A Story From My Summer

So I've told this story multiple times so I figured I would just go ahead and blog about it.  I think this story is one of the highlights of my summer.  So here goes nothing:

Alright. It all begins at the very start of summer.  I have just gotten out of school and I am moving into my summer apartment in two days.  Me and my roommates go over to the apartments to finalize all of the details and to get our keys to move in.  This was on a Thursday afternoon.  Once we get there, the lady at the desk pulls out our lease papers and says, "Ok. Here is your one year lease agreement."    WAIT.  What did she just say?  I think she said one year lease agreement.  We had clarified with her multiple times that we would only be renting for the summer and asked if they did 3-month summer leases for students.  She said yeah it's no problem at all.  Now back to the day of the lease signing.  We tell her that we have no intention on renting for a whole year and she is shocked.  Thrown back even, to the point where she says she has to step outside.  I don't know what that lady is on but she is trippin.  Anyways, so we have two days until we have to be out of the dorms.  Well more like one and a half.  We have to find a place to stay!  For a day and a half, I was homeless.  But luckily we found a place that would let us move in on Friday, and it was cheap!  But that's where this story takes a funny twist.

So we needed a place to stay. Check.  We needed something affordable. Check. We need something in the ghetto. Wait what? CHECK.  This place is not in the best part of town.  We knew this going into it but it was only for the summer and it was affordable.

The other day I was with some friends and we were driving to a Springfield Cardinals game.  I am driving my brother's girlfriend's car when all of a sudden, I'm being pulled over.  Now I've never been pulled over before so I'm wondering what I did.  The cop says he stopped me because I failed to use my turn signal.  Dumb reason but I noticed he had a ride-along with him so he was just showing the kid the ropes.  He asks for my license.  He sees I'm from Oregon and asks if I still live there.  I told him no and that I have been living in Springfield for the summer.  So he asks for my current address and then walks back to the car.  Upon his return he says the usual, "Ok well just don't do it again".  As I'm about to drive away, he says the following words: "Oh and by the way, the place you're living this summer, not the best part of town."  "I know but I needed a place to live on short notice and this one worked out", I say.  "Ok well I understand that but just watch yourself over there ok?"  "Ok."

Since when do the cops diss where you live? haha.  This situation was so crazy and the girls in the back, who have all been to my apartment, start laughing as we pull away and say "EVEN THE COP DISSED WHERE YOU LIVE!"

So that's my little story.  I may live in the ghetto but I feel like I fit in :)  That is where I belong!  Ok not really but I'm still alive so that's a good sign.

New Vision In My Life

So I was sitting on my couch the other day, wondering what am I going to do with my life.  I am an exercise science major but what can I accomplish with that?  I have been told by multiple people that I should be a sports broadcaster.  That would be a blast.  I love sports and I've even worked as an anchor on my school's sports television show.  I've also been told I should be a youth pastor.  I do love kids.  I think that it's our responsibility as older human beings to take care of our youth and help them pursue their dreams.  So I was thinking about how I might be able to combine my degree, my love for sports, and my passion for children and I think I came up with a pretty cool idea.  I want to open up an organization, or a foundation, or a charity....whatever you want to call it that helps kids improve their athletic abilities, while helping them improve their lives as well.  Now I know that many organizations out there help with one or the other but I've done some research and there are very little that help kids in both areas.  I even thought of a name: "Athletes For A Better Life".  There is an organization out there called Athletes For a Better World but I think mine can differ enough to make it successful.  Anyways, just was wondering what you guys thought about it.  Let me know, whether you have good things or bad things to say about it.  Thanks.

Life as an Observant Male

So as many of you know, I am working in the mall this summer.  I never knew you could learn so much from sitting about observing your surroundings.  As I sit at my booth, located between Wet Seal, Victoria's Secret, and Sephora, I see a lot of women.  This time has given me the opportunity to watch and study the female gender.  And boy have I learned a lot.  It seems like women, when approached by a stranger who has a question for them or a product to sell them, always try their hardest to avoid the situation.  I've seen many different approaches to this avoidance: the look and dart past when they aren't looking, the walk on by like no one is talking, and of course the blunt rejections.  Now I'm being genderist (new word).  I've just noticed that it happens more with women than men.

Now for a little critique on the males.  I have seen too many men try to fight their way out of certain situations with their girlfriends or wives.  The woman wants to go into a store to look for something.  The male stands there, complains (throws a fit in a way), and refuses.  They may also come up with an excuse like "We have to go...remember?"  Now I don't thoroughly enjoy shopping (like most males don't) but I do believe in being a man.  And this means, guys, if your woman wants to take you shopping, you should see that as a privilege.  Girls really don't want guys there to "help" them shop, but if she invites you, she wants to spend time with you.  So quit complaining and just go into the store with her.  Let her know that you are supportive.  Plus she is probably shopping for things to wear that you like.  She wants to look good for you.  What more could you ask for?  If anything, go in with her so you can regulate her spending : )

Alright well enough observations for one day.  Just bored at work and thought I'd share my experiences with y'all.  Have a good weekend everyone!

One Month Til School? Are you serious?

Well it's almost the end of July so that means school is that much closer to us.  How awful does that sound?  Even though I'll be entering my last year of school, I still hate thinking about going back.  But I have met some amazing people and made some incredible memories during my time at school.  I would not trade them for anything in the world.  So this post is kind of random but I just thought I'd share what's on my mind today.  Also, with summer almost over, I am starting to think about what I've done and how much stuff I never did.  I would have loved to go home, rent a boat for the weekend and hit up the lake, catch a Springfield Cardinals game, see more movies, etc etc.  But my summer has been filled with two semesters of summer school, work, and that's about it.  I did however get away for the July 4th weekend and spent an awesome three days with my friends and their family in Ohio.  That has probably been the highlight of my summer.  Oh and let's not forget the NBA draft and summer league!  Blazers in 2011 baby!  Now if only I had the same confidence in my Seahawks lol.  Well hope everyone's summer is going well and if you still have things to cross off your summer to do list, you better hop on it!  Later.

How Can You Mend A Broken Heart

Michael Buble raised the question that is burning in the minds of thousands, maybe millions, of people worldwide: "How can you mend a broken heart?"  That answer comes in different forms for different people.  Some people turn to alcohol to numb the pain, but that doesn't improve the situation any.  Some people turn to food, but that just gets you fat which definitely doesn't help the problem.  Then there are the select few that turn to a higher power.  That's my source of healing, God.  He knows what's going on in your life and he knows how you will get out of the valley you're currently in.  I find myself asking God, at this time in my life; just as the song states: "Please help me mend my broken heart, And let me live again"  I want to live! I want to breathe and feel whole again. But love does crazy things to people and it's incredibly difficult to mend a heart that is broken from a lover. As it says in Psalms 34:18: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."  I pray that God would flow into my life and help mend this broken heart of mine. Amen. Thanks guys for listening to what I'm going through right now. Hope you all have a wonderful 4th!

World Cup Talk

So as many of you know, the World Cup is in full force and the 1st set of matches have been played.  Some of the favorites won and some lost (Spain!!). But the main topic of the 2010 World Cup hasn't been the upsets or the great goals, but rather about the sound of the vuvuzelas. For those of you who don't know, the vuvuzela (or sometimes called stadium horn) is a blowing horn that is approximately 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in length. It is commonly blown by fans at soccer matches in South Africa. The instrument is played using a simple brass instrument technique of blowing through compressed lips to create a buzz, and emits a loud monotone sound. Vuvuzelas have been controversial. They have been associated with permanent noise-induced hearing loss and have also been blamed for drowning the sound and atmosphere of football games. A new model, however, announced on 14 June 2010, has a modified mouthpiece which is claimed to reduce the volume by 20 dB.


So what's the big deal? Why are you writing about this? Well I just felt that I needed to vent a little and say that I'm annoyed....not by the vuvuzelas buzzing out of my TV but by the columnists and fans around the world.  Especially those in the US. People are asking that these horns be removed because they can't stand the buzzing sound that comes out of the TV. Give it a rest. These instruments are the voice of South African soccer (excuse me, football). You knew going into the World Cup that fans would be using these horns, so why play in South Africa? Well I'm glad they chose to play there as it's the first World Cup on African soil. It gives them a sense of pride and they show it by blowing these horns. So for the sake of the game, just live with it! If you don't like it, mute the TV. Ok, enough ranting. Have a great rest of your week.

New Found Respect for Food

Ever since I have been on my own, I've learned that food is a valuable thing to have in life.  Growing up, you never think about how much your mom spent at the grocery store or how she learned to cook the hundreds of meals she fed you day in and day out.  Now that I live on my own, I go to the grocery store and I leave defeated.  "I just spent how much?", I normally find myself saying as soon as I leave.  And then I take a look down at my cart, then back at my receipt, then I shed a quick tear.  Even by shopping careful and wisely, only buying things I need and things that are on sale, I still end up with a pretty small amount of groceries for the price.

Buying the food is only half the battle.  Now I get home and I have to make something out of what I just bought. Talk about a unique challenge for a 22 year old male.  I've looked up multiple recipes and gain confidence that I can cook some amazing dishes.  Yet when I read the ingredients, I realize I have none of the required spices or oils.  It's hard for me to buy ingredients for one meal because I feel like I'll never use them again.  But I have begun to branch out and start creating more meals.  So far, so good.  Let's just pray I don't burn down my apartment.

This recent food craze and realization has prompted me to devote space in my blog for recipes I find, dishes I create, and place I eat out at (which happens on occasion when I fail to create a meal for myself).  So look forward to future posts in my new section...."Cereal is Always an Option: Food Discovery for the College Male".  Have a great weekend everyone.