It was about 9:45 am twenty-nine years ago today, and I was roaring into the world amidst the largest snow storm this state has seen. Okay, so that's a bit dramatic. I doubt it was anything like that. I was actually breach (and have been doing things the hard way ever since) so I doubt I was "roaring into the world." I don't think it was 9:45 either. I actually have no idea what time it was. There was plenty of snow though.
While this little intro is a little odd, in true Maddogg form that's not the reason of this post. Since today is my twenty-ninth birthday, I am going to attempt to tell you 29 things I have learned since that fateful snowy day. ***Editors note: this is some pretty scary stuff as you will be exposed to some of my most inner thoughts. You have been warned.
1.) The Space shuttle DID NOT hit the school. I was in first grade when the shuttle exploded. I very vividly remember sitting in Mrs Clayton's class when another teacher came into the room to inform my teacher what had occured. I somehow miss heard and thought the space shuttle had hit the school. I don't remember being scared, but thought it was odd. I must admit that up until this point I had wanted to be an astronaut. From then on I wanted to be a policeman. I wonder what would ahve happened had the shuttle never hit Lyman Ele?
2.) I am more of a "Brian" than a "David". There was a brief time in my life that I wanted to be called David (first name) at school. But, all my church friends called me Brian. Needless to say, there was a lot of confusion. I soon went back to Brian and have been a Brian ever since. What's really odd though is that at Clemson, when people would forget my name they would ALWAYS call me John. Random huh?
3.) Never underestimate a b-day party @ Mr Gattis because your future wife may be there. Believe it or not, but Annie was actually at my 5th grade girlfriends b-day party. She was friends with the birthday girl's sister. Ofcourse I didn't know Annie, or even talk to her, but kind of freaky huh?
4.) Be careful what you pray for. This is another one that involves Annie. To make a long story short, I had my heart broken the summer between soph and junior year. I told GOD I was tired of dating, and I wanted him to send me the girl I would marry. Two months later, I met a hot little freshmen girl named Annie.
5.) Being on a clogging team, no matter how good you are does not come across as cool in any social circle and should probably be kept to yourself.
6.) See #5 and apply it to the Marching band. If you know what dinkles are you know this is so true.
7.) No TV in the bedroom makes for a much happier marriage. If you have one. Get rid of it. You'll thank me later.
8.) It's just a football game. It's not the end of the world. I am ashamed to say it took me going way over the line @ the VT game, and Hannah told me she didn't want to come to games with me anymore to help me realize this. This is one I struggled with for a while.
9.) Songs about dogs, and dads make me cry, recently this was extended to daughters. I HATE ALL songs that have ANY combo of the 3 d's.
10.) Boot camp is not fun. But can be thought of fondly several years later. And while it's not for everyone, everyone can benefit from it. I was much more of a badass several months after grad from BCT (boot camp). Life has since beat it out of me a little, but I still have a confidence to know I can do anything I want, and can kill a man with my bear hands! Ok, so maybe the last part is a bit of a stretch and I never actually had to do that.
11.) There was never a finger outside my window. When I was a little kid there were shrubs outside my window. Sometimes they wouldn't be trimmed and the branches looked like fingers floating on my window sill. I am not sure why but this was scary as heck.
12.) For some reason when I was little if I pulled the covers over my chin I would have a nightmare about giants (not NY Giants, but you know big guys. And they would be chasing me.) I am not sure how, but I deduced that the two were connected. If I would wake up from a giant dream, I would just pull the covers down and go back to sleep. No more giants.
13.) Drinking and driving is not illegal, if you are drinking a Dr pepper, while driving a car. It was completly logical to me for it to be illegal for drinking while driving. Something about how the can blocked your vision or something, but needless to say, when I was on the way home from karate and the guy I was riding with was drinking a Dr Pepper while driving I was appauled. He was breaking the law! (I need to tell you that I was like 6. )
14.) Not being much of a drinker in college myself, I heard lots of drinking stories. They all seemed to end with "I was sooo drunk, I passed out at like 3:00 in the morning." I would always laugh and think: "No you didn't pass out. At 3am it's called going to sleep, not passing out." My college roommate Jonathan actually came up with this one, but it is so true!
15.) Sometimes you can be right or be married, but not both. You have to learn to pick your battles, and focus on what's important. In short don't sweat the petty things, or pet the sweaty things. (I just wanted to add that. I'm not sure it really applies.)
16.) There is no job I am too good for. I have scrubbed toilets, folded mats with vomit on them, picked up bar towels that "moved" from all of the maggots on it, and unloaded & reloaded a truck on Market St ALL in the 100% humidity that is Charleston, SC. But it all pays off in the end.
17.) Don't be afraid to ask the guy in your senior English class to be your roommate, but if you do, you won't get to talk about how you both lived black-guys named Joe who are sophmores in Engineering. You'll have 4 years to make up for it.
18.) A random guy you know through other people can be one of your best friends if you take a chance and let him live with you.
19.) Sometimes you need to leave the dining hall and go to class.
20.) Becareful when you turn on your roommates stolen Satelite TV. At the very least don't turn it on in mixed company. There is no telling what you are about to witness.
21.) Finding a fourth is harder than you think.
22.) You can end any story with "..and then I found $20.00". It instantly becomes better. So, the next time you start to see your listener's eyes glaze over, just end it by abruptly saying "and then I found $20.00." You'll thank me later I promise.
23.) GOD makes the best lemonade.
24.) The Patrick Swazie action pack is sweet, but you can only watch Roadhouse like a million times. A million & 1 us pushing it. The same holds true for The Matrix.
25.) It amazes me how one little girl can change your whole universe with in seconds of meeting her. The Matrix and Roadhouse will quickly be replaced by Cinderalla, Little Einstiens, and 101 Dalmations.
26.) The lack of money at the beginning of your marriage will prepare you for the blessings you will recieve later on in your marriage, and it's all worth it.
27.) A night with the "girls" (i.e. Annie and Hannah) is more fun than a night with the guys.
28.) People don't care what you know, until they know that you care.
29.) Never ask someone to do something you wouldn't do yourself. That doesn't mean you have to do it, but they need to know that you are willing to do it if the need arose.
I know this list is a little long, and it actually took me longer than I thought. Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed.
I.T.O.M.D.
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Pretty harmless huh? Well, you wouldn't believe the firestorm it created. I won't get into the specifics of it, but a little bit of a debate resulted from it. My wife not wanting the post to turn into a debate on the sinfulness (or lack there of) of alcohol did the wise thing and removed the discussion from the post in order to let it remain about it's intent, which was simple recap of our weekend in Statesboro for one our best friend's 30th B-day. 
