Almost Injured Archie Manning

Who is the most famous or infamous person you have ever met?

Two of the most famous persons I have ever met were Archie and Peyton Manning. The story is interesting, to say the least.

I was at a quarterback camp that the Mannings host yearly called “The Manning Camp”. All the brothers and the dad, Archie, have played college and professional football so they host this massive camp for all the aspiring qbs in the state.

They bring in a bunch of coaches and players to help out so they can ride around and socialize for the most part.

Fast forward to just before lunch time and we are in rows warming up. My throwing partner was a tad wild that morning and I kept having to jump to catch his throws.

One wild throw just slid through my finger tips and I couldn’t stop it from continuing past me to oblivion. Unbeknownst to me; Archie and Peyton were parked behind me, just close enough that a ball could bounce and hit the golf cart. Which it did. Full force.

THANK GOD the cart was angled perfectly so that the ball hit the bracket in front of Archie instead of full on in the face.

Now…someone has to go get the ball after said throw. That person would be me. The guy who just missed a throw and almost got a 70 year old face crushed.

As I mosey on over to the cart I can’t help but apologize and half heartedly raise my hand in a wave. When I got closer I expected to be chastised for my lack of catching the ball but was welcomed with smiles and understanding.

They thought it was funny, I guess no one getting hurt helps too, and told me not to worry about it. I chatted with them for a second then scuttled back into the throwing line.

Both of them are very nice and humble. I’ve talked to Peyton a time or two since then. Very funny and down to earth family. 10/10 would recommend meeting them. Just not the way I did.

Being Alive Is Not The Same As Living

Living with your significant other is not the same as living with your significant other. Read that again

If that didn’t get through to the masses:

Being alive with your significant other is not the same as living a fulfilling life with your significant other. Complacency kills.

Unconditional Love

What is good about having a pet?

The absolute best thing about having a pet, dogs specifically in my case, is the unconditional love you receive from them. They want nothing else other than to be your best friend.

The saying “Lock your dog in the trunk of a car and then your significant other as well and see which one is happy to see you.” Is a funny way to poke at your significant other but is very, very much true.

Your pet, whatever it may be, knows only you. Dogs go their entire lives, a very small portion of our own, living FOR US.

These beings give us a sense of responsibility and accountability when we own and bond with them.

At the end of the day, they make our lives so much better and make us much better people.

Happiness in a Photo

My Custom Guitar

Name the most expensive personal item you’ve ever purchased (not your home or car).

I’ve always wanted to build a guitar, but I never thought it would be this expensive. It’s a complicated process that could go wrong and leave me with a nice piece of wood.

I knew I wanted something no one else would own, so I started designing custom templates for the beautiful black walnut block, I’d purchased. I chose this wood for its density and color, but I didn’t know it would weigh so much more than a regular maple guitar. I guess nothing’s perfect, huh?

I then cut holes and brackets for my electronics. I used fender custom shops pickups and hardware for the electronics, but I changed the bridge pickup from a single to a single style humbucker. This kept the “strat” look, but gave me the option for the crunchy sound I wanted. Finally, it was time to play!

After tuning and getting ready, I played a few chords and wow did that puppy sing! The neck and mid picks have the clearest notes I’ve ever heard, but I was still a bit nervous. What would the bridge sound like if the humbucker was split?

Well, as it turns out, it was pure bliss! What could have been a nightmare turned into something so special I can’t even describe it. So now I have a custom guitar, that I created with my own two hands, that no one else can have and I love it!

The Time When Time Matters The Least

Approximately 25% of the population are night owls. So those people will understand what I’m saying before I even articulate it but I will write this for the early birds and the lovers of sleep.

I learned this back in college when I had a case of insomnia, I guess everything has a silver lining.

Between the hours of 3:00 A.M. and 4:00 A.M. time does not matter. For the single solitary hour. Time almost freezes.

This is the time of the day, or night if you will, that MOST people are down. The early risers are still fast asleep and the party animals have crashed in their tubs for the night, snuggled with their trash cans.

See, this particular hour is right in the slot. It’s the time where the world stands still. There are no animals up, there are no cars driving, there is nothing nor anyone to bother you. This is the quietest and most peaceful time you can have.

If you’ve never experienced this and want to try. Take a nap in the evening. Then stay up until 4. Watch how the time slows and the world is a little less hectic. It’s such a beautiful time to be alive.

For that hour. I am the only thing that matters.

My Favorite Podcasts Currently

What podcasts are you listening to?

Recently, in the past 6-8 months, I discovered a TikTok (I know, I know, not a podcast but bear with me) that is clips of a podcast.

This podcast is call To Be Better. It’s run by a husband and wife duo, Chris and Peaches.

This podcast is about the highlights and struggles of: relationships, struggles of life, and they take requests to help others get their questions answered.

This podcast has a very nice balance of fun and serious talks. There are jokes and pokes at each other but there are NUMEROUS serious conversations.

Chris has a very serious and reserved feel, while Peaches is the fun and open feel. Now, this doesn’t mean that they won’t cross over and show a side of them that typically would be reserved for each other. They do a good job of showing their 3rd face while simultaneously keeping on track.

They talk about their pasts, preset and potential future. While relating to the person who sent in the requests.

This is a HIGHLY recommended podcast by me. Real people, giving real advice through their own experiences.

Do Subjects Make Teachers Or Do Teachers Make The Subject

What was your favorite subject in school?

So, I feel like this is the obvious answer, English was my favorite subject in school. Hands down, no debate.

But, I can’t make a post without at least a little bit of a controversy!!

So I’ll ask this question and then give an explanation from my perspective. Are subjects just fun or do the teachers make it so?

In high school English was my favorite subject. I was just good at it and it piqued my interest so I worked harder to be better. Being good at it had its pluses, which is just human nature. The thing is though, I had a VERY good English teacher. She went above and beyond for even the blandest of assignments. It made the class fun and kept you interested in the topic at hand.

Again, it also helped that I was good at it too. No one wants to partake in anything they’re terrible at.

Except, in the instance of my college debut. I took a business law class. Not once in my life did I ever look into business law. The first few classes would almost drag on while the content was being thrown at us because the usual professor was out.

ONCE THIS MAN CAME BACK?! The entire course changed. It was fun. Exhilarating. The content flowed and he used real world examples in real time. The dynamics of the course changed drastically and I found myself thoroughly enjoying being in the class with this amazing teacher.

Side note: A teacher can in fact change a life. I’ve felt it and have seen it.

So this begs an answer to the question. Is the subject your favorite or is it the teacher that makes it so?

The Challenges of Parenting

Parenting is one of the most difficult jobs that any person will ever have to tackle in their lifetime. There is no instruction manual or guidebook. One day you are expecting a baby, and the next, you are sent home with a newborn infant that you are expected to raise. You have to keep this little human alive, help them thrive and grow, teach them about life, raise them to be kind, show them new things, and the list goes on.


Every decision I make and everything that I do is FOR them and is done with them in mind. They are always in the front of my brain. I always knew I’d love my children, but could never fully grasp just how MUCH I’d love them.


When they are babies to toddlers, life is all about those little moments. We anticipate baby’s first smile, first laugh, crawling, first steps, first words, and even trying baby food for the first time. These moments are fleeting and we do our best to capture all of these little milestones because we know it passes fast. However, regardless of how aware we are that it passes quickly; we never can truly grasp how quickly it passes until it has passed. When the time has passed we look back on the memories, with tears in our eyes, trying to comprehend how time has escaped us.


In the midst of this, we wonder if we did it right. The guilt that parents feel is a struggle that never seems to end. You wonder if you did enough. You wonder if you disciplined them to the best of your ability. You wonder if you were fair. You wonder if you were too mean, or too nice. You question whether you gave them the love that they needed. You wonder if you yelled too much, or if you were too hard on them. You question if they remember that you were there. What version of you will they carry with them into adulthood? Will they remember the parent that was there for every sporting event and every award ceremony, the parent that made sure to help with school projects and ran around in the yard with them, the parent that sat with them and talked through those school-aged-kid problems? Or will they remember the side of you that lost their temper and yelled a little too much; the parent that didn’t have time to send those pinterest worthy snacks to school for their class?


I am often confident in myself, but I find myself questioning the choices I make as a parent. I have such an inner struggle about whether or not they appreciate how hard I work to make them proud. My children make me proud in so many ways, but I do wonder if I am making them just as proud. Do they see my efforts and appreciate them? Do they know that I constantly pour my heart and soul into them?


I do my best daily to set a good example for them and to be the best version of myself for them. They are my reason. Even on my worst days, I push through for them. They need me and I need them.

Caffeine Crazy

Everyday I wake up and the first thing I put in my bag is an energy drink. Cannot go all morning without the jolt of the caffeine. I have to be energized at work!!

In the evenings, if I had a long day, another energy drink or a caffeine tea. Gotta keep the energy levels up for the kids!!

I try to kick back and have a relaxing day WITHOUT caffeine. BAM! Headache… need another energy drink to make the brain lag and head pounding headache go away.

Todays fast paced world, at work and at home, requires so much attention and energy I doubt that anyone (obviously this isn’t the whole truth for everyone else lol) can survive day to day without the extra boosts.

So we need the caffeine to function but also need it because our bodies are addicted to it. Then you get off of it FINALLY and a month later you’re back on it because you’re dragging and lagging and that’s NOT ACCEPTABLE TODAY.

As I sit here and type this rant about the toxic and draining ways. I still sip my cancer drink. Knowing that one day it will be the end of me but at least for today, for today, I will move forward.

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started