100 in 1000

Alright check out this concept. Since Shaq can put a timeline on when he is going to retire, down to the day, I figured I'd do something similar. I've seen someone do this and I thought it was a good idea. On the right side of this page there will be a list of 100 things I want to accomplish in the next 1000 days. Right now there is only about 30 or so things, but I'll continually add to the list. There are so many things I want to do, so I figured why not make that part of the content on this blog? I'll notate when a task gets accomplished so you can keep up with my progress or motivate me to get other items done.

So what's going to be on this list?

I will put things that I want to do before 6/16/2011 (at would be 1000 days from 9/20/2008). I'll be 29 years old and nearing the end of my twenties. Wow kinda scary. There are things on this list that may be out of my control (depending on how superstitious you are) such as; watching the Cowboys in the Super Bowl, or watching the Mavs win a championship. For the obvious reason that if I suited up for either the Cowboys or the Mavs I'd be thoroughly embarrassed, I can only root on my teams and hope they do well. So all 100 items may not get accomplished but it will be a fun 3 plus years if they do. There will be things on the list that I may never know if I accomplished as well as I think such as; inspiring someone, or keeping touch with old friends. So not all of the items will be events or obvious milestones but more a goal for living my daily life.

What you can do:
You can suggest items for me to put on the list...I need 70ish more people!
You can have a part in helping me accomplish one of them, anyone want to go sky diving?
You can get on me when I stray from the list.
You can enjoy watching me knock these down-and hey maybe the person I inspire will be you...

Introducing Beau!

Apparently I drove by the animal humane society in Irivng one too many times and yesterda I finally cracked. I stopped just to look at the dogs...well that didn't work. I found one that caught my eye and now I have myself a dog. His name is Beau, he is a shepard mix and he is about 1 year old. Here's some pictures enjoy!

Dick's Mavs departure

Alright well it happened I sent a call out to the masses to pen the next chapter of my life. "someone out there needs to hurry up and get to writing, write the next chapter of my book dammit! I have an MBA you have to listen to me now! Write...oh yah and throw in a cute blonde girl somewhere...", this is a direct quotation from a post on Cinco de Mayo (really I was blogging on Cinco de Mayo? Man, I'm getting old). So yeah I wrote that about 4 and a half months ago. Guess what?! Someone picked up the damn pen!

That's right folks someone has decided to start freakin' writing. Last Tuesday I was offered and accepted a job as an IT (information technologies) Recruiter for a staffing firm right here in Irving. So what do I know about IT? Not a damn thing. But what do I know about kickin' ass and taking names? Well not much of that either. But I'm a good employee, and a hard worker. This job is a great opportunity with no cap on how much I can make and where this can take me. I have never done a job that has a commission, but I thought I'd give it a try because I've always busted my butt at work (plus it has a base salary so I'm not screwed if I suck) and I think it's about time I get paid as such. So sure I've never done anything in the staffing industry or with IT before but that doesn't matter. A friend from one of my classes at UD is the one who refereed me to the position. He came in with the same experience or lack thereof and now 3 years later he is running his own branch. I'm not saying I'm going to take the staffing world by storm but I'm very confident in the fact that I will have success at whatever I'm doing.

So now for the cute blonde girl part, seriously people if you're gonna write a story doesn't there always have to be a hot fling in there somewhere? Don't you know anything about writing? I guess not...

Olympic fever

Alright let's be real here...before last weekend when was the last time you watched, cared for, or even gave a second thought to competitive swimming? Now Since last weekend have you either watched, talked about, or discussed swimming strategy? Why is it that once the Olympics start we instantly become attached to sports that we would normally not care for? We even become temporary experts.

I love the Olympics. I've been drawn in by the Michael Phelps craze just like I'm sure most you, most of the country and most of the planet. Even with the advancements of technology and training facilities, it still took someone 30 some odd years to beat Spitz's record for gold medals in a single Olympic games. But after next weekends closing ceremonies I will forget all about swimming, I'll forget about the men's water polo team, I'll forget all about synchronized diving, and I'll definitely forget all about women's handball (seriously how is that an Olympic sport?). But in 4 years I'll once again be glued to my TV watching the London games.

So what is it about the Olympics that draws us in and takes a hold of us for 2 weeks? I'm not sure what it is, it could be the patriotism in us, it could be the drama of high level sporting events, it could be us watching and waiting for that moment that sends chills down your spine and makes your eyes well up. Or it could be a little bit of all of that all mixed together, at least that's why I watch. As a sports fan I love seeing athletes at the top of their game compete and push themselves to the limit...even if it is just diving. Then every now and again you get a moment like the relay comeback last week where the USA beat the trash talking french team in an event they weren't supposed to win.

So for now let's enjoy the Olympic games and get ready for the Michael Phelps Wheaties box.

Put me on a cool river...

...take my worries from me, fly me high into the big blue sky well there's no one here but me.

Oh how wise of Mr. Pat Green.

This last weekend I took a road trip down to New Braunfels, TX to 'float the river'. Ryan spoke of this event like it was the coolest thing he'd ever done. My sister was in town for the weekend and it seemed like an easy way to have an action packed weekend. So I packed up all my stuff (1 pair of underwear, tooth brush, cargo shorts, an extra t shirt, and as much SPF 60 as I could carry out the door) and we headed out for the weekend. This whole floatin' the river business is just that it is A BUSINESS, I was amazed that putting tubes in water seemed to be a very successful industry. We were supposed to meet some people at one of the many tube rental places but of course Stanny (Adam Stanford's new nickname) missed the turn for the right parking lot. Well that ended up being one of the best mistakes ever, we had to go down the road and turn around in the next parking lot. While we were in that parking lot there was a sign saying that Pat Green was going to be there that night (I'm not gonna lie a little bit of pee came out of me). But we had to go get our float on so we concerned ourselves with the tube rental process.

It was a surely a sight to see. When you stand on the bridge above the river you can look down and all you see is tubes and people slowly moving down the river with the speed of a fat guy climbing stadium stairs. It was an amazing sight to see. This picture is just a google image (not from our trip) but is of the same place we were at.
Once in the river, it was completely relaxing. From the hustle and bustle of city life, it just felt nice to not have to do anything for 5 hours. I didn't have my cell phone, I didn't have email, I just sat in a tube and floated...that's it. Now I know that some of you might think that, that sounds boring but it was actually quite nice. So nice in fact that apparently I ended up falling asleep for about 30 minutes of the float.

So for me the pinnacle of the trip was yet to occur. We went to check out the Pat Green concert to see if I was dreaming or if it was real. IT WAS REAL. Yes that's right folks we pretty much stumbled upon my favorite artist, I was super pumped. We got there right before he started and he put on a great show. One of the best things about the show is that Pat came out on stage in a blue t shirt, basketball shorts and barefoot. How many Nashville guys can put on a great show dressed like that? It's show like that, that add to my love for his music, he truly is just a "regular" guy. The reason he was dressed like that? It's cause he too was out on the river just floatin' with the rest of the people.

A great show, a great weekend, I got to see my sister, and Pat F!#$ing Green. My only complaint is he didn't sing the perfect river song...A Guy Like Me

Hearts and flowers, forget love letters

Pain and anger, forget forgiveness

Love ain't waiting for a guy like me

Debutantes and champagne, diamonds and cocaine

I ain't the son of outrageous fortune

Cash ain't status for a guy like me

Put me on a cool river

Take my worries from me

Fly me high into the big blue sky

Well, there's no one here but me, just me

Long black limousine, pictures in magazines

All night parties, beautiful people

No super model for a guy like me

I'm just a good man, I work with my hands

I get the picture, I heard the message

Hell ain't waiting for a guy like me

Put me on a cool river

Take my sins from me

Fly me high into the big blue sky

Well, there's no one here but me

Your move Burt!

Let's play a game called Guess What This Is

64 Squares, 32 players, many directions being pulled, thousands of possible moves, black and white, slow and strategic, and definitely with a time limit.

If you said a game of chess you are correct but boring...c'mon be more creative than that. Okay well how bout this?

Life!

Yes, that's right I think life or at least mine of late is like a big game of chess. A novice chess player, I know a bit about the game and last night started thinking that all these decisions and moves I have to make are so similar to those a game of chess would contain. I'm not too sure at what point in the game I am (part of the problem), but what I do know and fully understand is that it is my move.

You've heard of master chess players that will play like a hundred people at one time and just go up and down the line moving their pieces, you've heard of that right? Well imagine you're that chess player.

The whistle blows and you start with your first game, easy right? You move a pawn forward or a knight up and in, something basic. You probably do a similar move in the next 99 games. Now you're back at the first game and the opponent has countered your opening move, like you, they probably just moved a pawn or something like that. These simple moves continue for oh, maybe like the first 4, 5, 6 moves. In life this equates to the simple decisions; when to eat, when to sleep, going to grade school, you know the stuff everyone does.

Then the time comes when you need to start deciding which pieces to attack. In chess it's simple taking their rook when they're going to kill one of your pawns no big deal right? Making an aggressive attack up the middle, while your opponent just moves his knight in funny 'L' shapes along the sides. Who cares if that crazy 'L' shape ends up taking your queen or worse...(insert scary music here) THE KING! It's chess they are just pieces, so what. Unfortunately in life who knows you may need that pawn later on down the line.

Alright now you're at move 20, the room is smokey, your brain is throbbing at the intense focus needed to maintain these 100 separate games at the same time. The clocks are ticking the seconds away waiting for your move, the man across the table from you has the most ridiculous Burt Reynolds mustache you've ever seen (didn't see that one coming did you?). Your hand grabs the piece, you've got your move, the perfect one, wham you set the piece down and grin confidently at the Reynolds impersonator. As you turn your back and head to the next table to make your move there, you see the guy at the last table immediately counter your move and take a key piece. You go back to look--of course why didn't you think of that? You're supposed to think a few moves ahead of the current one right? So you continue on, but now you second guess your decisions, the clock's tick seems to echo in your ears, when at a particular table you are constantly thinking back five, or six tables ago...was the move the right one, has he already countered? Now the boards are getting confused in your head and it all begins to unravel. Luckily enough you are a skilled chessmen (I assume that's what a chess player is called) so as you may have lost some of the games you still have plenty left, and plenty that you've already won.

Now I think this is the point I'm at. I've won several games, lost several, but the majority of them are laid out in this big ominous line that seems to give me tunnel vision every time I look down it. As the rounds progress each move is riskier, each thought is more complicated, and each mustache is bigger and darker than the last (I'm in tears making myself laugh about these mustaches). So what's my next move, the pawn, the rook, the knight, ooohh how bout a castle with my rook and king? Who knows all I know is that I'm up and this damn clock keeps ticking in my ear, so I gotta make my move before my timer runs out.

It's not all bad though right? I mean how complex can my life be if I make mustache jokes in my blog? So I guess I'll continue to grab the pieces and make moves, not knowing if they're the right ones or not. Who knows maybe next year you can call me a chessmen!

I will leave you with a song I made up while making my sandwich for dinner tonight.

My bologna has a first name,
it's K-R-O-G-E-R
My bologna has a second name,
it's V-A-L-U-E
Oh I love to eat it everyday,
And if you ask me why I'll say,
Cause Kroger Value has a way with C-H-E-A-PEEEE!

A book really?

So last time I was asking for the writing of a new chapter. Well little did I know I'd be not only wanting one but reading one! Yeah for those of you who know me, I'm not that big of a reader...okay well I haven't read a book since Christopher Robin was the star of the show. But I went to Chicago this weekend and I had some long lay overs and flights ahead of me in the following days. So I figured I'd try to do something to keep my mind occupied. Lately I've been doing a lot of things to keep my mind occupied but a book...never! I couldn't believe it but as I trolled through the bookstore at Love Field looking for something to wet my whistle, I didn't find any magazines that did it for me. The crosswords weren't moving me at the time. It was actually a book! So I did it, I bought A Post American World. I'm not a terrorist or anything like that now, trust me. I may be that bad word New Gingrich loves "liberal" but I'm by no means, not a patriotic person. I thought the premise of the book was quite interesting. I saw the author talk about the book on The Daily Show with John Stewart, and it sounded interesting. It is less a book about the fall of the United States and more about the rise of the rest of the world. For decades we've been preaching democracy and free trade and the like to the entire world...the author thinks it finally set in. You know like when you tell your teenager that school is important and then they don't do their homework but then in 10 years they're flipping burgers...well the rest of the world just got tired of flipping burgers. Now I'm only 80 some odd pages in but I'm actually excited to finish this book. I will keep the masses updated and...give (look of pain on my face) a book report or something later.


Oh yeah and I learned this song in the bleachers at Wrigley and you didn't HAHA!
Go Cubs Go, Go Cubs Go, Hey Chicago what do ya say? Cubs are gonna win today!

Can someone write the next chapter please?

Told you I did some neat stuff, check this link
http://www.udallas.edu/advancement/pr.cfm?NewsArticleID=3374&Cat=FA



So umm, what am I supposed to talk about now? Uh geez. So I came out here I bought a house and now I'm done with school , yeah what else am I supposed to do again?

I'm sure I've talked about "the next chapter" type stuff (if I haven't just humor me). I'm always like all "yea I get to turn the page to a new chapter of my life...it's gonna be so exciting, hooray!" What the F$CK was I thinking?

[He raises his hand emphatically] "ooh ooh call on me!"
[The blogger looks confused that someone has a questions for him] "Yes Ricky what would you like to say?"
"Um yeah I take back this whole 'getting my own life stuff', lol, I want to be 14 years old and only have soccer tryouts and geometry (the math class way way way before calculus)"
"Sorry Ricky you're --well for lack of a better word -- you're screwed!"


Sorry for the dialogue that was really just an internal monologue...confused yet? Good cause I am too. Sure all that writing a new chapter in your life stuff is true I'd love to see what my book of life has in store for me, but I just wish I was a faster reader, haha. I think I wanted a few blank pages in between school and whatever else there was in store for me. Well once again I've proved myself wrong. That whole 'nothing to do is awesome' bit was nice for a week or two, but I'm like "Shit there's nothing to do!"

It's not that I'm bored it's more like I feel stagnant. When I told my parents in late 2005 that I was going to go to Dallas "to get an education, buy a house, and work for a professional sports team" My parents seemed taken back, but in only two years I did just that. Okay great but what am I supposed to do now! Now I'm not talking about putting up rain gutters at my house (which look great, good job Ricky), or painting a room, I'm talking about big stuff. What's my next big goal?

So how bout this...I'll just sit here blogging and realizing even though I watch sports center 3 to 4 times a day I don't know anything about sports (Direct Ricky quote from a few weeks ago "It doesn't matter what seed you are this year in the playoffs everyone is so close that it's gonna be a crap shoot" -- What actually happened? 1-4 seeds advance to second round in both conferences...Screw Chris Paul). While that happens someone out there needs to hurry up and get to writing, write the next chapter of my book dammit! I have an MBA you have to listen to me now! Write...oh yah and throw in a cute blonde girl somewhere...

p.s. When did they make the weights heavier at the gym? Damn those guys!

The next 10

Well just to let any of you know that haven't been able to physically see me since the last post...I chickened out and never got a haircut. Oh well I look much faster now.


The next week and a half are gonna get pretty crazy, loose itinerary to follow:

Thursday April 10th: My last class I will ever have to attend. No tests or papers or anything like that just a group meeting to prepare for our raffle drawing on Saturday.

Friday April 11th: It's opening day at Lone Star park (horse track). Run ponies, run!

Saturday April 12th: Raffle drawing at UD and the last academic obligation I will probably ever have! Post raffle party with group. Post party party with friends.

Sunday April 13th: Hanging my TV on the wall, moving my prehistoric stove that came with the new house, and other various domesticated chores...home depot, bed bath and beyond, I don't know if there will be time!

Tuesday April 15th: Mom comes back into Dallas for some much needed help to finish off some projects around the house.

Wednesday April 16th: Work and final regular season Mavs game with Mom

Thursday April 17th: Dad and Sister get in.

Friday April 17th: Chris, Greg, Kevin, Tyler, Preston, and Cassandra get in. Holy shit...It's actually gonna happen. On this day at 7:30pm I will walk across the stage at the University of Dallas, they will proceed to give me a Masters degree and the rest of my life will soon follow.

Saturday April 18th: 4pm-Party-my house.

Sunday April 19th: a deep breath...

Wow what a ride my time in Dallas has been! 26 months ago I came here with nothing, only wanting to acquire this MBA thing I'd heard so much about. Now in 9 days I'll have that. Not only will I have the degree I came here for, but I have a home, great friends and a sense of my own fresh start. I'm sure I'll tear up a bit (that's what guys call crying) when I get my diploma or soon thereafter, but I don't think it's because I'll be sad, happy or any of the normal "crying emotions" I think I'll be exhausted. I've been on such a crash course pace for the last two years that I wouldn't be surprised if my body just gave way and I collapsed from exhaustion the second after they hand me my diploma. The feeling of relief will be overwhelming and I'm not sure how I'll handle it...but just remember I won't cry...my eyes be a bit watery or I may "tear up" but cry-NEVER! (me man, me tough)

To cut or not to cut?

Well it's been a little over a month and a lot has happened...but I'll fill you in at the end of this post. There is a more pressing issue at hand.

I am in dire need of a good hair cut and need some help with this situation. It has been roughly a month since my last dome shave and I have been presented with a "situation". Matt has also gone a long while between clippings and thinks we should have a competition to see who can go the longest without cutting their hair. I think it would be highly entertaining, and aren't chicks into the whole long hair thing now anyway?

So what do I need from you the faithful rickysroost reader? I need suggestions. If there is gonna be a bet there needs to be a loser and if there is gonna be a loser that loser needs to do something ridiculous so that everyone knows they lost. Some of the preliminary suggestions I've recieved are all something along the lines of the loser taking on a ridiculous hairstyle. Well you must realize that by "losing" me or Matt will have already cut their hair (that's how we lose) so I need something else.

Email me or post on here your suggestions and I'll take the top 3 and let the masses vote. If there aren't any worth "playing" for by Saturday, I'm off to get a haircut...so make em' good!

So what have I done in the last month...oh boy!
I just moved into my new house and I love it, this week both my bathrooms are being remodled, thanks to my very generous father.
I only have 38 more days till I graduate and I'm, for better or worse, on cruise control in school.
There is however something else you could help me with. As part of my last class at UD, my group must develop and implement an actual project for a real client. Our client is the University of Dallas' Athletic department. We are doing a fundraiser to raise money for the various things an athletic department needs. We are raffling off an ATV and a street legal scooter. I would really appreicate it if you could spare a measly $10 and help me out by buying one of our raffle tickets. If you live out of the Dallas area, the manufacturer will actually ship the merchandise to you for FREE! You can buy your tickets online at www.crusadeofdreams.org (you will need a password to access the site. Username: UD Password UD...simple but we need it that way for legal purposes). If you can however, buy the tickets from me because that makes me look a little bit better:) . If you have any other questions please call me or email me...if you don't know my cell phone number or email address, you're probably not buying a ticket anyway so I'm not posting those on here.

Love you guys, Peace!

729...730!

You seem to like pictures...

Happy New Year everyone! No I'm not late, this is my New Years' Holiday. I moved to Irving Texas, on January 28th, 2006, so Monday marks the beginning of my third year! Wow a lot has happened in two years. I just went back and read through a couple of my posts from the last two years (I've been blogging for two years now? Does that make me a blogger? Damn, I'm a dork!) and I had to laugh at some of the stuff I've written over that time period. Surprise, surprise I don't usually hold back what I'm thinking or feeling and I guess I can get pretty emotional, whether it's being, sad, excited, tired, or angry whatever it was it has seemed to come out quite clearly in my writing.

I think I've learned a lot in the last couple years, but I guess only time - or two more years of posts' - will tell if I have or not.

I've learned a lot in school, I'll be done in 82 days, and have done some great projects and learned from some great professors as well as my peers.
I've learned a lot about myself.
I've learned that you can win 67 games or be the best team in the NFC and neither means a damn thing.
I've learned what things I can do and what things I didn't think I could do.
I've learned that I am a NM TAU alumni magnet, where were you guys when I was all alone out here?
I've learned that I can rely on myself quite a bit, but also that there are times when I need to lean upon others.
I've reaffirmed that I can lead, but learned that I can be just as influential from other roles in a group or team.
I've learned that it's great to be independent and by myself, but I learned that I can get so much more when I share myself with someone else.
I've learned that a futon is not "big boy" furniture, but it's hard to get big boy furniture.
I've learned that Venezuela is in the Northern Hemisphere, but is still pretty far south!
I've learned that I like chocolate mints (like the ones at Olive Garden) and comfortable socks, but don't by either on a regular basis, but I have not learned why.
I've learned that heartache is bound to happen, and that when it does I'll wake up the next day and still have a life to live (Nobody else stopped just because I wanted to).
I've learned that when you have the best hand and go "all-in" in the WSOP, you can still lose
I've learned that everyday can't be a good one, but I learned to stop and remember those good ones.
I've learned about the bulls...and the bears of the street.
That's a lot of freakin' learning isn't it? Maybe someday I'll have learned enough to start giving wisdom instead of just being a vacuum.

Oh yeah and how could I forget one of the most memorable quotes from my departure. The last night I went out in Albuquerque before moving Bloch told me "Man I can't believe you're leaving, it's kinda like an end of an era". Well that era might have ended but I started a new one..."Hey Antwan! I can't believe you're moving to Dallas, it's kinda like the end of an era".

A holiday trilogy. Version 3.0

You may or may not have noticed but just about everyone has a cell phone, and if they don't they're probably not important anyway! So I figured the best way to find out how my last year has been was to pull out the best photographic gems- all taken with my phone- and post them on here. So yeah...

"It will be a visual wonderland" I declared in my last post. Well tonight folks, here it is your very own visual wonderland. I tried to put them in chronological order, but then I got too anxious and just started putting the pictures in random order.


Doesn't he look so cute when he's passed out?
Me and my sister at the Taking Back Sunday concert.

Please keep this image of super skinny Spike in your mind till the end of the presentation.

Ah HA! Real New Mexican food in Texas...yahtzee!

The wall of champions inside Binions Casino. Maybe someday?

Why Ben what beautiful red lips you have.
I don't know what to say, I'm just that bad ass.
I love Chicago.
Mikhail Gorbachev at the University of Dallas. A great experience.
Big Ern is always given people the shaft...that's why they call him the elevator

Honestly how else would you keep the cancer in?
The view of the strip from Ghost Bar at the top of the Palms.
Who has been to a press conference when the NBA MVP gets announced? I have!
My sister getting the keys to her new car. The salesman was diggin' you...
Three words: Double Fish Filet. Nuf' said

At Arielle's birthday party from Tom Hicks' owners suite.
Oh the jokes...
So what if I only lasted - well it's not important how long I lasted.
Spring break in 2007 my first one away from a beach. Wanna talk about skiing?
David + Opening day + Cotton Candy = Joy

Hey look it's champ. A blue horse?
If this doesn't look like Spike, well that's not necesscary cause it does.

Why? Because, that's why.

Umm hospital food ummm. If that ain't a reason to put a tube in your chest I don't know what is.
I told you I met Pat Green. So there!

A holiday trilogy. Version 2.0

Yes ladies and gentlemen the highly anticipated second version of 'A holiday trilogy' is now upon you...buckle up!

Well I had several things I wanted to talk about in this post so I thought and thought and then I thought some more and then I finally found a way to tie them together. With colors, not just any colors but two colors that seem to dominate the following subjects.

Red or Green?
If you're from New Mexico or have spent any period of time there you probably already have an answer for this question but considering that some of you have no idea what I'm talking about, I'll explain. I knew I was home when someone asked me "Red or Green?" They of course are talking about what kind of chile I wanted on/in my enchiladas. It is a great phrase cause when I hear it I know I'm home, cause it's the only place I've ever heard it (screw that texmex crap!).

So if you are a half evolved primate and haven't figure it out by now I was lucky enough to go home for the holiday weekend. It couldn't have come at a better time, as you could tell from previous posts I was getting worn down and a little frustrated but the break that the 5 oh 5 provided was much needed. Now I'm back to "full strength" and ready for 2008.

Another awesome thing that happened to me was two weekends ago I met Pat Green (keeping with the color theme). Some of you may know I am a huge Pat Green fan, probably due to the influence of one Ronald Bowron. I got to see him at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth and it was a great show, he probably played for an hour and 45 minutes...awesome. Afterward he went to sign autographs and take pictures and so I ran over to stand in line but to my dismay about 200 people had the same idea. So I waited but I finally met him and took a picture with him. By the way his favorite song is Carry On.

And last but not least a good friend of a lot of people ended up in the hospital this weekend. We went to see him and he is doing fine but he did have a lot of blood (RED, see I kept the color theme) on his hospital bed sheets. I'll spare the details, but he'll be fine. We love you Spike! Get well soon!

Color Recap:
Red or Green?: Which type of chile you want on your NEW Mexican food.
Red and Green: The colors of xmas
Green: Pat Fuckin' Green! (go ahead chant it over and over again...you know you want to!)
Red: Blood...ewwww

Stay tuned for Version 3.0...it will be a visual wonderland...maybe. Oh yeah in the airport on the way back to Dallas I got a breakfast burrito and once again I was asked "Red or Green?". I was feeling crazy, I told her "christmas".

A holiday trilogy. Version 1.0

I have quite a bit to write about but in an effort to not bore the hell out of you in one post, I'll spread my written form of torment over three post in the next few days.

So you say I'm on a break right now huh? Well it is the most intensive break I've ever been a part of. In the last 2 weeks I've worked nearly 100 hours and unfortunately my job in retail is making me begin to dislike Christmas (at least I don't have to deal with customers).

At the pinnacle of thebusy season at work, I feel tired in the time where I should be recharging from school and preparing for my final trimester. I can work a lot of hours that doesn't bother me at all and I can deal with any task you put in front of me, but what is getting to me lately is I'm tired of doing all the thinking. I guess this is the burden a leader takes on. I've always been in leadership roles, whether it's being a captain on one of my many soccer teams, being a manager at work (ever since my first job), or being put in several leadership roles with SAE. For once I would like to not have to do all the thinking in a given situation. I would like it so much if someone could think on their own without me having to spoon feed them direction. Is it so much to ask for a person to care about the tasks they are doing, and feel a sense of self worth when they have completed their task in an exceptional manner?

Now at the same time I understand that part of this is very possibly my fault. When something isn't going right I always try to look at myself first, after all it's usually easier to fix your own faults. What is it that I'm doing as a leader that may be causing my own distress? What practices need to change? Am I too focused? Am I asking for too much? Well you see if I knew the exact answer this blog post probably wouldn't have even existed so, sir I'm fucking clueless sir.

Everyone seems to do the minimal amount of work necessary to get by. Well guess what? In my short work experiences I've noticed that doing the minimal doesn't get you by, it gets you passed by. I don't think I will ever be able to just "exist" in the environments I'm in, be it at work or sports, I just don't work that way. I'm too competitive, I'm too stubborn, I'm...well shit I'm too damn good for that! (and a little arrogant) So I guess I'll keep leading and hopefully I can stumble into a couple free thinkers that can make my days in those leadership roles just a bit easier. And hopefully I'll be able to fine tune my own abilities at the same time. I'll live and I'll be alright, but for now I'm just a bit frustrated.

And I'm back...

Wow I just looked and I realize it's been 6 and a half weeks since I've blessed you with my outstanding wisdom (and modesty). So I figured I better update you on what's happened in the past 6 weeks
Here's 6 weeks in a nut shell:
I finished two classes this last week with a 4.0.
I graduate in April and only have two classes left.
Work is super busy with the horrible xmas shopping season about to kick off
The Mavs are doing well on the court but need to fix some things.
The Cowboys are dominating and need to keep dominating.
I am extremely happy and in a really good place right now.

So now that you have the nut shell how bout some actual content?

Last weekend my Mom came to see me, and it was so great to see her. It is the only time she has come to see my by herself and it was nice to have some one-on-one time with my Mom. Then this weekend my Dad is here to go to the Cowboys game. Then on Wednesday the whole troop is coming (Mom, Dad, Sister). So this month is a great one, I get the pleasure of finishing up a very rewarding trimester at UD. I think unfortunately this has been the only semester that I can say I got a whole lot from each class I took. Then my family comes to visit me...perfect! But I want to talk about two events that have just recently (within 24 hours) happened.

I have been to Deeley plaza before - the site of Kennedy's death - but this time I thought of how important Kennedy was to not only his generation but to many people to follow. He laid ground work for many of the ideals and standards that we now have in this country. He was such a ground breaking president and yet his impact was cut short by that one act.

The next thing event is something that happens more than just in the past 24 hours but, I was thinking how proud I am of my friends and how successful we have all become or are becoming. When my family sits down and talks to one of my friends I almost feel like a parent myself, so proud of the people I associate myself with. So how has it come to the point where I have collected such an amazing group of friends? I don't know. I may be lucky or I may have a good judge of character...we may never know.

So what does Deeley plaza and my friends have to do with each other? Good question...here's your answer. As I was sitting a top the infamous grassy knoll, I thought of my friends and how we all have the ability to make such a difference, probably not on the scale Kennedy did, but a difference none the less. We need to seize the opportunities we have now because we never know when we may lose our chance. We are all educated, intelligent, INCREDIBLY good looking (come one I have to be a little arrogant), and are in the prime of our lives. It's a feeling I have right now that I can do anything I want, I or we can accomplish so much in the next 30-40 years and we don't even know what that accomplishment is yet. Sure the face of not knowing is a little uneasy, but I think it is even more exciting.

So watch out for me and my posse when we role into your city (and we leave no corner unmarked, we're all over the country right now...kinda like fight club) because we will change something, accomplish something, make better the lives of some people. The only question I still need to answer is who what and where will that be?

I say Tony, you Say Romo...

Tony Romo has played in every Super Bowl...and won.
Tony Romo doesn't shower after games, showers take a Tony Romo.
Tony Romo doesn't throw passes he tells the ball what to do and it does what it's told.
Tony Romo has 422 TD in his career, and has been a starter for the Green Bay Packers for the last 12 years.
Tony Romo gave birth to Troy Aikman.
Tony Romo is your father.
Tony Romo has dated at least three girls way hotter than you will ever date (no really).
Tony Romo doesn't play in the NFL, he's just REALLY good at Madden on the XBOX.
Tony Romo's diet consists of cotton swabs of Brett Favre's DNA and actual pig skins
Tony Romo once played for both teams in one game...and both teams got victories
Tony Romo makes poops bigger than Tom Brady...no but seriously he does.
Tony Romo once wore flavor flav as a time piece
Tony Romo doesn't need a refrigerator, his food stays fresh out of respect for him (credit to Budda for this one)
Tony Romo isn't one four letter word...it's TWO!
Tony Romo was once a cherry tree and George Washington chopped down his friend. Good ole George didn't confess to chopping the tree down cause of his conscious...it's cause he was afraid of Tony Romo.
Tony Romo once attending a cock fight in Chile , and both chickens fought harder when they saw him in the crowd (another Budda gem).
Tony Romo thought 'Around the World in 80 Days' was a comedy...he once stepped foot in all seven continents, AT ONCE!

I say Tony, you say Romo
Tony!...

Be Better!

What did you do today? Did you make yourself better? Did you stay stagnate? I found some words of wisdom on TV, but isn't that where most of my wisdom comes from? Believe it or not I found this wisdom nugget from an ex NFL player, on a reality TV show. Flip This House had a guy who owns a company that "flips" homes and does it all in the dramatic face of the camera lens. This jock turned real estate investor is pretty pompous and arrogant but he did produce an eye widening moment for me. He was arguing with one of his employees, trying to get him to get a task accomplished and the employee was just making excuses for why he couldn't get the job done. This jock (a Yale graduate) told his subordinate "What did you do today? What are you dong to make yourself better today?" After an awkward silence (ten points worth) the employee swiftly ended the conversation and...you guess it, he got the job done.

Did Egor the real estate athlete motivate his employee or did a phrase make that employee think like it did to me?

So I asked myself "What DID I do to make myself better today?" I had no answer, I couldn't come up with anything significant enough that I felt I improved as a friend, employee, family member or any other 'title' I hold. Think how powerful it could be if we tried to make ourselves better everyday of our lives. [Insert Wayne's World dream sequence here]I'm not talking about this general "I'm a good person" type of lifestyle, but a genuine effort that is refocused EVERY SINGLE DAY. When you wake up in the morning and look yourself in the eyes while you're brushing your teeth or shaving or getting that nasty zit that crept up overnight (sorry had to break the seriousness up with a zit joke) say goodbye to that person...leave that person behind. Not because they were bad, in actuality they were probably a very good person. Leave them behind because the next time you look in that mirror when you get off of work, back from school, or just need to pee really bad, you'll be better. You will have done everything in your power to become a better person. Think how awesome that would be! [end Wayne's World dream sequence...Dude!...Excellent!...Shwing!]

I doubt that it is possible to be successful in accomplishing this goal, everyday. I'm sure on some days you may take a step backward. I also unfortunately don't know what will make you, me or anyone else a better person tomorrow or the next day. But just as tomorrow isn't set in stone for the outcomes it will bring, your outlook should represent the outlook of a person looking to become better, yet not knowing exactly how or when that moment will arrive.

"So, Ricky how do I find that moment that makes me a better person?"
I'm so glad you asked!

I'm no Dr. Phil or anything but here are my suggestions:

• Be positive
• Work hard
• Do or try something new

and most importantly

• Have fun!

I bet if you at least try to utilize these four things in your daily happenings...if you don't get better...you will have at least given it the ole' college try (and for some of us that takes 5 and a half years).

BE BETTER!

Vacation, Vacation, Vacation

Okay so I didn't get to really go anywhere for the beginning of my break from school - that all changed this past 9 days. Last weekend I was lucky enough to get to go home for a couple days. Then this for labor day weekend I went to Maine. In the last 9 days I have been in the following airports; Albuquerque, Dallas, St. Louis, Chicago, Manchester, and Baltimore.

I've talked about many a Albuquerque trips so I'll just skip to my trip to Maine. The weekend was Greg's birthday and it just so happened that Chris was going to be up there, and then we called Spano to make four of us. Somehow that poor little sleepy town off the rocky cliffs of coastal Maine was able to not burn to the ground when the four of us entered and exited the city in a weekend. Greg was pretty excited that we were all able to make it up to see him. It was great to see those three again but we were still missing a couple people in "the crew" so we weren't complete but we were pretty darn close.

It is a pretty exciting time in all of our lives. I don't want to publicize the lives of people without their express written consent but we are all in great places. We all are in careers that we want to be in, we all are beginning to be successful, and self sufficient members of society. It's a little weird to think that when we met in college only a few years back we were all eating off the dollar menu and scrounging for change just so we could go out on the weekends. Now we can afford to go across the country just to hang out and have a good time.

As for me, I have 4 classes left till my degree (I'm sure most of you know that by now) and I can't be more excited for the next 8 months of my life. The Cowboys are about to start their season, and for the first time I'll be at the season opening game...and many others. The NBA season is about to start and now work is finally getting exciting after our Baron "asshole" Davis induced long summer. Classes are starting for the fall, and I have been rejuvenated by my friends and family this last week and a half. So I have a lot to be excited for, a lot to be thankful for, and a lot that is up in the air and as long as I have a positive attitude the (sorry about to get cliche) sky is the limit.

...who thinks of the rights and feelings of others rather than his own...

The last month and a half was pretty ridiculous for me but I made it out alive and better than ever. As most of you know, I just finished quite possibly the hardest semester of school in my life, combine that with a 40 hour work week and well I was a touch busy. The good news is I only have 4 classes left now and I should be done in April.

And now on with the show...

When I moved out to Dallas one of the first pieces of mail I received was a plaque with a very important creed on it. A couple people sent it to me so I wouldn't forget what was important in life and how to go about living it. They told me I taught them a lot about how to live by it and it was their house warming gift for me (or I guess apartment warming?). Well sorry gentlemen but I forgot about that creed recently. I have so much in my life to be thankful for and I am doing so well right now, why would I ever want to make life even the smallest bit more difficult or harder for someone? I wouldn't. In the grand scheme of life it wasn't a big issue but I still feel bad about it. More than bad I think I'm more embarrassed than anything else. But don't cry for me Argentina! At least I know I've made a mistake, and guess what? I now have the chance to make it better. I don't know exactly what I'll do, but going through life without righting your wrongs is like swimming frontwards doing the backstroke (go ahead picture that...kinda funny huh?). So I'll make it better, I'll learn, I'll be better for it, and I'll move one.

Aside from this blemish, I'm doing well. Today it was ridiculously hot and humid, tomorrow looks like it will bring much of the same. Oh how lucky you Albuquerque cats are.

Lucky number 13?

Ahhhhhh....

So apparently taking 3 graduate classes and working at the same time is a poor decision. You would have thought I would have learned that after the last time I did it. But nope I didn't. I was at school till midnight tonight, and tonight was my night "off". It's almost 1am and I'm wide awake now...damn. There is 13 days left in the trimester (not like I'm counting or anything) and it's getting a little hectic. There is a bit of excitement in the air for me though, after these 13 days are up I'll only have 4 classes left. The light is at the end of the tunnel...I hope.

I wouldn't hold your breath for another post till after school's out, but hey you never know.

**Alert**
This educational update is brought to you by Ricky Herrera and (insert school supply brand name here) keeping the youth of tomorrow educated till freaking midnight.