This last weekend was almost as good as my own birthday weekend. There was some drama and unplanned for events but somehow those never seem to matter as much once the events are over and the overall feeling I have is just a resounding thought of, wow! that was awesome, I wouldn't of traded it for anything.
The basic overview stands as thus, Fright Night at Great America. They had great haunted houses and even though I don't generally scare easy I let myself be scared and ended up jumping a lot and screaming a couple of times. Werewolves, severed bodies, malfunctioning toys, and worst of all creepy clowns, I dislike clowns thanks to my high school friend. It was just a lot of fun and the costumes were so creative and the area mazes were well put together, even most of the lines were short so it was worth going earlier in the month than last year.
Then came the Renaissance Fair in Casa De Fruta. What a great day to go, the weather was fantastic, warm but not too hot, and people everywhere dressed as anything and everything that you can think of. I love looking around and seeing all the wonderful merchandise that people craft by hand. There is something wonderful about it, things that aren't manufactured by machines but by human hands. The food, the items and the drinking songs are just some of the highlights of the day. My favorite of course was the jousting competition, it made me want to watch the movie A Knight's Tale for the millionth time. Alas there wasn't enough time for sleep and a movie the rest of the weekend, sleeping clearly won out.
Finally, yesterday was a play it by ear day but sometimes those are the best kind of Sundays to have. I slept as much as my body needed, I made a cake that I have never tried to make before and it turned out pretty okay. The only thing that could have made the day better was a win from the San Francisco Giants and getting to watch the season premiere of The Walking Dead, but hey we can't have everything we want, and if we got everything we wanted how spoiled we would be. I do hope that everyone else had just as great of a weekend.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
Part of The Team
We never realize it when we are younger but learning to be a part of a team will follow us throughout our lives. Teams come in all forms, from families to sports to co-workers, and if we learn teamwork when we are young then as we grow we will take those lessons with us. I mean that is generally how learning works this is no exception.
I loved playing sports when I was younger, heck I love playing them now, but there were times in the past that I didn't understand what my parents were trying to teach me about being part of the team. Though I am not super clumsy I still have my moments when something doesn't go exactly right and I get hurt. When I was younger there were a couple of times when I hurt myself enough to actually have a cast or crutches. During those times you can bet I was part of some sort of organized sport.
I remember the first time I had crutches, I was playing softball at the time. I could barely get around so of course playing in a game was out of the question. To me at the time that meant maybe sitting in the stands and watching my team win without me. My parents had another idea however. I was in uniform, on the bench, with my crutches yelling and cheering with the rest of my team. At the time I thought it was a little too much, why be there in uniform when I can't play. As I got older and again was on crutches, this time for the high school basketball team, it was the same thing. In uniform on the bench, cheering and being the support I could be for my team.
I never realized then what those lessons would teach me about being part of a team. As family we are always there to support physically and emotionally, as sports teammates we are there to cheer on those that might need to hear the encouragement, and at work we are there to cover for each other when sickness or vacations might arise. The thing to remember is that sickness, pain or other ailments may present themselves, but sometimes you have to continue to be there for the team. When you start to let the team down they notice, when they have to constantly cover for you they notice. No one is really keeping track but co-workers, family members and teammates will always remember when those times as they may become more frequent. Sometimes we have to be weary of how much we are letting our teams down.
I loved playing sports when I was younger, heck I love playing them now, but there were times in the past that I didn't understand what my parents were trying to teach me about being part of the team. Though I am not super clumsy I still have my moments when something doesn't go exactly right and I get hurt. When I was younger there were a couple of times when I hurt myself enough to actually have a cast or crutches. During those times you can bet I was part of some sort of organized sport.
I remember the first time I had crutches, I was playing softball at the time. I could barely get around so of course playing in a game was out of the question. To me at the time that meant maybe sitting in the stands and watching my team win without me. My parents had another idea however. I was in uniform, on the bench, with my crutches yelling and cheering with the rest of my team. At the time I thought it was a little too much, why be there in uniform when I can't play. As I got older and again was on crutches, this time for the high school basketball team, it was the same thing. In uniform on the bench, cheering and being the support I could be for my team.
I never realized then what those lessons would teach me about being part of a team. As family we are always there to support physically and emotionally, as sports teammates we are there to cheer on those that might need to hear the encouragement, and at work we are there to cover for each other when sickness or vacations might arise. The thing to remember is that sickness, pain or other ailments may present themselves, but sometimes you have to continue to be there for the team. When you start to let the team down they notice, when they have to constantly cover for you they notice. No one is really keeping track but co-workers, family members and teammates will always remember when those times as they may become more frequent. Sometimes we have to be weary of how much we are letting our teams down.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Birthday Wishes
It has been well over a month since my actual birthday and I have had the best intentions of posting about what an amazing time I had but I guess it has had to wait until now. the thing about my birthday is that I don't hate it but I also don't like planning it for myself, it has always just felt like something someone else should do for you. Don't ask me why I think that, I can't tell you where that line of thought comes from. So now that I am older I just kind of go with the flow when it comes to my birthday. I might plan small things but no big parties, at least not until I am turning 30... only a couple years away *sigh*
This year turned out to be the best, somethings just came together and somethings I planned but overall it turned out pretty great and in the end what more could I really ask for. It turned out to be a weekend event type thing without me even trying, I had to work late that Friday night but still wanted to go out after work even if just for a little while. On the way out of work I found a $5 bill just hanging out on the ground. I feel like that was a good sign of things to come. I spent a couple of hours after that with friends at a local bar, drinking some cherry coke and listening to awesome karaoke. But I couldn't stay too late because the next day I had to be up early.
That Saturday was the day before my birthday, this year it happen to coincide with the San Francisco Color Run, also known as the happiest 5K on the planet. My friend and I got up early, especially for a Saturday and drove to San Francisco where we really did have a great time run/walking our first 5K. After we were tired but she wanted to take me to the Rainforest Cafe for dinner, neither of us had ever been there but it was great. We were sunburnt and tired, the robotic snake was ridiculous, and we got stare after stare from people because we were a pink color, but let's face it I would of stared as well. It was great!
Finally on Sunday, the real day of my birth, I went to church and then hung out with family. Well sort of my adopted family, that is what we are calling it anyways. We had pot roast for dinner, watched a movie, opened some presents, had some cake, and played Skip-Bo. All in all it was really a great day, I even enjoyed that my Dad used his Facebook to wish my an additional happy birthday. He is learning the ways of technology, I am so proud!
How does it feel to be another year older? Sometimes I wonder what the heck I am doing with my life. How did I get here and where am I going? But then I realize how very blessed I am, I may not have everything in the world that I expected to have at this age when I was younger, but I have a lot of things that I never could of dreamed of having at this age when I was 20. My own apartment and my little Guido, great friends and family, two jobs and a church calling, my health and the ability to do activities that I enjoy. I may not have everything I expected to have at this age, but I have come to realize that there are so many things in this life that I will obtain, I would just be spoiled if I got it all at once, and I wouldn't appreciate the things I do have nearly as much.
This year turned out to be the best, somethings just came together and somethings I planned but overall it turned out pretty great and in the end what more could I really ask for. It turned out to be a weekend event type thing without me even trying, I had to work late that Friday night but still wanted to go out after work even if just for a little while. On the way out of work I found a $5 bill just hanging out on the ground. I feel like that was a good sign of things to come. I spent a couple of hours after that with friends at a local bar, drinking some cherry coke and listening to awesome karaoke. But I couldn't stay too late because the next day I had to be up early.
That Saturday was the day before my birthday, this year it happen to coincide with the San Francisco Color Run, also known as the happiest 5K on the planet. My friend and I got up early, especially for a Saturday and drove to San Francisco where we really did have a great time run/walking our first 5K. After we were tired but she wanted to take me to the Rainforest Cafe for dinner, neither of us had ever been there but it was great. We were sunburnt and tired, the robotic snake was ridiculous, and we got stare after stare from people because we were a pink color, but let's face it I would of stared as well. It was great!
How does it feel to be another year older? Sometimes I wonder what the heck I am doing with my life. How did I get here and where am I going? But then I realize how very blessed I am, I may not have everything in the world that I expected to have at this age when I was younger, but I have a lot of things that I never could of dreamed of having at this age when I was 20. My own apartment and my little Guido, great friends and family, two jobs and a church calling, my health and the ability to do activities that I enjoy. I may not have everything I expected to have at this age, but I have come to realize that there are so many things in this life that I will obtain, I would just be spoiled if I got it all at once, and I wouldn't appreciate the things I do have nearly as much.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Back To Work
I was debating what I wanted to post about today, the easiest topic of course won out so today I am thinking a lot about my decision to go back to being a gym member. I feel like it was a split decision because I walked into the gym with no intention of joining, I was just feeling lousy and knew that a good work out would help me feel better. And since I could just buy a day pass and work out with my friend I thought this was no big deal, $10 to feel better, I will take that. I decided anyways to ask about joining and see what it would cost, thinking that if I could work it into my budget then I could join within the next month.
Well I got the numbers and went to work out and think about what I was going to do. I have had a nagging feeling lately that I just needed to find a way to get myself working out again. I told myself months ago when I quit my last gym that I could just work out at home and save the money for other things. Lots of people work out at home and they do just fine. I should have known from past experiences that I am not one of those people. It is not that I don't like working out I really do and I know that my apartment is no gym but I also know that it is big enough to burn some calories, yet I never did anything to get the work outs going.
Call me lazy if you want I don't care, I know that I have a tendency to be on the lazy side, especially when I feel like everything is piled up against me. A lot of times that means I will fight back but when it comes to working out or house work I tend to let the laziness take over. These days it seems to take over easily between having a second job and my chronic neck pain/ headaches. I know deep down I couldn't let this all continue, I needed to make this change and work on helping myself feel better.
Luckily my friend was there to help me think through the idea of joining the gym.Don't you just love friends! We talked it over, what it would mean for financially, what it would mean for me physically and mentally, even how it might work better in my schedule than trying to get to the gym right after work like I was doing before. By the end of the work out I had done strength training for my arms, cardio on the elliptical and treadmill and shot some hoops at the converted basketball court. And I knew that I should sign up right away, so I did. I feel good, I feel stronger, I feel like sore :) Though I had some trouble getting out of chairs and lifting my arms over my head yesterday and today, it is a good feeling, I don't know if it is actually possible but I can feel my body growing stronger right now, healing it self and getting out all the junk I have been putting in there.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Ultimate Nerd Debate
I am not going to just say the Superman is dumb and Batman is better. As far as superheroes go Superman is pretty darn awesome. I mean the man can fly and shoot lasers from his eyes and leap tall building in one bound. However not many things can get Superman down, he is an alien and his only weakness is a magical little crystal from some far away planet that was blown up. I could totally be wrong about that story but that is my interpretation of it.
I mean great he fights for justice and the American way which is awesome since he is not really American, remember he is an alien. But then you have Batman. Sure he is rich and privileged to have the advanced technology to help him fight crime. The thing is that since he is human there is no amount of money or technology that will keep his body from deteriorating. He is broken physically, mentally and emotionally time and time again, and though it might be a stretch to believe that any really person could take that much abuse, Batman always gets up to fight again.
I think that is why I like him so much more. It is easier to relate to and see yourself in the place of a man that is mortal. Someone who is beaten and broken and gets back up to continue to be beaten down again if that is what is called for. He is a symbol of what everyone has the opportunity to be, someone who does good for others. Someone who stands up for those that maybe can't stand up for themselves. And most of all someone who shows the world what the very definition of perseverance is. Hooray for superheros!
I mean great he fights for justice and the American way which is awesome since he is not really American, remember he is an alien. But then you have Batman. Sure he is rich and privileged to have the advanced technology to help him fight crime. The thing is that since he is human there is no amount of money or technology that will keep his body from deteriorating. He is broken physically, mentally and emotionally time and time again, and though it might be a stretch to believe that any really person could take that much abuse, Batman always gets up to fight again.
I think that is why I like him so much more. It is easier to relate to and see yourself in the place of a man that is mortal. Someone who is beaten and broken and gets back up to continue to be beaten down again if that is what is called for. He is a symbol of what everyone has the opportunity to be, someone who does good for others. Someone who stands up for those that maybe can't stand up for themselves. And most of all someone who shows the world what the very definition of perseverance is. Hooray for superheros!
Monday, July 9, 2012
Losing My Mind
Losing something or someone is never a good way to have a great day. Somethings are easily found and the day seems to get better, but there are things that you may lose forever that take a toll on ones emotions. It maybe a relationship that needs a change and you feel like it is a lost cause so you move on. Or it maybe a life the was taken because you could no longer watch the suffering.
Whatever the loss maybe it can seem to weigh heavy on your heart and your mind. You may even think how is it possible to continue from this great loss? Well like many wise people before myself have said, time can heal all wounds. That is not to say the wound will never hurt again, or that in the beginning it can't be reopened. I think of it like when my previously broken foot aches when the weather changes, just like that a loss can ache at times too. Not a day goes by that I don't miss my grandparents and the time that I could of spent with them.
Moving on can seem impossible when everything is fresh and a change is new. Forgiving someone who may have caused that loss may seem like it will never happen, but to move on you will have to forgive. Everyday that we hurt but continue to live we become that much stronger, just like a muscle that you work out and train. There are few things in this world that last forever, loss of some kind is inevitable, it is a sad but true fact. What we must focus on sometimes is Plan B, because even though we may think that there is only one path to happiness that is not true. We are blessed with multiple good ways for life to work out.
Whatever the loss maybe it can seem to weigh heavy on your heart and your mind. You may even think how is it possible to continue from this great loss? Well like many wise people before myself have said, time can heal all wounds. That is not to say the wound will never hurt again, or that in the beginning it can't be reopened. I think of it like when my previously broken foot aches when the weather changes, just like that a loss can ache at times too. Not a day goes by that I don't miss my grandparents and the time that I could of spent with them.
Moving on can seem impossible when everything is fresh and a change is new. Forgiving someone who may have caused that loss may seem like it will never happen, but to move on you will have to forgive. Everyday that we hurt but continue to live we become that much stronger, just like a muscle that you work out and train. There are few things in this world that last forever, loss of some kind is inevitable, it is a sad but true fact. What we must focus on sometimes is Plan B, because even though we may think that there is only one path to happiness that is not true. We are blessed with multiple good ways for life to work out.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Willing To Help A Friend
How far would you go to help out a friend? Is there ever a time when you just have to walk away from the friendship? What are those circumstances?
I have almost never pushed a friend away, and in less than a handful of instances have I stopped being friends with someone. I am always a giving person or at least I try to be. I am willing to stand up for my friends in all kinds of situations and have at times been a middle person or peace keeper to help out the situation. In all my time of being, what i hope is good friend to those around me, I sometimes come to the idea that maybe I put up with more than crap than I really should.
Something that I am beginning to realize is that they might put up with more of my antics than I do of theirs. And I do worry sometimes that I use them irresponsibly. I am not really sure how you would use someone irresponsibly but I worry no matter what that I may have or be doing this. Friends have always been a bit of a mystery for me I guess. I know that doesn't give me a right to treat my friends badly, and for the most part I can't really think of a time that I have done that, though I am human and I am sure there are instances. But I come back to the ultimate question, when is it too far for them to carry me, cover for me, hold me up, or have my back? And vice versus? Is there ever a time when you should walk away from a friend or maybe just not be such good friends?
I have almost never pushed a friend away, and in less than a handful of instances have I stopped being friends with someone. I am always a giving person or at least I try to be. I am willing to stand up for my friends in all kinds of situations and have at times been a middle person or peace keeper to help out the situation. In all my time of being, what i hope is good friend to those around me, I sometimes come to the idea that maybe I put up with more than crap than I really should.
Something that I am beginning to realize is that they might put up with more of my antics than I do of theirs. And I do worry sometimes that I use them irresponsibly. I am not really sure how you would use someone irresponsibly but I worry no matter what that I may have or be doing this. Friends have always been a bit of a mystery for me I guess. I know that doesn't give me a right to treat my friends badly, and for the most part I can't really think of a time that I have done that, though I am human and I am sure there are instances. But I come back to the ultimate question, when is it too far for them to carry me, cover for me, hold me up, or have my back? And vice versus? Is there ever a time when you should walk away from a friend or maybe just not be such good friends?
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