Do I Still Count? 12%

I don't know. I might be a fraud if I count myself as part of the 12%. You can decide below. I'm failing to even maintain my blog... yet maybe it's because I'm doing so awesome with all of my New Year's Resolutions, I simply can't sit still long enough to post...

Or maybe not! Although I must point out, I recognize and promote the need for consistent blogging... I just haven't yet managed to figure out how I can apply that back to my life. Maybe I should look at hiring a blogger.


Without further ado my resolutions:

1. Run a half-marathon. In the entire month of November, I did not run, with exercise and training in mind, even once. I admit it. I'm not proud of it, but I'm past the stage of denial... I think. I don't want to run a half-marathon. I want to be in shape. I want to be healthy. Already this year I've done tremendously better than I have since 2006. I still have some days to try and redeem myself in December. Is a half-marathon going to be checked off my list? Not saying there is NO chance... but I'm not saying there is either!

2. Try new things. I didn't try any new foods in November, I didn't try any overly new habits, I didn't change my hairstyle, I didn't volunteer for anything new. I kinda sound boring for November don't I? I think November was anything but boring and old, it was definitely a whirl wind, likely with at least one thing new, I just can't keep track of the days to acknowledge any!

3. Be better at everything. I think I can confidently say I was better at a lot of things in November. Time management has become a huge one I'm focusing on in December, but other little things I did well with.

4. Find luck. Things have gone well for me as of late, not to jinx myself. I can't say I've officially found luck though. I think maybe I stumbled upon good favor... or something like that!

Of the 4 NYR, November looks to be the absolute worst.  I'm maybe at 2/4 and that's me being generous to myself. I definitely plan to finish 2011 better!


Past NYR updates:
January 1 - 12 percent
End of Jan- 64 percent
End of Feb. - 58ish percent... I bet
End of March - First Quarter. Has to be less than 50%
End of April -  46.8 + or - 2.2... maybe?
End of May -  _____ %.
End of June - 46% Half way!
End of July - I'd like to buy a... 40ish percentage?!
End of August - 32% *
End of September - Craig Adams Percent
End of October - 20% 12 Days Ago

Family.

I went to Penn State. I'm proud of that. Sure it's a love-hate relationship at times, but to me Penn State is, and will always be, family. You all have that uncle or cousin that drives you up the wall, but you'll be there when they need you. Because at the end of the day you can't turn your back on family.


In lieu of the recent (awful) scandal, it's easy for the non-PSU folks to start pointing fingers angrily and ridicule all involved, or to make the jokes and laugh. In no way what-so-ever am I saying that fingers shouldn't be pointed, or that some of the jokes could be funny down the road, but I do ask, what does the finger pointing and jokes solve? There still are victims, there are still chains of command that need clearly defined and followed, there still is the moral and ethical obligations to foster a safe and trusting environment. Pointing a finger and making a joke doesn't solve the greater issue.  I'm not here to offer a solution per-say (although I pray someone within the university is addressing that), however I do want to bring up JoePa who is baring the brunt of the finger pointing, and who is the punchline on countless jokes.


Joe is unarguably a legend.  To a Penn Stater Joe is more than a good football coach. Joe is who you listen to for motivation before game day and the big test. Joe and Sue are who pour money into your education. Joe is the house you go to trick-or-treating. Joe is who you eat Peachy Paterno with at the creamery. Joe is who you joke about with friends as you have a friend of a friend that almost got ran over by Joe downtown. Joe is like your grandfather, great-grandfather more accurately). Joe IS family.


Undoubtedly there was a breakdown in the system. For everything Joe is and has taught us on moral standards, working hard, excelling in life, he had a 'slip up.'  His slip up wasn't a little, brush-under-the-rug-family-secret like so many of us have. The consequences for his actions (or lack there of) have already hit hard, however there are others who have remained in their positions because they AREN'T JoePa. Nobody at PennState is as iconic and legendary as Joe. No one holds the national audience like Joe does and has throughout his career.


One of my favorite classes offered at Penn State was Comm 497G: Joe Paterno Communication and the Media.  In the class we looked at Joe's involvement and coverage in the media throughout his career.  Joe wasn't always portrayed positively and he wasn't always the golden boy. But he was always straightforward.  He always told things like they were, good or bad. And I have no doubt that's how this final chapter will be told as well.  Joe already confessed in a statement last Wednesday prior to his firing, "I wish I had done more." I have no doubt in my mind his sincerity in saying that. Or, that he will do more than just be talk. He can't change the past, but he'll surely impact the future.


For my final project in the JoePa class I looked at Sports Illustrated, and broke down the coverage Joe received from 1960- Nov 2009.  I can finally begin to write the conclusion to my 'edition' of SI. When I do, Stewart Mandel's column that appeared hours after it was announced Joe had been fired, would likely be a highlight in the post-head-coach-Joe coverage in SI.


Joe is family and you can't turn your back on family.  So as Mandel said: 

But while it's hard to see the bigger picture in the middle of the firestorm, it's also shortsighted to think that history will entirely forget the rest of Paterno's 46-year career.  Some may find that taboo to say at this particular moment, when the news of Sandusky's alleged crimes is still fresh and many are still waiting for Paterno to fully address what happened in 2002. People aren't ready to put down the pitchforks just yet, and I'm not saying they should.

 And yet, distance and perspective will eventually create a more nuanced legacy. The record will show that Paterno won more games than any other coach and that his teams annually graduated more players than any other public school. Video clips and photos will forever immortalize his black shoes and spectacles. The library on Penn State's campus, for which he helped raise $13 million, will still stand, and a university to which he devoted not only his entire adult life but $4 million of his own money will continue to educate generations of students.

20 % 12 days ago

I just keep getting later and later.  This is October's update...  


Here's where I stand... My Resolutions:

1. Run a half-marathon.  This just keeps getting worse.  I'm not overly worried because in life you have to set priorities, and while running a half-marathon has been a goal (or a questionable idea thrown around for 10 months now), goals and priorities change and are adapted.  So all of that right there is my justification for my sneakers collecting dust, my watch/heart monitor being MIA, and mapmyrun.com sending me reminder emails to sign into my account...  I still have time.  The year isn't over!!

2. Try new things.  I took a new job staring the beginning of October!  So while it's some things I've done before, it's with a new company, is a new way of doing things, in a new environment, and all around a new thing!

3. Be better at everything. This more or less is becoming my life mantra, while in no way am I getting better at blogging regularly, other things in life I have been.  This new job is a big one for October especially where I needed to constantly be better at everything, to balance my life I've delegated tasks and looked to others for help with accomplishing tasks, instead of attempting to do everything myself.

4. Find luck. Yesterday was 11/11/11 and at 11:11:11 (and while that's not October so likely doesn't belong in this post) I looked at the clock with friends, and all was well.  Luck is what you make of it!  I'll keep searching for whatever that lucky charm, pot of gold, rabbits foot, dream catcher can offer...


Past NYR updates:
January 1 - 12 percent
End of Jan- 64 percent
End of Feb. - 58ish percent... I bet
End of March - First Quarter. Has to be less than 50%
End of April -  46.8 + or - 2.2... maybe?
End of May -  _____ %.
End of June - 46% Half way!
End of July - I'd like to buy a... 40ish percentage?!
End of August - 32% *
End of September - Craigs Adam Percent

Craig Adams Percent

No intro.  I'm clearly late on my update!  I hate that I have my time so planned out, it took me 8 days to figure out when I could squeeze in my NYR update!!!  Things should change soon, by Oct update I bet! ;)

Fun-ish fact for fall.

Pumpkins are not vegetables, they're fruits!  Who knew!? 


Here's where I stand... My Resolutions:

1. Run a half-marathon.  If there were one month and one goal I epically failed at during this NYR stint, it was this one during September.  I'd bet most anyone could have guessed that'd be the case following the end of August.  I'm still torn on this.  But I plan to get back into the running, excercising regime as soon as possible... just don't know when that will be.  I have a half-marathon noted for first weekend in Dec...

2. Try new things.  If there were one month I somewhat went above and beyond on, during September it was this one!  I coached (coach) u10 boys soccer which has been an entire new, and fun challenge.  I've said 'yes' to a lot of tasks, and helped out with a lot of things I want to promote and see change in.  I started a new part-time job, which next month you can read about how it turned into a full-time job.  All in all, lots of new things!

3. Be better at everything. I really think I've made good efforts to be better at everything.  At times in the past month, I've tried to be so much better at everything I've done, that I actually sacrificed me time.   (Which isn't always the best thing to sacrifice.)  But I really feel like I have been better at time management,  patience, and organization.  Two of those three, I don't ever make concrete efforts to be better at, but with new challenges I've been able to improve these skills to make the most of my time and capabilities.

4. Find luck. Luck is a funny thing.  I'm trying to determine if luck exists, BUT in September, timing was everything.  Especially at the end.  And I had some pretty 'lucky' timing.  But still looking... maybe end of October update will have found more luck!


Past NYR updates:
January 1 - 12 percent
End of Jan- 64 percent
End of Feb. - 58ish percent... I bet
End of March - First Quarter. Has to be less than 50%
End of April -  46.8 + or - 2.2... maybe?
End of May -  _____ %.
End of June - 46% Half way!
End of July - I'd like to buy a... 40ish percentage?!
End of August - 32% *