Bday happenings

Chocolate chip pancakes. Yayyy. Thanks Cody.

Dinner was fun, we should have gone slightly later though, as the band had not started until we were about ready to leave. Later on, since we didn't feel like seeing the world reknown performing artist "Haystack" do a show at Sloopy's for a $25 cover (wtf of the day), we ended up back at the apartment and fired up the blacklights for what turned out being a great evening and ultimately a great four day weekend.

Interviewing, fitness, and friends

Between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd interviews, I'd say over the last two weeks I have had over 11 meetings w/ supervisors, managers, and HR direcs. It's great to be able to interview with quality, respected companies. For me to depart the Inn right now wouldn't be ideal for my co-workers though, so one way or another I have a very hard decision, or a very rough end, if I actually do earn the chance to work for another company.

Joining Life Time fitness was one of the best investments I've made lately! Normally I visit the Dublin location; feels good to get back to working out. This Saturday I'll be doing some climbing courses.. I'll be ready for Bridge Day in no time ;) haha def a joke right there

This week/wknd has been/will be crazy fun. I think St. Patrick's day has turned Claddagh's into a new fav, even if our Crew fell 3-2 in Mexico. Next up: bday wknd! Dinner at Cheeseburger in Paradise on Saturday, then out for some karaoke (if my voice comes back) and maybe a bar or two before music, games, and fun back at the apt. My delivery (pasta/breadsticks) has arrived, ciao

HSH 2010 Kick-off Event - Saturday, March 6

HSH will be starting off 2010 right, by getting everyone free t-shirts and more importantly, sampling some microbrew. From Blake:

Come join HSH for the kick off event of the 2010 Crew Season!

We will unveil the new t-shirt design for HSH and let everyone in attendance know what our plans our for the year.

We'll be taking a tour of Elevator Brewing Company and trying out some of their beers.

FREE LIMITED EDITION T-SHIRTS to all confirmed guests prior to event.

New Memberships for the 2010 Season will be available at the Brewery and afterwards at Rubys during the after party!

Should be some good fun. All current Crew injuries aside, looks to be a promising 2010 campaign.

Is everyone a junkie for something in their lives, ?

I'm not talking about craving chocolate, or people who love the single life. But those who are attached to something, those who think they need that fix in order to make it through the day. Whether it be feeling the speed of a vehicle as you flatten that pedal, working too hard, living any life in which you MUST do that ritual 4-6 times a day or else you start losing a grip. Does everyone have something like that? I do.

Something that's been controlling me everyday, turning me off from the rest of the world, ever since I was young. Recently I've been dealing with it better, there have even been one or two days that I thought I was kickin it. But nope, I'm right back there again. I know I have the choice, but I crave it.. I need it.. and I know if I don't stop this self-destructive behavior, that it will undoubtedly have consequences on my body and/or social life in the future. Sometimes I wonder if the one answer to the equation is someone from my past, someone who I probably won't ever see again. I just want to be free of this habit, I need to kick it if I'm going to properly move forward in life.

Med bills - A self realization that it's time to battle my health issues, with or without insurance

My back is finally almost healed up.. the skin is still very tough tho, so still have to battle with that infection. But underneath the hard skin, I can't really feel any bump or cyst-like growth. Maybe the infection did destroy it, fingers crossed.

But what really has me concerned are the ever-persistent warts on my hands, particularly the left. For the last 2 years I've just kinda laughed them off, tried here/there to rid them with cheap nonchalant efforts, but cannot overlook them any longer or downplay this. It's serious. So without any health coverage, I'm telling the doc to give them all he's got. If it takes all my savings (intended to use for moving here in April) then so be it. I'm tired of looking like this, and I want my hands to look normal again. If I ever got married, I want to be able to actually wear a ring. I don't want potential employers seeing them. I don't want girls asking questions. I'll probably have this virus the rest of my life, hopefully my immune system can keep it limited to just my hands. I hide it all real well, but I'm truly worried. I'll go into massive debt, whatever it takes.

Madriver last weekend

Madriver was great last weekend. A few friends and a few tubes.. fun stuff. The dense/intense fog also added to it! As it also did to the drive, but was a great time. Wish my friends would be up for more stuff like this, especially in the summer (state parks, camping, rafting, etc..) Maybe this summer, we'll see!

Eight days in

New Years couldn't have been better! Got to spend it with so many friends that I love. It was like an all-star line up of friends.. that made it a New Years Eve second only to me being in Times Square in 2005.

Tons of snow out there right now.. looking forward to some snowboarding this Saturday? Maybe?

I was going to the Bengals playoff game, but.. I'd rather do something where I control how fun it is!

Possibly a major break coming up for me, a major break that would include full benefits! Keeping my fingers crossed, although I really like the jobs I have going on now. I'm learning so much at one, and there's so many great people there.. I could see myself staying there for awhile. But at some point I need to step outside my comfort zone, no pun intended, and get out there. We'll see, we'll see.

NYE - Lodge Bar, Downtown !

MMM. I'm ready to get me some New Years Eve.

Goodbye 2009!

Live from Chicago... Day Two

Day Two - Just chilling here in Cody's hotel room. He's at work, watching the Chris Henry news on ESPN. What a sad way to go?

Update: Just got back to the hotel here close to O'Hare. I headed downtown just myself today, was walking around for probably 5.5 hrs? Made it to Navy Pier just in time for the sunset, although I didn't plan it that way.. so was nice. The sight of the city w/ the red sky behind it, all in front of the lake, was realllll pretty lookin and all :) Lots, LOTS of thinking done while down here. After staying at the lake until nightfall, I made my way back downtown and walked up and down Michigan Ave once or twice, or three times.. Got back on the train around 7:30 and back to the hotel around 9p.

Update: Hooter's for dinner and Colts vs Jags, then out to the bars before getting a little sleep and leaving at 6am

Live from Chicago...

Day One - After our first stop on the L: we got off, I realized I left a glove on the train so I run back on, then the doors shut. LOL. So I wave goodbye to Cody as I continue on down the line, leaving him with two locals who were trying to show him magic tricks to get some money. I was rather nervous, but we were reunited shortly.

After stops at the Corner Tap and at the completely unpopulated, yet trendy, Excalibur club, we then pass by an alley where a man is standing next to a door with a couple steel barricades set up around it. Eh.. what the hell? Let's try! So minutes later, we are in the basement of this building that had been turned into one crazy underground night club. Spy Bar? This place was one, incredible, time. And on a Wednesday at that.

Eddie Aikau Invitational - 12.8.09

Yesterday at Waimea Bay the finals were finished up.

Check out this short vid the final round and some of the most massive waves of the comp (3:47).
Or, an even shorter one sporting some wipe outs and rackdiculous waves, here (1:47).