Break

So here I go...

I'm off, going to the caribbean for an extended period of time. I am extremely excited even though I have to leave all those I love here, I can't wait. Sailing is a passion of mine and I truly want to get better at it and succeed on my mission for this adventure. Wish me luck. This will be a good time to take a break for the next 7 weeks. I will post stories and tales on my arrival in August.

Phish

PHISH 06/21/09, Alpine Valley

Woaw. I have been to many great concerts in my life: Umphrey's at Riverview both nights, and their new years shows, Jack Johnson, Wailers, Matisayahu and others. It may be too early to say this, but this was the greatest concert I have been to yet. 

Many factors come into play with the quality of a live musical experience such as one of these. Venue, weather, crowd (quality people/amount), food, and of course music etc… This concert honestly hit top records for most of these said factors.

 The people were numerous; I would say about 15,000 people. The crowd truly was diversified in the greatest way. People from all generations were there, older than my parents to younger than me, and everyone was having a fantastic time. You can truly tell this is one of the greatest genres and bands within the genre by the faces of the thousands enjoying the concert. Not to mention the weather was excellent. We were initially worried about some forecasts predicting rain, which lasted about 5 min before the show even started (the ground wasn’t even wet). The cool breeze and warm air fueled to create a perfect temperature and calming atmosphere. Out of all the concerts I have ever been and all the venues, Alpine Valley still is my favorite for an outdoor concert (or any concert for that matter). The hill is perfect, although hard to walk on the slant it creates a place were even the highest people on the hill (no pun intended) could see right onto the stage. The most influential part of the whole experience was the tunes. Music: Absolutely phenomenal. I mean these guys have been broken up since August 2004, each having various solo adventures and other bands. Now they come back for a full summer tour and dam it they still got it. I mean seamless transitions, perfect timing and improvisational licks all intertwining into the wondrous band that is and always was PHISH.

Summer

 I don’t know what it is about summer that makes all of us go crazy. Perhaps it’s the heat, the memories, the freedom, and the lack of schoolwork or diminished responsibilities. A mixture of all of the above arouses these feelings probably, but most of all is the sun. It’s a proven fact that the sun has a great effect on us as people, and this idea is true in the opposite. Winter can be fun and peaceful, but it is definitely the most depressing time of the year. I have grown up with Chicago summers and winters, for any of you who don’t understand these implications it means we all deal with below 10 degree winters and 90-degree high summers. This shift has given me a deep respect for both seasons, and don’t get me wrong with winter. I love the snow, and skating with my friends, snowball fights and the sickness. Something about summer is just so attractive, and I know most people agree. It’s interesting how ever since I got a car and started driving places I noticed something. During winter I always keep skates, a hockey stick and hat in my car; when it turns to summer I always have a bathing suit, towel and soccer/football in my car. Having said this it seems that as I stand now, I would like to live in a year-round warm place: California, Saba, St. Barts etc… I’ll probably have to wait till after college to have my fantasy of warmth come true, but it will be appreciated. 

This year specifically, I am super excited for summer, for the weather and the meaning this year has. If you have ever seen the movie Dazed and Confused , and given that you are a half decent person, then you absolutely love the film and everything it has to offer. I came to a realization a few weeks ago that this summer is my “Dazed and Confused” summer, implying that I am a junior going into my senior year of high school. I’m not sure if I will smack incoming freshman’s buts with a wooden plank I made in woodshop, or do half the stuff they do in that movie: throwing bowling balls, climbing electric towers, obtaining Aerosmith tickets and playing foosball, but I’m still convince it is a monumental summer. 

Thinking ahead this is also my last summer as a high schooler, and next year all my friends and I will be moving on to college, the new world. Certainly I plan to enjoy these few months I have as my expectations expand for the inevitably fun, interesting and eventful season ahead. 

Lacrosse

My feelings on the sport of lacrosse are extremely passionate and may at times be bias. Having said this, lacrosse is the greatest game that has ever been played in the history of all that was, is, and will be. I truly do believe this, and I know some of you jock dicks and “sports” fans are going to argue against this till you spontaneously implode. I could care less.

 Here is the thing, lacrosse can easily be labeled “the fastest game on two feet”, which it has been by numerous people. It essentially creates domain for athletic players to make quick, smart and effective plays and decisions that ultimately control the pace of the game.

Lacrosse incorporates and highlights the essential and best parts of every other popular sport into one fantastic four-quarter game. Parts of some team sports such as: basketball, soccer (futbol), football, and hockey can are all infused into the sport. The defensive and some offensive tactics are uncanny to those plays and set-ups used in basketball, while the speed is athleticism needed is similar to that of hockey. We see the physical essence of football mixed with a field structure alike with soccer. It’s no surprise that people who play lacrosse absolutely love everything about the wonderful sport. I personally have had the pleasure of “laxing” for about 6-7 years now, and I have always enjoyed the hell out of myself on the field. One key aspect that makes lacrosse truly superior to most other sports is the practices. Lacrosse is the most fun sport to practice. While running and hard-work is still needed, this is matched with fun drills, stick-work and play formation that keep all players focused and having fun.  Just messing around with your lacrosse stick and playing wall-ball with your pole can be very enjoyable while increasing your skills greatly.

I love lacrosse, more than most things in my life, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Lacrosse is a bit more than a sport, it’s a lifestyle. The game is growing and becoming stronger than ever, from the east coast across. One might joke about lacrosse player’s stereotype of being rich, white boys who are a bit to relaxed, but to some degree this is true, but not the all say law of lacrosse players.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqg01Nk3SYI&feature=PlayList&p=6D11996175A88083&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=12

Bro-lax or not, all lacrosse players love their sport with undying passion, and its not hard to see why. 

Tucker announces release date

everyone.
There has been some recent ideas of me being "cool" or (and i quote) "the radest fucking dude alive"
I would simply like to comment on these said statements by not commenting... although i appreciate them greatly. 

As many of you may know, one of the people I admire very much for being themselves and tossing social norms to the side inorder to please himself is Tucker Max. Tucker has written a book "I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell", in which I'm sure you have either read a passage or the entire collection of stories more than 3 times like myself. Besides the point, Mr. Max recently (with the help of Nils) wrote a screenplay of the infamous/famous book. I personally have been waiting patiently for the announcement of a release date, and here it is. 

September 25th, 2009. "I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell" will premiere around the country on thousands of screens. I am beyond excited and I hope at least some of you schmucks hold my eagerness deep within myself. That is all.

http://www.ihopetheyservebeerinhell.com/

http://tuckermax.com/

Best band Ever

Umphrey's Mcgee

hands down the greatest band I have ever heard live. 

BTW. I met Brendan Bayliss the other day at the Cubs game. It was on saturday against the astros, my friend and I are walking to get a soda from the concessions. He turns to me and asks, "Dude, Is that f-ing Brendan Bayliss?" to which I reply, " That is Brendan F-ing Bayliss!". Any ways. we went over there and said hello, and on our way back from the food run I stopped and talked with him for a bit. Highlight of my month right there.

In case you couldn't make the connection, Bayliss is the founder and lead singer/ guitarist for the band Umphrey's Mcgee. Not to mention, he is my favorite member of the band for various reasons. Check them out on I-Tunes, You-Tube or here  http://www.umphreys.com/main.php

Broadreach

http://gobroadreach.com/default.asp

 This is probably one of the greatest experiences I have had the priveledge of partaking in, its basically a teen adventure trip. I higly recommend any of the trips from various companies and groups for others of you looking for something to do. This is the group I have travled with before, and here is the trip I will be part of this coming summer http://gobroadreach.com/programs/gl/arc_gl.asp. It has created so many lasting stories, memories and experiences that I will carry with me for my entire life. I hope to some day buy a boat or work on a sail boat to sail the world. It may sound cliche and impossible but I'm still going to do it.