Today I have very mixed emotions. I am really excited for my festivities coming up this weekend, it’s been a long time waiting, and finally this epic weekend has arrived. On the other hand, I got an email last night from my sister telling me about a girl we grew up with (they lived one block over and went to our church) and how she passed away last week because of bone marrow cancer. She was my sister’s age and she had a twin sister, as well as several other siblings. I immediately became sad and teary eyed. I went upstairs after reading it and told Tracey about it and told her how much I loved her and how I appreciate every day with her. A few weeks ago my Dad had told me about another kid I grew up with in BG that had died of brain cancer or tumor, and coupled with the news last night, it just brings the brevity of life to light again to my life. In some ways it has been a rough month dealing with mortality, from the 9/11 anniversary, to famous people dying, to people I actually knew. It’s a broken record, but we really just don’t have any guarantees of how much time we get. I’ll use an example that I heard from Lewis Black the other night on the Daily Show. He was talking about how Leni Riefenstahl, Hitler's favorite filmmaker and former Nazi propagandist, just died at age 101, but John Ritter, a great person and talent, dies suddenly at 54? It’s a crap shoot, whether you’re good or bad, no one knows when our time is. Once again, each day is a gift, to have friends, family, a job, a car, music, movies, good times, the beach, playing basketball, sharing an inside joke, getting some free chai, that great feeling you get from walking down the street with your headphones on, listening to your favorite part of your favorite song and no one can touch you, sleeping in, having a (occasional) cigar, intimacy with a loved one, siblings, going to a show, worshipping God, going camping, sports, skating, surfing, running, sunsets and breathing. What a great dichotomy we live, the highs and lows, the great times, the bad times, what’s the point? Who cares? Dream it, live it, do it, don’t regret it, fulfill it, spark it, go for it, don’t hold back, take a step, risk it and don’t look back, it’s the only shot you got. Our life is but a vapor, all you’ve got is what you got. Don’t waste it. Ok, I didn’t intend this rant to go like this; most of these words are directed at myself. With life being so short, why be mediocre? Why be like anyone or everybody else? Who cares what “they” think, screw em. I intend to enjoy this weekend with old, current, and new friends as if it were my last, cause every day should be like that. Let love be our guide, not hate or envy. This precious thing we have, this breath in our lungs, is a gift. You can be better, you can overcome, you can be your best. I think for the first time in a long time, I feel the complete, unconditional love of Christ, all over me. Thank you Jesus. Thanks for reading, see ya in Ohio.

“Drop down, Baby put the top down
I wanna go out tonight
Hands up (up) Cmon let me stand up
I just want to feel alive”
-The Huntingtons

Just a few quick thoughts today. Well, not really, I don’t have anything to say. Might pick up the new Outkast today, Tracey really wants it. I’m still pretty stoked on coming back to BG for the weekend. Be good to see family and friends, although I will miss Tracey a ton. She gets to go to a cool wedding in Mexico, but I’m sure she will miss me. Lot’s of season premiers this week for tv, be catching some NYPD Blue tonight. Mare, Dad, Tracey, maybe Justin, check this chick out, she’s on the label that Cush is on: http://www.hollynelsonmusic.com/, thought you might be into it. Have a good night.

It has been a few days and much has happened, like the Browns actually winning a game, good job guys. Good job to the Bengals too, they need to go 0-16. And it looks like the Tigers are going to pull off history, cheers to you guys as well. I’m at work right now, finishing up some stuff. I’ve done a lot this weekend, except sleep. We’ve watched a lot of movies, Once Upon a Time in Mexico (Me only), Lost in Translation, Confidence, Raising Victor Vargas (Tracey only) and Anger Management. You might say, “Matt, you live in San Diego, why are you spending so much time watching movies in a weekend?”, but alas, I did spend much time on the beach, so no worries. Remember, I didn’t sleep much this weekend. I also watched baseball, and football, tried to go to Hodad’s, but too busy, so got some pizza from a place we hadn’t been before in OB called Theo’s, pretty good. We also went to Ortega’s in OB, amazing carne asada quesadias. I have three days of work this week, then off to BG for Jeb’s big weekend, good times ahead. My mouth is watering thinking about bread sticks and DQ, I’m pathetic.

I know I’m late on this, but I vividly remember the whole cereal box reading thing Justin, so funny to think about now. I also remember eating my cereal “too loud” for Dad to read at the table, so he would tell me to be quiet, he was always so serious in the mornings, reading and thinking about that day’s work. My slurping of the milk after I was done with the cereal was just too nerve racking, so funny. That’s all I got for now, late.

“I guess they had some new guys in their group last night and apparently their elevators didn't quite go to the top.” From Michele’s blog, I laughed out loud