One Step at a Time

And so it begins. I have started my fundraising quest to raise $1,000 for the American Cancer Society. The countdown is ticking and I have less then fifty days. I have to admit, I am somewhat nervous about this endeavor. What have I gotten myself into? Can I really raise all this money I impulsively pledged to raise? It's questions like these that can keep me rolling awake at night, fidgeting underneath the sheets of commitment. It is the worry and the anticipation of the unknown that make me sit down for a second and think about the big picture. After all, it takes a lot of steps to run a marathon...

Here is the progress so far: I have made donation jars (-->) and started to go around to local businesses to see if anyone wants to become a "donation location." Big thanks to The Running Room (West Des Moines), Play-it-Again Sports (Clive), and Fitness Sports (Windsor Heights) for not only accepting the jars but encouraging me as well. Also big thanks to Kelly Cooper who helped me out of a jam when I locked my keys in my car (it was a long morning).

Second initiative: Put on a Frisbee Golf Charity Classic. This one is taking some more work. I have made numerous calls out to different Des Moines Disc Golfers who have had a lot of experience with the sport and tournament hosting. They have all been really helpful but it is growing clear that it is really going to come down to me taking charge and stepping up. The blind leading the blind. All I need is some more momentum though. Expect posters by the end of the week!!

So yes, I feel the water slightly rising over my head, the salty taste of defeat not far away. But all I have to do is make progress, to run uphill and out of worry, all I have to do is keep at it. Right???

Good timber does not grow with ease. The stronger the wind the stronger the trees.
~ J. Willard Marriott (cheesy?? I hope so!)

Gotta Love It

Over and Out,                                                        

BDL

Brad's Fundraising Page

Running Saves Lives

It's True isn't it? Running does save lives. But this time it's going to be more.

I have joined up for the DetermiNation Team to run the Des Moines Marathon. This team will cover my entry fee as long as I donate raise $1,000 in 50 days. All proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society.




I have some fundraising ideas brewing and in the first part of the works. Expect a Frisbee Golf tournament one of three Sundays in a month's time. (Sep 25, Oct2, or Oct 9th, T.B.D). I have a few office connections w/ possible raffle opportunities. And at some point the e-mails and letters will be sent out. I'll keep everyone posted on events that will be taking place.

If you would like to help out the cause you can find my donation page here:
BRAD'S FUNDRAISING PAGE

Thanks!

Brad L.

Quotes and Things

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas Edison ------------->

This is the chosen quote for the classroom supplement of my new internship. I think it is fitting and already the father of the light bulb's words are resonating.

The work so far is not technically difficult by any means (unless you have a hard time filing and entering data into a computer). But the broader picture of not only fitting this internship into my life, but also benefiting from it, looks and smells a lot like work.

I've begun to realize that the difference between college life and work like is not that different. Albeit I am working an internship accompanied with a class, and am still technically in school, it is different. Everyone back in Iowa City started the first day of classes today meaning they woke up, went to class, ate lunch, read a syllabus or two, and relished the beautiful day in between. It is different now.

But my life is still how it was. I still enjoy doing the things I enjoyed in school. I still like to read, write, exercise, lounge, laugh, and play. I just suddenly have less time to do it in. And that's where the work comes into play.

The true work is understanding what is important to me. What do I want out of life? With a sudden scarcity of leisure time I must commit what I have to what I love. Just as important though I hope to make this internship not just 40 hours of my week wasted (like some sort of bizarre commatose) but instead to learn from it. I'm sure I'll learn some accounting skills (Woo!) but ideally I will be learning some life facts and begin to understand where the roller coaster might be take me next.

Over and Out,

BDL

HOLY COW - 100 DAYS ALREADY?!?!?!?!?!

What? Say it isn't so! Summer is over!!!!!

But it's not all bad. As it does, life is moving forward and good things are to come. I started working today. Whoa, almost a real job in fact. For the next four months I'll be an accounting intern for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The building is located kitty-corner to the Iowa capital (pictured right). I catch the bus every morning at 6:55 so I will be (forcefully) a morning-bird from now on. I good quote though I read recently said "a man who can wake before dawn 360 days a year will never fail to make his family rich" I don't necessarily believe richness is measured purely by monetary gain either.

Don't worry though, the summer spirit will hopefully continue to live on. Just because the schedule is a little tighter and the dress a little less casual does not mean we can't still have a little fun. Their is still time to write, read, and be alive. On the radar is the Des Moines Marathon in October, weekend trips to visit all the friends I already miss, and most of all just enjoy each day one at a time. Because if anything, we can't ask for much more.

Later Gators,

BDL

Iowa State Fair and the Quest to be #1

Philly Cheddar Cheese Steak

 That's right, it's that time of the year, the time of year to engage all five senses at the Iowa State Fair. There are a lot of people to see, free music to be heard, animals to be petted, food to be consumed, and enough smells to take down a candle factory. The fair is an Iowa tradition, the fair is Iowa.

1/4 Lb. Corndog



PB&J on a Stick

 I will say the amongst the Des Moines Registers coverage of the fair they had printed a funny article that expresses funny timing on their part. The same day I went to the fair the Register released an article exclaiming Iowa's goals to jump from #19 to #1 healthiest state in America. Kudos for the ambition, but I might have suggested printing the article after the Iowa State Fair.

"Colossal" Pork Tenderloin



Eating is just a big of part of the Iowa State Fair as is the Butter Cow (who celebrated her 100th year at the fair). And I'm not talking about a hot dog and french fries, I'm talking about deep-fried anything, overly-priced, and always served on a stick -->.

I'm not complaining about it though, I love it. Among the things not pictured to the right I had some Ice Cream and a few more beers. It's a great part of the fair, but it just doesn't seem to qualify Iowa for any healthiest state awards.



Gryo

 

The fair is here to stay though, and it is always welcomed. Besides the massive amount of food vendors everywhere, there is a lot to see and I have plenty of childhood memories that come directly from the fair.

Where else can you get your picture taken with a 25 foot python? Where else can you get insulted by a loudmouth clown before you try and dunk him in water?

Side note: The clown has forever been banished from the fair after he got jumped in the parking lot a couple of years back. Joke that I remember to this day: What does Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Pink Floyd have in common? Answer: Their last big hit was The Wall. (the dunk tank had to make a lot of money)

Where else can you see not only the worlds biggest bull (and coincidentally the worlds biggest bull genitals) but also see a cow completely made of butter? The possibilities are endless.

If you have never been to the fair, you clearly are not from Iowa. Although I don't know if I could go ever day like some fair goers and RV campers manage to do, it's always worth the long afternoon and the near 100$ you will spend on food and beer. Make a trip, bring the family, go pet a pig. 



 



 

   

 







Su Casa Es... Su Casa

Never does a day go by do I not thank someone for the friends that I have.


After living out of my car on the road for a month I find myself back in Iowa City once again, living out of my car. For those that do not know I am moving back to Des Moines this fall to work an internship for the Department of Natural Resources (more on that later). The predicament occurs though that although I am not signed into a lease in Iowa City, I do have work obligations (and Iowa City is a fun place to be).

So I have been doing some couch surfing to say the least. It's not a bad life once you get over the random 3:30 wake-up calls and back pains from unfamiliar mattresses and couches. In fact it's kind of fun, almost like camping, but for homeless people. It has caused me to be resourceful, and to pack lightly (and have a messy car), and most of all it has caused me to impose myself on people I care about. And for this I thank everyone who has put me up, everyone who has offered to put me up, and everyone who understands the all too common situation I find myself in.

Adios,

BDL

P.S. better blog posts (more pictures, Colorado adventures) coming as soon as I get fully situated somewhere with my normal computer.

Read a Book or Two, or Twenty

Here is an interesting read; Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Although he may look kind of like a goofy guy with his Fro, the man knows how to engage readers with both facts and opinions that keep the narrative flowing and informative.

Outliers, "The Story of Success", focuses on successful individuals and the paths that led them beyond the pane of ordinary existence. Malcolm's argument (and a good one at that) is that successful people are genetically different, they aren't predetermined celebrities, they instead have just been able to capitalize on fortunate circumstances.

Malcolm uses many (and I mean many) real world situations to drive his point home. From Junior league hockey players to Bill Gates, Malcolm Gladwell illustrates just how these people became successful and shows that if it weren't for some fortunate timing and events that these people would be classified as simply "normal." Malcolm does a great job informing the reader and drawing out his hypothesis with great examples, a good motivational read.

One thing worth mentioning is Malcolm's 100,000 hour theory. He claims that if anyone practices any certain activity for 100,000 hours, that person would then become an expert. Very interesting indeed. He uses the Beatles as an example stating that in the early stages of their careers they would play in Hamburg for eight hours a day, 5 days a week. By the time they made it across the pond they had already put in an incredible amount of stage time and thus became superstars. So start practicing whatever you love to do, 100,000 hours is no easy chore.