Moving Day and new couch

So today is officially the moving day. It's five minutes until 5:00am and here I am just finishing some of the dishes/food packing. Boxes all over the living room, and I can barely keep my eyes open.

It's amazing how some things beyond unbelievable can inspire you to get so much more out of your day. Let's put it this way- I am so glad I'm not in a relationship.

Yesterday I bought a new couch and a new dining table/stool set from Ashley Furniture. It won't be in the new place until Friday though, which sucks. Pretty curious to see how everything will come together in the next few weeks. Standby for updates.

The art search continues

I came across this artist's website while at work this morning. I love the rare occasions when I find an artist who's work on the canvas reflects each of the things which I find beauty in about a particular place. In the ocean's case, he all but nails it. The signage (such as the pic featured here), the unique landscaping techniques, and the surf lovers. Please check out his work and even if you don't have the bank to hang one of these great pieces up, atleast take a peek at the more affordable print versions. Mahalo

VFC Monday night league- Goal! 2-0 win

So in my Monday night soccer league, we were up 1-0 with less than ten minutes left in the match. I subbed out while on defense after getting my foot drilled, then went back on moments later for attacking midfield. Again, around ten minutes left, I make a run to split two defenders when I see Drew get a good look on a 50/50 ball. He redirects the ball right behind the last defender, actually almost laying it out for me while I was in stride. I bring it down and give two close touches as I sprint towards the 18, one on one with the keeper at this point, with a defender right behind me.

Thinking to myself, 'I've seen this before.. you've watched this get screwed up a hundred times by the pros. You know what to do.' Visions of Emilio Renteria in my mind.

I cross the top of the 18 and the keeper thinks I'm going to pop it then, but I flick it to the right (a little too hard) and side step him as he slides. The ball is rolling good towards the touch line now and both the defender and I race to catch it first. 2 ft from going out of bounds and 4-5 ft to the right of the goal mouth, I win the race and quickly make a right foot, cross-body one-touch strike and immediately tumble out of bounds as the ball hits the back of the net. 2-0.

Man I was so pumped. It's like everything I've been working on and learning for the last two years finally paid off. Tonight confirmed that staying in shape and watching endless hours of leagues across the globe has made me the better player that I knew I've become. We've won 5 out of our last 6, we are on a roll!

Philly bonus content! This is some good stuff, must read

While on the Fake Sigi blog, I some how clicked upon the blog of Chris LaMacchia. I'm like, 'hmm, is this the same LaMacchia I met on the Philly trip?' And upon a few rolls of the mouse, I had my answer. Check out his most recent post, recapping the walk that myself, Chris, Grant and Meagan endured while at the mercy of downtown Philadelphia. Thanks to this post, I am now reliving moments that I had no idea transpired, thanks Chris !

Also, thanks to Chris, I have indentified the fountain that myself and Meagan took some dives in. Classic.

Two steps closer, have been awake 45.5 hours

After yesterdays happenings, I believe I am two steps closer to a better, happier me. I'm not sure what kind of news I might have here over the week, but I will follow in the footsteps of LeBron and Kevin Farmer by making a big production out of whatever announcement I have. Look for my version of "The Decision" to be coming soon!

I've been awake for a ridiculous amount of time for the first time in a long time. Yep. I awoke Monday around 10 am. It is Wednesday at 6:30 am. I must say I am going to do a lot, a lot of sleeping here in about an hour.

10 days until we move!

Cleaning Day

Starting to gain some ground from the complete meteor train-wreck that the past month has been. Today did great deal of cleaning and organizing, and found some things that I had been missing. Two weeks until we move. Still looking for that second job, which is impossible to locate when I am working first shifts or third shifts and my schedule changes every two days.

Shoulders workout at the gym earlier today. Will probably get some Rooster's when Cody gets off work, and then back to the gym for a light biceps workout to make up for yesterday.

I must say, I am not doing so well

Time for a heart-to-heart; a little session of honesty, if you will.

The journey of this blog has seen a majority of positive, energetic posting. I like to think that among many friends that I'm known as the stress-free guy who's always having a great time, no matter what. Well I'm breaking down.

Today I couldn't find my keys. I can't ever find anything here. It's a mess. I don't have any room to keep any of my stuff. So my clothes, belongings, and random things I bring in/out of the apartment are piled up in front of a closet next to the front door. I am always in a hurry. I fling stuff here and there without thinking, because I am always being rushed. Whether by work or other schedule committments, and I've had it.

Everything that I had wanted in a job was presented in front of me before I moved down here. As time went on you could say that I heard and saw things from behind the "curtain" there, and now this curtain has been pulled violently back, exposing the driving force of what is becoming one of the darkest periods of my life.

While searching around the apartment for my keys I think to myself, 'you probably locked them in the car before the gym yesterday.' I fling open the door, touch only one of the 9-10 steps as I descend the stairs, and then calmly begin walking toward the parking lot. Not seeing my car, I realize I parked on the street last night and walk down to Neil Ave. No car. Right away I know it. Street sweeping/cleaning goes down on the second Friday of each month.

I finally get a little bit of a routine going down. A set schedule. 7a-3p everyday this week. Until last night, when I am notified I am going back to thirds right away. My sleep schedule is not set for that, and of course today I wake up at 8:30am and can't go back to sleep. I'll be awake all day and go into work at 11pm, only to get off at 7am and head out for Bluffton immediately so I can sleep all the way up to the alumni game at 6pm. And after that's over? I'll drive back to Columbus right away to be right back at work at 11. Isn't life great?

Street sweeping on the second Friday of each month. My car is gone; towed again. There is no signage indicating where it might be, and I go into panic mode. Ok, it's more like completely-out-of-my-mind mode. Now I have no idea where my keys are and I have to call family back in Bluffton because it's possible my keys are inside the Escape. Luckily they are amazing.

Phone call from work. Something about me coming in early. Now the real me wants to get in there asap so I can help, because all of us there are having to do extraordinary jobs just to keep the place afloat. But what does the current me want to say? Hah.. I won't include that on here.

Now I have to find where my car is. I'm currently waiting on fam to arrive with a spare key. Other troubles? I have extra expenses coming here soon that I've never had before. No matter how much of myself I dedicate to this job, in a few months it will be over for all of us, I must find a back up plan. In addition to all of this, friends that I haven't seen or heard from in awhile have recently taken up a decent portion of my daily thoughts.

I'm starting to believe that I never should have taken the job, I never should have moved, and never should have thought that this was a step to making anything out of myself. I'm down and out, on the ground and defeated. We've all been there. But how do I get back up? Am I strong enough to endure what's about to happen? And for the first time in my adult life, I am not sure if I am.

Longer than expected - Philadelphia recap

Well, Philadelphia was one crazy fun time. We won 2-1, and post-game activities were fulfillingly wild. While tailgating I managed to fall into some sort of hole in an abandoned garage and that hurt just a little, haha. In fact my arm is still bruised.

After the game we arrived at the Crowne Plaza hotel in downtown Philly, threw on a new shirt and headed out for Fado with some of the guys. A few hours later had the chance to meet up with lovely Meagan. A fountain dive and glass of wine later definitely made for a memorable night in my book.

I had wanted to do a more in-depth recap of the trip, but too much time has passed and my mind is now once again filled with the stresses of the life.

Soccer league on Monday, our winning streak continued to four. Yep, four in a row. We ironed out a 1-0 victory over the 5th seeded team in the tourney. To put that in perspective, we were the 10th seed.. so yeah, a 1-0 win over those guys feels real good.

Dinner last night at Mac's with some friends, then some pool at Hendoc's.

Cannot begin to describe the level that my stress has been at lately, but with last night being pretty decent, hopefully that stress is starting to top off.

Sinking ship or nose-diving plane.. no matter how you look at it, it's going down

Exhale.

What a(n) _______. Insert words such as circus, joke, mistake, shame, embarrassment, experience, etc. Suggestions welcome.

In the past week or less, the GM who hired me has been fired, two employees up and left, and more could follow. New faces have been brought in to really shake things up. I mean I am someone who welcomes change, but come on. This stuff's getting real. Who signs up for something like this? Example: One day I get to work. Less than five minutes into my shift, a superior arrives and notices a fingerprint smear on the front desk. I fear that something as simple as that, and I am in no way joking about this, could cost me my position. I have worked plenty of restaurants and odd jobs here and there. I've been around good people, and I've been around trash. We have (or, had) a good group of people here! It's so frustrating when our people whom try so hard, have innovative ideas, and take initiative and get things done, are having to walk away because ownership wants to change directions.

I cannot even complete the audit tonight. And I'm supposed to be doing it like 5 times a week now. I understand why the other night auditor left, he had his reasons. But seriously man? If we all quit jobs at the first sign of something negative where would this world be. I know I'd be screwed, but apparently you'll be just fine. Instead of staying and helping your fellow employees through all of this transition, you just bail for "moral" reasons. Well if it was me, and it has been, my morals would say to stay on as one of those good people. They would say, 'hey Paul, not only will you be out of a job if you quit, but you are going to royally screw up the schedules of those who worked with you and cause an insane amount of turmoil in their lives, all because you couldn't handle three days of something different.' Ha. Call it "noble" or whatever if you want. Thanks.

This is all so stressful. I have never been more nervous about something like this. I can't even count how many work days I've worked consecutively now. Have a meeting today at 9 and I'm crossing my fingers. Then leaving for Philadelphia tomorrow morning.