Life

What do we live life for? Does money or things make anyone happy? I am more guilty of this than almost anyone that I know. I feel like there is only one thing that fills me up and makes me feel whole. I have tried a lot of things in my life, a lot of worldly things, but did they ever truly make me happy or fulfilled? No. Not once, I think a common misconception is that Christians are weird or creepy or too intense, but I have met so many people recently that prove that wrong. 100% wrong, I want to live a good Christian life not because I am dating someone that wants me to, but a life that makes me feel good to my own self. I dont want to just be a Christian on Sunday, That is a topic that each person has to figure out on their own- over time. It really is an amazing feeling.

Wow

Well I was sitting in astronomy today thinking about Neil Armstrong and how he was the first man on the moon, since I collect autographs- I naturally think about trying to obtain one of his. I do a little research and to my suprise his sig is the most valuable one of any living person right now. A signed photo of his on a 8x10 photo is averaging around 5 grand. Wow! He stopped signing in 1995 and to this day his sig is super rare! So if you find one, hold onto it!

Boring Tuesday

Today I found out that I will indeed be coaching the new U-10 boys academy team, pretty excited about that and am looking forward to seeing how all of it turns out this year. Today I skipped class and slept till 1, and I really needed it. Kind of a boring day- park and rec activities were canceled and I went to the gym to shoot around a bit, nothing to important.

Superbowl prediction: Giants win by 3. Yeah you heard it right. Pretty crazy I know...

Good Day

Today I saw the Hawks lose to the Blazers in OT, but I did well on autographs- I got Jarrett Jack and LaMarcus Aldridge at the game and I ended up going to the team hotel and getting Greg Oden and Brandon Roy, who are pretty tough to get!

I just want to say on the record that winter is my least favorite season, bring on the summer baseball weather.

It appears that the hawks are also making a run at trying to obtain Pau Gasol, I think that would be awesome. Get rid of Marvin, Childress, Shelden, ZaZa- Whoever it takes except Horford, Joe and Josh. We would start finally looking like a playoff team. Joe, Pau and Josh would be a deadly trio along with Horford to get boards!

This is turning out to be a random blog day, but I just want to say that I love the iphone, and It would be hard to go back to a regular cell. Unlimited text, internet, and talking for around $75 a month is worth it. Ya Dig?

Anyway, I hope everyone has a great night! God Bless!

Being Correct

Today I did something that I rarely do, predict the correct teams to go to the super bowl. Its no surprise the Pats and going, but I took a lot of criticism for picking the New York Giants. The Giants missed a field goal in regulation for the win, but Brett Favre's pick early in overtime gave the kicker another shot. The kicker made a 47 yard try (the longest in Lambeau history) to seal the win and give the "other" Manning something to be proud of. By the way the temperature was at -2 degrees most of the game, NO THANKS. Pretty sure I would scalp my tickets in about 2 seconds, call me a fair weather fan I guess.

South Carolina went to McCain last night with 33 percent, and Huckabee took 30 percent, not a bad showing but he needs to start winning some states.

Tomorrow is Martin Luther King Day, apart from me going to see the Blazers play the Hawks and an extra day off from school, it is a day we choose to honor the life of a great man thats morals and ideals helped change our country for the better. Dr. King wanted everyone to live together in harmony and love just as the bible explains we should.

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12

One thing I would like to do in my life is not be so judging of others and try to treat everyone respectfully and fairly. I hope everyone uses tomorrow to sometime think about how much better the world would be if this was the case.

Weekend Snow Days

Snow days are great, but not during the weekend. When it snows and you have no siblings, you basically have to sit at home all day and try to amuse yourself. I am looking forward to seeing how South Carolina turns out for Mike Huckabee tonight- this could be a big step in his campaign.

The hawks lost again last night to the Toronto Raptors, not a good sign at all because they have a brutal road schedule ahead of them. The loss puts them only one game ahead of Indiana for the 8th and final playoff spot in the east. The Hawks need to kick it in gear and somehow try to get back to 500.

So now I will go look for something to do and although I dont want to be cooped up in my room all day, this does give me some time to reflect on how blessed I am and how lucky I am to be worried about unimportant things.

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater. Isaiah 55:10

Braves 08

Well Today the Atlanta Braves avoided arbitration and signed Mark Teixeira to a one year/12.5 million dollar deal, but the bigger question seems to be if super agent Scott Boras and new braves general manager Frank Wren can reach an extension before spring training begins.

Not Likely.

AJC reported earlier that Scott and Frank have had more conversations in the past week than Scott and JS have had in the last five years, so that is at least something to look at positively.

Tex will most likely try out the free agent market at the end of the 2008 season, and Boras will most likely try to squeeze every last dollar out of some franchise to sign this powerful first baseman. The Yankees will be looking for a new man at first after Giambi heads out after his final year in his contract, and the Orioles have money to spend on the hometown boy. There will be no shortage of interest for him as Mark appears to be one of the hottest players on next years free agent market so stay tuned.

As for the rest of the 2008 Braves It looks like the line-up will look like this.

SS Escobar
CF Kotsay
3B Jones
1B Teixeira
RF Francoeur
C McCann
LF Diaz
2B Johnson

Rotation:
SMOLTZ
HUDSON
GLAVINE
JAMES
JOJO/HAMPTON/BENNETT/JURRJENS



My Thoughts:
I would rather see KJ hitting second, he draws a lot of walks and can get on base with the best of them- with Kotsay coming back from the injury I see no reason to put pressure on him early, but he is a savvy vet so I guess Bobby knows best.

Diaz appears to be platooning again this season with stud outfielder Brandon Jones, I like Jones- but I feel like Diaz has earned the right to play every day.

McCann played through some injury last year so expect his durability and numbers to slightly increase, Jeff also lost some power numbers last year but his average increased a lot, lets hope he shows some maturity at the plate and finds that happy medium!

Look for Escobars numbers to dip a little, pitchers have seen this kid by now in the national league so don't think he is going to hit 326 playing full time this year, Yunel looks very promising and was a 296 career hitter in the minors.

-This team can score runs, the Andruw Jones "Im probably going to get out" hole is no longer there, and everyone wont have to cringe when Andruw walks up to the plate with the sacks full this season. The lineup is more balanced and solid from top to bottom, but everyone will still miss Druw for what he was and represented as an Atlanta Brave, good luck in LA Andruw.

The pitching rotation is real solid from the top 2, and an aging Glavine still looks more solid than most #3 pitchers in NL rotations, but the real questions come at 4 and 5; Will Hampton shake the injury's? Will Chuck James find some consistency? will Jurrjens prove to be a young star or a bust? and will JoJo Reyes finally show the stuff that scouts rave about?

This certainly could be a great season, this team could win the National League or it could finish 3rd in the NL East once again, only time will tell. One things for sure, I Can't WAIT for SPRING TRAINING! see you at Disney!