Mixed emotions

Two jobs worked, eight-page paper submitted for school. I'm ok physically, but mentally, I need a vacation.

When I get home from my jobs, I turn on the TV.
But I can't keep my mind on the show.
When I lay down at night, I don't get no sleep.
So I turn on the radio.

All the good ones are gone.
Somehow I always end up alone.
Back when, there were so many.
Now there just aren't any.

Yet I hold out heart that my heart can be saved.
I really don't know why.
Is it hope?
Is it delusion?

I guess I'll just keep on falling in love
Till it actually turns out right
For the long run.

On a sidenote, I will never back down when I know I'm right. I will not give a damn what this sorry, dark society tells me is good or bad, right or wrong, truth or fiction. Even if people I love hold totally opposite views from me, I will try to love them first. But I cannot afford to sell out. What good is a man who has no integrity?

Handling the load

So it is Wednesday night. I work at both my jobs Thursday and Friday. Translation: I work 9-3 and 4-10. And I have the draft for an 8 page final paper for grad school due on Friday. At least I have an outline in place! But man alive, it's going to be a challenge to finish. Plus, there's another 3 page paper due this Tuesday that I probably won't even be able to start until Saturday night rolls around. It's a furious finish for the last two weeks of this class. I'll look forward to that one week break before beginning my 14th and final class in mid-May.

Where does the line get drawn between negativity and realism?

Between hope and insanity?

Between confident and arrogant?

Between intense and anxious?

Between love and hate?

NHL regular season recap and playoff predictions

The Stanley Cup playoffs kick off tonight. Before that happens, I'll look back at my regular season predictions and see how off I was!

I got six of eight Eastern playoff teams correct and just four of eight in the West. I never expected Winnipeg and Nashville to be this good. And I think every expert had LA and San Jose making the playoffs and they both failed. As for my predicted Final Four, well...

Eastern Conference FinalsBoston over Tampa Bay

Western Conference Finals
Chicago over Colorado

Stanley Cup Finals
Boston over Chicago
What a disaster. Boston and Colorado didn't even make the playoffs! On that note, let's look forward.

Eastern Conference
NY Rangers oer Pittsburgh in 6
Washington over NY Islanders in 7
Tampa Bay over Detroit in 5
Montreal over Ottawa in 7

NY Rangers over Washington in 7
Tampa Bay over Montreal in 5

NY Rangers over Tampa Bay in 5

Western Conference
St. Louis over Minnesota in 7
Chicago over Nashville in 6
Anaheim over Winnipeg in 7 (thought this could be an upset)
Calgary over Vancouver in 6

Chicago over St. Louis in 7
Anaheim over Calgary in 4

Chicago over Anaheim in 6

Stanley Cup Finals
NY Rangers over Chicago in 7

I don't know if I could handle a Rangers-Blackhawks final. But damn it, the Rangers better win that series if it happens.

Life is happening

It’s been a few weeks since my last post. Life has been pretty insane between two jobs and graduate school.  I felt myself starting to get sick three nights ago, but a cup of Nyquil seemed to take care of that. Of course, I was completely drowsy for the first four hours at work…

1) Speaking of which, we’re up to the beginning of Week 4 at COD. Not a whole lot of major updates. I can say I’m yet to receive my first paycheck. But the staff is tremendous, very friendly and accommodating. Everyone seems to get along really well with each other. Kathy is bringing me along kind of slow, showing me a little bit of new information each day. I’m still yet to answer a phone, or meet with a student at the front counter. But I have a good feel for certain concepts like C-codes, verification, and running certain reports. There’s still a long way to go though. But my confidence is there that I will handle this fine. I can only pray that a year from now, I’m doing this full time.

2) Well, the Rangers have clinched the Metropolitan Division and the President’s Trophy, meaning they have home ice throughout the Stanley Cup  playoffs. They will open the playoffs Thursday night against Pittsburgh, who have played miserable hockey over the last three months, as they had to beat the lowly Sabres on the last day of the season to even qualify. Their top defenseman, Kris Letang, is out for the season with a concussion. Christian Erhoff, their second best offensive defenseman, is not expected to play. They do have Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, two of the best players in the world, but the Rangers should be able to exploit Pittsburgh’s weaknesses in goal and on defense. I pick the Rangers to win in 6 games. And then they will have the opportunity to play either the Washington Capitals or the New York Brooklynders…or Islanders.

 3) I’m doing a cooking class on the west side of Chicago with my mother that I’m pretty excited about. This restaurant, A Tavola, was featured on the Travel Channel, so I have every confidence that it will be great. Their chef is known as the king of gnocchi in Chicago. Now I have no idea if we’re going to be making it tonight; it’s a very time-consuming process to make. Gnocchi requires a lot of dexterity and patience. But I’ve never really had good gnocchi, so I hope we get a chance to prepare it.

4) Upcoming events: Yelp event at Pie Five pizza in Naperville on Thursday, Don Williams concert next Tuesday at the Arcada Theater in St. Charles.

5) I went to Parkview Church in Orland Park on Sunday, which was an hour from my house. It was good to hear Lee Strobel guest speak live on his new book, “The Case for Grace.” From what I gather, it’s a collection of stories that illustrate s second chance and grace, or the concept of getting what you don’t deserve. To be frank, I think it’s a book that I’d rent from the library, but I’m not sure I’d spend the money to actually buy it.

6) Are there any movies out that are worth seeing? All the good stuff was out in February!

7) I’m so ready to travel again! I’m planning two weekend trips to New York City, one in May on my final break from school, and then another in mid-July. I haven’t been to New York in 15 months and it’s been too long!

8) It still frustrates me that I have such trouble setting aside time lately to work out. It used to be the easiest thing for me. Now, I’m barely doing yoga twice a week. And when I don’t do it, I definitely feel worse. I do plan on joining the COD gym, as it’s around $250 for the year. But I really think I’m going to start after I graduate since it’s just really difficult to make the time to do it 3-4 times a week. Of course, I could get up at 5 am and go early. I’m not that crazy though!

 
9) I really have little toleration for people who are habitually late. It just shows a lack of respect for other people when you make them wait too long.

 10) Another thing is frustrating me. I’m not doing the Willow Creek 5k for the Celebration of Hope this year, but I just can’t walk it. I have not been able to train for it since I’m not going to the gym and I injured my legs last May. I’ve run that race for three years and if I can’t do it the way that I want, I just don’t want to do it. I know it’s for the charities and for the people who are less fortunate, but I’d rather work at Gino’s East in the morning and donate some of what I make to the Celebration of Hope.  

Song pick: “Good As New” Gary Allan