When life gets crazy....wreck a few cars.

I honestly have been so blessed this past week it's been incredible.

Last Thursday I entered into a demolition derby. In case anyone was wondering, this isn't like a racing derby...it was a full "fight to the death" scenario with vehicles. Basically we wrecked into each other until someone's car either A). Quit working/couldn't move or B). Caught on fire and then quit working.

It was intense, crazy, and a complete adrenaline rush. The craziest part about all of it though....

I won!!

I beat out nine other guys (including my own brother) and took home a nice huge trophy and $300 in spending money.

Honestly, even looking back on it now, I find it hard to believe that I even won. Some of the guys in this competition had been doing this for years (my brother for example), and little ole me won my first time around. I didn't have a strategy of anything either....I just did my own thing and hoped that my car didn't catch fire.

A lot of people kept asking beforehand if I was nervous.

But I wasn't...not really at least. I mean, I had the minor fear that my car would randomly combust on me and I'd get caught in a fiery death trap...but seriously, how absurd does that sound? Hence, why it was a minor fear.

Which brings me to my point.

As people, we seem to let fear consume us on things that we honestly shouldn't be afraid of. And out of fear, we can bring up justifiable reasoning as to why whatever we're about to do is a bad idea. I mean, don't get me wrong. There's a 50/50 chance that what you're about to do IS in fact a bad idea. But, when it comes to running a derby, skydiving, trying a new food, meeting new people.... those aren't bad ideas. They're just new. And that's scary.

Which is why I strive to overcome some of those fears. Not all, because lets face it, if I were to follow through with my plan of jumping into a pit of lions JUST so I could pet one....that would clearly be not only scary, but stupid. But to just step out and do something out of the norm. Entering a fake beard contest, doing this derby, flying to Switzerland, even just writing this blog for people to see....

All of those have different types of fears that people succumb to on a daily basis. Fear of judgment, fear of getting hurt, fear of the unknown.....yet here I am.

Not because I'm trying to prove something or "be cool". I do it, simply because I want to. Because if I don't do it now, I know I'll regret it later.

I don't want to miss out on anything like that simply because I was afraid. Fear can be overcome. Regrets are harder to deal with.

Not that I don't have any, I have plenty of things I wish I would've done when I was younger that I just refused to do. And I'm sure there will be more to come. I can't imagine going through my life and looking back thinking "I had the perfect life. No regrets."

Because lets face it, you're gonna have regrets. Big ones, small ones....they'll come. The challenge though, is to fill those regrets with even better memories.

Oh, you didn't climb that rock wall as a child. That's fine, go climb it now. Oh, you didn't have a lot friends when you were little. Go make great friends now. Oh, I didn't go to college when I should've. What's stopping you now?

Quoting the millions of people who have said it before, life doesn't stop for anyone. Every second is another minute is another hour added on to your life. Do you really want to waste it by living in fear of the what if's?

Go out, crash a couple cars, get banged up, and enjoy life. And let me know how you feel afterward :)

Generation Gap

What day is it?!

Its HUMMPP DAYY!!!

Only two more day's till the weekend, and for that I am extremely grateful.

Anyway, I'm an avid youtube watcher. And by avid, I mean, I'll usually watch it for an hour while I'm in bed because I can't fall asleep. And it seems like these past two weeks, it's been almost every night. Not that I mind. I actually quite enjoy this time to myself.

I'm also an avid gamer. I love playing video games, and not just COD either like some girls. Assasin's Creed, Left 4 Dead, Titanfall, Fable, Sims, Medal of Honor, Final Fantasy, Kindom Hearts....the list just goes on and on. They say that playing video games will inadvertently "rot your brain." Which, if this is the case, mine should be a puddle of jelly by now.

Yet, here I am.

Unfortunately, with a love of video games also comes the inability at times to not afford these video games. Or actually invest in them because you worry that they will be crap and you just spent $60.00 on a game you would rather throw in the garbage.

So, my youtube searches usually consist of me searching for others playing a game I might be interested in. I recently came across a youtuber named "Pewdiepie." He's a youtuber from Sweden who plays video games for a living while recording himself reacting to them.

It may just be my sense of humor, but the guy is hilarious. Yes, he's vulgar. Yes, he screams...a lot. But he's funny. And he incorporates that into his videos.

He has a video on his channel called: "Pewdiepie reacts to elders react to Pewdiepie."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-KQW-cSpoc

Here's the link for anyone interested.

That title is a mouthful, I know. But basically the video is about him watching a video of the older generation reacting to his video's. Most of the reactions are what I was expecting. They hated him. Plain and simple. Except for maybe 3 of the people featured.

It's not a surprise at all either. Like I said, he's vulgar. And what he's doing, playing video games while recording it for people to watch...it's just not what that generation was about.

Now yell, scream, disagree all you want but our "up and coming" generations, mine included, are LAZY. And yes....it's okay to call it "technologically inclined" what ever makes you happiest.

The older generations were go-getters. But because they had to be. They didn't have the technology at their feet like we do. And to the older generation reading this, you know it's true. Don't shake you're head and exit out. Just bear with me.

I think both generations, the old and young, have their ups and downs.

I really look up to the older generation for getting along without technology the way they did. I'm not gonna lie, I would be lost. Someone mine as well stick me in a bed, wrap me up tight, and leave me there for the next couple days till I can figure out how to function without everything I usually have.

That may be sad, but that's okay. I'm fully aware of my technology dependency.

Of course I'm also speaking as a personal reference. Other's in my generation, even in my friend group, would probably get along just fine without technology (and yes, you know who you are). While I know others in my "friend group" (posse, gal pals, buddies....whatever else you could call them)  would be cuddling in that bed right along with me.

That, and the vulgarity of the guys video's is a little much for some people to handle. That's also a personal reference. I am just not offended by it.

And that has nothing to do with how I was raised, where I live, etc. I was raised in a very Christian household. I respect my mom's rules about language, what I can and can't say, blah, blah, blah....

But as I've gotten older, I've morphed and become part of the society we are currently living in. We're not a bad generation. But we ARE different. And differences are hard for people to accept.

So, to react to those elders on the video criticizing this guy and asking why so many people watch it... well the answer to that is simple.

Cause we're different.

Because I don't want to buy a video game that's gonna be crap. (Again personal tastes)

Because I find his video's hilarious.

Because I can actually relate to this guy when I play games.

Because I'm a gamer.

And you might have been too if the technology was offered up to you. But it wasn't. So you aren't.

Which is good for you.

However, I would like to point out...that guy who's video is "garbage" also has 29 million subscribers that he calls his "Bro Army."

And yes, I'm a part of it.

So, even if you despise his videos....you gotta give him credit. He's doing something right.

Now if only I could figure out how to make money by doing that....

 

First Time Traveler: Learn from Experience

Hello all,

I know it's been forever since I actually updated my blog, but such is life....well my life at least.

As many know, I had it planned to go to Switzerland for a week in July. However, three weeks before I left I ended up dislocating my knee cap. Which, to my luck, put me in a knee brace that I had to wear for 8 weeks. That being said, the Dr. still gave me the go-ahead to go on my trip (with knee brace entail).

Well, I went....and the trip was AMAZING!

Switzerland was pretty much everything I had hoped it would be and then some. There were nothing but mountains and greenery everywhere! It was un-like anything I was use to seeing the states.

As many know, I was really nervous for this trip. It was the first time ever flying overseas, and I had no idea what to expect. In my mind I had made up many scenario's, all of which usually ended in my niece and I missing our flight and not getting to Switzerland/ going home.

I did a lot of research before the trip as well, planning on what to pack and what I might need in case of an emergency.

Well, now that the trip is all said and over with, I did learn quite a few things that I'll remember for future trips and will hopefully help anyone else traveling overseas for the first time.

1). Keep track of your flight.

Luckily our flight wasn't cancelled or delayed in any way on our way there and back. In fact, I believe we were early both times. However, it was crazy how much I saw flights getting delayed, which if I had been on a connecting flight, would have sucked. People were flat out RUNNING through the airport at times to catch a connecting flight that was getting ready to leave.

2). Make your suitcase stand out

At first I thought I had done a good job. I had a normal blue suitcase, and I simply put a sticker on it and scrawled my name in ink on the side. However, at baggage claim, it seemed like there were a million other suitcases exactly like mine. That and both times the suitcase had been flipped over concealing the sticker. My niece, on the other hand, has a brilliant mind. She tied a bright silver ribbon to her suitcase to make it stand out. And it worked. We usually spotted hers before mine. Something to keep in mind...

3). Airplane food isn't as bad as you think...

This might be my own personal opinion, but beforehand I had read so many horror stories about the food on the airlines. In my mind, I was expecting the meal to taste like cardboard with melted ice cream on the side. But actually, the meal was fairly decent. Pasta, chicken and rise, yogurt, coffee, lots of water....of course all this being said. It could really just depend on the airline. We flew Swiss Air....others may not be as nice.

4). Don't expect to get a lot of sleep.

Maybe if you're flying first class or business...but in coach. Forget it. I got in some light cat naps on both the way there and back, but nothing I would consider a decent sleep. Not that I was expecting it. And the airline was nice enough to provide a pillow and blanket (which helped considering our flight there was a night flight). But still....I was definitely jet lagged both going there and coming home.

5). Bring a language dictionary or get a translator....

Luckily, we had family translating for us who spoke the language. However, I can't imagine going there just out of the blue without knowing any German. Sure, in Zurich, English was common...but outside of that...like the trains...good luck. They speak English, but it's really hard to understand. Oh, and Switzerland is Swiss-German....just find a translator.

6). Don't eat out....

Or at least, don't go there with the intentions of eating out every night. Luckily, again, we stayed with family. So we had the luxury of home cooked meals, and food at our finger tips if we wanted it. But to just go to restaurant's for an entire week....well plan on taking a lot of money with you if you intend to do that. People aren't lying when they say Europe is expensive.

7).  Don't drive.

At least in Switzerland anyway. They have enough public transportation to get you from point A to point B without the hassle of driving on the roads. Plus, it was an experience all in its own to travel by the trains. Something we don't do a lot of in America.

8). Don't be afraid to try new things.

Like jumping into a river and crashing into the metal grating at the end, or any and all the food there. You'll miss out a LOT if you don't try everything a place has to offer.

9). None of these tips will fully impact you until you travel.

And, I'm following suit to the hundreds of blogs that have already listed all of these tips before. Honestly, mine aren't any different from those before except for this honest tip. You can read and re-read this a hundred times and think you're prepared. But honestly, until you just go out and do it, you won't fully understand any of them and the impact of how true they are.

Traveling, in it's own, is an experience that I would encourage everyone to get the chance to do one day. Until then, my words here, will be just words.

Anyway, I LOVED Switzerland. If it's not on one of your places to travel, I highly recommend you put it there. It's a beautiful country, and I enjoyed my entire stay there. Every city is uniquely different in it's own way. The people are friendly. And, they DO have really good chocolate.

My niece and I in Luzern, Switzerland

 

Chur, Switzerland

 

My niece Megan, Lina (our family in Switzerland), and me.