Part Two- Miracle

Maybe another reason I haven't written anything in so long is because honestly, after losing my job in 2009, things kind of spiraled downhill for a while. The job market was pretty cruel to me, as I'm sure many people can relate to, and I settled for some temp positions that really were not at all what I wanted to be doing. I had to revert to moving back in with my Dad for and barely felt like a contributing member of society.

In August of 2013, though, I can honestly say things have never been better. I've got a job I love and a girlfriend I love even more. In the past year and half I've bought a new car and moved into my own apartment. Life has bounced back for me in a big way.

As a guy who loves activities, I'm not playing pool anymore but lately have been making disc golf a weekly event on the calendar. Fortunate to have two brothers cut from the same mold to play with, every Saturday we've been checking out a different course around town. 

A disc golf basket.

Although most of you are probably familiar with the game, for those that aren't, disc golf is a lot like regular golf except instead of a club and balls you through discs, which are heavier and smaller than a standard Frisbee, across the course into a basket. Typically courses will have a good mixture of holes to play- meaning some that are in the woods and others are in fields with only a few trees attempting to thwart your throws. 

Yesterday, my brothers and sister and I decided to check out the course at Creve Coeur Lake. It had a fairly average review of  2.83 discs (out of 5) on the website we looked at but more importantly, it was the next closest to home. 

It was near 90 degrees in the middle of the afternoon when we headed up there and one of the first things you notice about this course compared to others is the lack of a wooded section. All 18 of the holes are in a wide open field with barely any trees to be seen. Although, you'd think this would be a good thing- less to hit- with the sun beating down on you, the holes in the shade are a nice break from the heat.

Snake!

The second thing you notice about this course that sets it apart is the grass. Most places you play have neatly mowed fairways and even the rough is nice and short making it fairly easy to find a stray disc. Not at Creve Coeur though. The grass here was only short in a narrow strip of fairway. The rest of the course was deep rough, grass up to your ankles, making it nearly impossible to find any stray shot you didn't keep a perfect eye on as it hit the ground. About hole five we also realized the grass was home to the biggest snakes any of us had ever seen in the wild. 

Burrs

The combination of these two things - the heat and the grass- were making our afternoon rather frustrating. On the 7th hole we spent nearly 45 minutes looking for errant throws careful not to step on snakes as we searched. Then, on the 8th hole, one of my brothers discs happened to find it's way into some deep brush. After searching for roughly 20 minutes, and completely covered in burrs, we left that disc for dead.


We set out to play the full 18 but at this point, our patience had run out and so had our water. Itchy from the brush and starting to feel sun burned we decided to finish nine and call it a day. 

On the 9th tee, as was the case with almost every hole we played, my sister lost her disc in the tall grass. With the three of them searching for it, I went ahead and took my shots hoping to get out of there as fast as possible. 

Around the time I was making my final putt, and the time they found my sisters disc, I reached into the pocket of my athletic shorts, reaching for the keys to the car in preparation to get the A/C running so that my family could be cool as soon as they were done. I reached into the right side and came up empty handed. Quickly I felt the left side...nothing.

My keys were missing.

After all the delays and the heat and the fact that we were hungry and thirsty and just wanted to get the hell out of there I realized that we were stuck. As my brothers and sister start walking down the fairway toward me I break the news to them individually that my keys are somewhere on the course and heads are hung in disappointment.

If we couldn't find a brightly colored disc the size of a plate, how on Earth are we going to find a set of keys in this grassy mess?

My thoughts turn to worst case scenarios:

I'm going to need to call a locksmith for the care.
My girlfriend is out of town so I'll need to somehow get into the apartment too.

At the very least, we aren't going anywhere for a long while.

My youngest brother and I start the long walk back through the course hoping to find the needle in the haystack although both knowing in the backs of our minds that the venture is futile. My sister and middle brother head back near the car to find shade.

How did this happen? Why did I leave my keys in my swooshy pockets? What are we going to do? 

***

It was right at this moment, in the pit of despair, we hear a whistle in the distance.

Maybe twenty steps into the long backwards loop of the course we were about to set out on there is a guy trying to get our attention a couple of holes away. 

(Did this guy find my keys? No way, there's no way he found my keys...) 
Are the thoughts circling in my head right now. We run towards the people a few hundred yards away when I hear the stranger say, "KEVIN??" 

(This guy KNOWS me? Who is this?)
Are my next few thoughts until I hear the stranger yell, "Did you lose a set of keys?" To which I shouted back, "Yeah!" and by this time I am close enough to recognize the person.

"Kevin!" I said. "Holy Shit."
"No way."

It was Kevin Ryan- the pool teammate that not a week earlier I met up with to return his guitar I had in my possession for the last four years. While walking down a previous hole to find his shot, he stepped right on my keys. 

Unbelievable.

I can't even fathom the odds of what just happened. We were saved. No locksmith, no waiting, and that much closer to food, water and being out of the sun.

What could have been one of the worst days of our lives ended up being the most remarkable.

Not only were the keys found- the guy who found them is the same person I just met up with for the first time in almost half a decade!
I'm positive that I would have walked right by them if I had gotten that far and he wasn't even looking. He accidentally stepped right on them.

This is the most phenomenal coincidence I've experienced in my entire life. It was a coincidence multiplied by a coincidence really in what could be called nothing short of a miracle.

Thanks for reading, 
Kevin

Part One- Resurrection

In 2009, the Kingdom of Kevin was in full swing. Working a job where I was able to accomplish all of my tasks in 3-5 hours of my eight hour day gave me plenty of time to pursue other things- like writing- in those days. (If anyone from my current place of business is reading this rest-assured not a moment is wasted there.)

The only pool trophy I will ever own.

Also in 2009, I was part of a championship pool team, Hit it Hard and Hope. Coming in first place at The Cue in Maplewood, we advanced to tournament play in Effingham, IL eventually falling in the third round of play. This was the highlight of my billiards "career" and was the farthest a team I've ever been a part of had ever made it.

It was on this team I met Kevin Ryan.

Kevin, was one of our better plays with a calm approach and a good eye for his plan around the table. A music lover and DJ, he had hair down to his back and had no wife or kids to speak of in those days. He was also very helpful to me at becoming a better pool player, however, it wasn't his mentoring that is especially relevant to the telling of this story. Read on...

As you may or may not know, I was robbed in the mid 2000's when living in a Manchester apartment. My roommate at the time was big into marijuana (and probably still is) and had a drug transaction with the wrong people. One day, I came home from work to an unlocked door- immediately triggering a mental alarm. I entered into a surreal scene that was my apartment but not at all the way I had left it in the morning.

TV- gone
XBOX- gone
GUITARS-gone
DVDS/GAMES-gone

Even my pillowcases were missing as that's what they used to carry the stolen games and movies, I assume. It was a pretty devastating event in my life.

I left that apartment the following day. I couldn't live in a place that had been broken into or with a person who would let people like that into our house anymore.

As it happens I told Kevin Ryan this story in 2009 and he immediately comes back with, "Well I have an extra guitar, you can borrow mine." At the time, we had really just met so I was blown away by the generosity but had the itch to play so I accepted his offer.

(Side note: I went on to most famously use this instrument in the preforming of a musical medley that the training class of August 2009 at Connexions Travel put on for the company.)

Rehearsing for the performance.

Fast forward four years. It's July 2013. The Kingdom of Kevin has been vacant since then and the pool team had gone their separate ways shortly after the championship run; life was changed. In fact I had pretty much fallen out of touch with Kevin completely despite still having his guitar.

Out of the blue, though, I get a Facebook message from him asking if we can meet up last week. He's got another person interested in the guitar that he wants to let borrow it. I've tried a few times over the years to contact him but this time we finally get together, last Monday at Pink Galleon in Creve Coeur.

Kevin is the same guy I knew but life has changed for him too. Now married, he's also has a child and another on the way. His hair, which was longer than my girlfriends, is now shorter than mine. It was really nice to see him and finally give him his guitar back. I can't believe I had it for four years and am so appreciative to him for letting me borrow it.

I left that night happy to have seen an old friend and glad that someone else will be able to get some use of the instrument that has basically just been sitting in my closet now for months.

As a reader, you were probably expecting the story to end here but you'd be wrong. In fact, it's only just beginning.

Cute or Obnoxious?

So I'm out at St. Louis Bread company having a nice relaxing Saturday lunch by myself when all of a sudden a couple comes in and sits at the table across from me.

At first they seem like just your typical happy pair grabbing a bite to eat after working out or on their way home from something but then something happens that sets them apart from most people I observe.

The guy, who was sitting on the other side of the table to begin the meal, stands up and slides his chair to the position shown in the photo above. He is now sitting on the corner of the table and their food, legs, and bodies are just that much nearer.

So my question is: Is this cute or obnoxious?

I'm going to go with obnoxious and here's why:

You are out eating lunch. It's ok to be in love and I'm happy they are but this guy does not need to partially block the aisle just to be that much closer to his girl while they're chowing down. It's one thing to cuddle at home during a movie, I'm all for that, but lunch out at Bread Co?

There's just no need.

You can spend 20 minutes across the table from your gal as you both finish your meals.

You tell me. Am I just overreacting or does this not annoy anyone but me?

I know, I know...

I desperately need to write something.

I apologize to those that read for the lack of posts lately. You all know how sometimes you aren't in the mood to write and I think I've been in that mood for over a month now.

I have been very self absorbed and not as in tune to the crazy world around me as I usually am.

The bottom line is: I'm missing writing and I will post more.

In the meantime here is a random list off the top of my head of things I've discovered or realized since my last post.

1.) It appears my newest roommate does in fact brush his teeth despite not having a toothbrush in the bathroom. (Travis, if you ever read this, I'm sorry. We've lived together for about 6 months now and I've never seen you do it once so I had our other roommate verify that there is in fact brushing going on.)

2.) I really enjoy the Hispanic community but just wish I knew Spanish as fluently as they did.

It's not like I've ever had any ill feelings towards Hispanics before my current job; it's just that I never had much interaction with them.

That all changed once I started at &*%#! (company name omitted).

Fortunately, the first person I sat by at my new job was of Mexican descent and she has, over time, become one of my best friends. Through her, not only has my desire to learn Spanish been renewed, but I've gotten the chance to absorb a whole culture though her friends and family I knew nothing about.

3.) Life is extremely unpredictable.

Without pouring my soul onto the screen let me just say that I don't think anyone can be certain what tomorrow holds. Each day we make choices that lead us down a path but no one can be sure just where that path leads. My life was on one path 2 years ago but I know now that path has changed.

There are so many factors that shape the life we perceive it's truly overwhelming to comprehend. So, in the meantime, living day to day, trying to enjoy each morning, noon, and night I am lucky to be a part of has been, and will continue to be, my primary focus.

The Friendliest Stores in Town

Today, on the way home I had to stop by my local Schnuck's grocery store to return a movie I'd rented. While I was there I decided to pick up some dinner too.

But as I was checking out, something happened that has never happened to me before.



I went through an entire checkout process without one word being exchanged between the cashier and myself.

That's right: not one word.

I put my item on the conveyor belt, she scanned it, I swiped my card, she gave me my receipt, see you later; I was gone.

No "Hello, how are you doing?", no "Your total is ____", nothing.

Not even a "Have a nice day."

You may think that I'm complaining but I'm not.
This was awesome, amazing even.

Right as I was being handed my receipt and turning away I was praying to myself for her not to blow this moment for me and wish me a good night and it didn't happen. I walked to the car smiling realizing I've had a once in a lifetime checklane experience.

Only at the self scan lanes will you ever encounter a speechless transaction and I for one didn't mind it one bit.

A Stupid Thing I Did

As a single guy, I eat out a lot (no, not in that way... sicko). I'll be honest, fast food makes up a good chunk of my diet. I'm not much of a grocery shopper because when I do go there and make things for myself, I end up wasting way too much.

So I recently decided to eat healthier. Not because I'm totally out of shape or anything (well maybe I am a little out of shape) but really just because I want to maintain myself and live longer over all.

I did some research and it turns out there actually are healthy options at most fast food places, you just have to know where to go and what to order. During my investigation I came across "Crazy Bowls and Wraps" a place I'd been only once in my life and had never gone back.

They have some really good food that's good for you, plus, the calorie counts are right there on the menu. They have nothing to hide.

I had it Monday for lunch and was craving it again tonight (Tuesday) so badly that I stopped my the location by my house on the way home from work.

I ordered my bowl and got back in the car, savoring the flavor of this delicious teriyaki chicken, veggies, and rice combo I was about to consume. I got all the way home, actually after almost pulling out the fork and bringing out the bowl during the commute, when it dawned on me:

I promised a friend I would go to dinner with her tonight.
And not just any dinner, a 3 course meal for FREE at the casino.

I had totally forgotten about it. So here I am, waiting to go to dinner with her as my Crazy Bowl sits in the refrigerator: alone and uneaten.

Yeah, I'm excited about the dinner I'm going to have but I was so ready to eat the dinner I bought that I'm conflicted now. I guess I can eat it for lunch tomorrow but it just won't be the same.

So there you go, a stupid thing I did. Buying a meal when one was already going to be provided for me free of charge.

Mysteries of the World

Water's free, right?

I mean, let's say you go to any restaurant- fast food or sit down - and all you order is a glass of water. Your bill, assuming you didn't get a bottled water should be $0.00.

Right now you're saying to yourself. Ok, yeah Kevin, what the point?

Well, I'll tell you.

Let's say you walk into McDonalds and order a #1 ; which everyone knows is the Big Mac meal (pictured above). With this meal you receive the sandwich, the fries, and a cup; it's all included in the price.

It doesn't matter what you put in that cup, the price of the meal is the same. Which means if you put water in the cup, that's right, you are paying for the water!

So if you are trying to cut soda out of your diet, like I am. You have to stay away from value meals. Because I'll tell you what, if I order one, I can't just put water in my cup. I paid for that drink and there's no way a free liquid is going in there. I get soda in spite, and that's not the way to handle anything really.

While I'm on the subject of food and restaurants here's another one for ya.

Let's say you're at Qdoba now. You love the nachos (pictured below), like I do, but you don't think they put enough cheese on them, or maybe you don't think they put enough chicken on them, so you ask for extra.


Guess what? That costs extra.

You're probably saying to yourself, of course it costs extra, you're getting extra stuff.

But here's the problem: it doesn't work the other way!

Let me explain.

You order those very same nachos but this time, you want no beans. Well, beans are included in the price of the nachos, are they not? Don't you think if you request no beans, the price should go down?

It most certainly does not though.

You are saving Qdoba the ingredients and time of putting them in there but putting the exact same amount of money in their register. It just doesn't make sense.

If extra costs more, less should cost less. That's my opinion.

And these my friends are two mysteries of the world.