Well, another year has come and gone. I'm not going to revisit last years resolutions because I wasn't very good about keeping them.
So here are this years:
1.) Go for a hike or walk along the beach once a week.
2.) Watch two sunrises or sunsets a month.
3.) Take more photographs.
4.) Workout more consistently.
5.) "Blog it out" more.
I decided this year that I needed to make my resolutions things that will help me relax and have fun. That should also help me keep them!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Happy New Year's
Happy 2009 everyone! May this new year bring happiness and bountiful success for each and everyone!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
The end of Curling league
Curling league finished a couple weeks ago now, but I am just now getting around to blogging about it. We finished with a 4-5 record after we won our last match 11-0 against the last place team in the other division. That team just so happened to also have the curling club founder on it, so it was pretty cool to beat him and his team of veteran curlers.
Curling was a lot of fun. I really didn't mind the 90 minute drive down to LA every Sunday. I won't be able to join the next league that starts in February because of basketball. I hope to be able to join either the spring or summer league though. Hopefully there will be more curling updates later this year.
Curling was a lot of fun. I really didn't mind the 90 minute drive down to LA every Sunday. I won't be able to join the next league that starts in February because of basketball. I hope to be able to join either the spring or summer league though. Hopefully there will be more curling updates later this year.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Out to the Movies: Quantum of Solace and Slumdog Millionaire
On Monday after basketball had recessed for Christmas I decided to indulge myself in a cinema double feature.
The first movie I saw was the latest James Bond movie starring Daniel Craig. I thought Craig did a great job in "Casino Royale" so I was looking forward to seeing this one. Majority of my friends and even my parents beat me to seeing this movie. They were all kind enough to not spoil the movie for me, so I truly appreciate that. "Quantum of Solace" was action packed and tried to pick up where "Casino Royale" left of. Unfortunately, the plot wasn't as strong. I felt that they had a lot of good ideas for the plot and they put them all in. The lack of editing the plot down to a few consistent themes ultimately made "Quantum of Solace" pale in comparison to "Casino Royale". There was a small thread that tied the movie together and to "Casino Royale", but was often lost in the fog of the other plot components.
The second movie of my double feature was "Slumdog Millionaire". I had heard this movie had been getting phenomenal reviews and watching the trailer I wanted to see what this one was all about. I thought this movie was very well done! The story was gripping and held your interest throughout. I liked how they used the "Who wants to be a Millionaire" as a vehicle to tell the story of children growing up in the slums of India. This movie pretty much had it all. There was a love story, a story of working hard and getting out of the slums, tragedy, cruelty, and redemption. The ending maybe a little hollywood but it is just what you want to happen to these characters after everything they have been through. I give it an A!
The first movie I saw was the latest James Bond movie starring Daniel Craig. I thought Craig did a great job in "Casino Royale" so I was looking forward to seeing this one. Majority of my friends and even my parents beat me to seeing this movie. They were all kind enough to not spoil the movie for me, so I truly appreciate that. "Quantum of Solace" was action packed and tried to pick up where "Casino Royale" left of. Unfortunately, the plot wasn't as strong. I felt that they had a lot of good ideas for the plot and they put them all in. The lack of editing the plot down to a few consistent themes ultimately made "Quantum of Solace" pale in comparison to "Casino Royale". There was a small thread that tied the movie together and to "Casino Royale", but was often lost in the fog of the other plot components.
The second movie of my double feature was "Slumdog Millionaire". I had heard this movie had been getting phenomenal reviews and watching the trailer I wanted to see what this one was all about. I thought this movie was very well done! The story was gripping and held your interest throughout. I liked how they used the "Who wants to be a Millionaire" as a vehicle to tell the story of children growing up in the slums of India. This movie pretty much had it all. There was a love story, a story of working hard and getting out of the slums, tragedy, cruelty, and redemption. The ending maybe a little hollywood but it is just what you want to happen to these characters after everything they have been through. I give it an A!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Alone for the Holidays
Being on the road with not a lot to do has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are that you can recharge the battery a little bit because there is a lot of downtime. That downtime also can be a disadvantage because it gives you plenty of time to sit and think about everything. Needless to say I've been doing a lot of thinking over the past month.
With that being said I've been in hotels that have decked the halls and are playing christmas tunes 24/7 and sadly that has been the only indication for me that it is Christmas time yet again. This Dec. 25th marks the third year in a row that I have not spent Christmas with my family. I've come to realize just how important they are to me; especially my mom and dad. It seems that as each year goes by I miss them more and more! We talk on the phone just about every week, but it's not the same as being able to hug mom and joke around with dad. Shoot, I even miss my brother!
They live on the east coast now and I've removed my self from the family by moving to and staying on the west coast, and neither of us really have the finances or the availability to visit each other. The distance has made it more difficult to feel connected to them. When we talk and actually get to see each other our conversations are typically quite weird and just the standard catching up. I feel like I am gradually losing the sense of who they are and well to varying degrees they know little about me. We've never been a family comfortable with each other to talk about anything and everything. Each of us in our own ways are very guarded from not only the rest of the world, but also each other. So, in a way the distance is both figurative and literal between myself and my family.
I've always been the child that has wanted to get away and strike out on my own! Ever since I can remember I've wanted to move around and explore different areas, trying to find the spot that is just right for me; the area where I feel I belong and fit in. So far in my life I feel like the closest I've come to that place was Eugene.
Anyway to get back on topic, on this last road trip I've realized that being around family is what makes the holiday season so special. I miss soo much the Christmas eve get togethers' , opening gifts with my parents and brother on Christmas day and seeing the looks on their faces, sitting by the fire, and playing card and board games all afternoon and evening. I miss getting pizza and watching the movies we got for Christmas on New Years eve, all the christmas cookies and holiday snacks mom would whip up, but most of all I just miss being able to spend time with them!
Mom, dad and to the rest of the family, I miss you all very much and wish I could be there for the holidays. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Love,
Greg
With that being said I've been in hotels that have decked the halls and are playing christmas tunes 24/7 and sadly that has been the only indication for me that it is Christmas time yet again. This Dec. 25th marks the third year in a row that I have not spent Christmas with my family. I've come to realize just how important they are to me; especially my mom and dad. It seems that as each year goes by I miss them more and more! We talk on the phone just about every week, but it's not the same as being able to hug mom and joke around with dad. Shoot, I even miss my brother!
They live on the east coast now and I've removed my self from the family by moving to and staying on the west coast, and neither of us really have the finances or the availability to visit each other. The distance has made it more difficult to feel connected to them. When we talk and actually get to see each other our conversations are typically quite weird and just the standard catching up. I feel like I am gradually losing the sense of who they are and well to varying degrees they know little about me. We've never been a family comfortable with each other to talk about anything and everything. Each of us in our own ways are very guarded from not only the rest of the world, but also each other. So, in a way the distance is both figurative and literal between myself and my family.
I've always been the child that has wanted to get away and strike out on my own! Ever since I can remember I've wanted to move around and explore different areas, trying to find the spot that is just right for me; the area where I feel I belong and fit in. So far in my life I feel like the closest I've come to that place was Eugene.
Anyway to get back on topic, on this last road trip I've realized that being around family is what makes the holiday season so special. I miss soo much the Christmas eve get togethers' , opening gifts with my parents and brother on Christmas day and seeing the looks on their faces, sitting by the fire, and playing card and board games all afternoon and evening. I miss getting pizza and watching the movies we got for Christmas on New Years eve, all the christmas cookies and holiday snacks mom would whip up, but most of all I just miss being able to spend time with them!
Mom, dad and to the rest of the family, I miss you all very much and wish I could be there for the holidays. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Love,
Greg
Monday, December 8, 2008
"How I Met Your Mother"
When Heather, Laef, and I all lived together back in Eugene Heather typically controlled the tv and made us watch all sorts of reality television. Some of the shows we watched included American Idol, Laguna Beach, My Super Sweet Sixteen, Dog the Bounty Hunter, and The Real World. We had some really great tv watching conversations, discussions, and moments. It was through Heather and Laef that I came to truly become addicted to "The Office".
Even since we have all moved on to other areas of the west coast Heather is still giving me suggestions on what tv shows to watch. It turns out Heather knows me entirely too well! One of the shows she suggested I begin watching is "How I Met Your Mother" or "HIMYM" for short. I had resisted until it came time to load my ipod for my long road trip of the year. I decided why not I'll buy the first season off itunes and see how it goes. I was hooked from the pilot episode! In fact, I didn't begin reading the books I brought on that trip till after I had watched every episode.
The idea behind the show is a father telling his kids the story of how he met their mother. The show centers around Ted Mosby an architect in New York who is looking for his soul mate. All the stories include Marshal and Lily; Ted's friends from college, Barney another friend of Ted, Marshal, and Lily's, and Robin a woman that Ted falls in love with and becomes integrated into the group.
Good call Heather! If I ever get a tivo I'll let you program it! Although you were right about "HIMYM" I'm still on the fence about "Friday Night Lights". I need more convincing on that one.
If you haven't checked out this show it airs Monday nights at 8:30pm on CBS and it is Awwwesome! High-Five!
Reading Corner Recap
Since my last reading corner update I have finished reading two books. The first book I just completed reading was "Touching the Void" by Joe Simpson and the second was "Strings Attached" by Nick Nolan.
"Touching the Void" is a real life account of a mountaineering survival story that takes place in the Peruvian Andes. Much like Jon Krakauer's "Into Thin Air" the book is about Joe Simpson and his friend Simon who decide to summit a 21,00 foot Peruvian Andes mountain when on the way down a series of unfortunate events puts the pair in the midst of apparent danger and ultimate peril. The story was well told and amazing. "Touching the Void" was an amazing and inspiring real life account of one man's struggle to survive and beat the odds. For those of you non-readers this was made into a movie of the same name.
"Strings Attached" is a work of fiction. I typically go with real life stories and events, but I decided to give this book a shot. The idea behind this book is a take on the tale of "Pinocchio". The premise is this, a teenager growing trying to become a "real man" and is being pulled in so many directions that it is as if the people in his life are controlling him like a puppet; hence the title "Strings Attached". I liked the theme of the book and I think it is something that we can all relate to. Although the idea was good the way the author wrote it sometimes missed its mark and just seemed more trashy romance/drama novel than a soul searching endeavor. Overall the book was just okay.
So, what's next? Well next on the list is "Schulz and Peanuts" by David Michaelis. This is a biography about Charles M. Schulz. I am really looking forward to this book because as a lot of you know I am a huge fan of Peanuts the comic, I liken myself to Linus; aka the voice of reason, and because there was some controversy surrounding it when it came out.
"Touching the Void" is a real life account of a mountaineering survival story that takes place in the Peruvian Andes. Much like Jon Krakauer's "Into Thin Air" the book is about Joe Simpson and his friend Simon who decide to summit a 21,00 foot Peruvian Andes mountain when on the way down a series of unfortunate events puts the pair in the midst of apparent danger and ultimate peril. The story was well told and amazing. "Touching the Void" was an amazing and inspiring real life account of one man's struggle to survive and beat the odds. For those of you non-readers this was made into a movie of the same name.
"Strings Attached" is a work of fiction. I typically go with real life stories and events, but I decided to give this book a shot. The idea behind this book is a take on the tale of "Pinocchio". The premise is this, a teenager growing trying to become a "real man" and is being pulled in so many directions that it is as if the people in his life are controlling him like a puppet; hence the title "Strings Attached". I liked the theme of the book and I think it is something that we can all relate to. Although the idea was good the way the author wrote it sometimes missed its mark and just seemed more trashy romance/drama novel than a soul searching endeavor. Overall the book was just okay. So, what's next? Well next on the list is "Schulz and Peanuts" by David Michaelis. This is a biography about Charles M. Schulz. I am really looking forward to this book because as a lot of you know I am a huge fan of Peanuts the comic, I liken myself to Linus; aka the voice of reason, and because there was some controversy surrounding it when it came out.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Back Home
Oh it feels good to be back in Santa Barbara after a solid 13 days on the road. Well okay maybe not 13 consecutive days on the road. There was a solid day and half that I was home before we left for another trip.
Our Thanksgiving trip went well for the most part. We won 2 games and lost 2 games. I got to see my Grandparents and my best friend from undergrad; Allison.
Allison and I had not seen each other in person since she came to visit me in Eugene while she was in Seattle for her brother's wedding in the early spring of 2006. Though we have kept in touch through emails, phone calls, and care packages nothing comes close to being able to catch up in person. Allison is finishing up Med School in Kirksville , MO and was on her way back there from her Mom's house in Deckerville, MI. Luckily, Bloomington, IL and Illinois State University just happened to be on her way. It was great seeing her. However, she did have a few tricks up her sleeve. She brought some Mint brownies, pumpkin pie, and her camera. I hadn't noticed the camera till I looked up and saw it pointed in my direction. I immediately took evasive action hiding behind our 7' 2" freshman; I knew he was good for something besides dunking basketballs. She did manage to get a few shots of me working though:
I spotted the camera on this one, but was unable to get out of the way
No clue this was being taken
Our first picture together since graduation in 2004
I also got to visit with my grandparents. It was great seeing them and being able to catch up with them. They are both doing well. I truly appreciated them making the drive out to Illinois to see me. The last time I saw them was last season when we made a stop in Muncie, IN. I promise I will do my best to get the coaches to schedule someone closer to Cincinnati for them.
Our Thanksgiving trip went well for the most part. We won 2 games and lost 2 games. I got to see my Grandparents and my best friend from undergrad; Allison.
Allison and I had not seen each other in person since she came to visit me in Eugene while she was in Seattle for her brother's wedding in the early spring of 2006. Though we have kept in touch through emails, phone calls, and care packages nothing comes close to being able to catch up in person. Allison is finishing up Med School in Kirksville , MO and was on her way back there from her Mom's house in Deckerville, MI. Luckily, Bloomington, IL and Illinois State University just happened to be on her way. It was great seeing her. However, she did have a few tricks up her sleeve. She brought some Mint brownies, pumpkin pie, and her camera. I hadn't noticed the camera till I looked up and saw it pointed in my direction. I immediately took evasive action hiding behind our 7' 2" freshman; I knew he was good for something besides dunking basketballs. She did manage to get a few shots of me working though:
I spotted the camera on this one, but was unable to get out of the way
No clue this was being taken
Our first picture together since graduation in 2004
I also got to visit with my grandparents. It was great seeing them and being able to catch up with them. They are both doing well. I truly appreciated them making the drive out to Illinois to see me. The last time I saw them was last season when we made a stop in Muncie, IN. I promise I will do my best to get the coaches to schedule someone closer to Cincinnati for them.
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