One Medium Suitcase

1. A baseball glove and ball- I don't know where I'm going but I will need something to do.
2. A picture of my family and Lauren- I might be leaving but I don't want to forget them.
3. 3 Nights In August- I could read that book over and over and not get tired of it because baseball is a game you can't know enough about.
4. A pair of basketball shoes- Like my glove, it would give me something to do.
5. Paper and Pencil- So I could write letters to my friends and family.
6. A map- So I knew where I was and where I was going.
7. My bible- No matter where I am, I don't want to lose touch with what I believe in.
8. A High School Yearbook- There are too many good times and people for me to forget about all of them.
9. My KU flatbill- It would be good for three things: Style, shade, and because Lauren got it for me for Christmas.
10. Clothes- I don't really want to walk around naked plus I have no money to buy any.

Yellow Star

1. Flying to Virginia- It was the first time I was away from my family for an extended period of time and I felt like my own person.
2. Getting my drivers license- I finally had the freedom to hang out with my friends as well as work and make a little bit of money.
3. Birth of my younger siblings- I had to be an example for my brothers and my sister Catherine.
4. Winning the World Series- I could see all the  benefits of working hard and being a true team. We went 9-1 in a week of baseball in Lenexa, Kansas.
5. Going to Lawrence- I saw KU's campus and decided that I would want to go to school there.
6. Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys game- My dad and I spent some good time together when we watched the 'Skins clinch a playoff spot in 2007.
7. Working hard rehabbing my knee- I got to play in 8 games the doctor said I wouldn't be able to and helped win a conference, district, and sectional title.
8. DYC- I got the chance to talk to some people who helped me understand the Catholic faith a little bit better.
9. 2004 World Series- I learned a valuable lesson at the age of eight that the Cardinals weren't going to win every game, because they got swept by the Red Sox.
10. Winter Formal Dance- I got to take Lauren and had  more fun dancing (albeit in a strait leg brace) than I ever though I would.

My Rankings

 

1. Birth of my younger siblings
2. DYC
3. Winter Formal Dance
4. Rehabbing my knee
5. Getting my Driver's License
6. Flying to Virginia
7. Going to Lawrence
8. Winning the World Series
9. 2004 World Series
10. Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys

Gone but not Forgotten

I hope to remember...

1. That I enjoyed High School although it hasn't always been easy.
2. That I felt like I had to play football at least one year otherwise I would be cheating myself.
3. The doctor told me I would miss the rest of my sophomore basketball season when I got hurt in November but came back at the end of the year to play in eight games and win a conference, district, and sectionals title.
4. That I could always talk to Lauren
5. That I want to coach basketball one day, hopefully at the college level.
6. That I hated chicken patty Wednesdays.
7. That I'm not sure if I'd rather play baseball of basketball after high school, although the opportunity to play either is NOT guaranteed.
8. That I worked hard in the classroom and the weight room.
9. That my dad could be the most frustrating person in the world.
10. That I have been given every opportunity to be successful and I hope that I don't let it go to waste.
11. That I want to go to KU.
12. Mr. French was a really good teacher even though I wanted to punch him in the face 75% of the school year.
13. That we have a great opportunity in baseball to do something in districts and after that  you never know what could happen, and that if it doesn't work out we let something go to waste.
14. That we won the first district championship in school history, and in the process made people in this town care about basketball.
15. That I was willing to do whatever it took to help us win a game.
16. That I didn't compromise my values whatever the situation.
17. That Aaron and I tried incredibly hard to beat each other at fantasy baseball, and Aaron usually won.
18. That I tried to be my own person and not a follower.
19. That I was a combination of athlete and nerd.
20. That I enjoyed some of the things I complained about.
21. That I hated the first few weeks of basketball.
22. That I've had some good coaches.
23. That I try to do the right thing but I'm not perfect and I've made more than my share of mistakes.

Personal Metaphors

1. If I were an animal, I would be a wolf because I don't mind being by myself.
2. If I were a car, I would be an Accord because I'm not flashy.
3. If I were an article of clothing, I would be a cut-off because I get stuff done.
4. If I were a day of the week, I would be Friday because people can't wait to get to me.
5. If I were a food, I would be cashew chicken, because I'm from around here but people think I'm not.
6. If I were a color I would be green, because I can be positive but also really negative.
7. If I were a movie I would be "The Sandlot" because I love baseball.
8. If I were a fragrance I would be Axe Kilo because that's the soap I use.
9. If I were a type of building I would be a warehouse because I keep stuff for a really long time.
10. If I were a plant I would be Bermuda grass because I love the heat and hate the cold.
11. If I were a musical instrument I would be a saxophone because they play sexy music.
12. If I were a geometric shape I would be a triangle because I was all over geometry.
13. If I were a piece of furniture I would be a couch because I'm relaxing.
14. If I was a song I would be "Radioactive" by the Imagine Dragons because it's constantly played at baseball games.
15. If I were a appliance or machinery, I would be a pitching machine because I throw great BP.
16. If I were a television character, I would be Leonard Hofsteader because I try to act cool but I'm not.
17. If I were a season of the year I would be winter because I can lead to negativity.
18. If I were a natural phenomenon, I would be solar eclipse because everyone wants to see an eclipse.
19. If I were a cartoon character I would be Iron Man because his smarts led to him being awesome.
20.  If I were a word I would be sports, because its what I'm all about.  

Synetics

1. A pencil is wiser than a pen  because it can correct itself when it makes a mistake.
2. A sidewalk is easier to forgive because car wrecks happen on streets and people can die.
3. A calendar is smarter  because without it there would be no clocks.
4. A cloud is more like a contest because it seems like the clouds are constantly trying to cover up the sun.
5. The new is more fearful than the old because with the old you know what you are getting.
6. Mathematics is like a promise because 2+2=4 every single time it has ever been done.
7. A dream is more difficult than a nightmare because you wake up and you want it. With a nightmare you wake up and you can forget it and get back to reality.
8. A year is braver than an hour because more stuff can happen in a year than in an hour.
9. An exit has more pride than an entrance because it takes a lot more guts to walk away than to walk toward.
10. A map is easier to close because you can fold it up.
11. A mirror is like a legend because when you see yourself in it you aren't actually seeing yourself you are seeing a reflection.
12. Rain is more suspenseful than snow because I am always wondering if our baseball game will get rained out.
13. A signature has less charm than an autograph because it is more businesslike.
14. A friend is more useful than an enemy because  you can have fun with your friends.
15. History is more trustworthy than literature because it has already happened and will not change.
16. It is sadder to seek because then you are missing something.
17. A house costs more than a home because a home is something you can't buy with money.
18. Music is happier than art because it is up-beat has a party feel to it.
19. The truth is like a valentine because it makes people happy.

Creating a List, Checking it Twice

 People who have Influenced Me

1. My mom
2. My dad
3. My grandpa
4. Judy Clarkson
5. Darin Henderson
6. My brothers

Places that make me Happy

1. Busch Stadium
2. Any baseball field
3. Manassas, VA
4. Basketball court
5. My couch
6. St. Mary's
7. Batting Cage

Places I would like to go

1. The Vatican
2. Yankee Stadium
3. Fenway Park
4. Mexico
5. China
6. Japan
7. Hawaii
8. New York, City
9. Las Vegas
10. Miami

Things in People that I like

1. Humor
2. Sarcasm
3. Hard working
4. Christian
5. Athletic
6. Simple (low maintenance)

Things In people that I don't Like

1. Big ego
2. Lazy
3. Self centered
4. Not caring about the future
5. People who say baseball isn't a real sport
6. Always serious all the time

 Thing that worry me

1. Torn ACL's
2. Hell
3. Losing
4. Laziness
5. Cancer
6. My future

Thing I would like to know how to do

1. Hunt
2. Fish
3. Work on cars
4. Build stuff
5. Play an instrument
6. Cook

Things that have moved me

1. Lauren
2. Kevin Ware/Louisville Cardinals
3. Boston Marathon
4. 9/11
5. My uncle going to serve in Afghanistan
6. The movie "42"

Ideas that have intrigued me

1. Batting the pitcher 8th
2. People not wanting a job and getting money for it
3. Not doing school work
4. Boston Marathon bombing
5. Serial killers
6. The CIA
7. The FBI

My Personal Favorites

1. a) Baseball       b)basketball
2. Spending time with Lauren
3. St. Louis Cardinals
4. Winning
5. NCAA Tournament
6. Getting A's

A Humble Man's Life Lessons

1. Don't Trust Anybody. Nobody's your friend and if you trust somebody you'll get stabbed in the back. Ask anybody in Cleveland how they feel about LeBron James.
2. Don't try to pull an outside pitch. It doesn't matter how good a hitter you are, you won't pull that pitch on the outside black. If you do its a ground out to 3.
3. Its Whatever. If something happens don't worry about it. You can't control other people's actions and if you try to they'll just piss you off.
4. Have that Go to Song: Whether its pre-game, your chillin', or you're just plain pissed, everyone needs that go to song.
5. Don't believe Mr. Pham. Did you know he has a twin brother named Off?
6. Enjoy today. Always remember yesterday is gone and tomorrow isn't guaranteed.
7. Read the Bible. Its helped me relieve stress and feel  better about myself.
8. Have time to spend with  your family. Families can really get on each others nerves, but those are the people who are usually going to be there for  you and get you through hard times.
9. Go to mass/church. Usually going to mass is tough because it is early in the morning on the weekend. But its a good time to recognize something bigger than yourself and it puts some of your problems in perspective.
10. Work Hard. Its really quite simple: you get what you put in. If you want to be successful you have to put in a lot of work. As the old adage goes, "Nothing worth having comes easy."