Wheelin' and Dealin'

I haven't been able to really record any happenings from the past week in my brain well enough so that I'd be able to write about them. I know, for sure, that at some points throughout the past week I had something I wanted to write about, but now I've forgotten what they are. Oops. The first thing that is worth noting is that, I really wonder where June went. It's as if this month just started two days ago. All of a sudden, kids are coming out of school and summer programs are beginning to take form.

This past friday, we, as in the high school and college groups, had a sweet little year end gathering and a nerf war at church. It was pretty sweet as I haven't participated in a nerf war in quite a while - over half a year, I believe. For some reason though, I believe that it was this event that lead me to waking up with sore quads; geez, I'm useless.

Earlier that friday, the annual NHL entry draft took place. I can't say that this draft was all too exciting, but I sure am stoked at some of the players that the Oilers drafted. I am rather surprised that Scott Glennie, projected to be the Oilers' pick, went so early, and that Paajarvi-Svensson dropped to the spot where we picked him. All in all, I am slightly disappointed that John Tavares is now an Islander, because I wanted Tambellini to trade up to draft him; that way, we could see Tavares play with, possibly, Gagner, O'Sullivan, and Eberle. Oh well, I can assure you right now, that I will draft Tavares in our upcoming season of hockey fantasy pool.

It's rare that I am so hyped for hockey around this time of year, but I simply cannot shy away from it. I bought a brand new hockey stick today: this is the time of year when they are cheap, and I am participating in ECBC's hockey tournament next weekend. I am stoked for this. I can't say I'm expecting too much because I've never been to this before, and therefore, I don't know what it will be like.

Finally, I want to take a moment to remind people who need it, to step away from the driver's seat and onto the passenger's side. Take a deep breath, strap your seat belt on, and allow God to help you continue on with your journey. People simply get overwhelmed too much nowadays, and don't know how to cope with it. Especially, now that the exam period has just ended, many people are having their stress and whatever catch up to them. Take a break. Lean back. Relax.

Lots to look forward to within the next couple of weeks. Here I come summer! I'm ready to play some more soccer tomorrow; hopefully my legs aren't sore.

Revive

I am in horrible condition, as you may or may not know. My physical potential should be hitting its peak within the next few years, but I am in the worst shape in my life. As a kid, you never get tired, and as you grow older, even though your ability and potential expands, I'm not taking advantage of it and that is why my fitness level is so noob.

However, despite this "run for two seconds, rest for 2 minutes" business, I have been lucky enough to play some soccer over the past month, again. I haven't played for over a year, so there is guaranteed to be rust in my abilities. But, because I've been able to play again, it's been a blast and I haven't had this much fun in a very long time. Today was a day where I felt much better out there on the field (except for my lack of physical fitness). I am slowly regaining my ability to control the ball and the play and it feels so awesome. I haven't quite gotten my quick decision making and shot back yet, but reading the play and all that other business is pretty good.

Not having played soccer in such a long time has kind of killed the sport for me, but now I am reviving that love for soccer that has been lost inside of me. Soccer has been, and always will be, my favorite sport to play. Don't get me wrong, I love hockey as much as the next person, but soccer is the sport I would much rather participate in. As I live in Canada, I don't get much exposure to professional soccer leagues, so I follow hockey as closely as I can, but I choose to play soccer over hockey, almost any day.

Can't wait to play next week, maybe I'll get a bit of my touch back =D

Seasoned Pro

So, it's been roughly a year since I officially started blogging - just over 10 months using blogspot - and I decided to read a few of my older posts, a couple days ago, just to see what kind of a dork I was. I, then, proceeded to read a few of my newer posts to see the dork that I've become. Overall, I don't think I've changed that significantly, in terms of the blogger that I am. I'll admit that my attention to grammar, and everything around it, might have increased because the Prof I had for my English 111 class indoctrinated me into being too aware of the way my sentences are structured. And then I realized that reading about someone blogging about their blog really isn't that interesting, so I will now move on to the next topic; I don't know if I really consider myself as a seasoned pro, just yet.

Lately, I've been having trouble getting off my butt and applying for summer jobs; I will try to explain, exactly, why that is. Not getting a job has gotten so bad that I'm beginning to be pitied by other people by offering me money to do some house chores for them, and I can't say I feel that great. I think everyone can relate to my inability to get a job, but just in a different way with a different situation. First of all, I, in fact, have done everything except the actual applying part of getting a job. I have a pretty decent resume; I have the motivation and know what kind of job I'm looking for, in a sense; I go out with a folder with my resumes in them and look for stores to hand them to. However, every single time I walk into the store, I freeze, and a sense of fear or something wraps around me and holds me back from asking whether or not they are hiring. I wouldn't think that it's because I'm shy, because I love talking to people. I just can't seem to muster up the strength or courage to actually go to the customer service, or whatever, to ask for applications and stuff. It's pretty stupid, if you ask me, that I am so close to applying, but I just don't do it; I crumble, due to whatever it is, and then it's as if both my legs and my mouth are glued shut and then I become unable to say anything. It's kind of lame.

To try to make the whole situation a little more relateable, it's that one thing in your life that you seem to have no problem talking about it, planning about it, going about it. But when you're actually getting it done is when you suddenly tense up and can't do it. I'll use Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau as an example. Both Thornton and Marleau are terrific hockey players during the regular season; but as the playoffs arrive, they both know, and are motivated in a way, that they have to perform up to standards to help their team win the Stanley Cup. For whatever reason, they choke and can't play like the way they do in the regular season. Year after year, the same happens and they just can't seem to explain why. It's the same for me. Who the heck cares if I'm over-analyzing this simple aspect of "getting a job"? It drives me mad and that's why I'm over analyzing. You try and try to figure out what the problem is, so you can correct it, but the answer is just not there.

.. Definitely not a season pro. But when you teach yourself to fly, you've got to learn how to spread your wings first, and that's what I'm trying to do; except, I don't have wings. Just some really girly fingers.

Are You Impressed?

I've kind of noticed something: what someone will do to try to impress someone else, is pretty astonishing. It doesn't necessarily have to be a guy or girl that you're crushing on that you're trying to impress, it can be anyone: your parents, siblings, friends, etc. In fact, I took note of this by seeing what someone is attempting to do to impress his brother.

It got me kind of thinking about the whole "impression" business; why does someone go through what they need to in order to get that rewarding comment or appreciation they long for? I'm not gonna lie, I've caught myself doing it before and ended up realizing that I don't really know if it was worth going through everything just to feel appreciated or respected. I guess that it is a natural feeling for someone to want to be accepted by another, but I've seen people go through that process, and sometimes it is done way overboard. For example, your brother, whom you haven't seen in five years, says he's going to come visit you in the summer. You understand that your brother lives in a bigger world than you do, so you know he's probably seen some pretty amazing things compared to your little life in a smaller city. So, you're ultimately pushed to find things that, you think, might have a possibility of making your brother enjoy his time visiting you. There is nothing wrong with all of this, until you suddenly realize to yourself, "oh man, I'm planning a barbecue night, and I haven't barbecued in over a year; I've got to practice."

Okay, I guess that isn't really ridiculous, but I find it pretty amusing and interesting. It's also funny to see what a guy will do for a girl he's crushing on; however, it eventually gets old because it's all the same. I find it funny because I know I've been there before, and realized how pathetic I was, and still am, sometimes.

Umm, tomorrow, I will be leading my second marathon of worship songs during our little "worship service". This is going to be the second time where I've had to come up with a songlist of about 10 songs to lead for worship. First time was at YIC, and this time in my own church. Luckily, there will be mini breaks between each song, so my voice won't be GG'd from the get-go.

So where am I going with all of this? I have no idea, just wanted to say something (=

Spectator

There are many times that I like to play spectator in something. I love being caught up in the hype of things and being along for the enjoyment of the ride; this is why I think everybody should be a sports fan. Just recently, Dany Heatley of the Ottawa Senators requested a trade and is also rumored that he is willing to waive his no-trade clause to come to Edmonton. Now how awesome would that be, to have Heatley in an Oilers jersey? I would, personally, be so stoked for the season to start that I'd spend every single day just reading hockey things and fantasizing about it. Haha. Honestly, though, being able to get Heatley, even though we will have to give up some valuable pieces, will bring so much awesomeness into the Oilers organization. We will have a Triple H top line. Imagine it this way, Rod Phillips decides to give another year to broadcast Oilers' games and in his classic voice, he will say the following: "Horcoff, wins the draw; he passes over to Hemsky; Hemsky sends it across to Heatley; Heatley shoots, he scores!!" Now I am personally not a fan of Horcoff, but I think he is better than what he was this last season. As far as number one centers go, there will always be better, but you have to deal with what you have; and potentially, Tavares is also supposed to become a Joe Sakic type of player and status.

If the rumours are true, and that the New York Islanders are gunning for Hedman, and then the Lightning will have their second overall pick up for grabs, the chance of Edmonton getting that pick exists! Tavares, playing in Edmonton, could not possibly make me happier. He grew up with Gagner, and he has developed chemistry with Eberle; please tell me that that would not be heaven to watch every night. So the dilemma arises, would you rather gun for Heatley, or possibly Tavares? I know it's possible to get both, but the chances of that are smaller than the chances of me becoming a rockstar; so let's face it, we will probably have to choose one, and I, personally, think that the chances of acquiring Heatley are better than Tavares. I will be real happy for both, by the way.

Also in the spectator's column is some real life, closely and personally related issues. It's amazing how a single happening can lead to a series of unfortunate events; yes, there was an attempt to relate to the fictional series there. Being at home a lot lately, I've been able to step back from the world and kind of take a spectator's point of view on what's going on in life around me. And I have to admit, that I am very shocked at how chaotic the world is becoming. Even close to home, it seems as if there is a pandemic breaking out; everyone seeming to get this killer flu is just an example of the things that have shocked me at what is going on nowadays. So, being able to see one event lead to a whole bunch of other unfortunate things, although saddens me, it makes me more interested in what is going on with other people's lives.

Well, to conclude, even though it seems like I'm wasting time by not doing anything (not getting a job, etc., but I am working on that), I really am not. There is a lot of stuff for me to contemplate on, because I'm that type of person. I read somewhere, once, that if you go a day without learning something new, then that day is a day that has gone to waste. So, I wouldn't necessarily say I haven't learned anything at any of my past two months; the easiest way to put it, is that I've kind of gained new insights on life, and able to reflect on my personal life on where I am and, more importantly, where I need to go - the kind of adjustments I need to make as a person.

Wish you well: in faith, love and happiness.

Where Did That Come From

Okay. Well, a couple things. First of all, let me tell you now, that one of my biggest fears is bees. I have never been stung before, so I can't say that bee stings are the reason why I am so scared of them. Maybe it is because of the fear of being stung, and the fact that they're just so friggen huge and hairy is what scares me.

A couple years back, one night, I was awaken by something, and I wasn't too sure what it was. When I gained near full consciousness of myself, I began hearing this sound near my ear. At first, I ignored it because I thought I was just imagining things. However, a few minutes later, I move a bit and I hear that buzzing noise again. Okay, so now I'm starting to become more alert. I had no idea what in the world the noise was, and it was really close to me. So, then the thought crossed my mind that there might be a bee in my room. So, at this point, I am totally freaked out because the buzzing really sounded like a bee's buzz. I tried to look for what it was, in the dark, but I couldn't see. So I grabbed my pillow slowly, seeing as maybe it was under my pillow. I then slowly walked towards the light switch so I could see better. But then, all of a sudden, I hear the buzzing come straight from the pillow, and there it was! I saw a giant black spot moving around my pillow. I am completely terrified and I threw my pillow down at my bed, hoping the bug don't fly up and murder me! I flipped on the lights and, indeed, it was a bee - freakin' crawling about my bed - in my room! A bee! How in the world did it get into my room like that? So I grabbed my hockey stick, which, luckily was behind my door in case the bee flew up to attack me. I then noticed, it couldn't fly! I really wondered why, but I decided to give the bee a tour of the Edmonton sewage system by making it crawl onto my hockey stick, then flushing it down the toilet. I will admit, that I had a tough next couple of nights trying to sleep. But, in the end, I would've thought that that was just a once in a lifetime experience.

Fast forward to today. Hello. I am downstairs, in my basement madly dashing between my laptop and the desktop, trying to organize a few things. I turn around ready to switch computers, then I catch a glimpse of a big black thing on the ground moving. HOLY SH!T! was my initial reaction; another bee?! You have got to be kidding me. Although, this time around, I wasn't as freaked out because, coincidently, just last weekend my sister and brother saw a bee crawling around the floor as well. Let me tell you, they freakin atomic bombed that bee. So, here I am, almost hesitating because I didn't want it to fly up at me. Then I proceeded towards my hockey stick to repeat the job I did a couple years back. Boy I feel like a tour guide giving all these bees a tour of my basement and toilet.

All I can really say about this whole bee experience is, "sigh". I really gotta get my dad to get the house checked out for bee hives and scary things like that. Just writing about it gives me the jitters.

Okay, onto greater things that are more worth talking about. In one day, on average, I get about three or four musical inspirations in my head. What are these inspirations about? Let me tell you. There will be a time, a split second or two, while I'm playing guitar, or whatever, where I will suddenly have this brilliant idea of a song. It happens really quick, so it's hard for me to explain. But basically, what happens in my head within that span of time, is that I get a really cool riff-like idea, followed by a progression, then a sweet melody line that would be really catchy if turned into a song. For the times I try to capitalize on the oppurtunities, I always get stalled when I get the point of putting words to my music. I'm not gonna lie, I'm not very good at writing lyrics that fit well into songs. So, time and time again, I let musical inspirations and ideas slip out of my head without being recorded. I gotta do better at that, so I can revisit them in the future.

Here's my proposal to anyone that reads this: whenever or wherever you get a spew of lyrics that you think could be a song, write it down. Give the lyrics to me, if you're willing, and I will put them into one of the "music genius moments" that I get; and everything will be complete! An entire song, written in a matter of moments. Hey man, the greatest songs nowadays are written in a few minutes - just ask Mraz.