- Signed: Matthew Hartman
- Filed under activities , pictures , relationships , sports , work .
Hey folks,
I realize it has been a long time since I last wrote in here. I also realize that I've promised before that I would make the attempt to write in this thing more often. Lately, though I guess I just haven't been in the mood to write much.
A lot has happened though, since I last made an entry to the blog. My feelings for Lu have faded and I'm finally getting on with my life. In one way I'm relieved that those feelings aren't there anymore, but in some ways it still makes me feel a little sad that things didn't work out between us. Life is pretty much back to what it used to be. The one advantage of having a relationship is that it gives you someone to get out and do things with. I don't know why, but to me it just isn't the same when I'm out with the guys... When you have a significant other, you can do more personal things. Like going out for dinner, taking a walk, camping... You know, things like that. I don't know if it's an insecurity of mine, but asking some of the guys from work if they would want to go somewhere for dinner just seems awkward. Maybe it's just a guy thing... ;) Anyhow, digressing a bit, I'm getting lazy again. Much like I was before I met Lu and spent 80% of my time alone in my apartment. I don't feel that motivation I did when I was involved with Lu and I'm finding myself sitting and lying around watching my god-damn "Friends" season-DVD's again. It's driving me crazy and I wish I could just keep myself motivated to get out and stay active in some way.
I think I'm going to start using the stupid exercising "facility" we have in the apartment building here. We have this converted apartment down on the 1st floor that contains various exercise machines and I haven't used the damn thing but only once since I've lived here. Since winter has decided to arrive a month early this year (yes, we have even had our first snow already!) I may just start using it. It would keep me active to some degree and it would get me out of the apartment for, at least, an hour. Winter sucks ass up here in North Dakota - because typically it's so damn cold you literally can't do anything outside. And, of course, since there really isn't much to do up here, to begin with, being outside and enjoying it is one of the main activities for residents in Grand Forks. We'll see how the winter pans out and if I keep this "idea" of exercising more this fall/winter in mind...! ;)
I did attend "China Night" this past Thursday at the Cultural Center on the UND campus. Since Lu is the president of CSSA (Chinese Students and Scholars Association) and organized this event, I really wanted to go. I initially had to work Thursday evening, but I was able to find someone to switch shifts with me. So, I was able to make it. Lu really wanted me to be there, as well. I'm really glad I went. It was really nice to see some familiar faces and I was able to spend some time with some of Lu's friends that I had met when we were seeing each other. Plus, the food was excellent! Lu did a great job at organizing the event and they had a tremendous turn-out... I took some pictures, so if you're curious to see what it was like, I have all the photos uploaded to my photo gallery.
I also attended the first Fighting Sioux hockey game of the year, Friday, October 6th. It only took me two years to finally get a ticket to a game! Justin Shaw (a co-worker of mine) mentioned getting tickets and since he and I met up with Jeff and McQuade, we all decided to go together. It was actually pretty great. I hadn't ever been to a hockey game, but it was fun and I quickly found out that the Ralph Engelstad Arena is quite a place. It reminds me of Conseco Fieldhouse back in Indianapolis - how its seating is laid out. And it seriously looks like a real NHL arena (from what I've seen on TV, anyway)...! It really is an amazing facility, especially considering it's only an athletic facility for a university. The ARC (Athletic-Recreation Center) at Valpo has nothing on The Ralph. Nothing!
Then on the 27th, the Minnesota Timberwolves come into town to play a preseason game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Alerus Center. Jakin (another co-worker) is getting tickets for several of us at work and we're all going together. Lu seemed interested, as well, so she will be coming along. So, that should be fun, as well.
So, yes, like I said before, I'm just trying to get out more this year... I made a few New Year's resolutions this year and with this, I know that I've indeed upheld two of them, for certain. One of them was to take better advantage of days off work and to spend time outdoors and get in shape... And I feel I did a fairly good job of that this summer. I did spend a lot more time outside this past summer than I had the previous year. I took advantage of the pool we have here at the apartment complex and swam quite a bit, I walked and ran the Fitness Trail near my apartment, and I got out a lot more and played sports. Surprisingly, I actually lost some weight in the process. Imagine that! I know at one point I was down close to 150 lbs and I'm pretty sure that was around mid-July. When I went to the doctor's office last month, I was at 165 lbs... Can you believe I gained back nearly 15 pounds in about a month and a half? Crazy! So, again, now I'm just trying to stay active and even though I am finding myself spending more time in front of the frickin' TV again, I do want to make an effort to minimize that. I'm trying! Ah, and by the way, that other New Year's resolution was to meet someone, have at least, a semi-serious relationship, and to have a woman (not a co-worker or of any relation) inside my apartment - at any point during the year. And, obviously, I have upheld that resolution...
It makes me feel really good, thinking about it... That I actually made resolutions that I actually followed up on this year.
It wouldn't be the same, however, to write up an entire post here without sharing some sad news, though... Tonight, I learned that one of my best-friends at work is moving on to a different job. I never really hung out with Adam a whole lot, but I got along with him and his wife really well. I would always look at my work schedule and find when we would work together - and would really look forward to it. Maybe it was his personality... He was a really nice guy, we would always have something to talk about, and he was just fun to shoot the shit with, you know. He's one of those types that you can just sit and talk and joke around with... I'm happy for him - that he found a different job that he and his wife (and family, I suppose) will be happier with. But, I will miss him... I really enjoyed working with him.
Well, it's getting a bit late here and I'm craving ice cream. ;) I may just go for a bowl!
Take care everyone and I hope everyone is doing well...
I realize it has been a long time since I last wrote in here. I also realize that I've promised before that I would make the attempt to write in this thing more often. Lately, though I guess I just haven't been in the mood to write much.
A lot has happened though, since I last made an entry to the blog. My feelings for Lu have faded and I'm finally getting on with my life. In one way I'm relieved that those feelings aren't there anymore, but in some ways it still makes me feel a little sad that things didn't work out between us. Life is pretty much back to what it used to be. The one advantage of having a relationship is that it gives you someone to get out and do things with. I don't know why, but to me it just isn't the same when I'm out with the guys... When you have a significant other, you can do more personal things. Like going out for dinner, taking a walk, camping... You know, things like that. I don't know if it's an insecurity of mine, but asking some of the guys from work if they would want to go somewhere for dinner just seems awkward. Maybe it's just a guy thing... ;) Anyhow, digressing a bit, I'm getting lazy again. Much like I was before I met Lu and spent 80% of my time alone in my apartment. I don't feel that motivation I did when I was involved with Lu and I'm finding myself sitting and lying around watching my god-damn "Friends" season-DVD's again. It's driving me crazy and I wish I could just keep myself motivated to get out and stay active in some way.
I think I'm going to start using the stupid exercising "facility" we have in the apartment building here. We have this converted apartment down on the 1st floor that contains various exercise machines and I haven't used the damn thing but only once since I've lived here. Since winter has decided to arrive a month early this year (yes, we have even had our first snow already!) I may just start using it. It would keep me active to some degree and it would get me out of the apartment for, at least, an hour. Winter sucks ass up here in North Dakota - because typically it's so damn cold you literally can't do anything outside. And, of course, since there really isn't much to do up here, to begin with, being outside and enjoying it is one of the main activities for residents in Grand Forks. We'll see how the winter pans out and if I keep this "idea" of exercising more this fall/winter in mind...! ;)
I did attend "China Night" this past Thursday at the Cultural Center on the UND campus. Since Lu is the president of CSSA (Chinese Students and Scholars Association) and organized this event, I really wanted to go. I initially had to work Thursday evening, but I was able to find someone to switch shifts with me. So, I was able to make it. Lu really wanted me to be there, as well. I'm really glad I went. It was really nice to see some familiar faces and I was able to spend some time with some of Lu's friends that I had met when we were seeing each other. Plus, the food was excellent! Lu did a great job at organizing the event and they had a tremendous turn-out... I took some pictures, so if you're curious to see what it was like, I have all the photos uploaded to my photo gallery.
I also attended the first Fighting Sioux hockey game of the year, Friday, October 6th. It only took me two years to finally get a ticket to a game! Justin Shaw (a co-worker of mine) mentioned getting tickets and since he and I met up with Jeff and McQuade, we all decided to go together. It was actually pretty great. I hadn't ever been to a hockey game, but it was fun and I quickly found out that the Ralph Engelstad Arena is quite a place. It reminds me of Conseco Fieldhouse back in Indianapolis - how its seating is laid out. And it seriously looks like a real NHL arena (from what I've seen on TV, anyway)...! It really is an amazing facility, especially considering it's only an athletic facility for a university. The ARC (Athletic-Recreation Center) at Valpo has nothing on The Ralph. Nothing!
Then on the 27th, the Minnesota Timberwolves come into town to play a preseason game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Alerus Center. Jakin (another co-worker) is getting tickets for several of us at work and we're all going together. Lu seemed interested, as well, so she will be coming along. So, that should be fun, as well.
So, yes, like I said before, I'm just trying to get out more this year... I made a few New Year's resolutions this year and with this, I know that I've indeed upheld two of them, for certain. One of them was to take better advantage of days off work and to spend time outdoors and get in shape... And I feel I did a fairly good job of that this summer. I did spend a lot more time outside this past summer than I had the previous year. I took advantage of the pool we have here at the apartment complex and swam quite a bit, I walked and ran the Fitness Trail near my apartment, and I got out a lot more and played sports. Surprisingly, I actually lost some weight in the process. Imagine that! I know at one point I was down close to 150 lbs and I'm pretty sure that was around mid-July. When I went to the doctor's office last month, I was at 165 lbs... Can you believe I gained back nearly 15 pounds in about a month and a half? Crazy! So, again, now I'm just trying to stay active and even though I am finding myself spending more time in front of the frickin' TV again, I do want to make an effort to minimize that. I'm trying! Ah, and by the way, that other New Year's resolution was to meet someone, have at least, a semi-serious relationship, and to have a woman (not a co-worker or of any relation) inside my apartment - at any point during the year. And, obviously, I have upheld that resolution...
It makes me feel really good, thinking about it... That I actually made resolutions that I actually followed up on this year.
It wouldn't be the same, however, to write up an entire post here without sharing some sad news, though... Tonight, I learned that one of my best-friends at work is moving on to a different job. I never really hung out with Adam a whole lot, but I got along with him and his wife really well. I would always look at my work schedule and find when we would work together - and would really look forward to it. Maybe it was his personality... He was a really nice guy, we would always have something to talk about, and he was just fun to shoot the shit with, you know. He's one of those types that you can just sit and talk and joke around with... I'm happy for him - that he found a different job that he and his wife (and family, I suppose) will be happier with. But, I will miss him... I really enjoyed working with him.
Well, it's getting a bit late here and I'm craving ice cream. ;) I may just go for a bowl!
Take care everyone and I hope everyone is doing well...
This entry was posted on Saturday, October 14, 2006 and is filed under activities , pictures , relationships , sports , work . Monitor this post through the RSS 2.0 feed. You may leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.
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