I'm Loving It

Every January, a whole movement of people get inspired to loose weight and feel great. They vow to not eat junk food, exercise, and keep daily tabs of their calorie count. As the New Year is in full swing, I want to start drinking more water, and as the weather gets warmer, get more inspired to run and exercise. But I will tell you one thing I wont do: give up my Mickey D's.

When people ask me what my favorite restaurant is, I always say "my top two favorite restaurants are the Cheesecake Factory, and Mcdonalds" While I do it because I find this a funny juxtaposition, I also do it because it's true!

Alot of people give Mcdonalds a bad rap. Ever since the documentary film Super Size Me came out in 2004, people are almost riotous with pitch forks and torches when it comes to the restaurant. Actually when I watched Super Size Me in my high school Psychology class, I wanted to go there even more!

The truth of the matter is, you shouldn't go there when you are conscious about calories, dieting, and wanting to be in the best shape. That's why they create outrageously expensive sushi establishments, and whole food markets. But if you want something cheap, and good (without worrying about all the other stuff) then Mcdonalds might be a good option for you! Not only do I think their burgers, and fries are the best (compared to their fast food competitors) but their sweet tea is to die for! And I don't use that phrase that often! Even their regular pop is the best around! What do they put in it?

My new cravings at Mcdonalds is their new fruit and maple oatmeal for $1.99. This hot and creamy oatmeal, with a hint of maple is topped with fresh apple chunks, dried cranberries, and raisins (I know I sound like an ad). I'm hooked on this stuff! And best of all, it's healthy!

Now don't get me wrong, I love exercising. What I believe though is, as long as you stay active you can indulge once in a while in some fast food. I started taking up yoga and kickboxing at my local gym, spiced up with some cycling and running for later when it gets warmer. I even can kick butt in racquetball once I get motivated (and find a partner, sometimes the hardest part).

So for the New Year, get out there and stay active! I inspire you to eat right, and feel great! I'm just saying stop by Mcdonalds and try an oatmeal along with a sweet tea. You won't regret it!

How Do Two Worlds Become One?

Last weekend was the wedding of my very good friends. I was very honored to be the Best Man: a title that I find to be very important. Being apart of their lives in that capacity, I got to witness their relationship grow. And by that, I don't mean that everything was looked at through rosy glasses. There were some arguments, dissagreements, fights, and confusion. But through it all there was this enduring love that was relentless.

As they well know, as a single friend, I am obsessed with this question: "How do two worlds become one?" I have been tackling with this question for a long time now. It's even becoming a joke, as sometimes I like to become a parody of myself. (e.g. "How do two worlds become one?" I'd say in an exaggerated monotone voice, acting really contemplative!) What I mean by it though is... how do two people, with two different lives and backgrounds, join together and create a relationship (or in this case marriage!) I mean this is mindblowing! (wait I'm the only one who thinks it is? Okay then fine!)

My newly wed friends is the perfect antidote for what I'm talking about. They led two different lives, but throughout their 4 1/2 year relationship somehow they managed to blend their lives together in a perfect complementary blend. I always imagine the metaphor of soup or salad. The ingredients just mesh well together to create something wonderful!

You know how you always hear the phrase, "Opposites Attract"? Well that may be the case, but if they are POLAR opposites, then it would be like oil and water getting together. Or insert another metaphor here. If I meet a girl that loves to party, that would completely not work out for me, because I'm not about that at all. However if we look at the other side of the spectrum, being exactly the same won't work too well either. What would you learn? What new things would you experience?

Getting back to my favorite newly wed couple, they are exactly in the middle of this spectrum which is the perfect blend. How do you get to this point? Well it's all about compromise. His obsession with UK sports, cant override her desire to watch Glee, or another program. It also doesn't mean that she HAS to sit there and watch UK with him. While he watches sports with his grandparents (also avid wildcat fans) she can have a friend over the house and they can play with her new sewing machine. It's just all about the compromise.

While there can be a simple solution to creating that perfect complimentary blend by compromising, I still find it very difficult to find someone that has the potential to create that perfect blend with me.

So while I end this blog, and ask myself the question "How do two worlds become one?" let me continue to ponder on that contemplatively stroking my imaginary beard.

Invisibility

When I was a kid, I often thought it would be cool to have the super power of invisibility. I dont know why really, I just thought it would be cool. Perhaps being invisible on demand would be cool. But I do know that feeling invisible isn't. After graduation from college, I get this off and on feeling, and I can't really explain it. I know that there's God who loves me, and all my friends and family. But every so once in a while, I can't help to think that I'm vanishing. That people are forgetting about me.

Out with the old, In with the new

This phrase comes to mind alot when thinking about this feeling. When I said my goodbye's to NKU, and to my band fraternity, they were starting something new without me. They had to move on, meet new people, and form new connections. So whenever I visit my friends at NKU, there's always something new going on: New people hanging around them, or stories with new people and new scenarios. Sure I can try to catch up, and try to get involved as an alum, but I have to increase my efforts, or the train would just keep going without me.

What's even worse though is when I feel my own friends move on without me. I remember when me and my old co-workers got together to go bowling. When we were all working together we were known as the "three musketeers" and we were a little pack. When I bowled with them however, I realized that they've been forming a bond that was far too strong for me to feel apart of the musketeers anymore. I sat back at the table, trying to feel accomplished at my low 90's score, but I was far too distracted by my ol' co-worker friends (along with their mutual friend) having a sick connection! I wasn't about to break that bond.

Even my closer friends I sometimes feel like I'm obsolete. One hangs with his gf, and his work buddies. And while they share drinks on weekends, I pop in Fantasia (a christmas gift), in my basement curled up in my robe (another christmas gift). Another buddy is getting married, and we all know how marriage consumes your life! And yet another buddy, who I shared conversations just like this with frequently, is on to something new (aka a girlfriend! see a trend here?), and now we rarely talk to each other.

Sometimes I'd get on that dreaded Facebook just to see who's on, and who wants to chat. I see the newsfeed with everybody hanging out, and having fun. Then I try to chat with people, and as soon as I say "Hey whats up!! Haven't talked to you in a while!" they sign off. Or after a very short small talk session, they just sign off. Texting is even worse. You text someone to try to remain visible and current in their lives, but sometimes they don't even reply back! What's up with that??

A friend of mine the other night just told me, "after college you just got your career and your friends..." He was referring to the lack of drama and other crap you have to put up with in college, and was saying how rudimentary it becomes afterwards. I start a full time job in the next couple of weeks. My goal is to not get burried with work, and purposely become invisible. My goal is to continue to love and support my friends I do have and to cherish our time together. I also strive to meet new people and make new connections, as I really want to volunteer, and get my hands dirty with something. I think the best antidote for invisibilty though is to just think about how God loves me and wants to have a relationship with me. As I close out this half blog-half venting session, I want to use a bible verse that I would love to dwell on to get me out of this funk!

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! -Psalm 139: 17

Talk to ya later! God Bless!