Creatine

On Tuesday, I went to Walmart. I was just shopping with my dad, but I remembered that I was running low on my protein mix, so we went to the pharmacy section. Beside the protein mix was creatine. It was in a tub very similar to the protein that I have. My dad told me that he thought it was proven bad for you, but there it was on the shelf, so it must pass certain standards somewhere.

I bought it. It was fruit punch flavored, so I decided to mix it with water, not milk. I started drinking it on my way to school, so that I would have extra energy during my workout. It tasted like bubblegum, not fruit punch. Maybe I didn't use enough of it for the amount of water I put in. I drank it all, and then went to the weight room.

I started with hang cleans. This is where I have weight about equal to my own weight on a bar, and I hold the bar while standing. I then bend down a little, and then push up with my legs, and then my arms, and catch the bar at my chest. I decided to put on a little more weight than normal, but not too much that I wouldn't be able to lift it. I then bent a little, and pulled up as hard as I could. It moved, but not nearly far enough. I regained my poise, and tried again. I couldn't get it close to high enough.

I decided that I just had to warm up. After all, I don't usually start with that much weight. I took off 50 lbs (It had been 185, and I weight 150). I knew that I could easily do this amount. I had once lifted 135 for 12 reps. I got ready, and lifted. The only problem was that the bar wouldn't go high enough for me to catch it. I decided that today wasn't my day, and quit. I then did hand curls on the machine that has been used only rarely as a joke.

I wondered why I couldn't lift that day. Maybe I slept funny, or I had worked too much the previous day. It took my possibly 10 minutes to figure remember that I had drank creatine that morning. I found the culprit.

But Since, I have though differently. The next day, I tried again and failed to do hang cleans. Bench press, on the other hand, was perfectly easy. I also noticed while attempting hang cleans that my back hurt a little. It wasn't very painful, but it definitely hurt the amount of weight I could pull up. I figured that my back was the problem, so the creatine must be fine.

Tomorrow, I will drink creatine, and then a protein shake afterward. Hopefully it helps.

1984

My dad bought 1984 in 1983, to read the future. He figured that it was a good idea, as did most other people, he says. Unfortunately, it isn't that kind of book. I've been reading it for the past few weeks before going to bed. It is a great book so far, and I can't wait to go read some more.

I was talking to my dad about it today, and he said that parts of it seemed very realistic to him. He remembers people talking about how the world had enough nuclear bombs to blow up the world a thousand times over. This was the case in 1984, also.

1984 also brings up new ways of thinking that I have never thought about. One example is that the middle class and high class are always fighting to be the high class, and always switch positions, and always leave the lower class where they are. The way it is explained makes sense, and seems to be correct. I'm not sure yet whether it is true, but it is certainly and idea.

Today I was reading at school in the time in between jazz bands (I was working the microphone volumes), when my band teacher said that I was relieved of my duties. He then asked how Winston was doing. I told him that he was doing just fine. It is fun to read books that other people know and have read. I'm not used to this, but I think I might try to start doing that. It allows me to be able to talk about the books and make references.

This book also makes me think about my life. The restrictive government shown in the book is similar in many ways, it seems, to the rules of society. Many rules and regulations in the book seem to be also implied or said in my life. Of course, the book shows a much more dramatic and dangerous atmosphere, but the concept is the same.

I think I will give this book to a friend of mine, who is grounded very severely. This will let me be able to talk to someone about it, and also help my friend pass time. I think that the ideas of breaking rules and rebelling is potentially harmful, especially in my friend's situation, but 1984 is a good book and I don't feel bad for lending it.

Jazz Band Embarassment

So, as I said in my previous blog, I got called during bowling practice. It was a kid from jazz band at school. he said that I was already 15 minutes late for a recording session. Of course, I had forgotten about it. I don't know how everyone else remembered it, though. It was a 2 hour delay that day, and the previo0us day had been a snow day, so we hadn't been reminded for over 3 days. But I told the kid that called me that I couldn't come, because my car wouldn't start (which was true!). So, he came and picked me up. This is what shocked me. I play fourth trumpet, which I know is kind of important, but to stall the whole jazz band for 45 minutes seems a little much. But I got back, and made sure that I looked like I felt bad, by not looking at anyone as I walked across the room to get my instrument. The point of that was to make it look like I already felt bad, so Mr. Bird wouldn't have a talk with me afterward, which actually worked! Anyways, as I walked into the room, not only was the whole jazz band waiting for me, but there was also a professional trombone player. He had practiced with us once, to get ready for today. Then I looked around, and there were 4-5 people waiting to record out piece. Also, there were sound dampening boards all over the place (in strategic places, like behind the piano and bass drum). This made me feel much worse. But I did play well.

This experience made me aware of the importance that I can be, and also the responsibility I need to gain (with great power, comes great responsibility -Spiderman's uncle, I think).

Bowling

Every Saturday I bowl. I bowl for a league, which means my games are relatively cheap (7 dollars per series(3 games per series)). Also, I am in a team within the league. We play other teams like ourselves ranging from 3-4 bowlers. There is no requirement for being there every Saturday, so you don't have to pay if you don't go. My team consists of my ex-girlfriend (she was my girlfriend when we signed up, but then things happened and we're cool now), and another girl from the school bowling team. We used to have 4 bowlers, but the 4th bowler never showed, so we took her off the team (she bowled for the school team too). Recently, I got a new ball. It is heavier than my other ball (by 2 lbs, it's a 14 and the old one was 12). It is also a better materiel for grabbing the lane, which makes it hook more.

Two days ago, I bowled for school. It was a practice, so we got 3 games. Unfortunately, I got called during my second game and had to leave (also got in big trouble with jazz band, but that's a story for later). My first game, however, I did great. I got my all-time high score, which is now 197. I must have been lucky, I told people, because it was the first time using that ball on the lanes we were at, and only the second time ever.

Today, during league, I didn't get as lucky as I had before. I got around 150 each of my 3 games. I'm still getting used to my ball, though. If I start doing good enough, I might look into getting some scholarships, however small, to a college for bowling. Since I plan on possibly going to a state school, chances are that they will have bowling teams, and possibly even scholorships, so I figure that my chances are above average.

Football

I've been to many football games before. I've been to games with little kids, high school games, and college games (all divisions). Yesterday, I went to my first NFL game.

I saw the Vikings play the Cowboys in Minneapolis. The dome reminded me of the Unidome, where I've seen UNI play many times before. The Vikings game (opposed to the cowboys game, as my dad called it) was very loud. It wasn't until the game started, when I realized this. Not only was it a full stadium, but it was also a dome. This provided for a very loud game. I even saw a few people with earplugs.

An unfortunately common thing about games is that food is expensive. At the Vikings game, I bought a hotdog for 6 dollars. At the Megadome (I made that name up, I don't know the actual name), they must have some pride, because their hotdogs were not like other games' hotdogs. Not only were they bigger (both the dog and the bun), but they loaded them up. It felt like I was in a Subway, where I choose all the toppings to put on my sub. I loaded mine up with about half of the things available. These included baked beans, some type of peppers, tomatoes, a special kind of relish, and surely a few other additives. I will say that it was not a completely good mix. The spicy peppers, for instance, did not mix well with the baked beans.

Another experience that happens perhaps in only professional games was fireworks. During the Star-Spangled Banner, red rocket fireworks glared, and the bomb fireworks burst in the air. Also, at every Viking touchdown (I don't know if they would have done it for the Cowboys, because they never got a touchdown), fireworks leaped outwards from the goal posts.

At a high-school football game, you can expect the team to run through a big piece of decorated paper. This often gets a lot of applause. The Vikings did something much grander than that, though. Unfortunately, everyone saw it coming, because a huge viking boat had to be blown up before hand. It was like a tunnel, where the players would run through. In the tunnel entrance, from my point of view, I could see that there was a wheel, most likely of a motorcycle. I figured that maybe the wheel would help in the movement of the boat. That, or what actually happened, which was that the Viking mascot on the motorcycle, along with a few others very similar to him, burnt rubber on the field coming from inside the boat. Immediately following the mascots, the team rushed onto the field. This was the first time that the crowd got loud.

During warm ups, I got to see a very famous man. Brett Favre was warming up in the middle of the field, like he was in charge (though he kind of was, being a quarterback). His big number four on his chest revealed to me the man that was on the radio so much the previous summer. I remember my drivers education teacher ranting about him in the car while I was driving. This man, who anyone could talk about knowledgeably, was in real life right in front of my eyes. He then went to play a great game. It made me realize how real these football players actually are.

Another realization was when a man was yelling at the Vikings team(of course, I heard about this after the game). He was complaining that they were running up the score. Jared Allen, who played for the Vikings, was about to go over and make him stop complaining, but contained himself and simply laughed at the Cowboys fan.

Hair dye

I was bored one day in creative writing, because I had my homework already done. I decided to look up how to make the perfect koolaid drink, because I made one this morning that was absolutely horrible. I found out that there is no perfect amount of sugar. Some people like tart juice, and some people like sweet juice. I think I like the sweet stuff (more sugar than normal), and I used no sugar at all, so it was very, very tart.

I then found a tab on the side of the screen that had related articles. One was "how to dye your hair with koolaid". I had heard of doing this, but like most things I've heard of, I didn't know how to do it, so I clicked the link. If I was to try dying my hair with koolaid, I would make koolaid like I was making juice to drink, and then dunk my head in the juice. That is not the way to do it. If I had done that, it would have been a very sticky situation! You have to mix koolaid mix with hair conditioner. After mixing it well, you put it in your hair for a long time. The longer you have it in for, the more your hair is colored.

Later that day, I tried this. I went to a pizza joint with a friend (that's our hangout spot), and got out the mix and conditioner. I used the lid of the mix as a bowl, and a spoon I found at the store. After mixing for a few minutes, I decided that it was ready. I went to the bathroom, and put the stuff in my hair. 16 hours later, it was dry, hard, and it hurt. I decided that if 16 hours didn't do anything, nothing would. So I rinsed it out. As far as I can tell, there was no change at all.

I suppose I should have bleached my hair first, like the "how to" told me to....

Bowling

Every Saturday morning at nine o' clock (and yes, that is very early sometimes), I go to my local bowling alley and bowl in a league. I get to bowl 3 games (or 1 series) for seven dollars. I feel like it has helped me greatly.

Today, I went and bowled fairly good, to not so good. I got a first game of 170 (20 above my average), and then I went downhill with a 130 and 100. The reason this happened was because I stopped focusing, I think. After the games, my dad took me out to a pro shop that sells bowling related gear.

We were looking for a ball. The ball I had was 12 pounds. It was also plastic. My brother used to use it, and then it got handed down to me. Since he was left handed, I had to get it re-drilled, but it still wasn't a great ball. I did put spin on the ball, but the amount of spin was very low. Also, because it was light, it didn't get as much 'pin action'.

The owner of this shop showed me the balls he recommended. They were not plastic, but were also not too expensive (for a bowling ball). The cheapest was 100 dollars, but the 120 dollar ball was a bit better than the 100. I was deciding between the two, when he told me to follow him across the shop. He pulled out a used ball. He said it had belonged to a guy who tries new balls about every month or so. Since the guy didn't like the ball very much, or he had another ball that acted very similar to it, he returned it. Also, he said to give it to a student. I was that lucky student!

It was a nice, 230 dollar ball. it was used, but the previous owner was left handed, so the area that it would spin for him would be different for that of me. It was basically a new 230 dollar ball, except I could get it for the same price as the balls I had been looking at previously. Both my dad and I thought it was a great offer, and so we decided to get it. We also got rubber inserts glued into the holes. The owner said that that is what my coach would want, and also it would be free, since I am a student bowler.

Tonight, I am going to test my new ball out. Since it is heavier, I will have to learn to throw a bit differently. Also, about 2 weeks ago I got new bowling shoes for Christmas. I have been practicing with them, but I am still getting used to them. Additionally, I have never used the rubber inserts that I have in my new ball. Finally, the distance between my thumb hole and other finger holes is greater than that of my old ball, so I will have to deal with that. Hopefully it works out good!

Roller Skating

I haven't roller skated in many, many years. The last time would have to be at the super skate, where I went with my elementary school friends. I never got any roller blades. If I had them, I might have experimented with these shoes that were so much cooler than their counterparts: skates.

On Sundays, I used to play phanic at school. I rememeber always seeing a man rollerblading in the south lot parking lot. It's kind of cool that he doesn something that nobosy else does, because we were playing a game that nobody else was. But we saw him every Sunday, and he was probably out on other days of the week too. This makes me wonder what I'll do when I get older to stay fit.

My dad runs. He was a big runner in high school, and kept with it in the army. After maybe 10 years of running, he kept with it.

I hate running. I played baseball last year, and we ran a lot. I was unlucky enough to get shin splints. This caused me to run without putting pressure on my shins, which is kind of hard. The shin splints went away by the end of the season, but I didn't like running any more.

Since baseball, though I haven't been running, I have been waking up early and working out before school. This keeps me in shape, but only to an extent. When researching about my topic for my revised essay, I found out that there are three types of exercise. Strength, aerobics, and flexibility. I have worked on strength, but not the other two. This was evident when I played basketball with a few friends a couple weeks back. I was having more trouble running up and down the court than the others who haven't been exercising at all.

I plan on working on my aerobic self. That means I should start running. This is handy, because I got running shoes for Christmas this year. When it warms up, I will start running around the track, or on the sidewalks before working out, or after working out. This will help my playing phanic, because there is a lot of running involved. Also, I could be like my dad and continue running to stay healthy.

Volleyball

So today, at 3, I am going to be playing men's volleyball at school. It is a new sport, as far as I can see. I think that it will be enough of a sport, rather than a group, so I will be able to get gym credit with it. I'm not sure whether or not I'll continue with it, because I was planning on working and playing tennis in the spring. I know I won't be playing both sports, because I want some time to work.

Playing volleyball just sounds fun. I remember in middle school we played it during gym. I think I was pretty good, but that was a long time ago. Also, I got a couple friends to come play with me.

I don't know how everyone thinks of guys playing volleyball, though. It's kind of girlish. I remember in 6th grade, I was going to sign up for volleyball inter-murals. I was the only guy, though, and I remember my L.A. teacher giving me the sign up sheet and announcing it to the class. She was just trying to embarrass me, and I dealt with it well, I think, but a bunch of people were supportive of it. Also, I don't feel embarrassed to do things a little out of the ordinary. Just the other day, I wore PJs to school. My reasoning was that I forgot to change my pants in the morning. Also, I wear a friendship bracelet that my friend and I made when we were bored in German class. I've had that on for about two months now.

Needless to say, I'm not embarrassed to play volleyball. I think it would be interesting, when most guys play football or soccer, and I played volleyball. Also, I have been working out in an attempt to stay in shape, so I don't have to worry about starting a workout schedule.

Telemarketing

In October, or November, I got a job at ROSS Marketing. My job was to sit in an old, broken, yet comfy chair, and ask people who they were going to vote for. The options were Steve Pagliuca, Martha Coakley, Mike Capuano, and Alan Khazei. Of course, the first day was rough. I was told to look over my script, and five minutes later I started calling people. Though the phonetics were presented to me, the names constantly twisted my tongue. Steve Pagliuca, for example, has a silent 'g', and when I mispronounce his name, I am mispronouncing the name of the person I am calling for.

After a couple of days asking opinions, I worked up the energy to actually find out what these people were campaigning for. It turns out that they are running for Senate in Massachusetts. Of course, it is not election time, which also confused me. It turns out that the old senator died, and is being replaced. That explains the 'special' part in the "special democratic election" that I was asking about. I also found out that the senator that died is Ted Kennedy. This made me think, what if he's related to John F. Kennedy. I asked my dad, and, sure enough, he was related. Not only was he related, though, he was John's little brother. Now here I was, asking people about their preference on who should replace the Senator who was so closely related to my own school's namesake. Also, a few months ago Dr. W, the principal, gave a small speech over the intercom about Ted Kennedy, who actually came to Kennedy to help get it started. I was experiencing history.

But telemarketing wasn't all about historical significances. Whenever I tell anyone that I was a telemarketer, they instantly get excited. The ask many questions, like whether or not I get yelled at, or hung up on, or messed around with a lot. I tell them the answer that they already know, yes I do. People often hang up on me. People yell at me because I am very annoying. They try to make me feel bad, and I kind of do sometimes. If I had a nickel for every time I heard that I was interrupting a supper, or waking the sleeping kids, I would probably make well over 12 dollars an hour.

Telemarketing has its ups and downs. It pays decent for kids (above minimum wage). Also, hours can be very flexible, which is exactly what I need. But I started coming into work, and they would tell me that they didn't have any work for me to do, so I wouldn't be able to work. It was then when I noticed how much I hated working there. I was ecstatic every time they told me that they didn't have any work. Eventually, I started telling them that I couldn't come into work, because I was busy. This wasn't completely true. I had plans... with friends. So last week, I came into the building in a good mood. I went up to my boss, whose name I hadn't quite remembered yet. I told him that I was very busy lately, and that I couldn't continue to work here. He seemed, if not pleased, okay with it. I think I did a good job. I actually came in to "resign". Most people, I would think, just stop coming into work.

I don't want to quit working completely. I figure that in the spring, I will be a little less busy, and can get a new job. I am planning on applying at Parlor City. This is the ice cream shop where my ex-girlfriend works. I also know another girl that works there. My ex says that to work there, one needs to be recommended by someone who already works there. Since we are still friends, I fgure I could get a job based off of recommendations. But that isn't the only reason. I like mowing lawns, and Parlor City no longer has a lawn mower. The two guys that used to work there went to college last year, and they always mowed the lawn. My ex says that the manager absolutely hates mowing, so I could put mowing in my application as a 'skill'. I think that I will stick with this job. Unlike my first job, I won't have drenched feet at the end of the day, I will get to say something other than one repetitive line throughout the day, and while working, employees can eat for free. To turn down this job would be crazy.

My magic bullet

Of course, my first blog after Christmas has to be about what I got this year. Apart from the usual candy, shirts, odd gifts (like water bottles, winter gloves two months late, and bowling shoes three months after the season began), and a few seasons of one of my favorite sitcoms, Seinfeld, I got a gift that I thought would never come. This was my Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle. I had seen it advertised many times with the same 10 minute commercial, which never got any better. My Magic Bullet, as seen on TV, was my best present this year.

The magic bullet is one of those products that everyone knows about, but nobody thinks about. When I told people about my present, many didn't know what I was talking about, until I told them that it was a blender that could do anything in ten seconds or less, as seen on TV. They immediately knew what I was talking about, but didn't always show as much excitement as I did. Some people were actually rude enough to tell me that they had gotten one of those years ago, when it was only sold on TV. This, of course, dampened my spirits, but I had plenty to stay excited.

This wonderful gift not only was exciting when I opened it, but I still use it (a week later, can you believe it?). Every morning, I make a protein shake before going to school. I used to pour milk into a water bottle, and then add a scoop of protein powder (chocolate flavored), to make the gritty, watery breakfast, that I sometimes couldn't force down my throat. The difference with the magic bullet it that I can mix the powder into the milk better. This makes the drink more like chocolate milk than chocolate grit and milk. Also, the magic bullet allows me to add additional flavors, such as strawberries or bananas. Just this morning, I added a banana to my shake. I actually thought that it tasted good. Surely, the banana added many health benefits to the drink, as well.

Tomorrow, I will not be able to make a shake quite as tasty as today's version, because I used the last banana, but I can instead ass strawberries. These are my two favorite additives to a chocolate shake, but some people don't understand why I like it so much. I simply explain that chocolate and strawberries is just like dipping strawberries in chocolate, which is common. Also, at my favorite ice cream parlor, they sell bananas dipped in chocolate (monkey tails).

The magic bullet is a very helpful tool for me. It helps me enjoy my odd choice of having six o' clock zero hour gym. It also helps my family stay healthy, because it's easy to use operation allows even my technologically challenged parents to use it. As you can see, this blender was my favorite present this year by far.