Boston: One year later

   Today, as I am typing this right now it will be one week since the 2012 Boston Marathon. By the time I finish this post it may be a few days later but it comes at a time when about one year ago that I was able to run the race that has been the pinnacle of every runner. I decided not to run again this year. Mainly due to the costs of going there. I'll run it again someday but I have to run another full to get a qualifying time for my age group which is now 3:05:00 which shouldn't be that hard for me.

     So for this Boston I'm sitting here at work looking at the splits of the leaders and my friends and other C-Bus Pacers running over at Boston. Yeah, this is something I shouldn't do at a gov't job but I get quite a bit of work done and there are others around here that don't hardly do S***!! That's our gov't hard at work people. But don't want to be too negative about my job it just causes too much stress and it would effect everything else positive in my life.

  A lot has happened over the last year since I ran Boston. I ended up getting hurt in my hip muscle when I tried to come back too early after Boston and it derailed my summer and fall racing plans, I had to sadly drop out of the Half Marathon at Columbus in October. I guess my body wasn't quite ready to tackle a half. However, I was able to end the year on a good note and represent CRC in Seattle at the USATF Club Cross Country Nationals and continue my streak of running it 6 years in a row and hopefully going for # 7 at the end of this year. Turning 30 becomes a big deal for me as well. I felt that I haven't accomplished anything outside of running, my high school coach suddenly passed away this summer , my sister moved back home due to her job situation but she is working part time and taking law classes to become a parallegal, there have been changes at work which makes it difficult to adjust, for one I would like the opportunity to telework, but I haven't gotten a laptop at work and I don't know when they will give me one.

One of the biggest issues interally I had to deal with the fact that I'm 30 and still single. Nowhere close to finding a woman to call my best friend to spend the rest of my life with and share everything about. Well, I feel as if I'm sharing a little bit of my life to everyone by writing in this blog. But, I try not to get to overboard. I'm not the type of guy that constantly updates my facebook status every hour everyday. That can be obessive. I try not to make a big deal about meeting someone. I know God has someone for me. I just got to trust in him, have an open heart, and stay positive.

  I think staying positive ties into training. A funny thing is our preacher was preaching about "Run to Win" which was the title of the sermon. The verse taken was from 1 Cornithians 9:24-27

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. ²⁶ Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. ²⁷ No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

In this passage it is talking about mostly a relationship with Jesus and how when athletes train hard to compete so should we when we want a better relationship with Jesus. A great note in the Sermon was, "Don't stop training, you're in a marathon not a sprint." Life is like that as well. It can get pretty hetic at times but you can't let the bad things or the stuff that depresses you get you down. Things are not easy. I've come a long way since the last year and especially in the past like it mentions my pre-boston article from last year.

You just gotta keep running to get that prize in the end whenever in running it be winning a race, a PR, or just to finish in some cases. Same goes for life. Now a days people except a handout from our government. You have to be humble and hope for the best and try to focus on the reward at the end.

I know my running goals aren't done yet. I'm working on getting my coaching education done in the meantime and I have a goal to run the Columbus Marathon this fall not only to PR but for personal reasons. But I'll get to that when the time comes. Right now the best thing is to keep your head up, don't be discourage, and keep running towards your goal whatever it may be sports related or not.

That's my two cents.

Mo Money Mo Problems

  
 HaHa. Funny In Living Color skit. Speaking of which I'll get to my Jim Carrey vs Adam Sandler blog sooner or later.  But, right now I wanna get into my blog about of course this past weekend's Mega Millions Madness itself, what it ties to living right now and from lessons I've learned from the Bible and how it could maybe help me or you.

  I bet like me you got caught up in the whole Mega Millions Madness that occured this weekend. Me and a couple of co-workers got together and chipped in for tickets. No one from Ohio had the winning numbers only tickets in Kansas, Illinois, and Maryland had them and so far we heard no one come forward to claim the $640 Million Jackpot. Well take away a lot from taxes and your left with half. It's amazing that people spend over 1.2 billion on Lotto Tickets that I wonder really how much of that is going into education and what are we truly spending our money on.
  I've never boughten into the whole lottery thing. It was only 2 bucks I've spent to chip into the lotto tickets but how often do people get lucky and win. Scratch offs are ok when they say you can win up to $100,000 but odds are you'll probably win your money back from buying the ticket itself. Now I can't believe I'm bringing up ProWrestling in all of this but if the Ric Flair Scratch off tickets were sold in Ohio I would defintely buy a few.

   Haha!! Even in commercials Ric Flair is still hitting on women. Well now at least he's hitting on women his own age now.

  Back to the blog. Now there have been horror stories of people winning these lottery jackpots in which people from around their social circle whenever it may be family, friends, or whomever that become they hanger ons of some sort and try to get them to buy things whenever it may be food, clothing or other type of items. Here are some stories going together with some facts.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46919052/ns/us_news/

http://news.yahoo.com/odds-ends-mega-millions-jackpot-lottery-172708687.html

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/322092/20120330/mega-millions-jackpot-lottery-curse-jack-whittaker.htm

Yep, apparently the odds so we say are not in our favors to have better or normal lives even after if you would hit the jackpot. I mean even as Christians we all fall short or try to find an easier way to make money or order to pay debt or have that money to afford better things. I just joked that if I would have won I wanted to buy the Columbus Crew so I can make them the "New York Yankees" of Major League Soccer. (I'm sure you would appreciate that DeLeon :)

I mean playing the lottery is fun once in awhile but don't get caught up in it, bad habits can turn it into addiction. Look what happened to Ohio State QB Art Schlichter

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

He's now back in jail for scheming people out of money. That's another thing. You here stories of professional athletes like Allen Iverson and Terrell Owens(T.O.) who during their heyday or peak in their careers spent a lot of money on their homes, cars, etc and end up not having a whole lot more whenever it be paying taxes or sadly child support towards the end. I wish many of these athletes would spend money when they start out on there professional careers on accountants to help them keep track of their expenses. Yet many of them come from rough lives and when they get this money they don't know how to spend it and usually their old friends hang out with them and become their hanger-ons until the money runs out. Like I said can be mentioned about those who win Mega Millions jackpot.

1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

I mean we always dream for a little bit better lives where we can earn more money. I know I do. I wish I could make a little more money at work. In fact work's been the main cause of my stress the last couple of months. Which is why I'm considering possibly taking some more graduate courses, hoping the work more meets as an official this track & field season, and getting a certification license to be a running coach. But, I remember to try to work hard and things will come.

Philippians 4:19
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.


I'm always reminded in life that I have a lot more than what many people do not have. I should consider myself very lucky and I would hope everybody else would to. We should be blessed to live in a nation with so much despite the fact that this economy is not what we want it to be. It would also be great to give and volunteer to those who are in need.

Acts 20:35
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

That passage is deeply true. I feel guilty about not giving enough like I want to but it does give a good feeling in the soul when you do whenever it be your money or time.

We all stress about money but it is wise to know what we are spending it on and to be thankful. The best advice I learned about gambling or when I'm getting into something like March Madness Brackets and Fantasy Football is this, "Don't Gamble if you can't afford to lost it!!"

I'm D-Money and that's my two cents!!!

Big Announcement

 Well everyone, today I have a very important announcement that I must share with you. A few days ago I have accepted a job offer in Indianapolis and I'm going to be moving within the next month. I know that I will always call O-HI-O my home but I applied to the USAJOBS for DFAS Indy and I got an offer for a little bit more money and I'm going to take it. I don't where this would take me but I feel this is the best decision for me. I have made a lot of friends here in Columbus in my church and running. I'll appreciate you all making me feel very welcome and you'll hold a special place in my heart! .........................................................................................

Wait, I have one more thing to add below

APRIL FOOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAHAHAHA!!! Now do you really think I would really be that brief if I posted if I were leaving the great state of Ohio!! I would be a little bit more serious than that. I think you all know me better than that. Just to let you know I haven't applied for anything jobs outside of Columbus and I plan to remain here as God would let me for now.

I hope none of you took this serious its a joke. I hope to remain in Columbus for a long time and make this my pernament home. I'll keep the blog going and I hope you keep reading and be willing to take a joke as I would if you joke around with me.

I'm D-Money and that's my Two Cents!!!

The Madness that is March Madness

This is one of my favorite times of the year. The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. MARCH MADNESS!!! No explanation needed to describe what it's all about unless you live underneath a rock. Here's a link on how to pick a smart bracket.


http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/fill-2012-ncaa-tournament-bracket-024636059.html

I won't go into too much detail but I have won 3 bracket polls all time in march madness. Some years I do ok and very few like last year upsets happen that you aren't prepared for. Here are my teams I think will be in this year's final four.

Kentucky

Missouri

North Carolina

and of Course

THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES!!!

I hope Ohio State wins it all. That's who I want in my heart but in my head here's what I got it down to in the Final Four.

Kentucky over Missouri.

North Carolina over Ohio State (unfortunately)

and in the Championship.

NORTH CAROLINA OVER KENTUCKY.

Everyone is going Kentucky and they have the talent to win it but I question if those talented players like Anthony Davis or Doran Lamb are thinking NBA or not. North Carolina has shown some adversity and when they are on they can beat anyone in the country like they did at Duke. Ohio State can too but all players have to be on for that to happen.

All in all I hope it's a great tournament and I have the bracket to win it this year. It would be even better if Ohio State wins it all!!! Good luck to everyone and enjoy MARCH MADNESS. I hope Ohio State or North Carolina are the teams that get to experience that ONE SHINING MOMENT!!!! (Listen and enjoy)!!!



The Razzies!!!!!! :P

 Well, last weekend of couse was the Oscars (Academy Awards) in which honored the best movies in 2011. I for one did not watch one single minute of. I was watching the USATF Indoor Nationals on ESPN. I didn't even watch the NBA ALL Star Game and I forgot The Daytona 500 was even on but that rained out so I didn't even care. You all are thinking this guy loves Country Music, Fishing, Camping, going to Cabelas, and dressing up like a Cowboy with boots and a Cowboy hat but doesn't like NASCAR. I bet it's good to go to live but I think it is boring to watch on TV. I did love Talladega Nights.

  LOL!! That scene always cracks me up. It's a good movie by the way not like the bad ones I'll talk about.  Anyway don't want to get off the subject. I didn't watch the Oscars. It's basically Hollywood actors and actresses telling each other how great they are :P. Some movies that are nominated I'll watch and most of them are pretty good. Yet I love action and comedy movies a lot. However, I love it how a group of people try to make Hollywood not forget about the CRAP that they put out.

  That's where the Razzies come in. The award is called the Golden Raspberry Awards and they just shorten it to the Razzies.They give out the awards for Worst Picture, Worst Actor, Worst Actress, Worst Director, Worst Supporting Actor, Worst Supporting Actress, and so on. They also have special categories during certain years like Worst On Screen Couple/Ensemble, or Worst Sequel/Prequel/Remake/or Rip-Off.

  The term for the Golden Raspberry Award comes from the term blowing a raspberry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowing_a_raspberry

  They started out small in the 1980's but the media caught on and they have now grow to wear they have cermonies where they honor or should I say DISHONOR the worst movies of the year. They usually announce the nominations a day before the Academy Awards announce theirs and they award the Razzies a day before the Academy Awards Ceremony. This year they will hold the Razzies on April 1st being April Fools Day just for this year. Here is the link with the nominees.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/32nd_Golden_Raspberry_Awards

Jack & Jill looks like a dumb Adam Sandler. He hasn't made any good ones in a long time. Not too sure I would put Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon as a nominee, it wasn't bad. Not as bad as Your Highness with Danny McBride, James Franco, and Natalie Portman now that was dumb when I rented it off Netflix

The Movie Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star looks dumb. But, it was made from the same production company that Adam Sandler owns so I'm not suprised. It gives me an idea for another great blog. Who is Better? Jim Carrey or Adam Sandler. I'm sure you'll enjoy that when I get to work on it.

Anyway to look at another movies that won or were nominated for Razzies go here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Raspberry_Award and look at the bottom and browse throught the history. You'll see a lot of Nicolas Cage, Jessica Alba, Sylvester Stallone, Ben Alfeck, Madonna, Halle Berry, Demi Moore movies nominated. However I'm surprised none of Hulk Hogan's movies won or were nominated and he made some terrible movies that sadly I watched as a kid.

Suburban Commando (1991)

Mr. Nanny (1993)

3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain (1997)

and my personal favorite of his which was his first starting role.

No Holds Barred (1989)

Here is a scene from No Holds Barred right after the beginning of the movie when his character refuses to appear on another network and the evil network executive has the limo driver take him to a warehouse to be beaten by thugs but Hogan turns the tables on them. The one word used at the end of the video pretty much sums up the entire movie. Watch and enjoy.

LMAFO!!! OMG!! DOOKIE that's all I have to say. See it for yourself. Hope you find the info on the Razzies entertaining. I would watch No Holds Barred on YouTube if you have time. If you really want to watch Bad movies!! I'm D-Money and that's my two cents!!

What to do over Lent

 This past Wednesday is the beginning of the Lenten season. As you know I like to put up links to explain things much better so here is what Lent is about.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lent

Pretty much Lent is the season of 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday where Christians prepare to observe Good Friday during which Jesus was cruicified and on Easter Sunday he was resurrected and rose into Heaven.

  Many Christians I know use Lent to make themselves better by giving up things or terrible habits such as sweets, fats, meat or even Facebook. I'm sorry I can't give those up it would be hard for me to do so. Especially since I like to get my protein from meat during my training periods. Facebook, yeah I could do that but sadly Facebook, Twitter, and other means of Social Media have become our norm. I probably won't check it as often but I like to post some things such as links to my blog!! heh heh.

  Now, you're probably saying well Dustin you're not being a good Christian by practicing Lent. Heh, noboby is perfect. We try to be better but I believe there could be other ways to celebrating Lent without giving up anything. For example taking up good habits and try to use them throughout the year. I've been trying to follow through with my New Years' Resolution now for almost the last 2 months. In fact, how's your New Year's Resolution doing.

  Another thing I have learned over one of my last bible studies just recently and I know a few Facebook Friends are doing is to honor those who have shaped your life. Thank those who have mentored or influenced you in some sort of way or another. It's good to let them know how they have made a impact on your life.

  Whatever you plan to do if you haven't done it already this first week, then plan to give a little more of yourself to others. That's what I'm trying to do everyday. Who knows you may feel good about yourself as well.

I'm D-Money and that's my Two Cents!!

Valentines Day from a single person's perspective!!

   Ok, I know Everyone is tired of hearing about my love life or lack of. But I'll tell you a little bit of my true feelings of Valentines' Day even if I were married, single, or seeing someone.

   Valentine's Day is nothing more than a Hallmark Holiday!!!! (Open the link) Don't get me started on Mother's Day or Father's Day those really mean something we have to honor our parents that pretty much seem like they were in Hell when they raised us up at times. Kind of like them paying for the pain they gave our grandparents when they grew up. Trust me one day we'll get our payback from our kids. That remains to be seen if that happens to me. Sorry, again for being a Negative Nancy or a Debbie Downer. From a business student's prospective it keeps stores that sell flowers, jewerly, cards, candy, and what not a lot of money so it's kind of helps the economy, a little bit though!

  Like, I said before Valentines Day has become a hallmark holiday where we are forced to give flowers, cards, gifts, and candy to those we loved. I know we give those to those on our loved ones birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmas, but my point is can't we just give to our loved ones for those days I just mentioned and also we can give to our significant others JUST BECAUSE we love them and it being THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS other than some made up holiday like Valentines' Day to try to tell us so!!!

  In fact, it was called ST. VALENTINE'S DAY and I found in wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine%27s_Day

The day was about a Roman Priest in the early 3rd Century of the Christian Church who was martyred for his faith during the Pegan Times of the Roman Empire. Stories came about and his day was taken up during the Medival Times with poets writing about his love and soon they wrote about unconditional type of love in their poems and it got turned into being written on cards in the late 18th century. Speaking of History didn't one the most tragic days in American History happen on Valentine's Day in Chicago in the 1920's??
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Valentine%27s_Day_massacre

Sadly, I've been watching a whole lot of How I Met Your Mother!

Started watching in the show while it's been in syndication and got caught up in the other seasons on Netflix and it's become one of my favorite shows. I love the characters. Barney, of course, is my favorite character. I sadly picture Neil Patrick Harris as similar to the Barney character more than what he is in real life. Anyway the character I relate to on the show is Ted. He's the central character on the show trying to find the woman of his dreams while his Older Self narrates to his future kids  and has some adventures along the way with his friends Marshall, Lilly, Robin and of course Barney! Hillarious Show. I would recommend watching seasons through Netflix and syndication in order to get caught up with the current season. This is the 7th season and I think at the end of the series which is the next season 8 he finally meets the woman who will be his wife and his future kids' mother.

Now, you'll tell me that I also celebrate St.Patrick's Day and its become a holiday that we all celebrate whenever we are Irish or not. I Celebrate St Patties because I have a little bit Irish in my family and it a holiday to honor St.Patrick and my ancestors whenever they were Irish or not (My ancestry is mostly German, Scottish, Welsh and Irish with a tiny bit of Native American by the way) and its a holiday to celebrate one's good health! Also, on St.Patties you can drink green Beer!! :)

I bet there is plenty a single person can do around Valentine's Day or to improve one's chances in the future.

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/how-to-enjoy-life-as-a-single-person-on-valentines-day.html

Getting out more is great way. Bar scene is ok but I wouldn't go there. The Gym or church. I for one don't think its a great idea dating someone from work. Makes workday seem weird. If there is one lesson I can give you is DON'T MIX BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE!! But, I'm not an expert on relationships just making some suggestions. However, making yourself available to those around you to develop friendships maybe turning into something more.

One of the things I've been trying to take up is to cook a lot more. Hopefully I can get a croc pot either by buying one or an old one from the folks so I can cook up some things. Ladies love it when they know a guy can cook. Since now I'm back living on my own and without my sister to cook a little sometimes I need to know how to cook some recipes. Can't always hurt. Helps it when they like your cooking!

I'm not whoa is me this Valentine's Day. To be honest it just a reminder how I'm still haven't been able to find the one yet. But I'm keeping my head up still. Keeping myself busy with training for a half marathon this spring, gearing up for officiating track meets this spring, going to register for online USATF Coaching education class first step in coaching certification, and regular work for D.O.D. Lets face it I have a good career and it comes with some good benefits but I just seem like I'm a dull plateau right now. Making some life changes is good which is what I strive for back in my New Years Resolution.

So for right now being single isn't too bad. I'm striving, hoping, and praying someone will come my way. One day I could change my tune about V-Day and cave in and buy my girlfriend/fiancee/wife valentines day gifts but for now I'm glad I'm not spending my money on a HALLMARK HOLIDAY!!!