Finally Got It Right – An Adveture For The Ages

Today my adventure may have been a long one, and been challenging at times, but it is not one I will soon forget. I went to TreeGO in Moncton with eighteen of my favourite teenagers. That is right, I was crazy enough to try and brave the course with my little soccer babies. The biggest challenge I had was the heights. At some point in the last year I have developed a fear of heights, sometimes I am fine, and other times I am deathly afraid. Today was a bit of both. However I must admit it was one of the single most gratifying and rewarding experiences I have ever had.

My day started out a little late, I over slept, and of course in typical Morgan style had to race to get out the door on time. I managed to hit the road and make it there in plenty of time. I had a great little sing along/dance party in the car, and kept myself entertained. The drive flew by. Soon after I got there the ladies began arriving, and before you know it we were on the demo course trying to learn as much as we could before heading out on our own. After a little practice, and much debate about who was going to be in which group (always a struggle) we finally hit the first course.

The first course was not too bad, at all. It was enough to ease you into what you are you were about to be facing. The second course was a little longer, and a little tougher. Then we reach the third course, which was by far the longest, and certainly the most challenging for someone like myself who is afraid of heights. Mind you the girls were an excellent support system not only for me, but also for each other. Then there was the fourth course, which after the time I had on the third course I was not sure I was up to completing. However, there is no way those young ladies were going to allow me to sit this one out. They were facing their fears, and so should I. Just as the saying goes, feel the fear and do it anyway (plus this year is all about less talk more action, so I really could not put up much of a fight) They convinced me to climb the ladder, and do the course, which was not nearly as bad as I expected. Not only did they get me to go up there, they were my cheerleaders the entire time, looking out for me and supporting me.

When I unclipped myself from the very last zip-line, and I climbed down the ladder I could not have been more proud of myself for actually sticking with something I found intimidating and challenging. Furthermore I was so very proud of all of my girls for doing the same. I was also amazed to see how they handled themselves today. I really got a glimpse of who they will all be someday. There were the girls who knew their limits and knew when to stop; there were those who were balls to the wall. There were the ladies who had quiet confidence; there were ladies who were quietly uncomfortable. There were those who were willing to coach through the course, and those who needed to be coached and coaxed. The way in which they support each other (and me) is remarkable. I am lucky to know such wonderful young ladies, and I feel privileged to be a part of their life. They have taught me more about myself, and life than I could ever teach them. I cannot wait to see who they become, and what they achieve, because after three years of coaching them, and one afternoon on a TreeGO course I know that they have big things waiting for them.

I thought the course was going to be my biggest challenge, but it was the long lonely drive home. In an unfortunate turn of events I ended up going up alone today, which never usually bothers me, however today I was wiped from the afternoon adventures, and a busy few days. I just wanted to be home; by the time it was dark out I was constantly counting the minutes and kilometers until I would pull in my driveway. I left my house at ten this morning, and did not pull back in my driveway for another twelve hours. Mind you as long and as draining that drive home was I would not have missed today for the world. As I pulled out of Moncton with a smile on my face and the most beautiful sunset I had ever seen in my rearview mirror I knew I was in the right place, for once in my life.

(Pictures to come soon!!)

Scorecard After Week One

Likes –

–       When coaches and plays make funny signals to one another

–       When the Umpire wears the cute little blazer, it looks all professional and awesome

–       When someone tries to steal a base (like it even more when it happens)

–       That there always seems to be a game on

–       How entertaining I am finding the game, everyone told me it was boring, and after a week and a    half of watching I must say I thoroughly disagree.

–       When the players give the balls they catch to cute little kids in the stands.

–       Uniforms might sound stupid, but for the most part every uniform I have seen has been really nice, with maybe the exception of Oakland’s yellow jersey, that was a bit much.

–       The way the crowd reacts when the heavy hitters step up to the plate. I know last night every time Jose Bautista stepped up to the plate my eyes were glued to the TV waiting for something great.

–       Team rivalries, it makes for good competitive fun. Yankees and Boston Red Sox have been playing the last few days and I have learned enough to know that it is a rivalry, especially for the fans.

–       Passionate fans, they have huge stadiums, they play so many games all year, and those stadiums always have a lot of fans there. They stay and cheer on their team for hours, and it seems everyone I know personally who has a team is a die hard fan. There seems to be less bandwagon hoping, at least from my experience so far.

–       The fact I can enjoy a few beer while watching and not feel completely guilty.

Dislikes –

–       When the team I am rooting for loses

–       I feel like I get better stats when watching the NFL, example being last night LA Angels pitcher Dan Haren went back in the game in the 14^th inning as a relief pitcher for the first time since October 2004, I would have liked to have known if he won or lost last time he went in as a relief pitcher. Now here is the thing I get there are probably a MILLION stats about baseball, as their season is so much larger, however it is something I miss about football season. I am a fiend for statistics.

–       The nasty mustache on Travis Snider’s face.

–       How often the pitcher changes, first of all because I feel that it would be hard for them to get into it, and second of all when the change the pitcher a lot I really have no idea who is pitching or what is going on. By the time I learn one name they are gone.

There are so many things I am liking (one might even say loving) about this game, and yes with anything new you try there are always going to be things you dislike. I am sure there are things I thought of this week while watching that I forgot to put on my list, but I figured this was a good start for a week of play.

Penny Can

Well for those who know me, know that I enjoy a little television, and by that I mean I religiously watch a number of shows. Cougar Town the last two years has been a blast to watch (and can it please be back on SOON!!) and it has inspired a second, unofficial, summer project of sorts… PENNY CAN! (everyone who has no clue what I am talking about please watch the video below so you don’t think I am a complete crazy person.) We are going to practice for a while, then the games will begin, we are playing to a thousand… who do you think will win? Well my money, my pennies if you will, are on my sister.

For those who have spent a summer day at my house you would know that we play a little washer toss around here, and I am absolutely TERRIBLE. Therefore I thought I needed to switch things up, master something else, and kick everyone else’s butts for a change. That is what led me to penny can, that and the fact Bobby Cobb created it and I love Cougar Town.

It looks hilarious, it is going to be challenging as I have no hand eye coordination, and I am most looking forward to decorating my very own penny can. My dad, who just so happens to be the best dad ever, went out on Saturday afternoon and picked me up a brand new, very shiny, empty paint can. I was having a rough day, a little tired, worn out from school, and working a long shift, this was just the pick me up I needed.

I decided to not decorate my penny can immediately, I am waiting until exams are over, and my sister and I are going to decorate it together. I will be sure to post before and after pictures as I am sure it is going to be the best looking penny can of all times.

What is your summer fun going to be?

Last Class… Bash?

Today was the last time I walked into class and took a seat as an undergraduate student at Mount Saint Vincent University, I do not know how to feel about this. I am very excited that school is coming to an end, that I get to spend my summer on the soccer field, that after four long years and a whole lot of work I am going to cross that finish line.  However there is a scary part to all of this. I am someone who has never really known my end goal, where I want to be or what I am going to end up doing.

With that being said I have always been someone who has forged a path, not always the one of least resistance, but I have made my way to where I am today. I made it here through sheer determination, hard work, some goal setting, and of course I made a ton of lists, and I made lists about those lists. I have always been someone who knows which step comes next, or which project I need to work on next, I am terrified as for the first time I do not know my next move, I feel like my life is so open ended. This could be a great thing for me or it might not be, that has yet to be determined. I am just anxious to find out what is going to happen to me next.

It is not that I am the student who counted the minutes until I got to leave university; I had a great time at The Mount, best four years I have had. I have met some incredible people, I have learned some pretty cool things, and I made some irreplaceable memories. I am grateful for every moment I have had, and every person who made my experience what it was. I am just looking forward to the road that lies ahead, I always seem to find a great adventure or a great experience in everything I choose to do. I am hoping this will be no different.

Four years have come and gone, I am happy I earned a piece of paper I can hang on my wall, but more importantly I am happy about the fact I earned a future, I made friends, I learned a lot about who I was, about who I could be. I had hilarious nights, and I had perfect days. I feel lucky and honoured that I had such a great time, and I am hoping that my future will bring just as many, if not more, good days and happy days than I have already had.

Nike Better World

I saw this video for the first time today, loved it so much I had to share it.

Nike really does have a great concept in this campaign and with this strategy, and I think it is something very important. I know as soon as I saw the video I was intrigued and I HAD to learn more so I went right to the website to find more information on not only the campaign but also the products and the strageties they were going to use.

Made from 100% recycled ads.

Opening Day Fail

I know I did not get this post up yesterday; I was stuck in homework mode. However it was a big day in my summer project, it was opening day!! I know I should be mega excited, and next year this time I am hoping I will be. I still know virtually nothing about this sport. I was proud of myself that when I woke up I knew the first game of the baseball season was being played.

After I finished classes I decided to grab a few beer and a bite to eat with a friend thinking I could catch the first game of the year. Well I picked just about the only bar in the neighborhood without a television. Therefore watching the first game of the year turned out to be a giant fail. Mind you I had a great afternoon with a friend I have not seen in a while. I may not have caught the game and helped my summer project out much but it was the exact afternoon I needed.

I did catch the MLB Season Preview, where I learned a whole lot about a lot of teams. They talked about trades, about rosters, about predictions, everything I had no idea about, it was FANTASTIC! As well they had a piece on Pete Walker, former Blue Jays player, and his family, it was a touching, heart warming and moving story. I spent the hour I was tuned int learning everything I could. After that program finished it only left me thinking about how much more I had to learn in the coming months. I knew that I needed to start watching some actual games, which scared me as I heard they could be a little boring.

Tonight was the season opener for the Toronto Blue Jays; I watched most of the game (tuned in a little late.) I had a great time; my parents were a huge help and tried their best to explain some things to me. I did have a bonus of catching a few innings of some baseball in the afternoon where co-workers and regulars helped me out.

I know I don’t know a lot about the game, I am reading blogs, reading the news and watching as many innings as I can. Even spending a huge amount of time on this during the last month or so I feel like I don’t know a fraction of the game, which is exciting. I have an opportunity to really discover something new. In fact as I write this I am watching the Oakland Athletics playing the Seattle Mariners. I look forward to this opportunity, and I thank everyone who has come forward to help me. I plan on watching a few more innings this weekend, between work and soccer tryouts.

Like I have said I do not know a whole lot about baseball, but when I woke up yesterday and I knew that baseball season had officially begun it was a moment to enjoy. Not just because I knew the season started but because, before that first game started it was the one moment of promise for all of the baseball fans out there. There was that hope that anything could happen, you could forget last year’s troubles, and you could forget the winter you had to endure. It was the first sign of summer, and it was the first sign of hope.

Why do you love opening day/weekend?

What Is Your Happiness?

Happiness is a funny word; it has one definition, but billions of meanings. Every person views happiness different and every person finds happiness in different places. One of my friends threw me off about a two months ago when they asked me if I was truly happy. My first response was to ask them if they were mocking me, as Oprah had that very day done a show on happiness, and everyone knows my love for Oprah. However they in fact had no intent to pick on me about that when they asked. Therefore I took no time at all to answer, no thought involved at all. I said that of course I was happy. I could not understand why I would not be, I have a great life, I have great friends, things could not be going more right, and lately I have been uncharacteristically optimistic. However the one thing I did not realize at the time was this friend was not really asking about my happiness because they were genuinely interested in my state of being, I believe this person was concerned about their own happiness. Which is why when I think back about the second part of our conversation, I am embarrassed. I must have sounded so pretentious, and so very idiotic.

After I declared my undying happiness, and optimism for the future my friend decided to throw me a curveball and ask me the one question I had no idea how to answer. The one thing they wanted to know was