Jeff Knight's Blog

Recovery

2011-06-18T10:26:00.002-04:00

So a few years ago I had shoulder surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in my right shoulder. I felt fine for most of that summer but come the winter of 2008, something was awry. The pain I was experiencing was back, albeit in a slightly lower intensity. Over the last two years it has progressed into a really annoying and stabbing pain depending on which way I lift my arm. The surgery was performed when i was living in New York. I moved back to Michigan so there was no way to return to that doctor. So, last month I decided it was time to get it checked out again. Turns out that the rotator cuff was torn again and there was also some damage to the labrum. I needed surgery again. On May 27th I once again had arthrosopic surgery to repair my dilapidated arm. The culprit...a bone spur that needed to be shaved down. The spur was causing all of the damage to the neighboring joints. Recovery has not been pleasant so far. I've had four sessions of physical therapy so far and am progressing nicely but the pain from the scar tissue can really be intense. I guess I wont be asked to join the Yankees rotation anytime soon.

I'm baaaaaack

2011-06-12T23:46:00.002-04:00

I can't believe I haven't made a post on here since 2009. To be honest, I have almost completely forgotten about my blog. It wasn't until a recent conversation with my cousin that I was reminded that I once shared my thoughts and experiences with cyberspace. "Why dont you blog anymore?" Huh??? Oh yeah good question. Truth is I didn't have an answer. So without making excuses or offering reasons that might or might not be true, I will march forward ignoring the year and a half gap between posts. I looked back at some of my past posts with fond memories and some with devastating embarrassment. I even felt like deleting some of them but what's the point. Life is about to change very drastically for myself within the next few months. This will be a great outlet for me. It has been suggested that I should return my blog back to it's original purpose....cycling. It's June and I haven't ridden my bike yet this year. Thats a post all to itself. Since it's midnight and I'm seeing double, I'll continue tomorrow. Hope everyone out there is enjoying their summer and is doing well.

Jeff

Aggrevated

2009-10-01T22:05:00.002-04:00

I wish the Tigers would just send the Twins home to pack. Come on already! They have had so many opportunities.

Don't Fail Me Now

2009-09-20T17:36:00.002-04:00

Why does it seem that every time the Tigers are close to the playoffs they choke? They had such a nice lead in the division but now the Twins are catching fire and catching up. It's quite obvious the wild card team will be the annoying Red Sox, so the Tigers need to break out the Elmer's glue and keep themselves from completely falling apart.

My dad bought the NFL Sunday ticket thing on DirecTV so we can watch the Giants and the Cowboys tonight. I hope big blue mutilates them. I'm none too fond of Dallas and my two least favorite players in the NFL are Tony Romo and Marion Barber.

Triad of Chemistry

2009-09-11T19:03:00.002-04:00

For the first time ever, the triad of chaos (myself, Jason, and Anthony), have a class together. The three of us are in the same chemistry class. Bunsen burners and us don't mix. There's bound to be some sort of chemical disaster happening this year, it should be very interesting. The first week of school went well, but I've had the start of the football season on my mind 24/7.

Alive and well...

2009-09-07T21:08:00.002-04:00

After a very long absence, I have decided to start blogging again. So much has happened since March that I can't go into much detail. The summer didn't exactly go as I planned. Much of that was due to job problems both of my parents had. The state of the national economy has not been kind to them. Let's just say I spent a lot of time with my cousins in Battle Creek. That completely put everything cycling related on the back burner. I competed in not one race. Basically all I did was go on measly little rides with my uncle Mike and Ryan. We did mix it up and went to different parts of the state so that was fun. South Bend in Indiana was pretty cool. I did find a new sport of sorts that I actually learned to enjoy. We played lots of golf. I'm getting pretty good at it too. Though I need to have a special ball made that has a turn signal on it, because every time I hit it off the tee it takes a sharp right hook. I'm still trying to figure out why everyone dresses like they're going sailing on the golf course. I refuse to dress like that. I am back home now in Ann Arbor since school is starting. Looking forward to a new year. Later!

Big Sacrifice

2009-03-31T22:02:00.002-04:00

I've had to make a big big sacrifice this year. I have opted to focus all of my attention and effort on cycling this year. That means I have pushed my love of baseball aside. This will mark the first year since I was six that I didn't play baseball. Hard to believe that's almost ten years. I tried out for my schools team but only went to one practice and then called it quits. Cycling is really something I enjoy and really feel I need to give more attention to. It was a hard decision, but I intend to follow through with it. Hey...(enter bad cliche) there's always next year.

Future Plans?

2009-03-19T18:10:00.002-04:00

I have been asked this question a lot this school year. What are my plans for the future? It's hard to believe that in a couple of years I will be in college. The question is...for what? So many things interest me that I can't make heads or tails of which one to choose. In my junior year of high school, I have to take a career planning class as an elective. I guess I have six months to come up with something.

Cleared to Play

2009-03-14T13:42:00.002-04:00

I passed my physical and have been given the nod to play baseball this year. However, I will not be trying out for pitcher. My doctor (and my parents) don't think it's a good idea. I'm ok with that. It's been awhile since I've been a position player but I'll do my best either way.

This weekend is supposed to be really nice. So I want to go out riding tomorrow. I'm sick of indoor training. I have a need for speed and indoor training cannot quench that need. My dad is not available due to his back, so I have recruited my Uncle Mike to join myself and my friend Jack.

My Return...Of Sorts

2009-03-08T17:13:00.002-04:00

Wow has it really been well over a month since my last post? I have to admit, I became really bored with blogging and saw little reason to keep posting. However, being away from it for one month +, has given me some motivation to continue. Soooooooo, here's what's been going on in my world:

1. Guitar training is going really well. I'm getting very good at the fret board (my weakness). I'm not quite Eddie Van Halen, but with lots more practice I feel I can tackle some of his music.

2. Baseball tryouts are coming up. I have to take a physical to make sure everything is in working order. I know my legs won't be a problem.

3. Cycling season is rapidly approaching (not soon enough). The weather has been getting warmer, hence I've been riding outside. I've created a monster in my friend Jack. He's been accompanying me on the streets lately and is always asking when I'm riding next. He is undecided if he wants to try racing with me. My dad has been unable to ride for long periods due to a nasty herniated disk in his back. It looks like a painful thing I never want to experience.

I will not be blogging everyday like I used to. But, I'll try to get in two posts a week to keep this thing going. Once the cycling season starts, my posting will be more frequent. Peace!

Sticking To It

2009-01-25T13:04:00.003-05:00

I've been sticking to the schedule I set for myself. I've just spent two and a half hours on the trainer. I'm going back for more after lunch. My legs have been feeling really good lately and I'm going to capitalize that.

Auto Show

2009-01-19T11:00:00.003-05:00

I went to the Auto Show yesterday at the Cobo Center with my dad and my uncle Mike. It seems to have become an annual event for us as we have gone every year since I was nine. The exception was of course last year when we went to the show in NYC. It was very low key this year. Probably due to the black cloud that hangs over the auto industry. There were lots of hybrids and electric cars on display and very few gas guzzling SUV's. I took notice of the new Camaro and the new Mustang. My dad was salivating over both. They had one of those smart cars on display. I swear it looks like one of those plastic battery powered cars that little kids cruise around in. Some of the pics are below this post. I had to make a big sacrifice yesterday to go to the show. I was invited to an indoor ride at James Anderson's house and couldn't get back home in time. I was a little peeved I couldn't make it, but I'm sure there will be plenty of other rides to go to. It would've been nice to meet everybody. Anyway, the plan for today is to spend some time on the trainer. I've got plenty of motivational music to burn my leg muscles to. Peace!!!

Auto Show Pics Part 1

2009-01-19T10:58:00.000-05:00

Furious But Calm Now

2009-01-16T21:12:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday, I lent my iPod to my friend Aaron. He had to watch his younger brother for two straight nights and wanted to tune him out so I gave it to him. That was a mistake. He returned it to me in school today, not working. He assured me he charged it. Well after about an hour of giving him the evil eye, he fessed up and told me that he left it in his mom's car last night. What it was doing in the car is beyond my comprehension. As we know it has been brutally cold here. I thought it froze to death by sitting in the freezing cold all night. But luckily, another friend of mine showed me how to reset it and that fixed it. I'd still like to know what it was doing in the car.

Mid-terms

2009-01-15T15:48:00.000-05:00

So today everyone at school received a rundown of where they stood with their grades. I am very happy with my status so far. The only weak area, you guessed it, math. My math teacher has been really lenient with everyone in class since basically all of us are having a hard time. Maybe it's because she mumbles when she talks. Overall, I am doing well this year. Mid-terms are coming up in some of my classes so I need to stay focused.

For Andy

2009-01-12T21:06:00.001-05:00

Don't talk to me I'm on my popcorn break! Andy, it's at 1:00 exactly.

I'm Speechless...I Haven't a Mouth

2009-01-11T18:13:00.000-05:00

....................

Gearing Up for Big Blue

2009-01-10T14:33:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow is a big game and I will be glued to the set. Giants / Eagles baby! Big blue just does not lose at the Meadowlands. Now I've had this argument before with people. Yes, they did lose against the Eagles at home a few weeks ago, but injuries and controversy were surrounding the team then. Plaxico Burress and his guns are long gone. Brandon Jacobs is healthy. He's the key to the Giants success tomorrow. Have Jacobs smack the defense apart, tire them, and then hand the ball to Ward and/or Bradshaw. Earth, Wind, and Fire. On the defensive side, the G-Men need to contain Brian Westbrook. I really respect his talent. He's a very solid running back. I'm confident a victory will be in hand.

Food Fight

2009-01-06T15:58:00.000-05:00

There was a tiny skirmish in the cafeteria today. It was concentrated between two tables. Thankfully not mine. Some senior was flicking parts of his meatball hero at this freshman. It was kind of funny but at the same time kind of rude. The last thing I saw was a whole meatball go flying and that's when i packed up and left. I didn't want to end up with marinara sauce on my clothes.

Looking Ahead

2009-01-03T12:49:00.004-05:00

I really haven't had much time for my blog of late. I've been in Battle Creek since Tuesday and just returned last night. I hope everyone had a nice New Year's. 2008 is gone and I'm sure there are a lot of people out there that are happy to see it go, including myself. Things didn't go exactly as I planned last year but I'm not complaining. With every new year brings new hope. I'm just happy to be back home in Michigan where I belong. I've been very unhappy with my blog and have thought about stopping it, but my friends and family think I should keep going with it. It should have a purpose when the cycling season starts. I'm eager for it to begin. I should be joining a team within the coming months and look to get back on track from where the nightmare in New York left off. I already have the team picked out (Ann Arbor Velo Club) so it's just a matter of joining. The pick was a no-brainer. Once I get more info on it I'll be sure to relay it. Now that the holidays are over, I can get back to a training schedule. Which I intend on following. It's time to put my new trainer to use. Oh by the way, I want to thank the Detroit Lions for being the worst team in the history of the NFL. Peace!

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T14:57:00.001-05:00

I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! I hope that you achieve all of the goals that you set for yourselves. Don't party too hard tonight.

Nice Holiday

2008-12-27T16:51:00.003-05:00

My family had a very nice Christmas. All of our relatives from Michigan, New York, and Florida came to our house. This was the first time all of us were together in a few years. Including myself, there were 13 kids present. I, for once, was not the oldest of the kids. My cousin Thomas, who is 16, came from Kalamazoo. It was awesome, all of the youngins were gravitating toward him rather than myself. However, i was at the bottom of a dogpile. I was chilling on the floor with my dog, when his royal highness Ryan shouted "Tackle Him!!" Then ten or so overly hyper kids jumped me. Not a very lovely feeling gasping for air. Those moronic family portraits we took at Sears a couple of weeks ago made their grand appearance over the fireplace. Apparently they were a hit with the adults. The kids beg to differ. I made out pretty well. I asked for an iPod touch and received an iPhone instead. I haven't had a chance to play around with it too much but it seems pretty cool. Naturally I received plenty of cycling stuff. My uncle replaced my broken down trainer with a shiny new one. Thanks Uncle Mike! I also received new gloves (my hands were busting out of my old ones), and new sunglasses. Pretty sweet. I'll tally everything up and make a post. Just having everyone together made the holiday fun. When all of us are together, fun is guaranteed. My mom and my aunt Helen were dancing to Van Halen in the middle of the living room and making complete fools of themselves. I've got that on video. Anyway, I hope everyone had a nice Christmas. There's still one more holiday to go!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T12:50:00.001-05:00

I hope everyone has a nice holiday!!!

Stay Away from the Mall!!!

2008-12-21T13:00:00.003-05:00

I wanted to go to the mall this morning and pick up a couple of gifts for my cousins, boy was that a bad idea. It took my mom forever to find a parking spot. And then it took forever to make our way through Macy's just to get into the mall. Needless to say I didn't buy anything. We're going to go tomorrow instead.

Sigh of Relief

2008-12-19T16:16:00.002-05:00

I am finally done with my school project...not to mention school for the year. I'll be off for the next two weeks. That stupid project took me weeks to finish. I was nice enough and lent a helping hand to a few of my classmates who were in dire need of help. I don't blame them for needing help. This was a toughie. I had my dad helping me too. I'm going to try and post it on my blog, but it may require some trial and error. Now it's time to kick back and relax.

Holiday Cards

2008-12-16T17:24:00.002-05:00

What a disaster Saturday's picture-fest turned out to be. Apparently my Brady Bunch family isn't the only one who does these picture cards for the holidays. There were so many people lined up in Sears I couldn't believe it. We had to wait almost an hour before we were taken. I was getting a laugh though. For some reason all I kept thinking of was that photo of Will Ferrell and John Reilly for the movie Step Brothers. If you don't know what I'm talking about, click here. My cousin Ryan and I were clowning around and we actually took a photo together just like that. That was the only good that came out of that day. We couldn't even have California Pizza Kitchen. We had to settle for Sbarro's, which doesn't sit well with me for some reason.

Pictures

2008-12-12T17:54:00.003-05:00

Would you believe my parents and my aunt & uncle are making my cousins and I go and take photos together? They decided it would be a good idea to send out those Christmas cards with pictures of their children on it. I am not happy about this. I don't need my scary picture being passed all over the continental United States. We're also taking a big family picture to display on Christmas at our house. There's going to be a lot of cracked picture frames around the country. Better let Santa know you need a backup frame. I'm starting to think my family is related to the Brady Bunch.

Aggrevating Report

2008-12-12T17:52:00.003-05:00

This report for English is consuming all of my free time and all of my patience. So far, I've finished five pages out of eight. This has to be submitted by next Friday.

Guitar Lessons

2008-12-07T11:45:00.003-05:00

My lessons have been going pretty well. I'm pretty confident in reading sheet music now. That wasn't so hard since I know how to read it for piano and trumpet. I need to work on transferring the notes I read to my fingers though. My teacher is awesome and very patient. Aside from doing scales, he's been letting me tackle some songs from select bands. Since finger tapping is something I can't do yet, I had to omit Van Halen from my requests. So I was attempting to play Back in Black by AC/DC. I'll spare you the details. My rendition would've made Angus Young keel over. I mutilated it. But let me tell you, I appreciate guitarists even more now.

Hobby?

2008-12-04T14:00:00.002-05:00

In English class today, we were talking about hobbies. Talk about a really boring conversation. I can't believe someone actually collects insects as a hobby. Not that there's anything wrong with that. So when the teacher asked me, naturally I said music and then I paused. I didn't know if I should consider cycling a hobby. There are those that casually ride on the weekends, or maybe once or twice during the week. Then there are those who compete and spend most of their week training. As for myself, I lean more towards the latter. So I really didn't know if I should've mentioned it. After about five seconds of dead air, my friend Anthony blurted out "cycling!". I guess it is a hobby. Someone needs to come up with a word for this. It's in between hobby and obsession.

School Project

2008-12-01T22:18:00.001-05:00

I am working on a school project for my English class that involves manipulating photos digitally. Cue the new Photoshop my dad brought home a couple of weeks ago. I decided to play around with it before delving into my project. Soooooo, I kind of went a little nuts and animated the header at the top of the page. Yeah, I think I'm losing it. It took me a bit, but I figured out how to import animated gifs into blogger. It's a pain in the - - -! Depending on how insane I feel, I may do more. Something tells me I'll never hear the end of this.

MySpace / Facebook

2008-11-30T12:13:00.002-05:00

I was getting a lecture last night from my friend Jason on why I should create a myspace and facebook account. The argument lasted about a half hour until I finally shut him up and said I'd think about it. It's not that I'm against it, I'm just being weary of the thousands of fake people that are on there. Knowing me, I'll probably break down and create a profile.

Peace and Quiet

2008-11-29T12:23:00.002-05:00

Everybody has finally evacuated my house. Most of my family who came from afar have stayed here since Wednesday. There was not much room to accommodate everyone so some had to stay in a hotel. I had to share my bed with my cousin Andy. This kid is like the energizer bunny. Where he gets his never-ending amount of energy is beyond my comprehension. He kept me up most of the night wanting to play playstation. And yes he still rocks at guitar hero. My other cousin Ryan broke his arm by tripping in school. I felt bad for him, he has a cast from his wrist up to his shoulder. So needless to say he couldn't do much physical activity. Overall it was a very nice holiday. As much as my family can drive me crazy, we're still assured a good time when everyone's together. I hope everyone had a nice holiday.

To All My Friends, Family & Readers

2008-11-27T12:41:00.001-05:00

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Football

2008-11-23T20:24:00.002-05:00

I'm really elated that I cheer for two football teams. Because if I only supported the Lions, I would be writing my blogs from a bright white padded room. Normally when a team makes history, it's a good thing. When history happens because you can't win a game, that's blasphemy. I give up, I really do. I care too much that's my problem. Fortunately for my sanity, I cheer for the Giants as well who capped off a nice win tonight against Arizona. Nobody can stop that defensive line. I've heard people saying that the Super Bowl could be a battle for New York. Wouldn't that be something. Brett Favre has the Jets riding a pretty sweet winning streak. How fitting would it be to see the Giants smash Favre a second time in the playoffs, albeit in a different uniform.

I Love This

2008-11-22T16:28:00.000-05:00

0-10

2008-11-22T15:59:00.000-05:00

Can't the Lions win one stinking game?!

Sitting Idle

2008-11-18T07:18:00.000-05:00

So I've decided to sit out of sports until next spring. I was kinda persuaded by my dad to do so. We'll leave it at that. It'll be hard for my competitive side to sit idle and I'll have to fight myself but I'm confident I can control those urges. I'll still be spending quality time with my bike of course. Cycling will be the primary focus from here on out. I feel a good year is coming for me and blue. As I'm writing this, my skin is crawling...my mother is singing along with I believe Kenny Rogers. Save me from music oblivion please!! Off to school, peace.

Boring Day

2008-11-15T13:06:00.003-05:00

Why must it rain on the weekends? I haven't rode my bike outside in what seems like an eternity. I have been riding on the rollers every now and then but would like a new trainer since the other one was damaged in the move. One of my dad's friends gave him a copy of the new Photoshop which comes with all of the bells and whistles. I'll be toying with this all day. Now I at least have a program to replace Windows Movie Maker which I can't stand using anymore.

Another Clothing Mishap

2008-11-12T21:09:00.002-05:00

I'm up to my old tricks again. Since it has been cold and rainy here in Michigan lately, much warmer clothes have been needed. I desperately needed to wash a few of my fleeces and hoodies so that I would have something to wear to school. Needless to say, my mom was not around to supervise my laundry operation (we know why supervision is needed). Wellllllll, I kinda forgot to take my clothes out of the washing machine. They were sitting in there soaked from the time I came home to right before I started this post. That's about 8 hours. Now my clothes absolutely stink! Why do clothes smell so repulsive after they have been sitting in the machine wet for awhile? What's the purpose of Tide? I have once again been reminded that I am to stay away from the washer and dryer. LOL!

Cell Phones

2008-11-11T13:12:00.002-05:00

OK I don't understand something. Yesterday in Bio class, this kid Jordan got busted for texting on his cell phone. The nitwit was texting his friend that was sitting two seats to his left. Are you kidding me?!?!? What is so important that it couldn't wait for lunch or even between periods? I also want to know who everybody is on the phone with in the halls between periods. Are they calling their bookie or their stock broker? I don't feel the need to call my friends to find out what part of the school they're in. I know where they are. I think I'm starting to sound like my dad it's really scary.

Thanksgiving

2008-11-09T12:57:00.002-05:00

Even though it's three weeks away, I need to prepare for this. I just found out that we will be holding the festivities at my house this year. That means all of my cousins will be running around my house leaving a trail of chaos behind them. I better secure the valuables now. Here's where I miss New York. Last year we went to the Macy's parade and then to Central Park before retiring to a quiet home to stuff turkey in our faces. That was fun. I must admit though, I'd rather be here in Michigan. I think my mother said there will be close to 40 people here. That's a lot of Knight's and Manfre's.

Picking Up Bad Habits

2008-11-09T12:11:00.002-05:00

For the last couple of weeks I have been picking up some really bad habits that I need to purge. One of them has been over-sleeping / sleeping late on the weekends. Today I didn't get up until 11:00. That's quite unusual for me, a person who's normally the first to get out of bed in my house. What a waste of a Sunday. I missed the bus twice in the last two weeks because I couldn't get my lazy hide out of bed. Maybe I need to start drinking coffee in the morning.

Swimming?

2008-11-06T18:03:00.003-05:00

So as many know I've been toying with the idea of trying another sport to keep me busy over the non-cycling/non-baseball season. I've been brainstorming and may have come up with one. While searching the web, I found a club based out of Ann Arbor for swimming. Since I enjoy the water, I fugure that would be a good sport to try. I spoke to my dad about this and he thinks I should relax for the winter. I don't want to. I may or may not go forward with this. I'm not sure yet.

Recruiting

2008-11-02T11:23:00.002-05:00

I may have convinced one of my friends to consider taking up cycling next year. My friend Anthony actually is expressing interest. I say actually because it seems like everybody I talk to about the sport either makes a face or judges it harshly. He already has a road bike which he rides occasionally and he's watched a couple of races and it's peaking his interest. It'll be a much easier transition for me if I had somebody to ride and train with. The question is: can he devote his time to do it? I think he can. I wanted to go out today with him but it appears it's going to rain.

Dressing Up

2008-10-30T20:32:00.002-04:00

I have decided to go ahead and dress up for tomorrow. I can't let an easy A get away. I have decided to go as Jigsaw. I have the mask, I just need a red bowtie to go with my black suit and my sneakers. Since I do the voice pretty well it only seemed fitting to dress up as a psychotic puppet.

Football

2008-10-30T20:16:00.003-04:00

It just dawned on me that I haven't expressed my thoughts on this season so far. Can someone please tell me why I watch the Lions this season? 0-7?! I know I'm loyal but there must come a point where I have to wave the white flag. I can't remember a winning season anymore. I should be used to this by now. I'm a little disappointed I haven't been able to see most of the Giants games. They are really playing superb football. Last weeks victory over Pittsburgh was extraordinary. They play the annoying Cowboys (yeah Jason), minus Tony Romo on Sunday. This should be fun to watch. I hear they've been plucking people out of the crowd to play defense since mostly everybody's hurt. But still, they are 5-3 and can be quite pesky.

Halloween

2008-10-28T17:51:00.004-04:00

I'm actually being required to come to school on Friday dressed up. I think my English teacher has completely lost her mind. We are being graded on it I can't believe this. In one way it's a good thing because if we come to class dressed up, we get an automatic A that will replace our worst test grade. But on the other hand I'm really not that ecstatic about wearing a costume to school. Home is one thing, but walking around the hallways is another. I need to hit up Party City unless I can concoct something from my closet.

???

2008-10-26T15:21:00.002-04:00

I have no idea what happened to my post on Friday. Anyway, yesterday was a fun day. My parents and I went up to Howell to the outlet stores. I'm usually not a fan of shopping unless it involves bikes or Best Buy, but I actually enjoyed myself. I hope I'm not getting too lax. I picked up some new winter clothes since I seem to be growing at an exponential rate. Last I checked, I was up near 5'10. Ate lunch at Sbarro's and then went home. I would seriously consider going up there more if they had an outlet store for cycling stuff. I think that's a great idea because cycling can be an expensive sport. I spent the night at Jason's house and we were up until 2 playing Rock Band 2. My fingers are tired. I have massive amounts of homework to do so that's what my Sunday wll entail. Later!

-

2008-10-24T15:05:00.000-04:00

It's Report Time

2008-10-22T20:51:00.002-04:00

At least a speech isn't involved this time. My economics teacher has assigned us a five page report due next Friday. Just in time for Halloween. It's kind of a no-brainer what the topic is about - the current economic meltdown. I have to explain why this country is in a complete mess financially. I also have to provide solutions and ideas on how to fix it. Hey, if our government doesn't know how to fix it, how is a 15 year old going to know?

Quick Nap

2008-10-20T21:44:00.002-04:00

Today I did something I've never done before...I fell asleep in class. Obviously there are some classes that can be a little more boring than others, but it has never gotten to the point where I would fall asleep. Let's just say I'm not a huge fan of my biology class. My teacher was showing a powerpoint presentation of plants and stuff and I suddenly became narcoleptic.
Everyone knows that feeling, the eyelids grow heavy and your head starts to snap up and down in an attempt to keep you awake. Well my head fell backwards with my mouth hanging wide open and I dozed off. Thankfully I don't snore. The nap quickly ended when I heard my name called and my teacher asking to repeat what he just said. I must've looked like a deer caught in a car's headlights. I had no answer. I think I'll be going to bed early tonight.

New Kit

2008-10-17T17:37:00.002-04:00

My dad has been talking with this guy Ray who is a salesman for Pearl Izumi while he's been doing a job up by Pontiac. He must've mentioned that a) I am a cyclist and b) that some of my clothes have vanished from the move. Ray is hooking us up with some apparel and some accessories for severely discounted prices. Needless to say, my dad came home today with arm warmers and bike shorts for me. I'm a little hesitant about wearing them outside though. They are replicas of team Slipstream's kit. The shorts I can wear for indoor training but I cannot see myself riding outside in full Slipstream gear. Last I checked, the Pyrenees Mountains were not located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that's for sure. The jersey is apparently the next thing I'm getting from Ray and that would complete the kit. Hmmm..this would make a good Halloween costume.

Here We Go Again

2008-10-16T16:12:00.002-04:00

Gym was interesting today to say the least. We were playing football outside on the field by the track. My gym class has some very dangerous individuals in it. By dangerous I mean something stupid always happens when these people are around. These people include myself (obviously), my friend Anthony (1/3 of the triad of chaos, 'nuff said), my friend Taylor, this kid James, and this other kid Aaron. Together, the five of us can be lethal to all that are around us. The class is also made up of freshman who for some reason look miniscule to us sophomore. So, we're playing a really intense game of football. I was chosen to be quarterback today...oh boy. Let's just say my aim today was not so stellar. There was one play where I passed the ball to this freshman, I think his name is Jonas or Jonah I'm not too sure. The kid was wide open and for some reason when I passed the ball to him, he looked away and the ball smacked him in the side of the face. LOL! I had flashbacks of all the nasty things that happened to me last year in gym. I'm glad to not be on the receiving end of such physical abuse this time. Needless to say Anthony was on the floor laughing and he spent the entire day re-enacting it for everyone. I felt bad for this kid because I saw him later in the day and he had a red mark on his neck. LOL!!!

An Idea

2008-10-13T12:32:00.002-04:00

I'm toying with the idea of making video blogs surrounding my guitar training. I feel this would be a good way to track my progress. For those who didn't know, I am going for lessons twice a week. I wanted to master another instrument besides the piano so naturally I chose my second favorite instrument. Anyway, I need to decide if this is a good idea. I know posting videos on youtube sometimes leads to nasty comments so that's why I'm hesitating. If blogger was more accessible to posting videos than I would use that instead.

Gone for the Weekend

2008-10-09T22:04:00.003-04:00

I'll be spending the extended weekend with my cousins in Battle Creek this weekend. I'm setting myself up for disaster as I know I won't be getting any sleep with frick and frack running about. It'll be fun though. I haven't been to their house since Christmas. Ryan and I intend on duking it out again at Guitar Hero. I seriously think I'm an addict. I need to get my revenge on Andy. My cell phone isn't active yet as my dad is trying to have his number transferred to the new phone.

Aggrevated

2008-10-05T12:53:00.003-04:00

I still can't find things from the move. My dad built me a closet organizer and I have a section of it devoted to all of my cycling stuff. I took inventory and I am now missing one jersey and my arm & leg warmers. To top it off, I took my noisy trainer out of the box and it has a huge dent in one of the bars. Now it wobbles. Can anybody guess what I'm adding to the Santa list? There is something positive to report today. My dad went out and bought a new cell phone for work. I am inheriting his old one. I guess I badgered them enough for one and they finally gave in.

Plans for Next Year

2008-09-30T15:34:00.000-04:00

I'm already looking ahead to next spring. Being that this year was a complete wash-out for me, I'm determined to bounce back strong for 2009. I was discussing this with my friend Aaron at lunch yesterday in school. I've begun jotting down goals. Once I'm satisfied I'll post them here.

Congratulations to the Moose

2008-09-28T18:29:00.005-04:00

Those who know me well know that I prefer the pitching aspect of the game of baseball over hitting. That's not to say I don't like watching sluggers jack balls out of the park. It's just that I appreciate the mental prowess a pitcher must have in order to keep his team in the game. The man pictured above is a perfect example of mental prowess. Mike Mussina doesn't blow hitters away with heat. His fastball can't even touch 90 mph anymore. He utilizes changes of speed and pinpoint location to make hitters look foolish. And today at 39 years old, he firmly cemented his status as being a hall of famer by picking up his 20th win of the season and the 270th of his career. Thanks for all the years of service that you provided. You better be back next year!

Undecided

2008-09-27T12:09:00.003-04:00

I haven't decided on what sport I want to pursue. I'm not really a fan of basketball, so I don't think I would join that. I've been talking to some friends about this and whatever it is I join I may have a couple of them joining with me. Anyhow, I'm going out on my bike for a little while today.

One Terrible Night

2008-09-25T13:47:00.000-04:00

I went to sleep last night around 10:30 with a bit of a sore throat. I woke up about three hours later in a complete daze. I was sweating, my heart was pounding through my chest, and my ears were ringing. I didn't know what was going on. I didn't want to wake my parents so I stumbled to the bathroom and dunked my face in the sink. I also took my temperature which was nearly at 102. That would explain the sweating and the heart pounding. I laid in bed for hours before I finally went to sleep. My alarm clock went off at 6:30 and I felt absolutely fine. The only problem was that I had no voice. Not taking no for an answer, my mother dragged me to my old doctor who I haven't seen in a couple of years. The culprit, laryngitis. Needless to say my parents are happy they get a few days without hearing me speak.

Nothing New

2008-09-23T20:43:00.002-04:00

I have nothing new to blog about. The last week has been kind of blah. I've been thinking about joining a team sport in school during the fall/winter. I'm not sure which one though. It's been so long since I last competed in something. I'm going through withdrawal symptoms.

Farewell to the Cathedral

2008-09-21T11:02:00.004-04:00

Baseball's greatest stage closes tonight. There's no better place in the world to watch a ballgame than at Yankee Stadium. The atmosphere and the aura surrounding the 85 year old ballpark is second to none. Growing up a Yankee fan in Michigan has not been easy, but I'm very fortunate that I was given the opportunity to see a few games played there. It's more than concrete and steel, it's living history. Rest in peace Yankee Stadium 1923-2008.

I'm Back

2008-09-15T18:27:00.002-04:00

My CPU took a trip into oblivion. That would certainly explain why my computer was so unstable the last couple of weeks. Anyway, myself and my computer are back to blogging. I am really unhappy with the way my blog has laid so stagnant. I've been keeping pretty busy and that has taken time away from here. So here's a rundown of what's been plaguing my time:

1. Depressed that two baseball teams with mighty high payrolls (Yankees & Tigers) are not going to see the light of day in November. I have a theory which is up for discussion. The steroid era is coming to an end. All of the teams with the young talent are reigning supreme. Just look at the Rays. Where the heck did they come from? It just goes to show you that solid young pitching will mutilate any powerful offense. That's what they're doing and that's why they're succeeding. I am putting my money on the Cubs though to win it this year. This is a franchise that is looooooooooong overdue for a championship and they have some pretty solid talent. There's my two cents. As for next year, both the Tigers and the Yankees need to put some of that dough into restocking the minors with young arms. The Yankees have some, but they aren't polishd yet.

2. Giants - 2 -0 Good start. I'm getting used to life without the two best defensive ends playing.
Patriots - 2-0 w/o Tom Brady (bleh) don't really care about this
Lions - (sigh)

3. End of cycling season - Signals winter is just around the corner. This is a sensitive topic of conversation for me.

4. I have my first test of the new school year this Friday in Chemistry. Couldn't come any quicker I guess.

Computer Crash

2008-09-11T22:54:00.002-04:00

My computer completely crashed on Tuesday while I was doing my homework. I was creating an Excel sheet for math, and all of a sudden the screen turned blue and froze. My dad took the computer to the "Geek Squad" at Best Buy. I'm using his laptop in the meantime.

Blog Salesman

2008-09-07T11:53:00.002-04:00

I have been trying to get a bunch of my friends to create blogs. You know who you are. If I have to create it for you I will. I will eventually be disallowing people without a blogger account to post on my blog. I have been deleting way too much spam lately and it's driving me crazy.

New School

2008-09-04T21:38:00.002-04:00

My first two days of school went really well as did my first couple of days as a 15 year old. I was back with a lot of my old friends and I've actually been reacquainting myself with people I haven't seen since elementary school. Something funny has already happened. If you remember, a couple of weeks ago, I ran into this kid in the mall that insisted he saw me last year in school. Well believe it or not I have chemistry class with him. And he still insists he saw me last year. LOL. I still feel kind of weird. Even though I know a lot of these kids, I still feel like a stranger due to me missing a year here. I'm sure that'll wear off soon. Anyway, something disturbing happened to me this morning when I woke up. I went to go reach for something in my closet and I felt a tinge in my arm. Nothing painful just a weird sensation. I'm getting it checked out next week just to be safe. My sanity can't take another hit like it did earlier this year. Football starts tonight, I will be excited to see if the Giants can defend their title. Without Osi Umenyiora they are weaker defensively. Anything can happen. I use that phrase for the Lions as well.

Sorry

2008-09-04T17:43:00.003-04:00

I have been absent for almost a week and I apologize. We had a family illness that had us spending the last week or so in Battle Creek. Everything is fine I'm happy to say. I'll be back with another post later after I come back from school shopping.

Another Ride

2008-08-29T15:47:00.003-04:00

I have been informed that my cousins are staying through to Sunday. I am downright exhausted. But I need to muster up some more energy from somewhere because my dad is taking Ryan and I out again tomorrow. We were supposed to go today but my dad had to run to Dearborn. I'm cramming all I can into this weekend as school begins next week. To top it off, it starts Wednesday, which also happens to be my birthday. Wow what a present. I received my class schedule in the mail and would you believe I have gym before lunch. I'm sure I'll have plenty of stories to tell.

Late Start

2008-08-25T20:17:00.002-04:00

Just as I planned it, I couldn't get Ryan out of bed this morning. We were going to leave at 8:00, but sleepy head didn't get ready until 9:30. To top it off, Ryan didn't have any bike shorts to wear and I had none that would fit him since he is like 6 inches shorter than me. So on our way to the park, we had to stop at the bike shop on Packard to buy his majesty some shorts. He's sitting here watching me type so I can't say anything insulting. We'll leave it at that. Anyway, we had a really nice day. We rode for about three hours with subtle breaks in between. I felt really good today. It's nice to be able to keep my hands on the drops without the feeling of a hot poker in my shoulder. I was impressed with how well Ryan was riding. I must say he looked good on my old bike. It fits him perfectly. No crashes, no run-ins with motorists, and I only got the "I can't believe what he's wearing look" once from somebody when we stopped to refill our water. Overall a very very productive day. We may go out again later in the week if my dad can take off a day.

Good Competition

2008-08-24T20:49:00.004-04:00

My cousins and I held our first Guitar Hero Tournament last night. For a nine year old, Andy can hold his own against us older (and wiser) guys. I've never seen someone's fingers move that fast. He was blowing us away with GNR's Welcome to the Jungle and also Iron Maiden's The Number of the Beast. Ryan brought his A game with Aerosmith's Same Old Song and Dance. Still nobody can touch me with Journey's Any Way You Want It which I played flawlessly. Andy was crowned the victor in the end.

Tomorrow is supposed to be really nice, so along with my dad (who has the day off), I am taking Ryan out biking. We're leaving really early and I know it's going to be a project getting him out of bed. He's supposedly really getting into cycling so that makes me ecstatic. I want to see him in action. He's been treating my old Cannondale well.

Settling In

2008-08-22T20:55:00.002-04:00

I swear it's like I never left. Everything seems exactly as I left it, aside from my house being a few miles from where it originally was. I spent all of this week either hanging out with friends or with my family. This weekend should be interesting. My cousins Andy and Ryan are coming over tomorrow and staying for ONE WHOLE WEEK! I don't think I'll be able to handle that. These two have an infinite amount of sugar in their system and are constantly on the move. Now I'm the same way, until it's time for my head to hit the pillow. But these two just don't seem to lose energy. I can't complain, they are my blood and also my friends. If anyone sees me at school with gray hair you'll know why. We had plans to go to Michigan's Adventure in Muskegon but those plans fell through unfortunately. For my New York friends, Michigan's Adventure = Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey.

Anxious

2008-08-19T20:10:00.003-04:00

School starts in a couple of weeks and I'm actually looking forward to it. It'll be cool to be back with all of my old friends again. I should be getting my class schedule soon. I just hope gym class is not in the morning like it was for me this past school year. Terrible things tend to happen to me when I play sports before lunch.

Disappointed

2008-08-17T11:41:00.003-04:00

After I went out on my bike yesterday, I realized that I'm very disappointed with how this cycling season turned out. I had the intention that I would gain a lot of experience and participate in quite a few races. Unfortunately that didn't happen. I don't need to revisit the reasons why. I just need to focus on next season and prepare for it.

Missing Stuff

2008-08-14T17:40:00.002-04:00

I am starting to notice that I can't find certain things that I know I packed. This happened last year too. There aren't that many boxes left to unpack and I did a quick look-through to see if I can find my stuff. I'm sure it'll turn up.

Changes

2008-08-11T21:46:00.000-04:00

I just realized that in just a few short weeks I will be turning 15. Not to mention entering my sophomore year at a new school. Neither of the two is a concern to me. I welcome the challenges that both bring.

I also just realized that my profile was aging quite poorly and that I am still making posts with just my first name. They've both been updated.

Time to Paint

2008-08-11T16:26:00.001-04:00

My mom asked me today if I'd like to paint my room. Correction, she asked me if I'd like it a certain color. Since the last debacle involving paint, I have been banned from doing it myself (just like the washing machine incident). It's amazing, to this day I still have to hear about me hitting the ceiling and the window with the paint roller. Needless to say, I do want to change it from its current BRIGHT white. I wake up in the morning and I feel like I'm in a museum it's so bright white. I just might choose blue again.

Up and Running

2008-08-10T12:58:00.002-04:00

My computer is now hooked up to the internet. Blogging from a cell phone is highly inconvenient and downright annoying. Here's what's happened my first week back:

1. While helping my dad move furniture, I cut my leg from a little below the knee down to the middle of my calf. Yeah, some things never change. There was a screw sticking out of a box...you can fill in the rest.

2. I was reunited with Briarwood Mall and of course California Pizza Kitchen. I ran into a kid that was in my math class last year. That was a little awkward because he insisted that he saw me in school this year. Hmmm..I highly doubt that.

3. I introduced the Blue to Michigan pavement. Went out for about an hour and came back.

4. Tonight is a family reunion of sorts. All of my relatives from Battle Creek should be here shortly. This includes my cousins Ryan and Andrew. I need to hide my Guitar Hero from them or thats all they'll do today.

I have so much to blog about I can't fit it all on one post. So I figure I'll break them up during the week.

13?!

2008-08-07T19:07:00.002-04:00

Did I really only have 13 posts for the whole month of July? Man I am slacking. I should be hooked up by Saturday.

Miserable Posting

2008-08-06T21:39:00.002-04:00

I've been having to go on the internet using my dad's phone since Comcast hasn't come yet to hook up the house. It's really inconvenient to post so this will be short. I've got plenty of pictures to post once I'm up and running. I've been out scouting roads preparing for long rides. The house is pretty cool. More to come..later!

Question of the Day

2008-08-04T16:17:00.000-04:00

It hasn't taken long for me to get reacquainted with my hometown. I mostly spent yesterday unpacking, but I did manage to get out. My friends in New York probably won't know the answer but I bet my friends here in Michigan do. Where was the first place I went yesterday?

Final Day

2008-08-02T19:53:00.002-04:00

Today's the last day. Everything is packed up and we're hitting the road tomorrow at 5:30 AM. I'm anxious to see what the new house looks like. I only saw it once and it was a quick drive by. I went riding one last time today with Chris, Dan, and Kyle. We got caught in an unexpected rain shower for about 20 minutes, but we had fun. I guess I'll be seeing everyone on the flips side of Lake Erie tomorrow. Peace!

I'm Still Here

2008-07-30T18:36:00.003-04:00

It's really weird seeing my kitchen without tables and chairs and stuff. My dad and I are sticking around here until the bank and the people buying the house are done doing what their doing. I don't really understand mumbo jumbo bank language, but it has something to do with the buyer's bank not paying my dad's bank. Anyway, I was surprised to find the internet still working today. So I guess it was time to make a post. My dad's been taking me into the city this week to show me all of the jobs he did while we were living here. In case you didn't know, my dad is an engineer and owns his own construction business. It's really interesting to see how a building is actually constructed from the ground up.

I can't forget to post about the recent trades. I can't believe the Yankees picked up Pudge Rodriguez and got rid of a live arm like Kyle Farnsworth. They have a knack for picking up aging veterans. Not to mock Ivan Rodriguez, but the Yankees need starting pitching. Jose Molina was doing a really nice job in place of Jorge Posada. He may not have the bat Jorge has, but the guy can throw out Speedy Gonzalez. I was impressed by the pickup of Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte from the Pirates though. That was a smart move.

Hiatus

2008-07-27T12:09:00.002-04:00

I will be on hiatus from my blog for a few days. Tomorrow we will no longer have internet access as it is being turned off. I will have access to my e-mail though through my dad's phone.

The party yesterday was awesome. We held two tournaments. A water volleyball tournament, in which my team lost miserably. And of course the grand finale guitar hero tournament. Dan just got the Aerosmith one the other day and the song selection is a little shaky but it's cool. I kept messing up Walk This Way. But in the end, I still reign as champion.

Getting Ready

2008-07-23T19:52:00.002-04:00

I'm ready to go. A lot of my stuff has been shipped off to Ann Arbor. My bike fortunately is staying with me till the bitter end. I've been on it everyday except today due to torrential downpours. I have been extremely busy this week so far. I got my grades in the mail and I did extremely well on all my tests. I'm proud of myself considering the situation I was in this year. I've been hanging out with everyone under the sun as well. We held a Guitar Hero tournament at Chris' house yesterday and I took everyone to town. We are holding the final tournament on Saturday at the pool party. It's been just my dad and I for a week now so we've been eating out a lot. I took the above picture tonight on the way home from dinner. I'll have fond memories of this road since I must've paced it a thousand times. A good eye can spot the fairly new cyclist friendly lane over by the shoulder.

End of Week Update

2008-07-20T12:37:00.002-04:00

This was really a great week. It of course started with my dad and I going to the homerun derby and the all-star game. Before anybody asks, we did stay until the AL won it in the bottom of the 15th. We got home at 3AM so Wednesday was mostly spent in bed for me. The pre-game ceremony Tuesday night was a baseball lover's dream come true. To be in close proximity of Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Yogi Berra, etc. was mind boggling. I have so many photos and videos of that night that I need a few days just to sort through them.

Thursday was my final session of physical therapy. I can honestly say I am 100% healed. No pain, no aches, no nothing. I am ready to return to normal activities.

I am almost completely finished packing my bedroom up. The only thing remaining is my computer, my television, and my Playstation 3. My mom has been in Michigan since Monday finalizing whatever it is they have to do with the house we're moving into. I'm a little sad about this. I know I've been really excited about moving back home, but I really am going to miss certain things about New York. My friend Dan is throwing me a goodbye pool party at his house next Saturday. He's taken the liberty of inviting all of my friends and the whole junior varsity baseball team too. That should be cool and sad at the same time.

Lack of Posts

2008-07-18T19:39:00.001-04:00

This has been a long week and I haven't been very attentive to my blog. I have plenty of updating to address and I'll do that either tonight or tomorrow.

Two Down, One To Go

2008-07-15T11:11:00.002-04:00

I had a lot of fun last night at the home run derby. The display Josh Hamilton of the Rangers put on was unforgettable. I don't think anyone expected him to continuously blast 500 foot homers. He hit the wall behind the bleachers which I don't think anyone's hit before. Tonight's All Star game is said to be a highlight of Yankee Stadium and not about the players. It's a shame this place is going, it really is special.

Leaving My Mark

2008-07-14T10:29:00.006-04:00

I wasn't feeling 100% in the car on the way to Yankee Stadium yesterday. I felt like something was coming like a cold or a virus of some kind. Whatever it was came at full force in the bottom of the 3rd inning during the Future's Game. I seriously felt like I was going to collapse. I don't know how but I managed to make my way to the bathroom just before I lost control of my breakfast and lunch. Yeah that's right I threw up. Oddly enough, I felt fine for the rest of the day after that moment. Maybe I was just sick of watching Team USA lose to Team World. I did manage to snap some photos off yesterday. The celebrity softball game was fun to watch. There were a lot of Yankees like Paul O'Neill and Tino Martinez playing in it. Tonight's the home run derby, I can't wait for that.

Surprise Revealed!

2008-07-12T16:09:00.004-04:00

I am now a true believer in the saying "the impossible is possible." On the way to the All Star Fanfest at the Javits Center this morning, my dad handed me a FedEx package addressed to me and said "surprise!". OK, I'm thinking to myself, what the heck can this be? He's made such a big stink about it for a month now. As I ripped it open, I was shocked to find the above contents. Just imagine the look on my face.

I've Been Tagged

2008-07-10T21:20:00.003-04:00

It's time for me to divulge information about myself that not many people may know. For those not familiar with it, when you're tagged you have to share six things about yourself that are not common knowledge. It's very popular on YouTube, but in this instance I've been tagged by James Anderson on his blog. So here it goes:

1. I have three nicknames: dganger, doppleganger, and yes Mr. Under Armour. The nickname doppleganger was coined by my uncle Mike when I was 10. He thinks I have a split personality because I can be very competitive when playing sports as I appear to be two different people.

2. I grew up in northern Ann Arbor and moved to Long Island last July. I am returning to Ann Arbor permanently within the next month. Watch out all you Michigan motorists!

3. I play three instruments: piano, guitar, and the trumpet (only in school).

4. I am ambidextrous. (comes in handy when playing baseball and the piano)

5. I have a strong love for Italian food. I have been known to eat pasta at 8 am.

6. I have been banned from using the washer and dryer. LOL!

I have to keep the chain going, so it's my turn to tag people. Here are my picks:

Danny Williams
Jason Silverman
Chris Murphy
Ryan Manfre
Kyle Gallagher
Jen Fowler

Utter Stupidity

2008-07-08T20:17:00.004-04:00

I'm at it again doing absolutely moronic things. This time it involves laundry. Being home during the day now, I was told I have no excuse to not take care of some of my own affairs (laundry). So, I did what I was supposed to do with the washing machine, but I "misused" the dryer. I didn't realize the dryer was set to "ultra hot" and let my colors stay in there for over an hour. Needless to say some of my nicer shirts shrunk and I don't know if it's possible, but it appears two pairs of cycling shorts shrunk too. I think the word is spazz.

Busy Weekend

2008-07-06T21:42:00.000-04:00

I haven't been on my computer much this weekend. We went to a huge party on Friday night. There had to be at least 75 people there. It was pretty cool, there were plenty of kids there my age. We had a nice game of water volleyball going in the pool. I felt like a salesman asking all of these kids if they like cycling. I need to stop doing that. After eating we were treated to a nice fireworks display and then we went back and ate some more.

Today we went to another party. This was a birthday party for a cousin on my mom's side of the family. Out of 6 kids there, I was the oldest. Their ages ranged from 5 to 11. I am exhausted from having all of them jumping on me. One of them kept calling me Greff. I found myself correcting this boy over and over and then I just gave up since I don't really sim him that much.

Oh by the way. I don't know if this is part of the big surprise or not, but I saw tickets on my kitchen table to the MLB All-Star fanfest that is being held in NYC the end of this coming week. That should be pretty cool since I hear there will be a lot of hall of famers there signing autographs. I'd really like to go the home run derby and the all-star game but those are impossible tickets to get. We're approaching mid-July so this surprise has to be coming soon.

Happy 4th of July!!

2008-07-04T10:36:00.001-04:00

Updates

2008-07-03T16:17:00.002-04:00

I haven't posted to my blog in a few days. There's nothing really for me to write about. I'm still patiently waiting for my grades to come in the mail. That's a good sign that they haven't come yet. It probably means that I passed all of my exams.

I went to the beach yesterday with a few friends from school and got really burnt. I look like a lobster. Being of Irish descent it doesn't take much to burn my skin.

I'm almost done with my physical therapy. I only go twice a week now and have built back a lot of strength in my arm.

I'm Back

2008-06-30T22:17:00.002-04:00

I didn't realize how horrible my posts looked until I saw them now. That trip was actually quite boring. I basically followed my mom around town while my dad was doing his work thing. I now have to spend the next few weeks getting all my stuff together. I should be back permanently sometime in mid-July. I originally had an exact date but I think that fell by the wayside.

Sitting on the plane ride home, I diligently tried to extract info from my dad regarding this surprise in the middle of July. I hounded him so much about it he actually tuned me out with my own i-pod. I guess that means he's not budging.

hanging around

2008-06-29T16:13:00.002-04:00

blogger doesnt let you do much with a cell phone but it does at least enable me to post to it. my mom and I are just hanging around. we went to the briarwood and then visited our old neighbors. my dad's still in lansing. tomorrow i'll just be hanging around doing nothing which stinks. none of my old friends are around this weekend except for anthony. I hung out with him last night.

posting from phone

2008-06-27T20:18:00.002-04:00

i'm postting from my dad's phone. i'm sitting in the plane waiting to takeoff. the flight is delayed. i'm bored.

Correction

2008-06-25T19:26:00.001-04:00

I posted false info below. I will be back Friday not tomorrow. I thought tomorrow was Friday. And we wil not be accompanying my dad to Lansing. My mom and I will be staying in Ann Arbor.

Pleasant Surprise

2008-06-25T13:18:00.000-04:00

I'll be in Michigan starting tomorrow night through Monday morning. My dad has to inspect a job site somewhere in Lansing so my mom and I are coming along. I'd really like to bring my bike with me but that's not gonna happen. I checked the forecast for this weekend and it looks like it might rain the whole time I'm there. Go figure.