The Whole Other Level

Jim Craig: Wait a second, I’ve given you all I’ve got, and now you’re pulling the plug on me?
Herb Brooks: Have you? Given me your very best? Because I know there’s a lot more in you, a whole other level, that for some reason you just don’t want to go to!… Aww, what the hell, you don’t understand what the hell I’m talking about.
Jim Craig: No… you know what I understand, Herb? I don’t understand you, nobody on this team understands you. You, with your ridiculous sayings, and your drills, and those stupid psychology tests that you had everybody take- [cut off by Herb]
Herb Brooks: Everybody?
[Starts jogging up the stairs, while Jimmy yells after him]
Jim Craig: What, so this is what this is all about? Because I didn’t take your test? Fine, you want me to take your test, I’ll take your test. Is that what you want?
Herb Brooks: No. I wanna see the kid in the net who wouldn’t take the test.

I love this part of the movie Miriacle.  It reminds me that we all have unrealized potential, but are most of the time content to sit in the middle and not stand out.  We don’t want to be noticed so we blend in by taking the easy road. Why is that?

Is it because we are afraid to fail or be noticed and then fail….is it because we don’t have people in our lives that take interest in us to push us to that next level and don’t seek out those who will push us?

I’m just really confused right now.

RIP Emma Lynn

Emma passed away this evening.

Couch Surfing vs. The Real World…

Since I haven’t had an official job since the end of July, I have gotten to experience the occupation of a couch surfer…and while Lincoln would not be my first destination to do this in (Long Beach sounds like a better place) it has been a glorious experience and I’ve realized that I, up until now, have taken getting a job and an education way too seriously.

Yes, they are important but whatever happened to relaxing and just kicking back? Yes, it has gotten boring at times and I do crave human interaction at some points, for the most part its been a great month. Now only if I could do this forever!

I’ve realized that – Yes, there is a level of potential inside of me that for some reason (either guilt, embarrassment or just plain stubbornness) I won’t go to. I don’t know how to open that part of me up, but I am determined to find out.  Maybe it will take a move as drastic as going to a place with just the things in my suitcase and having to make it that way or taking a two week vacation…without a cell phone, with out a computer, just me, myself and I.

But the real world is coming back to me quickly and loans have to be repaid…but I am making a committment right here and right now that I will not let those things hold me back any longer from doing things that I think I should or want to do……

BABIES!!!

The triplets were born yesterday around 1:00 PM EST.  They are doing ok so far

Anthony John (AJ) weighed 2 lbs. 6.2 oz. – 15″ long

Emma Lynn weighed 2 lbs. 4 oz. – 14 1/8″ long

Leah Rose weighed 2 lbs. 1.5 oz. – 14″ long

Top Ten Olympic Moments

10.  Dara Torres almost winning her first individual gold and then less than half an hour later, anchoring a silver (almost gold) relay for the U.S..

9. The open water swimmer, Natalie du Toit from South Africa competing without her right leg, not winning, but competing just the same.

8.  Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor fielding 5 set points from Belgium in set 1 and going on to beat them in straight sets.

7. Michael Phelps winning the 1st of 8 golds on the Jason Lezak come-back…and Rowdy calling it like the US was beating the Russians in hockey!

6. The IOC president calling out Bolt on his sportsmanship…glad someone in the world still believes in upholding the Olympic creed.

5. U.S. Men and Women gymnastics both medaling without many expectations.

4. The Opening Ceremonies- AWESOME!

3. Lukin beating Johnson during the all around..putting in the work and finally beating the star.

2. Kerri Walsh and Misty May Treanor winning gold over the team from China…with a shot so reminiscent of Athens 4 years ago.

2a. Phil D. and Todd Rogers winning the men’s beach volleyball gold on a run of blocks in the third set.

1. The flag bearer in the opening ceremonies for the USA…representing his new country and doing it on such an international stage

1a. The men’s indoor volleyball team returning from the biggest tragedy of the Bejing games to win the 1st gold in 20 years.

Honorable Mention:

1. Kyle Busch did NOT win anything!

2. Phelp’s mom watching her son swim and screaming for Jason Lezak

3. The IOC finally investigating the Chinese gymnasts

4. “Ring The Bela”….too funny!

What were your favorites?

Olympic Motivation?

Does anyone else out there get insanely motivated by watching the Olympics? May be weird, but I really have been motivated to get up and get off my butt these past few weeks since the games began! I’ve also been thinking about what sport in the Olympics I could do (please stop laughing now! ).

I think I’ve settled on none, but in a pinch I think I could handle beach volleyball, diving. , or the steeplechase. Yes, I know I didn’t play vb in high school or anywhere other than graduation parties…but who knows! Diving….I like the pool, I like the diving board….as long as I don’t pull a GL and smack my head on the board! The steeplechase seems to be the only event I prolly have a prayer in….running, jumping over things and running through water…sounds like Jr. High cross country gone wrong to me!

So excited that Kerri Walsh and Misty May -Treanor won the gold last night!! I watched all of their matches and even though the team from China put up a fight, they were the ones to pull it out. There were a few moments where I was a little worried but Kerri and Misty never lost their focus…which is a great attribute to have as an athlete.  I’d love to see them compete sometime…and if it wasn’t during State Fair, I’d be heading to Mason, OH next weekend!

Home….

was good. It was nice to relax and not worry about things.

It was also nice to see KB and SE! I missed those girls and I had a great time catching up. I love it when you can go without seeing someone for almost 2 years and then you see them and its you just saw them last week.  I only have that with a few friends, but I count those people as some of my bestest!

Canal Days was fun. They are really trying to keep it alive and I’m glad to see that. Too many small town things have been erased by time and progress.

Something was different about this time home. I don’t know what it was, it was just nice to be there. I should clarify that it is always nice to go home to see my family and friends, but this time it was actually nice to be in Magnolia, like I didn’t feel like I needed to rush off. It was weird.

Not alot has been going on since I got back. Just resting up for State Fair and fighting off this cold I think I am getting. WOOHOO!

8

Phelps has done it.

But not without some scares and help from others and destiny along the way.  It could have all ended before it began if Lezak did not get a great push off of the wall in the 4 x 400 free relay.

Jason Lezak deserves a big pat of the back for how he helped keep the Phelps dream alive against the French and in the final relay keeping and then expanding on the lead that Phelps himself had built up.  When you listen to Rowdy call the Lezak comeback, you think would have thought we were about to beat the Russians in hockey again.  his call ranks up there with the Miracle call and the Giants win the pennant calls.

And then last night’s fingernail win…it could have ended there. But as Kurt Russell (as Herb Brooks) said in Miracle “You were meant to be here..each and everyone of you.” This was Michael’s week and his time.  I honestly did not think he could do it. That is just incredible that he did.

Hats off to Dara Torres (who missed her first individual gold by 0.01) as well and then (less than half and hour later) almost bringing the gold home in the relay.

Taking a blog vacation….

I’m in Ohio right now…taking a vacation…so I’m taking a vacation from my blog as well. Just need to regroup and get back on track.

Be back soon! (Not that anyone reads this anyway!)

Once again…

it doesn’t fall my way. I’m not really sure how I feel.

Yes, there were somethings that I had an issue with in this job, so maybe that means it wasn’t the ideal job to begin with. I am thankful for the opportunity I had to interview and express my interest in this job however.  I’m not sure what the next step is from here either. I kind of want to go home for a little bit but feel bad that I would go home and not go to NC to see A,K, A and A. I want to stay here because something will come up and I want to show them I’m still interested in staying here.

Oh what will I do??