Birthday Fun Day

All weekend I was checking the weather for today, to see if I would be able to enjoy the outdoors or have to stay inside. The forecast called for overcast, cold, and a chance of snow flurries. Well weather man, you tried to ruin my birthday but it didn't work. I woke up this morning to the sunlight beaming in through my window. I went outside to to a beautiful sun shining down and not a cloud in the sky. 

I thank her for that.

I enjoyed my free coffee at Starbucks and caught up on my internet addictions. From ESPN to CNN, to Twitter and Facebook. Which reminds me, I never knew I had that many friends that cared to write on my Facebook wall for my birthday, I am very honored. 

I thank you all for that. 

I did some office work and I ran my typical errands; Walmart, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, DSW, (you get the idea). I was pleasantly surprised with myself when I spent a combined 20 dollars at all those places.

  I thank my inner self control for that. 

With Valentine's Day, I have seen numerous commercials for those "edible arrangements" and I always thought they looked delicious. Well to my surprise there was one delivered to my apartment this afternoon. As you can see below it looks absolutely amazing and I can't wait to dig into it. 

I thank my Mom for that. 

Finally, I stumbled upon this breath taking view this evening. With the sun setting, still not a cloud in the sky and most of the snow on the beach melted away, it was absolutely beautiful. Watching the sun fall into the horizon, the waves of the ocean gently roll into the beach, and the birds quietly chirping away, there was a moment I knew I wasn't alone. My family, my friends, they were there, in my heart they were there. There was also someone else, with what felt like a hand on my shoulder, saying Happy Birthday and letting me know she was doing well. 

I thank God for that...

"Love is..."

Happy Valentine's Day

February

Maybe I am biased but I definitely think February is one of the best months there is. Its unique, with only 28 and occasionally having 29 days, its an individual. I think that goes the same for people who are born in February, they are unique. Think of all the great people who were born in February, Abe Lincoln, Jennifer Aniston, Johnny Cash, Babe Ruth, Chris Farley, Michael Jordan, Heather Ezell, George Washington, Garth Brooks, Brittany MacFarlane, Ansel Adams.... the list could go on. Not to mention Valentine's Day is in February, who doesn't love Vday chocolates and flowers, this lady is sold! Finally, this is the time where College Basketball because intense. Every game counts, every possession could be a trip to the NCAA tournament or a ticket home for Spring Break. This is the time great teams are separated from good teams. This is where you find out who really wants it. Who is going to pay attention to the details and who is going say "I'll get it next time".  Now I won't lie nothing compares to March Madness but the February Frenzy comes pretty close.

Week and then some in Review...

Continued my Caffiene addiction... I believe its worse than ever.

"People who have never had an addiction don't understand how hard it can be." -Payne Stewart

Explored the Raleigh-Durham Airport.

"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." -Ansel Adams

The stairs at NC State leading up to the court. I loved it but there was one word missing... Communication!

"Communication is the real work of leadership."

-Nitin Nohria

I spent Super Bowl Sunday at Applebees drinking out of a bendy straw and watching the game.

"I'm going to Disney World!"

-Aaron Rodgers

I was surprised when I was sitting in my office and found the Iowa State vs. Oklahoma game on TV up here. Right before practice I got to watch Kelsey and Debbie's halftime special!

Kelsey Bolte for All-American!

Got some shots up on Kay Yow's court at NC State.

"I feel like I had zero control over getting cancer, but I have 100 percent control over how I will respond to dealing with cancer." -Kay Yow

This was me playing with my iPhone for endless hours and taking random pictures. One of my favorites signs is this one, my roommate and I in college found this sign one night.

"Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted." -John Lennon

Just a little coffee shop in North Carolina.

"Enjoy Life Wide Open." -Larry's Beans

Lastly, I enjoyed some ME time...

"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time--God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen." 1 Timothy 6:12-16

Manic Monday

My title doesn't really explain my day but I still saw it fitting. Today was a day off, and after yesterday's Super Bowl Sunday Funday activities it was a much needed day off.

After our game yesterday I called around to see what local places were having specials for the big game. After a very rude conversations with a restaurant that I will not name Chilis, I called Applebees to find out they were having all kinds of deals! So I went there and spent almost 3 hours sitting at the bar watching the game. The best part was talking to this sweet couple that sat down next to me. After a couple ice breaker questions, I found out they had just moved here from St. Louis, who would have thought. I swear it really is a small world. In the end I was very happy to see the Green Bay Packers win the Super Bowl but I wasn't very happy with the commercials this year. I did have a favorite though...

As of today, I slept in until almost 10:30, which is a big accomplishment for me. I usually can't sleep in past 9:30. I will give credit to the busy day I was part of yesterday, along with the Super Bowl activities. After sleeping in I went to the Post Office to pick up an AMAZING package and drop of a couple pieces of mail. Then it was off to Starbucks and AT&T. I picked up my typical iced coffee then walked over to at&t to purchase my new iPhone. Since my birthday is coming up I thought I would treat myself to a new phone. Happy early Birthday to me! So needless to say the rest of my day was shot, as I have spent a majority of it setting up the new phone and downloading new apps. I have been so preoccupied with the phone I have forgotten to eat breakfast and lunch. It might be time to eat, especially after that noise my stomach just made, it thinks its time to eat as well.

The purpose of life is a life of purpose...

"We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that deep inside us something is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit."

-E.E. Cummings



It happened...

It finally happened, I let 3 days go by without blogging. How could I let this happen. Ah yes I now remember, it was the lack of down time combined with 70 degree weather. On Monday we traveled down to Raleigh, North Carolina to play a make up game against NC State. We left 20 degree weather and arrived to NC for 60 degree weather. It was absolutely beautiful and I didn't want to leave. Although the outcome of the game didn't go our way it was a great experience for our players (and even for me, yes I still act like a college kid sometimes). To play on Kay Yow's court and be inside that building that is full of tradition was a great experience. The day of the game it was about 50 degrees out and I put in a lovely run outside in downtown Raleigh. It was the best run I have had in awhile, mainly because I got to run outside. The one thing I learned from this trip was today, when we flew back to CT and then practiced a few hours after we got back... I am not as young as I use to be and flying and trying to practice on the same day don't work well with my body. Especially my hips and knees, I needed an ice bath more than our players did after practice. And with that, its time for another round of icing and some tylenol pm.

Killing time in the airport

Kay Yow Court