Highway 18

The 1,000 mile journey has come to an end... and the Ashleys did not come out on top... technically, they didn't even cross the finish line.

However, I am extremely proud of my best friend Ashley Davis and her best friend Ashleigh Korzack (who I surprisingly have never met!) They fought hard to the end and really did a wonderful job competing. They probably surprised a lot of Highway 18 fans along the way, proving that they weren't just two ditzy blondes in short skirts.

It was a real treat watching all of the contestants on Highway 18... kudos to all!

Highway 18 is over...now what?

Well, my friend Mark (POP) and I are receiving training from Ashley Davis and Jay Reynolds to be on next season's show... which they will be calling "Highway 19"... so, I had better get my game face on and start doing sprints... there lies a tough journey up ahead! :)

Hippie Hippie Hey...

I have a newfound appreciation for 30-year-old waitresses and 45-year-olds that work at Best Buy as their sole contribution to life....

I attended the Austin City Limits Music Festival this past Saturday and the experience was unlike any I had ever had in my life.

Although the show was sold out (over 170,000 people attended), not once did someone step on my foot, shove me, hit me with a flailing limb, trip me, run past me, nothing. Nothing of the sort.

Heck, the audience barely cheered or got excited for the performing artists. Not because the musicians lacked talent (quite the opposite, actually). Rather, the 170,000 people at ACL were too mellow, chill, and stress-free to show emotion... even for something they clearly enjoyed.

My entire weekend in Austin left me stress free. It was the most phenomenal feeling ever. I had never (but hopefully will again) experienced such a feeling--A way of life.

For four whole days I had adopted the liberal/hippie mindset. I had not a care in the world. I didn't get outwardly excited or upset about anything. Nothingggggggg. For all of four days.

I called my mother from the festival and told her that I could totally see myself being a hippie. Heck--I already have long hair, eat healthy and natural foods, follow semi-vegetarian guidelines, and don't exactly adhere to a strict hygiene regimen... My mother was not pleased with my pondering of hippie-dom.

I assured her as I am assuring you now... I have no intentions of throwing responsibility, drive, determination, and hard work to the wayside. I do, oddly enough, drive a VW Bug and was recently nicknamed "Flower Child" for a day due to a flower I adorned in my hair... but my weekend of stress-free relaxation (both mentally and physically) will not spill over into my daily life.

It was, however, the most phenomenal weekend everrrrrrrr. I urge each of you to try to imitate my past weekend and create a stress-free realm for a day. You won't regret it.

USA Brings Home the Cup!

Ask most professional golfers what it means to play in the Ryder Cup, and you can bet any one of them will tell you that it is one of their most cherished golfing moments.

American Team member Anthony Kim said, "I wouldn't trade this for $10 million," (referring to the $10 million that will be given to the winner of the TOUR Championship and FedEx Cup next week... which, unless Vijay withdraws from the event, the money is practically already wired to his account-but that's a blog topic for another day....). "Best day of my golfing life so far."

Kenny Perry, making his Ryder Cup debut said "I figured this was going to define my career, but you know what? It made my career."

That's plenty insight into how much this event means to the players.

Team USA managed to bring the Ryder Cup to domestic soil for the first time since 1999 when they defeated the Europeans 16 & 1/2 - 11 & 1/2 this past Sunday in Louisville, KY.

USA led Europe at the conclusion of each day's matches--a feat they hadn't accomplished since 1979. And guess what? USA didn't have Tiger Woods on its team. Nor did golfing great Phil Mickelson, currently ranked 2nd in the Official World Golf Rankings, contribute much to the cause.

Rather, the lesser-knowns seemed to step up and make a name for themselves.

In his singles match on day three, 23-year-old Anthony Kim outplayed European opponent Sergio Garcia, winning five and four, providing Garcia with his largest losing margin in his career at the Ryder Cup.

J.B. Holmes with his near-400 yard drives, Kenny Perry-continuing his streak of solid golf in 2008, rookie Boo Weekley and his playful antics, Ben Curtis, and Chad Campbell all won their singles matches on Sunday to bring the U.S. a big "W."

Jim Furyk sealed the victory for the Americans when he defeated Europe's Miguel Angel Jimenez after 17 holes. Furyk, a close friend of mine (notice picture), was strategically placed in the 8th spot by USA Captain Paul Azinger. Azinger knew Sunday would be tough, and he knew that placing Furyk 8th in the lineup was a wise thing to do. Once Furyk won his match, the Americans secured the 14 & 1/2 points needed to clench the cup.

The Americans' 5 point win was the largest victory margin since they won by 9 points in 1981. A 9 point victory in 1981 shouldn't surprise you--the 1981 American Ryder Cup team consisted of big name golfing legends Lee Trevino, Tom Kite, Ben Crenshaw, Jerry Pate, Hale Irwin, Tom Watson, Raymond Floyd, and Jack Nickaus.

Between them and the other four American players, they had a total of 36 Major Championship victories.

Basically, the Victory for the Americans was oh-so-sweet. And watching it from my couch after a delightful day of ASU/UGA football the day before....was oh-so-sweeter.

Happier, Healthier, Wealthier... but wise?

A 2002 CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) study provided evidence that married persons are happier and healthier than their unmarried counterparts. Married couples have a lower mortality rate, engage in less risky behavior, monitor their health more closely, follow a more compliant medical regimen, engage in sex more frequently and thus have higher satisfaction with their sexual lives, earn higher wages and save more money.

Wow. If that's not enough convincing to head down the aisle... I don't know what is!

Apparently, most all of my friends, acquaintances, siblings, cousins, dogs, cats, and uncle's monkey's sister's nepwhews have all read the 2002 CDC report. I however, must have been out of the country the day it was mass-delivered.

Everywhere I look, people are in long-term relationships, getting engaged, and getting married (let's not forget to mention the people my age (22) who are already celebrating their 5-year wedding anniversaries).

As much as the dating scene has changed--that is, men and women are group dating more often than going on one-on-one dates or they are simply hanging out at a party and hooking up--I would have for sure thought that the age at which young adults were getting married would be starkly different than they seemingly are. After all, women are being encouraged to 'date like men' and seek out more casual relations without giving into their emotions or looking for a long-term mate.

Perhaps I am one of the only Gen Y-ers who thinks that being single, independent, and only having to worry about oneself is where it's at. I'm not saying I'm against long-term monogamy. Rather, there are a heck of a lot other things going on in my life that take the front seat to getting my Mrs. degree (in fact, I'm going to value my Masters degree a heck of a lot more than a Mrs. degree in the next several upcoming years).

How do we really know ourselves at such a young age? Isn't it more important to build a life for oneself before building a life as a duo?

And then of course, divorce rates are higher in this decade than they've ever been in the past. Are people my age rushing into marriage?

Sure, you're healthier and wealthier.... but is jumping into a 'for better or worse' relationship really 'Wise'?

Enjoying the journey...

Former CNN anchor Aaron Brown spoke to my grad program (approximately 20 students) on Thursday, Sept. 11 in an intimate luncheon setting. He is most certainly an eloquent speaker and seems like a truly genuine, nice guy. He spoke to us about the importance of believing in ourselves and working hard to achieve our dreams (nothing new here).

What was relatively new (as far as motivational speeches go) was his advice for all of us to STOP WORRYING. He commented that our generation (Gen Y) is notorious for always fretting, over-analyzing, and stressing out about life and our paths to success. It was refreshing to hear such an accomplished man/journalist tell us to relax and enjoy the ride--regardless of bumps or detours along the way.

I could not agree more with Brown's advice and I feel as though I have already been applying that very attitude to life. Ask my best friend Meredith what my standard response to her everyday conundrums is and she'll confirm that I say "SETTLE" on the daily.

Perhaps I carry this attitude because I have been so fortunate in my life that things seem to always have a way of working themselves out and thus, I don't stress of fret because I assume everything will work out.

Brown was furthermore telling us to wake up every morning, look at ourselves in the mirror, and say "I am a __________" (fill in with whatever it is one dreams of becoming). I think my 'settle' laxidazical attitude may hurt me here in that I do not have one sole dream profession. I can see myself doing several different things and thoroughly enjoying each one. Sooo, should I be worried that because I am not 100% passionate and certain about becoming one thing in life, that I will, in turn not accomplish or succeed in any of the areas I am interested in? I guess that's a bit of a stretch... but it is something to think about.

OR, I can "stop worrying" and live life for the moment and enjoy whatever may come my way...