Sick

Being alive for 22 years, I've had my fair shares of sickness and viruses like anyone.  As a child, I liked being sick since I missed school, but the older I got, the less fun it was.  Sure, I'd miss school, but I'd feel miserable and not be productive, which is never a good thing.  For the past few years, I've taken pride in the fact that I haven't been sick besides a few upset stomach's, but that streak ended today as I found out I was sick with two different things.

The first thing I found out I have is this thing called coxsackievirus.  I know the name sounds ridiculously funny, but believe me, it's no joke since it caused bumps on my hands and feet.  The other thing I have is more common, which is strep throat.  I've researched both extensively and gone to the doctor, yet I have no idea how I caught both of these.  It's a shame since I could one day catch these again, but at least I figured out what I had since I had been feeling sick since my last post on Monday.  Whenever I usually have an announcement and feel terrible, I take time off from blogging, but this time, I won't because there's nothing else to do.  And I mean that literally since I'm contagious.  I may be down, but I'm certainly not out, so I will keep on blogging even though I'm sick.  I just pray I get better since it sucks not being able to go outside or eat, and I want to enjoy my last month of summer before going back to school.

With that all being said, does anyone have any suggestions/tips on how to get through this?  I could use all the help.  

Buying A Basketball

Today, I embarked and completed one of my daily goals, which was to walk 10,000 steps, or about 5 miles.  I did it because of the diagnosis my doctor gave about my high blood pressure, and because it just felt good.  I walked all over my neighborhood, and could have stopped there, but like Forrest Gump, I just felt like I could keep going.  And I did keep going, from my neighborhood, all the way to the next, leading me to a nice empty basketball court for me to exercise and play in.  I didn't have a basketball, but luckily, I found one on the court, so I just shot around with that for about 40 minutes, building a good sweat, and hopefully, lowering my stress.

I have no complaint about the day besides my feet hurting, and the cost of a basketball, because I wanted to buy one, but I had no idea how complicated and expensive it was.  First you have to look at the brand, then the size, type (indoor/outdoor), material, and of course the cost, which can be as little as $15 all the way to $60.  I suppose I can't complain since this is going to benefit my health, but I just wish I didn't need so much.  In the end, I hope this all pays off since it's been a lot of hard work already.  But with patience, I know the results will show.

Frank Caliendo Impersonation

I'm usually a person who doesn't post humor videos because I find most of them stupid or unappealing, but I had to post a video of a Frank Caliendo (from MAD TV) impersonation that I found hilarious, which was one of Mel Kiper Jr., which had me laughing so hard that tears were coming out of my eyes.  You may not think they're funny, but if you follow and love sports like I do, I think you'll laugh.

High Blood Pressure

Yesterday, I went to the visit the doctor for my annual checkup.  It's something that only lasts about 20 minutes, but to me, it feels like hell on earth.  You may think I'm exaggerating, but if you've lived the life I have health-wise, you'd dread going to the doctor's too.

My appointment overall was good.  In the past, my weight was the thing that messed up my health the most, but this year, it stayed the same from last year.  I'm still a little overweight, but I didn't gain anything which is good.  The thing that really stunk though was my blood pressure, which was 140/85.  Since its been a constant problem the past few years, my doctor recommended I see a cardiologist for medication.  I should probably feel happy that something could actually help me control my high blood pressure, but I don't because I've been to a cardiologist before, and it's a pain in the ass.  Plus, I've tried hard to change my diet a lot this year from salty foods to healthier choices, so it's a shame that it didn't pay off.  I guess I just made a mistake, or genetics was just too much because my family has a history of high blood pressure, among other health problems.  Maybe I shouldn't worry only being 22 years old, but I'm not a child anymore.  These things are real now.

A few years ago, the term high blood pressure was foreign to me, but now it feels like I can't go a day without hearing about it.  I still don't fully understand everything about it, or what causes it genetically, but I'm determined to work my hardest to lower it since I want to improve my health, and live a long and healthy life.  I know it'll be hard with genetics, and all the food and stress I go through on an everyday basis, but I have no doubt I can fix it, medication or not.  I do wish I could stop feeling so depressed sometimes, but I can't control that all the time, so I'm just going to try to be the best me possible.  And it starts now! 

Falling In Love

From the title of this blog post, you probably think that I'm going to write a long piece about love.  And while I'd love to do that, today is not the day for it.  I just want to take this small amount of space to post yet another video by 2PM, which is their song "Falling In Love".  It's a recent song of theirs that I have really enjoyed listening to, so hopefully you do to, to end the night.  I know I will, and it represents how I'm feeling right now perfectly.  Good Night everybody!

Backstreet Boys: My Top 8 Songs

"The Boys Are Back In Town" is a classic song by the rock band Thin Lizzy, but for today, I'm thinking about it because of the Backstreet Boys.  They're back with their newest studio album in 4 years, and the first with the whole group since the "Never Gone" album, which was 8 years ago.  It's hard for me to believe that the Backstreet Boys have been around for 20 years because I grew up with them like everyone in my generation.  A lot of people I know can't stand them, but you have to show them respect for changing the pop genre forever, and being one of the few groups to still be around after all these years.  I admit, their sound isn't the same anymore since pop has changed, but they still look and sound good to me.  Yes, Brian, Nick, Howie, A.J, and Kevin may be older now, but they're still the Backstreet Boys.  And in honor of their 8th studio album, I thought it fitting to make a list of their top 8 songs.  This list was tough since they have so many songs, but I think I narrowed it down.

To start, I'll begin with...

8. "Get Another Boyfriend": There were other songs that were harder and louder than this song that almost made my list, such as "Everybody (Backstreet's Back), "Larger Than Life", and "The Call", but I picked this one over it since this was the first song of there's that I thought was so bad-ass.  I love the message behind the song, and I love their live performance of it.  So much swagger!

7. "Anywhere For You": A song from their first American and European album that didn't get as much publicity as it should have.  The song is about a guy who likes a girl that he's willing to go anywhere for.  The song screams pop, and is definitely sweet with its lyrics.  I like both versions of the song, but the European version is better because of the ending, which has an added bridge, so it sounds so much better.

6. "Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely": This song makes the list since it's one of the Backstreet Boys most powerful songs.  The lyrics are sad and powerful because they're so tragic, and the music video is so moving.  Whenever I watch it, it makes me think of the difficulties I have in life, so I reflect a lot, which is a mix of good and bad.

   
5. "The One": The title of this song alone would be enough.  The One symbolizing that one girl who's the one, but this song makes the list because of the music video, which is montage of clips of the group.

4. "I'll Never Break Your Heart": Along with one other song later in the list, this song is one of the ones I sing along to the most.  The sound is smooth, the video is romantic, and the lyrics represent something I hope I'll never do to a woman, which is break their heart. 

 
3. "Shape Of My Heart": I listen to this song constantly, and sing along with this song the most out of any Backstreet Boys song, which is why this makes my list.  Of course, the lyrics are great, and the music video which is tinted black and blue is unforgettable.  Vocals are outstanding here.  I just wish everyone had a part in the song since I think that's when the boys are at their best, but I can't complain here.

 
2. "As Long As You Love Me": "As Long As You Love Me" is the first Backstreet Boys song I fell in love with.  I remember the first time I heard it, which was on "Sabrina The Teenage Witch".  That was so long ago, but I remember it so vividly.  Hearing the song now though, I get the same feeling I had back then.  And now that I'm older, I agree with the lyrics, that no matter what a person did back then, I'll love them as long as they love me.  It's so sweet!  And the chair moves were fantastic too.

1. "If I Don't Have You": This song may have most of you scratching your heads since this song was never released in the Unites States.  It's only on their European album, but if you give it a listen, you'll love it too!  It's amazing!