30.11.09

deuce-deuce


This weekend was awesome. Thanksgiving has always been a big deal in my family. My mom's birthday is Nov. 27, mine is Nov. 28th, my uncle's is Dec. 2, my sister's is Dec. 6th, and my stepdad's is Dec. 17. So, above being thankful for everything in our lives, our family makes this holiday into a big birthday/wknd party. Food was fantastic. Time with friends was fun. Time with family couldn't have been better.

Days were filled with relaxing activities such as hiking, being 'gonged' (more on this another time, possibly), cooking, and school work. Nights were spent in good company, going out and celebrating the end of what has been the best year of my life, and the beginning of what will be the new best year of my life.

Now, its time to focus on school for a couple more weeks.

BA-out

23.11.09

Artsy-Fartsy

A lot of you readers out there are probably relatively 'new' friends of mine, so this may not surprise you as much as it may surprise others, such as ME, who has known myself for more or less, my entire life.

When I started college, I was so bad ass (sarcasm). I strived strongly to be the coolest and most successful person around. I failed. However, it took a couple of years to realize this epic failure. My point is, I've changed. I used to be superficial and ignorant. I like to think that I live life at a deeper level, and at least now, I am aware of my ignorance. My taste in food, films, fashion, and females has changed dramatically. My newest change has taken place in the form of hobbies.

During family vacations, it was inevitable that my family (myself included... unfortunately) would spend at least a day doing the arts-y/farts-y/museum-y deal, which was without a doubt the least desirable thing that could possibly be done, regardless of the inhabited destination. Could this art-hating child really grow up to do something 'artsy'?

You betchya. With a little inspiration from a fellow quarter-life-crisis-er, I have taken up the hobby of painting. I took off for the art supply shop and bought canvas, brushes, and acrylics. I held a paintbrush in hand for a solid 3 hours that night. It had to have been the first time since... elementary school art classes? I couldn't put the brush down. I am hooked.

I am a tad self conscious to share images of my work with you all, so if you care to see, you will just have to make a trip to my studio (house) sometime. And besides, putting images online would totally ruin the mystifying aura that comes with being an artist!

This guys good...


BA-out

18.11.09

Montana = badass

I spent the weekend in Missoula, Montana and I have to say that it is definitely on the badass end of the spectrum as far as towns goes. The highlight was probably 'The Good Food Store' which was nothing short of spectacular. If you take all of the best parts of Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, your local farmer's market, and your favorite liquor store, you might come close to getting The Good Food Store. I was thinking how there should be more of these places in the country, but that would defeat the overall purpose of this store and its efforts to support being 'local.'

I can't overlook the rest of the fun that was had this weekend at the Griz football game, driving through the Natl. Bison Range, kickin' it at sweet coffee shops, hanging out at the University of Montana campus, and freezing my Arizonan buns off.

13.11.09

healin' up, headin' out


The cast came off today, 4 weeks earlier than expected. I was given this wimpy little splint and instructed to keep it on the majority of the time. I'm able to take it off to shower and wiggle my thumb around a bit a few times a day. O ya, and I shaved for the first time in 5 weeks, but left a little somethin for the day. Just thought I'd give the goatee a test ride - don't worry, it'll be gone tomorrow.

Tomorrow I'm headed up north to Montana to visit my good friend Hannah! Lookin' forward to getting out of town for a bit and into some colder weather. I would like to leave you with a simple thought that came to mind during a deep conversation earlier today:
'You don't know who you are, until you know who you aren't'
Figure it out.

BA-out


10.11.09

Senioropathy

It's setting in. Why do they call it 'senioritis' anyway? Nothing is inflamed. If anything, I have deflamation. Deflamation of my motivation to do school-related work that is. Maybe it should be 'senioropathy.' Much like the atrophy of the muscles that has been taking place within my right hand/arm, my desire to study, write papers, and read material has greatly diminished.

This past week/weekend was one to remember. Celebrating homecoming '09 with fellow members of Mortar Board was a blast. This is one group of entertaining and brilliant kids who know how to have a good time. It has been nice to get to know some of them, and hope to grow closer to this bunch as the year progresses.


6.11.09

When I gwow up, I wanna be a astwonot

As I'm sure most young adults do, I often think of goals to accomplish in my lifetime. Yea, I want to be a doctor. Yea, I want to run the Boston marathon. Yea, I want to hike Mount Everest. I want to live a fulfilling life.

In one of my classes, I've started learning about all of the physiological changes that occur in your body when in a microgravity. Your bones lose density, your muscles atrophy, you feel at constant vertigo due to your whacked out vestibular system. As people in the class started talking about how terrible it would be to put your body in that type of environment, I was thinking, I want to be an astronaut. I've always been the kind of person to like physical challenges. Most people grow out of the 'I want to be an astronaut' phase of life. I am growing into it, and I'm not ashamed.

I've got my whole life to become a doctor. Why not do a little space travel first.

5.11.09

death

I saw somebody die tonight. I was in the midst of one of the most fun and memorable nights of my college years when I noticed a man, not much older than myself, collapse on the dance floor of a popular Wednesday night spot, The Cactus Moon. The booze kept flowin', the dancers kept groovin', but I knew something wasn't right with this man. It wasn't just one too many drinks for this dude, he was out cold. As the drama continued for 5 minutes or so until the fire department was called, I was certain that nothing could be done. CPR was started, but it was another 5 minutes before the paramedics arrived, at which time the drama started. I don't want to get into the details, but it really got me thinking. Life sometimes just is not fair.

The positive energetic atmosphere of this place rightfully came to a standstill. Moods became sorrow as I noticed a bunch of college students stop and take a look at themselves and how they are treating their bodies. I am obviously no professional, but like I said, I can guarantee that there was some sort of external factor that came into play with this man's death. Drugs? Diet? Genetics? Stress or emotions? It really doesn't matter.

I have always been an advocate of living life to the fullest, in the safest and smartest way possible. Sure, if you eat healthy, you will probably have a healthier and longer life, but there are no guarantees. Be smart. Don't eat crap. Don't do drugs. But at the same time, live your life to the fullest. Life is short, make the best of it. My goal in life is to leave my mark. I want to be remembered by impacting the lives of others in a positive way. What are you living for?

1.11.09

Addictions

Whether we like it or not, we are all addicts. Our lives are full of habits. Fortunately, most of us choose good habits to fill our daily lives. Personally, I have become an addict for Time Market pizza. I eat it ~5x per week, but thankfully, it does not impact my life in any sort of negative way (YET!). If we choose to, most of us also have the will power and drive to kick these addictions and habits if they begin to impact our lives in a negative way. For me, I have chosen (more or less :P) to remove coffee, from my life. Sure, I drink a cup or 2 a week, but being able to cut down on something that not too long ago was a big part of my life gives me a good feeling about myself.

Others lives are sadly governed by much more serious issues or substances. Maybe these people have 'addictive personalities,' or maybe they are simply weak individuals. Habits and addictions can drive these people to do stupid, and immoral things. I think that I am a pretty empathetic person, and am good at understanding with others feel in a situation. If substances are controlling your life, change. If its due to the people whom you surround yourself by, don't surround yourself by those people. If its due to the places you choose to hang out, don't hang out at those places. If its due to the stresses that life throws at you, deal with these stresses in a different way.

BA-out