Dude

Dude.
Dude.
Duuuude.
2 more days on crutches.
I'm sad. no baseball in October.
Dude.

Day 3

Today will be the last day of the Master Cleanse.  I made an executive decision and it comes down to this:  I did clean eating for 2 days prior to the Master Cleanse and will do 3 days of continued clean eating after today.  Total days of eating no real food equals 7-8 days.  That is good for me.  I didn't get to play soccer again last night.  I have no energy.  They say it comes on day 5 or so since much of the energy that is used in digestion is available for clarity and your stomach and digestive system really starts to clear out.  Let me just say, this process is ridiculous.  I can't even believe people do this for great lengths of time and love it.  It will for sure be much easier in the winter when there aren't birthday parties and cookouts every weekend.  I may try it again then.  There's nothing wrong with a juice cleanse either.  I believe it to be just as effective and I think in the future, I'll go with that option.  In the meantime, i long for chewing and tasting real food on Saturday.  I went to Wegmans on my lunch break to prep for tomorrow's juicing and Friday's soup/raw foods meals.  Love that place, always spend too much money.  Can't wait to have a new taste in my mouth.  4 more tough hours to grind through.  Arg.  At least the O's are on now so I can have something to do.

Day 2

Day 2 of the Master Cleanse.  Feeling good.  This morning was the first day I have tried the Salt Water Flush.  It was not enjoyable.  I almost threw it up by the time I drank it all.  It's hard enough drinking that much liquid, then throw in the salty taste.  foul.  but i think it did the job.  actually i'm not sure.  i took a crap, but i'm not sure if it was due to the SWF or just the normal from the lax tea last night.  whatevs.  i decided to weigh myself and i weigh more since i started.  it's def water weight.  I did however think that i was going to be perpetually hungry throughout this process, but i'm not.  there is a bit of uncomfort, but i'm not sure if you would call it being hungry.  I've had my moments though.  tonight, i'm going to the O's game.  boo for not eating and drinking at the Yard.  but then again, it's good for me in terms of discipline and health.  During the cleanse kick, i've been watching some of the cool healthy food documentaries on Netflix, which included Forks Over Knives.  Today, I visited their website and discovered this crazy story about an Ultramarathoner, Rich Roll.  

Ew.  Inspiring, yet slightly disturbing.  New Hero.

The Master Cleanse

Today is Day 1 of The Master Cleanse.  This past weekend, I did the "Ease In" (eating all raw foods, then just pure vegetable/fruit juice) and I must say that it was easier than I thought it would be.  That is not to say that it was easy.  If you are not familiar with the Master Cleanse, it is described as the "Lemonade Diet."  (i.e. the diet that Beyonce used to shed 20 lbs for her "Dream Girls" role).

Let's be honest though - I am not using this as a diet for weight loss, rather to cleanse my body of toxins.  I had some weird stomach problems last week and so I figured I would at least attempt it.  The lemonade concoction consists of lemon juice, grade b maple syrup, and cayenne pepper (& water).  Another key to the Master Cleanse is to do a salt water flush (warm salt water) in the morning before you start your day and to drink a laxative tea at night.  It was suggested that you don't start the SWF until Day 2, so I didn't do that this morning, but did drink the tea last night.  So far, so good.  I really thought I'd be starving all day...oh but wait, I am.  I guess my mind set is the ultimate goal, so I'm grinding through.  I hear it should be easier come Day 4 and following (as far as the hunger pains).  I hope to get to Day 10, but I'd be good if I can get through this week and feel good.  10 days is a long time without a burger, plus 2-4 days before/after the cleanse for the ease in/out is 2+ weeks.  Perhaps too long.  If I start feeling nasty with no energy at the end of the week, I'll prob be pretty tempted to give in.  I mean, i had to give up soccer tonight.  and 2 weeks in a row is kinda extreme.

#np

Let me make this brief:  now playing on my iPhone (random shuffled mix):

1. She's Country - Jason Aldean
2. Gettin' Jiggy Wit It - Will Smith
3. I Knew I Loved You - Savage Garden
4. She Cranks my Tractor - Dustin Lynch
5. Crown Him (Majesty) - Chris Tomlin (feat. Kari Jobe)
6. Fakin' - Lecrae (feat. Thi'sl)
7. Shoop - Salt-N-Pepa
8. Just Give Me a Reason - P!nk (feat. Nate Ruess)
9. Fake ID - Big & Rich (feat. Gretchen Wilson)
10. Art of Love - Guy Sebastian (feat. Jordin Sparks)
11. Strawberry Wine - Deana Carter
12. Get It Poppin - Fat Joe (feat. Nelly)
13. Right By My Side - Nicki Minaj (feat. Chris Brown)
14. Mirrors - Justin Timberlake

The 20/20 Experience is money.  JT is money.  Genius status in my mind.

One more week left in busy season.  Hopefully, this time next week, I'll be dunzo and not be working on a Saturday afternoon.  

Seriously, I'm on my last string; about to punch someone in the face.  Email me if you want to be that someone.

yo.  i was pretty much lazy and did nothing this entire weekend.  did not work out and ate as much as a fat person, ok, maybe not AS much.  To be honest, i could really care less.  haha.  what can i say, i love sweatpants and i eat cake in bed.

 

i finally got to watch the new Footloose.  yeah, the one with Julianne Hough, not Kevin Bacon.  it had been sitting in my queue on Netflix for a long time.  it was pretty good; i actually enjoyed it.

...and there was lots of honky tonk and country line dancing.

elbow patches are money.

i hate when this happens:

Also, please hit up Artifact Coffee in Bmore.  It's a super cool joint.

only 6 more sleeps till the Ravens play in the SuperBowl!

Return to the AFC Championship

I love Baltimore.  There's a certain pride I've always had for my hometown, but only recently have I come to know it as my own.  Can you believe the Ravens game on Saturday?  It was so ridiculous; probably one of the greatest games of all time.  I mean, Ray Lewis is nasty to watch.  I love his passion for the game, for his team, and for this city.  

...and that pass to tie it at the end of the game from Flacco to J.Jones?...ridiculous.

...reaction to the win...

Hilarious.  It cracks me up every time.

Can the Ravens beat the hype of the O's making the playoffs this year ?  I dunno.  The O's in October was pretty siiick.  almost unbeatable in my mind.  I mean, it had been 15 years.

...And another week has begun.  ha-humbug.  boo.

Natty Champs again | Fundraiser event

Hi again.

If you didn't hear, the Messiah College Men's and Women's soccer teams won the NCAA Division III Championships AGAIN this year.  I was very fortunate to be able to watch MWS win the trophy down in San Antonio, TX.  (Wasn't able to make the men's game.)  MWS played well against a team that they had previously lost to early in the season (Emory).  Honestly, I don't think that MWS was ever threatened, and I was confident that we would come out with the win, after we scored the game's first and only goal.  I must confess, this is the first time that I've been to the final four/final since I was a player back in 2002; so yeah, i guess it's been 10 years...and yes, it was the first national championship win that I had been a part of.  How awesome.  Brandon Fisher tweeted: "Even as my piece of Messiah Soccer tradition gets smaller and smaller I find myself prouder and prouder of that tiny contribution." Well said brother.  Hmm - 5 stars looks soooo much better!

So Christmas is less than 3 weeks away!  WTF.  I'm not ready!  i'm kinda stressing about gifts.  I was just in NYC for work and it. was. crazy.  i felt like the grinch, bc i was like, walk faster and get out of my way and stop taking pictures to all of the tourists. arg.  

Big event coming up this Sunday.  Stop on by and support a great cause!

Let's make the most of the night like we're gonna die.

MAC Champs...again

6 in a row.  they are that good, that dominant, and this alumnus is that proud.

oh and btw, they won the conf championship, 7-0...against Stevenson.  I can't say that Stevenson is good; only that MWS is that good and that dominant.  Now on to the NCAAs!

I'm excited for this event tonight.

...then I'll be starting on a pre-holiday diet.

i need a new fridge.

except Taylor Swift

oh hey.  I'm watching the CMAs:  ummm, pretty stoked, except to see Taylor Swift.

and Yes, it did happen #gangnamstyle

who's ready for the weekend?  i.am.  

Sandy, you B

Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast yesterday.  Hm.  It just kinda felt surreal.  Fortunately for Baltimore, MD, we were spared from the worst of the storm.  My sister lives in NJ, at the Shore and was not so lucky.  She sent these photos (from different sources) at around 1 pm yesterday.  

 Atlantic City, NJ

Hoboken, NJ

Red Bank, NJ

Seaside (Boardwalk), NJ

Tuck, NJ

Yikes!  Thank God, they ended up moving at the beginning of this year to Point Pleasant, away from the coast.  

I'm currently watching the news, since our office is closed this morning.  The streets in NJ/NY were flooded last night and this morning it looks like a beach on the streets, with sand throughout.  I just hope Glide made it ok, with only minimal damage.  I'm sure there is some, but I pray it's only minimal.  It's also crazy to see NYC, the subway, Times Square - deserted and ROCKED.  The NYSE even closed yesterday and today.  wowsers!  welp.  time to go to work now.  

Catch-up

How are things going?  

There are so many things to catch up on tonight.  Where do i begin...well, the weather has been fall-tastic these last few weeks!  I love this time of year, where the air is crisp and the leaves are colorful - magnificent!  We have soccer season now in full swing, football season mid-way and still on the rise, and baseball in October is at it's peak.

So my soccer team at Loyola is ok. We didn't qualify for regionals - oh well.  But coaching keeps me busy 3 days during the week.  Both Messiah soccer teams are still up in the rankings, but who knows how far they will really go.  We (MWS) have a young team this year.  I saw the team play a few games at the beginning of the season, so it is tough to gauge what their potential could have been and how they are playing now.  we'll have to see.  i think there are 2 more regular season games left to go, then playoffs.

Flag football practice began at the beginning of the season for church.  it's kinda a big deal.  it's fun and we run real plays and wear those sticky receiver gloves and everything.  tournament day is the saturday after Thanksgiving, so officially we have 4 more practices to perfect our play.

This weekend I'm heading up to Philly to run in the 21st Annual Lupus Loop, a 5k in honor of my mother who passed away at the end of August.  It would mean a lot if you could donate to this cause.  My mother suffered for many years, mainly from Lupus and of course, donations would go to research in finding the causes of and cure for Lupus.  There are many friends who have already donated and I thank you for your kindness.

I need some new pumps.

i wanna be able to do pull-ups again.

sad day: RayRay done for the season :(

Want

Need

Read

I will now resume my place on the couch, watching TV and feeling like poo.  goodday mate.

my next 30 years

Such a cool morning.  Quiet.  Lovely.  Reflection.

Lots of things, good things, bad things, fun things, sad things that happened this summer.  

Here's to my next 30 years:

My Next Thirty Years (Tim McGraw)

I think I'll take a moment, celebrate my age

The ending of an era and the turning of a page

Now it's time to focus in on where I go from here

Lord have mercy on my next thirty years

Hey my next thirty years I'm gonna have some fun

Try to forget about all the crazy things I've done

Maybe now I've conquered all my adolescent fears

And I'll do it better in my next thirty years

My next thirty years I'm gonna settle all the scores

Cry a little less, laugh a little more

Find a world of happiness without the hate and fear

Figure out just what I'm doing here

In my next thirty years

Oh my next thirty years, I'm gonna watch my weight

Eat a few more salads and not stay up so late

Drink a little lemonade and not so many beers

Maybe I'll remember my next thirty years

My next thirty years will be the best years of my life

Raise a little family and hang out with my wife

Spend precious moments with the ones that I hold dear

Make up for lost time here, in my next thirty years

In my next thirty years

I don't feel older, but wiser and invincible.  Thanks be to God.

Billy Currington in New Orleans

I was just in New Orleans; and in my routine browse of country music videos on VEVO, I ran across this good guy.  i know you prob don't listen to country music, but remember that one time when you got married there and we rode that trolly and walked those streets?  I loved every minute of it.

Love Done Gone - Billy Currington

What the heck is up

I don't really blog that much during the summer.  Not really sure why, but I don't.  But I figured it's about time since it is already August and you are probably just wondering what the heck is up.

Heh, hang in there, it's a long one.

Well, first of all, who is hyped up about the Olympics!?  So exciting!!  even though, I will admit that i haven't been watching every night prime time, but i keep up live through twitter, especially during the day as I am *working*. 

Legendary Phelps.

Go USA! and kinda Korea.

[would love this hoody, btw]

...and espesh USWNT.  PS. if you haven't fallen in love with the personalities of the US Women's soccer team (i.e. Rapinoe, Wambach, Cheney, Tobes, Morgan etc.) what is wrong with you?!!

looking forward to the gold medal match this afternoon.  rematch to last summer's WWC final v. Japan.  woot / woot

Ok, enough with that.  today, i leave for NOLA.  Wedding time, again.  and just so there are no surprises, i'm wearing the same dress that i wore for the last wedding i went to.  i think it cost me 9.99 at Target, and honestly, it may be a bathing suit cover-up - not entirely sure about that one.  buuuut - yeah.  oh well.  i didn't have time (nor make the time) to dress/shoe shop.  sorry to disappoint you.

Last night, i played soccer with my brother.  It's been such a long time since we've played together, and between me and you - he is very rusty and out of shape.  but what can i say, so were the 8 other people.  frustrating, but sometimes, you just gotta take over the game.  we lost - boo.

Soccer season starts next month - yikes and yay both at the same time.  that just means, I'll be busier, with more responsibility.  calendar will be jammed packed with coaching, playing, AND watching.  oh yeah, and football season is also around the corner.  In fact, the Ravens open their season tonight...well, pre-season, that is.  Maybe we can catch the last of the game when we check-in tonight.

Money Song:  Day That I Die - Zac Brown Band (feat. Amos Lee)

Money outfit:  Red, white, and blue - with flats

Enjoy your day!

Excited times two

1.  The Olympics:  Yo London.  Even though the opening ceremonies are not until Friday, the US Women's National soccer team played and beat France today.  Big time come back from a 0-2 deficit to win it in the second half 4-2.  I personally thought they played terrible, but found a way to overcome that.  Still loved it.  Love the team, love the players, love the sport.  Highlights

...and you know that the best is yet to come!

2.  The Phillies:  they are hot and have won 4 straight nail biters...ok, they are still in last place in the division, but hey...it's still exciting to see.  Additionally, can't be disappointed seeing Cole Hammels signing the LT deal-EO.  i just hope they are able to contend for a spot in the playoffs.

...and one more thing.  going to OCMD tomorrow night for the weekend.  hooray.

I am busy

Sorry guys - i've been a little busy.  ok, maybe just lazy.

anyways, tonight starts a long weekend for me, so i'm super stoked.  i'm hangin' with my oldest bff to celebrate her turning 30.  first NYC then the Jersey Shore.  i'm sure there will be a lot of eating, sleeping, tanning, and laughing.
yay. bay. hay. gay.

so i've decided

Time is wasting away; i'm looking for a good investment.  (Money market) interest rates are still below 1%, which means saving money in the bank is kinda just worthless.  sometimes you need to take a risk and make a move, like swing for the fence, as opposed to being passive, a base on balls, for example.  

Plus, mortgage rates (wow) are lower than ever.  it's kinda a no brainer to refi my current mortgage, but for some reason, i am too lazy to make it happen.  I've been sitting back for way too long, waiting for THE perfect opportunity (that for some reason never came around).  Hm.  So i've decided, this summer is GO time.  An investment will be made.  If not in something tangible, it will be an investment in opportunity or potential business.  guaranteed.

it's supposed to be gorgeous this race weekend.  it's a good thing, because i wouldn't be looking forward to running in the rain, heat, or humidity.  yessir, i'm headed up to Philly for the Broad Street Run.  (ahem, that would be the greatest 10 miler in the country.)  today, that is to pick-up my race packet and to check out the running festival.  those are always fun.  Race in the AM on Sunday - yay/yikes/woo.

running shoes - check.  playlist - check.  6 solid weeks of training - check.  ready? - eh.

ahh, Philly, the city of brotherly love, home of Rocky Balboa and of course, my beloved sports teams who are doing work this weekend:  Playoffs for the Flyers and Sixers!  Phillies: visiting the Nats in DC.  Now if only there was something to talk about with the Eagles.  Naaaah, who really cares about the NFL.

Justin Timberlake

I just read that Justin Timberlake is launching an affordable home decor line www.homemint.com

Ew, but did you know about these?:

His restaurants in NYC - Southern Hospitality

His clothing line - William Rast which was also featured at Target last year

...which includes a pretty stylish eyewear line

The face of the new Givenchy Play Sport scent

I also heard that he was a sick snowboarder, golfer, and bballer.  not to mention that he is a semi-successful actor, formerly successful singer, boy bander and songwriter...and i'm sure much more to come.

I kinda just wish *NSYNC was still around.

why hello weekend

Let's just start with TGIF.  like seriously.

I'm about to crash, so that's what i'm planning on doing tonight.  it's funny because on friday nights, i do everything that i try so hard to avoid doing throughout the week.  For instance, i just gorged my face with junk food and drank 2 glasses of ginger ale.  that would never happen on a tuesday.  totes not going running tonight.  although this past week, i was very faithful in my training.  On Thursday, i even ran the 10 miles at pace and it felt so good.  it's about time...one week till race day!

If you haven't heard, Loyola University (MD) MLAX is #1 in the country.  I was totes planning on going to the game tomorrow against JHU; but apparently, it's sold out.  great.  what a bummer.  i'll prolly just ride my bike up to the field and pretend that i'm being all casual and come to find out there's a LAX game going on.  what a surprise.

Things that i AM looking forward to this weekend though are:  this friday night of doing nothing (like online browsing, watching netflix, and eating more junk food).  good preparation for my long run tomorrow morning.  a little cooking and cleaning in the afternoon.  bbq evening.  farmer's market sunday morning.  church softball afternoon.  Flyers playoffs - round 2 baby.

As i mentioned above, the Broad Street Run is next Sunday morning, so i'll be rock'n Philly in a week.  Oh, and Preakness at Pimlico is also next Saturday.  I've never been, except for the casual bike ride up the block to observe.  i'm sure that will happen again this year.

#np - Somethin 'Bout A Truck - Kip Moore

Represent

so you probably thought it was never coming.  woohoo.  a fresh post.  so i can't even remember the last thing that i shared.  but.  things have simmered down a little bit in life.  another busy season (at work) has passed.  what a relief!  i love summer and the feeling of just having some time to catch up.  this past week we had some great weather.  so i bought a new grill.  i played soccer 4 times last week.  the broad street run is in 2 weeks - yikes!

Yesterday, was the annual alumni soccer game at Messiah College.  I am proud to say that i was one of 2 representing the class of 2004, which was also the oldest class represented.  (let me clarify in saying one of two who played.)  

yeah, let's see how you do 8 years out. such a great thing to be able to catch up with old teammates and see their faces.  it's a weird (but great) thing to see faces and automatically think back to good memories and the passion of the game we shared.  those times will forever be seared in my mind.  ok, obsessive?  maybe.  but perhaps you already knew that.  i try to hide it, but on days like yesterday, i can't help but bask in it all.

ok, moving on now...it's supposed to be all rainy today.  and i was planning on going back down to the  Baltimore farmer's market this morning, but i'm not walking around in the rain.  and i kinda just wanted to sip coffee and eat a hearty homemade omelette this morning.  gotta love a lazy sunday morning.  in about twenty minutes though, i'll be rushing around trying to get ready for church.

Game 6 tonight for the Flyers at the Fargo.  Better pull it off boys.  i will just leave it at that.

it felt so good

today i left work at 5ish.  felt real good.  

i went for a 5mi-ish run.  felt eh, good (minus the hail storm).

the flyers won in OT.  game 1 in the NHL Playoffs - came back from a 3-0 deficit to win at Pittsburgh.  eat it.

the phillies finally won big at CBP with Halliday on the mound.  i've missed these guys.

thank goodness for technology in mlb.tv and streaming flyers radio.

it all just felt so good.