First Birthday As a Married Man

July 1, 2016 - On this Friday, I took the day off and decided to head to the Will County Court office and get our Marriage License. Originally planned to get 10 of them, but the kind woman working told me that would be far too many. Ha! Rachel took the train to Naperville and that evening we drove out to the Ruffled Feathers Golf Course to attend our first wedding as a married couple. Jackie from Camp was getting married to Tyler and it was set to be a mathtastic wedding! It was a lovely night, the food was delicious, the friends were great, and the dancing was on point as the kids are saying these days. Solid first birthday as a married man! Congrats Jackie and Tyler!

Saturday July 2, We did a quick photo shoot at Rachel's parents house, and had some delicious burgers for lunch Rach's Dad cooked up. That night, Beth, Rachel, & I watched Jurassic Park 2 in our apartment. Vince Vaugn's breakout film if you didn't know.

We started the morning of Sunday July 3rd, by hitting up Stan's Donuts for the first time ever. I got some kaptain krunch donut, was a decadently filled treat. Beth and Rachel (and me a little) cooked up a pasta salad, coleslaw salad, and an all-american strawberry and blueberry cake for the party to be happening later in the day. We also ate some of that pasta salad and a bacon topped romaine lettuce food of sorts for lunch. After we had some grub we headed over to Sarah and Colin's new apartment downtown. They have a rooftop pool on floor like 30 which was amazing. I was the only brave soul to swim, but did so in elegant fashion. The party was hopping, with great drinks, snacks, food, and friends. Sarah made this amazing Jello watermelon vodka dessert. A tasty and fun way to enjoy the night. Check them photos.

On Monday July 4th, America! I celebrated by staying in the city and watching Jurassic World with Beth and Rachel. Afterwards we went and hung out with Mary and Jeff at the Fullerton grass/beach area all day, getting some sun and enjoying the view of the skyline. We then walked to a little place near the golf course close by to have some drinks/dinner. After stopping at Mary and Jeff's pad, and our place, we headed over to grassy area again to watch the Navy Pier fireworks with some more friends. They were a little underwhelming since they were so far away and the booms came long after the bright flashes of light, but it was still a solid show. We finished the night off like every night should be finished off in the city. At Frank's bar. Amazing place, everyone of the appropriate age should attend. Happy 4th of July everyone.

July 5th, Tuesday, After a days work I started Bloodline Season 2. Season 1 was top notch, pumped for season 2, although Squid tells me it is a little slower paced. 

Wednesday July 6th, is a very sad day for a very sad reason. A star of many Jcubed videos, a dearest friend, and the best dog I've ever known, Izzy, past away suddenly. It was a shock to everyone as she had just turned 9, which is very young for a golden. See more about her in this special blog dedicated to her.

Thursday July 7 was a historic day for all my slither.io lovers. I made it to 3rd place in the game I was playing. Highest score I ever got and just 200 points shy of 2nd! Slither on my fellow snakes. This eve I stayed in Napes and went too dinner at Buffalo Wings and Rings with Beth in memory of Izzy. 

July 8 a Friday, blessed us with another beautiful sunset, which is always a great site from our "balcony." We also jumped on that Pokemon Go life and caught some pokemon in our apartment. Not the best players since we only play in our place, ha. Rachel and I finished the night off with a game of Yahtzee! This is how we are spending our friday nights... are we married and old?

Saturday July 9th, Rachel was sweet enough to put together a fun little birthday party for me. It involved ping pong, beers, and friends. What a great combo! A new place downtown called SPiN is now one of my favorite places. It has tons of ping pong tables with a lot of space and endless balls. I felt like I was a pro ping pong player the way the balls just kept being supplied to me by these guys walking around with ball picker uppers. John, Melissa, Brian, Megan, Beth, and Grant joined Rachel and I for a night full of ping pong fun. Despite Brian winning our little tournament that we had, it was super fun and I gotta make sure I get back soon. After, we stopped at a Tiki Bar for one drink, it was pretty cool, but super crowded.

On Sunday July 10th, we were in the table tennis mood so we watched a documentary called Top Spin about some of the best players in the USA and their journey to try to make it to the Olympic games. After I drove Beth to the train that day, Rachel and I walked down the street to our local movie theater that we knew about but had never been to yet. We decided to check out the new film Secret Life of Pets. Pretty funny and cute animated film about what our pets do when we aren't home. I would rent it from the library if I was you.

Video of the Week: What's that? Another video of squid dancing around to JT? You got it.

Movie of the Week: The Secret Life of Pets

Keep on keeping up with the blogs. More to come soon!

Yaboy
Josh
 

The Best of 2015

2015 was another fantastic year of life! Although my last blog was on June 9th, I had blogged for a year and a half, eventually going on a little bit of a hiatus. Good news my people, The Blog is back in 2016! It will read a little different than last years, but I hope you enjoy it just as much.

In 2015, Rachel and Josh attended amazing concerts, went on a handful of vacations, witnessed friends get married (Adam & Brandy / Gio & Kelly), coached a bunch of lacrosse, watched a lot of TV, helped a lot of people move homes, enjoyed fantastic times with friends and families, and continued to plan their 2016 wedding. Now here are a handful of "best" lists, events, and things that happened in my 2015 life!

Best Music Album: Cosmetics - Diamond Rugs

Best 10 Songs: All songs released in 2015, put in order of bestness

Best YouTube Video: Also was a top 10 song, based on my life and bringing Rachel and I great joys. Also leading to other great Lil Dicky videos and songs. Check him out!

Best TV Shows: Bloodline / Master of None / Better Call Saul / Mr. Robot - I suggest everyone watches these 4 new TV shows that are currently only one season long. Added two bonus shows, The Killing / The walking Dead, that I also watched this year and really enjoyed.

Best Jcubed Video: The only one that was filmed in 2015 and included all 3 members of Jcubed.

Best Jcubed Video Honorable mention: Road to Rado (watch the series), filmed in 2014.

Best Lacrosse Video: A tie between a HS rivalry game from 2015 and a gopro video filmed in 2014!

Best original movie: Found this 2014 gem this year and it helped me rediscover my love for old video games which led to me playing them way too much and even watching people play them.

Best Movie: 007: Spectre? Didn't see too many movies that came out this year, can probably count them on one hand.

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Best Moment: John McCauley at City Winery on August 11th, 2015. John McCauley at city Winery! Amazing! Vanessa Carlton makes appearance. After the show, we had a chance to meet the man himself. I am wearing my red LSD Tick shirt and John smiles at me as I approach him. He points to my shirt and goes, you know what that is? I said yup, LSD. After that we just ask him to sign our poster and for a picture with him. I think I told him like 10 times how it was such a great show. When we met him for a second time awkwardly later, I ask him how the new album was coming with Deer Tick and he said they have just been dicking around a lot. I need to have stuff to ask people when I meet them. I had so many ideas before and after, just nervous I guess. But he was super chill and a humble guy. Really nice and he is only 29. 

Best Sports Moment: Blackhawks win their third Stanley Cup in 6 years on Monday June 15. After watching the boys bring us the cup at Rachel and Josh's apartment, the gang below heads to Wrigley after the big win, but get turned around by the police and end up bar hopping our way back to the Wiener Circle.

Best books I read in 2015:

Leading with the Heart (book) by Coach K and Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy.

Best Concerts: By far the greatest year of concerts as a whole, even though Deer Tick didn't play in 2015.

Diamond Rugs x2, New Madrid x2, Justin Collins, Dawes, Delta Buds, Delta Spirit, T. Hardy Morris, Lucky Boys Confusion, Samantha Crain, John McCauley, Lady Lamb, Tallest Man on Earth x2, Vanessa Carlton

Best Vacation: Bahamas and Smoky Mountains

Fri Oct 9 - Head out for the Smoky Mountains / 11 mile hike over 5 1/2 hours in rain / Charlie's Bunyon & The jump off, fog rolled in / Newton's bald and clingman's dome / Stop at Buffalo Trace Distillery on way home

Other Notable Events in 2015 while the Blog was away

Sat June 13 - Brew to be wild that night. Hawks win!

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Wed June 17 - Go out on boat with Scott,  navy pier fireworks

Thu June 18 - Hawks Rally, Rachel and I meet up with Beth and Emily

Wed July 1 - Go to Jazzing at the Shed with Rachel and her parents. See fish, big otters, a beluga whale's penis, which was the size of a penguin. Beautiful evening view of the skyline with some jazz music playing.

Sat July 18 - Hit up the farmers market across from Old Town. We walk through Rachel's old apartment and see it being renovated. We struggle to travel about with the L being closed at parts. We make it to Yoga class with Torie and Nikki just in time. My first yoga class hooray.

Fri Aug 7 - I find out I got the NV Head Varsity Job.

Sat Aug 8 - Agreed with Torie the night before to run 16 miles with her. So I wake up at 7:30a and meet up with her and end up running 15 miles. A new personal record, thought I was gonna die. We head to a family party for Rachel's extended family. I hit a bunny with my car on the way home, first road kill.

Fri Sept 11 - White sox game with Emma and Anna, Beth, Aunt Jan and Uncle Gary, Rachel and friends meet us there a few innings in. I miss a t shirt thrown right at me. Fireworks after the game!

Sun Sept 13 - Our engagement photos in Lincoln park!

Nov 2 - Buy tickets to iceland

Nov 15 - Auntie Wanda's 90th Birthday Party, go out in city with NC cousins, up until 330. Hit up Franks bar for first time.

Dec 13 - Watch 5 Harry potter movies in a day.

Dec 20 - Christkindl Market

Goals for 2016

  1. Let things that do not matter go, we can't worry about every little issue that we come across.

  2. Have a workout plan, stick to it, and get in shape for the wedding/honeymoon!

  3. Put together a food plan in order to eat healthy, save money, and stay lean!

  4. Learn how to play some general chords on guitar and perhaps be able to sing a song with it.

  5. Maintain friendships and spend more time with those friends

  6. Listen to more music and attend more concerts

  7. Learn some basics of piano/keyboard

  8. Edit more videos and film more videos (jcubed / lacrosse / music)

  9. Try something new or stop doing something old each month - starting with no alcohol for January!

  10. Return of the Blog on a weekly basis

I am very excited for what should be the best year of my life! Marriage, trips to Hawaii and Iceland, varsity coaching career, and more to come!

 

Josh