Did I fall off the blog planet?

I see it has been some time since I checked in on ye 'ole blog here. Will not be a stranger, I promise. Let's catch up shall we?

What have I been doing since August? A whole list of things. I broke the topics out in sections to be more reader friendly in case you need a break. As a lot has been happening, this is part 1 of a 2 section series.

I am still involved in Real Estate as an Investor and am waiting on a contract to go through for a rehab in much need of TLC. However, that is not where the real passion and excitement is...so let's move on to those topics shall we?

Nutrition/Health
I have always had a strong interest in any topic related to health, fitness, and nutrition. Mags you see around my house are usually cycling, running, or fitness magazines vs gossip. As you may recall, Jan 09 I graduated from Massage Therapy school. While in school, I knew I would be doing something different with my education and already had plans to apply to UIC for a BS in a Sports Medicine related field.
Fortunately, because of school, I was able to work the 2008 Chicago Marathon as a MT in the recovery tent. I talked to all the runners that came across the table, mainly related to their run, how they were feeling, and checking in on their hydration levels. There was one runner who came over to our table and happily hopped on for a 15 minute rub down and stretch. However, there was something very different about this runner in comparison to others. Was it his level of extreme happiness? A glowing level of positive energy that seemed to surround him? That he felt great after running 26 miles in a time of 3:38? Which by the way is incredible time! Maybe it was a combo of all the above? What he probably didn't know is that I had a big smile because of all of the previously mentioned. Absolutely refreshing energy level which was noticed by a fellow classmate and friend working on a runner at the next table.
I vividly recall a label peeling off in my hand that was on his shirt. Naturally this struck up a conversation due to my inquisitive nature. What was it at one time? Was he sponsored by a company to run? I had just finished Tour DVA a month prior, so was this similar...to raise money for charity? It was a label of the nutritional products he trained with, uses every day, and also markets. Hmmmm....interesting and of course my brain spun almost as fast as Lance rides Tour de France.
You see, a few months before, I broke up with GNC. Yes. Broke up. We had a very unhealthy win-lose relationship. Every month, I purchased multivitamins that gave me zero results, except for the neon-green/yellow coloring in my urine. I laughed at the GNC rep who said that was a sign to tell me that the vitamins are "working." Ok, seriously, I know I may have been talking with a bit of a Southern accent, but I certainly did not fall off the turnip truck yesterday!
After the break up, I checked out a vitamin specific store who in theory was more "holistic." I was very excited and hopeful that spending nearly $300 for most of what I needed would be my answer. After all, if I spent a lot of money at a holistic store, that means it will work.......right? A few days later, I became another disappointed consumer and never took the vitamins again due to the extreme amount of time being unnaturally sick over them. I only say unnatural because the body in theory should not be reacting to a vitamin as a toxin if taking the recommended amount. Don't you think that seems a little odd? Vitamins are good for us, right? So, I took a break from finding the perfect vitamin/supplement relationship and stayed with my trusty bottle of Nanogreens and some form of a Fish oil supp from the gym. Couple that with glutamine and you have the supplements I used while training for Tour DVA.
Now it makes sense why my head was spinning when I was talking to this unique runner. We exchanged emails for a follow up since unfortunately his time was up and I had to keep the line flowing. The few classmates that were with me were excited and when I clued them in on the discussion, they became intrigued. Fast forward a few months later. I did my due diligence and researched the products and found that this was the answer to my eternal quest for finding the most ideal long term relationship, marriage if you will, of my body and a vitamin/supplement that will provide what she needs to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. I know....a mouthful... but that is what it felt like! You've seen Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade. If you will, this was to me, the Holy Grail of supplements.
Why did I bring all this up? So you can get an understanding of where I was 13 months ago. When I was laid off in August, I took this as a sign and opportunity to follow my dreams and passions. You are only given so many chances to follow your dreams. Personally, following them now vs at retirement is much more appealing. Yes, I transitioned from a Consumer, who loved the Holy Grail of supplements, to an Associate which gives me a greater ability to spread the wealth of knowledge to others. A total win-win for everyone!

Diving/Marine Biology/Conservation efforts
Something I have always been in love with is the ocean and sharks. Ever since I saw Jaws as a kid, I have always been fascinated by sharks. When we were at the Cape for summer vacation, I always looked for the majestic Great White. When cable and Discovery were created, a show called Shark Week became the most fascinating thing for me to watch. When I was a kid, I always thought diving was for people like Jacques Cousteau. Boy I was wrong!
Fast-forward to college, I went to Central America for a month long backpacking trip, and yes, I even received credit for the class. At the time, my focus was Wildlife Biology, to study primates, with intention to go to VaTech. While in Roatan, Honduras, I was snorkeling off the Belize Reef and saw 3 divers 30 feet below on a reef shelf. Excited, I asked a few friends about diving and even some of the locals. Although I was offered 2 jobs to stay in Roatan, I felt it would have been wise to fly home to DC since I enjoyed my life as I had it. My parents would have flown down and picked me up, but would have given me the lifelong guilt trip so learned by many generations of Irish Catholics. I switched majors, picked up a college class for Scuba Diving, and moved to Va Beach 6 months later where I worked at the aquarium as a shark feeder.
On the path to a degree in Marine Biology, with a job lined up in the Keys as a Dive Master, and 3000 dives logged under my belt by 30, life happened and everything was put on hold for 10 years. Over those years, many life lessons happened. Difficult? Yes. For a reason? Absolutely. Happy now? You betcha Norm!(think Fargo) I find myself in a position now to follow those dreams further and in different ways then I originally planned 12 years ago.
Over the past year, a dive shop opened up a mile down the street. The first time I stopped in, I stayed for hours talking to the owners about diving and finishing my certifications through Dive Instructor. In a few months, when the lakes thaw out, I will be completing my Rescue Diver certification. Swimming 800 m is not my concern. Pulling a 250 lb man out of the water is. While waiting for the deep thaw, I hooked up with some fellow divers on Facebook. I joined and started a few campaigns for shark, dolphin, and whale conservation efforts. Yes, I will go into this in detail at another time. I began talking to the webmaster of The Shedd Aquarium who sent my info to a lovely lady in the conservation dept. Although she loves my ideas and passion, there are no open positions. However, she wanted to be sure I could get involved immediately and sent me to the volunteer coordinator. He and I exchanged emails and I was offered a volunteer position giving me the ability to speak to the public, providing education about the animals and how we can make changes in the world. Sunday morning, I go down for an interview to go over all the details. So even though my life took a minor derailment, which landed me in the Mid-West, far away from any ocean, I persisted until I succeeded and most definitely am not only making the best of it, but am by far the happiest I have been....ever!

I am now in the process of submitting everything to UIC, transcripts pending, so I can finish my BS in Biology and Nutrition with a minor in Photography....another lifelong passion.

There is more to tell you, reader. But the hour is late, and this is an exceptionally long blog. Tune in next time for the next major update. You will likey!!