The Future

   Well folks I'm almost out of this place. The months have come and gone and winter is pretty much obsolete. Spring 2011 kind of means new beginings for me and the start of my new life. Am I scared? Not really, because I have faith in myself and I know that in the end things are going to end up alright. I guess optimism is one of the best qualities you can have this day in age. Despite all the shitty things going on around me I'm just going to keep on plugging. I truly mean that too!
   I guess persistence is my middle name, because if I didnt have it I would never be this close to graduating from college. Who would of fucking thought that I, Eric Engeldinger, would someday graduate from an accredited University. I wont lie at some points in my life I never thought it was going to happen, especially around my sophmore year when my fraternity got kicked out of our house, and I had to live on my buddy's floor for three months. All we did was smoke weed, get drunk, eat shrooms, and I dabbled in some prescription pill usage. Class was a second class citizen in my mind and I just wanted to have fun. And fuck it I did. It was moments in my life like this that really shaped how I am today and how I progressively matured. Even though I have learned a good bit in the classroom, I have learned a lot more out of the classroom. The "college experience" has been both good and bad to me. I learned a lot, fucked some girls and made some damn good friends. I've learned that some things are not worth getting upset about, and that sometimes things are going to go wrong no matter how hard you try. So fuck it, Im going to do what I want to do and I know that I got a good head on my shoulders and I'll be alright.
   As much as I hate Muskingum and the town of New Concord in general part of me is going to miss it, but only a slight bit. It is here that I grew up. I mean dont get me wrong I was 18 when I came here, but I feel that I came here a a vital age and this is where I truly grew up and became the person that I am today. Ok, I retract my statement of missing Muskingum what I'm really going to miss is Ulster. Ulster was my frat, and no its not Greek (kind of weird I know) but I'm kind of weird.Although I havent lived in Ulster for awile now because we got kicked off campus again I'm still going to miss all the characters that came in and out of that house, along with all the stupid random shit we did to pass the time. I'll never forget pledging and the fucksticks that I went through it with. The nights we would stay up till 4 am on a tuesday, because we were in a frat and thats what we did and all those three am monsters no guy wants to talk about to his friends.
   On that note I'm out. I do not know what the future has in store for me so I guess I'm just along for the ride.

Suns out Guns Out

    Today was the nicest day that we had all year. It was 83 degrees out today and the sun was shining. It felt like it was 100 degrees though, because we havent seen a day like today in six months. I went fishing at a local creek that runs in and out of the Muskingum River called Salt Creek. I was really hoping that I'd catch my first smallmouth of the year, but to my dismay I did not. To make matters even worse a buddy of mine brought his girlfriend with him who doesnt even like to fish and on her first cast she hooked into a three pound smallie. That was the only bite anybody got all day. I spent hours moving up and down the creek casting into the deep pools and no luck. I wont lie I was pretty salty about it.
    Being out there today made me think about my life growing up and how much I love the country and love being outside. I honestly cannot think of having a different upbringing then what I did because I truly am a country boy. I love being out in the middle of nowhere getting down and dirty and enjoying the earth that God has blessed us with. I spent most of my childhood playing with the dogs I have owned throughout the years and also being around different animals such as horses and goats. I could not ever think of living in the city, nor do I ever want to.
    People that arent from the country just dont understand. And I dont mean that in a mean way it's just the truth. People from  rural areas are even looked down upon by people from the city as eneducated and simple. And to be honest I dont think that simple is all that bad, because thats exactly what country living is all about; simplfying your life. Not sweating the small stuff and remembering the important things in life. To me those things are your family and the things that make you happy. I know what makes me happy and I dont have one regret with who I am. One of my favorite songs really explains how I feel and everytime I listen to this song it hits close to home. Its called Cecil Brown by Hank 3.......
"Well my name is Cecil Brown
and I'm from a little town
and people don't think much of me
I never understood
why they thought I was no good
But this is how it seems
The feelings of this worn out cowboy
will make you feel so cold
I've traveled up and down so many
kind of lonesome roads
I once took the high road
and it took me straight to hell
and I stood there all by myself
Cause all alone's where
I feel like I belong
Cause it don't matter
who's right or wrong"

sports and athletics

    Well my intramural softball game got cancelled yesterday because the other team forfeited. I was kind of mad about because I was already prepared to go up and play, but O well because it was kind of cold. Playing all these intramurals and pickup games throughout the years def. make me think about what used to be my own athletic career and pro sports too.
    I am what you would call an all around athlete, and I dont say that with arrogance. I can really play just about any sports good, but I was never the greatest at any one sport. I think a lot of athleticism has to do with my parents, and having me involved in numerous athletic activities growing up. I have played golf, football, soccer, basketball, wrestling, swimming, baseball and track competitively throughout my lifetime. My favorite sport was wrestling, because that is the sport that I put the most time into, and tried to be the best at. Wrestling is a very demanding sport and it demands for someone to be 100% involved to be good at. I also like football a lot because I liked being part of a team, and there was no weight cutting involved like there was in wrestling. I am also a big fan of swimming and golf because these are sports that you can participate in by yourself, and pretty much for the rest of your life. I mean I need something to keep me busy.
    OK, on a more professional level...... For one I am glad that college basketball is over. Man O' man what a crazy season and an even crazier ending. I really thought the Buckeyes were going to go all the way. Baseball is now in full swing, and I hope the Indians  can have a respectful season, but I also know that they are young, but Im still being optimistic. There is nothing more fun then going to a Cleveland Browns game though. Browns games are the biggest parties ever, and I never leave without having a good time. Talk about D-R-U-N-K and stoned. Browns fans are diehards and they will endure the frosty Cleveland winter from sunup to sundown partying and having a good time and cheering the Browns on. Thats why I love going to Browns games. Its the best atmosphere ever. This is why I pray that the NFL will get the football lockout figured out, because there has to be football! Why is everyone being so effin greedy? Like they are all making tons of money. Without the fans there is no football so the NFL better remember that.

Tattoos

   I must say that I had a pretty decent weekened. I partied a bit, hung out and played a lot of basketball. I went fishing for a little bit too, but I didnt have much luck. This cold weather shit is def. pissing me off. I just want it to get nice outside, and stay that way. Im not asking for much, just for 60 degree weather. It's a little warmer out today, actually a lot warmer, but it's supposed to rain all day. O' well got to expect that out of an Ohio spring right?
   Speaking of spring where in the hell is my tax return? The US government better get off their ass and get it sent out to t-county, because I am really counting on getting that money soon because I am broke. This is why I hate being in college because I am always broke. I rather just work and have a little bit of money to play around with. I should be getting $500 bones back, and hopefully I will have enough money to get another tattoo.
   I wont lie tattoos truly are addicting, but I dont really know why. I dont see them as a bad thing tho. I truly do see them as a work of art. It's all about the artist, and getting him or her to put something on your body that flows and looks good. Currently I have over $2000 in tattoos. I know this seems like a lot, but I have gotten them in stages throughout the years, and I dont plan on stopping. I just hope society gets off their highhorse about making  a  big deal out of them. Just because you have a bunch of tattoos doesnt mean you are dirty or uneducated or a criminal. Dont get me wrong if you have a bunch of tattoos you could be those things, but I dont feel like tattoos have anything to do with someones personal actions. I feel like people should be judged on their character not their bodyart. This might sound wierd but the next tattoo I am getting (which will hopefully be soon) is going on my butt. Its not even going to be a joke tattoo, I just really want one on my butt and I have the perfect design for it that screams eric engeldinger. More to come later on!