Hurricane Katrina

So as the stories come in from Louisiana about the damage from this latest natural disaster, it is becoming more apparent that this is a national emergency. My father actually lives in Baton Rouge, but thankfully he and my family there weathered the storm with no damage to the house or them, just lots of debris to clean up. The news stories are just horrific seeing places I've been to just disappear from the map. The road my father used to get to work and pick me up from the airport in New Orleans is basically just gone. The lake picked up peaces of it and moved them to who knows where. I'm still in a debate about whether I should get off my lazy butt and do something about it, since I've always wanted to do something for my fellow countrymen. So if you read about me dropping out of school for the semester to go to New Orleans and help with the relief effort, don't be too surprised...

Surfboard Wax and Vegas?

Ok, so I know that surfboard wax and vegas really don't seem like they belong together, but somehow they both have to do with my life lately. So I've had this trip to Vegas planned for a long time now, to go celebrate my friend Ashley's 21st birthday. While I'm writing this I actually only have 17 hours until I arrive there ready to tear up the town. Well while this whole trip has been developing my step-father approaches me one night while I'm finalizing the tickets and rides to the airport and asks me, "So Chris, what would you think about running a surfboard wax company with me?". Now this one really caught me off guard, so I turned away from the computer and stuttered out "Uhhh...umm...What the HELL!?". So he goes on to explain to me that a friend of his is selling his company for a really good price and would like to know if we were interested in taking it over. The next day comes along and we talk it over and run the numbers over with his friend and we decide to take on this fun endeavor. So these last 2 weeks have been spent making things legal, picking a name, creating a logo, starting up a website and actually making lots and lots of surfboard wax. Suffice it to say this past month has been a very interesting one, and looks to get even better. Next update will come when the website goes up and I have a copy of the logo to put up...

Summer Winding Down

So as this summer is starting to wind down to an end I've decided to set a final goal for myself to achieve by the time school starts. With the loss of my license earlier in the summer due to the medical fun times, I've been stuck here in my apartment a lot, and I'm starting to hate not having the ability to get out and do things. So my goal is to pull together enough money to get myself a moped... but, as you all know, I'm not one to go small. I've had my eyes set on this bike for a long time now, but just never went for it since I was always so close to getting my license back. Well this time I just can't take it, plus hell, the gas mileage on this baby is amazing. Anyways here is a look at what will soon be my new baby, and the third love in my life (oh and don't ask what the other two are, because I don't feel like going there just yet).

Living in Florida...

So today is July 8th, the day after the most recent terrorist attack on the "Free World" in London. I want to start this out by sending out my deepest regrets to those who lost loved ones in these attacks, and my prayers are with the city of London. Stand strong as we will stand with you in these coming days. Now back to the home front of Florida, where we are having what is being called the most active Hurricane Season on record since we have had four named storms before any other year in known history. Florida has already been grazed by a tropical storm and Denis is starting it's attack on the Keys and the west coast of Florida throughout this weekend. I just hope this year doesn't end up like last year, because this time I don't have anywhere to fly off to like I did during all of the prior strikes on Florida. Oh well, looks like I'll have to find another evacuation plan, lol.

Doctors Appointment

So this morning I woke up and went to see my new neurologist, finally one that specializes in epilepsy. So as the conversation with my new doctor progresses, she brings up the subject of the drug that I'm taking to control my seizures and her first question is: "So Chris have your cognative abilities and grades been since you've started your medication?". So I give her the story of how I'm just stupid and can't seem to get anything right in college and start to blame myself for just sucking at college and then BAM! She cuts me off and tells me that the drug I'm on tends to cause problems in students and she decides then and there that I need to change drugs because my college career is probably, I will say probably because I still blame part of this situation on myself, screwed over due to my previous doctors lack of proper care. Man I love the timing of shit in my life.

Shark Season

Well shark season is now in full swing, thankfully I haven't taken a trip to the beach this weekend. A young "person" was killed up in the panhandle earlier today (Saturday) by an unknown shark. They've had to shutdown all of the beaches in the area for a short time. Now maybe people will listen to me when I tell them that Florida has one of the highest shark attack rates in the World and they'll be smart when they get in the water. I know this won't keep me out of the ocean anytime soon, but it sure as hell will make me more aware of my surroundings when I'm in the water. Hope all goes well with everyone else this summer and let me know if you want to go surfing, because I'm always up for taking people out, lol.

Freedoms Great Foe
As I open the door I can taste the salt
I step onto the pavement and my feet start to burn
The breeze picks up as I slide out my board
The sand cools my feet while the hum clears my mind
My energy grows as I rub on the wax
The whitewater transfers its energy into my body
Wave after wave tries to hold me back
I push past each one without relent
Joining the line I begin to escape reality
Sitting there waiting for something to challenge
My eyes catch my foe through the glare off the water
As it approaches I glimpse into the future
Leaving my inhibitions in the wake behind me
My foe rears up showing off its might
I let go of all the energy stored in my body
Racing my foe to that perfect spot
As it tries to throw me I grab at the rails
Pushing myself up into that feeling of freedom

Just a little something I came up with about a year ago while I was dreaming about going surfing. It came back to my mind as this weekend comes to an end and I've yet to touch the water. Unfortunately it's not the best of creations but it sort of explains why surfing is so therapeutic to me. There is a lot of word-play in there, and even more mixed meanings, but I think if you know me you will have no trouble understanding it all.

Spanish Lesson for the Day

Albiceleste - From what I can find out the rough translation is "white and light blue". Lately I had been seeing this in a lot of news articles pertaining to the World Cup and it sparked my interest when I learned it is commonly used as the name of the Argentine national soccer team. Which makes perfect sense when you put together the fact that Argentina's national colors are white and light blue. I guess in the past I have heard names for other national teams, like the Australian socceroos, but for some reason I just couldn't place this one until I was hit over the head with it. Anyways, Argentina has started the Confederations Cup strong with a win over the African champs Tunisia while Germany defeated Australia. On a last note, I hope the weather clears up soon here, if it keeps storming like this I won't get my chance to go surfing on Friday, which as you'll find out is one of my other outlets...

Soccer, Again...

So I know most of you out there don't follow soccer, but right now it has really been on my mind. On this note I've been checking everyday for stories on it and today found a great one about the US youth team. So far in the World Youth Championships the US has beaten Argentina 1-0 and got stuck with a tie against Germany 0-0. Freddy Adu has been making a strong appearence so far and will hopefully prove to be a great asset to the national team if he's allowed to play next year for the World Cup. Anyway the story is here so give it a look.

The Goal Heard 'Round the World

For anyone out there that somehow doesn't know, soccer is at the very top of my list of favorite things. I've played ever since I was 5 years old and if I could actually drive longer than a year at a time I would probably still be playing seriously now. Anyway this past weekend there were 2 amazing games on; the first was Argentina vs. Brazil, and the second was USA vs. Panama. Another known fact is that I cheer for both Argentina and the USA, unless they end up playing each other then I have to sit and hope that the US team gets lucky against Argentina, lol. Back to the games this weekend, in the first game Argentina managed to score 2 goals in the first 7 minutes of the game securing a decent lead that lasted the rest of the game with a final score of 3-1. This guarantees them a spot in the World Cup now as the first place team from the South American group. In the second game the US pretty much dominated the entire game to beat Panama 3-0. Thus securing their place in the World Cup also, now they just have to fight for first place in the North American Division against Mexico. Check back every now and then and I'll probably go into more detail about my past soccer history and why I love the game so much.

The cause of my recent frustrations. Over Christmas break I bought myself a wonderful car to keep myself busy since I could finally drive again, unfortunately now I'm license less again and she just taunts me sitting outside my apartment.

Set It Free

I've been inspired by all these other blogs out there to create my own and let a few things out, which partially accounts for the name of the blog. There are other meanings there but they will come to light in the future. As time goes on I'll be posting about everything from life as a college student to my search for a job and more, enjoy.