Happy Wednesday Blog Otters. After reading yesterday's QOTD and finding out the passions of our little group of ragamuffins, I started to wonder, what has been the APEX of that thing you're fighting for. Is there a moment or moments, or period of time in your life that you can absolutely point to and say "That's what I'm all about," or "That was me being the best me I could be"? Essentially:
What is your crowning achievement, thus far, in life?
For me, there was a period between 2010 to 2012 where the proverbial stars in my eyes aligned. Having spent high-school and a good chunk of community college in a technically oriented field, I made the switch and went all in, enrolling at a school in Chicago and more-or-less mortgaging my future for a chance at TV production-y greatness.
So, there I was, living in Chicago, living on my own, going to school, partying, working part time, having the quintessential college experience, and feeling more creatively fulfilled then ever before - but well aware that unless I could find a real, well paying, job, I was on borrowed time and likely doomed to a life of debt and broken dreams.
A professor and former 'Siskel and Ebert' producer says we should start a movie review show. I say yes. A week later I was interviewing Aaron Sorkin. Two weeks after that I was interviewing Randall Wallace, a few months after that, Morgan Spurlock. Combined with phoners with Ray Romano and Vanilla Ice, I was on top of the world. But I was more proud of my fellow classmates who were interviewing Jesse Eisenberg, Armie Hammer, Mandy Moore, John Malkovich, Thandie Newton, Topher Grace, Dimitri Martin, and all these other luminaries because of this 'show' I helped create. It was an insane two years. I joined a friend in a silly web-series that she had to do for class, I started reviewing movies for Starpulse.com and "Streetwise" magazine, which was sold by homeless people for two dollars - I bought every issue I was in. I got to sit in the press row. I farted in front of Michael Phillips once. I felt I was really making some headway.
In the back of my head I had this sinking feeling that we were all just playing pretend. It's one thing to 'run' a show for a college station, and it's another to translate all that work into a career, especially in a business where "Who" you know is on par with "What" you know.
But I did. When I heard the 'Ebert Presents: At The Movies' was looking for interns, I immediately applied despite having graduating college 3 months earlier, and was promptly brought aboard as a volunteer, then production assistant, then fully paid producer. You know those Eminem songs when he raps about being at the top his game? How no one could stop him, he was the best, and all that? That was me. I ran the website, I brought the show into High Definition, I even (literally) put words in Roger Ebert's mouth. It was like Slumdog Millionaire, practically every question they had, I knew the answer to. Like the pants of a man with five penises, the gig fit like a glove.
I'm oversimplifying the whole situation, but they eventually offered me full time work with benefits and all the fixings. I gave a homeless guy twenty bucks on my way home from work ("Thank you Lord! Thank you Jesussss!", he said), and gave my somewhat loathed part-time tech job my two weeks notice for the second time. I sauntered to my apartment, secure in myself and who I was for literally the first time and my friends were there with beers and smiles of congratulations.
That two week notice period was my apex, my defining moments. I connected cancer charities with news outlets, I promoted documentaries about gang violence and social issues to the masses, I was really working in television, being paid to talk about movies, edit copy, pitch ideas, and be nice to people. I could see any movie I wanted free of charge. I had access to every single DVD that had been sent to Roger Ebert on the off chance he'd give it a review. I saw an entire documentary featuring John Tuturro dancing like a mad man. I could turn into PBS on Friday night literally anywhere in the country, and see my name in the credits.
Some of Chicago's street lights tend to saturate the streets in a soft glow, and that's how I felt. Bathed in a golden aura of joy and purpose and determination. Despite all my insecurities, neuroses, fears, worries I was never working hard enough, angst over my less-than-stellar opinion of myself, I made it. I really fucking made it. Life was beautiful. Chicago was beautiful. The two buses I took to work every day were beautiful. I took the long train home some nights just to marvel at this glorious city I would call home for the foreseeable future. I had friends that liked wrestling and wrestling games. I had other friends who liked golf and pro football. I was in walking distance from Wrigley field, a Gamestop, Thai restaurants, and a bus ride away from a pinball museum and the world's most delicious hotdog stand. I met a pretty girl. I seduced her via the power of You Don't Know Jack and a confidence to make the first move that I never knew I had.
I was the man I never thought I could be. I took this picture one of my first days as a gainfully employed television producer.
By the following Monday, it was all over.
But that's a whole other question for a whole other day now, isn't it?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blog Otter Award: wnyxmcneal for reminding me how close to home "Big Fan" hits for some of us, and in a round about way suggesting today's question. Your reward can be found here you shame spiral inducing jerkface.
- Yikes, sorry for the over-share above. It's kind of nice to write about something that isn't a game, movie, or some other commodity-esque piece. I can try to space them out.
- Three poker game signups, we'll make an actual thread tomorrow for the QOTD. Be prepared to share bad beat stories, bad player stories, and your best suck outs of all time.
What is your crowning achievement, thus far, in life?
For me, there was a period between 2010 to 2012 where the proverbial stars in my eyes aligned. Having spent high-school and a good chunk of community college in a technically oriented field, I made the switch and went all in, enrolling at a school in Chicago and more-or-less mortgaging my future for a chance at TV production-y greatness.
So, there I was, living in Chicago, living on my own, going to school, partying, working part time, having the quintessential college experience, and feeling more creatively fulfilled then ever before - but well aware that unless I could find a real, well paying, job, I was on borrowed time and likely doomed to a life of debt and broken dreams.
A professor and former 'Siskel and Ebert' producer says we should start a movie review show. I say yes. A week later I was interviewing Aaron Sorkin. Two weeks after that I was interviewing Randall Wallace, a few months after that, Morgan Spurlock. Combined with phoners with Ray Romano and Vanilla Ice, I was on top of the world. But I was more proud of my fellow classmates who were interviewing Jesse Eisenberg, Armie Hammer, Mandy Moore, John Malkovich, Thandie Newton, Topher Grace, Dimitri Martin, and all these other luminaries because of this 'show' I helped create. It was an insane two years. I joined a friend in a silly web-series that she had to do for class, I started reviewing movies for Starpulse.com and "Streetwise" magazine, which was sold by homeless people for two dollars - I bought every issue I was in. I got to sit in the press row. I farted in front of Michael Phillips once. I felt I was really making some headway.
But I did. When I heard the 'Ebert Presents: At The Movies' was looking for interns, I immediately applied despite having graduating college 3 months earlier, and was promptly brought aboard as a volunteer, then production assistant, then fully paid producer. You know those Eminem songs when he raps about being at the top his game? How no one could stop him, he was the best, and all that? That was me. I ran the website, I brought the show into High Definition, I even (literally) put words in Roger Ebert's mouth. It was like Slumdog Millionaire, practically every question they had, I knew the answer to. Like the pants of a man with five penises, the gig fit like a glove.
I'm oversimplifying the whole situation, but they eventually offered me full time work with benefits and all the fixings. I gave a homeless guy twenty bucks on my way home from work ("Thank you Lord! Thank you Jesussss!", he said), and gave my somewhat loathed part-time tech job my two weeks notice for the second time. I sauntered to my apartment, secure in myself and who I was for literally the first time and my friends were there with beers and smiles of congratulations.
That two week notice period was my apex, my defining moments. I connected cancer charities with news outlets, I promoted documentaries about gang violence and social issues to the masses, I was really working in television, being paid to talk about movies, edit copy, pitch ideas, and be nice to people. I could see any movie I wanted free of charge. I had access to every single DVD that had been sent to Roger Ebert on the off chance he'd give it a review. I saw an entire documentary featuring John Tuturro dancing like a mad man. I could turn into PBS on Friday night literally anywhere in the country, and see my name in the credits.
Some of Chicago's street lights tend to saturate the streets in a soft glow, and that's how I felt. Bathed in a golden aura of joy and purpose and determination. Despite all my insecurities, neuroses, fears, worries I was never working hard enough, angst over my less-than-stellar opinion of myself, I made it. I really fucking made it. Life was beautiful. Chicago was beautiful. The two buses I took to work every day were beautiful. I took the long train home some nights just to marvel at this glorious city I would call home for the foreseeable future. I had friends that liked wrestling and wrestling games. I had other friends who liked golf and pro football. I was in walking distance from Wrigley field, a Gamestop, Thai restaurants, and a bus ride away from a pinball museum and the world's most delicious hotdog stand. I met a pretty girl. I seduced her via the power of You Don't Know Jack and a confidence to make the first move that I never knew I had.
I was the man I never thought I could be. I took this picture one of my first days as a gainfully employed television producer.
By the following Monday, it was all over.
But that's a whole other question for a whole other day now, isn't it?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blog Otter Award: wnyxmcneal for reminding me how close to home "Big Fan" hits for some of us, and in a round about way suggesting today's question. Your reward can be found here you shame spiral inducing jerkface.
- Yikes, sorry for the over-share above. It's kind of nice to write about something that isn't a game, movie, or some other commodity-esque piece. I can try to space them out.
- Three poker game signups, we'll make an actual thread tomorrow for the QOTD. Be prepared to share bad beat stories, bad player stories, and your best suck outs of all time.
How old are you? Mid-20's? When I was your age, I was just a lazy scumbag who wouldn't dare move off Mother Stranger's couch. I went to college for two years, fucked that up, went to a private business school, got two different diplomas, couldn't find work in either of the fields, got a part time job in a call center, part time job at a nursing home, part time work through a temp agency doing data entry for Canada Post, all at the same time; got online and met my future wife, was the first guy hired at a major call center, full time, finally and moved up the ranks to an internal help desk guy with smart ass answers. Before I knew it, I was 30. I wouldn't call any of those crowning achievements. I once got fired from a job with the city for hacking employee internet passwords and within three weeks found a job with the state. God Bless America. Remember 9/11!
ReplyDeleteThat's an awesome story, and kudos to you on all of the hard work that no doubt entailed.
ReplyDeleteAs for myself, from the moment I started working in newspapers, I wanted to be an editor for a newspaper in New York City. I finally got that chance with my current job. Sure, it's only a weekly in Queens, with a circ of about 100,000, but it affords me the opportunity to do a lot of cool shit (for example, I just got my press passes to NY Comic Con approved - SCORE!), not to mention having elected officials and other muckety-mucks give me a head nod and a "Hey, how are you" when I see them.
There's more I want to accomplish, absolutely, but you'll never hear me complain about not having done enough with my life.
this is the 1st thing that came to mind:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/2009/12/10/
cause SOMEONE has to do it, i'd like to take this moment today to remember...
ReplyDelete...when stephanie compared the events of 9/11 to vince's federal steroid trial
Putting that college diploma in my mom's hand. She was really sick and passed 8 months later but she wanted to see me graduate. I actually doubled up on courses so I could be part of the graduation ceremony in May/June of 2000.
ReplyDeleteGraduating med school. And once eating 22 dollars worth of taco bell at 1 sitting.
ReplyDeleteHa!
ReplyDeleteI've done that second one.
ReplyDeleteImpressive. Must confess I was banged up on numerous things. Couldnt do it sober
ReplyDeletePretty awesome she got to see it. What u graduate in?
ReplyDeleteDuring my freshman year in college, I worked for the college paper (NIU's Northern Star), and I can honestly say it was the best job I ever had. I started off as a field reporter who occasionally contributed pieces to the editorial page, but the next semester I was promoted (much to my surprise) to a permanent spot on the opinion page. The previous holder of the spot also happened to be the outgoing Editorial Editor, and he liked my work and encouraged me to make the most of the opportunity. It took me a few weeks to "find my voice", but once I did it was full speed ahead with no looking back. My official title (also inherited) was "Staff Humorist", but I took a much different approach from my predecessor: his humor was much more anti-establishment and occasionally nihilistic, while I focused more on observations about life and pop culture and deliberately corny jokes. One of my last columns was more of an extended rant on the shittier aspects of human nature, and my editor thought it was a bit too harsh for a traditionally lighthearted column...and yet it ended up becoming one of my most popular pieces.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I enjoyed the actual writing, I appreciated the atmosphere of the newsroom even more. There was a constant buzz of nervous energy and excitement as people rushed to meet impossible deadlines, but it was also an environment which encouraged people to do their best work. I continued to do reporting in addition to my columnist duties, and even had a few stories make the front page under the banner headline (the most coveted piece of newspaper real estate). It was a great time in my life, and nothing else in the past decade or so has even come close career-wise.
Thanks. Project Management.
ReplyDeleteI will second that part too.
ReplyDeleteWhats your McDonalds double cheese burger record?
ReplyDeleteOn September 22nd, 2009 I was 323 pounds, suicidal, unemployed, and living with my parents. On September 22nd, 2010 I was 205 pounds, in a better place mentally than any point in my life, gainfully employed, and living in my own one bedroom apartment with a reclining couch, 47 inch HDTV, and Tempurpedic mattress (my three goals to be able to afford: paid with cash, no loan or credit card).
ReplyDeleteHaving the most upvoted comment in BoD history.
ReplyDelete/thread
Are you a GP?
ReplyDeleteER doc. Did 5.5 years of post graduate school to work with gunshot victims, alcoholics, and drug addicts. Thats like 70% of ER people.
ReplyDeleteI'm such a loser. Oh well, alcoholism for me!
ReplyDeleteThe time I lifted the three-and-a-half ton Andre the Giant over my head, spun him around three times, and slammed him all the way to China, brother. Andre was so amazed that he stripped naked and threw his clothing all the way back at me. He died the next day.
ReplyDeleteI can't think of the appropriate beginning to this sentence ("nice" isn't right, "word" makes me want to punch myself in the dick, help a brother out) but I work for a private practice. I have one cousin who's a hospitalist, one who's a psychologist, and one who's a OBGYN (spoiler alert: that side of the family is Jewish).
ReplyDeleteWhich one?
ReplyDelete"Youre really freaking awesome and cool and always give insightful posts" is typically a good way to respond to me. JK
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I get to do this!!!!
ReplyDelete"WILL YOU STOP!"
Agree with me on everything and I'll gladly say that. Kidding!
ReplyDeleteReal answer. Seeing some of the interns that have worked for me to go on to be more successful than I ever could have imagined... as much as I miss politics I will be content never being involved in it again the rest of my life because I know that I helped influence those kids career paths and lives, and that they have all, already accomplished so much.
ReplyDeleteMost impressive drunken food record: $12.00 off of the Burger King breakfast menu (two chicken biscuits, a hash brown baggie, and two cinnamon buns).
ReplyDeleteMost impressive/disgusting food record: A 1 lbs. cheeseburger from cheeburger cheeburger, a handful of fries, and a cookies and cream milkshake.
That is impressive. I once was coming down of an adderall so hadnt eaten in over a day, was drunk, and had taken a bong rip or two. Found myself eating sour cream, peanut butter snd apricot jelly mixed all together. One of my low points in life.
ReplyDeleteSelling or giving away 90% of my worldly possessions a few years ago has had the biggest positive impact on my life. It wasn't really an achievement or anything, but embracing a more minimalist lifestyle is what's given me the time and perspective to work on achieving other things.
ReplyDeleteSomeone should feature you guys on Man vs. Food.
ReplyDeleteWhyd you do it? I respect your decision but just don't get it.
ReplyDeleteI'm intolerant of fish (it doesn't make me swell up, my body just reacts like I ingested ipecac and exlax) but my stomach is cast iron (WORST THING TO BE PROUD OF EVER).
ReplyDeleteThis is how i feel, even though I may not be in TV at the moment, I can point to three or four folks I know that I certainly helped get a leg up in the world of media.
ReplyDeleteWhat's your secret!
ReplyDeleteI just tried to top it and the whole left side of my body is numb. Is that a problem?
ReplyDeleteThe one no one wants to hear: I had six days a week where I drank optifast shakes four times a day and ate lean, skinless chicken breasts or ground turkey meatloaf or turkey burgers. I'd allow myself a cheat day (Saturday). I started out doing 50 push ups-50 crunches - 50 Hindu squats in January of '09 and added 50 a day every month. Did that 7 days a week and then started walking (eventually moved up to walk/jogging and finally jogging) six days a week.
ReplyDeleteMeekin...
ReplyDeleteNot to be a dick-rider, but your QOTD BLOWS the other QOTD out the water.
Its not even funny.
Kudos.
Expendenbles 2 and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
ReplyDeleteFuj, remember that back and forth you and I had with Caliber over this exact same subject...
ReplyDeleteNo sooner do I write about my gig at Ebert Presents than my e-mail goes down forever. Goodbye @Ebertpresents.com e-mail, I'll miss you.
ReplyDeleteNo I don't,
ReplyDeleteCan I get a refresher?
Caliber said he was a major contributor to Scott's blog, and talked about how great QOTD was and acted like it was a major time consuming part of his day.
ReplyDeleteYou pointed out that anyone could probably do it.
well i only typed what everyone was probably thinking.
ReplyDeleteI had boxes of stuff stored in the basement that I never used. I had bookshelves full of books I had read once and might not read again for 5-10 years. I had clothes I hadn't worn in over a year, and drawers full of spares of things I barely use. This stuff was easy to get rid of once I realized that (a) somebody else could perhaps get some good use out of it, and (b) if I really wanted anything again I could just get it again.
ReplyDeleteWhy I did it? Less shit to worry about. Peace of mind. Disconnecting myself from consumer and entertainment culture and putting that focus towards things that make my life more worthwhile rather than just more comfortable. Everything I own is either a necessity or is a luxury that I feel very strongly about. My wife and I could pack up our entire apartment in one carload in just a few hours (excluding furniture of course). Something about that really appeals to me.
Most recently it has to be standing at the edge of the wrestling mat and seeing the look of utter relief and joy in the smile on the face of my 10 year old boy when he defeated his opponent in the medal qualifying round to place at the CA State Tournament -- He'd qualified for State in the previous two years and came up just short and it really bothered him -- He put so much pressure on himself to medal -- As one of his coaches (and his dad) I tried to make him realize it wasn't a big deal if he didn't place but I could tell how he felt; little bastard is really driven -- Anyway, he shook his opponent's and coaches hands and immediately came over and gave me a huge hug -- He's such a sweet, humble, hard-working kid and at that moment I also allowed myself to believe that maybe I was doing something right as a father and it filled me with immense joy...
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on the whole, I believe Caliber posted this exact same question as a QOTD at some point.
ReplyDeleteIs anyone getting invalid sign in warnings on their gmail btw? Or is it just me?
ReplyDeleteprobably so, but it was the overwhelming sense of worth thay drove me away, not really the content.
ReplyDeletelike thinking a girl is unattractive cuz her attitude is shitty.
Oh ok. I thought tout were talking about living in a tent, selling cars, boycotting electricity type crazy stuff.
ReplyDeleteDude...that does happen. Honestly I thought Zoe Saldana was very good looking until she opened her mouth...then I could not find her hot anymore. I don't know what it is with me, but it's like a filter immediately goes over them.
ReplyDeleteI just went and upvoted you. 105!
ReplyDeleteI don't mind the downvote but please afford me the courtesy of explaining...
ReplyDeleteWorks for me.
ReplyDeleteI'm jealous. It takes a lot of maturity to be able to realize needs vs. wants and actually act on it.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome.
ReplyDeleteSo did I, and don't know how I didn't upvote it the first time.
ReplyDeleteGood for you young man!
ReplyDeleteNot so mature. Pro wrestling is one of those luxuries I feel very strongly about.
ReplyDeleteAt a point in 2011, I had just started at the dayhab I work at, and was just getting into the swing of things and starting to impress people with my quality of work, and I loved every second of work. I'd just go in and have fun all day, and even when things got stressful, behavior wise, I loved working out how to diffuse the situation efficiently. Really the first job I've had where I had to use my head, and I took to it immediately. Every day i'd be legit excited to get up and go to work, something I never thought possible. Then at the same time, I was happily married, my daughter was just under 2 years old (and, not that this changes anything, but not yet evidently autistic), and me & my wife were living happily and comfortably with her father, who wanted us there to help him out, so we didn't have to worry about bills. And we'd pretty much just spend every night watching the shows and movies we both enjoyed, go out to dinner all the time, have lots of sex, and spend tons of time as a family on weekends. Plus my wife worked day shift during that time on weekends so it was just me & my kid all weekend long, having me time all day (at that age, they're pretty low maintenance), and then spending time all together at night or going out and spending time with our friends. Life was pretty much perfect.
ReplyDeleteNow of course, me & my wife are split, I have to work 2 jobs to get by, I hardly ever get to spend quality time with my daughter, and my dayhab is closing and all my guys are gonna be split up and shuffled off to other sites. They named Murphy's Law after me, yknow.
Winning a trip to the Super Bowl.
ReplyDeleteYes, I know. Being chosen in a random drawing doesn't seem like an achievement, but it was. I entered sweepstakes and contests as a hobby for eleven years and entered every "Win a trip to the Big Game" I saw. I filled out lots of blanks, 3x5 cards, postcards and envelopes. Not to mention postage stamps.
I finally won a trip to SB 41 in Miami from Pepsi and Hannaford Supermarkets. My Patriots almost made it there and it rained the whole game, but it was still a great experience.
I've done lots of other things in life, but this was a real "persistence pays" / "never give up" moment.
*ahem*
ReplyDeleteThat is so freakin' cool. Did you go nuts when you won?
ReplyDeleteNECRO-VOTER!
ReplyDeleteI want moms to to see me graduate as well.
ReplyDeleteGood shit.
man, I'd have to find it, but it went along the lines that you and I told him that if he disappeared tomorrow, someone else would pick up the slack and the blog would go on without a hitch since the real draw is Scooter. Essentially, he over valued himself.
ReplyDeleteWanna get drunk??
ReplyDeleteIt's like voting late for the guy who already won the election. I stick with winners, baby!
ReplyDeleteYeah. Those who win a lot know that a common way to be notified is by FedEx. When I saw that flat FedEx envelope sitting on my porch, I thought "It has to be, it has to be." and walked around with it before opening it.
ReplyDeleteI've won trips to the Daytime Emmys, Dublin, Ireland, and Florida and California, but this was the ultimate.
I went to add another vote and realized I already upvoted. I didn't realize 109 different people read this blog.
ReplyDeleteJust as a follow up, I mentioned this to post to Mrs. Parallax1978 as well as my comment and she assured me that yes, if Edge were talking to my wife I should in fact be worried... I guess that makes me Matt Hardy :-(
ReplyDeleteHo. Lee. Fuk.. Most of you guys are fat, out of shape Summerslam Sweathogs. Even your vanity pictures are pictures that I would be ashamed of posting on the internet "in my prime" "at the height of my powers". Quit eating calzones all day, hit the gym, life gets better. JTFC.
ReplyDeleteJust out of curiosity, what did you do in politics? I thought about going into that field, but realized that I didn't have the temperament or drive necessary to succeed.
ReplyDeleteHi newbie. A good way to be booted is by insulting everyone without actually contributing anything worthwhile. First and last warning. Thanks and good luck.
ReplyDeleteWhat is your crowning achievement, thus far, in life?
ReplyDeleteMy crowning achievement is weighing less than 375 lbs.
Field and Advance mostly. But as a state director or regional organizer you are pretty much responsible for anything that happens in your area of influence. Press relation, coalition building, community outreach, volunteer recruitment and management etc... I haven't been in too many positions where the political strategy of the campaign was my responsibility despite my education being in Public Policy... which is a shame because, like you it is fascinating to me... but my favorite part is working with volunteers and interns... it amazes me how people can pour that much time, effort, and emotion into something that they are doing just because they think it is the right thing to do... and after all of that effort the usually thank YOU for everything you did... everyone that thinks politics is all bad needs to experience this side of it. The interns are like my kids... I take the same type of pride in what they accomplish that a parent does in what their kids accomplish... a former intern of mine was on the Sean Hannity show this week on a panel of college students made up of 6 democrats and 6 republicans... and in my view he schooled Sean Hannity for asking a stupid fucking question... I was very pleased.
ReplyDeleteBecause people are assholes on the internet.
ReplyDeleteTwo words. Hate Fuck.
ReplyDeleteBlink 182, Steroids = coffee, Backstreet Boys > Sex Pistols, Can get any woman he wants, is in amazing shape etc... I actually think he is/was a good dude... but he had some fucked up thoughts on things.
ReplyDeleteExercise, eating less calories and burning more... funny how a multi-million dollar industry who crumble if people would just deal with that.
ReplyDeleteTry billion. I had tried EVERY diet before that: Atkins, Weight Watchers, South Beach, I even did a liquid diet for three months. I've managed to keep the majority of the weight off. It's not EASY but it's worth it. Also, it's amazing how much bullshit or outright dangerous stuff there is out there. Spot reduction sounds ridiculous when you think about it for a moment and unless you have a trained professional (and even then the philosophy behind it is sketchy) CrossFit sounds like a license to hurt yourself.
ReplyDeleteYou should get on that DDP Yoga. I've been doing a variation of it at the gym and it is fucking awesome. Using your bodyweight instead of actual weights still builds muscle, plus with that workout, it improves your posture and flexibility.
ReplyDeleteI started doing yoga periodically earlier this year for literally the stupidest reason ever: I was dating a woman who said, "guys who do yoga are amazing in bed" (I managed to fuck it up but that's another story for another time). TO THE YOGA STUDIO! It was really kismet to be able get in shape. When I got serious about losing the weight it was truly life or death for me; I'm not being hyperbolic when I say I was suicidal. It wasn't just losing the weight but I started seeing a great therapist and really became self-aware and much more confident. I also was only working part time so I was able to really devote my OCD to it. I have a couple of yoga apps on my iPad but what made my workout so easy was that it was portable. You can do push ups, crunches, and squats anywhere and if you're not in a place where you can walk/jog/run (my grandmother lives near Buffalo and it's like Planet Hoth at Christmas time) there's always a gym in a hotel.
ReplyDeleteYeah, working at the grassroots level sounds a lot more satisfying than the headaches and compromises that you encounter further up the ladder. Still fascinating to watch politics in action, though, even when (sometimes ESPECIALLY when) things go to pot.
ReplyDeleteAww but I wanna know what he said!
ReplyDeleteNot worth it, just trolling.
ReplyDeleteYes... though I enjoy it at every level working with the people actually affected is where the real gratification comes in. It pains me that most people have such a negative view of elected officials because a vast majority of them really get involved to help people.
ReplyDeleteYeah, you're obviously right but I was kinda' hoping maybe it was his kid that my kid beat to place :-) I appreciated Mr. Meekin's end to his story:
ReplyDelete"By the following Monday, it was all over.
But that's a whole other question for a whole other day now, isn't it?"
In the next round of the tournament to see how high my son would place (3rd being the best and 8th the worst) his opponent tore his arm off and proceeded to beat him with it -- But it didn't diminish the memory I have of the moment at all...
If you really want to know go to the NPP forums where he's bragging about it.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I like the guy and all but I gotta agree. These QOTD seem to just have a little more substance.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I think he's a good guy and all but you're right. His stance that any girlfriend he has can't have male friends kinda freaked me out a bit. Just sounded a bit too overly possessive.
ReplyDeleteI out scored the legendary Joe Johnson in an AAU travel game in the summer of 1999 while we were "guarding" each other. 19 points that day baby! I held him to 14. He probably has forgotten all about it but goddamn it I was crossing him over and boxing him out all game.
ReplyDeleteI did something similar many years ago... It's very liberating. We become very attached to "stuff" and the idea of losing it causes stress, until it's gone, and then it's actually a release.
ReplyDeleteWas it the Edge talking to the wife thread?
ReplyDeleteWOW. You got me curious and im home alone so I went back and found the "coffee is just as or more dangerous then steroids thing." I dont know how I missed that one.
ReplyDeleteWhat was the bsckstreet boys/pistols thing?
He said that they were both created because of their look, didn't know how to play their instruments, or write their own songs... and the Backstreet Boys were better because at least they could sing.
ReplyDeleteUgh. He seemed like a good dude and I liked him but thats a puke inducing opinion
ReplyDeleteIsn't that technically true (except for Bb being able to sing)?
ReplyDeleteThere is truth to it. They were created that way... but it doesn't discredit the quality of what they did, doesn't make them a "boy band" as he claimed and CERTAINLY doesn't make BB >= SP
ReplyDeleteMy most impressive was DESTROYING 1-3 racks of beef ribs on some "all you can eat" thing, then admitting to my friend casually that "I could have eaten another one". I mean, I didn't want to eat like a fattie, and I had other stuff to do, y'know?
ReplyDeleteAlas, in my thirties, I can come nowhere CLOSE to what I used to be able to eat in a sitting.