Finding Self-worth, Moving Forward
The aforementioned relationship with Allison slowly deteriorated over the course of a little less than a year. Shortly after the last post, we made the decision to move in together (me, in secret hopes of abating her stress and frustrations associated with dating but not living close). However, as everyone ALWAYS tells you, moving in together to solve a problem NEVER solves a problem. You are supposed to move in together for the adventure, the fun, the practicality and the companionship - and I'm afraid those were not the motivations. I could go on for a long time here, saying things that may sound cruel or place a great deal of blame. Call me or find me in person - we'll talk. But in short, and in honesty, Allison was simply a very unhappy person that I could not make happy. Her unhappiness, stress and our general difference in beliefs about how the world works led us to fight often (which I had never truly fought with a partner before) and grow farther and farther apart.
Eventually, I had the understanding and realization that I had been "settling" for Allison, thinking she may be the best I could do, and adult relationships were normalized by arguing and compromise after compromise. But, and more importantly, I realized that I was still young, there was a great deal of life left to live, and I did not have to settle for all of this stress, arguing, frustration, and disappointment. I was resolved to pull myself up by my boot-straps and find the confidence to end what I knew had become something unhealthy for both of us - after 14 months.
The tricky part was timing - I was resolved to end it as of Thanksgiving shortly after she was let-go from her waitressing job; however, Christmas was on the horizon, her birthday was right after that, and then New Years. Her previous boyfriend had broken up with her right before all three. Her entire family only gets together for these two holidays; and as of Thanksgiving, her family thought everything was fine in our relationship. I felt a pang of guilt for breaking up with her the same time her last boyfriend did, giving her a complex about the three holidays and relationship timing; and, would hate to have her face her family one month later and explain everything, instead of having a year for them to find out through the grapevine and ease into it. Therefore, (and I expect a great deal of judgments from everyone), I resolved to postpone the break-up until the 1st of the year. The month was terrible, living a lie, but there was no intimacy, no dates - just sharing an apartment together - it was a gloomy month, and I'm rather sure she knew what was coming.
On January 1, I sat down with her in our living room with a physical list in my backpocket prepared to fire off all the reasons I had had enough. But in the end, all I needed to say was "I've fallen out of love with you," and that was all she needed to hear. The smoothest break-up I've ever had. Five minutes in and five minutes later we were playing Paper Boy on NES, resolved to maintain the friendship. In actuality, the friendship would vanish within a month - with little to no explanation as to why it wasn't maintained and we had moved out. Time to move on, for both of us, I guess. But, in the end, I felt relieved and optimistic - I had found the self-worth to tell myself that I was better than this, to stand up, to speak out against what I had been lamenting to friends about for months, and give myself a fighting chance at a happier, brighter future. This was step one.
Celebrating the Finer Things in Life
On January 7, my mother celebrated her 60th birthday. As tradition, dad marks mom's big birthdays with something memorable, fun and amazing. This year, he sprung for my mother, himself, my brother and me a week in the Bahamas at a resort on Great Exuma Island.
Mom was having knee replacement surgery just a week after this vacation; and, after the unexpected death of her father [See: Sweet Route], she had not had any kind of vacation for a year.
The resort was tranquil and calm in the off-season, and we enjoyed our own little bungalow with the best event-planner 
I've ever experienced at a resort. The weather was slightly cool, but it was wonderful to see my mother relax, smile and laugh heartily - I haven't seen that in a long time. Our wonderful family getaway included:
I've ever experienced at a resort. The weather was slightly cool, but it was wonderful to see my mother relax, smile and laugh heartily - I haven't seen that in a long time. Our wonderful family getaway included:- A mangrove kayaking tour where we saw stingrays and had a beautiful lunch set-up on a private beach
- An adventure to the north tip of the island to the traditional boat-building yards
- A day-long boat trip that included seeing wild hogs that swim, an island covered in Iguanas, me getting to swim into the hidden grotto where a scene from James Bond's "Thunderball" was filmed, getting to walk on a sand bar where Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed, tours of the islands that belong to Nicolas Cage (actually went on it), Best Buy founder, Oprah, Bill Gates and Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.
- The best Bahama Mama I've ever had.
- A daylong fishing trip with my father, where we caught
about 18 coral reef fish, brought them back to the resort's chef, and we had the most amazing fish dinner I've ever eaten in my life! - Heck, I even caught a bird with my bare hands!
I love the Caribbean and have hundreds of wonderful memories of the area: but what was most important was seeing my mother happy again. She is recovering from her loss, and I think we as a family are too. That's what's important. That's what keeps family together.
To the Center of the Earth!
This is just a short bit of fun, but I finally got to go caving again. I loved caving in high school, and got to go a few times in college with the Outdoor Adventure Club. So the Grotto, which is the local Cincinnati caving club, has a member who's staff at the museum, and offered to take us all on a trip. About ten of us went down to the Great Saltpeter Cave, and then we did a really good cave: variable levels, wet and muddy, fun formations. It was an awesome challenge - and I actually slipped and really hurt my left elbow bracing my weight - a good crack and everything. A $90 check-up later and luckily it was just a shocked tendon - a little massaging and rest was all it needed. But definitely a great trip - first time I've ever seen a massive ice formation in a cave!
In July of 2007, I did something that was incredibly painful - outside of the loss of my grandfather and the challenge of the marathon, I endured the hardest thing I've ever had to. I ended the relationship with the love of my life.
Melissa and I had met in 2005 when I transferred to the University of Illinois and we both joined the sailing club. Our relationship quickly ignited, and we had our first kiss after a nervous, three-hour walk around campus at 4 a.m. in November. Friends of ours have labeled us "the super duo" and "the dynasty." It was the most incredible relationship I've ever had - adventurous, fun, calming, insightful - we were best friends and partners - people loved to be around us, and we were boundless social hosts and travelers. Frankly, as I learned this Christmas, she's the only girlfriend my mother's ever approved of! She was always incredibly supportive of me, and I her, and it was the stuff dreams are made of, kid.
As I was finishing my internship in the woods of Elton, WI in the summer of 2007, I was coming to a scary realization - Melissa and I would soon be maintaining a long-distance relationship for four years. She was headed directly to graduate school in Chicago, a two year program; and I was headed to Cincinnati for work, with a two-year plan to return to schooling. At the switch, she would enter the working world, most likely in Chicago, and I had no real desire to go to school in Chicago. Hence, at least four years of long distance, thinking I'd be in a two-year grad program.
The long-distance, committed relationship before Melissa had been rife with infidelity from the other party, and lying to me about it. The one before her; well, there was never an admittance, but the evidence was overflowing for her being in the comfort of other men. To say the least, I had developed a complex about long-distance relationships.
My fear of a long-distance relationship, and the perils that lay within, got the better of my hopeless romanticism; and in July of 2007 I went to Chicago and ended the relationship, my heart breaking inside. I will never forget how her utter beauty had transformed to a reddened, crying face - it was gut-wrenching. I was still madly in love with the girl, but was just too afraid of utter disaster in the four years that would follow. I thought, maybe, that ending it then in an attempt to salvage some sort of relationship/friendship would serve us both better than the slow deterioration of our connection over four years of frustration.
I've questioned that decision every single day for the last two and a half years.
For six months Melissa and I barely talked - the pain was too great. I put on a facade of determination and certainty - although deep down I was racked with concern that I had made the wrong decision, and frustration at my own fear about what our future could've been. I buried deep down my feelings for Melissa - telling myself it just wasn't possible at the time. Too long in the future I would admit to myself that I never fell out of love.
We saw each other every few months at alumni get-togethers; and there was always a tension, not a negative tension, but just an electricity in the air. Almost as if we both knew what was supposed to be right (as did all of our friends), but both felt prevented to making it happen.
A massive turning point came during the death of my grandfather. At that horrible pain and loss, in my darkest of hours, the only person I could think of for comfort outside of my family was Melissa. It was not hard for the thought to come - it came naturally, that I just wanted her there - not necessarily her words of wisdom or hug of comfort - but just her presence had always been so calming, and I sought that again. I was surprised that she had come to mind, but enlightened in the wake.
That was a flag to me - nearly a year and a half after the break-up, I admitted to myself that I still had very strong feelings for Melissa. But, as mentioned in the previous chapter, I felt trapped in my current relationship; settling, and thought the Melissa chapter of my life was over. As my determination to end the relationship I was so unhappy in neared, a new thought entered my head:
Melissa had to know I was still in love with her.
I had no idea where Melissa stood - none of our mutual friends reported back to me about her relationship status, and I had no idea if she felt anything towards me except resentment from what had happened two years ago. But my resolve was final: Melissa had to know that I was still in love with her, that I had never truly fallen out of love with her.
But I didn't want to tell her to win her back. I had a calming resolution: that everyone on this planet deserves to be loved. If I had to answer the question "why are we here," that would be my answer: to love and be loved. It's the most wonderful experience. So despite whatever Melissa's feelings may be, I felt she needed to know that I loved her, very deeply still, and that was that. There was no hope or goal - she simply needed to know that she was the love of my life and I would always love her.
I coordinated with Melissa that we needed to talk; nothing bad or too serious, but I just had some important things I wanted to say in person. And on the third Friday of January, I drove to Chicago, IL, my heart racing with anticipation and a well-rehearsed speech running through my head. I may have also been wearing a suit - but I'll always claim it's because I left right from work.
She nestled down in the corner of her couch, wrapped in a red blanket, defensively awaiting what I had to say. And the words, thankfully, came smoothly and honestly. It was such a refreshing experience, finally telling her the honest truth about my feelings for her, but that there were no strings attached. Just honest, raw love and nothing more, nothing less.
Tears came to her eyes. When I finished, we embraced, and as she told me about her heart, tears came to mine as well. She was still in love too, always had been and 
always would be. We resolved that the distance had been horrible, and that we were meant to be. Being as it may, we were either giving it all or nothing - we were either reunited as the most incredible team on the planet, or nothing would happen at all.
always would be. We resolved that the distance had been horrible, and that we were meant to be. Being as it may, we were either giving it all or nothing - we were either reunited as the most incredible team on the planet, or nothing would happen at all. I have reunited with my soul-mate, the love of my life, my best friend, my fellow adventurer, the kindest, sweetest, most thoughtful, insightful, daring, funny, intelligent and interesting person I know. As my best dude put it, "the dynasty has been rebuilt."
Our friends are elated, my parents couldn't be happier, and my heart is whole once more. And the future; well, the future has yet to be written, but there's plenty of ink :).
Going for Gold
With my beautiful relationship rekindled with Melissa, I was invited along on a trip she'd been planning for months: the 2010 Winter Olympic Games [yes, I just typed that].
We flew into Portland in February, and met up with our incredible college friend Cat, horse-rider, sailboat master, and lab-tech extraordinairre. Cat had actually provided consul to both Melissa and me after our break-up, but refused to share cross-information (probably the best move). So it was great to have us all back again. Her "new" boyfriend, Scot, joined us - who is a mountain man to the "T" - and is one of the fastest long-distance runners I've ever met. Smart guy - good company. We rented a car and road-tripped to Seattle, WA, where we toured around Pike's Place Market, and then completed the jaunt up to Vancouver, British Columbia.
In B.C., Melissa had a grad school friend who was living on the outskirts of the city with her boyfriend Bryson, a Canadian I quickly formed a bromance with. Totally cool dude and down to Earth. So we had free lodging for a few days, and the fun began. Night one included my first true Chinese buffet - which changed my life, as I ate an entire fish head, eyes and cheeks
.
.Day one caught us touring around downtown Vancouver taking in all the sights and sounds the magnificent city had to offer. I fell in love with this city and the experience - it was clean, beautiful weather, and hearing eight different languages within the throngs of people every five minutes was exhilarating. People were friendly, outgoing and just downright pleasant. We saw First Nations (Canada's Native Americans) performances, held one of the Olympic torches, saw THE torch, tasted the delicious phenomenon known as JapaDog and even met Al Roker!
In the evening, those who had been included on the trip for a while 
had tickets for Latvia vs. the Chech Republic for hockey that evening. Ross, the track coach for University of British Columbia hosting Cat and Scot, and I did not have tickets; so, we got a great street-side table at a pub in downtown. Round after round of drinks we watched the games on television and got to know each other; and due to the massive size of our table, we welcomed group after group of travelers to join us, share a pint, and talk about the games. Canadians and Australians alike, we met some great people and had an awesome time killing time in downtown 
Vancouver. When our party joined us after the hockey game, we were three sheets to the wind - ventured off to a club and danced the night away.
had tickets for Latvia vs. the Chech Republic for hockey that evening. Ross, the track coach for University of British Columbia hosting Cat and Scot, and I did not have tickets; so, we got a great street-side table at a pub in downtown. Round after round of drinks we watched the games on television and got to know each other; and due to the massive size of our table, we welcomed group after group of travelers to join us, share a pint, and talk about the games. Canadians and Australians alike, we met some great people and had an awesome time killing time in downtown 
Vancouver. When our party joined us after the hockey game, we were three sheets to the wind - ventured off to a club and danced the night away.At 5:00 a.m. we caught the bus to Whistler. This was officially the best skiing of my life. Two massive mountains, a gorgeous, cloudless day, and runs that could take 45 minutes to get to the bottom. Everyone snowboarding except me, we raced across beautiful and incredible trails with barely any traffic, rode the 
gondola between mountains and just experienced the most incredible day of skiing. The day finished with a warm seat in the lodge, listening to live reggae music and eating the largest plate of nachos any of us had ever seen.
gondola between mountains and just experienced the most incredible day of skiing. The day finished with a warm seat in the lodge, listening to live reggae music and eating the largest plate of nachos any of us had ever seen.The following morning, Becca, Bryson , Melissa and I went to Dim Sum in China Town, which was incredible. Becca is fluent in Cantonese, and ordered us the most amazing brunch items - insane amounts of food with 
complex, sweet and salty tastes. I wanted to try some authentic meals, so Becca ordered us steamed tripe (intestinal lining of cows). THAT I did not like, as I described it as a texture of warm, wet Velcro. But then I said hit us with something real - so she ordered something I did not understand, and then it came.
complex, sweet and salty tastes. I wanted to try some authentic meals, so Becca ordered us steamed tripe (intestinal lining of cows). THAT I did not like, as I described it as a texture of warm, wet Velcro. But then I said hit us with something real - so she ordered something I did not understand, and then it came.The process of eating chicken feet is a little gross, to say the least. They're boiled, I think, so they're soft. But you pick a foot up in your chopsticks and tear off one of three toes. You then work the toe around in your mouth, sucking the entire time, to loosen the meat from the bone (like trying to get the cheese out of the middle of a Combo). As you succeed, you spit the knuckles back out onto your plate one at a time, until it's all clean, finishing with the palm.
[Return after you finish vomitting]
The process is horrifying; but actually, they were really delicious - just tasted like orange chicken. I'm not going to lie - I had two! I'll skip the details of the allergy scare but I will tell you this - I fully support Universal Healthcare. As a Canadian citizen, you pay ZERO DOLLARS for an emergency room visit; however, as an American in Canada, you pay $780. Do the math.
After some finagling of logistics, we convinced half of our parade to stay an extra day in Vancouver to watch the first U.S./Canada hockey face off. It's Canada, and it's hockey - how could you miss that!? If you watched the game, you know it was amazing - our goalie is a brick wall! Such a close and well-fought game; and being that we were in the basement of a Mexican bar surrounded by Canadians and Indians, we truly felt the global aspect of the Olympics. We had wanted to stay for the game because we really thought Canada would beat the U.S.A.; but alas, as we walked home and sang "America the Beautiful," a sad gloom hung over the entire city. We visited the torch one last time, and we were out of town the next day.
I can now officially say I've been to the Olympics, and it was worth every minute. Beautiful scenery, wonderful people, so much to do and a healthy city - Vancouver might just be one of my new favorite cities.
Call Me a Hoosier
As I said earlier, I was on a two-year employment plan. I wanted to work for two years, then go back to school. After much debate, and really unable to settle on a very specific career-path, I decided on business school - it's a versatile field with an incredible educational potential. With an MBA, I could be flexible and really pursue anything, with a sweet tool-belt full of knowledge (like Batman, in business). Business school it was.
In October of 2008, I began studying for my GRE backstage while I was Harry in "It's a Wonderful Life" at the Covedale Center for Performing Arts. I know you don't have to take it for business school, but I wanted a warm-up. I think most of the cast thought I was stand-offish: not much of a chatterbox when I was studying - and theater folk love to chat. It's ok, I came back for "Peter Pan" later when I wasn't studying.
The GRE went well in January of 2009, and I began studying the schools. I began by region: my primary interest was the East coast, but would settle for Midwest since I like the people. There are great schools in all of these regions. I had an interest in entrepreneurship and marketing - class sizes had to be small to moderate, I wanted a focus on leadership and teamwork, and I wanted a lively and active community around the campus. I wanted a constructive, competitive team-work environment: where I totally want to beat you in something; but if I do, I'm going to teach you how I did it so you're better next time. I wanted to be challenged by my classmates, and challenge them in return. Lastly, I wanted to get into the best school possible.
My list started at 27, whittled down to 12, and eventually six. Then began the arduous process of managing all the applications - expensing application fees, thinking about essays, writing essays, filling out all the repetitive CV information. So much data entry! But I got them all done, the applications were out. Now that my lines were in the water, I simply had to wait.
A mixture of yes's and no's started trickling in; and in the end, my decision came down to two schools.
In March, I sent in my deposit and secured my position. I am now officially a member of the Kelley School of Business class of 2012 at Indiana University, looking to join the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation there this fall. The school is one of the top 25 business schools in the country, and the Entrepreneurship Program (my intended focus) is #1. I'll be moving to Bloomington this fall, and starting a brand new, intense, chapter in my life. I couldn't be more excited or more honored: it's an incredible program that will outfit me with amazing tools and a network of outstanding people. When I had my interview last fall, I just felt at home and so welcome. I felt comfortable on the campus, loved the people I met, greatly enjoyed the program - I am confident I will be successful there and will make a lasting contribution. Oh the Places You'll Go. It's a big move, carefully calculated over a two-year chess match; and now that I've pounced, the gears are turning to continue to elevate my life to a higher plane.
Body Come Back
In the Flying Pig Marathon, I suffered severe IT Band Friction Syndrome, and endured three months of physical therapy in the summer of 2008 to fix it, never making a full recovery. In the fall of 2008 I joined an indoor soccer league; and after making an amazing save as goalie by leaping straight up into the air, I landed directly on the side of my foot and sprained my ankle. After one month of physical therapy, I was reunited on Thanksgiving with the guys of my highschool graduating class for our annual "Boyzzzz Football Game" back at school; and trying to cover a sprinter way quicker than me, I rolled my ankle again and was carried off the field. Two months of physical therapy.
Since the beginning of 2009, my physical activity - once an intense soccer player and marat
hon trainer - had all but stopped. I put on more than 30 pounds, couldn't run more than a mile without pain, and did not watch what I ate. I was fat. I was sassy. I was feeling fat and sassy.
hon trainer - had all but stopped. I put on more than 30 pounds, couldn't run more than a mile without pain, and did not watch what I ate. I was fat. I was sassy. I was feeling fat and sassy. But after the first of the year, it was time for a resolution - to get control of my body again. The first step? Set two goals: complete the Flying Pig Half Marathon; and complete my first triathlon, the Fighting Illini Sprint Triathlon. I now had a horizon: how would I sail there?
First it was about a healthy lifestyle. I developed a healthy-lifestyle plan with two friends in Chicago also preparing for the triathlon. We basically all shared "pots" of weekly allowances of 
bad things to put in our bodies, such as coffee, alcohol, fried food, etc and recorded it on all a Google shared document. So for example, collectively, we could only drink six cups of coffee a week. We also had to achieve a team-number of cardio minutes, as well as a group goal of 30 pounds of weight loss. We had 16 weeks to complete this. I made a point of conscious eating, eating healthy, cooking a lot, eating smaller meals, stopping when I was full and not eating too late at night before my metabolism slowed down.
bad things to put in our bodies, such as coffee, alcohol, fried food, etc and recorded it on all a Google shared document. So for example, collectively, we could only drink six cups of coffee a week. We also had to achieve a team-number of cardio minutes, as well as a group goal of 30 pounds of weight loss. We had 16 weeks to complete this. I made a point of conscious eating, eating healthy, cooking a lot, eating smaller meals, stopping when I was full and not eating too late at night before my metabolism slowed down.I then designed a work-out plan for myself (taking gym class in college CAN actually make you smart at something). Three days a week of muscle strengthening. Instead of focusing on balanced daily exercises like in the past, I tried muscle-groupings: arms on Mondays, chest and back on Wednesdays and legs on Fridays. I had a lot of sculpting to do around my mid-section, so I added in core 
every day. Lastly, I needed to pad my legs with muscle around my knees to avoid a resurfacing of IT Band Friction Syndrome, so I worked in knee exercises each day too. I did circuit training, so my heart-rate was always up and continuously burning fat, as well as spacing out muscle exercises to rest one group while working another group, e.g.: biceps, triceps, abs, biceps, triceps, abs, etc.
every day. Lastly, I needed to pad my legs with muscle around my knees to avoid a resurfacing of IT Band Friction Syndrome, so I worked in knee exercises each day too. I did circuit training, so my heart-rate was always up and continuously burning fat, as well as spacing out muscle exercises to rest one group while working another group, e.g.: biceps, triceps, abs, biceps, triceps, abs, etc.For cardio, I went five days a week, spacing out the various challenges of the triathlon, always trying to increase my speed, distance or resistance each week. I offered to be a trainer for the museums's Flying Pig team again, so I had a commitment for a long run every Thursday to train for the half marathon. So each week I had a solid combination of 
indoor running, outdoor running, elliptical, swimming, spinning and biking. I also opted, in everyday life, to park farther away, avoid elevators and walk a little more briskly.
indoor running, outdoor running, elliptical, swimming, spinning and biking. I also opted, in everyday life, to park farther away, avoid elevators and walk a little more briskly.I have officially lost 24 pounds of fat. My strength has increased in every exercise I do, my pace has increased from a near-11 minute mile back to an 8:30 mile, I can swim the 300 meters in under six minutes (never having been a swimmer), and all my pants and belts fit again. I'm no longer nervous to take off my shirt and I feel great. I have more energy, am more positive and happier. I finished the triathlon in 1:17, am confident I can finish the half marathon, and maybe even be a competitor. My healthy body is back - and I couldn't be more proud. It takes hard work, but every drop of sweat is worth it.
MyMuseum Center in a Minute
So a little over a year ago, I got a zany idea. I was at a PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) luncheon, listening to a speaker. The story that captivated me the most was the story of "Will it Blend?" LONG story short, the CEO of a blender company got the wacky idea of making YouTube videos of their blenders pulverizing the latest must-have gadgets. The videos were wildly successful and company profits rose 500%.
Afterwards I was inspired, and really wanted to make my own video series about the museum. After fooling around with iMovie on our ancient eMac, and taking out a permanent loan on the museum's hand-held digital camera, I got to work. Thus, MyMuseum Center in a Minute was born.
Pretty simple concept: weekly, 60-second videos about stuff going on at the museum. Took me a while to get the format right though: silly or academic, lots of sound effects or none, music or not, camera on tripod or in someone else's hands? The most important thing that I upheld, even had to fight back on, was that each episode had to be about something EVERYONE could enjoy, you had to be able to learn something, and that it was not allowed to ever become just a commercial for a one-time, revenue generating event (that one I really had to fight back on, as the upper-deck people often-times wanted to turn my Bill Nye-esque series into revenue-generating pocket lining when TV ads for events were too expensive. "NO," I say, "NO!").
Despite my battles and conversely REALLY enjoying making the series, I produced 55 episodes all on the museum's YouTube Channel: created the idea, built the channel, chose the topics, wrote the scripts, starred in it, filmed it, edited it, produced it and marketed it. A lot of work, and I'm very proud of my lot of work.
At any rate, the museum submitted eight things to the Ohio Museums Association (OMA) competition for marketing stuff - a bunch of pamphlets and brochures and my YouTube series. After much calculating, my series won the award for Visual Communications! It's the largest recognition my work has ever received, since the OMA encompasses more than 1,500 different museums, zoos, aquariums, parks, art galleries and more in Ohio. I'm going to get a nice little certificate, frame it and put it on my wall. With this being my last week at the museum, it's kind of nice going out with a bang and a big reward for my hard work! MyMuseum Center in a Minute will always be my baby.
Sail Fast, Sail Hard
This spring my father invited me along to Charleston Race Week. Looking at my days off, and smiling at the high number, I couldn't say "no."
My father's ex-coworker, Randy, bought a beautiful Alerion-38 and named her Bliss. Deep blue hull with a mix of white and khaki deck and cockpit, and a very nice cabin - she's gorgeous. She's stationed out of Hilton Head, SC, and is typically used for day cruises. She's raced in the Race
Week before and placed 2nd last year, but Randy was back for blood.
Week before and placed 2nd last year, but Randy was back for blood.I flew in Thursday night during an insane rain storm, but bounded awake Friday morning at 6:30 a.m. to get started. I'll spare you all the finite details, but here's what you need to know:
The sailors were all staying in one beautiful resort right on the water of the Charleston Harbor
- 191 boats were competing in a 3-day regatta
- 10 boats in our class, PHRF G
- Friday and Saturday saw winds up to 18 knots with waves swells of six feet
The boat only required Randy, my dad and me to operate - since trimming was completely controlled by the push of a button.
- On day one of offshore racing, we managed to have a third, second and a first, taking first place for the day.
- On day two we hacked out a fourth and two firsts, accompanied by
Randy's daughter and a family friend = second for the day. - and on day three, with lighter winds (Bliss's favorite) we took a photo-finish second and a crushing first place = first for the day.
Overall, we won our class! So I finally got to sail again, off the beautiful shores of Charleston, SC, with my father, the man who first introduced me to sailing (and who I always love to sail with). And we won. A wonderful host, an exciting victory, and plenty of sunburn to keep the memory going for a couple weeks.
Summer Lovin'
So before I dive into the crazy, intense life of an MBA student, I'm taking the summer for some adventure. For May, I'm moving in with Melissa in Chicago. While she's at work, I'm spending the month reuniting with high school and college friends, learning the city by bike and visiting every museum in the city with my reciprocal museum membership. In June I'll be spending three weeks at the Tennessee Lakehouse, hiking, fishing, boating, writing, relaxing and doing maintenance on
the house. I'll be hosting friends in those three weeks as well, sharing the awesome of the area. For one week I'm going to volunteer and set-up the Festival of the Bluegrass, a totally incredible music festival in Lexington, KY I went to last summer - a friend's family runs the thing! A whole week of celebrating in the country with friends as we assemble one of the region's largest music festivals? Awesome. In July, Melissa and I will be roadtripping all the way to Route 1 in California, and driving up the coast (of which neither of us have done), stopping in San Diego, San Francisco a
nd LA to visit friends, use our free tickets to visit Disneyland, stop in wine country and see the Redwood Forest.Following the roadtrip, we'll be doing a week of backpacking in Montana with friends from college and then it's off to a wedding (not ours ;)).
In August, I'll take one week to join an ex-fellow cast member of mine aboard a cruise-ship named Princess where he's currently a performer, with the extreme discount of knowing someone on board. We're headed from New York to the Caribbean (I know, tough tough life).
I'll then have one week to move to Bloomington to start my graduate program. It's going to be a great, great summer though! Wooded lakes, windy cities, Pacific coasts and Caribbean sunsets. Yup. I said it.
Perks
Just to throw it in there, I've seen Cage the Elephant, AC/DC and Ben Folds live this year. I also got contacts, finally. Later glasses! Whew!
Summary
So that is my amazing year, and I'm only four months in! Here's why I think it means the most to me: I feel in utter control of my own life. And not only am I in control, but I am moving everything up, everything forward, everything to new heights and new potential. My life is improving, and it was already pretty darn good to start with, but I am causing this upheaval - I am causing massive amounts of good in my own life. I've basked in the sun of the Caribbean, won a nationally-recognized sailing race, reunited with the love of my life, returned my body to it's peak condition, gotten into one of the best business schools in the country, won a statewide award, been to the Olympics, skied down one of the best resorts in the western hemisphere.......and I'm JUST getting started. My life is back in every single way, it is mine. And I can say with full confidence and brimming smile - the future is looking very, very bright.
