In case you wanted to know. And even if you didn't.

Long time, no blog. Changes abound! My good friend Katie Hill suggested I expand the narrow column that was the blog itself last time. I was happy to oblige. Also, I'm hoping that by the time you read this, another couple changes will have been made. No promises.

Just for fun, here are a few little tidbits about me that you may not have known, and/or for any new readers...

My favorites:

Movie: Cinderella Man
Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio/Ben Affleck [occasionally changes]
Actress: Sandra Bullock
TV Show: Seinfeld
TV Channel: MLB Network
Musical artist: James Otto
Song: Measure of a Man - Jack Ingram
Radio Station: 100.5, The Wolf

Restaurant: Olive Garden
Fast food: Popeye's

Sport to watch: Baseball
Sport to play: Basketball

Team: Chicago Cubs

Bible verse: "You are sheep among wolves. Be wise as serpents, yet innocent as doves." - Matthew 10:16

Moving on.

5 weeks in at the job. Getting better with time, as I get accustomed to things. Things I've learned so far:

1. Be thankful for what you have. Most people have zero idea how hard things could really be.
2. I can't/won't talk about girls on Facebook anymore. The girls I work with are relentless, to say the least. It's not worth the hassle.
3. I will not take things that happen at work home with me. Soon as I walk out the door, it's over.

Don't mistake these things to mean that I do not like my job. For the most part, it's actually pretty interesting. Big picture: I get paid to help people. Can't complain about that.

Once again, not much of substance here. Beginning to think I'm not as deep as I once thought I was. Wait, that seems like circular logic. Well, you know what I mean. Maybe. On that note, feel free to share thoughts. And have a good weekend, all.

Cheers,
Derrick

Good books, good players, good friends.

Book update again. Sick of these yet? Just finished Hothouse Orchid by Stuart Woods. I love Stuart Woods. I turn pages faster in his books than with anyone else I've ever read. I was unable to find a legit review for this one, so forgive me. It's a great read, though.

Very interesting book, in which the protagonist Holly Barker takes a break from her CIA job to return home to Florida for a vacation, where she finds herself entangled in a unique criminal investigation--just like old times. Ending was a Whoa! ending. Not disappointing, but very...you know, Whoa!

That now makes 6 books in 21 days. 1,777 total pages. Approximately 85 pages per day for 3 weeks.

Next selection: Loitering With Intent - Stuart Woods

The last of the 3 books I checked out from the library this past week. I'd like to finish this one by Monday sometime, then go pick up another 2-3 books. Didn't think I'd keep this up like I have. This one, 293 pages.

Other notes:

- My good friend Katie Hill [hi, Katie] told me about a website by way of commenting on my last blog. You can track the books you've read, have yet to read, ones you own, etc. I've checked it out and so far it seems pretty cool. If you read at all, give it a look-see: [http://www.goodreads.com/]

- Bulls signed Utah Jazz shooting guard Kyle Korver today--he'll re-unite with former teammate Boozer, who I mentioned recently. The. Dude. Can. Shoot. And the ladies usually like him, too. [jealous]

If you're not a basketball fan, but think he looks a little familiar, you're not crazy...

- Going to Wichita a little later to meet up with one of my best friends in life, Tausha. Yay! Haven't seen her in about 2 years. Funniest. Female. Ever. Pretty stoked.

That's it for now, y'all. Only a couple days left to vote on the poll if you haven't already. Plan to be back sometime Monday.

Have a good weekend,

Derrick

Will you be my Valentine? No, not you...yeah, you.

My friends at Wikipedia tell me that Valentine's Day was established in 496 AD. --that's 1,514 years ago for you math wizards out there. Long time. So far, I'm 2 for 1,513 as far as having someone to share it with goes. And still, unlike most perpetually single folks out there, I really like Valentine's Day. The overall mood and ambiance it evokes are just really cool to me.

True, one shouldn't need a particular day to show their love. But who's it really hurting? I've never understood why more people don't embrace the fun of the occasion.

"Single Awareness?" Not even a little bit...

Ghost of Valentine's Past...
- 1999: First time I ever gave a flower to a girl. As an 8th grader, I bought one long-stemmed red rose (with my own money) and placed it in the locker of a skinny redhead. *Shivers at the thought* Live and learn.
- 2003: As a Senior in High School, I bought my first ever girlfriend [Cassandra] a dozen red roses, a stuffed animal, and who knows what else? I got a tin full of almond candies. Yuck. Oh well, live and learn...
- 2007: Girlfriend #2 [Janon]. I seem to recall the gift-giving on both ends was more sufficient this time around, but the relationship itself? You guessed it, live and learn...
- 2009: Girlfriend #3 [Stephanie] broke up with me the day before...needless to say, she never got her gifts. Some wound up in the grateful hands of others, some I kept for myself...some were burned in the bottom of a barrel. I may still be young-ish, but you'd think I'd have learned my lessons in love by now, right?

Ghost of Valentine's Present...
- 2010: No legitimate Valentine's prospects to speak of.

I did go see Dear John (still pretty angry about the movie itself) in the theater with my friend Katie this past weekend. I suppose that could be construed as a friend date of sorts, but...that's about the extent of it.

Hold-ups:
Girls I like usually have either an unfortunate-looking, unworthy boyfriend (one in particular comes to mind), making the girl entirely unapproachable...or simply have no interest in me whatsoever.

Girls who like me usually have: lots of baggage and/or an affinity for drama. No, thanks.

Ghosts of Valentine's Future...
- Who knows? All I know is that this is a fun holiday. Part of me can't wait to share it with someone...but part of me will wait patiently, because when it's meant to be, my time will come. *eats fortune cookie, throws away wrapper*

Final notes:

Married, engaged or just generically-attached friends: Enjoy yourselves this Valentine's Day. Find a babysitter, go out to dinner and a movie, or do something romantic. Might as well. :)

Single friends who disagree with me, and hate Valentine's Day: Shut up. Open up your heart and stop being such a bitter, jealous fun-hater.

Single friends who are also OK with Valentine's Day: High 5!

Single friends who also happen to be foxy ladies: Well hello there. Here's a video clip just for you...



Do the right thing,
Derrick

Run? OK. Chase? Uh oh.

Day 11: Complete (sort of)

Morning session: 4.15 miles
Evening session: 9.33 miles
Total distance: 13.48 miles

My early run was rough, to say the least. Slept in, took awhile getting around, didn't get out 'til around 11:30, and it was blistering hot out. I struggled to get in what I did.

Knew all day that I had a lot to make up for with yesterday's short day, and this morning's rough start. Turned in my month-high run, thus far, and probably could have run another mile or 2, if not for the sun about to go down, and my shirt being soaked with sweat and weighing me down. :)

Toughest part of this evening was in the third mile: Big ol' dog spotted me, and decided he wanted to run, too. Except subtract the word "run," and insert "chase." So naturally, it spurned me on about a 600-yard dead sprint. That took a little out of me. :)

Shout-out to my good friend, Katie Hill. She was at the Cubs game (a "W", by the way) today, and sent me a few pics:

Somewhere in here is Bulls' center Brad Miller (who I love) after throwing out the first pitch.

Darn it. Stupid net. The other pics aren't uploading at the moment, sorry. Anyways, thanks a bunch, Katie (if you see ever see this). You rock!! :)

Back to running: Tomorrow is another day of uncertainty. I think I may forgo my morning run, and go to church. I suppose I could do both. Reckon I'll set the alarm, and see how that goes.

Although I will more than likely run to the gym to play ball in the evening, and if I take the (super) long route, I could make up some mileage there. Good call, Derrick.

Other thoughts:

UFC is beyond stupid. It's killing boxing--a brilliant sport that I love--and I hate it. It's nothing but a glorified street brawl, and it's garbage. There, I said it.

R.I.P. to boxer, Arturo Gatti. Too many people dying far too young lately. Sad stuff.

D, out.