The End Of Summer

Summer isn't officially over for another month, but it feels over to me because I start school soon.  I'm sad summer is basically over, but I'm glad things can progress with my life since being at home can be a drag sometimes (even though I enjoy it mostly).  If I had to reflect back on my summer, I think it's been pretty successful considering how I felt when school ended in May.  I felt good that I did well in all my classes, but was saddened that a good majority of my friends were leaving to begin their lives in new places.  And to make things worst, I didn't even write much.  Luckily, I was able to blog a lot, be with family, and I met someone unexpected who has impacted my life for the better; she's amazing!!!  I may not have accomplished all my goals for the summer, but overall, I did everything I wanted and felt good about myself.

To celebrate the end of the summer, I thought it fitting to post this Arthur episode where he goes crazy that he lost the list of things he wanted to do before the summer ended.  He thinks he wasted his whole summer until he realizes he didn't and appreciates the summer after all.  Hope you all enjoy!

Madden 25

I consider myself a knowledgeable person when it comes to certain subjects, but when it comes to video games, I don't know much about them (at least compared to my friends).  I play them frequently, but I don't get the same fulfilling or satisfied feeling I get from watching a movie or writing, which is understandable since everyone has different tastes.  I've played all sorts of games, but my favorite are sports games, because to me, they're the most competitive, and they represent something I wish I could do, which is play sports.  I'm not too great at them, but they're always intense to say the least.

That brings me to Madden 25, the newest Madden football game that came out a few days ago.  I'm not the best player of that game, but I play it annually because I love football and my friends always buy it.  Last year's game was a huge disappointment though because there was no fantasy draft, which is why most people play Madden in the first place.  This year, they brought it back, and it's good to see, even though drafting is pretty slow.  The graphics are good though, along with other things such as the game play.  That's subject to change because it's still early, but it's safe to say Madden is back, which is good because I'm sick of losing in MLB 13: The Show.

The Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon

The Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon begun yesterday and is ongoing into today, which for those of you who don't know, is the telethon to help strike out cancer.  Usually, when I listen or watch it, it's hard not pay attention to how hard everyone is trying for the event, whether it's the people taking donations, to the people fighting for their lives.  Their stories are inspirational, but even if I didn't pay attention to the event, I'd still donate because everyone is affected by cancer.  And in a perfect world, we'd all like to get rid of it.  Something like a few dollars may not seem like much, but believe me, it is.  It's one of the reasons why I donate, and why if I ever make it as a writer or am just fortunate enough to have some money, I'll donate to the Jimmy Fund and other charities because it's the right thing to do, and helping others is always a good feeling.  Here's hoping to the Jimmy Fund's success along with all the other charities doing something for a good cause.  The road may be tough for them, but I know they'll reach their goal.

Out By 25

My friend's and I talk about the future a lot, which is understandable, considering we're 22-23 years old.  When it comes to the future, we focus on a lot of things, but lately, we've been talking about moving out of our parent's house.  My friend's can't wait for that to happen, which makes sense since everyone wants to move out of their parent's house by then, but I feel differently than they do.  Yes, I'd love to be on my own, and have the freedom to do as I please, but I already have that.  And while my parents can be a drag, they love and support me.  My friends think being on their own would be all good, but I think a lot of my friend's underestimate how difficult it is to live on their own, paying their own bills, etc.  I may not know, but I've lived on my own before.  Also, what if something unexpected happens that forces them to stay at home?  Then what?  So many questions that still need to be answered.  Yes, it would be ideal to be moved out in a few years, but it's not ideal to expect things to go to plan because life isn't that way.  It's tough for some to fathom, but as my parents have gotten older, I've grown more appreciative of them, which is why I still love being at home even though it can be hard.  People always complain about their parents, but once they're gone, they're gone, so make the most of the time you have with them.  You make think you're ready, but you wouldn't be without them. 

ESPYS Opening Monologues

When you ask most people what the ESPYS are, most of them are probably confused by the question, which is understandable considering unless you follow sports or watch ESPN, you won't have a clue what the ESPYS are.  For those of you who don't know, the ESPYS are an award show hosted annually by ESPN to honor sports accomplishments from the past year.  Usually, they're such a drag since they're just an excuse to see celebrities, but occasionally, the opening monologues are hilarious.  That all depends on who the host of the event is though.  This past year, it was Jon Hamm from Mad Men, who did an admirable job following previous hosts who were failures, but the best host of all time has to be Justin Timberlake back  in 2008.  The ESPYS are not an important event compared to real life events, but the opening monologues with those guys was hilarious, which is why I wanted to post the videos to end the night.  Like I said before, they may not be that important, but laughter is necessary to live a healthy life.  With that in mind, here are the ESPYS opening monologues from 2008 and from this past year.

The 2008 ESPYS opening monologue with Justin Timberlake.  Everything he says is GOLD!

Jon Hamm's opening monologue from this past year.  I love his jokes about Dwight Howard and the Miami Heat

The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid (G)

Grade: A-

• Directed by: Ron Clements and John Musker
• Produced by: John Musker and Howard Ashman
• Screenplay by: Ron Clements and John Musker.  Based on the novel, "The Little Mermaid" by Hans Christian Andersen
• Starring: Jodi Benson (Ariel), Christopher Daniel Barnes (Prince Eric), Pat Carroll (Ursula), Samuel E. Wright (Sebastian), Jason Marin (Flounder), Kenneth Mars (King Triton), Buddy Hackett (Scuttle), Rene Auberjonois (Louis, The Chef)
• Music: Alan Menken
• Studio: Walt Disney Pictures, Silver Screen Partners IV
• Distributed by: Buena Vista Pictures
• Released: November 14, 1989
• Running Time: 82 minutes/1 hour and 22 minutes
• Language: English, French 

"If only I could make him understand.  I just don't see things the way he does.  I just don't see how a world that makes such beautiful things could be bad."

-Ariel

Renaissance is a word that doesn't resonate much when I first hear it.  Hearing it, I think of art or the Harlem Renaissance, but when I hear Disney Renaissance, it's hard not to think of something because they're the films I grew up on (the way the original Disney films were for the adults before me). The Disney Renaissance, for those of you who don't know, is a time period from the late 1980s to early 2000s when Disney films returned to success by basing films on well-know stories, restoring interest in the genre.  Everyone I know has their own favorite film from this era, but no matter which one we think is our favorite, we all have to agree that "The Little Mermaid" started it all.  As a child, I couldn't stand the film because I hated Ariel, and it seemed too girly, but after revisiting it, I have to say the film pretty much delivers on all accounts if you're a Disney fan.

Like I said before about the Disney Renaissance, they're based on stories we've all heard before.  Even though that's the case, I'll still describe the "The Little Mermaid", which is about a 16 year old girl named Ariel.  She's the princess of King Triton and can have everything she wants, but is dissatisfied with underwater life, and wants to explore the human world.  She goes with her friend Flounder to the surface daily, but when the king and his adviser Sebastian find out, chaos ensues and he has a fit.  After that, Ariel has had enough of her father's rule, so she makes a deal with the Ursula, the sea witch, to become human for 3 days to win the love of a neighboring prince.  But the deal comes at a terrible price for Ariel, and if she doesn't succeed, she stands to lose what everyone loves about her most.

"The Little Mermaid" came out in 1989 so many years ago, but seems so fresh now.  The animation is fresh and vivid, even compared by today's Disney standards, and the characters come to life off the screen.  I liked the Sebastian character because he seemed to have a voice of reason, even though he was indecisive.  But the real star of the film is Jodi Benson, of course, who plays Ariel.  Usually when Disney casts a person to do the voice of a main character, they just do the main voice, and not the singing voice, but I loved the fact Benson got to do both because it helps the audience connect with her more.  Her voice has all of Ariel's desire and innocence in it, which is why "Part Of You World" is one of my favorite Disney songs.

With this film, comes a few flaws I have.  One being no fault of it's own, which is that it's too short.  I wouldn't mind that usually, but since I was so invested in the film, I wish it had been a little longer.  Another thing I couldn't stand was the villain Ursula (a complaint I have with many Disney films).  She's a worthy adversary to Ariel, and tries so hard to get what she wants from her, yet when she is eventually beaten, the way it's done is so quick and unsatisfying.  She's a sea witch, but goes down that easily?!  C'mon!  It seems very hard to believe.  Also, even though I love "Part Of Your World", I didn't really like any other songs from this film.

All in all, "The Little Mermaid" is quality entertainment if you're a Disney fan or just a fan of good films.  That may seem hard to believe for some, but even adults like it (It was on Gene Siskel's Top 10 for 1989).  Like a lot of Disney films, you'll like this film depending on your taste, but I think this film is worth seeing for the sole fact that it accurately represents a way we've all felt before in real life; that desire to grow up and be accepted in the world, which isn't easy, yet "The Little Mermaid" shows these things effortlessly.  It's not my favorite Disney film, but after watching this, it's not hard to see why this is one of the the film's that helped jump-start Disney in the 1990s.

Realizing What You Say

On TV, they have commercials featuring Hilary Duff and Wanda Sykes confronting people who use the word "gay" when they want to say something is bad or stupid.  To some, the commercials may be lame, but I like them and commend them for spreading an important message that people shouldn't discriminate against others.  You'd think it would be something obvious, but it's something around us all the time.

With that in mind, I have to talk about Kevin Durant.  I know you're probably wondering why I'm talking about an NBA player with this topic, but it has to do with something that occurred with him over the week, when he was posting pictures of his new fiance on his Instagram when a person commented on it saying "she looked like Rondo", a comment he obviously didn't like.  Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but there comes a time when someone has to realize when to not say anything.  A celebrity or a person posting personal stuff online is doing it to celebrate happiness or to share with friends, not to be attacked verbally by someone's opinion.  One person's opinion may not matter in the grand scheme of things, but it's always hurtful when someone criticizes someone you care about whether it's a family member or significant other.  You wouldn't want it done to you, so like the ads that say knock off saying something is "gay", don't be rude to people on social media.  That's just bad taste and a reason why I don't have a Facebook anymore.

A Really Good Feeling

After a few days away from blogging, I'm back feeling good about what lies ahead in life.  I'm still uncertain about family stuff, and what I have to do for school, but after what I just experienced this week, I think I'm ready to tackle those things head on.  I feel great now thanks to a few friends, but there's one special person whose made me feel amazing!  For that, I thank her and all my friends.  The summer may be coming close to an end, but I know we'll all make the most of what we have left.  Have a good day everybody!

Depressed And Frustrated

Lately, I've been feeling depressed and frustrated with a lot of things I'm going through.  Most of it is personal related, but some of it is outside stuff too, such as school and my phone breaking on me today.  Usually, I can handle small things like that, but when it all happens at once, it's enough to drive me crazy.  That's why I'm taking an unexpected break from blogging.  It's been too stressful trying to write and deal with everything.  I hope you all understand.  Hopefully, I get through what I'm feeling soon.

NFL Preseason Football

For Americans, the top sport for them is football, which is hard for me to admit considering I'm a diehard baseball fan, and that used to be America's pastime.  But things have changed now, and football is now supreme whether through their ratings or through their profits.  Most of the credit has to go to the players for giving it their all, while putting out a great product, but some of it has to go to the Commissioner's of the NFL as well since they helped build the league from what it once was.  It was good before, but now it's amazing!

Despite football being what it is, one thing I cannot stand is NFL preseason football.  Everyone I know gets so excited for it because they missed football for six months, but then once you watch the game, they're unwatchable.  None of the good players play, the product is sloppy, and there is risk for injury.  I understand baseball can be boring to some people, but there's no reason why people should pay more attention to preseason football in the summer than baseball.  For us baseball fans, this is when the games matter, so people should be paying more attention to the sport where the games count.  I'm not saying NFL preseason games don't matter, but when the product is as bad as it is, there is no reason to watch it.  It just sucks!   

Buying Textbooks

As a child, one of the things I think I took for granted was textbooks because through 1st-12th grade, they were all funded by the schools, unless you lost them, meaning you had to pay for them.  The penalty for losing a book back then was steep, but it's nothing compared to the cost of buying textbooks now, a process I loathe doing every year.

I recently looked up the cost of my textbooks this upcoming semester, and was disappointed to see the total amount come to $300.  I've had semesters where the textbooks cost as much as $600, but no matter the amount, I'm always disappointed because colleges and manufacturers make their products so high to make a profit.  I see the reasoning behind it, but I don't think it's fair to students who already have to pay so much for school, and then have to cut off an arm and a leg just to buy textbooks.  Also, you might buy the textbooks, but then it might be the wrong one, which is just a pain in the ass to deal with.  College, you're supposed to be helping our future, not endangering it, so you need to change, but I know that's never going to happen.  It's just another sign of the "college machine" trying to take what isn't theirs, which is a shame.

Fading Love?

One line from Woody Allen's masterpiece "Annie Hall" is when he's walking on the street asking people why his girlfriend Annie did what she did?  People give various answers, but one I always remember is a woman saying "love fades", which Woody Allen's character Alvy Singer finds depressing.  And looking back on that moment too, I find it depressing if that's the case.  To me, love is one of the most beautiful things in the world, and something I still want to discover fully in life, whether via relationships, through my writing, etc.  If it does fade, I wonder why it's as important or why others try so hard for it?  It's nothing that can ever be solved, but I guess it's just something that's on my mind tonight.

What do you guys think?  Do you think love fades, or do you think it can last forever?

The Social Network

The Social Network (PG-13)

Grade: B+

• Directed by: David Fincher
• Produced by: Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca, and Cean Chaffin
• Screenplay by: Aaron Sorkin.  Based on the novel, "The Accidental Billionaires" by Ben Mezrich
• Starring: Jesse Eisenberg (Mark Zuckerberg), Andrew Garfield (Eduardo Saverin), Justin Timberlake (Sean Parker), Armie Hammer (Winklevoss Twins/Josh Pence), Max Minghella (Divya Narenda), Brenda Song (Christy Ling), Rooney Mara (Erica Albright)
• Cinematographer: Jeff Cronenweth
• Music by: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
• Studio: Relativity Media, Trigger Street Productions
• Distributed by: Columbia Pictures
• Released: October 1, 2010
• Running Time: 121 minutes/2 hours and 1 minute
• Language: English

"You have part of my attention, you have the minimum amount.  The rest of my attention is back at the offices of Facebook, where my colleagues and I are doing things that no one in this room, including and especially your clients, are intellectually or creatively capable of doing."

-Mark Zuckerberg

The statistics on Facebook currently are staggering when you look at it.  As of 2012, it has over 1 billion users (about 9% fake), and recently raked in 5.1 billion dollars.  Not bad for a company started by a group of Harvard students less than a decade ago, which "The Social Network" wanted to show.  The film seems ridiculous based on it's concept (a film on Facebook, really?), but after watching it, I have to say the film is as close to a masterpiece as can be, besides a few minor flaws. 

When we are introduced to "The Social Network", we encounter a young Mark Zuckerberg sitting in a bar with his current girlfriend Erica.  She's interested in his conversation at first, but is put off by his attitude towards exclusive clubs, so she dumps him, a decision he doesn't find favorable.  Because of this, Mark and his friend Eduardo Saverin create a site called "Facemesh" to rate girls based on their appearance.  The thing is, it gets so popular that it crashes parts of Harvard's network, getting Mark in trouble.  On the upside, he gets notoriety, which leads him to the Winklevoss Twins, two people who can potentially help him start Facebook, but what leads from their helps drive the film to its core.

There are so many things I love about "The Social Network" that I don't know where to begin.  First off, I love the cast from Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, all the way to Justin Timberlake, which surprised me since I'm not a fan of his, but he and everyone did a fantastic job in this film.  Eisenberg was the cold, deadlocked person I expected a businessman to be, Garfield was the vulnerable friend I had most sympathy for, and Timberake was just an obnoxious asshole.  Any performance can leave an impact on a person, but everyone interacted so well as a whole, and when they had a scene together that was joyous or gut-wrenching, I felt it.  Secondly, I love the attention to detail they gave to things like the look of Harvard even though it really wasn't.  And lastly, I give praise to the screenplay because I never thought a film about Facebook would be an interesting film, but as usual, Aaron Sorkin just writes great screenplays.  

The only flaws I had with "The Social Network" relate to Aaron Sorkin though.  And while he does write terrific screenplays, there are some flaws I noticed with it.  Although they seem more personal to my taste, such as the film seeming to be misogynistic.  Also, he made the characters the strength of the film, but I wish he focused more on how Facebook was actually built, since I don't think he spent as much time on that, and everything he did show seemed simplistic.  I'm not complaining since I enjoyed the film, but as a everyday person, it would be interesting to see how everything is really done.

With everything I've said about "The Social Network", the pros outweigh the cons.  If you see it once, I think you'll be impressed by it, but after seeing it a few times like I have, its lost its luster like a lot of Aaron Sorkin screenplays (i.e, Moneyball).  The reason why I think everyone should see the film though is because everyone is basically on Facebook now, so I think people should at least see how something they use got created, even if it is loosely based.  Also, I think it accurately shows that Facebook may keep everyone connected online, but it doesn't necessarily serve it's purpose of keeping people friends.  Cyber friends can never be a substitute for real ones, which this film poetically shows, and is the reason why I don't have a Facebook anymore.

On The Road To Recovery

It's been a week since I started feeling sick, but after days of roller coaster health and lots of medicine, I finally think I'm on the road to recovery.  My strep throat is gone, but some of the coxsacievirus is still on me with the bumps.  Thankfully, it's gone from the inside of my mouth, so I can eat again without feeling pain.  There's still some on my face, but in time, it will hopefully be gone.  I suppose I should be grateful just to be healthy though, since I know lots of people have it worst.  Now that I'm close to 100% again, I'm ready to start doing the things I love again, such as hanging out with my friends, and preparing for what lies ahead.

No Country For Old Men

No Country For Old Men (R)

Grade: C

• Directed by: Joel and Ethan Coen
• Produced by: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, and Scott Rudin
• Screenplay by: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen.  Based on the novel, "No Country For Old Men" by Cormac McCarthy
• Starring: Tommy Lee Jones (Sheriff Ed Tom Bell), Javier Bardem (Anton Chigurh), Josh Brolin (Llewelyn Moss), Kelly Macdonald (Carla Jean Moss), Woody Harrelson (Carson Wells), Garret Dillahunt (Deputy Wendell), Tess Harper (Loretta Bell), Beth Grant (Agnes), Stephen Root (Man Who Hires Chigurh)
• Cinematographer: Roger Deakins
• Distributed by: Miramax Films, Paramount Vintage
• Release Date: November 9, 2007
• Running Time: 122 minutes/2 hours and 2 minutes
• Language: English

"What's the most you ever lost on a coin toss?"

-Anton Chigurh

When I see a question like this posed to me, my instantaneous thought is to trading card games, such as Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh, since those are the things I've lost the most on when it comes to coin tosses.  Of course, when it comes to "No Country For Old Men" by the Coen Brothers, it's a completely different story.  Coin flips lose more than battles, they can cost you your life, but I'm getting ahead of myself. 

In the film world, few directors are more acclaimed and respected as the Coen Brothers.  They may not be a household name to the casual fan since they're not Spielberg or Lucas, but their films are just as good as there's.  Of course, it depends on genre and personal taste like everything.  The Coen Brothers films are usually a mix of being comedy, satirical, or thriller.  But then occasionally, they do "No Country For Old Men", which is a western, but really isn't since there are no saloons, no cowboys like John Wayne, and a villain unlike anything Texas has seen before.

Trying to describe a Coen Brothers plot to a film is like trying to have a quick walk through a maze; it just isn't going to happen no matter how hard I try because their films are hard to figure out.  Their plots start off making sense, but what their characters do during their films has you scratching your head, and saying "WTF"?!  This film is no different.  It starts off in 1980 with Llewelyn Moss coming across a drug deal gone bad.  Everything that went down there is over with, and he's about to leave, until he finds two million dollars in a satchel.  Like any normal person, he takes the money, but doesn't know that hitman and murderer Anton Chigurh is after him.  And on the trail of Chigurh is Sheriff Ed Tom Bell, leading to a chase that will lead to an epic climax.

My praise for the film starts with Tommy Lee Jones and Javier Bardem, who portray good vs. evil so well.  Jones is the sheriff who will do everything in his power to stop crime, while Bardem, who is Chigurh, does everything he can to wreck havoc, sometimes intentionally and other times not.  Bardem doesn't need an introduction since he's an accomplished actor, but this was the role that American audiences first really saw what he was capable of.  He was dangerous, yet an enigma at the same time.  And it's hard not to pay attention to his charisma and looks, especially with what he deemed "the worst haircut of all time".  Yet, we did pay attention, and because of that, Chigurh is one of film's great recent villains and performances, giving Bardem his much deserved Oscar.  Along with that, there's humor and tension in many scenes, keeping you on the edge of your set.

Even though I loved the performances in the film and the dramatic tension, there were many things I didn't like about it.  For one thing, as excited as I was for the film, I thought it dragged on a lot during certain scenes.  And when Llewelyn leaves the film for a time, the film just seems less interesting because the main character you've been following now is gone.  In a few films, like "Psycho", it worked cause Norman Bates was just as important and interesting, but as great a job as Tommy Lee Jones and Javier Bardem did, I don't think you can say any of their characters answered questions.  They just left me more confused, which was okay, but it left me feeling empty at many points during the film, especially the ending, which I won't even get into because it was such a letdown.

I know I'm in the minority giving the "No Country For Old Men" a C, but I'm doing it based on all the things I didn't like about it, and the fact that I have seen so many Coen Brothers films that I thought were better, such as "Fargo", "The Big Lebowski", and "The Hudsucker Proxy".  My grade is based only on the fact I didn't enjoy it, which is rare for me since usually I take everything into account when judging this film.  But you shouldn't think you won't enjoy this film, because if you enjoy the Coen Brothers, or just good, well-made films, this might be the one for you.  For me, this just wasn't, but it's clear the Coen Brothers are still on top of their game.

My Dad, The Superhero

There's a saying that ordinary people can't be superheroes, which if you think about in the comic book/film/TV world, is true, but if you think about it in the real world, we have superheroes around us all the time.  There's cops, firefighters, teachers, and in my case, my dad.  He's doesn't have a job like the ones I just mentioned, and he isn't Superman or Batman, but he's always there for my family, which is superhero enough for me.

Point in case is my recent bout with illness.  I complained to my dad about it yesterday because I wasn't feeling well, but it was his day off and his birthday.  The last thing he probably wanted to do was take me to the doctor, but he did after I kept nagging him, and after he saw how seriously ill I was.  I kept saying I told you so, but he held up a good face.  And he bought me all the medicine and things I needed to feel better, which is already starting to pay off (the strep throat feels like it's weakening).  My dad may be 60 now, but he's still my superhero, and even though I don't always remember to say it, I want to say thanks and that I love him.  

With this post, I want to post up an episode of Boy Meets World that reminds me of my dad.  It's a very funny episode, yet strong because it shows the roles dad's play, and how important their relationship is with their children.  My dad and I are older than before, but I'm glad we are still close.  Anyways, here's the episode.  Enjoy!

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!