Locked Out

      Since March of this year, the National Football League has been in full-on lockout mode.  It has been almost half a year of constant discussion about a group of billionaire owners fighting with a group of millionaire players about money.  Lately it seems as though the lockout may be coming to an end, possibly as soon as next week, all depending on whether or not the players union agrees upon the currently proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement from the owners.  For many NFL fanatics, this news is causing euphoria amongst the masses, precious football will not be lost (except the Hall of Fame game between the Chicago Bears & St. Louis Rams but who gives a shit about preseason) I've always been a fan of football and am very much appreciative of the fact that it seems no regular season games will be lost and one of my favorite hobbies (fantasy football) will not be hindered.  I also get to rage at the ineptitude of Jay Cutler & his offensively bad offensive-line.  All of this is bittersweet for me because of something going on in my favorite sport.  The National Basketball Association has just entered lockout mode a few weeks back and it looks about 100x's messier than the NFL's.  Just when I think I'm done hearing about the bullshit that is union/owners disputes in sports, the NBA decides to prolong it.

Oh Yeah, I Have a Blog (Mischief Managed)

     So here's my obligatory "Oh shit, haven't posted in this thing in over a week' article.  I swear I have a good reason!  This past week has been...hectic...to say the least.  I was originally dealing with some pretty significant and draining emotional/personal problems (problems that have since been resolved, it's amazing what you can get done in a week)  Then on Tuesday, I went in for an MRI on my back (an MRI given to me because I have right hamstring problems and the doctors wanted to see what the fuck was wrong with me) and they discovered I had an extremely significant herniated disc in my spine...

And You Wonder Why I Love Sports So Much

     I already know that, even though not many people read this thing, I am going to lose even more potential viewers from the title alone.  I haven't written in this thing for a couple days, which is probably a good thing.  If I write a blog entry, it normally means that something was keeping me from sleeping and I was looking for something to occupy myself.  Unfortunately that's happened again tonight, so here I am.  I'm switching things up a little bit, I guess.  For the first two entries, I listened to my iPod while writing and it got me pretty emotional.  What am I doing tonight?  I'm watching the Indigo Plateau season of Pokemon online.  Maybe that will put me in better spirits?  We'll have to wait and see.

Song Spotlight

     I've come to realize over the past 20 and a half years of my life that a lot of times, there won't be anyone around to listen to you when you're feeling hopeless.  My main problem in this department is the fact that I allow my anxiety to get the best of me during the most lonely hours.  4-8 AM?  Decent shot that I'm feeling pretty crappy.  Couple that with the fact that I'm one stubborn asshole when it comes to actually sharing with people just what exactly is eating at me.  Yep, that's me, the annoying dude who Tweets a sad message but then brushes people away when they ask what's wrong with a simple "It's nothing to worry about, honestly"  I often times wonder just why people even bother with me anymore.  I don't run to my phone to text someone and ask them to vent or sign on Skype and call someone to unleash a fury of sadness.  You may see a vaguely depressing Tweet (most likely a song lyric) but you'll never see an emotional outcry begging someone to understand my despair or bashing the people around me.  I love every one of my friends, whether they know it or not, they mean the world to me.  That is exactly why I DON'T come to them, I know so much of my friends have enough to worry about in their own lives, they don't need my bullshit bringing them down as well.  

   
     I swear all of this has a meaning, it's my introduction to the first ever Song Spotlight.  When I get upset or depressed, I turn to my iPod.  80 GB of therapy, for the past 4 years this thing has kept me sane in my darkest hours.  Instead of flipping out and punching a hole in the wall or running to the refrigerator and drowning my sorrows in alcohol, I lay down and put the headphones in my ears.  Do I completely forget about my problems?  Absolutely not.  The songs put them in perspective.  They show me that even though I am completely miserable, I can relax listening to someone I admire sing about the exact same issues.  This post is going to showcase a particular song that has and/or is taking over my life...

Popped My Blog Cherry

     For years I have heard the same question from my friends & family “Why don’t you have your own blog?” I never really had a substantial answer for any of them. Often times I would respond with a simple “Uhhh, I don’t know..” and then you best believe I changed the subject. Truth be told, I knew exactly why I didn’t have a blog. The idea of running a blog I knew nobody would read felt unfulfilling and down right embarrassing. So I create a blog that only I read and maybe a couple trolls who decide to leave their mark in the comment section? Sounds like fun.