tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57306495333724878372024-03-05T11:14:38.928-08:00i am robert_barradaswriter [rahy-ter] n. a person who commits his or her thoughts, ideas, etc., to writingi am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-92013145430290503052015-11-13T08:40:00.000-08:002015-11-13T09:00:09.914-08:00Mrs. Amanda Belin Barradas (2015)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Mrs. Amanda Belin Barradas</div>
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My gorgeous wife. Let me love you, if not for the rest of your life, then for the rest of mine. And then my soul saw you and it kind of went, "Oh, there you are. I've been looking for you."</div>
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i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-32407155681840381302015-11-13T08:39:00.000-08:002015-11-13T08:47:28.805-08:00Halloween (2015)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-85387209246363797062015-11-13T08:35:00.001-08:002015-11-13T08:47:28.813-08:00My Grandfather Emilio (2015)<div class="mobile-photo">
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i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-31589984959115428102015-09-24T14:18:00.001-07:002015-11-13T08:47:28.801-08:00Update/Photography (09-24-15)<div dir="ltr"><div><div>To any of my readers who still read my blog; thank you and I'm sorry. As a victim of my blessed life, I have completely ignored my blog. Originally intended to be an escape for my creative mind and a motivator for anyone who read it, my blog was put on the back burner as life grabbed me by my long curly hair and propelled me into adulthood. I met my wife, moved out of my Pop's house, adopted my wife's two dogs, bought a new car, became financially self-sufficient, got married, accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior, joined my church's platform band, became an uncle, and so much more. I used to type all of my entries on my phone or tablet whenever I had down time in between classes or when I had time at home. Now a days, texting a friend back seems like I'm on my phone so much more than I should be. Keeping a consistent and current blog is a job in it of itself. <br><br>But life isn't all work. We all need to take the time to really appreciate what makes us happy. I fell victim to my job and building upon my own family and home. It was all I knew for the longest time. I lost sight of what made me who I am. I've slowly been teaching myself to take time and relax as often as I can. I've also been taking it easy on self-criticism. One of the biggest reasons I didn't post much before was because it was such hard work. I used to edit the heck out of my entries. All of them took so long to finish because I would write and rewrite them who knows how many times and there are STILL tons of errors. So I want to apologize in advance for all the grammatical errors from now on and moving forward.<br><br></div>Also, I have taken a real interest in photography. I will also post pictures I take with my phone. Let's get one thing straight though, I am in NO way a photographer. I do not dabble with photography equipment. I do not know ANY kind of photography terminology or techniques. I am just a musician/writer who takes pictures on his BlackBerry. I love using VSCO and have taken some pictures that make me feel a certain way, so I have decided to share them with you guys on here as I take them. <br><br></div>Thanks again for taking the time to read my update! Leave comments below!<br></div> i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-79408723576712626452015-09-23T23:23:00.001-07:002015-11-13T08:47:28.808-08:00First Time at Petiscos in Claremont, CA (09-22-15)<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWhC5H_QS1RA_V2kXjJaVqrvdD27NSyrj7QAbpPgyvunAjTn1pb5vt6fU5jfP6lrOHbaBbFOC1CVfv00T8-noh91JHFhIQRaLeyjvwkG7LYNQ1V4pr5uaRgDYNREbCw7CkmMioStkEMU/s1600/IMG_20150922_221407-740018.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWhC5H_QS1RA_V2kXjJaVqrvdD27NSyrj7QAbpPgyvunAjTn1pb5vt6fU5jfP6lrOHbaBbFOC1CVfv00T8-noh91JHFhIQRaLeyjvwkG7LYNQ1V4pr5uaRgDYNREbCw7CkmMioStkEMU/s320/IMG_20150922_221407-740018.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6197963539675168290"></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3_g24y1xJUTf3UzbcJf5DNfWhhYX6ttnYAcfVZFJEhXHlbhtv2pOVDzIffP4B0E5OqbBLsq8SfoZySysCXTwGrShvJwYHyig2Gg3oziQDHrqc-9K35XIWU4EdgsgZKkl1kk92gFjqGI/s1600/IMG_20150922_214524-743233.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3_g24y1xJUTf3UzbcJf5DNfWhhYX6ttnYAcfVZFJEhXHlbhtv2pOVDzIffP4B0E5OqbBLsq8SfoZySysCXTwGrShvJwYHyig2Gg3oziQDHrqc-9K35XIWU4EdgsgZKkl1kk92gFjqGI/s320/IMG_20150922_214524-743233.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6197963553935449890"></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpb8rfKSPsOdzndmXdBS7e_R0z7f5ffjdB91ZDCOFt2BqEwKqbSdNOn2uYxLrmOMiL3hFLgxm7AdBA9yLn06MJqlZ2iBQdix63qKmzdYwfiIWpxlugimGPvfyo40BbiRO2sFf3-DBkhbY/s1600/IMG_20150922_180224-745814.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpb8rfKSPsOdzndmXdBS7e_R0z7f5ffjdB91ZDCOFt2BqEwKqbSdNOn2uYxLrmOMiL3hFLgxm7AdBA9yLn06MJqlZ2iBQdix63qKmzdYwfiIWpxlugimGPvfyo40BbiRO2sFf3-DBkhbY/s320/IMG_20150922_180224-745814.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6197963564119562674"></a></p><br>i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-40450976653976932172013-05-31T11:08:00.002-07:002017-07-25T15:55:10.664-07:00Coheed and Cambria Music Video Shoot<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.5590755545999855" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm going to tell you a little secret about myself: I LO</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">VE Coheed and Cambria....</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Okay, so it's not that big of a secret after all. </span></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.5590755545999855" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you know me personally, you know how much I love </span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that band</span></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.5590755545999855" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I remember the first time their </span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">life-changing music kissed </span></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.5590755545999855" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">my ears in early 2004. I was getting ready for school that morning and decided to put on the TV while I ate my breakfast. I looked around for things to watch and finally decided to put on music videos. I started eating when a riff immediately caught my attention. I looked up and read the song and artist: “A Favor House Atlantic” – Coheed and Cambria. I put my fork down and focused my full attention on the video. Something about that song moved me. It made me so happy<b>. </b></span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I could not </span></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.5590755545999855" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">take my eyes off the screen for the next 3 minutes. After that moment, I was a fan for life. Most people will never forget where they were when tragedy struck on September 11, 2001; Or</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, for the older generations, where they were when John Lennon was shot.</span></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.5590755545999855" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b> </b></span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My story ob</span></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.5590755545999855" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">viously doesn't compare </span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to those tragic events, but the significance of it still lingers in my mind to this day. </span></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.5590755545999855" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ll never forget where I was when I first heard Coheed and Cambria. </span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.5590755545999855" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have tried countless times to describe exactly what happened to me when I watched that video, but I have always come up short, or felt like I didn't do the moment justice. Nothing could describe what I felt in that moment. It was more than just a high school kid watching a music video; it was a whole new stage of my life that began as the video was playing. I was being pulled into my future! I was listening to the soundtrack of m</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">y up and coming young adult life. </span></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.5590755545999855" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the time, I was really into Led Zeppelin and bands of that era. </span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Although Zeppelin </span></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.5590755545999855" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">continues to be my second favorite band,</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.5590755545999855" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had no idea that </span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coheed and Cambria's music </span></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.5590755545999855" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">would come to define aspects of my life<b>.</b> I was hooked. I've attended every concert Coheed has played in southern California since then. Every concert was better than the last. I used to stay up hours</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> learning th</span></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.5590755545999855" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">eir music on guitar and singing along the best I could. Coheed is as much a part of my adolescence a</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">s Tech Decks, growing my hair out, and learning how to talk to girls.</span></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.5590755545999855" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I could write about Coheed for hours, but back to the story: music video shoot...</span></b></span><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">July 16, 2012</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was just getting to work around noon and was a few minutes early. I got to my desk and logged onto my computer to kill time for a bit. I logged onto Facebook, as I’m sure people </span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">RARELY </span></span><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">do, and saw a post from Coheed’s Facebook page. The post said that they were looking for extras to be in their latest video that they were going to be filming by the end of the week. The post said I needed to include a short message and a picture of myself. I snapped a picture on my phone and sent it to the email address provided. Two days later, I received a response inviting me to join them for the music video shoot! I was STOKED!!! I immediately called my little brother and shared the news. He was excited for me, but bummed out that the video shoot was the same night The Dark Knight Rises premiered. He knew that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I had to go being the HUGE fan that I am. The video was going to be filmed Friday the 20th at 1AM.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">July 19, 2012</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As far as the first half of this day, it was like any other day. I had class from 8am to 11am, and then I went in to work from 12 to 5pm. After work I drove straight home. I knew I had to get home as soon as possible and sleep so I could be lively for the video shoot that night. I tried to go to sleep, but I just couldn’t get comfortable. I spent most of the afternoon reading a boo</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">k instead. The plan was to </span></span><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">leave around 11:30PM. That gave me an hour and a half to get to the city where the shoot was going to be, which was 50 minutes away from Moreno Valley according to Google Maps. At exactly 11:30PM, I left my house<b>. </b></span><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The drive there was interesting. By interesting, I mean that there were 3 freeway closings. THREE! Traffic was redirected off of the freeway and onto the street for several blocks, THREE TIMES. What were the odds of that?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was late.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">July 20, 2012</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I finally arrived at the location, it was around 1:15AM. I was only 15 minutes late. All the parking lots near the location were completely full. I parked a block away in a nearby neighborhood. I began walking toward the location where the music video was going to be shot. When I got to the door I saw a couple people standing right outside.</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> My first thought was that I was not going to be let in. The place looked packed! I stood there for about a minute assuming that there was a line, but I got impatient and found my way inside. As soon as I walked in there, Claudio Sanchez was standing about 5 feet away from me!!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The lead singer of my favorite band was 5 feet away from me. I was completely starstruck. I wanted to shake his hand and tell him how much his music is the soundtrack of some of the most beautiful moments in my life, but I didn't. I just played it cool and stood by as he talked to all of us. Some people asked him how Mic was doing (Mic was the bass player and had just left the band because of a run-in with the law and resurfacing drug problems). He told us that he will be okay, but kept it vague out of respect for Mic's privacy. Then people asked him about the Amory Wars movie (Coheed has just announced that Mark Walhberg's production company is going to make a movie based off of the Coheed and Cambria story). He told us that the whole thing was just a thought at the moment. The ink hadn't even dried on the contract yet. Now that it was confirmed, they could bring it to fruition. He seemed really excited about it. After all the fans' questions, he thanks us for coming out to the video shoot and described to us the scene he wanted us to portray. He told us that the video was about a fighter named Domino who was on his way to the top and gets involved with the wrong people. Our job was to be the audience during the fights. He thanked us all and said that he was on his way to get on a flight to go meet up with Iron Maiden. They were only a couple of days from beginning their tour. He thanked us all again, said a few goodbyes, and he was off. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was awesome to see him, but a few people were bummed that during the shooting of this video, Coheed was not going to film anything on that set. Their clips for the video were filmed at another location. Regardless, every was excited to get started. Someone from the crew came and told us that all that was left was setting up the lighting and that as soon as that was finished, we would roll. What I discovered that night was that lighting takes HOURS to set up. We all just assumed that it would be quick... NOPE.... HOURS. A half hour or so after the announcement, a crew member showed up with several bags full of Jack-In-The-Box chicken sandwiches and tacos. After we all ate, we started mingling. It was great to have so many Coheed enthusiasts in one room together. We all speculated about the upcoming double album, The Afterman, and what it might sound like based off of the rough recordings we've all heard online. We also talked about our favorite album and why we chose that one. It was a blast. It was great being surrounded by true fans who knew just as much as I did.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At around 3:30AM, the director came over to us and welcomed us to the set and gave us a brief explanation of what he expected from us. Immediately after, he got us all into our positions. Our job was to cheer as soon as he said, "ACTION," and qui<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">et</span> down once he said, "CUT." We did this for hours into the morning. The actor who played Domino had it the hardest. He had to keep faking boxing match after boxing match. Domino went through several opponents before finally reaching the one who would finally knock him out. During the knock out, the actor had to keep putting fake blood into his mouth and spitting it out as soon as his face hit the canvas. The first couple of tries did not come out as the director wanted so they cleaned the canvas and filled his mouth with fake blood once more. After the last knock out, we filmed several cut sequences like the one in the very beginning of the video where Domino is in the middle of the ring with his robe on. As soon as the director yelled, "CUT," we all cheered! We did it. We were in a music video!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We wrapped the shoot around 7:45AM. Everyone was exhausted, sleepy, hungry, and sweaty. We spent the whole night cheering our lungs out on cue. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The director thanked everyone for coming out and said we did really good as a group. He complimented us and said we showed a lot of enthusiasm despite how long we stood there. Of course we showed enthusiasm! We're Coheed fans! All we know is enthusiasm for our favorite band! When I walked outside, the sun was just above the local buildings. The morning air was misty and felt fresh against my face. I got into my car and made my way home. On the way home I realized something VERY IMPORTANT. I realized we did not listen to the song! hahaha We cheered on cue but never got to hear the actual song we were making the video for! It was no big deal, because I knew whatever the song sounded like, it was going to be incredible. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With that, I leave you guys with the video we did. Check out 3:10 in the bottom left hand corner as Domino is about to fight and 4:12 as he's hugging his brother. Those are the clearest shots of moi.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QY5mRhB1bak/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QY5mRhB1bak?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you guys again for taking time out of your busy schedules to read my blog. For all the latest news, music, and merchandise, check out:</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://coheedandcambria.com/">coheedandcambria.com</a> </span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Also, check out their double album, The Afterman: Ascension and Descencion! Legendary music and incredible story telling. Thank you guys again!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One among the fence.</span></span></span>i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-62176106395653580762013-05-29T01:12:00.005-07:002013-05-29T01:12:49.986-07:00Passion and Love<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"The greatest thing about the game of basketball to me is the passion and the love I have for it. Because when you have a love for anything, you'll go to the extreme to maintain that love. That's what love does, it drives you to do everything to maintain that connection."</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Michael Jordan</span></span></blockquote>
i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-67925284633208851382013-05-17T11:42:00.000-07:002013-05-17T11:43:47.358-07:00Why Writing?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why writing?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I ask myself that exact same question all the time.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Why this form of self-expression? </span> Why not a painter? A sculptor? A photographer? Why would I enjoy something that cost me so much trouble in the earliest years
of my life? I think I know why. My family moved to Southern California from Veracruz, Mexico on
December 1<sup>st</sup>, 1990. I was nine days from turning 3 years old. Up
until I was 5 years old, all I was ever exposed to was Spanish. I spoke to my
mom and dad in Spanish and rarely interacted with anyone who didn’t. So when I
started school a couple years later, that was the first time in my life I was
completely surrounded by English. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I remember other kids coming up to talk to me and not
understanding a single word they were saying. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Things usually had to be repeated a number of times before I could decipher
what they meant. </span>If that didn't work, they would repeat themselves about three or four times before
the hand gestures came into the mix. I would look at them and try and figure
out what they were saying by judging their face expressions. I got pretty good
at guessing after a while. As time went on, I learned English thanks to my
fellow classmates. For little kids, they surprisingly had a ton of patience
with me. They really helped me. Watching the Power Rangers also helped
a lot! I remember putting a ton of effort into memorizing and learning new
words each and every day. I believe those early days as a student of the
English language helped shape my love for it. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When I was 6, I wrote my first story. It was about a kid who
drank magical Gatorade that made him fly. As soon as I finished my first story,
I was hooked. I became obsessed with writing and reading other writers. While yard sale shopping with my mom one Saturday, I found an old
blank journal with cats and flowers on the cover. It wasn't the coolest thing, but I asked my mom if I could get
it and she was more than happy to buy it for me. I remember the lady who sold
it to us charged us a quarter for it. She probably thought it was a little weird how a little Mexican boy could be so excited about a notebook with cats and flowers on the cover. When I bought it, I had no idea that I would still cherish it 20 years later. I carried that thing around EVERYWHERE. I
loved creating characters, scenarios, and plots for fun! I wrote and wrote and
wrote. Before I knew it, I had filled up my journal. Not too long after, my mom
bought me a composition book and kept feeding my addiction for writing. I
connected with writing like nothing before. The rest is history.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I love music, art, photography, and other forms of
self-expression. But for some reason, I can best express my feelings and emotions
through writing. Writing has, unfortunately, been associated negatively in most
people’s minds because of past experiences. Growing up, writing was used as a form
of punishment by teachers and educators. When you didn’t turn in your homework,
you had to copy a sentence a given amount of times. Or if you did something
wrong, you would be asked to write an essay or an apology letter of some sorts.
Most people relate writing to something bad. Let me be the first to tell you,
it is not. There is something about writing something down that liberates it
from your mind and puts you at peace. It almost seems like your thoughts are
carried through your arm down to your hand and onto the paper. The feelings and
emotions stay on the page. Nobody has to read your writing, it is only for YOU.
Try it out for yourself. Write something down on a paper that is making you
unhappy. Describe everything about it that makes you unhappy. Write down
everything that comes to mind when thinking about this specific thing or time. Once
you finish, burn that piece of paper. You will feel a lot better, I promise.
Writing has that kind of power.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“But I suck at writing,” you say? It is okay, we all do.
Nobody is perfect. That is part of the fun! One of my favorite quotes about
writing comes from the great Ernest Hemingway. He said, </span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“We are all apprentices
in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.” </span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is coming from one of the
greatest to ever write! Just remember, writing is an art form just like music
or painting. There is no “best” way to do it. Just do it! (Unintentional Nike
plug). Whenever you get a chance, write something down. Whether it is a sentence or an entire page, it is YOUR writing. You do not have to show anybody. It is for you and just you. In a couple of years, it will be really fun to go back and read what you wrote. I still have my flowery cat journal and read it to this day. It is incredible to have a recorded history of myself written by myself.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, I ask myself again, "why writing?"</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Because it made me who I am.</span></div>
i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-58855364288813073362012-05-16T14:18:00.001-07:002012-05-16T14:18:03.660-07:00Wonder Woman's Invisible Jet<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The
dark road appeared to be never-ending on this warm spring night. I was
exhausted and my eyelids kept coming closer and closer to their embrace. The
only thing that kept me awake was the little yellow sedan in front of me that
kept swaying side to side in its lane. Through the tint of the car’s back
window, I could see an ominous glow coming from the driver’s seat. I suspected
that the driver in the swaying sedan was in a heated text messaging debate with
somebody. The sentences this person was writing were probably so long and so
emotionally charged that he or she needed to let go of the steering wheel
occasionally to make sure the point was made with the 145 characters allotted.
Or maybe I was wrong? Maybe the driver was in my position and was exhausted
after his or her long 14-hour day. Or maybe the driver was on his or her way
back from a bar or a friend’s house after a few drinks of the “good stuff.” I
could not shake the concern of the ominous glow.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Regardless
of the reason for the swaying, I decided to keep some space between my truck
and the little yellow sedan. I could see a beacon of safety in the glow of the lights
of my town coming up in the distance. I felt a little safer knowing that my
turn was coming up soon and I </span><span style="line-height: 32px;">wouldn't</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"> have to live in fear behind the little
yellow sedan. As soon as I could see the sign that read “Alessandro Blvd,” I
turned on my left-turn signal. I was almost back into town safe and sound. But
my short lived calm was broken when the little yellow sedan’s left-turn signal
began to flash. </span></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Great… This reckless driver lives in my town</i><span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">. </span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">We both
turned onto the two-lane road. The continuous swaying of the little yellow road
hazard made me want to reach home even faster. But for now, there was nothing I
could do but go at its slow and menacing pace.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">After
what seemed like days, I could finally see a street light where the lane split
in two. I could finally come face to face with the driver whose driving reminded
me of an ocean current as it crashed into the rocks of the shore.</span><i style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </i></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">I’m
finally going to solve the case of the little yellow sedan and see who is
behind the wheel. </i></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">I could see the sedan’s brake lights engage as we got
closer to the streetlight. I slowly stepped on my brakes as the glow from the
streetlight moved from the hood of my truck to my driver’s seat. As soon as the
other lane opened up, I pulled up on the driver’s side of the sedan. </span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Finally,
I have you in my sights.</i><span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">The satisfaction of knowing I was right was all I
was after. I had no intentions of saying anything to the driver or initiating
any sort of contact. I just wanted to look over and see who it was.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">I </span><span style="line-height: 32px;">couldn't</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"> believe it. The driver wasn’t some drunken extremist or angry text
message debater. The driver was a young girl with both hands on her steering
wheel, bawling her eyes out. From my truck I could see that she had her iPod
connected to the stereo in her car and she kept flipping from one break-up song
to the next. I finally saw that the glow </span><span style="line-height: 32px;">wasn't</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"> a hazard, but a signal of
despair. </span></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Well, that explains the glow. </i></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">She dropped her face into her
hands as her body shook uncontrollably. </span><span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">I
contemplated opening my window and offering her some encouraging words</span><i style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">. </i></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Everything
will be okay. It must get dark to see the stars</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">. </span></span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">But I </span><span style="line-height: 32px;">couldn't</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"> do it. </span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">I </span><span style="line-height: 32px;">couldn't</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"> look away. As soon as she lifted her face from her hands, she stepped
on the gas. I </span><span style="line-height: 32px;">hadn't</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"> even noticed the light for us to go had turned green
because I was so captivated by the scene of the beautiful girl who could not
stop crying. I began to drive following not too far behind the girl. She was
driving a lot straighter. Maybe she was finally all cried out? We drove for
less than a minute before we hit another streetlight.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">When
we stopped at the next light I looked over to see the girl. This time she
looked like she was done crying as she wiped her eyes and turned off her iPod.
She looked ahead and let out a few labored breaths. I saw that she counted ten
breaths as she lay back into her seat. She was done crying. I kept watching as
she began to talk to herself. By the looks of it, she was talking herself into
not crying over her break-up. I could imagine her saying: </span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“</span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">He’s not worth it
anyway. I’m better off without him. It’s for the best.</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">” </span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">She even let out a
slight grin once she conquered her sadness. I did not know who she was, but I
was happy for her.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The
entire time she was going through her episode, I was glad that she did not
catch me staring at her. She was in her own little world. Whenever we are in
our cars we feel completely free to do almost anything we want without the
consequences of other people seeing us. Like Wonder Woman’s invisible jet, only
she could see it and control it. On one hand, this girl felt completely free to
cry her eyes out and play her favorite songs that reminded her of her recently
broken relationship. On the other hand, I felt like a bird just watching her
from afar without the risk of being caught staring. I was comfortable in my own
invisible jet. These walls that we create in our cars hide us from the world.
When we are inside these walls, we are free to sing, cry, laugh, and even dance
without the worry of catching anybody’s attention. These invisible walls block out
the outside world and leave behind only what we want to bring into them. We are
the gatekeepers and as soon as we get behind the wheel and drive, we are in
full control of our invisible jets. Sometimes we cannot wait to be inside our
cars because of the privacy it brings. “Hold on, let me get in my car.” “I’ll
call you when I’m driving home.” “We’ll talk in the car.” These are all
sentences used and said every day that bind us to the privacy offered by our
cars. At times we save phone calls and special conversations for our
sanctuaries. They are invisible jets, our private phone booths, recording
studios, and counseling sessions.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We act as if our subconscious has embodied itself into an
invisible someone in the passenger seat of the car. Someone who can talk back
to you, sings with you, and can give you advice. This girl had convinced
herself that she was going to be alright, and her invisible jet was the only
place she was going to do this.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">As
soon as the next street came, she turned right and I turned left. The last
glimpse I got of the girl was a happy one. She was smiling. It </span><span style="line-height: 32px;">wasn't</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"> a huge
smile, but it was enough to know that she was going to be alright.</span></span></span></div>i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-42603694161088567342011-12-15T02:00:00.000-08:002011-12-15T14:20:12.430-08:00Perseverance (DEFINITION SERIES PART 3)<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div class="header" style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<h2 class="me" style="color: black; display: inline; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">per·se·ver·ance</span></span></h2>
</div>
<div class="header" style="color: #333333; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: 1.25em;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="pronset" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="show_spellpr" style="color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="prondelim" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">[</span><span class="pron" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">pur-s<span class="ital-inline" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">uh</span>-<span class="boldface" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">veer</span>-<span class="ital-inline" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">uh</span><img alt="" border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" />ns</span><span class="prondelim" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">]</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="body" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<div class="pbk" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 15px;">
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="pg" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">–noun</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="luna-Ent" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<div style="font-size: 1em;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">1.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="dndata" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 37px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span id="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">steady</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">persistence</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">in</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">course</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">action,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">purpose,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">state,</span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">etc.,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">especially</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">in</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">spite</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">difficulties,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">obstacles,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">or </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">discouragement.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="luna-Ent" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">2.</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="dndata" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 37px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;"><span class="labset" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="ital-inline" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">Theology</span> </span></span><span id="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">. </span></span><span id="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">continuance</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">in</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">state</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">grace</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">end,</span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">leading</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">eternal</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">salvation.</span></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward." - Thomas Edison</span></blockquote>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> On the night of my birthday I had one of the most interesting and motivational talks I have had in recent history. The conversation was with a friend of a friend. We began by talking about trivial junk all young adults talk about like work and school. Then the conversation took an interesting turn. He began talking to me about his struggles, triumphs, fears, and tribulations he has faced in life. This person is only 27 but has faced many obstacles most people never face in their lives. We ended up talking for a long time. From all the thoughts and ideologies exchanged, I learned a very valuable lesson in perseverance. Here are a few things we talked about that night.</span></div>
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</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; line-height: 15px;"> On our path to achieving our dreams, we will undoubtedly run into obstacles which </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; line-height: 15px;">will test our desire for those goals, AND, most importantly, teach us important lessons about ourselves as well. Perseverance is staying with a task and not giving up, being patient and willing to work hard, showing commitment and pride in completing tasks. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; line-height: 15px;">It is being in a race and when you are near the end and struggling to finish, you find that burst of energy to cross the finish line. It is always finishing what you started and NEVER giving up when things get tough. It is trying something again, even if you failed the first time. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; line-height: 15px;"> Perseverance is one critical element we need in order to succeed. Many people who are not successful are usually intelligent people who gave up too soon. They possibly could have had an idea that would change the world but because of their lack of perseverance, their dreams never came to fruition.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; line-height: 15px;">Lack of perseverance can also lead to the loss of interest in dreams. People who keep getting shot down repeatedly begin to doubt themselves, their dreams, and their abilities. These dreams that once kept them awake at night eventually become just a thought of the past. Their passion and desire for this dream just vanished into thin air. Eventually, years later, they will be sitting at home wondering to themselves "Why did I ever stop chasing that dream?"</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; line-height: 15px;">Developing perseverance is not as difficult a task as most might believe. Here are a few tips for developing perseverance:</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<ol>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; line-height: 15px;">Follow your dreams and continue to repeat these actions day in and day out until the end when you begin to see results.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; line-height: 15px;">Ask yourself: "What do I want? What are my dreams?" Knowing what you want in life is a huge motivator. When things do not work at as planned, step back, and try it again. DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED. Let the failure fuel your drive and desire.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; line-height: 15px;">Visualize your goal manifesting itself into reality. Knowing you are that much closer to making it a reality will be a huge when overcoming failures.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; line-height: 15px;">Lastly, have faith and do not quit no matter what. Sometimes when we do not get what we wanted, we allow the negativity to blind us and blur our dreams. Always try and think about whats next rather than thinking if this was a good idea or not. Act as if it were impossible to fail.</span></span></li>
</ol>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; line-height: 15px;">I reiterate, never give up and always keep going no matter what. All your dreams can come true if you have the perseverance to pursue them. I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes and the one I live my life by.</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; line-height: 15px;">"I have failed over and over in my life, and that is why I succeed." </span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 15px;">- Michael Jordan</span></blockquote>
</div>
</div>i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-83413955787394485032011-08-23T14:06:00.000-07:002011-08-23T14:07:20.757-07:00Happy Birthday Kobe Bryant<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">happy birthday to the greatest basketball player in the game today. he has inspired me to never give up on my goals and how to persevere under pressure. he has set a new standard and is a walking hall of famer. the crazy part is ... he's not done yet.</span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Happy Birthday Kobe Bryant</b></span></span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha35kZrq0YLe7U5fSLKLCliGT0ri5r9wiRiT1HsPElejOuDuJFS2I6aU53AWNo0oPuc-ZrBwVmR0EW0te0AzGejdi0VuMrHOEK91gddf9Dn_yI8tsN7l95PIzN72CstfGmQgMSeWOY5Lw/s320/070330_lakersRockets_hmed10p_hmedium.jpg" width="320" /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span>i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-411061152170323422011-08-17T15:43:00.000-07:002011-08-17T15:46:43.034-07:00The Time I Ran From The Police<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When I was 18 years old, I ran from the police. Now before you start assuming things let me just say that I was not "on the run" from the police, they literally chased me and searched for me for about 2 hours. It's an interesting story I've only shared with close friends. But now I share it with all of you guys, my blog readers. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Five years ago I worked at the Pizza Hut on Ironwood. I really liked working there because the people there were super easy to get along with. I remember it was a Friday night and my coworker Spencer (let's just say that was his name to protect his identity) came up to me and invited me to a party at his house. Spencer was 16 years old and was more open with me because I was the closest to his age of all our other co workers. He was telling me that his parents were gone for the weekend and that he was going to have drinks and a few friends over and wanted me to come. So I accepted the invite and told him that I would need to go home and change but I'd be there. Since I was a cook, showering immediately after work was mandatory. I don't like cheese and that's all I smelled like after work. After work I went home and showered and put on some clean clothes and headed to his house. It was about 1am.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As soon as I got to his house (he lived on Climbing Rose) I could see a few cars parked out front so I decided to park a few houses down. Walking up to his house I saw Spencer sitting on the curb smoking a cigarette. He finished his cigarette and welcomed me into his house. The second we were about to walk inside everybody was coming out of the house and saying their goodbyes to him. I even saw a few people being dragged out or carried. That's when I started to think "Wow, they've only been drinking for an hour or two and they're already shitfaced. Damn 16 year olds are lightweights." After he said goodbye to all his guests we went inside his house to see if there were any survivors and any sort of alcohol left. Once inside we saw that his friend "Rudy" (lets just say that was his name) was still there. At this point I decided that I wasn't going to drink because it was late anyway and I had to drive home. As soon as we sat down the house phone rang. Spencer picked it up. As soon as he said "hello" the expression on his face COMPLETELY changed. He just answered every question with "ok." Once he hung up the phone Rudy asked him "Your parents are coming back right now aren't they?" Spencer just shook his head. We started to clean up a little bit to try and make it look like nothing ever happened. As soon as we cleaned up Spencer decided that we needed to leave the house so his parents wouldn't see him drunk. He suggested we go to the mountain behind his house and just hang there and converse or something. We all agreed and made our way out the door.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you know where Climbing Rose Ave is in Moreno Valley then you know that it runs along the base of Box Springs Mountain. There is also this little section of the street where there are no houses and the mountain is exposed. We followed a small trail that led behind his neighbor's houses and eventually up the mountain. As we were climbing we noticed that Rudy was getting more and more drunk. The alcohol really began to take a hold of this poor guy, so we helped him the rest of the way up. We walked for about ten minutes when we finally passed everybody's backyards and got to a view point where we could see the city. As soon as we got there Rudy said excitedly "Look what I brought!" He pulled out a bottle of vodka that he had hidden in his pant leg. He wore really baggy jeans so we didn't notice it at all. We were all so captivated by the view that we didn't really pay attention to what Rudy was doing. I had gotten a text from my friend Taco (that's his nickname but YES that's what we call him) who was at a Kansas concert at Casino Morongo. Once I text him back and put my phone away I looked for Rudy because he had stumbled away for a bit. I found him a few feet away trying to spark his lighter. Once he got his lighter to spark, a giant circle of flames surrounded him. I didn't realize that he poured out the remaining vodka around him to make a perfect circle then he LIT IT ON FIRE. As soon as the circle of flames was on fire he stood up and started to dance! He did the Beavis and Butthead laugh and said "look guys, I'm dancing in a ring of fire!" </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>I know what you're thinking... this guy is crazy. Trust me, I thought the EXACT same thing. Alcohol makes you do crazy things.</i> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As soon as he said that we started to kick dirt on the flames to put the fire out. Right as we finished putting the flames out, the ghettobird (police helicopter) shined its lights on us. A voice came out of the speaker and said <b>"Freeze! Do not move from where you are!"</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Spencer then yelled <b>"RUN!"</b> I was so caught up in the moment that I didn't think it twice and started running. I don't think I've ever ran so fast in my life. During the period when this happened I was in my high school's cross country team, and I was in peak running form. I remember looking back and leaving Spencer and Rudy way behind me. The trail that took about 10 minutes to walk felt like it took 5 second to run back, and as soon as we got back to the street, there were two cop cars parked there waiting for us. I remember seeing them from far away and thinking "This is so crazy, I was never so scared before in my life. The police are going to think we are arsonists. They are going to smell the alcohol on Spencer and Rudy's breath and blame me for it because I was older." So many thoughts ran through my head as I approached the waiting officers. As soon as I got close to them I remember I started to run even faster and ran right between the two officers. I could almost swear that they grabbed my shirt but couldn't get a grip on it. I didn't care, I just ran because it felt like my life depended on it.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As soon as I passed the officers, they started to chase me. At first I could hear their footsteps and then they started going in the opposite direction. I looked back only to see Rudy stumbling down the trail and falling down right in front of the officers. I didn't see Spencer so I assumed he found a good spot and stayed hidden in the mountain. I kept running and right when I thought I was in the clear the ghettobird focused its lights back on me. I stopped in the middle of the street and started running a different direction. the lights lost their focus on me so I took full advantage of that and hid the only place I thought I could, under someone's truck in their driveway. I saw a small Tacoma parked in a driveway and ran and laid under it. From under there I could see all the officers running by trying to find me. I could hear the ghettobird's propeller and the speaker telling the police that they lost the visual. I hid under that truck for about 30 minutes when I saw the officers walking back from the direction they were running. I could overhear them talking "Damn that kid was fast. It's alright though, we got the other one." </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As a precaution I laid under that truck for about 3 hours after I heard all the commotion stop. During that time I called my friend Taco to see where he was and then my friend Justin who I worked with at my prior Pizza Hut. Taco was still at the concert but Justin said he was in town and on his way over. I told him where exactly I was at and came and got me. As soon as he pulled up, he parked in the driveway and I got out from under the truck and jumped in his van and we drove to Starbucks on Day St to let a little bit of time slide and so he could drive me back to my van so I could go home, finally. At Starbucks i explained everything that happened and we both just laughed. I felt good that I could finally laugh about it all. Eventually we drove back to my van and I drove home.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A few days later I saw Spencer at work and the first thing he told me was "Dude! I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY RUN SO FAST IN MY LIFE" and we both just laughed about it. he told me that he saw a hiding spot and hid there. he ended up falling asleep in the hiding spot and got woken up when the sun came out the next morning. I asked him what happened to Rudy and he said the police took him home and talked to his parents. That was it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In conclusion, it was a crazy night. Everybody was safe and home at the end of the night. But it's definitely a story I will remember for the rest of my life.</span>i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-16465870850592121092011-08-09T03:52:00.000-07:002011-08-09T03:52:51.720-07:00First Day as a Millionaire<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">At one point in time in our lives we all have wondered what it would be like to be rich. We all imagine the crazy things we could do and, for some, all the people we would be able to help. I have gone as far as to make a list of the things I want to do with the money and write down the ways I would distribute it amongst myself and loved ones. Let’s say you have just won the lottery or struck oil. Now imagine that you have just confirmed with your bank that a large amount of money is being wired to your account and it will be available in the morning. Just imagine that for a second. Now imagine that when you wake up tomorrow morning and there are millions in your bank account. The question I propose to you: What would you do the very first day you were rich? Here’s what I would do.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>8:00 a.m</b> – The first thing I would do after waking up is call the bank’s automated system and assure that the money is in the account. I think this is more to reassure myself that I am not dreaming. After getting out of bed, I would put on Kanye’s “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” while I brush my teeth and get ready for the day. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>8:30 a.m</b> – While eating breakfast, I would open up my check book and begin writing out checks to my friends, family members and a few organizations I’ve always wanted to contribute too. To be completely honest, when it comes to giving money to my family, I would give way more to the uncles that have always been there for me and supported me my entire life. As far as organizations go, I’ve always wanted to give to the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">LIVESTRONG</span> foundation, and maybe sponsor a local sports team. After breakfast I would get on my computer and look up local real estate offices and a few financial advisors in the area. I want to make sure that my finances are being used properly and that I won’t make a bad decision. Once I obtain all the addresses and all the checks are ready, I’m out the door.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>9:00 a.m</b> – As soon as the real estate office opens, which most are generally around 9, I will try and meet with a realtor. I will explain my situation to them and begin looking at available houses in the areas that I want and also look for houses for my mom, dad, and brother. Once we have a general idea of what I want to buy, I’ll set up a few dates to go and look at the houses to make sure I like them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>10:00 a.m</b> – After the realtor, I would go visit a financial advisor and explain to them the current situation and try and hire them to help me monitor my expenses. I want to make sure to buy or start a business and invest in certain stocks to make sure that I’m not just spending money, but that I have money coming in also. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>11:00 a.m</b> – Once I get all the “business” matters out of the way, I would make my way over to the Audi dealership. After walking around the dealership for a few minutes I would immediately walk up to whichever sales person I see first and tell them, “I want to buy an S5.” Once I buy the car, I’d start driving to Los Angeles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Noon</b> – Driving to Los Angeles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>1:00 p.m</b> – The very first place I would go to in LA would have to be STAPLES Center. I’d buy Lakers and Clippers season tickets for myself, my little brother, and my dad. After leaving STAPLES, I’d go to Philippe’s and have lunch.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>2:00 p.m</b> – After lunch, I’d look around downtown to try and find a jewelry store to buy my mom a gift. I’d probably buy myself a Rolex only because I have never been a jewelry person, but I have an obsession with watches. Once I buy my mom her gift, I would begin making my way to the beach. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>4:00 p.m</b> – After surviving beautiful Los Angeles traffic, I’d make it to my favorite beach, Corona Del Mar. I would start to think that being in traffic wasn’t even that bad considering I was in a really nice new car. It was almost, dare I say it, enjoyable. Once at the beach, I would take a nice long walk by myself to clear my head and make sure that everything I was doing was the right choice. I would also evaluate my situation before the money and see where I needed change and who has truly been there for me before this extravagant lifestyle. The beach would just be a good time for self reflection.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>7:00 p.m</b> – Once back in town I would invite my closest friends to dinner. I would take them to Corky’s in Rancho Cucamonga, one of my favorite restaurants. I would take this time to announce my new found success and thank them for always being there for me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>10:00 p.m</b> – After hanging out with my friends, I would come home and watch TV and browse the internet. Maybe look up and buy a few things like a new bike, personal training, new computer, electronics, and little things like that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Midnight</b> – After such an eventful day, I lay my head down and reflect once more. As I’m falling asleep I say a prayer and drift away into dream land.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Thank you for reading. Now I’m curious, what would your day be like? Please leave me a brief or detailed description. I’d love to read it. Thank you again for reading!</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-64201248680516166832011-07-20T03:14:00.000-07:002011-07-20T03:14:21.243-07:00Illustration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGDa5fxsNdE_UR3lf3hDnMB5bl0j7M7UxfP2u8Jf7L6Y0XgfAN91rIkAD5QW6T3uIxL4R-dDSNPJhYt46MIC8i2d175mQVwLI0I1ygh8ur04RvSDACnGbaOpZ-CITuFKXRL3-EDXjUpY/s1600/280823_10150716415755113_790365112_19776439_869213_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGDa5fxsNdE_UR3lf3hDnMB5bl0j7M7UxfP2u8Jf7L6Y0XgfAN91rIkAD5QW6T3uIxL4R-dDSNPJhYt46MIC8i2d175mQVwLI0I1ygh8ur04RvSDACnGbaOpZ-CITuFKXRL3-EDXjUpY/s320/280823_10150716415755113_790365112_19776439_869213_o.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Illustration done by Kofa Boyah. Great friend of mine, please check out his work.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/artist4saleLA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">http://www.facebook.com/artist4saleLA</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://artist4sale.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">http://artist4sale.com/</span></a></div>i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-35739605706445160932011-06-03T15:46:00.001-07:002012-10-18T15:27:45.792-07:00Success (DEFINITION SERIES PART 2)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"></span></span><br />
<div class="header" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<h2 class="me" style="color: black; display: inline; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">suc·cess</span></h2>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><sup style="bottom: 1ex; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; height: 0px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"></sup> <span class="pronset" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><embed align="texttop" flashvars="soundUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fsp.dictionary.com%2Fdictstatic%2Fdictionary%2Faudio%2Fluna%2FS10%2FS1079800.mp3&clkLogProxyUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.reference.com%2Fwhatzup.html&t=a&d=d&s=di&c=a&ti=1&ai=51359&l=dir&o=0&sv=00000000&ip=6c17b637&u=audio" height="15" id="speaker" loop="false" menu="false" quality="high" salign="t" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/d/g/speaker.swf" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="17" wmode="transparent"></embed> <span class="show_spellpr" style="color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="prondelim" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">[</span><span class="pron" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">s<span class="ital-inline" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">uh</span><img alt="" border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" />k-<span class="boldface" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">ses</span></span><span class="prondelim" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">]</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="body" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<div class="pbk" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 15px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="pg" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">–noun</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="luna-Ent" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">1.</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="dndata" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 37px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span id="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">favorable</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">prosperous</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">termination</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">attempts</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">or</span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">endeavors.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="luna-Ent" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">2.</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="dndata" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 37px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span id="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">attainment</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">wealth,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">position,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">honors,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">or</span> </span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/the" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">the</a><span id="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">like.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="luna-Ent" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">3.</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="dndata" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 37px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span id="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">a</span> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/successful" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">successful</a> </span><span id="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">performance</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">achievement:</span> </span><span class="ital-inline" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">The</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">play</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">was</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">an</span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">instant</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">success.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="dndata" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 37px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="ital-inline" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="ital-inline" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">Dictionary.com</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">How does this make you feel? Do you agree, disagree, or even somewhat agree?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My life is full of successes. My successes are big and small. Some of them took years of work and some of them happened in an instant. But above all, my successes are learning experiences. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">During my early childhood and through most of my teenage years, I was an illegal immigrant. Through all the hardships, I gained an understanding of what exactly success meant to me. I have vivid memories of my father turning down higher paying jobs to stay where he was because it made him happier. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure--which is: Try to please everybody.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">- Herbert Bayard Swope</span></span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My father always made it a priority to make sure I knew that true success comes from within. He always told me that regardless if I had a mansion or a one bedroom apartment, as long as I was truly happy with it then he would be proud of me. He kept referring to success not as a destination but as a map to guide you in the right direction. Through the years of my own maturation, I have come to realize that success encompasses happiness and happiness encompasses success; they go hand in hand. I know exactly where I want to be and I will do all the necessary steps to ensure i reach that goal.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Whether it be graduating from high school, attaining a good job, or keeping a good relationship with your partner, we have all been successful up to this point. We have to appreciate what we have right? Yes, we do. We all have our own definitions of success; what is success to you?</span>i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-46000789891378586632011-04-13T09:04:00.001-07:002011-04-13T09:04:27.725-07:00Winston Churchhill<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">“</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="quote" style="margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;">Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it.” - Sir Winston Churchill</span></span></blockquote>i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-15396188302248473732011-04-13T09:03:00.002-07:002011-05-14T16:50:51.867-07:00The Climb<div class="post_title" style="color: #444444; font: normal normal bold 22px/normal Arial, Helvetica; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px !important; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">Arthur Ashe, an American tennis player, once said,</span></div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;"> “Success is a journey, not a destination.” </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"> </span></blockquote></div><div style="color: #444444; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;"><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” - Epicurus</span></blockquote></div><div style="color: #444444; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When following our dreams, at times we lose touch on what we have and what we have already accomplished. Sure it is not where you want to be, but it’s better than where you started, hopefully. Whenever you feel uncertain of the future, just think of the things you have already accomplished and be grateful, no one can take that away from you. Set small goals for yourself and push yourself to achieve those goals no matter what. Achieving smaller goals will encourage you and remind you that you are on the right path to achieving your dreams. Life is only as beautiful and filling as you make it.</span></div>i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-92019285956845609362011-04-13T09:03:00.000-07:002011-04-13T09:03:14.985-07:00His Airness<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">“</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="quote" style="margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;">I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” - Michael Jordan</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">“</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="quote" style="margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;">I can accept failure, but, I can’t accept not trying.” - Michael Jordan</span></span></blockquote>i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-30192292937730140722011-04-02T16:40:00.000-07:002011-04-02T16:40:12.792-07:00Growing Up With The Lakers<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;">My dad played basketball for most of his academic life. My father was always an outcast because in Veracruz, Mexico, (where he and I were born and raised) soccer was the dominant sport. Regardless, my dad kept on playing. During those first couple of years he began to fall in love with the Los Angeles Lakers. He idolized Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and because of the Lakers, he fell in love with the game even more. Once I was born (1987) he made sure that I had a baby Lakers shirt. For most of my adolescence my father dressed me in anything Lakers that he could find. My mother never minded much because my father’s love for the Lakers had been contagious and reeled her in. </div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;">In 1990 we made the move to sunny southern California. I have faint memories of my father sitting on the couch watching his Lakers play. Once I was old enough to play sports I immediately began playing basketball. I did not care about any other sports, I had become obsessed with basketball. </div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;">As the years went on, my love for the Lakers grew. Now I was watching games with my dad and learning all the players names and positions. My favorite player growing up was number 45, A.C. Green. In 1996, my father got home and put down his daily newspaper, I looked up the sports section, as usual, and read some heartbreaking news: </div><blockquote style="border-left-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 4px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-left: 15px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;">“Vlade Divac had been traded to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for, Lower Marion High School’s own, Kobe Bryant.”</div></blockquote><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;">To be honest, at first I was crushed because I loved Vlade, but little did I know what was to come in the near future.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;">In 2000, the post season was getting longer and longer. First was the Sacramento Kings (3-2), then the Phoenix Sun (4-1), and then the Portland Trailblazers (4-3). Before I knew it we had made it to the finals against Reggie Miller, who I idolized a lot, and his Indiana Pacers. </div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;">The night of game six will always be one of the best sports memories of my entire life. The Lakers had the lead and with the missed three-pointer by Reggie Miller, we had become the NBA champions! I jumped up off the couch and embraced my dad and cheered at the top of my lungs. After the excitement, we watched all the Lakers embrace their families and loved ones. I saw Shaq hug his dad and tears were just pouring from the big guy’s eyes. I felt like I was a part of something really special that night.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;">As the years past, my love for the Lakers, like their championships, began to grow. I began getting onto the internet and looking up game stats, highlights, player interviews, and anything I could that related to the Lakers. I fell in love with the organization; I couldn’t get enough.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;">Unfortunately, along with winning championships, comes those good old fans we call band wagon fans. I watched at home the day we lost to the Pistons in 2004 and even to the Celtics in 2008, and never once did I love my team any less. Most real Lakers fans see band wagon fans fall off whenever we lose a finals or start doing bad. TV ratings were at an all time low for the Lakers in 2005 and 2006. Once they began doing good again, everybody jumped back on the wagon, unfortunately. Being such a big team is unfortunate for them because their fans fluctuate depending on how good they are that season. Don’t worry Lakers, us real fans will always be there.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;">To this day whenever basketball season starts, I am there waiting to see how we are going to do that year. </div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;">Why do I like the Los Angeles Lakers so much? Because they are as much as part of my childhood as diapers and Gerber food. I grew up with them, and they have provided me with some of the best memories I have had to date. I was born to a Lakers fan, now I have become one, and I have no doubt that my kids will one day share the love I have for the Lakers as well.</div>i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-10449432601678260322011-03-24T11:22:00.000-07:002011-04-02T16:42:34.981-07:00Clipper Nation's Rise<div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This season has been an interesting one around the league. The Lakers are the defending champions. The Heat wrangled up Chris Bosh and Lebron James made the “Decision” to join him. Carmelo Anthony went back home to New York to join the newly acquired Amar’e Stoudemire and Chauncey Billups. The defending eastern conference champions, the Boston Celtics, traded away their dominant and intimidating center in a trade that rocked the entire Celtic organization. With all the commotion around the league, why are Clippers tickets beginning to sell out around the country? Yea, that’s right, the Los Angeles Clippers. Clipper Nation has officially christened this season as the "Rise." There are 5 reasons why the Clippers, are now, a must watch team.</span></span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">The Bench - When your bench contains 2010 All Star Chris Kaman, rookies Eric Bledsoe and Al-Farouq Aminu, shooting assassin Randy Foye, and newly acquired jump shooter Jamario Moon, anything is bound to happen. This bench is like a time bomb just waiting to explode. When the game calls for it, these guys are ready to contribute. Isn't that what a good bench is supposed to do?</span></span></li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWxkjlfELVQkXq3BwBizG4O3CskoKdcXPo5VmAap5OHcJ-WiKDP6gSGORo9kUk86Chcobr2aZBqZsY9-PakpxhHsxp4IYyXVn1TYuVDP1Qt2PaS1j2QgwVkMZ4p7L7mK0jMhZAjulXfU/s1600/chriskaman_mediaday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWxkjlfELVQkXq3BwBizG4O3CskoKdcXPo5VmAap5OHcJ-WiKDP6gSGORo9kUk86Chcobr2aZBqZsY9-PakpxhHsxp4IYyXVn1TYuVDP1Qt2PaS1j2QgwVkMZ4p7L7mK0jMhZAjulXfU/s320/chriskaman_mediaday.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Deandre Jordan - The guy who most people said wasn't good enough or mature enough to start. Look who's laughing (and dunking) now.</span></li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0KPV0sKztvahJMVJepVChYBMV8w-C8t0_ngck48e7pG4zAbdN9qNOVDigtbqbC18fcqUGSb4x3ultQ0GhgxJ6Y_HwvZ2LtdvX3zoB0LrNTT91kNvD1SNIimCBlmWn18RfB2xVNcfcx8/s1600/DeAndre+Jordan+Dunks+On+Theo+Ratliff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0KPV0sKztvahJMVJepVChYBMV8w-C8t0_ngck48e7pG4zAbdN9qNOVDigtbqbC18fcqUGSb4x3ultQ0GhgxJ6Y_HwvZ2LtdvX3zoB0LrNTT91kNvD1SNIimCBlmWn18RfB2xVNcfcx8/s320/DeAndre+Jordan+Dunks+On+Theo+Ratliff.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Vinny Del Negro - The mentor and guardian of the key to Clippers greatness. He wants to change the way people perceive this team.</span></li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiOCs0AOY46WXqtsRJU4blw3Kvdk-xhRkKBUJI7xIv0e2PNtsD28hvHrr3ALmH-6hmxfWyzDViRxccqtw6z3wZwBOMDj5d3vb2ENIcGWGySSki0Z9uGdbVU63vYaZZGpshS6AJBoMp4M/s1600/vinny-del-negro-36a7cb0ecaa27e6c_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiOCs0AOY46WXqtsRJU4blw3Kvdk-xhRkKBUJI7xIv0e2PNtsD28hvHrr3ALmH-6hmxfWyzDViRxccqtw6z3wZwBOMDj5d3vb2ENIcGWGySSki0Z9uGdbVU63vYaZZGpshS6AJBoMp4M/s320/vinny-del-negro-36a7cb0ecaa27e6c_large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Eric Gordon - Whenever his name is mentioned now, it will be preceded by "Gold Medalist." The FIBA World Championship was a learning experience and a confidence builder for the young Indiana native. I mean, who wouldn't learn a thing or two playing alongside Kevin Durant? Always improving, Eric has just begun to unlock his true, full potential.</span></li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZ3s_W9Te0W-1TzT5VhONGxUShQROIZNCi6ppF8x3U1nyDFilcGzPlDW_twDd165sN_fnXHlgwz_Uc8FLA13LSlWGsAaCgxtnk75mtp3b2dmp5Q_9jnmeCvgTMcloNhjjeNfhKym2gRw/s1600/eric_gordon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZ3s_W9Te0W-1TzT5VhONGxUShQROIZNCi6ppF8x3U1nyDFilcGzPlDW_twDd165sN_fnXHlgwz_Uc8FLA13LSlWGsAaCgxtnk75mtp3b2dmp5Q_9jnmeCvgTMcloNhjjeNfhKym2gRw/s320/eric_gordon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Blake Griffin - The young phenom out of Oklahoma who doesn't believe in gravity. He is not just elevating his body to the rim, but elevating a Clippers team to basketball greatness. After missing his rookie season due to a broken knee cap, Griffin is making his mark on the league. Being compared to Tim Duncan in your rookie season really says something about your abilities. But Blake feels he has a lot of growing to do, and he can't wait to see where this Clippers team can go. </span></span></li>
</ul><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"I want to change the perception, change the culture. You know I want to make it one of those programs that is a winning program (team) every year and not a team that people have to guess about".</span></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb35O3owftJauTgHsa87VPJuEzhasfaaPeYkeUl6F1a0cLIaDtViW25AR81bu9i-7pm5k51Rs7pds8bFxNeWgcuhxwFif3fYOjz3oxCUu0PGejTwdj0n-FNHf4XLn7UkLcoroPPzAwFp8/s1600/BlakeGriffin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb35O3owftJauTgHsa87VPJuEzhasfaaPeYkeUl6F1a0cLIaDtViW25AR81bu9i-7pm5k51Rs7pds8bFxNeWgcuhxwFif3fYOjz3oxCUu0PGejTwdj0n-FNHf4XLn7UkLcoroPPzAwFp8/s320/BlakeGriffin.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><ul></ul>i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-50234164401163629982011-03-23T01:24:00.000-07:002011-03-23T01:24:58.410-07:00Artistic Expression<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Regardless of the time I have known my good friend Kofa Boyah, he continues to amaze me with his art. Every piece better than the last. Check out his website and his online store at <a href="http://www.maxwelldickson.com/">maxwelldickson.com</a> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3itFCdS4tKoYbccT2RoYdhNIdnk5JNF6yDjgt3o0sbeK_EOapwhPWRBmRwt6m_8yOR0iPLJkOJA-qYKbey1OQklwDkcb46Y1G1FteVlsJk7Jc7nOxgJPre-ygu9am7X7Bf57W4BIpECM/s1600/MusicDrop-059-2T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3itFCdS4tKoYbccT2RoYdhNIdnk5JNF6yDjgt3o0sbeK_EOapwhPWRBmRwt6m_8yOR0iPLJkOJA-qYKbey1OQklwDkcb46Y1G1FteVlsJk7Jc7nOxgJPre-ygu9am7X7Bf57W4BIpECM/s320/MusicDrop-059-2T.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KJ4VuWMdffwaCPZ1ey_SpAqASpSvC_nMCSZAqn8_28wojZaF8w1dnLGmsuaYRh1I_aMh626rcSSUo92P8JZxeHx1hNxlmAkfW7_k3g4Pl3RTicPtReTG3vEwE5nV39KpsNWouENi9f8/s1600/TIGERSTRIPE-029-2T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KJ4VuWMdffwaCPZ1ey_SpAqASpSvC_nMCSZAqn8_28wojZaF8w1dnLGmsuaYRh1I_aMh626rcSSUo92P8JZxeHx1hNxlmAkfW7_k3g4Pl3RTicPtReTG3vEwE5nV39KpsNWouENi9f8/s320/TIGERSTRIPE-029-2T.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYYo6CqAHL6GuPoS5Kr0hgcbkUmyJGlvbeRR7sMKDKCdtgUmK7r71nnbkgl0Rav9JFdA01hfGcgPxowlx36prY1OwhyKwV7G5lsJVxY9Act1z893cWlJv-xcHibITL_aSVkrmawYZKLU/s1600/Turtle-032-2T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYYo6CqAHL6GuPoS5Kr0hgcbkUmyJGlvbeRR7sMKDKCdtgUmK7r71nnbkgl0Rav9JFdA01hfGcgPxowlx36prY1OwhyKwV7G5lsJVxY9Act1z893cWlJv-xcHibITL_aSVkrmawYZKLU/s320/Turtle-032-2T.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uBLNy1-TE39bS2UFdJc_Y48OykcWXyKStu_Tju-HoCyaR6nGcMn8jxUOR93D-CxqViiIZQQmvN0MmNFmFPUpmdJOrCSTl02q4xwLuE93hv5LNjoOaLe2j8LxVTvcqrqPF5sjZUrvYKY/s1600/Untitled-024-2T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uBLNy1-TE39bS2UFdJc_Y48OykcWXyKStu_Tju-HoCyaR6nGcMn8jxUOR93D-CxqViiIZQQmvN0MmNFmFPUpmdJOrCSTl02q4xwLuE93hv5LNjoOaLe2j8LxVTvcqrqPF5sjZUrvYKY/s320/Untitled-024-2T.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.maxwelldickson.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">maxwelldickson.com </span></a></div>i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-64864175843088935832011-03-13T11:37:00.001-07:002012-10-18T15:28:01.817-07:00Dreams (DEFINITION SERIES PART 1)<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Dream</b> [dreem] n. 1. a succession of images, thoughts, or emotions passing through the mind during sleep </span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If the definition of a dream is that, then why do we associate that word with our future goals and aspirations? When we want something bad enough, we are almost blinded by that desire. You eat, sleep, and breath your dreams. Your whole world gets consumed by it. Eventually your mind does not give up the thoughts even after you have fallen asleep. Michael Jordan was consumed by his basketball just as Jimi Hendrix was consumed by his guitar. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What did these men have in common? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They became the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>best</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> at what they did, when they did it. They became the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>standard</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> by which all other young aspiring basketball players and guitars players lived by. Being obsessed is one thing, but stopping a person who refuses to give up, is another. If you want something bad enough, you will do anything possible to attain it and become an unstoppable force. With that said, think about your dreams. Think about what you want to be doing for the rest of your life. Now set goals for yourself and make sure they are realistic and attainable. Lastly, make sure you are working towards your dreams </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>EVERYDAY</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. This is the problem the majority of people encounter. Dreamers eventually get so caught up in the tedious tasks of day to day life that the dreams they were trying to make reality eventually fade away. Life is difficult, very difficult, but that's not an excuse to give up. Eventually, the process we knighted the "just until I get out of college" phase, becomes who we are. </span><br />
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“The only thing that will stop you from fulfilling your dreams is you” - Tom Bradley</span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To be honest, my entire life I had been a dreamer but I never a doer. My parents were never really ones to push "following your dreams", they were more content with my brother and I having well paid 9 to 5s. It wasn't until later on in life that I realized that I need to chase my dreams each and every day. I was always the type to have dreams and tell myself that one day I will achieve them, but when will I officially say to myself "OK, NOW I'm following my dream." That day should be NOW and everyday until you get to where you are going.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My dream is to become a writer, more specifically for the NBA. So everyday I write. Each and everyday I write about a topic somehow relating to basketball. It does not matter how small or how long the entry is, but as long as I write and practice, I am getting closer and closer. I am currently trying to pursue a basketball writer position at my school, and hope to attain that soon so I can really get a taste of my future life. But thats a little glimpse of my life.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In conclusion, set goals for yourself and achieve them each and everyday. If you want to be a actor or actress, act in front of the mirror every night, set up false scenarios and act them out as if they were real, and try and get in touch with the right people. If you want to be an author, write all the time, try and write a short story every week and see if you can get some of them published. Things are very attainable, its just a matter of wanting them bad enough.</span><br />
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003399;">“Dreams are like the paints of a great artist. Your dreams are your paints, the world is your canvas. Believing, is the brush that converts your dreams into a masterpiece of reality” - Someone who followed their dreams.</span></span></blockquote>
i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-82662222528828856632011-03-10T22:50:00.001-08:002011-03-10T23:00:46.641-08:00We Have Reached That Age...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am 23 years old, and I have come to that horrible realization that I have officially reached the age where my grandparents begin to "go". I have been very blessed to be able to say that I grew up with both of my grandparents but about 5 years ago my grandma Julia got Alzheimer's disease. Physically, she was with us for that time; but mentally and emotionally, I lost my grandmother about 4 years ago. It was hard to see my dad hug his own mom and her not recognize him. It was a hard fought battle, but the disease finally won on December 30, 2009. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just a few weeks ago we discovered that my maternal grandmother has cancer. After all the specialists and doctors she went to, they all told her that the cancer is at its most severe form and there is no cure at this point. I have remained strong through the entire process but this situation is really taking a toll on my mom. I believe my mom was an angel in another life and I love her unconditionally, so that's why it is so hard to see her suffer as much as she is and not be able to do anything about it. Feeling helpless is the worst. I am dreading the day that my parent's time has come.</span><br />
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<blockquote><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Make the most of your days. Tell everyone you love, that you love them. We never know when our time has come. </span></b></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My dad gave me a piece of advice that will always stay with me. He said:</span><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"Everyday you spend sad, is a day you will never get back to be happy" </span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Things are hard right now, but <b>it has to get dark in order to see the stars...</b></span>i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-73828921652820363512011-03-10T19:44:00.001-08:002011-03-10T23:05:27.302-08:00Welcome; Thank You<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First off, I want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to read my blog. I have always jotted down thoughts, short stories, and ideas on my phone but I was advised, and I decided, that it was time to take it to another medium. Facebook felt too superficial to really express what I wanted to say, so here I am. <b>Thank you again for reading.</b></span>i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730649533372487837.post-13825401295471859612011-03-10T13:35:00.001-08:002011-03-10T13:50:19.772-08:00LifeLife is good.i am robert_barradashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14090069320913944446noreply@blogger.com0