Friday, April 23, 2010
Thank GOD it's Friday!
I haven't even had my requisite first cup of coffee yet, but my brain is already going a mile a minute... when we say "Thank God it's Friday" do we really mean what we say? I'd be willing to think that most of us don't. Like so many other common expressions today, it has very much lost its meaning. Do you actually thank God about it being Friday after HE has gotten you through your stressful week? If not, you may want to find another favorite expression or you can do what I like to do - say a short little prayer actually thanking God for the day! Happy Friday, ALL!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
You Gotta Have FAITH!
No, I'm not talking about the George Michael song from many many years ago, but rather I'm talking about our personal faith. In this world, most of us are slaves to something. We're slaves to money, possessions, jobs, addictions, and so many other things. This brings me to a question: why do we let things control us? I'm going to hazard a guess and say maybe we're focused on the wrong things. Can money bring you happiness? No. Can things make you happy? I don't think so.
Nearly two months ago, I was released from my employer of over 18 years. I made a very good salary, received good medical benefits and had many good friends there. Heck, they were even paying for my continuing education at Cal Lutheran University. On the surface there was a lot to like. You would think that given all of that, losing my job might have really gotten me down. On the contrary, it's probably been the best thing that EVER happened to me!
Why do I say this? Well, the place I used to work had a very NEGATIVE work environment. Negative reinforcement was preached and practiced and it absolutely killed the morale there. Being a very positive person, this kind of environment and I were just not a good match. By the end of the often nine+ hour workday, I was physically and mentally exhausted. The 25-30 minute drive there and a 30-35 minute drive back home were also draining as we have people in this state who believe the right lane is a passing lane and it's their right to do 80+ MPH in it! And while going to the gym and doing an hour on the elliptical, the weight machines or in a mat pilates class helped me deal with that stress, it didn't resolve the inherent issues. Effectively, I was a SLAVE to my job!!!
As last year progressed, I could see myself falling downward in a spiral. I focused less on God and stressed more and more on things. Then, my self-confidence started to wane. If you know me at all, you do know that I'm usually very confident in my abilities... By September, I was an absolute basket case! I was trying to juggle school, the gym, and a 45 hour a week super stressful job while trying to spend time with family and friends. Can you say EPIC FAIL?? So what happened as a result? Friendships suffered, I missed commitments, I asked for extensions or changes on school projects, and I was feeling less and less like my normal positive-minded self. My sleep pattern had become ridiculous, varying between two and 11 hours of sleep depending on how I was feeling. There were even three "all-nighters" where I got NO SLEEP at all! Yes, the list was VERY long and it was just all bad! Sadly, I also almost stopped going to my church... I was still so drained from my Monday-Friday on Sunday mornings, that I often just wanted to hit the snooze button 20 times!
Toward the end of last year, I started to realize that I needed to do something different. Although I was somehow maintaining a 3.2 GPA and getting to the gym six times a week, there wasn't much else positive to say about how I was living. I was praying a little, but not nearly enough. I feel into some VERY bad habits. To make a long story short, I decided to go to my church the Sunday before Christmas after missing three straight weeks... the normal 11am service. So as I drive past Angela St. on Winifred, I notice there just weren't very many cars on the road... Strange, I thought. As I got closer to the parking lot, I could tell something was up as it was nearly empty! As me and about five other cars drive by the church, we see these little signs saying "ALL CHURCH SERVICE AT ROYAL HIGH SCHOOL at 10am." I was crushed! I REALLY needed to have my pastor speak to me. I REALLY needed to get some wisdom and encouragement from my friends there. Instead, all I got was nearly an hour of a wasted 50 mile roundtrip to the east end of Simi Valley from the west end of Thousand Oaks. Sadly, I was THAT out of the loop with my church and church body! As my cousin Scott would say "NO BUENO!" All I could think to myself was "this can't happen again... I REALLY need to get my focus back on HIM!"
So the next Sunday, the last one of last year, I finally made it back to my church. My pastor was there. A couple of valued friends were there. And I felt a peace. A comfort. A reassurance. A feeling that God was going to answer some things I had been praying about a lot. And HE did... the next night, He restored a valued friendship which had been torn apart mostly thanks to what I was dealing with at work... I started reconnecting with long, lost friends (mostly on facebook). As 2010 arrived, I just felt like there were going to be a lot of good changes happening in my life...
Fast forward to today. Not to boast or anything, but we're near the end of April, and I have managed to make it to my church EVERY Sunday this year! As I get further and further away from the thing that brought me so much stress, I've been getting closer and closer to God and also my friends. I'm also sleeping better than I have in a VERY long time. My family and friends all have remarked about me being so full of joy all of the time these days. And I really can't help it, because I'm truly happy and enjoying life. I see a friend in need posting a message on facebook and I can pray for them almost instantly. I can text or call my friends almost anytime to check on them... Heck, I can even drive over to visit some of them now too! Last week, I shared about the Lord to several different friends. I've even been listening to the sermons of other pastors online... As I told a good friend this weekend, I feel like God is finally working through me again to make a difference in this crazy world we live in... and that's a feeling not money, a job or anything else can buy!!! Thank you, Lord!!!
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Nearly two months ago, I was released from my employer of over 18 years. I made a very good salary, received good medical benefits and had many good friends there. Heck, they were even paying for my continuing education at Cal Lutheran University. On the surface there was a lot to like. You would think that given all of that, losing my job might have really gotten me down. On the contrary, it's probably been the best thing that EVER happened to me!
Why do I say this? Well, the place I used to work had a very NEGATIVE work environment. Negative reinforcement was preached and practiced and it absolutely killed the morale there. Being a very positive person, this kind of environment and I were just not a good match. By the end of the often nine+ hour workday, I was physically and mentally exhausted. The 25-30 minute drive there and a 30-35 minute drive back home were also draining as we have people in this state who believe the right lane is a passing lane and it's their right to do 80+ MPH in it! And while going to the gym and doing an hour on the elliptical, the weight machines or in a mat pilates class helped me deal with that stress, it didn't resolve the inherent issues. Effectively, I was a SLAVE to my job!!!
As last year progressed, I could see myself falling downward in a spiral. I focused less on God and stressed more and more on things. Then, my self-confidence started to wane. If you know me at all, you do know that I'm usually very confident in my abilities... By September, I was an absolute basket case! I was trying to juggle school, the gym, and a 45 hour a week super stressful job while trying to spend time with family and friends. Can you say EPIC FAIL?? So what happened as a result? Friendships suffered, I missed commitments, I asked for extensions or changes on school projects, and I was feeling less and less like my normal positive-minded self. My sleep pattern had become ridiculous, varying between two and 11 hours of sleep depending on how I was feeling. There were even three "all-nighters" where I got NO SLEEP at all! Yes, the list was VERY long and it was just all bad! Sadly, I also almost stopped going to my church... I was still so drained from my Monday-Friday on Sunday mornings, that I often just wanted to hit the snooze button 20 times!
Toward the end of last year, I started to realize that I needed to do something different. Although I was somehow maintaining a 3.2 GPA and getting to the gym six times a week, there wasn't much else positive to say about how I was living. I was praying a little, but not nearly enough. I feel into some VERY bad habits. To make a long story short, I decided to go to my church the Sunday before Christmas after missing three straight weeks... the normal 11am service. So as I drive past Angela St. on Winifred, I notice there just weren't very many cars on the road... Strange, I thought. As I got closer to the parking lot, I could tell something was up as it was nearly empty! As me and about five other cars drive by the church, we see these little signs saying "ALL CHURCH SERVICE AT ROYAL HIGH SCHOOL at 10am." I was crushed! I REALLY needed to have my pastor speak to me. I REALLY needed to get some wisdom and encouragement from my friends there. Instead, all I got was nearly an hour of a wasted 50 mile roundtrip to the east end of Simi Valley from the west end of Thousand Oaks. Sadly, I was THAT out of the loop with my church and church body! As my cousin Scott would say "NO BUENO!" All I could think to myself was "this can't happen again... I REALLY need to get my focus back on HIM!"
So the next Sunday, the last one of last year, I finally made it back to my church. My pastor was there. A couple of valued friends were there. And I felt a peace. A comfort. A reassurance. A feeling that God was going to answer some things I had been praying about a lot. And HE did... the next night, He restored a valued friendship which had been torn apart mostly thanks to what I was dealing with at work... I started reconnecting with long, lost friends (mostly on facebook). As 2010 arrived, I just felt like there were going to be a lot of good changes happening in my life...
Fast forward to today. Not to boast or anything, but we're near the end of April, and I have managed to make it to my church EVERY Sunday this year! As I get further and further away from the thing that brought me so much stress, I've been getting closer and closer to God and also my friends. I'm also sleeping better than I have in a VERY long time. My family and friends all have remarked about me being so full of joy all of the time these days. And I really can't help it, because I'm truly happy and enjoying life. I see a friend in need posting a message on facebook and I can pray for them almost instantly. I can text or call my friends almost anytime to check on them... Heck, I can even drive over to visit some of them now too! Last week, I shared about the Lord to several different friends. I've even been listening to the sermons of other pastors online... As I told a good friend this weekend, I feel like God is finally working through me again to make a difference in this crazy world we live in... and that's a feeling not money, a job or anything else can buy!!! Thank you, Lord!!!
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Wednesday, April 14, 2010
The numbers say Phil needs Tiger...
It's been quite a while since I posted a blog here, so thanks to all of you who have missed my blogging and/or left comments. After watching Phil Mickelson win his third Masters title this past Sunday, (and a BIG congratulations go out to you, Phil!) I felt inspired to blog again.
As those who follow the game closely know, "Lefty's" play had been very lackluster ever since winning the TOUR Championship last September. His finishes over that time: 19,45,8,24,14,30 and 35. Certainly not the type of play you would expect to preceed a major title. All of this got me to thinking about the last time Phil's play was lackluster - the latter part of the 2008 season into early 2009. Not coincidentally (in my opinion), the missing ingredient or common denominator was a certain man named Woods. Check out some numbers I just threw together on Phil on his PGA Tour play since the beginning of the 2008 season. By my count, "Lefty" has played 45 competitive PGA Tour events over that time. In 27 of those tournaments, Tiger was also in the field.
With Tiger in the field (27 tournaments):
Wins: 5 (18.5%)
Top 5's: 10 (37.0%)
Top 10's: 12 (44.4%)
Top 30's: 21 (77.8%)
Median: 14.5
Without Tiger in the field (18 tournaments):
Wins: 1 (5.6%) - note, win was the week prior to Tiger's last return
Top 5's: 3 (16.7%)
Top 10's: 5 (27.8%)
Top 30's: 12 (66.7%)
Median: 19.0
Pretty striking, isn't it? Phil was 3 1/3 times more likely to win with Tiger in the field than not! He was also 2 2/3 times more likely top have a top five finish with Tiger in the field. Given his often "go for broke" style of play, it's not too surprising that when he's out of contention, the "Tiger effect" isn't nearly as pronounced for Phil as shown by the median finishes of 14.5 with Tiger in the field vs. 19.0 without the world's #1 player amongst the competitors.
The bottom line based on the numbers of the past two plus years is that Tiger seems to inspire Phil's play. When Phil is near the top of the leaderboard, he's a MUCH better and more focused player and much more likely to place in the top 5 and/or win!
As those who follow the game closely know, "Lefty's" play had been very lackluster ever since winning the TOUR Championship last September. His finishes over that time: 19,45,8,24,14,30 and 35. Certainly not the type of play you would expect to preceed a major title. All of this got me to thinking about the last time Phil's play was lackluster - the latter part of the 2008 season into early 2009. Not coincidentally (in my opinion), the missing ingredient or common denominator was a certain man named Woods. Check out some numbers I just threw together on Phil on his PGA Tour play since the beginning of the 2008 season. By my count, "Lefty" has played 45 competitive PGA Tour events over that time. In 27 of those tournaments, Tiger was also in the field.
With Tiger in the field (27 tournaments):
Wins: 5 (18.5%)
Top 5's: 10 (37.0%)
Top 10's: 12 (44.4%)
Top 30's: 21 (77.8%)
Median: 14.5
Without Tiger in the field (18 tournaments):
Wins: 1 (5.6%) - note, win was the week prior to Tiger's last return
Top 5's: 3 (16.7%)
Top 10's: 5 (27.8%)
Top 30's: 12 (66.7%)
Median: 19.0
Pretty striking, isn't it? Phil was 3 1/3 times more likely to win with Tiger in the field than not! He was also 2 2/3 times more likely top have a top five finish with Tiger in the field. Given his often "go for broke" style of play, it's not too surprising that when he's out of contention, the "Tiger effect" isn't nearly as pronounced for Phil as shown by the median finishes of 14.5 with Tiger in the field vs. 19.0 without the world's #1 player amongst the competitors.
The bottom line based on the numbers of the past two plus years is that Tiger seems to inspire Phil's play. When Phil is near the top of the leaderboard, he's a MUCH better and more focused player and much more likely to place in the top 5 and/or win!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Happy Easter!
I just wanted to wish everyone a safe and Happy Easter. Remember what we are celebrating today... it's not about some bunny or coloring eggs.
Blessings to all, John
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Blessings to all, John
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Saturday, April 11, 2009
Yes, I'm Still Here...
Yes, it's been forever and a day since I posted a blog. Why haven't I posted in two months? Well, there are several reasons... number one though is that life has been quite stressful for me the past few months. The free time I used to have either has been spent doing other things or simply has not been available. To make matters worse, I endured a cyberstalking incident as well which quite frankly really creeped me out.
So what have I been up to? Well, number one has been taking care of me and my physical and emotional health. I've been hitting the gym five times a week now for the past month. I also started taking a pilates (yes, P-I-L-A-T-E-S) class three months ago and have been truly awed by the results. In my weight training I had hit a wall this past December. At the urging of a friend I met there, I decided to take the class. And lo and behold it began to make a world of difference. My breathing during techniques and flexibilty are much improved, and now I'm lifting 50% or more weight on every one of my machines since I started the classes! Needless to say, I'm in better physical condition than I've been in a very long time - try seven years! The past few weeks I've gotten compliments from so many people saying how good I look - everything from my posture being better to me looking broader and more muscular. Yes, the hard work has paid off! I can honestly say this is the best physical shape I've been in since about early 2002.
Emotionally, well it's been a roller coaster of late. Life has had so many ups and downs. My friend's lives have had so many ups and downs as well. Do I know anyone who is NOT stressed out right now? I don't think so! I'm sure most of you by now have heard of the tragic passing of Angels pitching prospect Nick Adenhart on Thursday. He along with two friends were killed by a drunk driver who ran a red light, slamming into the side of his vehicle. Only 23 years old. He had his whole life ahead of him! Just so tragic. May God's speed be with his family and friends.
What else have I been doing? Well, I'm trying to become the next Poker star - I think!!! Over the past couple of months, I've become very involved in the game and have done quite well. I've been entering some free weekly Texas Hold 'Em tournaments just to get my feet wet. As I write this, I'm ranked 730 out of over 750,000 players in the current one (which ends tomorrow night). Given my math aptitude and God-given gifts with numbers, it's something I seriously need to consider given the growth in popularity of Texas Hold 'Em Poker the past several years.
I'm still doing my fantasy baseball leagues, but after my heartbreaking losses last year in all five of my money leagues, I decided it was time to reassess. This past September I was also so stressed out and ultimately disappointed in my results that I also asked myself "is this worth it?" Also, one of my best friends made a very good point to me about after the season was over, asking "isn't that gambling?" At first I said "no" as playing the fantasy games for money is legal in 42 of the 50 states... However, the more I thought about it, dwelled on it and prayed about it, the more and more my conscience got the better of me. It may not be legally considered gambling, but it felt like gambling. You throw the Alex Rodriguez steroid revelations in there and that was the final straw. I'm doing ten leagues this year, which is more than enough to keep me involved in the game. But I'm also NOT doing any of the money leagues through CBSSportsline as the previous two years. Perhaps after the season is over, I'll reassess again and come to a different conclusion for the 2010 season. I don't know yet.
What else is up? Well, another trip to Nashville in June for CMA Fest week for sure... A trip to the Pacific Northwest in July is penciled in. I'm also leaning towards adding on a trip to D.C. before heading to Nashville just like last year. More to come as I figure it out more.
That is all for now. Hopefully, I will have time to start blogging on a more regular basis again soon.
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So what have I been up to? Well, number one has been taking care of me and my physical and emotional health. I've been hitting the gym five times a week now for the past month. I also started taking a pilates (yes, P-I-L-A-T-E-S) class three months ago and have been truly awed by the results. In my weight training I had hit a wall this past December. At the urging of a friend I met there, I decided to take the class. And lo and behold it began to make a world of difference. My breathing during techniques and flexibilty are much improved, and now I'm lifting 50% or more weight on every one of my machines since I started the classes! Needless to say, I'm in better physical condition than I've been in a very long time - try seven years! The past few weeks I've gotten compliments from so many people saying how good I look - everything from my posture being better to me looking broader and more muscular. Yes, the hard work has paid off! I can honestly say this is the best physical shape I've been in since about early 2002.
Emotionally, well it's been a roller coaster of late. Life has had so many ups and downs. My friend's lives have had so many ups and downs as well. Do I know anyone who is NOT stressed out right now? I don't think so! I'm sure most of you by now have heard of the tragic passing of Angels pitching prospect Nick Adenhart on Thursday. He along with two friends were killed by a drunk driver who ran a red light, slamming into the side of his vehicle. Only 23 years old. He had his whole life ahead of him! Just so tragic. May God's speed be with his family and friends.
What else have I been doing? Well, I'm trying to become the next Poker star - I think!!! Over the past couple of months, I've become very involved in the game and have done quite well. I've been entering some free weekly Texas Hold 'Em tournaments just to get my feet wet. As I write this, I'm ranked 730 out of over 750,000 players in the current one (which ends tomorrow night). Given my math aptitude and God-given gifts with numbers, it's something I seriously need to consider given the growth in popularity of Texas Hold 'Em Poker the past several years.
I'm still doing my fantasy baseball leagues, but after my heartbreaking losses last year in all five of my money leagues, I decided it was time to reassess. This past September I was also so stressed out and ultimately disappointed in my results that I also asked myself "is this worth it?" Also, one of my best friends made a very good point to me about after the season was over, asking "isn't that gambling?" At first I said "no" as playing the fantasy games for money is legal in 42 of the 50 states... However, the more I thought about it, dwelled on it and prayed about it, the more and more my conscience got the better of me. It may not be legally considered gambling, but it felt like gambling. You throw the Alex Rodriguez steroid revelations in there and that was the final straw. I'm doing ten leagues this year, which is more than enough to keep me involved in the game. But I'm also NOT doing any of the money leagues through CBSSportsline as the previous two years. Perhaps after the season is over, I'll reassess again and come to a different conclusion for the 2010 season. I don't know yet.
What else is up? Well, another trip to Nashville in June for CMA Fest week for sure... A trip to the Pacific Northwest in July is penciled in. I'm also leaning towards adding on a trip to D.C. before heading to Nashville just like last year. More to come as I figure it out more.
That is all for now. Hopefully, I will have time to start blogging on a more regular basis again soon.
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Monday, February 9, 2009
A-Rod or the Grammys... and the biggest fraud is?
Which one is the bigger fraud? It's to the point now where I wonder why I even bother to play fantasy baseball or why I bother to pay attention to the Grammy awards show year after year. The one thing that baseball and the Grammy awards apparently have in common is cheating.
Baseball players take steroids. The whole world knows it now... the question now is which ones played fair and didn't? America's most hallowed player of today, Alex Rodriguez admitted to taking them between 2001 and 2003. Has anyone legitimately hit 50 home runs since Cecil Fielder did in 1990? Maybe Ken Griffey Jr. didn't cheat when he hit 56 home runs in 1996 and 1997 for the Mariners. Maybe Ryan Howard didn't cheat when he hit 58 homers two seasons ago for the Phillies.
The Grammy committee makes sure the "artist on their politcal agenda" gets full recognition in a given year, even while they're not worthy. It's been blatently bad the past three years with banner nights for unserving winners while the worthy artists either went home empty handed or were severely shortchanged. Heck, they managed to raise up THREE unworthy artists this year in Robert Plant, Alison Krauss and Adele! Yes, the Grammy awards are rigged. I said it. And sadly, it's the truth!!!
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Baseball players take steroids. The whole world knows it now... the question now is which ones played fair and didn't? America's most hallowed player of today, Alex Rodriguez admitted to taking them between 2001 and 2003. Has anyone legitimately hit 50 home runs since Cecil Fielder did in 1990? Maybe Ken Griffey Jr. didn't cheat when he hit 56 home runs in 1996 and 1997 for the Mariners. Maybe Ryan Howard didn't cheat when he hit 58 homers two seasons ago for the Phillies.
The Grammy committee makes sure the "artist on their politcal agenda" gets full recognition in a given year, even while they're not worthy. It's been blatently bad the past three years with banner nights for unserving winners while the worthy artists either went home empty handed or were severely shortchanged. Heck, they managed to raise up THREE unworthy artists this year in Robert Plant, Alison Krauss and Adele! Yes, the Grammy awards are rigged. I said it. And sadly, it's the truth!!!
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Monday, February 2, 2009
Kobe Drops Record 61 @ MSG!
... and yes, the Lakers did win the game against the Knicks tonight at Madison Square Garden by a 126-117 score. Kobe hit on 19 of his 31 attempts from the field (including 3-for 6 on threes) and also made all 20 of his free throws. In scoring 61 points, he eclipsed the famous "double nickel" (55 point) performance by Michael Jordan as a Chicago Bull in 1995 and the 60 points Bernard King put up at the Garden on Christmas Day 1984 for the Knicks. Pau Gasol's great 31 point, 14 rebound performance was all but lost amidst #24's magical night. The Lakers are going to need Kobe and Pau to man the ship as yesterday's MRI on Andrew Bynum revealed a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Bynum, who had been playing amazing of late, is expected to miss 2-3 months. Fortunately, surgery will not be required.
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