Ok, so you read the title of this blog title and figured we were talking weather right? Well it was 115 one day last week, but it's since dropped back down to a manageable 104-105. We can all do that right? Hey, it's only May still and we've got 4-1/2 more months of burning heat to go...
Well actually this is an update on a previously unpublished post about my goals for 2011. I took the time this year to actually write down some personal goals and I'm trying my best to stick to them. I've never been a resolution guy at the start of the year, and I've never been one to write down goals. I tend to keep things that I want to accomplish at the front of my thoughts and just plow forward. Well a friend at work emailed me his goals out of the blue earlier this year and I really liked them, so I decided to think through some expansive goals this year.....Drum roll......
1. Play 1 song on the guitar - A close friend of mine, as well as my loving sister, think that "Closer to Fine" by the Indigo Girls is the perfect starter. Great. This is a wonderful acoustic guitar song, but not the easiest kick-off to my strumming career. I've got the first lick down though, then it heads towards scratching and grinding...but I'm on my way! I'm stammering through a few chords below.
2. Complete all Thunderbird courses - So far so good. A trip to Switzerland, a tough battle with Data Management, and I'm still on track.
3. Read 6 books (1 Business, 1 Fiction, 1 History, 1 Business History, 1 War History) - I've read Andrew Sorkin's Too Big To Fail as well as Last of the Tycoons, so I've got Business History taken care of. I'm currently reading The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, so I'm on my way to knocking History off the list as well. American Negotiating Strategies will take care of Business, so I've got to choose a War History and a Fiction novel. These aren't the only books I'll read, I'm just making a point to have a nice balance on top of the normal topics I like to dive into.
4. Swim a 200 Butterfly - Yama Hama! Yep, I've added a whopper to the list. Late last year my loving Mother sent me an article from the Wall Street Journal about how people are now swimming butterfly in place of freestyle. Gag. For some reason it intrigued me enough to drop this doozy into my 2011 Goals.
Now for those of you who don't know me, I'm quite the B-Swimmer. While my giggling sister was slashing her way to victories at County, North Coast Championships, Junior Nationals, and others, I was sloshing my way to 36th place at North Coast and a sound victory at Junior County ("Junior" is self explanatory here), which ultimately placed me at about 48th fastest in the whole area. If doubters exist, my Mom even busted-out some awesome photos of my past glory.
I'm not the first one in here, but second is ok for me, smack dab in lane #4, where the burners swim. I claimed victory in this bad boy, along with style-points for most ineffective dive entry. The spread-arms, head-smacking-water entry is a trademark of mine.
So I'm heading to the pool every night and my yardage is up significantly. I've actually started to consider a run at the 2012 Water Polo World FINA Championships in Italy with a team from Los Angeles. I'd play in the 35-40 league, which is very, very competitive, so I'd have to be in very good shape. I'm up to 2500 meters in a little under an hour, but I'll need to probably be doing double days if I really wanted to play. I figured I'd give it 6 months and see where I'm at, then make a decision.
Anyway, this mid-life charge to water polo glory can only be supported by Goal #4, the looming 200 meter butterfly. I am up to a full 75 and it feels like the Grim Reaper has visited during this swim; my "turtling" (an almost verticle, hunched-arm, lactic-acid induced state of swimming) is in full-force the last 10 meters. I figure a 100 meter by the end of June and I'm on the downhill slope. Like Rocky Balboa, in order to stay pumped-up for my title bout, I've pulled out an inspirational photo.
Now if that doesn't get you fired-up, I don't know what will. Stay tuned for some awesome, regular updates everyone!
Great goals and good progress on them!!!!! I know your supportive family is pulling for you as far as the butterfly yardage is concerned....we feared for your life during a few of those butterfly events at the Junior County meets....who wouldn't after seeing the frightening grimace of pain and desperation on your face, as seen in the photo...but I know you will fulfill your butterfly goal now if you don't have to travel away too much-keep us posted...you are doing awesome so far...
ReplyDeleteMatt, you are definitely not in the Junior County of bloggers-this post ripped it up! Can't wait to hear Closer to Fine (I could attempt the vocals for you, my singing would only make your guitar playing sound better). You & guitars look comfortable together. Also, in terms of a good Fiction book, Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers is excellent (ask Brian-one of his favs). On a serious note, I love the goals and am so glad to see your pondering the FINA Championships. That would be insane & so much fun!
ReplyDeleteLastly, way to top off the most amazing blog by including the photo of the century!