Fan Friday: Superbowl XLVIII Edition

So sorry to confuse anyone with yesterday's post. What was I even talking about anyway?

Of course I'm talking about how badly I want the Seattle Seahawks to win the Superbowl this Sunday!


Since I can't control the universe (and neither can you), all I can do it sit back with some paleo superbowl snacks, my trusty iPhone/iPad/MacBook and these drinking games for BOTH the superbowl and the puppy bowl. Actually can't go all the way on the drinking games since Monday's an important day at work, but I'm going to live vicariously through my instagram and facebook feeds. If I had to choose a drinking game to follow religiously it'd have to be puppy bowl. Chug when a dog gets humped? Genius! 

Wait, why do I want the Seahawks to win?

I live in Portland and since we only have and NBA and MLS team, I have to outsource my NFL and MLB rooting up north to our friends in the rainier city of Seattle. It's pretty natch (natural) for people in the northwest to feel this way about sharing professional teams. Kind of a shame, really. 

This Ape, named "Eli" of course, has called the last 6 Super Bowl winners. He's like the punxsutawney Phil of the NFL yes, I had to google the spelling, do not judge me. But anyway, I've never met an ape who lied to me and I'm not about to doubt good Eli's sound decisions this time around. He made his pick without any hesitation. That's what I call going with your gut!

So apparently Seattle has an outspoken defensive player who is pretty well educated and went to Stanford or some smart school like that. I think his name is Robert Sherman. No, it's Richard? Okay Richard. Well Dick is an outstanding player from what I've seen and there's no shame in being passionate about the game you get paid to play. He's been the talk of the nation the last 2 weeks (and maybe more, who really knows) Just look at this guy. 

Macklemore supports the Seahawks and he won 4 Grammy's last weekend. A Seattle win would put the emerald city in the running for having the best year ever. Or at least best 8 day stretch. Plus Macklemore is so buddy-buddy with the team he calls Pete Carroll "Pete" and Richard Sherman "Sherm."

Oh, and he calls himself the "white Sherman" in this video.

This reason is the most simple of all. I want the Seahawks to win because I couldn't have come up with 5 reasons why I wanted the Broncos to win! Heyo!

Play me out, Sherman!

Linking up today with the always clever Sarah and Karly for Fan Friday!

I Do Not Control the Universe

In my 26 years on this earth I've learned one solid truth many times. 

Many times? 

Yeah, I guess it's like the science facts you learned in 6th grade, the grammar from 4th grade or the calculus from high school - you forget as you age and the games get more serious.

This wicked game that I'm talking about is the fact that I do not control the universe. Nobody does. 

Why is this so hard for me to remember?

I suppose some would call me a passionate person. I get fired up about the way you should put toilet paper on the roll (over, not under...) and the way you put soap into a washing machine (on top of the clothes, before you start the water). I get extra passionate when it comes to my future, like my career or my family or the people I want in my life. I wouldn't say that I want control of my universe because let's be real, that's way too much pressure. But sometimes the uncertainty and disorder I feel gets me about as uncomfortable as having a wedgie in skinny jeans. Just kidding, I technically always have a wedgie, sorry dad.

Let's take a look at the facts.

The only things in life that I can control are my own actions, my own attitude and the way I carry myself. Check. I do not control the way people react to me. I do not control the way that events unfold in front of my eyes. Especially when these eyes are closed tight as I dive headfirst into the water. 

No matter how hard I wish and hope and think I can, I can't orchestrate every step of my life. There's fate, there's chance and there's circumstance. Without these divine interventions and free will, my life would be a much different life.

Had I not shaken the hand of an umpire at a softball game in High School, I may not work at Nike today. Had I not answered an email one day from my former coach, I would have not met my dear friend Brooke. Had I not been at work the day that my job focus changed to Canada this year, I'd have missed out on some amazing opportunities and relationships. Had I done anything differently than I've done up until this point, my life would be a much different life. This is an important fact I have to remember, this and so much more. 

Patience is much easier said than done, right patient bear?

Since I feel full of wisdom, here's some other things I know and advice I want to share.

Dreams are worth having and worth working toward.
Things happen for a reason. 

Hard times are necessary and allow us to grow, to gain perspective, to foster experience. 

Light can be found everywhere, even in the darkest of days (Am I right, Portland?) 

Puppies and horses can be best friends.
Take your time.
Que Sera, Sera.
Brush your teeth.
Be kind to yourself.
Keep your eyes open.
Sleep under the stars.
Love with all your heart.

 

Dr. Jessi out. 

My Awkward Dance Class Experience

Let me set the scene.

Yesterday I sashayed my way into a dance class at lunch time called "Group Groove".

Looking exactly like Queen B... but in my running tights, a bright blue t-shirt and my lunarglide's.

Add a water bottle and some work colleagues at my sides - we were ready to break it down. All my single ladies?

(ps: dancing is hard enough in tennis shoes)

WITHOUT even a four-count the instructor slapped her hands on her thighs, and everybody in the class started following her moves with all the rhythm and grace of Beyonce herself.

Everyone except for.......Me! Brooke may or may not have requested a video next time.

I consider myself to be a fairly coordinated person, but having no dance background whatsoever I stuck out like a sore thumb. 

It didn't help that I was the tallest female in the class, was wearing a bright t-shirt and was behind the instructor's reflection in the mirror. Give me the shopping cart or the macarena and I'm your girl, but just shake it flashdance style and expect me to follow along?

Derp.

As the class continued and there were "Everybody Wang Chung Tonight / Harlem Shake" remixes, Macklemore and some other hits I could get down with I started to get a little hang of it. I even was able to pull my Michael Jordan tongue back into my mouth and listen to the beat rather than getting hung up on larry's and randy's (lefts and rights).

As I started to get a little more confidence and realized that I'm in great shape, I got my bearings and feel like I would have a half decent shot at the next class I take. Some of the moves that I did okay with and not limited to are the following:

Brit's Werk Betch:

The Hair Flip:

The Stripper Kick:

The Power Squat:

The Give-It-To-Me Swivel:

and the I Don't Know I'm Just Going to Flail Shake:

But guys I really stepped out of my comfort zone yesterday taking this class. It could have gone so much worse and so much better all at the same time. 

I mean, last week I tried to learn "some" line dancing, why not give booty poppin' a shot?

Here's to coordination and confidence! Maybe some Balance too!