Andy's Blog

Ok, some of you might have noticed I haven't blogged much recently. I am sorry. But the reason is because I have no integrity...

Any of my friends will tell you, before the Olympics started, I obnoxiously professed that as much as I loved the Olympics (and I do), I was planning on boycotting due to the fact that China should never have gotten the games due to there human rights violations and their inability to step into the 21st century. I kept saying, why not just have the next games in Tehran.

But my protest lasted literally 5 minutes. That's right. I have no integrity and I freely admit it. We were 5 minutes into the Opening Ceremony when I stepped up to the couch and gave in. And boy was it a great Olympics...

The opening ceremony was amazing. As someone who has put on psudeo-large events, I truly had an appreciation for what the Chinese pulled off. Sure it is easy when you essentially have a slave population, but nevertheless it was truly awe-inspiring and amazing.

One of my favorite parts was watching President Bush at the games. Say what you will about his politics, but it was nice to see our leader at the games, cheering for our athletes just as we all were.

Kerry Walsh & Misty May. What can I say, I am a sucker for skinny, flat-chested blonds with no butts. Put them in a bathing suit and have them compete for America's honor and I am in.

Nastia Liukin & Shawn Johnson. Take same principle of Kerry and Misty, remove the suits, put in leotards, and the same statement applies. Although I will only say that about Nastia as saying that for Shawn makes me a pedophile.

Michael Phelps I am sure is the biggest douche-bag in the history of all people. But I was cheering right alongside for the 8. The 4x100 medley and the 100m fly. The close finishes. Woah. Great, great stuff. (For evidence of Phelp's douche-baggery click here and advance to the 6:00 mark and watch until at least 6:45)

Bryan Clay. Amazing decathlete. Met him many a times as he went and trained at Azusa Pacific University. Great guy. Arguably the toughest sport and truest test of an athlete. And before you ask, no he wouldn't remember me, but I will always remember him.

Redeem Team. We are suppose to be good at Basketball. 2004 Athens was ridiculous. And although the gold medal game was closer than it should have been, I was proud that our Basketball team redeemed our reputation and our dominance.

I think the best moment was something everyone else missed. It was the quarterfinal game for Men's Indoor Volleyball against Serbia. It was one of the great competitions I have ever seen in my life. I am glad I stayed up to watch.

It was fun. DVR-ed almost everything I could. Averaged 20 hours a day. On days where I didn't have to be in the office early, I stayed up past 3 and 4 am to watch late night. Even Rowing - all the while thinking Lissa would be a better coxswain.¹

I even had what Nathan and I referred to as Olympic Configuration for the couches. Which really meant just bringing one closer to the table so we could eat and then fall asleep into the wee-hours of the morning.

Well it is over tonight. Back to normal life. Back to blogging. And waiting for London in 2012 - at least these games won't cause me to lose my integrity.² Now...bring on the Cubs vs. Rays/Angels World Series in October.

One of the greatest moments in a Presidntial Campaign happened last night and I am pretty sure we all missed it because we were watching Phelps get his 8th gold medal.

I am not really sure who "won" this discussion; Obama, McCain, and Warren for that matter all represented themselves beautifully. But I know with out a doubt, hands down who the losers were: James Dobson, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Al Franken, Bill Maher, and countless others.

Warren showed us what it truly means to be a patriotic American and to ask the tough questions that we aren't all going to agree on, but deserve to be discussed in a civil, mature, and respectful manner.

There was no "Stop Obama Expresses" allowed at Saddleback. There were no "Evil Neocon Bush Administrations." Simply tough, fair, and introspective questions for two people running for a very tough job.

In the opening segment Warren made the comment

I have to tell you upfront but both these guys are my friends. I don't happen to agree with everything either teach or believe, but they both care deeply about America. They're both Patriots and they have very different views on how America can be strengthened in America. We've got to learn to disagree with out demonizing each other and we need to restore civility. We need to restore civility in our civil discourse and that's the goal of the Saddleback Civil Forum.

Great job Rick! I am very proud of you. Great job!

I turned 26 yesterday. I deliberately waited to write this because I am not really a big birthday person. To prove this, I have spent three birthdays in my life where nobody I was with even knew it was my birthday. I am sure there is something psychologically wrong with me. This become all the more evident as I write...

I have always felt that dying on your birthday is one of the greatest achievements one could have - mainly because you really have no control over that and the odds are .273%¹ More on this later.

I once had a girlfriend who turned to me at dinner and said, "tell me something about you that nobody knows." Internally, I rolled my eyes and debated answering: 1.) I once shot a man in a hotel in Paris² or 2.) I always take my mobile into the bathroom with me when I am home alone.³ But I settled for neither and just responded, "you know, I am a pretty open person and there isn't much I don't share with everybody."⁴

Which brings me back to the dying. I have never shared this before, but for some time I have always had four fairly certain feelings about my death.

1. I will die before I am 40⁵
2. I will die in a plane accident
3. I will die while on the toliet⁶
4. There is a specific place on the back of my head that I feel will be penetrated causing my death.

I know. Weird. I told you something was wrong with me. But what if it were all true. What if I died before I was 40 while going to the bathroom on a plane because because something fell and penetrated my skull.

So what does this have to do with 26? Simple. Life is short. How would your life be different if you knew you were going to die by 40? Just because most of us will pass at 70 or 80 really isn't that different.

And while it is true I believe in life after death, it doesn't mean we shouldn't seize the stages of life we find ourselves in like they could be our last.

There is a saying Allen uses often, which is "pray like it all is up to God, and work like it is all up to you, and somewhere in between you'll end up alright." I think a similar statement could be applied to life. "Prepare to live forever, but live like it is your last, and somewhere in between you'll end up alright."

This is how I spent the entire week. Actually, check that, I am awake in this self-taken photo.¹ If you really want to know how I spent the week, I would be sleeping as well.

It's been a great and relaxing week! Now back to Atlanta tomorrow.

And for all of you who think I have become soft and now all parent-ey, I leave you with this. The Guide to Determine How Andy Likes Kids:

0-2 = Andy LOVES them - can't get enough of the babies
2-13 = Andy doesn't know what to do
13+ = Andy LOVES them again.

I am sure it won't apply to my own kids (at least I am hoping), and for now, since I have no kids, CJ and Andrea's are my default kids. I just don't want you to start thinking that I will like your kid just because I like CJ and Andrea's.

But if you still want a good laugh, watch this bit. It is hilarious for all my single friends out there. Best line in there (at the 1:46 mark): "I wanted to have kids really bad, then I had kids, turns out, I wanted to be an Uncle."
And for now, I love being Uncle Andy.

P.S. I did not check work e-mail once while on this trip.