Who are you? Really...

Who are you?
What do you stand for?

"If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything." - attributed to many, including US Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall, Alexander Hamilton, and the more recognizable Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. Take your pick.

I stand for honorable and decent behavior towards all.
I stand up for the young and old, the big and small.
I stand when people ask if I believe in God.
I stand up for my friends, even when they're odd.

Who are you?
What are your standards?

"Aim above morality. Be not simply good, be good for something." - Henry David Thoreau

This question is pretty broad--and a matter of perception.

When it comes to actions (specifically in a prospective girl): Don't smoke...don't talk like a sailor...don't talk to me about the Yankees--seriously, I find them reprehensible, and a strong representative of all that is soulless and wrong with not only sports, but society in general...don't use the word "busy" or say things like "FML"--ever...don't talk too much in general...don't be cocky or self-absorbed...don't be...well...a hoard of other things that you can ask me about later, but should already know if you know me at all...

When it comes to ethics: Treat people right, period. Should be all I need to say, but many people don't seem get it, so here's more: Open doors for girls, whether they're 2 or 92. Talk to strangers. I've never understood why people say not to--that's terrible advice! Be a courteous driver. Give things away--even when you can't afford to...Money. Clothes. Love. Organs. You laugh; I'm serious.

Who are you?
Who do you play for?

"Mike Eruzione--Winthrop, Massachusetts...I play for...the United States of America." - Mike Eruzione, played by actor Patrick O'Brien Demsey--"Miracle"

Okay, that was corny. But sports are a big part of my life, and it's effective.

I was a Kansas Wesleyan Coyote for the only "official" time I spent as a college basketball player.
But I will always be a Bulldog at heart...
I was a McPherson College Bulldog in my collegiate days that mattered most to me. I still miss it there every day.
I grew up a Pretty Prairie Bulldog. It's in my heart--it's embedded in me.

Who are you?
What do you represent?

"I'm a better person than I was yesterday, but not as good as I will be tomorrow." - Derrick Mead

Yes, I just quoted myself.

I'm a country boy--but not a hick.
I'm a basketball player--coach, too.
I'm a writer and a prankster.
I'm confident and shy at the same time.
I'm a serious listener and a funny talker.
I'm just dumb enough to be smart--or maybe the other way around.

I want people to know me, but not really.

It's the reason I changed my major in college.

I once wanted nothing more than to be a sports commentator--preferably baseball. From ages 8-20 I dreamed about one day calling moments like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBJ89V7A_3c

The names Kirk Gibson and Joe Carter will always give me goosebumps just at the mere sound of them.

But ultimately, I didn't want to be that widely seen--or heard. I want to be much more discreet, but inspirational at the same time. Like maybe becoming the most successful basketball coach at a school no one has ever heard of--something like that.

It's the reason I'm a friend to all, but a stranger to many.

I'll help anyone in need. Example: I spent almost 2 hours helping a lady who should've been killed after rolling her car several times a few months back at 3 AM.

Never told her my name, though.
That's just who I am.

So tell me...

Who are you?

Do the right thing,
Derrick

Be a light--wherever you are.

I was bound and determined to write something important earlier this evening...err, yesterday by now. Then writer's block hit. Then distraction hit. But then again...

You'd be surprised how much inspiration you can find...
in a giant bowl of Crunch Berries...
at 2 AM.

Now while I still don't intend to get a whole lot written this time around, the wheels have at least begun turning. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come.

No idea what's going to come of each keystroke, or if it'll resemble anything coherent, but here goes...

I know I've talked about my best friend Amanda in numerous blogs before, but you know what--why not again?

When I think of Amanda, I think about faith. Amanda Lee Walker taught me more about Jesus in a month, than the rest of the world has taught me in over 24 years. Weird thing is, it's not like we just sat around and gabbed about God, 24/7. But I feel He speaks to me through her--my guardian angel.

There are several things I've learned about God from Amanda that I'm sure she isn't even aware of. The biggest one is this...I think we all need to reassess the ways in which we talk to God. Don't get me wrong, if you talk to God at all, I think you're doing all right. But I think we can do more...

I think too many of us (myself included) ask too much of God. We ask Him to send us answers, shower us with gifts, grant us miracles, and so on. Though I, too, am guilty of this--it seems silly to me. Why do we do this?

I think we should open our eyes and realize that in many instances in our lives, God is actually asking us questions. Maybe this seems crazy to you. True, God knows what we will do, and what we will go through...but I also feel that he presents us with opportunities all throughout our days, as if to say: "What do you want to do?" Options, or paths, if you will.

I think that's where free will comes into play. Even Amanda once wrote: "...I gave up trying to understand that whole subject." Well you know what? If she doesn't understand it, I certainly never will, either--and that's okay by me.

I don't really have a solution to offer here, just one piece of advice that I'll try to better follow, myself: When you talk to God, do not just talk--speak. Thank Him for the blessings you have in your life, rather than always just asking for additional blessings. Now that's not to say it's not okay to pray for miracles, healing, etc. But you know, just saying.

I'll just end this by saying thank you.

Thank you, Lord--for everything and everyone you've blessed me with in my life.
Thank you, Amanda--for teaching me about faith and Jesus. And faith in Jesus.

You saved me.

...and every time a light flickers, I still think of you. That will never change. Thanks for being my best friend.

Be a light--wherever you are,
Derrick

Social networking be damned...

Well, it's happened.

The time has finally come when I am not able to write openly about just anything. Like it or not, I must consider any and all potential readers, and any potential ramifications that my ramblings might have. This is weird to me.

I love sharing my nonsense with any of my friends who wish to indulge themselves, and not only get lost in my nonsense, but conjure up some of their own, as well. And because of the often wonderful, if not distracting world that is social networking, I can do so anytime I darned well please. That's pretty neat.

That being said, it's becoming evident to me that I must now consider my audience. Generally speaking, I can talk about whatever I want, I suppose. Whether it be my seemingly hot-and-cold trivial sports jargon, the occasional pop culture jab, or any of my other overly-opinionated hooey (according to the masses, I imagine), I can write whatever I want...or so I once thought.

I cannot write about one particular topic that occasionally pulls at my core--due to one of my Facebook friends who happens to be a relative (err, sort of). Even the mere raising of a particular topic, if seen, could be disastrous. Ironically, this particular topic was at hand in what I still feel is my best piece of writing ever--a MySpace blog from August 12, 2008. It's still posted there, if anyone is overly curious--the relative at hand isn't on there, to my knowledge--so it's safe where it is (for now).

Another topic exists which affects me greatly--even I can never quite decide just how much--has become extremely taboo, especially given the depths in which I could explore within said topic. This saddens me a little. Sometimes more than a little.

All of these restrictions put in place, in large part, by social networking.

If only folks like Mark Zuckerberg and Tom Anderson weren't so innovative, I wouldn't be in this predicament, right? Wrong. If only I were more innovative, I'd be able to more adeptly maneuver my way out of this mess, I reckon.

Curious thing about all this is--I have absolutely no qualms discussing anything in life--most people know this about me by now. It's just gotten to the point where I can't be 100% open about certain things, where it can be seen by all.

While I'm fully aware that I'm not a writer per se, I do enjoy writing, without a doubt. I often enjoy using it as an outlet to delve into personal topics--both my own, and those of others. It allows us all to open our eyes, our hearts, minds, and souls and let others in. I love it, I really do. But the concept of not being able to share whatever I want with whoever I want--however I want to do it--bugs me a little.

I'll probably work my way around it, in time. Just something on my mind in my quasi-triumphant return to Blogger, which I intend, as of now, to use as my future writing source. I'll try it out this time, while posting/sharing a link via--you guessed it, Facebook.



Ah, the wonderful world we live in...

Do the right thing,
Derrick

Success--sort of. But mostly, yeah.

Day 31: INcomplete
Month of July: Complete

Morning session: 6.2
Evening session: N/A
Total distance: 6.2 miles

Milestone reached: 350-mile mark



July 1 weigh-in: 207.5 lbs
July 31 weigh-in: 186.0 lbs

July 1 measurement: 6'2 & 1/4"
July 31 measurement: 6'2 & 1/8"

Final July stats:

351.2 miles--11.33 miles/day
21.5 lbs lost
1/8" shorter *sigh*

The more I shrink, the more weight I need to lose. Crap. Plus, I'm sure I'll gain a few pounds (at least) gradually, as I ease out of my running craze. So it's hard to keep off. Most of the weight lost was in my legs, and face. I could definitely stand to lose at least another 10-12 pounds from my midsection. Easier said than done, though.

This was an invigorating experience, to say the least. I'll take a break--probably a week, at least--from running, and blogging--on here, anyway.

Really glad I set out to do this. It made me realize several things--one of which being just how far I can push myself, and another being that I could've done even more.

No top 10 list tonight. Maybe no more ever. Hope you enjoyed them while they lasted. :)

Pshaw, I enjoyed thinking them up, so I'm sure it'll make a return at some point. Be prepared for some pics (and hopefully a video) to be posted on my Facebook in the next day or 2. Heck, maybe I'll even post 'em here, too. Who knows?

In the meantime, thanks for all the support.

God bless!

D, out.

One. Day. Left. (and best sports movies)...

Day 30: INcomplete

Morning session: N/A
Evening session: 8.65
Total distance: 8.65 miles

Yet another failed attempt at morning running. This is ridiculous. I'm standing on exactly 345 miles with one day to go. I should be ecstatic, but I'm actually pretty disappointed in myself, with the way I've wound down the month. 400 would've been reachable, and I've basically allowed myself to coast--which I told myself I wouldn't.

Watching my final sports flick now, which I mentioned last night: Victory.

I made a list of every sports movie I've watched--that I could think of--over the last 8-10 weeks. I counted the ones I watched on DVR in Wichita in June, since I had several on there.

But anyway, the list I've compiled has 71 sports movies on it, and I am now going to do a Top 15 list of the best ones--well, my favorites, anyway. So that's what this blog will basically be all about...

I say 15 partially because I said I'd make up for not having a Top 10 list last night, and partially because 71 is a lot of flicks, and 10 may not do it justice. ;)

Here goes:

**NOTE: OK, so I really tried to narrow it to 15, but it was just too hard. 20 was difficult enough. But here it is...share any thoughts at all, if ya got 'em!**

Top 20 sports movies I've watched this summer:

20. The 6th Man--basketball
19. We Are Marshall--football
18. Million Dollar Baby--boxing
17. Major League--baseball
16. Glory Road--basketball
15. Blue Chips--basketball
14. The Legend of Bagger Vance--golf
13. He Got Game--basketball
12. White Men Can't Jump--basketball
11. Bull Durham--baseball
10. Above the Rim--basketball
9. The Greatest Game Ever Played--golf
8. For Love of the Game--baseball
7. Rocky--boxing
6. Invincible--football
5. Remember the Titans--football
4. Rocky IV--boxing
3. Hoosiers--basketball
2. Miracle--hockey
1. Cinderella Man--boxing



This would not have been the first movie that popped in my head, but I just kept coming back to it as being better than all the others. I absolutely love this film. It has everything. Amazing flick that you must see, and if you've seen it--see it again.

Enjoy.

D, out.

Ah, technology. I miss the quiet already...

Day 29: INcomplete

Morning session: N/A
Evening session: 6.93
Total distance: 6.93 miles

No morning run again. Was heading out the door when it started pouring, so I didn't end up going. Disappointing once again.

Rejoined Facebook, MySpace, MSN, Yahoo tonight. Figured I earned it--just not based on the performances of this past week! ;)

No pop, or "junk" food indulgences yet, though. Still two days left. I need to hit 350, or I'll be very disappointed--goal, or no goal. 14 miles to go. Easily do-able.

No sports movie tonight, but I'll watch the one I got from the library sometime tomorrow: Victory.

Haven't seen it yet, but it's got Sly Stallone, and Pele in it, so it can't be half bad, eh?

No Top 10 list tonight. Laptop battery dying, and I have other stuff to get to. Apologies. I'll make it up tomorrow. Maybe another Top 15? ;)

D, out.

Whoa, must be Burt Reynolds or somethin'

Day 28: INcomplete
Week 4: Complete

Morning session: 3.86
Evening session: 5.17 miles
Total distance: 9.03 miles

Early session was short, since I didn't get out 'til 1:30 or so, and it was on the humid side, to say the least. Evening session was shorter than intended, too--Cubs game at 7, y'know.

Just realized I only ran 10+ miles twice in the last 7 days. Wow, that's bad. Ah, I guess it is near month's end; I've reached my goal, and am starting to feel some extra soreness in the legs lately.

Week 4 stats:

59.06 miles--8.44 miles/day
4.0 lbs lost

July stats, up-to-date:

329.42 miles--11.77 miles/day
17.5 lbs lost

Comparison:

Week 1: 90.43 miles
Week 2: 73.20 miles
Week 3: 106.73 miles
Week 4: 59.06 miles

I'm on pace for 364.72 miles, with only 3 days remaining. But at this point, I'm kind of OK with the idea of just hitting the 350 mark. The pace fell off dramatically the last week, obviously. After nearly killing myself in Week 3, and reaching my goal on the 24th, I'm not as disappointed about it as I probably could be. Only regret I have is not having more week-to-week consistency.

Sports movie now: BASEketball.
A stupid, and vulgar flick by the creators of South Park. But downright hilarious! Probably a guy's movie, though.


After that: Happy Gilmore.

If you haven't seen it, shame on you. My best friend back in High School, Stacia and I, once recited each and every line from the movie, with the TV on mute. Classic stuff. Wow, that was probably about 9 years ago. Man, how things change...

Nonetheless, great flick!


Tonight's Top 10 list:

Top 10 coolest things I've seen/discovered this month:

10. Watching almost nothing but sports movies for a month can make time go by faster than I thought it would.
9. It's really not all that hard to motivate yourself to do something once you set your mind to it. Those who think it is--aren't setting their minds to it. Plain and simple.
8. A month without the typical technological indulgences--Facebook, MySpace, MSN, Yahoo--can actually be quite liberating. For awhile.
7. The way it can sometimes pour rain from an almost impossibly clear sky. A beautiful sight.
6. The sunrise and sunset look different every single day, and it never ceases to amaze me.
5. All the people who wave, and some that don't, on country roads. People wave more in the morning than at night. And people in trucks wave more often than those in cars. I've done the research. Someone driving a truck in the morning? They'll wave almost every time. It's awesome. 4. A loose cow being startled upon seeing me, crossing the road, and hurdling the fence to return to its penned-in pasture. Solid hops for a cow, I thought.
3. A loose cow emerging from the trees, and staring me down in the middle of the road, before running along with me for about 1/2 a mile.
2. A deer crossing the road as I ran, not 10 feet in front of me.
1. It's been a great way of finding out who my true friends are. I have a lot of really shady ones, but a few great ones, too.



Bit of an old pic, but it cracks me up every time!

D, out.