a confidence and possible future successes?
It really could be 70% mental.
Or more.
I suppose knowing that it gives guys like me hope.
This is my current favorite commercial. The faces are just priceless. I'm glad the NBA is back - but I'm still pissed about the Sonics.
I was just sitting there tonight watching opening night imagining what it would've been like to have the Sonics playing the Lakers in the playoffs last year.
And how I'd own a Durant jersey by now.
It's really frustrating. Please bring basketball back to Seattle. The college team is not enough.
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