Ah, Thanksgiving is almost here! I am especially excited as this happens to be one of my favorite holidays. There is just so much to love about it.
1. Time with my family, including those that I don't see often. Plus, my adorable little cousins who grow so much while I'm at school.
2. Attending my home church. Nothing beats going back to see fellow members I have known for years. Or hearing the pastor preach a fantastic message.
3. Food. My family knows how to throw down. Farm raised turkey, ham, and chicken. Then there's the stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams, and riced potatoes. Not to forget the homemade rolls. And the dessert- yummy pumpkin pie, apple pie, and chocolate cake all with ice cream.
4. Football. Everyone in my family is a huge sports fan. Everyone shows my a few hours before dinner so we can watch some football together. Even my aunts will start yelling at the t.v. It's quite loud and an awesome sight to see.
5. Thanksgiving Day Run. I have to get n my holiday exercise and this is my favorite way. The run was started after my former doctor and well known community figure passed away unexpectedly. Every year, thousands come out to run or walk along the lake front, raising money for charity. Usually my immediate all participates to remember the man who helped keep us all alive.
6. Shopping. Now I consider myself a serious shopper. However, I cannot handle being out there on Black Friday. I don't have that kind of patience to deal with all those people. Instead, I wait until Saturday and take advantage of the deals still going on to get what I need.
7. Down Time. As a stressed out college student, having 5 days away from school is a welcome break. I can sleep in, spend my time with family/friends, and catch up on some t.v. that I missed while I had my head buried in a book.
8. Christmas Decorations. Again, my family is big into the holidays so the weekend of Thanksgiving is when the first of the Christmas decorations are brought out. My dad and I will string up the lights outside and my stepmom starts to organize the Christmas decorations for the house.
9. Giving Back. Thanksgiving, and the whole holiday season in general, is a great time to give back to those less fortunate. My siblings and I often go to the store to buy food to donate to the local food bank. My grandfather also donates 10 turkeys every year too.
10. Visiting my grandmas. This October, I lost my maternal grandma. She was only sick for a few months but it got to be too much for her body to handle. This will be my first Thanksgiving without her. So due to her absence in person, I will be visiting her grave with my grandpa so I can finally see her gravestone as it was not there when I left home from the funeral. While I am at the cemetery, I will also be paying a visit to my paternal grandma's grave. Sadly, I do not remember her as she passed shortly after I was born. It will definitely be different without a grandma this Thanksgiving but I take comfort that they are both in a better place.
Now it's only one week til Thanksgiving day. But luck for me, I get to head home a few days before. I am excited for everything and can't wait. Hopefully I can focus on my classes and homework until I leave.
Til next time, "There is no finish line."
~AJ
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Love of Shopping
During this time every year, I get the urge to go on a huge shopping spree. It probably has to do with the amazing sales that you can find between now and the New Year. Every commercial, newspaper flier, and email make it harder and harder to resist. And I don't even shop for just myself. I like to look for Christmas presents for my family, birthday presents for my sister, and this year baby shower/wedding gifts. But as a poor college student, I don't have the money to spend on everything I see. Therefore, I have to particular about what I shop for and how much I am willing to pay. Because of this, I have developed a system to determine what I get every year.
First, I figure out how much money I will have to shop. This means figuring out what I can sell my textbooks back for plus whatever other money I have set aside for this.
Then, I make a list of everything I NEED to get others. Included in this list: Christmas present for mom, present for dad, Birthday present for sister, and name exchange gifts for both my parents' families. I also go through and write down how much their gifts will cost so I know how much I have left to spend on myself.
Once this is done, I know what amount I have left to spend on myself. With that, I can start to make a list of what I want to get. Usually this list is at minimum 20 items, because I love to shop. I make sure it's listed from highest price to lowest too. This let's me see if it is worth it to get 1 expensive thing or several cheaper things.
After weighing all my options, I make the final decision and either order what I want from online or buy it in the store. This year, I have several items on my wish list. They include...
Those are just a few of the things on my list. Just writing this makes me wish Christmas and my Birthday were here already. Until next time, "There is no finish line."
~AJ
First, I figure out how much money I will have to shop. This means figuring out what I can sell my textbooks back for plus whatever other money I have set aside for this.
Then, I make a list of everything I NEED to get others. Included in this list: Christmas present for mom, present for dad, Birthday present for sister, and name exchange gifts for both my parents' families. I also go through and write down how much their gifts will cost so I know how much I have left to spend on myself.
Once this is done, I know what amount I have left to spend on myself. With that, I can start to make a list of what I want to get. Usually this list is at minimum 20 items, because I love to shop. I make sure it's listed from highest price to lowest too. This let's me see if it is worth it to get 1 expensive thing or several cheaper things.
After weighing all my options, I make the final decision and either order what I want from online or buy it in the store. This year, I have several items on my wish list. They include...
Those are just a few of the things on my list. Just writing this makes me wish Christmas and my Birthday were here already. Until next time, "There is no finish line."
~AJ
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Bringing Perspective to the Bullying Epidemic
The current focus on school bullying hits very close to home for me, as I'm sure it does for many others. It saddens me greatly to see and hear so many stories about children who feel there is no way out and decide to end there lives. Even more disheartening is that several of these young people happen to be homosexual. And while I cannot relate to these kids is either of those respects, I do have personal experience with bullying. Let me share my story with you.
First I should probably address the most important thing. While I was the occasional target of bullying throughout middle school, usually I was the one doing the bullying. If you ask my teachers and classmates from back then, they will all admit that I was a bully. I rarely resorted to violence, in fact there is only one situation where I ever put my hands on anyone. But only after she insulted my father, and it still was not right. Instead, I used my words to hurt people in every way possible. You see, I thought I was better than everyone back then. I was arrogant, selfish, and most importantly just plain mean. I got some satisfaction out of making other people feel worse about themselves, so in turn that I could make myself feel better. When people threatened my self perception of superiority, I fought back by bullying them. I attacked their academic achievements, athletic ability, appearance, etc. It did not matter. As long as I made them feel worse than I accomplished my goal. It wasn't until I later was on the other side of this situation that I realized how wrong bullying was.
Looking back now, I cannot imagine how miserable I must have made some of my classmates feel. I was a cruel person, who lacked the social understanding to know what I was doing was wrong. Many teachers tried to put a stop to it through punishment, but I would just find ways to get around them finding out what I was doing. I managed to talk my way out of several detentions & suspensions using the promise that I would stop bullying. But I didn't stop until I grew up a little. That occurred once I found myself to be the target of bullying. I had alienated myself so much from my classmates that I basically had no friends. I had people who tolerated being around me, but that was it. This was when I became the target of minor bullying. It was very tame compared to what I was doing to others before. But it hurt none the less. I would spend several nights crying myself to sleep because of the treatment I was receiving. I imagine I made many cry too. After my experience, I gained a much needed perspective on just how wrong bullying was, and still is.
If I could go back now, I would have treated those people in a better manner. They never deserved what I did to them, just like the children now do not deserve the bullying. If you think bullying and downgrading others makes you feel better about yourself in the long run, I am here to tell you that it doesn't. I may have temporarily felt better about myself, but that feeling would fade away as quickly as it came. Once I realized this, I began to use my experiences to help others. But first I had to personally apologize to those I had bullying when we were younger. After that, I turned my attention to children currently in middle and elementary school. I helped with sports camps and made sure that all the athletes were treated in a respectful manner with no mistreat present. Now in college, I am a tutor at an after school program. When I see instances of bullying, I like to share my story with the children so that they can understand the consequences of their actions. I also hope to become more involved in various organizations so that I can continue to help bring an end to the wide spread bullying.
And to anyone who reads this as a victim of bullying, I am sorry you had to experience that. It was not right and should have been stopped. To those who bullied others, I hope you take the time to think about what you did and how you made people feel. Please continue to bring attention to this issue in whatever ways that you can. We need to educate people on the dangerous effects of bullying.
Please remember, It gets better.
~AJ
First I should probably address the most important thing. While I was the occasional target of bullying throughout middle school, usually I was the one doing the bullying. If you ask my teachers and classmates from back then, they will all admit that I was a bully. I rarely resorted to violence, in fact there is only one situation where I ever put my hands on anyone. But only after she insulted my father, and it still was not right. Instead, I used my words to hurt people in every way possible. You see, I thought I was better than everyone back then. I was arrogant, selfish, and most importantly just plain mean. I got some satisfaction out of making other people feel worse about themselves, so in turn that I could make myself feel better. When people threatened my self perception of superiority, I fought back by bullying them. I attacked their academic achievements, athletic ability, appearance, etc. It did not matter. As long as I made them feel worse than I accomplished my goal. It wasn't until I later was on the other side of this situation that I realized how wrong bullying was.
Looking back now, I cannot imagine how miserable I must have made some of my classmates feel. I was a cruel person, who lacked the social understanding to know what I was doing was wrong. Many teachers tried to put a stop to it through punishment, but I would just find ways to get around them finding out what I was doing. I managed to talk my way out of several detentions & suspensions using the promise that I would stop bullying. But I didn't stop until I grew up a little. That occurred once I found myself to be the target of bullying. I had alienated myself so much from my classmates that I basically had no friends. I had people who tolerated being around me, but that was it. This was when I became the target of minor bullying. It was very tame compared to what I was doing to others before. But it hurt none the less. I would spend several nights crying myself to sleep because of the treatment I was receiving. I imagine I made many cry too. After my experience, I gained a much needed perspective on just how wrong bullying was, and still is.
If I could go back now, I would have treated those people in a better manner. They never deserved what I did to them, just like the children now do not deserve the bullying. If you think bullying and downgrading others makes you feel better about yourself in the long run, I am here to tell you that it doesn't. I may have temporarily felt better about myself, but that feeling would fade away as quickly as it came. Once I realized this, I began to use my experiences to help others. But first I had to personally apologize to those I had bullying when we were younger. After that, I turned my attention to children currently in middle and elementary school. I helped with sports camps and made sure that all the athletes were treated in a respectful manner with no mistreat present. Now in college, I am a tutor at an after school program. When I see instances of bullying, I like to share my story with the children so that they can understand the consequences of their actions. I also hope to become more involved in various organizations so that I can continue to help bring an end to the wide spread bullying.
And to anyone who reads this as a victim of bullying, I am sorry you had to experience that. It was not right and should have been stopped. To those who bullied others, I hope you take the time to think about what you did and how you made people feel. Please continue to bring attention to this issue in whatever ways that you can. We need to educate people on the dangerous effects of bullying.
Please remember, It gets better.
~AJ
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Saying Goodbye
It's taken me a week to come to grips with the fact that my Grandmother passed away. I had known the day was coming ever since she got sick in mid-August. But one is never fully prepared to deal with the loss of a loved one. For me, it was the first person I have ever lost that I was this close to. I have previously lost my other grandma but I was so young when she passed that I have no memory of her. But this grandma I had thousands of memories tied to. Here are just a few of the things I am going to miss.
~ She was one of my best friends. I knew I could talk to her about anything. She was always there to listen and give me advice. I am going to miss being able to do that.
~ She came to every volleyball, basketball, & soccer game, and track meet. Even in the bitter Wisconsin winters and rainy springs she would be there with my grandpa to cheer me on. And while I have since stopped playing sports, I will miss seeing her at my sister's games/meets.
~ Her love of travel. My grandpa and her have been all over the world, filling up 3 passports with stamps along the way. Because of them, I went to Disney World for the first time at age 7. Also, they helped fund my trip to Spain during high school which was truly life-changing.
~ How she was always willing to have visitors stop by the house. No matter what time, they were welcomed in and offered food & something to drink. I would routinely just drop by during the summer so she could make me food.
~ The meals shared over the years. Every month I would plan to go out to dinner with her and my grandpa. We would spend hours talking about everything from school to their world travels. I loved those dinners so much. Good thing I still have my grandpa to keep me company on them.
~ Her love of baking. Man could my grandma bake. It was her specialty. Between cookies, brownies, pies, and bars. Everything she made was fantastic. My friends would always beg me to have my grandma make cookies for my birthday treat. Thankfully, she passed the recipes down so I can attempt to make them. Or better yet, have my aunt make them for me.
~ Her love of collecting. She collected designed eggs from across the globe, Swarovski crystal figurines, and jewelry. She loved finding the perfect addition to her collections on every vacation. I will never forget her excitement to show me what she got after they returned from a trip. Now, I hope my family will continue her collections.
~ Seeing the love between my grandpa and her. They were adorable together, always holding hands and looking at each other.
These are just a few of the reasons I will miss my grandma now that she's gone. But I take comfort that she is in Heaven, looking down on me and my family. And I will never forget everything she has done for me over the almost 21 years of my life.
I love you grandma. I miss you. And I promise to take good care of grandpa.
~AJ
~ She was one of my best friends. I knew I could talk to her about anything. She was always there to listen and give me advice. I am going to miss being able to do that.
~ She came to every volleyball, basketball, & soccer game, and track meet. Even in the bitter Wisconsin winters and rainy springs she would be there with my grandpa to cheer me on. And while I have since stopped playing sports, I will miss seeing her at my sister's games/meets.
~ Her love of travel. My grandpa and her have been all over the world, filling up 3 passports with stamps along the way. Because of them, I went to Disney World for the first time at age 7. Also, they helped fund my trip to Spain during high school which was truly life-changing.
~ How she was always willing to have visitors stop by the house. No matter what time, they were welcomed in and offered food & something to drink. I would routinely just drop by during the summer so she could make me food.
~ The meals shared over the years. Every month I would plan to go out to dinner with her and my grandpa. We would spend hours talking about everything from school to their world travels. I loved those dinners so much. Good thing I still have my grandpa to keep me company on them.
~ Her love of baking. Man could my grandma bake. It was her specialty. Between cookies, brownies, pies, and bars. Everything she made was fantastic. My friends would always beg me to have my grandma make cookies for my birthday treat. Thankfully, she passed the recipes down so I can attempt to make them. Or better yet, have my aunt make them for me.
~ Her love of collecting. She collected designed eggs from across the globe, Swarovski crystal figurines, and jewelry. She loved finding the perfect addition to her collections on every vacation. I will never forget her excitement to show me what she got after they returned from a trip. Now, I hope my family will continue her collections.
~ Seeing the love between my grandpa and her. They were adorable together, always holding hands and looking at each other.
These are just a few of the reasons I will miss my grandma now that she's gone. But I take comfort that she is in Heaven, looking down on me and my family. And I will never forget everything she has done for me over the almost 21 years of my life.
I love you grandma. I miss you. And I promise to take good care of grandpa.
~AJ
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Time to Say Goodbye Again
Well, another summer seems to have come and gone. It feels like I just finished my sophomore year of college last week, only that was 3 months ago and I am only a little over a week away from my junior year beginning. It's crazy to think that 3 months of my life flew by so fast. But that has been the case with my summers ever since I started high school. I feel like I blink and miss them, hoping once they are over that I still remember something, anything that happened. Luckily for me, I had my camera handy to help me document the important things that occurred. Unfortunately, most of my summer was spent working so fun times were few and far between. And well I know I should not be complaining because I actually have a job, I can't help disliking have to go there 5 or 6 days a week. It wasn't a hard job. I just was bored, didn't like most of my coworkers, and was treated like a child by some of my superiors. But other than that, it could have been worse. So when I finally said goodbye to that place last week, it made it even more clear that I was not going to be here for much longer.
But, that is enough about the job. Time to get back to the fun stuff and see what I spent my summer doing.
First up- my cousin's high school graduation. That was me 2 short years ago. I hope she has a great first year at school.
Next was sisterly bonding time at the beach. Some say we look like twins, but certainly not in this picture. The beach was awesome that day, and I didn't get there nearly as much as I wanted to this summer.
Probably the highlight of my summer was my trip to Chicago with my best friend. We had such a blast and I loved every second. I miss her with her being in the army, so it was awesome to just spend a few days with her. Plus, Chicago is always a great time.
Can't forget some serious workouts. One of my good friends/former teammates really kicked my butt into gear.
Lastly, a day at the PGA Championship. I was just hanging with Tiger, Phil, and enjoying the fact that this amazing golf course is right up the road.
So there's a quick overview of my summer. Now it's time to make the move back to school. Hopefully my year will be filled with lots of fun times, good grades, and amazing opportunities. Until I blog again, "There is no finish line."
AJ
But, that is enough about the job. Time to get back to the fun stuff and see what I spent my summer doing.
First up- my cousin's high school graduation. That was me 2 short years ago. I hope she has a great first year at school.
Next was sisterly bonding time at the beach. Some say we look like twins, but certainly not in this picture. The beach was awesome that day, and I didn't get there nearly as much as I wanted to this summer.
Probably the highlight of my summer was my trip to Chicago with my best friend. We had such a blast and I loved every second. I miss her with her being in the army, so it was awesome to just spend a few days with her. Plus, Chicago is always a great time.
Can't forget some serious workouts. One of my good friends/former teammates really kicked my butt into gear.
Lastly, a day at the PGA Championship. I was just hanging with Tiger, Phil, and enjoying the fact that this amazing golf course is right up the road.
So there's a quick overview of my summer. Now it's time to make the move back to school. Hopefully my year will be filled with lots of fun times, good grades, and amazing opportunities. Until I blog again, "There is no finish line."
AJ
Monday, August 2, 2010
Where, O Where Did My Summer Go
I finally came to terms with the fact that it is now officially August. Umm, where did June and July go? I missed them somehow. But then I remember that I spend hours everyday working, having little to no social life, and sleeping. So that's where my first two summer months went. Now I find myself at the beginning of August with less than a month until school starts up again. That one month will go by just as quickly as well I'm sure. Before I know it, I will be buried in school books, standing in the bitter cold at football games, wondering why it's snowing in early October again, and enjoying those great nights out with friends. But there is plenty of time for that later. I have too much to do between now and September 1st. For example, I have to go shopping. I am in desperate need for some new wardrobe basics. Plus, I haven't gone in over six months so I'm due. Also, I still have to hang out with a few people back home before we all leave for school. Nothing says summer like a day spent at the beach, grilling some brats on a grill, and enjoying stories around a bonfire. Well I guess that means I should get back to enjoying my summer.
I only have about 3 weeks left here.
And only 40 days until opening day at this beauty.
Just remember, "There is no finish line."
AJ
I only have about 3 weeks left here.
And only 40 days until opening day at this beauty.
Just remember, "There is no finish line."
AJ
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Randomness
I was really bored today on my day off. I ended up cleaning my room and discovered a list I made in high school of 20 random facts/thoughts about me that was for a get-to-know-you type game. Well many of these things have changed, a few are still the same. This led me to thinking about what 20 things I would list if I had to today. So without further ado, here are 20 random facts/thoughts about me.
1. My parents couldn't decide on one, so I have two middle names.
2. Because of my knee reconstruction, there is a screw in my right knee but not one in my left. Good thing is I don't set off metal detectors.
3. I own around 50 pairs of shoes, 20 of which are athletic shoes of some kind.
4. I don't own anything pink. In fact, I hate the color.
5. I may currently be a golden gopher. However, I will always be a badger at heart.
6. I have seen the Bourne Trilogy movies each at least 100 times.
7. I am a shy person when I first meet people. Eventually I will talk more but it takes awhile.
8. Even though I've been to Disney World 5 times, I would go back tomorrow if I could.
9. In school, my worst subject was always English. That's not really saying much considering I didn't get my first non A grade until college. ;)
10. My weakness is chocolate. I eat some every single day.
11. My first time attending public school was college. I went to a private Lutheran school from age 4 through the end of high school.
12. When it comes to guys, they must like sports and be athletic. If not, see you later.
13. I wish I was a few inches taller. Sadly, I haven't grown since I was 12.
14. I wear my hair in a ponytail every day. If you want to see me with it down, you must volunteer to straighten it for me.
15. I was baptized at, confirmed at, and still attend that same church.
16. I love living in a place where there are 4 seasons. Although sometimes I think winter lasts a little too long.
17. When I was younger, everyone thoughts I was going to be a lawyer. But I
18. I love thunderstorms. Nothing beats sitting outside and watching the lightning and rain.
19. I am a sports fanatic. My t.v. is always on ESPN and espn.com is my computer homepage.
20. I am a total nerd. I love school and always try to excel at it. I mean you don't become an honor's student by doing nothing.
Well now you know 20 new things about me. Til I write again, "There is no finish line."
AJ
1. My parents couldn't decide on one, so I have two middle names.
2. Because of my knee reconstruction, there is a screw in my right knee but not one in my left. Good thing is I don't set off metal detectors.
3. I own around 50 pairs of shoes, 20 of which are athletic shoes of some kind.
4. I don't own anything pink. In fact, I hate the color.
5. I may currently be a golden gopher. However, I will always be a badger at heart.
6. I have seen the Bourne Trilogy movies each at least 100 times.
7. I am a shy person when I first meet people. Eventually I will talk more but it takes awhile.
8. Even though I've been to Disney World 5 times, I would go back tomorrow if I could.
9. In school, my worst subject was always English. That's not really saying much considering I didn't get my first non A grade until college. ;)
10. My weakness is chocolate. I eat some every single day.
11. My first time attending public school was college. I went to a private Lutheran school from age 4 through the end of high school.
12. When it comes to guys, they must like sports and be athletic. If not, see you later.
13. I wish I was a few inches taller. Sadly, I haven't grown since I was 12.
14. I wear my hair in a ponytail every day. If you want to see me with it down, you must volunteer to straighten it for me.
15. I was baptized at, confirmed at, and still attend that same church.
16. I love living in a place where there are 4 seasons. Although sometimes I think winter lasts a little too long.
17. When I was younger, everyone thoughts I was going to be a lawyer. But I
18. I love thunderstorms. Nothing beats sitting outside and watching the lightning and rain.
19. I am a sports fanatic. My t.v. is always on ESPN and espn.com is my computer homepage.
20. I am a total nerd. I love school and always try to excel at it. I mean you don't become an honor's student by doing nothing.
Well now you know 20 new things about me. Til I write again, "There is no finish line."
AJ
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
What's your motivation?
Motivation. We all need it, some more than others. For me it's easy. Challenge me to a competition or say I can't do anything and I have all the motivation I need. Like when I was 10 and a boy told me a couldn't jump off the playground and grab onto the monkey bars. Well, I had to accept the challenge and accomplished it. Only to lose my grip and fall to the ground breaking my arm in two places. But it was worth it. Another favorite was being challenged to graduate high school with a 4.0 GPA. You can sure bet I accepted that challenge and had all the motivation I needed for 4 years. Even though it was a struggle at times, I did in fact graduate with a 4.0 and got into a bunch of good universities.
But enough about those challenges, I have faced two more that gave me all the motivation I needed. During my sophomore year in high school, I suffered a shredded ACL and torn medial meniscus. Fun times. Once I realized that this injury would put an end to sports for a good six months and severely hinder my college athletic career I had dreamed of, I had my motivation. I had a goal of being back to sports in 9 months. Unfortunately, some minor setbacks did not allow me to accomplish this. After I got the bad news, I have to admit that I lost some motivation. But a few good long talks with my track coach and physical therapist and I was ready to be back. It only took two more months until I was cleared for everything. I had never been so happy for my first brutal track practice in my entire life.
However the next challenge was even more difficult. During my senior year I decided it would be fun to tear my ACL in the other knee just to have matching scars. I'm kidding of course. But this news hit me like a ton of bricks. I even believe that I did start to slide into a bit of depression because of it. I felt like I had lost everything; my athletic identity, the daily sense of competition, and my college athletic aspirations. Even though I felt lost, one person could talk me out of it and it was an unlikely source. I ran into my former middle school basketball coach and he had such a simple message for me. He told me just don't give up, when you want to stop fighting think of all the reasons you have to continue. This really hit home with me. Instead of feeling down, I began to look for the positive in the situation. For example, it introduced me to the world of physical therapy, which is what I may going to school for. I found my future motivation in terms of education, but my motivation to get back in shape was at about 0%. I didn't have a sport to return to or a deadline to meet, so I took my time. Now at just over two years later I finally am back to where I was prior to my surgeries. All it took was finding a friend just as passionate about sports to motivate me. I have to thank her because I may not be where I am today.
And because I lost a bet, I have to post a picture of me of their choosing. Unfortunately for me, they picked one of me after working out. I am sweaty and it's not pretty. But a bet is a bet. Just know that I will get them next time.
Until next time, "There is no finish line." ~Nike
AJ
But enough about those challenges, I have faced two more that gave me all the motivation I needed. During my sophomore year in high school, I suffered a shredded ACL and torn medial meniscus. Fun times. Once I realized that this injury would put an end to sports for a good six months and severely hinder my college athletic career I had dreamed of, I had my motivation. I had a goal of being back to sports in 9 months. Unfortunately, some minor setbacks did not allow me to accomplish this. After I got the bad news, I have to admit that I lost some motivation. But a few good long talks with my track coach and physical therapist and I was ready to be back. It only took two more months until I was cleared for everything. I had never been so happy for my first brutal track practice in my entire life.
However the next challenge was even more difficult. During my senior year I decided it would be fun to tear my ACL in the other knee just to have matching scars. I'm kidding of course. But this news hit me like a ton of bricks. I even believe that I did start to slide into a bit of depression because of it. I felt like I had lost everything; my athletic identity, the daily sense of competition, and my college athletic aspirations. Even though I felt lost, one person could talk me out of it and it was an unlikely source. I ran into my former middle school basketball coach and he had such a simple message for me. He told me just don't give up, when you want to stop fighting think of all the reasons you have to continue. This really hit home with me. Instead of feeling down, I began to look for the positive in the situation. For example, it introduced me to the world of physical therapy, which is what I may going to school for. I found my future motivation in terms of education, but my motivation to get back in shape was at about 0%. I didn't have a sport to return to or a deadline to meet, so I took my time. Now at just over two years later I finally am back to where I was prior to my surgeries. All it took was finding a friend just as passionate about sports to motivate me. I have to thank her because I may not be where I am today.
And because I lost a bet, I have to post a picture of me of their choosing. Unfortunately for me, they picked one of me after working out. I am sweaty and it's not pretty. But a bet is a bet. Just know that I will get them next time.
Until next time, "There is no finish line." ~Nike
AJ
Monday, June 21, 2010
A Long Time Coming
I have known my best friend since we were three years old. In other words, going on seventeen years now. We first met at dance class and then found ourselves at the same school the next year. Since they, we had spent every school year together in the same class until high school graduation. We were inseparable when we were younger. I think the longest we had ever been apart was one week when I was on vacation. I was at her house so much that her parents started calling me their third daughter and I treated her little sister like she was my know little sister. So needless to say, we have shared some incredible experiences. From her watching me get hit in the head with a baseball bat to both of us breaking our arms. And how could I forget the speeding to get back on time for a volleyball match and winning the county tournament. Those are just a few of the thousands I could list.
Well all those experiences have to make more for some new ones. Last week while she was on leave from the military, we decided to take a little trip to Chicago. We had a lot planned for only 2 days and boy did we have some fun. It all started with the train ride. Let's just say that one of the workers on the train carried bubbles in his pocket and posed for cameras. Draw your own conclusions. After getting into the city and making our way to where we were staying, the stories started. My cousin was fascinated about hearing my friend's stories from Afghanistan. We spent the whole rest of the day talking, laughing, eating, and drinking.
The next day was the exploration day. We headed down to Michigan Avenue, aka the Mag Mile. First stop was the Hershey store. After tons of free samples and the required pictures, we got our giant cookies and headed to the next stop. Another chocolate place! This time it was Ghirardelli. More free samples followed and a delicious chocolate later, we had our fill. Now that the chocolate was consumed, we went to actual stores. The staples were all covered. But the most time was spent at the Disney Store picking out stuffed animals to buy. Yes, we are both over 20, but are 5 years old at heart. Following the happiest place on Earth, we visited one of my favorites, Coach. Needless to say I could have spent my entire bank account there if I wanted too. Instead we decided it was time for more food. And what to you eat at a time like this? Gino's East Chicago deep dish pizza of course. Man that stuff is good. Now for the coolest part of the trip, heading up to the Sky Deck, 1003 floors off the ground. Even though I am not scared of heights, I wondered if i might be once I got up there. Nope, it was incredibly cool to stand and see all of Chicago, even out over the edge in the glass box. Next was our last stop for the day, the awesome Shedd Aquarium. If you are ever in Chicago, you must go. It is so interesting to see all the animals and if you can handle the crowds, you can witness some really cool things.
So that was basically our whole trip, other than the last day when we went out for brunch before heading home. All in all, it is definitely an experience that I will never forget. Of all the stuff my best friend and I have been through, it was awesome to just spend time with her and have some fun. We already have our next trip down there planned. I hope the city is ready.
Til the next time, "There is no finish line."
AJ
Well all those experiences have to make more for some new ones. Last week while she was on leave from the military, we decided to take a little trip to Chicago. We had a lot planned for only 2 days and boy did we have some fun. It all started with the train ride. Let's just say that one of the workers on the train carried bubbles in his pocket and posed for cameras. Draw your own conclusions. After getting into the city and making our way to where we were staying, the stories started. My cousin was fascinated about hearing my friend's stories from Afghanistan. We spent the whole rest of the day talking, laughing, eating, and drinking.
The next day was the exploration day. We headed down to Michigan Avenue, aka the Mag Mile. First stop was the Hershey store. After tons of free samples and the required pictures, we got our giant cookies and headed to the next stop. Another chocolate place! This time it was Ghirardelli. More free samples followed and a delicious chocolate later, we had our fill. Now that the chocolate was consumed, we went to actual stores. The staples were all covered. But the most time was spent at the Disney Store picking out stuffed animals to buy. Yes, we are both over 20, but are 5 years old at heart. Following the happiest place on Earth, we visited one of my favorites, Coach. Needless to say I could have spent my entire bank account there if I wanted too. Instead we decided it was time for more food. And what to you eat at a time like this? Gino's East Chicago deep dish pizza of course. Man that stuff is good. Now for the coolest part of the trip, heading up to the Sky Deck, 1003 floors off the ground. Even though I am not scared of heights, I wondered if i might be once I got up there. Nope, it was incredibly cool to stand and see all of Chicago, even out over the edge in the glass box. Next was our last stop for the day, the awesome Shedd Aquarium. If you are ever in Chicago, you must go. It is so interesting to see all the animals and if you can handle the crowds, you can witness some really cool things.
So that was basically our whole trip, other than the last day when we went out for brunch before heading home. All in all, it is definitely an experience that I will never forget. Of all the stuff my best friend and I have been through, it was awesome to just spend time with her and have some fun. We already have our next trip down there planned. I hope the city is ready.
Til the next time, "There is no finish line."
AJ
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Oh the Places We Go!
So I have this tradition that I try to have dinner with my grandparents at least once a month while I am home from school. Now I prefer to just have my grandmother cook as anything she makes is fantastic, but I recently went out to eat with them for a change. While the food is wonderful, the part about these meals that I love most are just talking to them about their travels and the crazy stories they can share. Since they are retired, they have a great deal of time to travel. But the traveling bug started when their children were little and really kicked in after their kids were all off at college. In the past 23 years, they have both filled 3 passports full of stamps from other countries. They have been all over this globe and I am amazed at how much they do. So of course every time I eat a meal with them, the topic of travel is guaranteed to come up. I happen to have an inquiring mind on the topic and they love to share stories. For example, I still like hearing the story about how their crystal collection started, what kind of unusual jewelery my grandpa finds for my grandma, and even about the time my grandpa and his friend were robbed at knife point by pirates while on a cruise around Africa. But this meal shifted from stories when I brought up an interesting question. I asked what 10 placed or things I need to see during my own travels. They looked at each other with a puzzled look, then my grandpa said, "That is a fantastic question. Let me think about it for a minute, but I am positive I will have more than 10." While after much discussion, I now have a new list to accomplish. Now presenting the TOP 10 PLACES to VISIT in no particular order.
1. Cape Town, South Africa. I am told this is a must at least once in my life. My grandparents have been I think 4 times at this point and have always loved their visits. And while I'm there, I have to go on a real African safari as well.
2. Paris, France. Yes this is probably cliche, their words not mine, but they had rave reviews for the food and the shopping of course. The Eiffel Tower is on the must see list there, and they know me so well that they said I should plan it around the French Open so I can catch some tennis while I'm there.
3. Norwegian Fjords. Judging from their pictures, it is truly breathtaking scenery.
4. Panama Canal. This is one of those things you do just to say you did. They passed through it while on a cruise around South America. I rather like that option.
5. Egypt. The Great Pyramids, the Sphinx, Camels rides, etc. This is still my grandfather's favorite trip they took. He has many of the pictures in his office and dreams about going back.
6. The Great Wall of China. This is the only item on the list that they haven't visited. My grandpa has wished for years that they would make it there, but sadly with their declines healths, the trip is no longer possible. But this doesn't stop my grandpa from raving about it and telling me all these great stories he knows about it.
7. The Grand Canyon. The one place I will get to in the near future, next year to be exact. Simply beautiful from everyone I know who has been there. Plus I enjoy hiking so it's right up my alley.
8. Peru. Probably more specifically Macchu Picchu. I will probably have to train for this trip as my body is not used to that much altitude, hiking, and camping. But if they can visit, I sure as heck will too.
9. Alaskan Cruise. My grandparents highly recommended this one to me. They said it was one of their all time favorite, and coming from them it says a lot. Waking up early to do some whale watching doesn't sound so bad to me.
10. A very small village in Germany. I always spell it wrong so I won't attempt it here. This place isn't known for anything overly special. There are no great monuments, well-known museums, etc. However it is the village that my great, great, great grandparents came from when they immigrated to the United States in the 1860s. So while others may not find it interesting, it is part of my history and I hope to visit there.
And a few extras to visit if I have the time:
Barcelona, Spain
French Quarter, New Orleans
U.S. Virgin Islands
Seychelles
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Athens, Greece (Jealous my sister is going next summer)
Westminster Abbey (Need I say why ;))
Switzerland
Hershey, PA (Again my chocolate obsession strikes)
So I now have every trip planned I could probably ever take thanks to my grandparents. And our next meal will involve the best restaurants I need to eat at. All I can say is that I am very thankful to have my grandparents and their inspiration to go out and see the world/experience new things. Now if only I had the money I would start tackling this list tomorrow. Until next time, "There is no finish line."
~AJ
1. Cape Town, South Africa. I am told this is a must at least once in my life. My grandparents have been I think 4 times at this point and have always loved their visits. And while I'm there, I have to go on a real African safari as well.
2. Paris, France. Yes this is probably cliche, their words not mine, but they had rave reviews for the food and the shopping of course. The Eiffel Tower is on the must see list there, and they know me so well that they said I should plan it around the French Open so I can catch some tennis while I'm there.
3. Norwegian Fjords. Judging from their pictures, it is truly breathtaking scenery.
4. Panama Canal. This is one of those things you do just to say you did. They passed through it while on a cruise around South America. I rather like that option.
5. Egypt. The Great Pyramids, the Sphinx, Camels rides, etc. This is still my grandfather's favorite trip they took. He has many of the pictures in his office and dreams about going back.
6. The Great Wall of China. This is the only item on the list that they haven't visited. My grandpa has wished for years that they would make it there, but sadly with their declines healths, the trip is no longer possible. But this doesn't stop my grandpa from raving about it and telling me all these great stories he knows about it.
7. The Grand Canyon. The one place I will get to in the near future, next year to be exact. Simply beautiful from everyone I know who has been there. Plus I enjoy hiking so it's right up my alley.
8. Peru. Probably more specifically Macchu Picchu. I will probably have to train for this trip as my body is not used to that much altitude, hiking, and camping. But if they can visit, I sure as heck will too.
9. Alaskan Cruise. My grandparents highly recommended this one to me. They said it was one of their all time favorite, and coming from them it says a lot. Waking up early to do some whale watching doesn't sound so bad to me.
10. A very small village in Germany. I always spell it wrong so I won't attempt it here. This place isn't known for anything overly special. There are no great monuments, well-known museums, etc. However it is the village that my great, great, great grandparents came from when they immigrated to the United States in the 1860s. So while others may not find it interesting, it is part of my history and I hope to visit there.
And a few extras to visit if I have the time:
Barcelona, Spain
French Quarter, New Orleans
U.S. Virgin Islands
Seychelles
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Athens, Greece (Jealous my sister is going next summer)
Westminster Abbey (Need I say why ;))
Switzerland
Hershey, PA (Again my chocolate obsession strikes)
So I now have every trip planned I could probably ever take thanks to my grandparents. And our next meal will involve the best restaurants I need to eat at. All I can say is that I am very thankful to have my grandparents and their inspiration to go out and see the world/experience new things. Now if only I had the money I would start tackling this list tomorrow. Until next time, "There is no finish line."
~AJ
Saturday, May 15, 2010
F-I-N-I-S-H-E-D!
Thousands of hours studying.
Hundreds of note cards used.
Tens of pages of papers written.
3 finals completed.
One very happy girl.
My second year of college is officially finished. I handed in my last final this morning and promptly loaded my belongings into the car and headed back home. Never has the five hour car ride home went so good. I didn't have to think about the next paper, assignment, or test. All I did was jam to some old school songs while my dad listened and laughed. It was exactly what I needed after the craziness of the past two weeks. For anyone who has ever experienced a finals week, you understand. The lack of sleep starts to make you crabby. The different materials you're studying start to blend together. You don't really leave your room except for the necessary food, coffee, and/or energy drink that will assist in keeping you up longer.
After all that work, I could use a serious vacation. Instead of heading someplace warm to hang out on a beach and get a tan, I am having my own little vacation here in my city. I plan on attending several track meets. One of the main things I miss about high school. I love seeing the competition with kids just going all out just to help their team win. There is no money earned, just the satisfaction of knowing you finished and accomplished a goal. Another item on my to-do list is spending a day just hanging out around town. Whether it's walking at the outdoor mall or taking pictures down by the lake, it will be very nice to simply enjoy the little things I have missed. But I can't forget about the food. Oh I have so many restaurants that are just calling my name. I am probably going to gain like 10 pounds in the next two weeks with all the food I plan on consuming. Don't get me wrong, I will enjoy every minute of it. Last thing I need to do is shop. I am in serious need of a shopping spree and I plan on doing just that. I may attend school near one VERY large mall, but I enjoy hitting the same spots I did in high school. Plus I can find my way around that mall with my eyes closed. The Mall of America, not so much.
Now that summer is here, that means work. But you gotta work if you want that apartment. That's what I will keep repeating to myself as my boss, coworkers, and hotel guests all scream different things at me. As much as I may complain about the job, it really is fun to see people's faces as they experience the park for the first time. I know it's something they will never forget.
And in 111 days I will be back to having my head buried in a book. Another thing I can't believe, I am a junior in college. I remember being a junior in high school like it was yesterday. Guess it's really true that time flies when you're having fun. I just wish it would slow down so I can have a longer summer vacation. Until next time, "There is no finish line."
-AJ
Hundreds of note cards used.
Tens of pages of papers written.
3 finals completed.
One very happy girl.
My second year of college is officially finished. I handed in my last final this morning and promptly loaded my belongings into the car and headed back home. Never has the five hour car ride home went so good. I didn't have to think about the next paper, assignment, or test. All I did was jam to some old school songs while my dad listened and laughed. It was exactly what I needed after the craziness of the past two weeks. For anyone who has ever experienced a finals week, you understand. The lack of sleep starts to make you crabby. The different materials you're studying start to blend together. You don't really leave your room except for the necessary food, coffee, and/or energy drink that will assist in keeping you up longer.
After all that work, I could use a serious vacation. Instead of heading someplace warm to hang out on a beach and get a tan, I am having my own little vacation here in my city. I plan on attending several track meets. One of the main things I miss about high school. I love seeing the competition with kids just going all out just to help their team win. There is no money earned, just the satisfaction of knowing you finished and accomplished a goal. Another item on my to-do list is spending a day just hanging out around town. Whether it's walking at the outdoor mall or taking pictures down by the lake, it will be very nice to simply enjoy the little things I have missed. But I can't forget about the food. Oh I have so many restaurants that are just calling my name. I am probably going to gain like 10 pounds in the next two weeks with all the food I plan on consuming. Don't get me wrong, I will enjoy every minute of it. Last thing I need to do is shop. I am in serious need of a shopping spree and I plan on doing just that. I may attend school near one VERY large mall, but I enjoy hitting the same spots I did in high school. Plus I can find my way around that mall with my eyes closed. The Mall of America, not so much.
Now that summer is here, that means work. But you gotta work if you want that apartment. That's what I will keep repeating to myself as my boss, coworkers, and hotel guests all scream different things at me. As much as I may complain about the job, it really is fun to see people's faces as they experience the park for the first time. I know it's something they will never forget.
And in 111 days I will be back to having my head buried in a book. Another thing I can't believe, I am a junior in college. I remember being a junior in high school like it was yesterday. Guess it's really true that time flies when you're having fun. I just wish it would slow down so I can have a longer summer vacation. Until next time, "There is no finish line."
-AJ
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Countdown to Home
Ahhh, finals week is coming. Nothing like the pressure of exams, papers, and final projects to drive a whole college campus batty. I have had a countdown going since I returned from Spring Break. As of today, I have 11 days until I hand in that last scantron sheet and pack up my insane amount of clothes to go home. I fully intend on being certifiably insane by then, so I wanted to post my wish list of the things I plan on doing once I get home. In honor of the 11 days I have left, here are the 11 things I am most looking forward to once I get home.
1. See and hang out with my family, especially my little sister. I miss seeing her daily.
2. Cuddle with my dogs. They can misbehave and destroy things all they want as long as they come cuddle with me after.
3. Go to my church for my favorite Sunday service. Nothing beats listing to my pastor deliver a powerful message.
4. Sleep in my own bed/ wake up whenever I want instead of when my alarm clock goes off.
5. Go shopping! Weird, because I happen to go to school so close to the largest mall in America.
6. Take a walk on the beach by the lake with my some friends. One of the best things to do while living by the lake, enjoying the breeze and sand under my feet.
7. Get a smoothe from my favorite little food shack. They are so much better than Jamba and Orange Julius.
8. Have dinner at my grandparents house. I only eat ribs when my grandma makes them so I can't wait to indulge.
9. Watch some high school athletic events, particularly going to track meets. I love the sport and being at a meet brings back so many great memories.
10. Return to my high school to watch my cousin graduate. It stills feels like yesterday that I was there graduating. Man, two years has gone by fast!
11. Be lazy. Yes, my life is not as stressful as some. However, after the craziness of the last month and all that has happened, doing nothing will do my body some good. Maybe I will even get a much needed mani/pedi.
If you can't tell, I am excited to be home. I love where I go to school, but nothing beats going home.
~AJ
"There is no finish line."~Nike.
1. See and hang out with my family, especially my little sister. I miss seeing her daily.
2. Cuddle with my dogs. They can misbehave and destroy things all they want as long as they come cuddle with me after.
3. Go to my church for my favorite Sunday service. Nothing beats listing to my pastor deliver a powerful message.
4. Sleep in my own bed/ wake up whenever I want instead of when my alarm clock goes off.
5. Go shopping! Weird, because I happen to go to school so close to the largest mall in America.
6. Take a walk on the beach by the lake with my some friends. One of the best things to do while living by the lake, enjoying the breeze and sand under my feet.
7. Get a smoothe from my favorite little food shack. They are so much better than Jamba and Orange Julius.
8. Have dinner at my grandparents house. I only eat ribs when my grandma makes them so I can't wait to indulge.
9. Watch some high school athletic events, particularly going to track meets. I love the sport and being at a meet brings back so many great memories.
10. Return to my high school to watch my cousin graduate. It stills feels like yesterday that I was there graduating. Man, two years has gone by fast!
11. Be lazy. Yes, my life is not as stressful as some. However, after the craziness of the last month and all that has happened, doing nothing will do my body some good. Maybe I will even get a much needed mani/pedi.
If you can't tell, I am excited to be home. I love where I go to school, but nothing beats going home.
~AJ
"There is no finish line."~Nike.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
The Underdog Diaries
Underdog: one at a disadvantage and expected to lose
Underdogs are common in today's world, in politics, competitions, athletics, relationships, academics, etc. They are everywhere you look. There cannot be an actual competition unless one of the competitors is an underdog, even if it's only a slight one. Now there are positives and negatives to being labeled an underdog. I know that from personal experience, it can be fun and frustrating to be one. On the positive side, it gives you motivation. Nothing gave me more determination to win than when other people doubting my ability. I needed to prove them wrong at all costs. Flying under the radar is also a positive. Nothing like sneaking up on your opponent and shocking them into disbelief. While I usually liked being an underdog, it was not always a good thing. There are times when you know the underdog has no chance, I mean absolutely no choice of winning. So instead of being motivated by this, I become saddened and lose some of my fight. I had those moments, but I am not proud of the fact that I became so discouraged.
Now you are probably wondering why I decided to write about this. If you read my earlier posts, you will find that I am a self proclaimed sports fanatic. I love to play, watch, and coach sports. I would major in sports at college if possible. (Instead I chose a major that gives me the opportunity to work with athletes, a win-win situation.) I spend a lot of times with the t.v. turned to the ESPN family of channels much to the dislike of my roommates. So over the last couple days I have become increasingly more obsessed with my home state Milwaukee Bucks stepping up in the playoffs. They lost the first two games of the best of seven series to the Atlanta Hawks. Then the Hawks came to visit the Bradley Center. Judging by the media coverage and the first hand accounts I heard, that place was nuts. The fans were amazing and the place was rocking. The Bucks ended up holding onto their home-court and evened the series at 2-2. Now many of the talking heads were still not sold that the Bucks could go back to Atlanta and steal the all-important Game 5. Well needless to say, the underdog Bucks fought back from 9 down with about 4 minutes left in the game to win by 4 points. They have gone from a big underdog to a favorite as the potential series ending Game 6 will be played back in Milwaukee. It would be an understatement to say that Bucks fans are excited for the game. I would kill to be at the Bradley Center when the ball goes up for the opening tip-off of Friday. But that doesn't mention my favorite two things about this. Number 1: The Fear the Deer slogan.
(Photo Courtesy of Gaea Times)
And Number 2: Brandon Jennings. Between them, basketball is relevant back in Wisconsin and this sports fan could not be happier.
(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)
And while all this sports action has cut into my studying, I could not be happier. But I will have to make an effort to not watch some much once next week comes. I feel like I am an underdog when it comes to some of my classes. However, I have every intention of proving them wrong and rocking my finals. Bring it on classes, bring your best. I'm ready.
So I need to hear again, "There is no finish line."~Nike
AJ
Underdogs are common in today's world, in politics, competitions, athletics, relationships, academics, etc. They are everywhere you look. There cannot be an actual competition unless one of the competitors is an underdog, even if it's only a slight one. Now there are positives and negatives to being labeled an underdog. I know that from personal experience, it can be fun and frustrating to be one. On the positive side, it gives you motivation. Nothing gave me more determination to win than when other people doubting my ability. I needed to prove them wrong at all costs. Flying under the radar is also a positive. Nothing like sneaking up on your opponent and shocking them into disbelief. While I usually liked being an underdog, it was not always a good thing. There are times when you know the underdog has no chance, I mean absolutely no choice of winning. So instead of being motivated by this, I become saddened and lose some of my fight. I had those moments, but I am not proud of the fact that I became so discouraged.
Now you are probably wondering why I decided to write about this. If you read my earlier posts, you will find that I am a self proclaimed sports fanatic. I love to play, watch, and coach sports. I would major in sports at college if possible. (Instead I chose a major that gives me the opportunity to work with athletes, a win-win situation.) I spend a lot of times with the t.v. turned to the ESPN family of channels much to the dislike of my roommates. So over the last couple days I have become increasingly more obsessed with my home state Milwaukee Bucks stepping up in the playoffs. They lost the first two games of the best of seven series to the Atlanta Hawks. Then the Hawks came to visit the Bradley Center. Judging by the media coverage and the first hand accounts I heard, that place was nuts. The fans were amazing and the place was rocking. The Bucks ended up holding onto their home-court and evened the series at 2-2. Now many of the talking heads were still not sold that the Bucks could go back to Atlanta and steal the all-important Game 5. Well needless to say, the underdog Bucks fought back from 9 down with about 4 minutes left in the game to win by 4 points. They have gone from a big underdog to a favorite as the potential series ending Game 6 will be played back in Milwaukee. It would be an understatement to say that Bucks fans are excited for the game. I would kill to be at the Bradley Center when the ball goes up for the opening tip-off of Friday. But that doesn't mention my favorite two things about this. Number 1: The Fear the Deer slogan.
(Photo Courtesy of Gaea Times)
And Number 2: Brandon Jennings. Between them, basketball is relevant back in Wisconsin and this sports fan could not be happier.
(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)
And while all this sports action has cut into my studying, I could not be happier. But I will have to make an effort to not watch some much once next week comes. I feel like I am an underdog when it comes to some of my classes. However, I have every intention of proving them wrong and rocking my finals. Bring it on classes, bring your best. I'm ready.
So I need to hear again, "There is no finish line."~Nike
AJ
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
The Joys of Registration
I had the unfortunate task of registering for my classes for next semester. This is something I have hated doing since high school. Luckily for me, I went to a small high school so my options were limited. At one of the largest universities in the country, you can just imagine all the options I have when it comes to classes. So on my weekend to do list was writing down all the classes I wanted/have to take and make a tentative schedule for what we week would look like. But I found some unexpected obstacles along the way. As I was recently admitted into my degree program, my classes are no longer general classes or for liberal education requirements. Instead, I have a list of 10 classes I have to take between now and graduation. This became my first obstacle when only two of them are offered next semester. That left me with those 2 classes, not bad but I was planning on taking 2 other classes off that list so I had to adjust from there.
My next obstacle was finding a physical education class that I could actually participate in. With my two knee surgeries, I am severely limited in my athletic abilities. So I was left with weight training class. Not a bad thing, except when I find out it's an 8 am class twice a week. Ouch.
With that, my schedule was getting closer to being done. Now my toughest task needed to be tackled. I had one outstanding liberal education requirement I had been putting off. It happens to be an Arts/Other Humanities class. Well I am one of the least artistic people you will ever meet. So my list of 200 classes was cut down to about 15 rather quickly. Of my options, only 3 peaked my interest enough to do more research about them. Following some communication with my advisers and more research, I decided on the easiest class of the 3. Yeah, I'm not above being a slacker when the rest of my course load is going to be daunting.
With that last class picked out, my schedule was complete. 16 credits, only one class on Thursday and Friday, and hopefully more time to work. I can't really complain now. But I reserve the right to change that once I start next semester.
So now I have only 25 days left of the semester to get through. Once that's over, this is the first place I am headed. So looking forward to home.
As Nike says so well, "There is no finish line."
AJ
My next obstacle was finding a physical education class that I could actually participate in. With my two knee surgeries, I am severely limited in my athletic abilities. So I was left with weight training class. Not a bad thing, except when I find out it's an 8 am class twice a week. Ouch.
With that, my schedule was getting closer to being done. Now my toughest task needed to be tackled. I had one outstanding liberal education requirement I had been putting off. It happens to be an Arts/Other Humanities class. Well I am one of the least artistic people you will ever meet. So my list of 200 classes was cut down to about 15 rather quickly. Of my options, only 3 peaked my interest enough to do more research about them. Following some communication with my advisers and more research, I decided on the easiest class of the 3. Yeah, I'm not above being a slacker when the rest of my course load is going to be daunting.
With that last class picked out, my schedule was complete. 16 credits, only one class on Thursday and Friday, and hopefully more time to work. I can't really complain now. But I reserve the right to change that once I start next semester.
So now I have only 25 days left of the semester to get through. Once that's over, this is the first place I am headed. So looking forward to home.
As Nike says so well, "There is no finish line."
AJ
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Reliving my Favorite Trip
So I should have been doing homework, but I wandered into my photo gallery instead. I found so many pictures I had forgot that I took. From my first college football game here at school to the random Saturday trip to the Zoo, all these photos brought back so many amazing memories. But there was a group of pictures that stood out more than others, my trip to Spain a few years ago. It's not that I didn't remember going on the trip, it was how much of it I couldn't recall doing off the top of my head. With that said, I want to share some of my trip including photos and little stories about my favorite trip yet.
This was one of the first places we headed. It looks like an indoor rain forest, which is pretty much what it was. In fact, the building still serves as an active train station. We even got to see the turtles and frogs living down in the ponds by the trees.
This is one of my favorite pictures I took. The aqueducts were so cool to see. They lasted for several miles. It truly is an engineering marvel that they are still together and haven't fallen apart.
The Valley of the Fallen is a memorial to the many who dies during their war. This cross is almost 500 feet tall and it takes about a 2 mile hike to get up to it. Once at the top, the view was amazing. I could see Madrid from there. I have never been so thankful that my friends pushed me to climb all the way up.
Probably the most incredible sunset I have ever seen. It was amazing just standing on our balcony and seeing this as I looked out over the city.
Sevilla, one of my favorite cities. I loved everything about that city. It was one of my favorite places. The highlight was probably the view from the top of the tower pictured above. From there, we could see all parts of the city. The funniest part was seeing the pools that were on some of the roofs. We asked if our hotel had one, but it did not unfortunately.
The Alhambra is amazing. It is located in one of the last strongholds for the Moors as they were being conquered. It was so cool to see the different architecture they used. The arches, the details, the reflective pools, all of it was truly awesome.
One of our last spots was this amazing garden. We just had hours to walk around and enjoy the beautiful flowers, not to mention the fantastic weather. Some of the flowers looked perfect, like this rose. Also, all the colors were so vibrant. Now if only they would have let us pick some that would have been cool.
So that is just a small portion of my trip to Spain. I never bet tired of seeing these pictures. It reminds me of how thankfully I am that I was given the opportunity to travel and I look forward to visiting many more amazing places.
As always, "There is no finish line."~Nike
AJ
This was one of the first places we headed. It looks like an indoor rain forest, which is pretty much what it was. In fact, the building still serves as an active train station. We even got to see the turtles and frogs living down in the ponds by the trees.
This is one of my favorite pictures I took. The aqueducts were so cool to see. They lasted for several miles. It truly is an engineering marvel that they are still together and haven't fallen apart.
The Valley of the Fallen is a memorial to the many who dies during their war. This cross is almost 500 feet tall and it takes about a 2 mile hike to get up to it. Once at the top, the view was amazing. I could see Madrid from there. I have never been so thankful that my friends pushed me to climb all the way up.
Probably the most incredible sunset I have ever seen. It was amazing just standing on our balcony and seeing this as I looked out over the city.
Sevilla, one of my favorite cities. I loved everything about that city. It was one of my favorite places. The highlight was probably the view from the top of the tower pictured above. From there, we could see all parts of the city. The funniest part was seeing the pools that were on some of the roofs. We asked if our hotel had one, but it did not unfortunately.
The Alhambra is amazing. It is located in one of the last strongholds for the Moors as they were being conquered. It was so cool to see the different architecture they used. The arches, the details, the reflective pools, all of it was truly awesome.
One of our last spots was this amazing garden. We just had hours to walk around and enjoy the beautiful flowers, not to mention the fantastic weather. Some of the flowers looked perfect, like this rose. Also, all the colors were so vibrant. Now if only they would have let us pick some that would have been cool.
So that is just a small portion of my trip to Spain. I never bet tired of seeing these pictures. It reminds me of how thankfully I am that I was given the opportunity to travel and I look forward to visiting many more amazing places.
As always, "There is no finish line."~Nike
AJ
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
The Balancing Act
When I was a kid, I was an avid gymnast who loved performing on the balance beam. I think it was because that I enjoyed the difficulty it involved. Many of my fellow gymnasts were not fond of it, while I was always asking to use the balance beam more. As a grew up, I became a serious athlete. As an athlete, being balanced is a key to success. If you have ever tried to throw a discus in track or set a volleyball while unbalanced, well all I can say is good luck with that. Because of these experiences, I learned early on the importance of having balance in my life.
Now that I find myself in college, balance is even more important. Between classes, work, volunteering, hanging out with friends, studying, relaxing, going to Church, and watching sports, I have to balance it all out. In order to accomplish this, I have a planner that basically contains my whole life. I write everything down with times and color-code different things by order of importance. That may seem strange but having a written schedule allows me freedom. Before you ask who that is possible, let me explain. Because I schedule everything, including the times at which I will start and stop doing schoolwork and studying, I have the freedom to do what I want after the time is up. So each night I give myself at least 30 minutes to just unwind and watch t.v. or bum around on the internet. This little bit of time is what I think keeps me sane. I would be willing to bet that without it, my roommates not be able to live with me. So I do this as much for them as for me.
Yes life can be crazy and out of control at times. But finding the balance needed can help you focus your energy and get more things accomplished in the day while also having the free time you want to enjoy. Just makes me glad that I learned how to balance everything when I was younger.
-AJ
"There is no finish line." ~Nike
Now that I find myself in college, balance is even more important. Between classes, work, volunteering, hanging out with friends, studying, relaxing, going to Church, and watching sports, I have to balance it all out. In order to accomplish this, I have a planner that basically contains my whole life. I write everything down with times and color-code different things by order of importance. That may seem strange but having a written schedule allows me freedom. Before you ask who that is possible, let me explain. Because I schedule everything, including the times at which I will start and stop doing schoolwork and studying, I have the freedom to do what I want after the time is up. So each night I give myself at least 30 minutes to just unwind and watch t.v. or bum around on the internet. This little bit of time is what I think keeps me sane. I would be willing to bet that without it, my roommates not be able to live with me. So I do this as much for them as for me.
Yes life can be crazy and out of control at times. But finding the balance needed can help you focus your energy and get more things accomplished in the day while also having the free time you want to enjoy. Just makes me glad that I learned how to balance everything when I was younger.
-AJ
"There is no finish line." ~Nike
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Appreciate the Little Things
As I sit here on the grass of my college campus, I am reminded of the little things in life that we oh so often forgot. Whether these things just become so normal that we forgot or we simply focus on the negative that the positive things just slide right on by unnoticed. I want to take this time to acknowledge the things I so often forget.
- The gorgeous day here. Living in the Midwest my whole life, I sometimes take nice spring days like today for granted.
- The daily text from my mom and/or dad just saying have a good day or good night.
- The long talks I have with my 3 roommates about life, faith, homework, boys, friends, etc. I sometimes don't remember how lucky I am to have 3 fantastic roomies and life-long friends.
- The random facebook posts from friends saying they miss me or just wanted to say hi. I know it makes my day when I see them.
- The fact that twitter can keep me entertained for hours.
- All the electronic devices I use every day that many don't have the privilege of using or owning.
-The fitness center I forgot about or don't use when I'm being lazy. Good thing is that it's only a minute from my apartment door.
- The job I have working with inner city kids. I sometimes lose sight of the fact that my being there is a great help to them and a great opportunity for me to be a positive role model to kids who need one.
- The fact that I am sitting at this amazing University with the opportunity to gain an education. I am forever grateful to my parents for the private schools they sent me to growing up because without it, I am positive I would not have got into the U or been able to survive & thrive here.
And now for a few funny little things
- The ping pong balls I keep finding around the apartment as a reminder of the last party we had.
- The vase of fake flowers in the living room to show that real flowers are dead within a day of being here.
- The pictures that show what it looks like to have random theme nights.
- The package of margarita salt that reminds me that tequila is not my favorite.
So as this day turns into night and we make our way into Spring, take time to remember the little (or big) things we often don't acknowledge. I know that I am not alone in this. After all, it's the little things in life that can bring us the most joy.
AJ
"There is no finish line." ~Nike
- The gorgeous day here. Living in the Midwest my whole life, I sometimes take nice spring days like today for granted.
- The daily text from my mom and/or dad just saying have a good day or good night.
- The long talks I have with my 3 roommates about life, faith, homework, boys, friends, etc. I sometimes don't remember how lucky I am to have 3 fantastic roomies and life-long friends.
- The random facebook posts from friends saying they miss me or just wanted to say hi. I know it makes my day when I see them.
- The fact that twitter can keep me entertained for hours.
- All the electronic devices I use every day that many don't have the privilege of using or owning.
-The fitness center I forgot about or don't use when I'm being lazy. Good thing is that it's only a minute from my apartment door.
- The job I have working with inner city kids. I sometimes lose sight of the fact that my being there is a great help to them and a great opportunity for me to be a positive role model to kids who need one.
- The fact that I am sitting at this amazing University with the opportunity to gain an education. I am forever grateful to my parents for the private schools they sent me to growing up because without it, I am positive I would not have got into the U or been able to survive & thrive here.
And now for a few funny little things
- The ping pong balls I keep finding around the apartment as a reminder of the last party we had.
- The vase of fake flowers in the living room to show that real flowers are dead within a day of being here.
- The pictures that show what it looks like to have random theme nights.
- The package of margarita salt that reminds me that tequila is not my favorite.
So as this day turns into night and we make our way into Spring, take time to remember the little (or big) things we often don't acknowledge. I know that I am not alone in this. After all, it's the little things in life that can bring us the most joy.
AJ
"There is no finish line." ~Nike
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Why do you love sports so much?
This is a question asked of me on a daily basis. I hear it from everyone; my roommates, friends, parents, family, co-workers, students a work with, my boss, classmates, and even a few professors. Basically as soon as I introduce myself to people or start up a new conversation, my love of sports is brought up rather quickly. Sometimes I mention it, while other times the person I am talking to will bring it up. Either way, it starts me on a story about how my love of sports began and why it gets even crazier during certain times.
Well it all started before I was born actually. Both my parents were athletes, especially my father. His love of athletics led him to becoming a physical education teacher, coach, and athletic director. So I was really just born into sports. I didn't really have a choice, but I wouldn't have it any other way. So as a toddler I got my first experience at a basketball practice. As my parents like to tell me, I shot my first basketball at age 3, participated in my first track meet at age 5, set a volleyball at 6, and started soccer league soon after that. Apparently I was hooked from then on. Since that young age, I have played several other sports with basketball, volleyball, and track being the ones I still participate in. Now that my sports history has been explained my love of sports needs to be addressed.
As a life-long athlete, I could never get enough. I loved every aspect of sports. Whether it was practicing, performing, or simply watching, I wanted to do that all the time. My dad likes to tell me that as a kid, my parents would use playing sports and watching sports on t.v. as my reward for good grades. (That might explain my straight A's til college. But I will save academics for a whole other post.) He will also remind me that many of the hundreds of track meets were my idea, even those that took me cross country. Obviously, my father is a huge reason behind my love. He always made it fun for my to participate and watch. As my coach, he was super tough but made me better every day. He also made sure that I knew that sports could teach me lessons that I would apply once I grew up and had a real job. I can blame sports for my determination, strength, character, perseverance, copious amounts of sports trivia, communication skills, teamwork skills, coaching skills, academic success, life-long friendships, terrific role models, and the endless amounts of entertainment it has provided me and will for many years to come.
Oh, and it introduced me to Nike. As they would say, "There is no finish line."
AJ
Well it all started before I was born actually. Both my parents were athletes, especially my father. His love of athletics led him to becoming a physical education teacher, coach, and athletic director. So I was really just born into sports. I didn't really have a choice, but I wouldn't have it any other way. So as a toddler I got my first experience at a basketball practice. As my parents like to tell me, I shot my first basketball at age 3, participated in my first track meet at age 5, set a volleyball at 6, and started soccer league soon after that. Apparently I was hooked from then on. Since that young age, I have played several other sports with basketball, volleyball, and track being the ones I still participate in. Now that my sports history has been explained my love of sports needs to be addressed.
As a life-long athlete, I could never get enough. I loved every aspect of sports. Whether it was practicing, performing, or simply watching, I wanted to do that all the time. My dad likes to tell me that as a kid, my parents would use playing sports and watching sports on t.v. as my reward for good grades. (That might explain my straight A's til college. But I will save academics for a whole other post.) He will also remind me that many of the hundreds of track meets were my idea, even those that took me cross country. Obviously, my father is a huge reason behind my love. He always made it fun for my to participate and watch. As my coach, he was super tough but made me better every day. He also made sure that I knew that sports could teach me lessons that I would apply once I grew up and had a real job. I can blame sports for my determination, strength, character, perseverance, copious amounts of sports trivia, communication skills, teamwork skills, coaching skills, academic success, life-long friendships, terrific role models, and the endless amounts of entertainment it has provided me and will for many years to come.
Oh, and it introduced me to Nike. As they would say, "There is no finish line."
AJ
Friday, March 19, 2010
First Post
So I decided that the various other social networking sites I use don't give the opportunity to share everything that goes through my mind on a daily basis. Starting a blog seemed like the next step to take. Now I am not promising that my blog will be the most interesting and ground-breaking item that you will read. But I can promise that I will be sharing my thoughts, opinions, and insight on a variety of things. Some may not agree, I welcome any and all different opinions that reside outside of my head. As for the name of the blog, well I have heard countless times that something is just a "simple concept or idea" when in fact it is quite complicated. I decided on this name because my posts will range from simple to complex which on any given day describes me as a person, either simple, complex, or anything in between.
Now that the first post is done, hopefully I will get the chance to share my thoughts on a weekly basis. It may be a simple story from my day or a long post about my frustration with something. I will probably even throw in some sports stories and some family stories if nothing interesting happens that week. My hope is that everyone reading my blog get a better sense of who I am and what kind of things run through a not-so-typical college girl's mind. As Nike says so well, "There is no finish line."
AJ
Now that the first post is done, hopefully I will get the chance to share my thoughts on a weekly basis. It may be a simple story from my day or a long post about my frustration with something. I will probably even throw in some sports stories and some family stories if nothing interesting happens that week. My hope is that everyone reading my blog get a better sense of who I am and what kind of things run through a not-so-typical college girl's mind. As Nike says so well, "There is no finish line."
AJ
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
