My niece finishes her year 12 exams tomorrow, my wish of luck is not for that exam, but for life ahead. She's done all the hard work, and I'm sure crammed enough in to breeze through tomorrow. From the moment she finishes that exam tomorrow, life moves pretty fast. "No more books, no teachers dirty looks"...just a whole lot of life to live and explore. Casting back a coucheyeview to when I finished school, I felt so big, so relieved, so grown up, so excited, so free.
My brother Dave picked me up outside school with a beer awaiting me. I could not have asked for a more symbolic start to my new life. It was such an Australian, good on ya bloke moment. If in that can I could have magically been told what lay ahead for me in life, would I have listened to the story? For sure.
Life has certainly gone in different directions to what I dreamed for at that time, yet I would not change a thing. The unknown is an amazing thing, it's exciting and scary and inspiring all at once. It's something you can never 100% be ready to meet, but when you do, you can only stand in your own truth and control what you can control.
So Amber, while I won't be there out the front to pick you up with a beer at the ready, (you'd politely decline the tipple anyway) my thoughts will be with you tomorrow. The achievement of finishing your exams, on its own is one to celebrate. Well done. I will raise a glass and toast you with pride.
The elation, internal joy, relief and that feeling free moment is all yours and yours alone to enjoy. Try to remember it.
Because right then at that very moment, is one of the times in life you will meet the unknown.
Good Luck.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Smokin' Hot
Last night, presented a clash of two of my loves. Socialising and the Hawks. The latter came second on the night, (but thankfully not on the scoreboard)
Nicole and I shared dinner with 3 married couples, their children and a cavoodle.
The kids ages ranged from about 4 through to 11.
"So guys, you'll be using tonight as a form of contraception then?" one of the gang quipped to us with a laugh.
And you have to say, when all kids were at full tilt screaming as they played "catch the cavoodle" in the house, Nic and i certainly considered the previous comment as spot on.
Then came the doozie that flips that thought on its head.
Young Oscar was in fine form, and commented, "when i grow up up, I can get a girlfriend, that's gonna be sick!"
"Will she be smokin hot?" one of the guys threw back.
Then as quick as a flash, he answered: "Nah....she can't be a girl who smokes, that's bad for you!"
And with that, we all erupted in laughter, as him mother quietly explained to him in a simple, delicate way what smokin hot meant in 8 year old terms..."very nice, pretty lady".
And of course, he then said she has to be smokin hot.
Gazing at the calendar from a couch eye view, today marks 11 months to the day Nicole and I get married. You can confidently say one of us will look smokin' hot that day. The time will fly from here until then, but we're enjoying the preparation.
That word preparation though means much more than just listing down guests, venue, music, and finding "that" dress.
You're preparing as a person too. It's a major step in life for a young couple who dream of where life will take them. But that step, is not individual, it's one taken together, for one another.
Look ahead ten years from now, and hopefully we will be lucky enough to have that big house, be surrounded by friends, and kids reeling off random comments that reminds you of how great life is in its simplest form.
Last night to us was a glimpse at that future perhaps.
Today though, as we research the honeymoon, I can guarantee you one thing, there'll be a few moments spent googling "where to buy a cavoodle puppy" instead of what region to visit in France.
Nicole and I shared dinner with 3 married couples, their children and a cavoodle.
The kids ages ranged from about 4 through to 11.
"So guys, you'll be using tonight as a form of contraception then?" one of the gang quipped to us with a laugh.
And you have to say, when all kids were at full tilt screaming as they played "catch the cavoodle" in the house, Nic and i certainly considered the previous comment as spot on.
Then came the doozie that flips that thought on its head.
Young Oscar was in fine form, and commented, "when i grow up up, I can get a girlfriend, that's gonna be sick!"
"Will she be smokin hot?" one of the guys threw back.
Then as quick as a flash, he answered: "Nah....she can't be a girl who smokes, that's bad for you!"
And with that, we all erupted in laughter, as him mother quietly explained to him in a simple, delicate way what smokin hot meant in 8 year old terms..."very nice, pretty lady".
And of course, he then said she has to be smokin hot.
Gazing at the calendar from a couch eye view, today marks 11 months to the day Nicole and I get married. You can confidently say one of us will look smokin' hot that day. The time will fly from here until then, but we're enjoying the preparation.
That word preparation though means much more than just listing down guests, venue, music, and finding "that" dress.
You're preparing as a person too. It's a major step in life for a young couple who dream of where life will take them. But that step, is not individual, it's one taken together, for one another.
Look ahead ten years from now, and hopefully we will be lucky enough to have that big house, be surrounded by friends, and kids reeling off random comments that reminds you of how great life is in its simplest form.
Last night to us was a glimpse at that future perhaps.
Today though, as we research the honeymoon, I can guarantee you one thing, there'll be a few moments spent googling "where to buy a cavoodle puppy" instead of what region to visit in France.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Blank Canvas
If the name Darren Mead doesn't ring any bells, let me remind you of who he is. The man was a member of the most recent team to debut in the AFL back in 1997, Port Adelaide Power. He was their inaugural best and fairest winner, and first player to reach 100 games for the club.
As the Gold Coast Suns make their AFL debut tonight, Darren can look on, knowing what it's like to be part of a new franchise. Only, he now has memories, not the blank canvas the Gold Coast paint from tonight.
How exciting must it be for all involved with the Suns? To start from scratch, and build a club and culture from nothing, is extremely unique.
Look back in VFL/AFL history, and you see only 20 sides have had that opportunity. Carlton did it back in 1897, and are the team to run out against the Suns tonight. Nervous? They'd have to be, no one wants to go in the record books as the first team to lose to GCFC.
As they say first impressions last, so its set to be a cracking match with the likes of Campbell Brown and Gary Ablett leading the charge. Add to that the inclusion of ex NRL star Karmichael Hunt, we have a degree of intrigue never witnessed before in our game.
For the Suns, It's time to shoot for the stars, and good luck to them!
But from a couch eye view, the opportunity to work from a blank canvas should not be lost on all of us. I can't help but think of Brendan Fevola, or even Ricky Nixon for that matter. Do these guys deserve a chance to re-create themselves?
On the blank canvas of life, definitely yes. In AFL terms though, they may never be given a brush to paint with again. Ben Cousins got one, and it was an inspiring story, but once you've gained a reputation, the hardest part is changing it. So time will tell.
In AFL, players reputations are made in one action, one mark, one kick, one tackle, and the fan can be brutal and unforgiving. For us on the outside, in the "real world" we get a lifetime to work on ourselves. With that in mind, maybe its us who are the lucky ones, living outside of the bubble?
What we can be sure of though, is that as the Suns enter that bubble tonight, hundreds of thousands of people will be cheering on, watching history be made. You'd have to think one of them, will be Darren Mead.
As the Gold Coast Suns make their AFL debut tonight, Darren can look on, knowing what it's like to be part of a new franchise. Only, he now has memories, not the blank canvas the Gold Coast paint from tonight.
How exciting must it be for all involved with the Suns? To start from scratch, and build a club and culture from nothing, is extremely unique.
Look back in VFL/AFL history, and you see only 20 sides have had that opportunity. Carlton did it back in 1897, and are the team to run out against the Suns tonight. Nervous? They'd have to be, no one wants to go in the record books as the first team to lose to GCFC.
As they say first impressions last, so its set to be a cracking match with the likes of Campbell Brown and Gary Ablett leading the charge. Add to that the inclusion of ex NRL star Karmichael Hunt, we have a degree of intrigue never witnessed before in our game.
For the Suns, It's time to shoot for the stars, and good luck to them!
But from a couch eye view, the opportunity to work from a blank canvas should not be lost on all of us. I can't help but think of Brendan Fevola, or even Ricky Nixon for that matter. Do these guys deserve a chance to re-create themselves?
On the blank canvas of life, definitely yes. In AFL terms though, they may never be given a brush to paint with again. Ben Cousins got one, and it was an inspiring story, but once you've gained a reputation, the hardest part is changing it. So time will tell.
In AFL, players reputations are made in one action, one mark, one kick, one tackle, and the fan can be brutal and unforgiving. For us on the outside, in the "real world" we get a lifetime to work on ourselves. With that in mind, maybe its us who are the lucky ones, living outside of the bubble?
What we can be sure of though, is that as the Suns enter that bubble tonight, hundreds of thousands of people will be cheering on, watching history be made. You'd have to think one of them, will be Darren Mead.
Friday, March 25, 2011
I Just Hope We Hang On
As Round 1 of the AFL kicked off this week, I already feel lucky I barrack for the team I do.
Thursday Night, the Tigers lost to arch rival Carlton by 20 points. Chatting to a Tigers fan at work on Friday, I quizzed him about the match, and suggested he'd have to be encouraged by the teams performance.
He surprised me with his response.
"Yeah i watched it mate. It sucks. My games already over and we lost again, same old story for the tigers. Being a Tigers fan ain't that good when they lose in round 1....every year! You wait all pre season...The big Blockbuster Thursday night game, and bang, we lose, it's over, and now we have to sit through every other game until next week!"
Wow!
That's some frustration right there.
I often feel sorry for tigers supporters when I hear stuff like that, but in the same breath, I admire them. The yellow and black army is iconic in AFL.
Basically though, as long as I can remember they're a club that loses. I was still rolling around in nappies when they won their last premiership in 1980.
From a couch eye view, the excitement on Thursday night was high. The season was kicking off, and in this match we were seeing the new Richo, the new Tigers hero, Jumping Jack Riewoldt.
And boy, did he announce that last years break out season was no fluke. Jumping Jack turned the game in the 3rd quarter, the adrenalin was certainly pumping watching it at home. Sure i tipped Carlton, but we were seeing a guy making others look foolish, it was a period of genius, and it one couldn't help but cheer for Jack.
I thought the tigers were home at 3/4 quarter time, I shot a text to a mate who was at the game...a Richmond fan.
"Mate enjoy this, you're gonna kick their arse finally".
But through all of Jacks heroics, my friend wasn't blinded completely like I was, he wrote back...
"Don't know mate, I hope they hang on, but I've got a massive hard on for Jack. What a Star!"
Fair description of what's obviously become a severe man crush on his new hero. But hoping his team holds on instead of kicking clear, really shows the highs and lows of being a tiger fan.
I wonder, how many of them are filled with more love for the yellow and black, than faith?
This has to be expected after years of disappointment, I just hope they get their rewards one day. Gee, wouldn't the roar of Yellow & Black be deafening?!
Until then, my friends can at least enjoy cheering on Jumping Jack.
It's once your team hero, like Jack, becomes a champion, you greet the season with confidence rather than doubt.
And that's how I feel about tonight! Excited to see the hawthorn champ Lance "Buddy" Franklin, and my hero, strut out against the Crows with his mates Cyril and Roughy to name a couple.
I go into the 2011 season with no faint hopes, but pure anticipation that we will be more than competitive this year.
And just to think, Buddy could have been a Richmond player. Ironically, the man the Tigers chose ahead of Buddy in the draft, Richard Tambling, lines up for his new team, the Adelaide Crows tonight.
Oh what it must be like to be Richmond Supporter?
As a hawks fan, I'm blessed I'll never have to know the real answer.
Thursday Night, the Tigers lost to arch rival Carlton by 20 points. Chatting to a Tigers fan at work on Friday, I quizzed him about the match, and suggested he'd have to be encouraged by the teams performance.
He surprised me with his response.
"Yeah i watched it mate. It sucks. My games already over and we lost again, same old story for the tigers. Being a Tigers fan ain't that good when they lose in round 1....every year! You wait all pre season...The big Blockbuster Thursday night game, and bang, we lose, it's over, and now we have to sit through every other game until next week!"
Wow!
That's some frustration right there.
I often feel sorry for tigers supporters when I hear stuff like that, but in the same breath, I admire them. The yellow and black army is iconic in AFL.
Basically though, as long as I can remember they're a club that loses. I was still rolling around in nappies when they won their last premiership in 1980.
From a couch eye view, the excitement on Thursday night was high. The season was kicking off, and in this match we were seeing the new Richo, the new Tigers hero, Jumping Jack Riewoldt.
And boy, did he announce that last years break out season was no fluke. Jumping Jack turned the game in the 3rd quarter, the adrenalin was certainly pumping watching it at home. Sure i tipped Carlton, but we were seeing a guy making others look foolish, it was a period of genius, and it one couldn't help but cheer for Jack.
I thought the tigers were home at 3/4 quarter time, I shot a text to a mate who was at the game...a Richmond fan.
"Mate enjoy this, you're gonna kick their arse finally".
But through all of Jacks heroics, my friend wasn't blinded completely like I was, he wrote back...
"Don't know mate, I hope they hang on, but I've got a massive hard on for Jack. What a Star!"
Fair description of what's obviously become a severe man crush on his new hero. But hoping his team holds on instead of kicking clear, really shows the highs and lows of being a tiger fan.
I wonder, how many of them are filled with more love for the yellow and black, than faith?
This has to be expected after years of disappointment, I just hope they get their rewards one day. Gee, wouldn't the roar of Yellow & Black be deafening?!
Until then, my friends can at least enjoy cheering on Jumping Jack.
It's once your team hero, like Jack, becomes a champion, you greet the season with confidence rather than doubt.
And that's how I feel about tonight! Excited to see the hawthorn champ Lance "Buddy" Franklin, and my hero, strut out against the Crows with his mates Cyril and Roughy to name a couple.
I go into the 2011 season with no faint hopes, but pure anticipation that we will be more than competitive this year.
And just to think, Buddy could have been a Richmond player. Ironically, the man the Tigers chose ahead of Buddy in the draft, Richard Tambling, lines up for his new team, the Adelaide Crows tonight.
Oh what it must be like to be Richmond Supporter?
As a hawks fan, I'm blessed I'll never have to know the real answer.
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