101 in 1001... Do it.

I've been neglecting this blog, but after last summer that's an awesome thing. That means I haven't been spending as much time strapped to a chair pounding out post like before. That means, that I've been taking advantage of a healthier life and have been getting out and living it up. Which is what brings me here today.

A buddy of mine was talking to me about his list and how he's been mentally checking items off, I can't say the same for myself. I know I've done some of the things on my list but now-a-day's it seems I'm more stoked about killing a task rather than putting it on blast. I think I've gotten to the point to where I can accomplish some things so fast that I'm mentally on to the next one already.

Example: As of my last accomplished post, nearly 4 months ago, where I took out three tasks, I have now accomplished ELEVEN more. Some even more than once. Woo Hoo!

Here's a brief look at what I've been up to...

18. Cook/Make something from my Pinterest. 
- In June I got all crafty and shit. Yeah, that's what I call it cause I'm a man. Haha. So I set out to Hobby Lobby, like a BOSS bought some supplies and created some custom ink for my Disc Golf discs.

21. Create short movies with videos (Clips) I've taken.
- So yeah, I've been making it a habit to capture more video. I've got a son who changes everyday and I want to remember that in a way still pictures can't capture. If this wasn't a lame blog, I'd actually have a video loaded for you to watch but... Well, I don't. My bad, next time.

39. Go Skinny Dipping.
- Done. And Done.

47. Go to the track and play the horses. 
- I wanna say we went twice this season. Nothing exciting happened, I didn't win big but I did win enough to keep playing and drinking and that's good enough for me. The next season starts soon so I'll be out placing bets this fall.

48. Go Tubing.
- Last summer was a long and slow burning summer, spending most of it injured had me determined to make the most of the sun season after rahab. And this video is just a snippet of that.


75. Record more video.
- Uhh... I guess this one goes hand in hand with #21.

80. Score within 5 strokes to par.
- Damn, I've been doing this for a while now. Granted it's at my "home course" where I have to opportunity to play at least once a week. But, I'm not taking anything away from this accomplishment, especially when my first score at the course (January 2012) was PLUS 26. Since January 19th, 2012 I have been scoring consistently anywhere from 0 to +4 and learning the game more and more each time.

88. Train More. Train Harder.
- After my injury I've realized more than ever than I need to get back to focuses on my health and fitness. I can proudly say that since January I've spent more time working out outside and lifting weights than I have been in recent years past. I've seen changes in my strength, in the way clothes fit and I feel better about myself. It doesn't stop here though... Next year I want to look at pictures of myself from this time and be exciting about how much better I look and feel.

93. Vacation at the beach.
- I can't believe I hadn't blogged about this already. Especially since I went twice and each time was a great trip. In fact we had such a great time that The Wife and I are hoping to make the trips an annual event. Our first trip was with a couple of friends in April, we enjoyed a childless, stree-free no rules vacation in beautiful South Padre Island, Texas. Can't wait 'till next year. Our second vacation was just as much fun with the family in Galveston, Texas with a stop in Brenham for a tour and taste of Blue Bell Ice Cream.

97. Win a Super Saturday (Disc Golf).
- This one's is almost out of my control. By that I mean, I have to actually play people to win. And since I've gotten better  I haven't had very many opportunities to throw with my crew. Summer is a busy time and as adults we've all got schedules and plans, family events and shopping at Home Depot or Bed Bath & Beyond. But in June I finally played the and beat the guys in my regular crew, for those counting, that's only 6 months after my very first round. #DiscountDoubleCheck

MY LIST

Three more down. #36, #72, #89.

#36 Get paid more or get a new job.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! It’s about time! My pockets will be slightly heavier every month.

#72 Play the lottery.

Pretty self explanatory, and horribly unexciting. If I was a big winner this would be a better post.

#89 Transition to Apple (iCal, Notes, Reminders, etc) exclusively.

While I don’t think much of Siri, I do appreciate the ability of having everything I need in one central place. That place being, my Apple products, it’s extremely convenient to have my schedule, pictures, music and notes with me at all times, so I’ve made an effort to add and include everything on my phone and computer.

Time to add $15 to the pot. [See: The List #31]. 

#50 Hand Write and Send Letter. DONE.

In this case it was a "Thank you" letter/note. 

As you can tell from some of my recent posts [Here & Here], I've been playing disc golf and I'm really enjoying the game and the outdoor physical activity. Before I ruptured my Achilles a good friend of mine, "Beans", tore some ligaments in his leg on a disc golf course as he took a bad step walking down hill. During his recovery I mentioned to him that when he was able, we should go throw together. 

Fast forward a few months and I'm the one with an injury. 

After I had somewhat healed and had a good amount of strength and mobility in my leg he calls me up to invite me to play disc golf with him. I was a bit hesitant and very nervous but I met him and some other friends on the course and had a blast. I've honestly not had this much fun playing outside since my days of playing football. The competition, the camaraderie, the smell of the outdoors, the grass and even the smell of my dirty clothes after throwing take me back to my youth. I wish I started playing earlier. 

So, after a few weeks of playing I knew I had to thank him for getting my bum ass off the couch and inviting me out to throw with him and the guys. I grabbed a pen and a thank you card and let him know how thankful I was. 

I should also thank my step-father for hooking me up with an awesome starter kit, a brand new bag full of discs and a practice putting basket. But for him, I think a day or more with him on the course will serve better than a thank you note, I know he loves this game. 


***   ***   ***


To see more of my 101 things to do in 1001 days click HERE. 

Moving Pictures.

#17 Compost more. DONE.

Last spring after cleaning the yard and flower beds, preparing for new plants and flowers, I had a lot of extra clippings, leaves and various yard-waste. I had been thinking about starting a compost pile for a while but never took the time to get started, that and the fact that I had a feeling The Wife wouldn't want me collecting a pile of decomposing earth in our backyard. I’m sure her main concern was, the aesthetics of a compost heap don’t quite blend well with a manicured lawn and trees, I understand that.

With that in mind my composting began in planter-pot. The pot was small enough to not be an eye sore but big enough to start. Initially the pot didn’t have any drainage holes so I had to drill them, gotta have drainage and air circulation or that heap will begin to STANK!

Original Compost Pile.

Recently we’ve been getting a much appreciated amount of rain; while good for the drought burdened area it’s not so good for my potted composting. The lack or aeration and drainage has made for sour turns, not good. Now that The Wife is pretty much on board with composting and Young Money helps turn it when we’re in the yard playing, I’ve decided that now is a good time to “Compost more” (#17).

New Compost Heap.

Link to My List

Again! - 101 Things to do in 1001 Days.

Before injuring my Achilles I was actively blogging, averaging about 18 posts a month. That all ended when my active life slowed to a complete halt, there’s nothing interesting about an adult American male’s monotonous life of recovery. Although, while holding the couch to the floor I did catch too many TV shows about nothing really… You collect miscellaneous garbage and dead cat’s, sign up for hoarders. Do you enjoy casual sex, drugs and alcohol and maybe have a kid because of it, that’s MTV. I’ve got hundreds of channels of high definition rot your brain, time suck “entertainment”. I’m glad I’m feeling much better, indoor life isn’t for me.

With that said, I’ve decided to embark on another 1001 day journey to accomplish and yes, maybe even fail 101 goals. This will be my second go-round with this project and since this is the reason I first started blogging in 2007, I figured it would help get me out of this (lack of) blogging funk of 2012. Check out my list below, check back often and let me know if you’re doing something similar or plan on it. 

My 101 in 1001 Days ends December 9th, 2014.

1 A day with my brothers. 2 Attend a Notre Dame football game. 3 Backyard camp out. 4 Build a raised flower-bed/garden. 5 Build deck in backyard. 6 Build up savings account. 7 Buy and wear more bowties. 8 Buy and Xbox 360 or PS3. 9 Buy heavier dumbbells. 10 Buy more (Vinyl) albums. 11 Buy resistance bands. 12 Clean house daily. 13 Clean out closets and drawers. 14 Clean out garage. 15 Compete in a Disc Golf tournament. 16 Compile a soundtrack of my life. 17 Compost more. 03/14/12 18

Cook/Make something from my Pinterest.

19

Create a budget.

20

Create a photo-journal.

21

Create short movies with videos (Clips) I've taken.

22

Do something I've never done before.

23

Donate clothes I no longer wear.

24

Eat at new (to me) local restaurants.

25

Eat healthier.

26

Eat something I haven't before.

27

Enjoy Epoch responsibly.

28

Eye exam + new contacts.

29

Family picnic.

30

Find a new swimming hole.

31

For each goal completed, award self with $5 to save. [$45]

32

Get a bike (and ride it).

33

Get a Hole in one (Disc Golf)

34

Get a new (larger) vehicle.

35

Get a new tattoo.

36

Get paid more or get a new job.

37

Go Camping.

38

Go Fishing.

39

Go skinny dipping.

40

Go to a concert.

41

Go to a Texas tailgate party.

42

Go to a theme night at Alamo Drafthouse.

43

Go to bed at a decent time for a whole week.

44

Go to Schitterbahn.

45

Go to Six Flags (Fright Fest).

46

Go to the drive-in.

47

Go to the track and play the horses.

48

Go Tubing.

49

Grill Baby Back Ribs (more than once).

50

Hand write and send letters.

51

Have another "Super Saturday".

52

Have clothes tailored.

53

Have house sale-ready.

54

Host a Halloween party.

55

Host an Outdoor Movie Night.

56

Inspire. - 03/14/12

57

Keep records of yard work.

58

Lay a dry creek bed in backyard.

59

Learn a full song on the guitar.

60

Maintain Up-To-Date resume.

61

Make a damn good Pomarita.

62

Make my own beer.

63

Make my own wine.

64

Massage (at least ONCE).

65

Monthly outings with The Cohens.

66

New dentist + dental work.

67

No fast food for a month (Including breakfast).

68

Open separate savings account.

69

Pay off credit card.

70

Pedicure/Manicure (at least) twice a year.

71

Play and beat LIMBO.

72

Play the lottery.

73

Raise chickens.

74

Read books that are on my shelf looking much smarter than me.

75

Record more video.

76

Reverse pick-pocket someone.

77

Ride a train anywhere.

78

Run a 5k.

79

Say yes more.

80

Score within 5 strokes of par.

81

Sew my own shirt.

82

Skydive.

83

Take a Yoga class.

84

Take family photos.

85

Take son to a sporting event.

86

Take son to Blues on the Green.

87

Take son to Shady Grove Unplugged.

88

Train more, train harder.

89

Transition to Apple (iCal, Notes, Reminders, etc) exclusively.

90

Try rock climbing.

91

Update blog tags.

92

Update iTunes content.

93

Vacation at the beach.

94

Vacation to a place I have never been before.

95

Visit a cave.

96

Visit a winery.

97

Win a "Super Saturday" (Disc Golf).

98

Write & send DG course proposal to city council.

99

Write a letter to myself to open in 10 years.

100

Write a letter to myself to open in 5 years.

101

Write in Journal. 

Disc Golf Kit + Gear

CamelBak - USMC Boonie - HD Ultra - Water Bottle - UA Loose - UA Compression - UA Running Short - Zensah Compression Sleese - The North Face Ultra 105 GTX XCR

QJLS - Wolf - #2 Upshot.

Disc Golf

In an effort to gain some physicality back after the surgery to repair my ruptured Achilles (and after ONLY a few visits with physical therapy) I decided to try my hand and foot at the game of disc golf. Like ball golf or regular golf, the goal of each hole is to make your disc into a basket in the least amount of throws and end the game with the lowest total score amongst competitors.

In high school after a shitastic cornea transplant, I was left on the sidelines of the football field when my doctors thought it would be in my best interest to reduce and cutout all full contact sports. A few of my friends were on the (Ball) golf team so with the suggestion of my doctors, disappointment and lack of complete motivation I got together some basic clubs and tried golf. I was a hyper teen, I could go from coma to sugar overdose quicker than a sneeze, I lacked patience and focus. My golf career lasted maybe a month, the only good drives I had were when I shouldn’t have been driving. I remember one day we were playing Riverside and there were some guys ahead of us who were moving pretty slow, my buddies knew I had nothing for a drive so suggested that I tee off (It didn’t matter anyway). Well, I cracked into the ball with punishing force, I watched it as it screamed off the club, my friends voices yelled too –“FORE!”- as the ball approached the group ahead of us. It was AWESOME! The ball ricocheted and pin-balled around their golf cart as they were loading up. That was my first best-drive but not the last of the kind. Haha.

Alright, this post is about Disc Golf not the silly nicker wearing ball golf. What I like about disc golf is its availability and cheapness, not to mention it’s attractiveness to beginners and seasoned vets. Just about anyone of any level can play with no prior skill, practice or expensive equipment. Also, it’s another reason to get up and enjoy fresh air, the outdoors and competition with friends.

Disc golf has been, ehh, somewhat in my life for as long as I remember. While I’ve never actually played until recently, my stepfather has been a rabid competitor for years so I’ve heard terms and stories of his victories and losses. Lucky for me too, is the fact that when I rang him, letting him know that I was invited to play and asked him if he had a simple set-up I could borrow, he said yes. When I showed up to get my gear, he really hooked me up. He gave me a disc bag, a few discs –which included drivers, mid-rangers & putters- he also gave me a sweet-ass practice basket which I’ve recently started bringing to work to get 15 minute practices in here-and-there.

"Work Break"

Brushy Creek - Hole 3 - Par 4

If you ask me, I should have started playing this long ago, maybe in high school instead of ball golf. I’m not bragging but I ain’t gonna lie, I’d probably be pro by now. Hey, I’m just saying. I’m not that good but I’m not at all close to bad and I keep getting better. Disc golf is a great game, I’ve only played 9 times and each time is a new experience and the time in between playing all I want to do is play… So far, throwing disc is the closest I’ve felt to being a kid again. I just want to play.

Brushy Creek - Hole 7 - Par 3. Birdie!

Today marks the 8 month anniversary of my surgery to repair my ruptured Achilles. At the end of January I began playing disc golf, a game I highly recommend to almost anyone recovering from an Achilles injury. The game isn’t violently demanding on the body, you’ll begin to stretch and bend your ankle on uneven ground, all while playing a fun game with friends and family, outdoors and gaining back confidence in your physical ability and range of motion.

"Where you at?" You know who you are.

I Had a Dream II...

...Continued from yesterday. 

All right, it's a fresh day and Friday. Let's get on with the good. Where were we? Oh yeah, I had just finished up with my weird me-being-ghost dream. Enough of that, I had a dream before that one that was more entertaining for me. Wanna hear (read) it, here it goes...

Complicated Contagious

As I was walking out, I was following a group of three, they were gray haired and weathered but “alive”. The lady in the wheelchair was 79, I know this because she had three mylar helium balloons and one of them had 79 printed on it. I thought it to be kinda odd because usually birthday balloons come in 40, 50 and maybe 60. I don’t know if they make them for 60+ because, well, who celebrates with balloons at that point. Anyhow, that’s how I know her age.

I could hear them talking but couldn’t make out what they were saying (Not that I was trying to, I was just trying to leave) but they were happy and laughing. I didn’t know my way out, so I followed close enough    as they led the way but not so close that I was on their heels. As we came to the opening from the long hallway we were walking, we could continue straight down to a split hall with two sets of stairs leading down or turn right. They turned right so I followed; they quickly realized that turning right led to a gift shop and cafeteria and turned to the stairs. Still laughing and even more boisterous they entered the set of stairs to the right of the split.

For some reason I decided to stop following them and walked towards the stairs to the left of the split. We were leaving a hospital but the rush of people and the sounds they made as they passed by me ricocheted off the walls like a busy airport terminal.

I was finally able to walk a bit better from therapy to my recently repaired ruptured Achilles, still with a limp but confident enough to walk without the support of crutches. More aware of my surroundings now that I wasn’t following the “gray squad” I paid more attention to people walking towards me. A little boy about 4 years old weaved in and out passing people like water rushing through trees during a flash flood. A beautiful brunette lady wearing nude high heals, a navy high waisted pencil skirt and a doctor’s lab coat fussed over her cell phone as she walked by me “procrastination is the gap between intention and action.” She must’ve seen me looking at her because once she was passed me she looked knowingly over her shoulder back at me with eyes that owned me. As I turned back to the direction I was walking I bumped into an old man with a cane, he said “she was looking at me” chuckled and continued on his way, I laughed but knew those eyes were meant for me.

Distracted by my brief encounter with the hot doctor and the confident old man I lost sight of the crowd as a whole, I thought I noticed someone in the crowd but wasn’t sure and continued on my way down the stairs.

Imagine a movie camera positioned in front of me, focused on me in the bottom left corner of the frame and the blur of the passer-bys filling the rest. I hear a friendly voice say something over the crowd, not sure if the voice was directed to me or not I turn to look over my left shoulder. The camera loses focus of me and focuses on a girl, she’s wearing turquoise high heals, dark fitted denim and a peach colored button down shirt, that if she wasn’t wearing a matching turquoise necklace you could’ve seen her inviting neck resting over her collarbone. She says with a smile “you’re walking now!” and rushes over to me. I‘m only a few stairs down by the time she gets to me, she doesn’t let me come all the way up but stops me and bends down so were face to face. Her necklace dangles below her chin and she smells like a fresh bouquet. She puts her hands on my shoulders and says she has to hurry but with contagious excitement in her voice she says “we should have drinks…” and before I can obligingly respond she continues with a playful smile “and make things complicated.” She kisses me on the cheek and hurries back to the people she was with, I watch her as she gets lost in the crowd. I turn back amusingly confused with a smile on my face. I don’t know what she meant, but I wanted to. Heartbreak Warfare plays over the flood of the crowd in the hall and at a daydream’s pace I too get lost in the rush.

It’s 5:30 on a Tuesday morning, I sit up and think to myself “That John Mayer is full of shit” as his songs plays on my alarm clock that is set to KGSR his words and music fill the morning cool. Someone hit up Biggie, cause It Was All a Dream. 

I Had a Dream

So I'm still on the mend from my Achilles injury [see: June] and every now and then the pain hits and I have to medicate. This doesn't happen that often and I'm glad cause I HATE the meds. Immediately after the surgery though I really needed them, the weird and entertaining thing about the meds though, was they would induce dreams every time I took them. 

I enjoy dreams and dreaming, I actually could go for a nightmare (they're fun too), I can't remember the last time I had one... Anyway... The thing I hate about dreams is waking up, the end of the dream, I'm exhausted when I wake up and for some reason my legs are always sweaty, what, am I running track meets in my dreams? 

So last night I had a weird dream, I guess some would call it a nightmare, but for me it was just weird. Here it is in a nutshell (Whatever that means). A douchebag high school football coach of mine (In real life) was trying to kill me. Only he wasn't a coach, just a character in my dream played by the coach. Yeah, that's about it. weird. 

Recently though, I've had some pretty good dreams. One of my favorites from not too long ago, I guess around college football bowl season. This dream is pretty simple too. There's no real setting for the dream or much dialogue but all I remember is I was dating Erin Andrews. If you clicked on the link, that kid is right and my hero for the sake of this post. 

Another dream I had which probably deserves it's own post is pretty creepy, it's been a while since I had it, so I barely remember anything from it but it goes something like this. I was me in the dream. I'm not sure where I was or what I was doing but I must've been causing mischief cause an older man started yelling and chasing me, I jumped a fence and was able to get away. When I got home (In the dream I must have still lived with my mom), the man was there talking to my mom as I walked in. I could hear her talking to him, when she said "That's impossible, my son has been dead for years." Hearing that was staggering, even though I knew it wasn't true. But she went on, telling the man that I was killed a young boy in a moving accident, apparently when I was young I got in the way while appliances were being loaded into a truck and they fell on me. When the man left, confused and embarrassed I told my mom "I can't believe you told him that." Then she told me she needed to tell me the truth, the truth that I had been dead this whole time, I wasn't the normal aging person I thought I was. I didn't believe her, if I was dead why was I involved in everyone's lives, then she made it all too clear to me. I wasn't involved, I was only included in my family's life, they accepted the fact that part of me wasn't ready to go and they weren't ready to let-go. They would talk to me like people talk to themselves, so wherever they were, I was too. Whatever they did, I did too. There love and memory of me kept me "alive." In the dream, my character began to look back at the "life" I had and realized that I was never really there, there were no school pictures of me, no prom, no graduation, no love, nothing. My heart was broken, I wasn't really alive but I felt the pain of realizing that I wasn't real and that I had never shared any experiences with anyone. Wow... Typing this out right now, the memory of the dream is coming back and, wow, it's a pretty emotional feeling. Okay, I'm sorry but that's it for now, I didn't expect this post to turn out this way and actually this wasn't going to be the main subject of this post. So, I'll have to continue this tomorrow or another day...

A Christmas Survey

1. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

-Unwrapped and under the tree.

2. Eggnog or hot chocolate?

-I’ve never had eggnog before so I guess hot chocolate.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?

-White lights.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

-Nah.

5. When do you hang your decorations?

-Whenever The Wife says its time. However, I didn’t do any directions this season, The Wife is on point.

6. What is your favorite holiday food?

-Tamales.

7. What is on your Christmas wish list?

-Mostly clothes, shoes and music & some electronics.

8. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

-Both, woohoo. Christmas with all the families means more Christmas festivities.

9. Real or fake Christmas tree?

-Either… This season we went with a pre-lit tree.

10. What tops your Christmas tree?

-A star.

11. Favorite Christmas tradition?

-Last year The Wife and I along with Young Money went to a restaurant for lunch (and maybe a drink) before heading to the family festivities, I’d like to keep that going.

12. It wouldn’t be Christmas without…

-Family & friends, I love you all.

13. I know it’s Christmas when…

-I’m only half awake, opening gifts on the floor in front of the tree.

“Yes, I’ll some coffee.” (I don’t usually drink coffee.)

14. Do you prefer giving or receiving?

-I prefer giving but I like receiving… I’m a little awkward when it comes to opening gifts in front of people.

15. Favorite Christmas song?

-Not really.

16. Favorite Christmas movie?

-Bad Santa or A Christmas Story

17. Do you leave anything out for Santa?

-Cookies, he knows where the milk is.

18. Christmas cards or letter?

-Definitely cards, but reading other people’s letters is cool.

19. Do you shop online or in store?

-In store.

20. When do you take down the Christmas decorations?

-After New Year’s Day.