Oddballs (Vol. 1)

Alright... not sure if I'm gonna stick with runners or if I'm gonna branch out, but for this Oddball post, I'm gonna fill ya in, quickly, on Gerry Lindgren.

In 1964 he became on Olympian while still in high school. During that year he also set a world high school record of 13:44.0 for 5,000m. Ridiculously quick considering it was only '64, and he was only in high school. He won 11 NCAA championships in X-Country and Track and Field while attending Washington State University. While in high school he ran 25-35 miles A DAY! This is 175-245 miles per week. Then, just to prove it could be done, he ran 50 miles a day, for six consecutive weeks! He got married, had kids, bought a house, all that.

Then one day he up and leaves. His family couldn't find him. No one knew where Gerry Lindgren had gone, except for Gerry Lindgren. YEARS later he's tracked down in Hawaii. When his family went to visit and confronted him he denied he knew who they were. They left baffled. Then he said he remembered who they were and apologized. Then later he denied he knew them.

My opinion... this guy is messed up. He still lives in Honolulu, no clue whether he's remarried or what. Ha ha... what else can ya do but laugh and shake your head?!?

Accomplices

Along the way you meet people. Some of these people you end up becoming friends with. Some of these friends are Point-to-Point friends. Some stick around for a while, and you wish they wouldn't! Some stick around for a while, and you're eternally grateful for that. Perhaps they wish you wouldn't stick around, but they'd never tell you that. Well, here are some people I'm eternally grateful for. Oh, and if you're on this list, don't get pissed if you're not ahead of one person something... its not a popularity list. For some reason, this is the order people came to my head in.

Emily - What can I say? My soon-to-be wife and my best friend. She knows every single one of my buttons and isn't afraid to press them some days. Best looking female I've ever seen and damn smart to boot. We can relax and have a romantic night; avoid each other all day if we just seem get under each other's skin; get hammered and dance until the sun comes up. Not everyday you meet someone like this, which is why I snatched her up as soon as I could. (Easy easy... this is not a sexist comment... I don't OWN her... so don't.)

Bruju - "Colin, my goal is to get you completely hammered tonight!" I mean honestly, how can you not call this person a friend?!? Smart, creative cookie this one. Just don't leave your beer lying around too long. One of the most matter-of-fact people I've ever met. You'll know where you stand with the Brujer, thats for sure.

Telle - Known her for ages. My best-person for the wedding. I realize best-person isn't the greatest term, but "honor attendant" is, in my mind, worse. Anyways, until we find a better term for the position, we'll stick with what we have. Multi-talented chemist/artist/musician. The whole package. Brujer better pay attention to what he has and work hard to keep it!

Jim - Jamious Wardopolous. The famous Greek miler. Plays a mean guitar and cooks a damn fine steak. I've learned a lot from this guy. How to marinade; the existence of "Once... A Runner"; the finer points of beer drinking. All important aspects of life. He'll be the first person to make fun of you, but also the first to take you out if you feel like shit.

Bri - This fella knows which of life's levers and pulleys work, and which are just for show. So far he's pulled mostly all the right ones (I say mostly 'cause no one is perfect). Dating a cool gal; went to Michigan... NOT State; lives on a lake; rose to fame at the BGCL as the go-to-guy. Great guy to be on a Greyhound with for 3 straight days, and then cozy up to for 3 weeks in a 2-person tent. Emits a lot of heat, which is nice on those chilly nights.

Slice - Need to laugh? Call this guy. Within five seconds of the TV turning on, the first golf ball being hit on the range, or the first beer, this guy will have you in stitches. Again, another guy that will bend over backwards to make sure you're taken care of. Our first conversation in Grade 7... Me - "So, you like the Blue Jays?"... Slice - "Yup." The bell then rang signalling the end of recess and our imminent witty discussion about life, and other important items. For some reason he agreed to hang out with me, and I've been busting my ass to keep him around since.

Nats - My favourite cuz!! What can I say? This girl rocks. I hate the fact that I get to see her only every couple of years. But she is on my side for the wedding and so I'll get to see her soon enough!

Anne - Need motivation? Spend 5 minutes with this gal! She never stops, slows down, or even thinks about stopping or slowing down! Love her to death though and can't wait to cottage with her again next summer! We just need more beer next time Anne!

Aiden - Looks good in a tux. Doesn't smile in pictures. At least he didn't. Thought the camera would steal his soul if he did. Alright that was a lie but remember, its MY blog. Can play a mean axe and snagged a cool chick along the way. He's got it good.

Scrog/Joe T - You boys movin' back to Canada anytime soon?!? One meets a girl (Scrog) and moves to England. The other takes his girlfriend to NZ 'cause he's going to school, ends up proposing, and I haven't a clue when he's coming back home! Maybe if he sees this it'll inspire him to come for, at the very least, a visit?!?

Coop and Mitchie-O-K - Two of the coolest people on the planet. Bri... not to borrow a line from any upcoming publications from you, but everyone needs an Andrew Cooper in their life. Does anything bug this guy? Probably the only person I've met who paid rent for his entire stay in London with cases of beer. His room was whatever living room had a vacant couch in whoever's house. Not saying he was cheap, he just didn't give a shit. I'm glad he gave a shit enough to come to Ireland though. Wouldn't have been the same without him! Then there is Mitch... what a gal! Coop better realize what he has because I saw a line of guys outside their house waiting for her to dump his ass. Hopefully won't happen though. These two gel together. Nicely balanced, which is what you need to be. Mitch can get in the faces of two drunks quicker than you can say Guinness. She's good at keeping Coop out of trouble too.

Kais - I put Kais on this list not to piss off any other classmates by not including them on here, we're just the most alike. We don't get stressed, we like to take 'er easy, and we know when its time to hit the books, and when its time to put them away. As with many others on this list, you'll know where you stand with this mofo. This just makes life easier... doesn't it?

Well there y'are. Some of the people I've managed to keep in my rolodex over the years. Don't worry if you're not on this list, I didn't have all the time in the world. You'll probably make it on later. Thanks for reading!

A Bit About Me...

So... you've stumbled upon my blog and so I feel it necessary to fill ya in on some, but not all, aspects of me. If I gave you it all in one post it would take a lot to convince you to keep coming back. So here are some random thoughts.

People get way too stressed about way too many things. Life is pretty damn easy. Thats not an arrogant thought. I'm not perfect. I have debt, ugly feet, you know... just shit goin' on. But unless your life is in danger, just relax. Work on one problem at a time, and you'll find you may end up alright.

Pearl Jam is the greatest band ever. While writing this little section, Gimme Some Truth was coming out of my speakers. While I know it was written by John Lennon, Pearl Jam decided to cover it and this particular version is from the Madison Square Garden concert, July 8th, 2003. If you haven't heard it, let me know. I'll get it to you somehow.

I've never owned a car. Never. Maybe its because I bike everywhere, and figure whats the use in owning a car? I have a bike. Had the urge to buy one a couple times, literally a couple of times.

Everyone should get outside and run/walk/bike/rollerblade/whatever for at least half an hour a day. Do it before you go to work, during lunch, after work, to and/or from work. But everyone should do it. It should be a law. I mean, its half an hour! Thats it. Another example of life being easy.

One of the best movie scenes of all time is in a movie called Human Traffic. Jip sees a guy in the bar while he's ordering a drink that he sorta knows. He ends up having to make small talk for the agonizinly long 2 minutes it takes for him to get a pint. After, he explains how easier life would be if you could just tell the person what you really feel. Example "You know, I don't really like you and we're never going to be friends. I have nothing against you, I just don't feel like taking the time to get to know you. As I'm sure you don't want to do the same on your end. Take care. Hope I don't see you again." No small talk, no lies, just truth. I didn't do the scene justice with that explanation, so rent the movie. The rest of it is good too.

Why do people get autographs? I have one. Haile Gebreselassie. It was given to me. I would never ask for one though. Don't know why people do.

I don't care that Nick and Jessica broke up. What pisses me off is that I know who Nick and Jessica are.

Weekends should include Friday. Honestly... five days working and then two off? Give me a break. Some people work six or seven days a week. Monday to Thursday. Perfect.

Dave Matthew Band has not done anything different in about 6 or 7 years. I wish they would. I used to love that band. I still dig their music, but am waiting for some new stuff that is completely different from anything else they've put out. Its like Rage Against the Machine... by the time the third record came out I just wanted to hear the guitars and drums, and I wanted Zach to shut up. Yes I know people are being oppressed. I wish they weren't. But please sing about something else. Not trying to be insensitive... am I coming across as that? Meh...

Anyways... theres some stuff. Nothing controversial... this time. I'm sure there will be a couple occasions where I post stuff on here after a solid night of consumption that may have to be taken down a couple days later, but until then this is what you get.

Pre

Still experimenting with pics and the layout of this whole thing. Not a bad picture to experiment with though. My favourite runner of all time... narrowly beating out Haile Gebreselassie. Only by a stride. 

Here We Go...

First post, first blog site, first crack at this. Figuring all of this out, so give me time!