6 AM Television

August 11, 2016

This week started off on Monday July 18th, 2016. I left our apartment at 6:45 for lacrosse camp. This was a busy week of camps, 4 hours of coaching in the morning and 2 in the evening. Had me driving all around the burbs.

On Tuesday July 19th, Rachel and I were able to catch Mr. Robot Season 2 Episode 1 and 2. Glad this show is back! Watch Season 1 on Netflix if you haven't yet! Season 2 is on live TV at the moment.

Song of the Week: That new Blink 182. Sounding like Old Blink. Love it.

Wednesday July 20th, I awoke at 4:30 to head out and make it to 6 am practice with the cats. Solid group of 12 guys came out. After work I visited Grandma, she just had surgery on her knee, but is recovering well! That night I drove back to my parents place and fell asleep doing laundry. Luckily I have the best mom in the world and she ended up finishing it and folding it for me too! Thanks mom, love you!

July 21st, a Thursday, after a long days work, I headed home to my wife and we loaded up Jurassic Park 3, the last Jurassic Park in the series we had to watch. After watching all 4 again, here is the order I give for best to worst. 1, 4, 2, 3. What do you think about that? Rachel made us delicious foil wraps with chicken, tomato, corn and some other goodies I am sure. It was oh so yummy.

On Friday July 22nd, I finished Bloodline Season 2. Not as good as season 1, but still decent. Season 2 was much slower with a lot more development by conversation, compared to action. Still an enjoyable view for those wishing, it is on Netflix. After coaching a camp in the morning I made the mistake of thinking it would be good to drink a 52oz bottle of that Bolthouse Farms fruit smoothie drink. I was just so thirsty and hungry that I thought I would kill 2 birds with one stone by getting it. The problem was that I started drinking it before I had any water, then realizing I had drank over half of it within the first minute. 10 minutes later the entire bottle was gone. And wow was that a mistake. My stomach hurt super bad later on that evening, so bad that at times when I was coaching I had to lay down. I also made multiple trips to the bathroom. Oh boy. Not suggested to drink that in one sitting folks! Especially not within 30 minutes. That evening, Rachel took the train out to Tinley where I was working, and we went to dinner at Bottom's Up. It was pretty delicious, I think I got some sort of sandwich but can't recall due to the stomach pain! We spent the night hanging with Rachel's parents at their house.

Saturday July 23rd was Grandparents day. It was a very special day filled with great stories and time spent with such caring and loving people. We started the day off in Tinley Park at Rachel's Mimi & Papa, headed down to Kankakee to be with Rachel's Grandma and Grandpa, and finished out at my Grandma's in Palos Heights with pizza and beer. We slept over at my Grandma's and helped her and my Aunt Lillian who also just had surgery out.

Sunday, July 24th began at my Grandma's where we enjoyed breakfast, telling more stories, and helped her take care of a few things. That evening we headed home to make it to the new Target for their Grand opening just down the street. That night we also bought the remaining items off of our registry and started Game of Thrones Season 2. We are pretty pumped to fulfill our kitchen with new utensils and tools!

The next week was looking to be another lacrosse camp filled week. Starting off on Monday July 25th, I was running camp again, this time in Western Springs. It is hot outside, but these kids were so soft, needing water breaks every 10 minutes. Man up boys, it's lacrosse!

On Tuesday July 26th, after running camp in the morning, I headed over to FV lax camp in Napes. That evening, Beth was so kind to gift me some buffalo trace for my bday. Beth and I went to dinner later at Tommy Nevins. It was Taco Tuesday and the whole time we there, we could only squeeze in 1 JT song on the jukebox, while the same 5 country songs played over and over again. Thanks guy who has the Jukebox app and did that... Not!

Wednesday July 27 was another morning of practice at 6 am with the boys. I also got a little up close and personal with a bee on this day. That evening I went home and enjoyed the night with the wife :)

Video of the Week: The final video of Squid dancing to JT, for better or for worse? Just kidding, nice moves beth!

Movie of the Week: Gonna have to go with the classic Jurassic Park

TV Show of the Week: A tough one between Bloodline Season 2, Game of Thrones Season 2, and Mr. Robot Season 2. But I am gonna have to go with Mr. Robot.

Now before I close this blog out, you are probably wondering, Josh, what did you eat all week? You only mention food a couple of times in this weeks post! Well, let me tell you. This was by far one of my most unhealthy weeks, which involved either McDonalds, or some other sort of fast food every day of the week. Some days it would only be dinner I had, other days it would be both lunch and dinner. Anyway, I just wanted to make it clear, poor decisions regarding food were made over this week and a half.

I'm out.

Josh

One Tallest Trailer of Marriage

August 10, 2016

Monday July 11th, 2016. Woo Hoo! We made it! Rachel and I celebrated our one Month of Marriage by eating tacos, sipping PBRs, and watching the movie Dead Pool. This is how you Anniversary people! Plus we heard this is the hardest month of marriage, so it is only up from here!

July 12, a Tuesday involved me working late, hung out at my parents and caught some pokemon while playing the new app Pokemon Go. So far I am not that good since I don't leave the place I am playing at. Basically only catching Ratatas and Pigeys.

On Wednesday July 13, I had 6am practice with the cats. Not a bad showing as 16 guys showed up for our first practice of summer. Reminds me of my college days waking up and going to 6am practices. Not fun until you get going, work hard, and then realize you have the whole day ahead of you. Good group.

That evening at home we were blessed with a double rainbow that was going right into the skyline, pretty neat.

I became lazy on Thursday July 14, caught more pokemon, and slept at my parents again with lax camp going on in the mornings this week. Nothing too crazy.

Friday July 15th was a sad day for our family as we celebrated the life of Auntie Lottie. It was a beautiful day out and the service was absolutely perfect, with family leading the readings and prayers. It was great to see so much family and to celebrate such an amazing woman! We will miss you dearly and love you always Auntie Lottie!

Here is a photo of her, my great grandma, and Auntie Wanda from 1994 at the Trailer. 22 years ago! Wow how time flies!

That evening John and Melissa came by Rachel and I's apartment and we had some chicken for dinner before walking over to the Tallest Man on Earth Show at the VIC Theatre. Before entering the theatre, we had to split into gender separated lines for a pat down, woah this is getting serious! It was our first time at the Theatre and Lady Lamb was opening up for TTMOE once again as she had last summer when we saw Tallest Man twice! She played a few new songs, which were enjoyable, and we stood near the back on the first level. It was surprisingly packed right when we got there just as Lady Lamb was starting up. In between sets, Rachel headed out to see if we can somehow get into this side balcony seating that we can see is empty, but looks sweet. I am super glad she did because she found the seats of the night. Even though we couldn't get to the side balcony seating, there was an entire balcony on the 2nd level with seats and we were able to enjoy the show sitting down, a little off to the right of stage center, but second row of the balcony. Thanks Rach for finding those perfect seats! The show was amazing, I was able to record the audio and get some decent video of my favorite song Where Do My Bluebird Fly... See above if you aren't already playing it. Once my editing program stops sucking (click to find out more about how it sucks), I will release the audio from this show as well as those great Deer Tick shows I attended back in April. Dumb computer. Gummies were in full effect for the walk home, making it quite enjoyable. We hit the hay once we got back and John and Melissa slept over, all of us having early mornings the next day.

The morning of July 16th, Rachel and I headed out to New Lenox to meet up with Beth, and then headed out to Michigan. After a quick little drive, we set up in the Trailer and started to blow up our new best friend, Francine the Floatmingo. My boy Nolan biked 150 miles from Lansing and met us there after 8 hours of riding. He literally left at 4am to get there at Noon. What a boss. Once Nolan is there we pack some sandwiches and head down to the beach. Cam drove up too and met us at the beach. There is almost no actual beach, but the water is great. It was calm and warm, so we took Francine out for many rides. She really was the hit of the beach, as everyone who wasn't us, was mad jealous of our float. Nice work Rachie! After spending some hours at the beach, we headed back up for dinner. Rachel and Beth put together chicken foil packets and I threw them on the grill. After eating a delicious dinner, we got a bonfire going and enjoyed staying warm around it all night while eating s'mores and drinkings brews. Fun night with great friends!

When we woke up on Sunday July 17, the log that we were burning from the night before, which was literally a tree stump that was at least 15 inches wide, was still going strong. I used the chimney to start the grill and grilled burgers for lunch while everyone watched step bros. Such a great movie. Nolan and I watched it in college probably at least 50 times. Cracks me up. After eating a scrumptious lunch of tasty burgers grilled by yours truly, we headed back down to the beach, but it was super windy, resulting in huge waves, so we couldn't take Francine out. Although Nolan did jump on her immediately and was pushed literally 150 yards down the shore. After a couple of hours, I took Nolan and Cam back to the trailer to say goodbye, Cam was giving Nolan a ride back luckily, then headed back to the beach for a little with Beth and Rach. Did I mention there was almost no beach again this year? Check it out below. Not much to work with but we made the most of it. Finally we headed out and drove back to Rach's parents to get Beth to her car. After Beth left, we stuck around to hang out with our "Favorite Couple Friends," Mom and Dad, and had some pizza with them for dinner. We were pretty tired and went to sleep right when we got back to the city.

What a weekend!

Video of the Week: Melissa put together this amazing video from our Wedding! Cannot believe it has already been a month of marriage! I Love It! Thank you Melissa! This is so awesome! Wish I could go back to the best day of my life (link coming soon..)

Let us not forget another video of Beth dancing to JT! Glorious!

Until Next time,

Josh

In Memory Of Izzy The Golden

August 7, 2016

Wow. July 6th of 2016 was a very tragic day. Our beloved dog and friend Izzy left us to be in a better place. She was only 9 years old, but graced us all with 9 years of fun, licks, barks, laughs, runs, rolls, humps, jumps, and more!

Josh and Izzy on the first day she came home in 2007

A dog who had a love for licking all of the sweat off of John and I. Who enjoyed all sorts of toys, but mainly her little cat stuffed animal and any sock that was found laying around. A dog who made running and exercising fun for us, as we chased her around the park. A dog who would always be looking to get in a game of catch, H-O-R-S-E, or soccer. Who often was fearless, taking on the UPS man, walking and running through snow and ice, & greeting anyone and anything that walked past. A pup who pushed her boundaries, one time running all the way across the street into my backyard to see what was going on. A dog who was never angry, never growled or seemed sad, and always brought a smile to everyone who was around her.

She was even a selling point for my girlfriend at the time, now wife Rachel, to come over and hangout with John and I. Rachel loves Golden Retrievers and loved to be with Izzy. One of my favorite things about Izzy was even though she was a Golden Retriever, I can't say I actually ever saw her retrieve anything. She would chase a ball or a toy, and then just put it in her mouth for a second, toss it into the air only to have it plop onto the ground, or even roll on top of it in a massaging sort of fashion. She would then smile and wag her tail at you, waiting for you to come get it and throw it again. Smart pup! For a time, Izzy would often get excited and hump her bed in the basement until nearly passing out. Or even crawl into bed with John at night and push him off eventually. She was there when we watched TV, played video games, had cookouts, or filmed movies. She was simply a joy to have around.

Izzy wasn't actually my family's dog, but she sure seemed it. She was my neighbor and best friend John's pup and had been since early 2007. Even though we were about to graduate high school and go on to college, it always will feel like she was a dog that we grew up with, in part because we were home every summer, and still visit our parents houses even after we moved out. Every single member of my family would go and pet Izzy almost every day when she was outside, and I know that random children and adults walking around the neighborhood would do the same.

I think the one of the hardest parts of all this and when it really hits me is when I look out the window across the street, or open the garage and Izzy is no longer laying in the yard, eating bushes, barking at the UPS man, or being pet by the neighborhood kids. Not living at home anymore takes me away from this most of the time, but when I am at my parents and I do those things, I then realize, she is gone.

Even though Izzy has left us on earth, I am honored and blessed to have been able to film so many videos of her and take so many photos. Now that I look back I wish I had done more! Below are all 10 videos I have made with the focus being our beautiful, lovely, amazing golden girl, Izzy.

Enjoy.

Above is a continuous playlist in chronological order of all 10 videos of Izzy. Below are the same 10 videos but separated for your viewing pleasure.