The year 2019 was definitely interesting for me. I got a new job, I helped my parents move out of my childhood home and into their new home, and our apartment complex underwent renovations (on the outside--roof, windows). The last year of the 2010s was a memorable one for me, and I'm thinking 2020 will be just as memorable. I will discuss my thoughts and hopes for the upcoming year, from my personal to professional life.
I cannot state this enough: I need to lose weight. I don't consider myself obese, but overweight, yes. I am not expecting this to happen overnight or even over just one month. I think it may take close to all year. But I am going to put my mind to it. I need to find some way to work out fairly consistently, and start planning lighter and healthier meals. I'd like to lose 50 pounds over the course of next year, which would be an incredible amount, but I'd even be happy with 20-30. I do not have a set plan yet, but I am going to give myself goals and rewards for reaching weight milestones. For example, I cannot eat one of my favorite (unhealthy) foods until I've lost 20 pounds. I will continue to make choices which involve more exercise, such as taking the stairs instead of the escalator/elevator, and eating the healthier option if I eat out. I just don't like my self-image very much right now; and I know if I got back to the shape I was in in my early 20's, I would be so much more confident and happier.
Professionally, I don't know if I necessarily want to change jobs (already), but I will keep my options open. I will continue to look at jobs, and if one pops up that I think would be a really good fit for me, I may go for it. I do like where I am now, but it's not a job that someone stays at for years and years. I also want to make a bit more money. I will probably go back on some of the job sites (Indeed, ZipRecruiter) and opt-in to the e-mails again so that I can see what's out there.
I want to travel in 2020 for sure. It may not be until the summer or even Christmas season, but I don't think I've flown to California in three or four years. I haven't seen Amanda's family in that long, either. I will do my best to get some time off to go with her somewhere, whether that be in the summer or for Christmas. Christmas falls on a Friday next year, so it would be a great opportunity to get a three day weekend and travel to see her family. Which reminds me, I also will have to either get my first ever passport or an enhanced driver's license. I also want to see a Seahawks game next year; I saw one in 2018 but not this year. I want to take Amanda to one in 2020, as she's only seen one Seahawk game, and that was in 2011.
Next year will also be big for news. We're going to have a presidential election in November, and hopefully get a new president. The 2020 Summer Olympics will happen in Tokyo. There are other things, but let's not forget it's also the first year of a new decade. Also, when before some people were starting the current year "Two thousand-", they now almost all will start calling the year "Twenty-Twenty". Not many people are going to say "Year Two-Thousand Twenty". They'll say "Twenty-Twenty".
There are a couple other things that might happen in 2020, but I am not entirely sure. I may get a new car, but that could wait until 2021 or later. I may get a new computer, as my current one is having issues, as it is pretty old (around a decade old) and runs Windows Vista. But I also want to build up my savings next year after the hit it took this year. There are a couple other big things that might happen in 2020, but are personal to me, and I'll share them on here if they do end up happening.
I am excited for 2020 and what it brings. I'm very curious to see how much my life changes in the next year. I am really hoping for an improved me by this time next year. I know that sounds all very cliche, but it's very true for me. I am going to be that 2020 will be a significant year in my life, even more so than 2019 was.
Showing posts with label Lose. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lose. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
Hard to NOT be a Believer with These Mariners
The 2018 Seattle Mariners sit at 54-31, their best record at this point in the season in 15 years. I made a post before the season started saying this team didn't inspire much optimism, but halfway into the season, they have proven me quite wrong. They inspire TONS of optimism. These guys never quit and never believe they have lost until the game is final. The Mariners fans who have stuck through all the losing seasons, all the just barely missing the playoffs, keep expecting this team to go on a major slide and fall from playoff contention. But this team is proving in every game they won't let a single game go without giving it their all, which leads me to believe they'll treat their entire season the same way.
These Mariners are also fun to watch. Marco Gonzalez and Wade LeBlanc were never the splashiest of acquisitions, and they won't light up radar guns. But they're incredibly entertaining in social media and are clearly competitive, seeing their reactions to inning-ending strikeouts. Mitch Haniger is becoming one of the most likable guys in the bigs, and Ben Gamel is that type of gamer every team needs, diving for catches in the outfield and diving home to score a go-ahead run. Edwin Diaz has become the best closer in baseball. Jean Segura may end up missing the All-Star game, despite being near the top of the league in hitting and playing great D. Dee Gordon is an absolute spark plug and is filling in extremely well at 2nd base. Kyle Seager isn't having his best year offensively, but defensively is SHINING, and if he can avoid errors the rest of the way should win the gold glove.
The funny thing about this run this team is going on is how the usual leaders of the team aren't really the reason for the success. Robinson Cano is in the middle of serving an 80 game suspension for taking a banned substance. Kyle Seager, as mentioned earlier, is having a slightly down year offensively. Felix Hernandez is having a wildly inconsistent season. Despite all this, these Mariners manage to persevere. They find ways to win.
I find myself comparing this team to the 1995 team that made the playoffs. I do this a lot whenever the Mariners have some modicum of success, but this team I firmly believe it. First off, they could bring back the 1995 rallying cry of "Refuse to Lose" because of how this team has come back in games. But look at these similarities:
A tall lefty that has dominated, notching numerous 10+ strikeout games: Check. (Johnson--Paxton)
Losing the sweet-swinging lefty hitting team leader for multiple months but persevering in his absence: Check. (Griffey--Cano)
One of the fastest players in the league, recently acquired: Check. (Coleman--Gordon)
OR... you could say a 2nd baseman acquired in the offseason who provides a spark at the top of the lineup (Cora--Gordon)
Having gone through a long playoff drought into the late teens: Check. (19 years--17 years)
A veteran right handed starter who has thrown a no-hitter in his career.: Check. (Bosio--Hernandez)
A power hitting right fielder who has become a cult icon in Seattle: Check. (Buhner--Haniger)
I could go on, but I'd probably be stretching it, and besides, do you need any more proof? This team won't win multiple games in a row by 5+ runs, but they know how to win close and win period. They know how to play as a team and every guy knows his job/role.
Of course, this team could "Mariner" it and fall out of the 2nd Wild Card spot, despite having an 8 game lead over the next team at the moment. But this team has brought even the biggest of doubters around, myself included. I think they've shown me that they won't let themselves get plagued by injuries or inconsistency. They won't let themselves have a losing streak that sets them back a ways. They simply refuse to lose.
These Mariners are also fun to watch. Marco Gonzalez and Wade LeBlanc were never the splashiest of acquisitions, and they won't light up radar guns. But they're incredibly entertaining in social media and are clearly competitive, seeing their reactions to inning-ending strikeouts. Mitch Haniger is becoming one of the most likable guys in the bigs, and Ben Gamel is that type of gamer every team needs, diving for catches in the outfield and diving home to score a go-ahead run. Edwin Diaz has become the best closer in baseball. Jean Segura may end up missing the All-Star game, despite being near the top of the league in hitting and playing great D. Dee Gordon is an absolute spark plug and is filling in extremely well at 2nd base. Kyle Seager isn't having his best year offensively, but defensively is SHINING, and if he can avoid errors the rest of the way should win the gold glove.
The funny thing about this run this team is going on is how the usual leaders of the team aren't really the reason for the success. Robinson Cano is in the middle of serving an 80 game suspension for taking a banned substance. Kyle Seager, as mentioned earlier, is having a slightly down year offensively. Felix Hernandez is having a wildly inconsistent season. Despite all this, these Mariners manage to persevere. They find ways to win.
I find myself comparing this team to the 1995 team that made the playoffs. I do this a lot whenever the Mariners have some modicum of success, but this team I firmly believe it. First off, they could bring back the 1995 rallying cry of "Refuse to Lose" because of how this team has come back in games. But look at these similarities:
A tall lefty that has dominated, notching numerous 10+ strikeout games: Check. (Johnson--Paxton)
Losing the sweet-swinging lefty hitting team leader for multiple months but persevering in his absence: Check. (Griffey--Cano)
One of the fastest players in the league, recently acquired: Check. (Coleman--Gordon)
OR... you could say a 2nd baseman acquired in the offseason who provides a spark at the top of the lineup (Cora--Gordon)
Having gone through a long playoff drought into the late teens: Check. (19 years--17 years)
A veteran right handed starter who has thrown a no-hitter in his career.: Check. (Bosio--Hernandez)
A power hitting right fielder who has become a cult icon in Seattle: Check. (Buhner--Haniger)
I could go on, but I'd probably be stretching it, and besides, do you need any more proof? This team won't win multiple games in a row by 5+ runs, but they know how to win close and win period. They know how to play as a team and every guy knows his job/role.
Of course, this team could "Mariner" it and fall out of the 2nd Wild Card spot, despite having an 8 game lead over the next team at the moment. But this team has brought even the biggest of doubters around, myself included. I think they've shown me that they won't let themselves get plagued by injuries or inconsistency. They won't let themselves have a losing streak that sets them back a ways. They simply refuse to lose.
Saturday, December 31, 2016
My 7 New Years Resolutions for 2017
As I type this, 2017 is just about 4 hours away, so it's time to make my New
Years Resolutions. Yes, plural. And in fact, there will be SEVEN of them. To be totally honest, I'll be happy if I
accomplish 4 of these. I'll aim for all
7, but I feel like the more Resolutions I make the more I'll accomplish.
1. Lose Weight
I've lost count on the number of different ways I've tried losing weight. But this time, there's no excuses. I'm cutting out sweets, sugary drinks, and eating anything in excess. I love to eat, but I'd love myself more if I was in better shape. As the weather warms up during the year, I also plan to work out more, possibly even get a gym membership.
2. Answer Phone Calls
Yes, I know, what a silly resolution. But I have a slight phobia of talking to strangers on the phone. Which is why I have never answered the phone from an unknown number. Funny thing is when I work customer service at my job, I answer the phone several times a day from people I don't know. But from now on I plan to answer it (unless I am driving, working, busy, etc.) I know, 9 times out of 10 it'll probably be a telemarketer or something else like that, but that one time out of 10 could be an opportunity of something I am missing out on.
3. Make progress in/towards a career
I think I've put this as a goal anytime I've made a list of goals to accomplish, but it bears repeating. I've been stuck where I am for years and it's time to change. Or at the very least get started or do something in addition (2nd job?). At some point this year I will figure out a secondary source of income or a career I want to pursue.
4. Seize an opportunity if it presents itself
This is pretty vague, but I've never been one to "seize" things. But I plan to change that about myself. Every time there is an opportunity for something productive, fun, or something that could better my life in any way, I will seize it.
5. Buy Less Stuff/Give Stuff Away
I've been accused by my friends of being a "hoarder". Yeah, I own a lot of crap, but one thing most people don't know about me is that I can get sentimental with certain objects. A souvenir I got at a gift shop one time I traveled. It's hard for me to give stuff away. But I'll do my best. There's the Buy Nothing project where people are more than happy to see cool things for free. There's also Goodwill/Value Village. There's a decent chance I might move this year, so I'll need to part with a lot of objects before moving if I do. Also, I need to watch my spending and only buy things I need, not what I want.
6. Learn an Instrument
This one I won't be too shocked if I don't end up completing it, but one thing I've always had on my bucket list is learning how to play an instrument. My top three instruments I'd want to learn to play would be piano, guitar, or ukulele. Probably guitar. If you didn't know already, I really enjoy singing and if I learned an instrument I could pair that with my voice and entertain people at get-togethers.
7. BE HAPPY! :)
This one is pretty simple and straightforward, but is definitely important. I plan to wake up each day with a smile on my face and not let little things bother me. Too often I get upset at things falling/breaking or my team losing, but being upset over those things that won't matter in 5, 10 years is utterly pointless. I plan to make 2017 the happiest year of my life. :)
I know that's a lot, especially for me, but like I said earlier if I accomplish more than half of these I'll be happy. Obviously if I accomplish #7 I'll be happy.... oy... well here's to a fantastic 2017!!!
1. Lose Weight
I've lost count on the number of different ways I've tried losing weight. But this time, there's no excuses. I'm cutting out sweets, sugary drinks, and eating anything in excess. I love to eat, but I'd love myself more if I was in better shape. As the weather warms up during the year, I also plan to work out more, possibly even get a gym membership.
2. Answer Phone Calls
Yes, I know, what a silly resolution. But I have a slight phobia of talking to strangers on the phone. Which is why I have never answered the phone from an unknown number. Funny thing is when I work customer service at my job, I answer the phone several times a day from people I don't know. But from now on I plan to answer it (unless I am driving, working, busy, etc.) I know, 9 times out of 10 it'll probably be a telemarketer or something else like that, but that one time out of 10 could be an opportunity of something I am missing out on.
3. Make progress in/towards a career
I think I've put this as a goal anytime I've made a list of goals to accomplish, but it bears repeating. I've been stuck where I am for years and it's time to change. Or at the very least get started or do something in addition (2nd job?). At some point this year I will figure out a secondary source of income or a career I want to pursue.
4. Seize an opportunity if it presents itself
This is pretty vague, but I've never been one to "seize" things. But I plan to change that about myself. Every time there is an opportunity for something productive, fun, or something that could better my life in any way, I will seize it.
5. Buy Less Stuff/Give Stuff Away
I've been accused by my friends of being a "hoarder". Yeah, I own a lot of crap, but one thing most people don't know about me is that I can get sentimental with certain objects. A souvenir I got at a gift shop one time I traveled. It's hard for me to give stuff away. But I'll do my best. There's the Buy Nothing project where people are more than happy to see cool things for free. There's also Goodwill/Value Village. There's a decent chance I might move this year, so I'll need to part with a lot of objects before moving if I do. Also, I need to watch my spending and only buy things I need, not what I want.
6. Learn an Instrument
This one I won't be too shocked if I don't end up completing it, but one thing I've always had on my bucket list is learning how to play an instrument. My top three instruments I'd want to learn to play would be piano, guitar, or ukulele. Probably guitar. If you didn't know already, I really enjoy singing and if I learned an instrument I could pair that with my voice and entertain people at get-togethers.
7. BE HAPPY! :)
This one is pretty simple and straightforward, but is definitely important. I plan to wake up each day with a smile on my face and not let little things bother me. Too often I get upset at things falling/breaking or my team losing, but being upset over those things that won't matter in 5, 10 years is utterly pointless. I plan to make 2017 the happiest year of my life. :)
I know that's a lot, especially for me, but like I said earlier if I accomplish more than half of these I'll be happy. Obviously if I accomplish #7 I'll be happy.... oy... well here's to a fantastic 2017!!!
Thursday, July 24, 2014
The Mariners Let Me Down... Again (And Z Should Be Fired)
If I were to die suddenly in the next few months, I'd want some of the Seattle
Mariners to be my pallbearers, just so they could let me down one last
time. It's the 2014 season and once
again, the Mariners let their fans down.
As I'm typing this, the Mariners only sit a 1/2 game out of a wild card
spot, but have had a horrible start to the 2nd half. They've lost 5 of their first 7 to start the
2nd half and lost their wild card spot.
Sure, they're not far back, but
we've seen this before so many times.
This year felt different. We had Cano, and Felix is having his best season. Ever since the 8 game losing streak in late April, the Mariners had been playing really good baseball. But there are just too many holes in the lineup and on this team to fix overnight. Currently, there are roles to be filled at shortstop, DH, and ALL outfield positions. You could almost say catcher as well, because Mike Zunino has struggled mightily at the plate to make contact.
You would think almost 6 years into being a GM that over half of the team's lineup wouldn't need to be fixed or replaced, but it does. Jack Zduriencik really has done a poor job of acquiring talent to fill needs. James Jones is not the answer in centerfield. He can get on base and wreck havoc, but he has zero power and doesn't play balls in the outfield too well. He also needs to learn how to take a walk. Ackley has really done nothing to live up to his #2 overall pick status, and Smoak and Montero continue to flop back and forth between the bigs and minors.
The hitting on this team the past few seasons has been atrocious. Since Jack arrived following the 2008 season, the team batting averages have been: .258, .236, .233, .234, .237, and .245 so far this season. But, if you take out Robinson Cano, easily the team's best hitter and one of the very few competent hitters, the team batting average is just .233 for the year. Other than Robinson Cano, why can't Jack Zduriencik recruit, find, sign, trade for, or acquire in any way some good hitting?
Six years is long enough for a GM to put a team together, and the team Jack has put together is not good enough. If the Mariners continue to slide and he cannot field us a winning (or even exciting) team, then he should be fired. He has had long enough. He has lost the faith of many Mariners fans, and he lost my faith long ago, when he signed a utility player to a $36 million contract.
Hey, I may be wrong to give up on them at this point. After all, they're only a 1/2 game out. I could end up looking kinda silly for posting this when they play exciting baseball and maybe even make the playoffs. But I know the Mariners. I've watched them year in and year out since the late 90's. This team is NOT built to win. I cannot emphasize that enough. Cano and Felix are elite players, but they are surrounded by cast-offs and minor league all-stars (which isn't a good thing). Cano is just one man. He alone cannot give us enough offensive support to stay competitive.
Maybe help will get here someday with the last two first round picks in DJ Peterson and Alex Jackson. But that won't be until 2016 at the earliest. But this team right now is full of hitters who will NEVER be considered above average. Let's count them, shall we?
Zunino, Sucre, Smoak, Hart, Morrison, Miller, Bloomquist, Romero, Jones, Ackley, Chavez. That makes 11. I almost counted Montero, and probably should have, but he's still young and needs to be given another shot. But the players above are all poor hitters to varying degrees. How bad, you ask? Well let's look at their OPS. A player's OPS is their on-base plus slugging percentage. It is what I feel best determines a batter's worth to the lineup. An OPS over .8 is above average, .7 to .8 is average, and under .7 is below average. The players above have the following OPS's: .665, .364, .630, .626, .615, .599, .643, .557, .638, .653, and .618. If that many guys are hitting below league average (most of them considerably below), then something is wrong in the front office. You know what all of those players have in common? They were all acquired by Jack Zduriencik.
Unless the Mariners can miraculously start hitting and winning, it's time to fire Jack Zduriencik. He may have saved our farm system, but he did not save the big league club. Time for you to go, Jack.
Update:
9/3/14: The Mariners still aren't out of it, being only 1 and 1/2 games out, but have given Jack Zduriencik a contract extension. If this comes back to bite them in the bit, I refuse to be a fan of a team that hires boneheads like Z and Bavasi. But, time will tell. The Mariners still have issues, including hitting. They gave Jack an extension just because he got lucky and the team is generating interest. You wait until the season is over to assess. If the Mariners slide in September, we'll all be thinking the same thing. If they make the playoffs somehow, then call me wrong. But this is not a playoff calibur team.
This year felt different. We had Cano, and Felix is having his best season. Ever since the 8 game losing streak in late April, the Mariners had been playing really good baseball. But there are just too many holes in the lineup and on this team to fix overnight. Currently, there are roles to be filled at shortstop, DH, and ALL outfield positions. You could almost say catcher as well, because Mike Zunino has struggled mightily at the plate to make contact.
You would think almost 6 years into being a GM that over half of the team's lineup wouldn't need to be fixed or replaced, but it does. Jack Zduriencik really has done a poor job of acquiring talent to fill needs. James Jones is not the answer in centerfield. He can get on base and wreck havoc, but he has zero power and doesn't play balls in the outfield too well. He also needs to learn how to take a walk. Ackley has really done nothing to live up to his #2 overall pick status, and Smoak and Montero continue to flop back and forth between the bigs and minors.
The hitting on this team the past few seasons has been atrocious. Since Jack arrived following the 2008 season, the team batting averages have been: .258, .236, .233, .234, .237, and .245 so far this season. But, if you take out Robinson Cano, easily the team's best hitter and one of the very few competent hitters, the team batting average is just .233 for the year. Other than Robinson Cano, why can't Jack Zduriencik recruit, find, sign, trade for, or acquire in any way some good hitting?
Six years is long enough for a GM to put a team together, and the team Jack has put together is not good enough. If the Mariners continue to slide and he cannot field us a winning (or even exciting) team, then he should be fired. He has had long enough. He has lost the faith of many Mariners fans, and he lost my faith long ago, when he signed a utility player to a $36 million contract.
Hey, I may be wrong to give up on them at this point. After all, they're only a 1/2 game out. I could end up looking kinda silly for posting this when they play exciting baseball and maybe even make the playoffs. But I know the Mariners. I've watched them year in and year out since the late 90's. This team is NOT built to win. I cannot emphasize that enough. Cano and Felix are elite players, but they are surrounded by cast-offs and minor league all-stars (which isn't a good thing). Cano is just one man. He alone cannot give us enough offensive support to stay competitive.
Maybe help will get here someday with the last two first round picks in DJ Peterson and Alex Jackson. But that won't be until 2016 at the earliest. But this team right now is full of hitters who will NEVER be considered above average. Let's count them, shall we?
Zunino, Sucre, Smoak, Hart, Morrison, Miller, Bloomquist, Romero, Jones, Ackley, Chavez. That makes 11. I almost counted Montero, and probably should have, but he's still young and needs to be given another shot. But the players above are all poor hitters to varying degrees. How bad, you ask? Well let's look at their OPS. A player's OPS is their on-base plus slugging percentage. It is what I feel best determines a batter's worth to the lineup. An OPS over .8 is above average, .7 to .8 is average, and under .7 is below average. The players above have the following OPS's: .665, .364, .630, .626, .615, .599, .643, .557, .638, .653, and .618. If that many guys are hitting below league average (most of them considerably below), then something is wrong in the front office. You know what all of those players have in common? They were all acquired by Jack Zduriencik.
Unless the Mariners can miraculously start hitting and winning, it's time to fire Jack Zduriencik. He may have saved our farm system, but he did not save the big league club. Time for you to go, Jack.
Update:
9/3/14: The Mariners still aren't out of it, being only 1 and 1/2 games out, but have given Jack Zduriencik a contract extension. If this comes back to bite them in the bit, I refuse to be a fan of a team that hires boneheads like Z and Bavasi. But, time will tell. The Mariners still have issues, including hitting. They gave Jack an extension just because he got lucky and the team is generating interest. You wait until the season is over to assess. If the Mariners slide in September, we'll all be thinking the same thing. If they make the playoffs somehow, then call me wrong. But this is not a playoff calibur team.
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