A Pep Talk to Myself: Getting stuff off my chest

    I feel for this blog post that I have to get a couple of things off my chest. I just signed a 6 month lease for my apartment so I might be there until the end of February/the beginning of March depending on how my living situation options would open up in the next couple months. I just have to say this because for the last couple years I feel as if I haven’t earned enough to have a place of my own.

   My sister left Columbus last year leaving me on my own again. At around this time last year I felt then I was back at Square One and it did not help with the fact that I was leaving my 20’s and turning 30. 30 was a big deal. Don’t get me wrong I still get a lot of complements from people saying that I don’t look 30 maybe 3-6 years younger than that and that’s great but I felt that looking at myself turning 30 I have accomplished nothing outside of running.

   Around this same time last year I was dealing with an injury to my hip muscle which was something I have never dealt with before. After a couple of ok races I thought in my mind I could tackle the half marathon of the Columbus Marathon Race last year. I was wrong. Physically, but mentally I wasn’t ready for it and I DNF’d. All I wanted to do was drink myself to forget on that day and ignore everyone else. Yet, with a great group of family and friends I was able to bounce back run Club XC Nationals at the end of 2011 and have a really good 2012 so far, ran a 1:10:39 half this past spring, and run some good 5ks.

    Though, this past summer my small group ended with others going their separate ways. It happens, though since with training for the Columbus Marathon I feel that faithfully I have lost a little bit since I got busy. I haven’t gone back to the J-House(20’s and sometimes early 30’s) service since early July. I think it was time for me to move on from that service and I’ve been going to one of the Satellite Campus of Vineyard away from the main church right across from where I live. It is smaller than the main services of the church which is ok with me. However, I feel as if I want to become more involved by finding another small group and who knows I may meet some other good people. I hoping God would also lead me to find a good woman as well. I’m being very patient here but I still want to get more involved which would make me more satisfied internally when I volunteer once in awhile then it would doing my job.

    Also, lately you been hearing this a lot, I have been much unmotivated in my work with the Department of Defense. I feel like Peter from Office Space most days. It’s not terrible but I think I’m smart enough to learn more in another section instead of being stuck in Accounts Payable where it feels like I’ve been dumped crap on some days. I’m one of the youngest people in my section and being surrounded by mostly older people who seem like they have being doing this SHIT here in the Accounts Payable department for quite awhile. I’ve been applying around my building and the base hoping to get out of Accounts Payable department even if I’m getting paid the same as now. It would be something different and I can grow more as a government employee because lately I feel as if I’m just here sometimes.

     I know being a government employee has it benefits yet they do certain things that the private sector does not. Job Security has been one of the benefits I have been very thankful for with the way the economy is right now. I don’t want to screw up what I have. There have been some people in our building and in our section that have been able to Telework from home 1, 2, or sometimes 3 days a week. Myself and 2 other guys one who is hearing impaired don’t have laptops to even be considered now that our group inside of Accounts Payable can telework yet they haven’t now. I’m a little upset because my last supervisor requested a laptop for myself and those other 2 before she left for another position in the building but that was last year around this time. Yet, here I am and I would like to be able to telework even if it is for one day of the week when it’s not my day to balance reports or what not. Save a little bit of gas driving from Westerville to Whitehall.

    I dunno, but I’ve updated my resume to include some of my volunteer work with officiating and road race volunteer plus the fact that I’m an active runner and ran marathons. I hope that will show I do more than show up here and sit on my ass in front of a computer screen. Job frustrations are another reason why I’m strongly getting my certification into being a running coach. Now you tell me I’ve been saying these for almost a year now. Well in my resolution I resolve to become one I’ve taken the online course by USATF which would make me certified to coach Junior High/High School I’m just hoping anybody would know of any area Columbus/Franklin County Schools that need a volunteer or distance coach for next year. This would help a lot. While that I plan on getting my Level 1 this coming winter so that would help. Right now, I’m focused on my goal at Columbus this October. I’ll explain in a future blog post why running this Marathon would mean a lot to me. Don’t want this post to drag on longer.  
 
   I know everybody tells me things can be worse and that I have a job, drinking clean water, food in my belly, a roof over my head, great health, and that I should be thankful and I am. Yet, I know I can make myself do better. The way I've been training shows it. Trying to stick with my New Years' Resolution.
http://dmoneystwocents.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-years-resolution.html

   I know many people that don't. If I can hit a few or get close to all of them I know I am on the right track. It great when you have help sometimes and that's what I need now more than anything for my birthday this year. Encouragement goes a long way along with. My friend Matt gave me one of the best complements given to me. As goofy as he is he can have a strange way of giving you good advice. He says that I perservere. That was very encouraging makes me think of what I have gone through in the past couple of years to get to this point and have those around me influence the way I have gone throughout the years. I'm going to continue on. I know the financial stuff will take care of itself if I get some good advice listen to family and friends and I'll be able to live more comfortable and not feel like I'm living paycheck to paycheck. It would be appreciated if everyone keeps pulling me in the right direction.   

"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame  because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" - Romans 5: 3-5

D-Money's 2012 College Football Predictions

 


   Well, despite all the scandals, money taking, suspensions and probations this past offseason I am ready to start watching some College Football. I'm glad this was an Olympic Year because the Olympics are something I can keep my focus on until the College Football Season starts since the Indians suck donkey balls (lost 27 of the past 32 games as I posted this).

  Also, keep in my mind my buckeyes can not go anywhere in the post season this season due to the Tattoo Scandal that forced Jim Tressel to resign and last season gave the Buckeyes a 6-7 record in which was there first losing season since 1988 (4-6-1) and their first 7 loss season since 1897 when pretty much our grandparents weren't even thought of yet. Terrelle Pryor will never be allowed back to Ohio State, he's dead to BUCKEYE NATION!!

Time for an "Urban" Renewal Ohio State!!!

  However, hope is here, ladies & gentlemen. Urban Meyer became the 24th head coach this past season and not only has he got the best assistants in the country, but he's has gone out and recruited like crazy since he came here this past November. He's installed a new attitude in the players and the system and given fans hope for the future. With that it is our hope he'll give us a National Championship or 2 while he is here.

   Anyway, I am just excited for College Football Season to start up this weekend as any fan. I love sports, to watch and participate in a few. Mostly I'm a distance runner and I stick to what I'm good at but I love to be competitive. Though the sports I watch on TV the most are College Football, College Basketball, Soccer, and any Running/Track & Field Event that they air.

  Well, Ladies and Gentlemen without further aldo. Here are my predictions. I'm only doing the Main BCS Conferences since they are important and probably the Mid-American Conference since it's locally where I'm and the BCS Conferences and the MAC are the only teams that most people in the Midwest give a Shit about but I'll tell you who I think will win those Non-BCS Conferences.

SEC
East Division  Conf Overall
Georgia           8-0  12-1
Florida            6-2   9-3
S.Carolina       5-3  9-3
Tennessee       4-4   8-4
Vanderbilt       2-6  6-6
Missouri          2-6  5-7
Kentucky        0-8  3-9

West Division   Conf  Overall
 Alabama           7-1     12-1
 LSU                 6-2     10-2
 Arkansas           5-3       9-3
Auburn             4-4       7-5
Texas A&M     3-5       7-5
Miss  State       3-5       7-5
Ole Miss          1-7       4-8
CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Alabama

Big Ten
Leaders  Division     Conf  Overall
Wisconsin                7-1     12-1
Ohio State               6-2     10-2
Illinois                      4-4      8-4
Purdue                     3-5      6-6
Penn State               2-6      5-7
Indiana                    0-8      3-9

Legends  Division   Conf   Overall
Michigan                 7-1     10-3
Michigan State        6-2     10-2
Nebraska                5-3      9-3
Iowa                       3-5      7-5
Northwestern          3-5      6-6
Minnesota               1-7      5-7
CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Wisconsin

BIG 12    Conf  Overall
Oklahoma         8-1    11-1
West Virginia    7-2    10-2
Texas                6-3     9-3
Oklahoma St     6-3     9-3
Kansas  State    5-4     8-4
TCU                 5-4     7-5
Baylor               3-6     6-6
Texas Tech       3-6     6-6
Iowa  State       2-7     5-7
Kansas             0-8     2-10

PAC 12
North Division     Conf Overall
Oregon                 9-0    12-1
Stanford               6-3      8-4
California              5-4      7-5
Washington St      4-5      6-6
Washington          2-7      4-8
Oregon State       1-8      2-10

South Division    Conf  Overall
USC                   8-1    12-1
UCLA                6-3      8-4
Utah                   5-4      7-5
Arizona               4-5     6-6
Colorado            1-8     3-9
Arizona  State     0-9    1-11

CONFERENCE CHAMPION:   USC

ACC
Atlantic Division  Conf  Overall
Florida  State       8-0    13-0
Clemson              7-1    10-2
NC.State             4-4     7-5
Maryland             3-5     6-6
Boston College    2-6     4-8
Wake Forest       1-7     3-9

Coastal Division    Conf  Overall
Virginia  Tech        6-2     10-3
North Carolina      5-3       9-3
Georgia Tech        4-4       7-5
Virginia                 4-4       7-5
Miami (Fla)           4-4       6-6
Duke                    0-8       3-9

CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Florida State

BIG  EAST   Conf  Overall
Louisville                  6-1    10-2
Pittsburgh                 5-2      8-4
South Florida           5-2      8-4
Rutgers                    4-3      8-4
Cincinnati                 4-3      8-4
Connecticut              3-4      6-6
Syracuse                  1-6      3-9
Temple                     0-7     3-9

Other Non BCS Conferences

Mid American: Ohio
Conference USA: Tulsa
Mountain West: Boise State
Sun Belt: Florida International
WAC: Louisiana Tech

It looks pretty basic I think. I think Ohio State can be realistically 10-2. I hope that come Michigan game Michigan goes into the game with a chance to go to the Rose Bowl and we beat them and they go on to the Big Ten championship game and lose to Wisconsin. They go from playing a BCS Game(Rose Bowl) to playing the Capital One Bowl Game!! LOL. Good way for the Urban Meyer year one project to begin by beating Michigan and spoiling their season since OSU can't go anywhere this year. Call me crazy but I think the SEC could send 11 teams to bowl games. YOU CAN TAKE THAT TO THE  BANK!!!!!

Here is who is going to BCS Games this year

Rose Bowl: Wisconsin vs USC
Orange Bowl: Louisville vs Michigan State
Sugar Bowl: Georgia vs West Virginia
Fiesta Bowl:  Oklahoma vs Oregon
BCS National Championship Game: Alabama vs Florida State

Well that's what I think is going to happen. Being a little more realistic this season. Let's see how it all shakes out. Enjoy the season and GO BUCKEYES!!! That's my two cents!!

The Magic of the Olympics!!!

As I am starting to type this right now the Closing Ceremonies of the XXX Olympiad in London, UK is on right now. One of the many reasons I haven’t been blogging for awhile is that I’ve been getting into watching the games. Some nights it’s has cost me a little bit of sleep but I’ve been able to watch some highlights from www.nbcolympics.com  I love the Olympics. They come only every 4 years but they are great to watch. I love the events that go on, not only the Track & Field and the Swimming but all sorts of sports that you don’t see on Television that often. In fact the best sport I got into was of course synchronized diving. When it was introduced as a sport years ago I thought it would look very dumb. But, I kept watching and thought the technique, timing, and teamwork of each partners’ form was very important to their dive as a whole and that was cool. The US even broke our drought in medaling in the driving by 2 of our ladies getting the silver. First diving medal since 2000 since China has been dominating. One of our guys’ duos got a bronze and Dave Boudia got our first diving gold in the 10m platform since Greg Louganis did in 92.

Also, speaking of China after getting less gold medals than China in 2008 in Beijing, mostly I think the Chinese are cheats and have a ton of people; however we were able to beat them in gold medal count 46-38 and in the overall medal count 104-87, GO USA!!!

It was hard not to look at the spoilers because there is the 5 hour differential between Eastern Time and London time though in the afternoon on weekdays the last 2 weeks and on the weekend they showed some events live as they happened. The big stuff NBC was able to show in primetime instead of showing on their lesser networks (NBC Sports Network, CNBC, MSNBC, etc) it’s hard to watch the primetime stuff if you don’t want to wait to know what happened. You can’t script emotion, especially when it came to watching the Men’s 10000 Meter Final on Saturday Afternoon.

Now that was a great moment for Mo Farah and Galen Rupp. Training partners coached by Alberto Salazar, both getting gold and silver beating the reigning world record holder in the 10000 Meters and defending gold medalist Kenensia Bekele from Ethiopia who finished 4^th. Farah had his home country cheering him on and Rupp was the first US male to win a medal in the Olympic 10,000 meters in 48 years, the last medal being Billy Mills's gold in the 1964 Olympics.

Farah would do it again in the 5000 Meters.

 

Yet, I know he’s from Jamaica but Usain Bolt is the man. The Lighting Bolt strikes 3 times in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and the 4 x100 Meter Relay in London just like he did in Beijing!!

 http://universalsports.com/video/2012-london-olympic-games-jamaica-wins-mens-4x100-relay-with-world-record/

I got home before my Monday group run to watch the US women’s soccer team in extra period against Canada for a chance to be in the Gold Medal Final. It looked like it would come down to penalty kicks but Alex Morgan thought otherwise with this goal and the US won and went on to beat Japan to win Gold.

There were a lot of great moments as well. After a slow start Michael Phelps one again proved he was the king of the pool by winning 2 silvers (one relay and one individual) and 4 gold (two in relays, and 2 in individual events)

And our Men's Basketball Team won the gold. Well barely against Spain and they let Spain score 100 points on them. Still great but embrassing. The 1992 Dream Team would have crushed these guys. I know it's become a different style of game since then and International Competition has gotten a little bit better but come on NBA Players Basketball is our sport and you should show the rest of the world so like Jordan, Bird, Barkley, Magic, Karl, Clyde and the rest did back in 92.

 However, I think what makes the Olympics special is that athletes come from all over the globe from different types of nations including nations that have developed and I never heard from (Micronesia for example, did Bill Gates buy land from Russia and make it a country??) O Wait here’s some info about Micronesia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federated_States_of_Micronesia

Anyway, Athletes from all over the globe have come to compete in their sport to prove they are best, or for pride for their countries, or as a personal victory to themselves and their families that they had made it here.


http://sports.yahoo.com/news/olympics--one-man-s-memories-of-a-memorable-london-games-20120812-193859.html

Good article, mentions a couple of other exciting things I forgot to mention. London did a great job of hosting these games. Hopefully the facilities and the Olympic Village won’t go to waste and they can still be used whenever they hold world championships for swimming, diving, track, or possible the World Cup. Look online for pictures currently at the Bird Nest Stadium in Beijing used in the last games.

The Olympics are great to watch every 4 years. It's something we should not be too spoiled upon. Be very hard for it to occur every 2 years or even every other year due to how much it cost cities and countries to be host. These are most sports we don't get to see on television that very often. Which I think is very cool to see rowing, mountain biking, the triathlon, fencing, diving, gymnastics etc. Yet, we tend to honor them after its over and forget all about them until another 4 years. I still try to keep up on these sports if they are on. Yet, I'm already looking forward to Rio in 2016 and like I said I'll try to keep track of who will be representing us in these sports either in the world championships or the olympics.

Though, I'm a College Football, College Basketball, Soccer, and Track & Field/Running type of a guy. After the Olympics are now over I'm already counting down till Buckeye Season. 13 days 21 hours and 58 minutes by the time I finish this post.

Keep watching sports fans. That's my two cents.

Batman: Rise of the Dark Knight

  Before I begin I dedicate this blog to the members of families of those 12 people who sadly were killed by the shooter in Aurora, Colorado. My heart goes out to them. They went into the Midnight showing of Dark Knight Rises highly anticipating the excitement of the movie like anyone else would and now their lives are cut short. I hope the actions of this crazy killer doesn't take anyone love of going to this movie or the movies in general. But, I think now with these big movie midnight showing premieres security should be tightened in theatres show this type of thing never happens again. With that being said I will now describe my excitement for the Batman movies.

  I like many of you who are superhero movie fans have waited a long time for Christopher Nolan's conclusion to his Dark Knight Trilogy. When I first saw Batman Begins(2005) I was curious to see how Nolan would revamp the Batman Movie Series. Tim Burton, at the time in 1989, tried to bring some darkness to the character from the comics. Especially with a really good Batman in Michael Keaton and The Joker played by Jack Nicholson.

LOVE THAT JOKER!!!LOL!!

One of my favorite scenes in that movie. However, one thing Tim Burton didn't do was follow the story of the comics and made it look like Jack (the character who turned into the Joker in the movie) killed Bruce Wayne's Parents. And also the soundtrack to Batman(1989) had the chessy Prince Song Batdance. You can look it up yourself. Anyway Burton's Batman was dark. He had a sequel Batman Returns(1992) with him battling the Penguin and Catwoman. Then Tim Burton and Michael Keaton wanted more money for the 3rd sequel but Warner Brothers wouldn't give it to them. So they gave the directing job to Joel Schumaker. Batman pretty much was played by Val Kilmer and George Clooney in the other two sequels, Batman Forever(1995) and Batman & Robin(1997). Batman Forever was alright but it's kind of chessy compared to the Christopher Nolan Batman Movies today.

However, Batman & Robin sucked big, humongous, donkey (insert body part here)!!!! It was too cartoonish, the acting was terrible especially when you have ARNOLD playing Mr. Freeze and his cheesy one liners. Joel Schumaker had to apologize for the crap he put out though Warner Bros tried to make Batman family friendly. Yet, Batman is a dark character facing dark villains so he apologized to the fans of Batman.

Yeah and that's why we had to wait 8 years later after B & R for the Nolan brothers to restart the franchise. Like I said in the beginning being a fan of 3 out of the 4 Batman Movies and I really liked Batman:The Animated Series growing up I was curious to see how the Nolan Brothers would take Batman. They made Memento(2000) & Insomnia(2002) which were both dark and very deep movies. But I was willing to give it a chance. I Loved Batman Begins(2005) the movie was dark and it was set up with a realistic tone which made you believe it could happen unlike the other Batman movies. Also the movie borrowed stories from the comic books of Batman like The Man Who Falls, Long Halloween, & Batman:Year One. Pretty much years after his parents murder Bruce Wayne travels around the world and seeks training from Ra's Al Ghoul and the League of Shadows until he finds out the League wants to destroy Gotham(Batman's city). But, Bruce goes back to Gotham and becomes Batman and captures the criminals and stops the League's plan to destroy Gotham. Along the way he receives help from his trusty butler and father figure Alfred, the head of Wayne Enterprises Lucius Fox, and of course Commissioner Gordon who unlike the police isn't corrupt and believes what Batman is doing is right. Bruce also learns what true justice is along with concurring his fear and becoming it.

Great scene at the end it set up for The Dark Knight (2008). Heath Ledger played the Joker. This movie got a lot of hype a few months before it came out with Ledger tragic accidental overdose death. Especially how he portrayed the Joker and made the character a psychopathic, mass murdering clown with zero empathy for the crimes he commits. He definitely deserved the Oscar for the role.

There were times when you first watch this you forget it's Heath Ledger playing the Joker. As good as Jack Nicholson was as the joker in the above video Heath Ledger's Joker made Jack's look like Cesar Romano's Joker in the Campy Cheesy 60's TV show Batman. You know the show with Adam West as Batman and in every fight scene whenever a punch is made it has POW, BAM, WHAM, WHOP. Well you get the idea.

Anyway, in The Dark Knight the Joker wanted to show Batman that when civilized people are in crisis they will do anything even kill one another if it means to survive. The Joker tried to prove that by having 2 boats one with Gotham citizens and the other with criminals that were convicted by D.A. Harvey Dent, rigged with explosives and each of them has a trigger. The Joker wanted one of them to blow up the other boat before midnight or else he blows both of them up. Batman races into the building to confront the Joker fighting off Joker's Henchmen while saving the hostages in the building. Towards the end had a great scene in my opinion.

Unfortunately that was Heath Ledger's last scene ever!! But I loved the scene the people choose not to become what the Joker was and that was a Terrorist even if it meant that it could save their lives. They believed in the doing the right thing even though even if cost them their lives. Luckily Batman saved them.

However, the Joker convinced Harvey Dent to extract revenge on those corrupt policeman and criminals who help the Joker to capture him and Rachel Dawes(Bruce's ex and Harvey's GF now) killing her in the process and in the accident Harvey becomes TWO-FACE during midpoint of the movie. Yet, Batman confronts Harvey Dent before killing Commissioner Gordon and his family.  Batman seeing what would happen if Gotham found out about Dent getting revenge and killing those corrupt cops and criminals decides to take the blame for Harvey's crimes perceiving Harvey's image and making sure the criminals he convicted remain in prison.

I kind of compare the scene of how Batman took the fall for Harvey's crimes to Jesus taking the sins of mankind so that we can have a chance for eternal life. He's the hero we need but yet we don't deserve to put it that way. In a way Batman couldn't let the Joker win the same way Jesus couldn't let the devil. That's how I see it. I think Christopher Nolan has a few similarities between Batman and Jesus.

Speaking of that here's an online article I found to be interesting! Warning though this article contains spoilers to Dark Knight Rises (2012)

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/SuperSite/news/?a=64448

Very interesting with some similarities. Though it's hard to compare Jesus to Batman. Same thing can between Jesus and Superman but I like how they try to tie in Christian Values with Superhero movies. It shows the human side of these heroes and makes the movies seem much better to watch.

I'll tell you a few things about Dark Knight Rises. It's Awesome. Worth seeing twice which I already have. Maybe see it again before summer ends.

He's a bad ass villain. This portrayal makes up for the cheesy portrayal of Bane in Batman & Robin(1997) where Bane just grutted and was a minor villain to Mr.Freeze & Poison Ivy. This Bane was not only brute in strength but was very intelligent and had an army of mercenaries at his side. The mask kind of made his speech hard to understand but you can argue that Bruce Wayne used a rapsy voice in order to hide his identity when he was Batman.

The movie kept you on the edge of your seat till the end.

Finally, the movie had the common theme of rising when falling like it did in Batman Begins. Especially with the chant in the music in the movie and when the prisioners chant when Bruce climbs the pit to escape. It is Deshi Basara which is Arabic for "He Rises"!!  Now that's very cool considering what was mentioned in that online article I attached and with Batman rising again to defeat Bane and save Gotham.

This video is what I would leave you with. It is a theme for all of Christopher Nolan's Batman Movies and it could be for life as well when things get rough for us and sometimes it feels we can handle everything.

"Why do we fall?"

-So we can learn to pick ourselves back up!!

..............and Batman does pick himself back up and saves Gotham!!!

That's my two cents and go see Dark Knight Rises or if you haven't see the other 2 Batman movies by Nolan I'll let you borrow them before you see DKR.

Be a Real American!!

Since that whole weekend of no power and staying 2 nights at friends house and a little bit more in my electric less apartment (I truly need to get a place of my own but wanna find a wife to share it with me  :( ), the heat in that place taken the energy out of my sails for the weekend and beginning of this week in order to start my marathon training for Columbus, and I also hurt my lower back and it has been stiff mostly these past few days. All of those events and a little bit lonely these past couple of days even though there have been a few people that reached out to me.
I have some personal goals set for myself not only in running but in my work life and especially my social life. If I don’t meet a little bit of them I feel as if I’m not only failing my family and friends but I’m failing myself. After spending a little bit of time feeling sorry for myself again, feeling a little alienated after finally getting my power back I just wanted to relax and do what I always do when I feel a little down.
WATCH OLD SCHOOL PRO WRESTLING  VIDEOS on YOUTUBE!!!
Ok, you may all laugh but I love pro wrestling. My goal for every Halloween is to dress up as a pro wrestler. This year I always want to hear suggestions of which wrestler I should go as and I’ll make it happen. Anyway, I’m watching some videos whenever it may be promos by some wrestlers that can get you jacked up like STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN!!

Or just make you think like Mick Foley

Or inspire you to do better like Dusty Rhodes

The hard times promo is without a doubt one of the best promos of all time, IF U WILLLLLLLLL, Little impersonation. After all he is the American Dream!!

His theme music sounds like a campaign song for a presidential candidate. One of the videos I watched before was one from the Ultimate Warrior. He’s the faced paint wrestler that I dressed up for Halloween in 2010. He wasn’t a great wrestler but he had a lot of energy and could entertain with his rope shaking and his out of this world promos.

Well, to sum it up. He become a motivation speaker and legally changed his name to Warrior. Crazy, huh??!! He and Hulk Hogan have had a personal feud for years even after they both wrestled each other two times in the 90’s once at Wrestlemania 6 in 90 and the other in 1998 when both of them were in WCW.  Anyway almost a year ago the Warrior posted in his personal video blog that he would expose Hulk Hogan for the person that he is. The video is right below. This is only a 7 minute clip since I don’t think you all have time to watch almost 50 minute video of him exposing Hulk Hogan. This basically has him bashing what he has done in the wrestling industry to hold guys back from rising in the main event, taking drugs , and not practicing what Hogan preached, and having his family become destroyed.

Heh, I admit the Warrior is crazy. I’m not talking good crazy like some of us can be when it comes to certain habits that make us different from everybody else. I’m talking CRAZY-CRAZY. Hulk Hogan is too. But, it got me thinking after watching his 50 minute video. Towards the end after bashing Hogan the Warrior wanted to instill positive energy to others and encouraged it towards his fans. This has got me thinking to do the same thing. I want to instill positive energy among everyone around me including my CRC teammates, friends and family. For the next 15 weeks I’m going to live out the commandments of HULKAMANIA to get ready for the Columbus Marathon. I know Hulk Hogan didn’t live up to them so I will.
1.) Train (That’s a definite right there)
2.) Say your prayers (Also a must. Have faith to believe God is heading you the right direction)
3.) Take your vitamins (This does not include steroids like many of those wrestlers use. I’m talking about just basic everyday vitamins we use. Like a One Source everyday energy for active people, fish oil or any other B vitamins. Energy supplements are ok.)
4.) Eat right (Yep that’s important too. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein, energy gels, water, electrolytes, the whole nine yards.)
5.) Believe in yourself and those around you. (Definitely important especially if you are training for a marathon this fall. Run with those with the same goals and given the same intensity. Encourage one another along the way.)


Well, now after reading this I’m pumped now to go back out there and start over again my beginning of my training. A couple of things kind of got this week off to a bad start but S*** happens it’s how you deal with it and now I’m ready to tackle it. I want everybody else who is running the marathon to become REAL (hard working) AMERICANS this summer/fall. I’m pumped, BROTHER!!! (That’s what Hulk Hogan calls everybody probably the ladies too, LOL)

That’s my 2 cents!!!

Jim Carrey vs. Adam Sandler: Part 3 of 3: Where they go from here?

Don't Know how much of a step up this is from "Jack & Jill"?

  Well, last I left you guys it was showing Part 2 after showing Part 1 of Jim Carrey vs. Adam Sandler. Now the question is how have their movies been the last 5-7 years currently, where their careers are heading from here on out with what movies they got coming up. But, more importantly I want you to decide whom you think is the better actor/comedian, etc.

Up above is the movie poster for Adam Sandler's new movie coming out this weekend, "That's My Boy" The plot is about a child star(Adam Sandler) whom had sex with his teacher and how 30 years later he tries to improve his relationship with his son(Andy Samberg) who is getting married. It brings to mind a little bit in the past 7 years or last 10 years if anybody I know has walked out of an Adam Sandler Movie and thought, "OMG that was so funny, I laughed so hard I was in tears!!!!". Well unfortunately, NO. Pretty much since Anger Management (2003) I don't think there has been an Adam Sandler movie since then that I have loved or just enjoyed.

He attempted to remake The Longest Yard (2005) with Burt Reynolds(star of the original) and a couple of ex-NFL stars and Pro Wrestlers let it was ok but not what I expected. He did star in a good movie with Reign over Me(2007) in which he plays a man who lost his family during 9/11 and years later reunites with his college buddy played by Don Cheadle who tries to help him get his life back together which does show his acting ability.

 However, the bad finally came with I Now Prononce You Chuck & Larry in which he and Kevin James are NYC Fireman pretending to be gay and married to keep up an insurance scam so that his best friend's(James) children can have benefits.

He tried to do kids movies like Disney's Bedtime Stories but the critics dislike it. Here's the trailer

Then of course came GrownUps (2010) starring him, his SNL Buddies David Spade, Rob Scheinder, and Chris Rock along with Kevin James whom now has become their new CHRIS FARLEY

Of course the bad continued with Just Go with It (2011) and of course Jack & Jill (2011) in which case I mentioned swept this years Razzies.

http://dmoneystwocents.blogspot.com/2012/03/razzies-p.html

I tried to go into this three part blog post not to be one sided but I have to think that Adam Sandler movies have gotten much worse over the years. But the thing is people still are going to see them. I enjoyed his early career in movies, the comedy albums he put out, and his stuff on SNL but I think its time for him to grow up in acting and take on a new style of comedy. Don't believe me here's a link that my sister Cortney has provided for me.

http://movies.msn.com/movie-guide-summer/adam-sandler's-10-worst-movies/photo-gallery/feature/

 Jim Carrey, on the other hand, has not made too many movies the last few years but he's been able to put out some really good comedies such as Fun with Dick & Jane (2005) about a couple who go into debt after Carrey's character loses his job at a firm to a slezzy executive, so Dick and Jane go out on a hilarious crime spree. And in this clip and trailer from Yes Man (2008)

Movie proved Jim Carrey still got it when it comes to comedy. However, he has made some bad movies like The Number 23 about a man who becomes obessed with the number 23 after reading a book about a man who had that same obession. Weird. But he has make some entertaining family films by lending his voice in Horton Hears a Who (2008) and A Christmas Carol (2009). He still shown he can act by delievering a good performance in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004). This was about a man wanting to erase memories of his former girlfriend after she did so of him but can't do it because of the good times that were had. It's a good movie.

Anyway I'm excited that starting this fall Jim Carrey will be filming Dumb and Dumber 2!!! A real sequel to the first since Dumb & Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd had nothing to do with Carrey, Jeff Daniels or The Farelly Brothers and now all have agreed to do a sequel almost 20 years later to see what the characters are like now. I don't think it will be like the first but if it's funny I'll defintely see it. Carrey has some more movies lined up one with Steve Carell so we'll see if he continues down his path.

In my opinion after reflecting, watching clips of both Sandler and Carrey's Movies I tend to side with Jim Carrey. He can make you laugh, has musical talent, can do very good characters and impersonations, and can act very well. Adam Sandler can do those things as well but he has tended to focus more on gross out comedies more and less on the acting which I think makes people forget some of the good things he can do with his talent.

I'm not anti-Adam Sandler. This isn't a one sided blog post. I think in the over aspects Jim Carrey has had the better career and made better movies. It's hard to tell whose more financial successful. Probably Sandler due to his Happy Madison Productions company but Quanity doesn't necessary equal Quality. I hope Sandler would just expand himself a little bit like Jim Carrey has throughout his career.

Well, I'll leave you the reader to decide. If you enjoy this take a look back at the last 2 parts to decide for yourself.

Part 1 Early Careers

Part 2 Rise to Stardom

And that's my Two Cents!!!

What is your calling???

  This is pic has a bible verse that speaks very true. In first Peter chapter 4 verse 10. In which Peter, the father of the church tells followers around Asia Minor to serve each other with the talents that you have.

  Speaking of Peter, this became familar to me when at Bible Study a little over 2 weeks ago when during the lesson we were reading from Mark 1: 16-20 where it said

16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ¹⁸ At once they left their nets and followed him. ¹⁹ When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. ²⁰ Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

The disciples that Jesus had called had no idea where it would lead them since many of them had come from around Galilee which to many Galilee is like the "Appalachia" of Israel if you will. After 3 years of following Jesus, many of them weren't unsure of what would be next them but Jesus told them after his resurrection from death to wait and they would be filled with the Holy Spirit and they would speak in different tougues. Once that occured they went all over Europe, Asia, and the Mediterranean spreading the gospel and others after them did so too making our great Christian community all over the world what it is today. Messages and lessons speak true over 2000 years ago up till today.

God was able to call those disciples whom many consider to be the most unlikely people at that time to lead and spread his word. It can be the same thing today even in all aspects of life. There have been people that were the most unlikely to lead but when the opportunity came to those they were able to run with the ball and do great things you might say. It goes with leading corporations, leaders of nations or armies, people in entertainment, sports, etc.

We have been given some opportunities and God wants us to use them to help others and each other in one way or another. Kind of the reason why I'm typing this is because my small group leaders are hoping to plan on building a church whenever it be here in Columbus or somewhere else around the country. They feel that it is their calling and that is what God has planted in their hearts. I support them for it and be able to pray for them in their success to hopefully for them accomplish this mission. The only sad thing is that my small group in a couple of weeks will end but I know another one with a couple of the same people will began but I may want to spread my wings a little since I know there have been those I've grown close to are moving on afterwards and join another group at my church in hopes that I would meet others, but still continue my walk with God along the way. I hope to continue to see those in my current small group from time to time.

The really great thing about my friends wanting to plan a church is it got me the motivation to finally jump into what has been on my heart and I've been talking about to almost everyone for a long time the last few months, what has been one of my things to do on my New Year's Resolution That of course is to get my certification in being a personal USATF certified coach and NFHS certified running coach whenever it may be coaching cross country/track & field at a Junior High or High School Level or just basically coaching individuals (like some other people I know) and give them training plans for goal races from 5k-Marathon, recommend them to running shoe stores (like Columbus Running Company), recommend them to a nutrionist as well, and have them keep track of their process so I know whenever for them to back off or add on depending on their background. So far the only experience I've had coaching was track and field for 2 seasons at my high school after I got out of college. I was able to get the Boys 4 x 800 relay to Regionals twice, the Girls 4 x 800 Relay to Regionals once, a girl to the Regionals in the 800 meter run, but in my 2 years of volunteering coaching I got a girl to the State Meet in the 3200 Meter Run once, a boy to State in the 1600 Meter Run one year the year before I got him to the Regional in the 1600 M, and a boy to the State Meet in the 3200 Meter Run both years I have volunteered coaching for my High School.

I realize it could be hard for me to get these type of jobs due to my work schedule which is basically one of the reasons why I did not persue it any further after I moved because I was afraid I would become too busy and not have enough of my own time to train.  Also, the fact that I'm not in education and they sometimes give those jobs to teachers whenever they know anything about the sport or not. To me distance runners can make the best coaches. They have been around Track & Field and have an interest in the sport. I admit I don't know anything about throwing events but its cool to see how far they go. I dunno I could just be good to coach cross country and maybe be a distance coach in track. It could be hard since I've now been a track official now for last 2 seasons. But I could just coach cross country, and officiate in the spring and coach individuals outside of cross country/track & field who may want to PR in the 5k to the Marathon no matter what pace they run or skill level. Anyone is welcome.

I realize I have to read up a little more on training and coaching but I could do on the side from my regular work. I can do more than be an official. But, I'm not giving that up nor my regular job. My career is my main income. Lately, I haven't been too happy at times in my work. Some days it's just going through that routine. Don't get me wrong I'm thankful for it along with my job security. But, there are days I feel like Peter from Office Space.

Love that movie. I'm still going to be working at my job as long as they let me and do it to the best of my abilities. There are some positives about the job i do, but I feel I like to do things on the side that I can enjoy. Running has been it but I'm not a professional getting paid to do it, there is a lot of pressure to maintatin that fitness level. Lot of my friends outside of CRC are amazed at my fitness level. Yet, I'm humbled for it and work hard but have fun competiting. Besides it keeps me from going insane from this Department of Defense Accounting Job.

Once I compete the online development course which shouldn't take too long I plan on taking a Level 1 course at a school or college somewhere for 3 days. I think taking the online course would help me become a better official as well. My only hope is after the training that I would be given the chance to be able to coach whenever it be individuals with goal races or at a local junior high or high school but start out as an assistant and be able to get my name out there. This along with officiating is something that keeps me involved with the sport if I slowly back down and don't compete as much anymore in the years to come. I know that day will come especially if I get too busy and settle down with a family hopefully.

Anyway, I didn't mean to bragg about my plans. I just wanted to encourage you all with what God has done for you and if you are being call to do what you think he wants you to do with your talents or interests. Don't want to go on too much longer, but I've seen a lot of people use what they have to the best of there abilities and the good feeling it gives them helping others.

I just want to leave a word of encouragement to my friends who are starting a church. I know with all the resources, connections, and leadership you developed over the years you have a great chance of succeeding. Starting out small isn't a bad thing either who knows it could effect people very deeply. One great example, Two cross country/track teammates from a NCAA Division III University got together to form a running store, over the years it has grown to support the running communtiy with running groups, charity races, and a group of people whom have grown to be great friends.

That's my 2 Cents!!!!!!!!!  :)