seanely-blog

[seanely-blog]

beach runs in wintery chicago.

I had two weeks.

Just 14 days of bearable weather until winter turned a whole gaggle of ugly heads toward Chicago for the past 5 months. Running outside was simply dangerous, as ice consumed the sidewalks.

No amount of salt could fight it off.

But the past week, it's been in the 40's. And I've been taking advantage of clear grounds alongside Al and Lionel. I am officially signed up for the Chicago Marathon and will be raising $1,000 for a charity. More info on that later.

For now, I train.

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Prepping for round three with P90X3.

The third installment of Beachbody's "P90X" series hit shelves this month, meaning I raced over to Amazon.com to order the at-home workout plan that — plain and simple — just works.

Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014 begins it all. I'm excited to see what happens, working in at-home exercise on the 20th floor of my new building in Chicago.

To recap, in January 2010, I lost 30+ pounds (my college weight, essentially) in 45 days by sticking to the P90X workout and nutrition plans. A feat I have been proud of, definitely, but something that blew my mind more than anything else. I finished off the 90 days strong and continued to mix in P90X DVD workouts with all my running and lifting going forward.

In January 2012, I began P90X2, comprised of a lot more core strengthening exercises, as opposed to weights. It thinned me out within two weeks, and I was down to 155 pounds before I even knew it. I didn't have much weight to lose at this point, but P90X2 gave me more day-to-day energy than I had ever felt with any workout regimen.

So, here's to the 2014 kickoff just around the corner.

Updates will be provided here on my progress, if you're interested.

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I'm already hearing that my response to the comments I received on last week's video is better than the video itself. You be the judge.

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For the love of God, stop cheering for a school you never attended.

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I'm on the "Juice"

Don't tell anyone, but I'm currently juicing. And from doing so, my health has improved, my day-to-day job performance has skyrocketed and the energy I feel overall is indescribable. Honestly, at times, I feel superhuman. Captain Ginger! OK, let's work on a much better name sometime.

It's not a performance enhancing drug I'm taking to feel like this. No.

It's an exclusive vegetable/fruit juice diet. Yeah, sounds gross. And boring. And a waste of time. And stupid. And just awful. Yeah, I know.

On Saturday morning, I began a 5-day cleanse: Nothing but the nutrients of fresh fruits and vegetables — via my Breville juicer — 5 times a day. In the past, I completed the P90X diet for 3 months. That wasn't easy. It broke me down at times, but I pushed though. I dropped weight, got in better shape and felt like the best version of myself.

This, however? A whole different playing field. Apples and oranges, if you will (ha!).

I'm not doing this to lose weight. I'm doing this because my entire motto —eat/drink whatever you want as long as you workout every day — was compromised for 10 days. I embarked on a 10-day road trip north to Chicago/Detroit, eating out every meal and never working out. Not my balance. My zen? Not existent. 

So now that I'm back in Florida, I decided to start a cleanse: Rid my body of all the cheeseburgers, pizza, french fries, potato chips and ALCOHOL (yes, lots of alcohol) that I consumed in that 10-day time period. Pushing the "RESET" button felt like an obvious move for me. So that's what I did.

So, it's officially been 5 days. I haven't chewed a piece of food since Friday night. And, I've never felt healthier.

For me personally, this lifestyle isn't sustainable for more than a week or so. How Joe Cross did this for 60 days, I'll never know. Major props to him for conquering that feat.

But there were things I learned in these 5 days that I couldn't have predicted. Facts I learned via his documentary, but assumed he was overemphasizing the strength of them. Such as?

You feel full: I drank 5 glasses of juice a day. No solid food. And after day 3? My stomach never rumbled for food. I felt actually satisfied after a glass of juice. Why? Because vegetable juice fills your stomach and cells naturally, providing the nutrients they need to give you energy. When you eat a pound of french fries, you feel full simply because your stomach is just that, FULL. Not full of vital nutrients, full of starch and physical weight. Once you can train your body to feel great (after day 3) with just juice, the possibilities are endless for becoming a healthier, better-looking you.

Your palette is reset: You simply don't crave salty, fatty foods by the end of this. Once your taste buds have only consumed vegetables and fruits for 5 straight days, you mentally forget what burgers and pizza taste like, and you don't want them like you normally would. It's incredibly weird. I woke up today (day 6) and immediately made my morning juice — carrots, celery, apples, ginger — because it makes me feel better in the morning than anything else.

You glow: Maybe it's a mental thing. But my skin feels, honestly, healthier. When I look in the mirror, there is a glow there. I don't have the guilt after eating a large sandwich for lunch. You know you're only putting the world's best types of food into your body, and there's nothing you could be doing better for it. That alone makes you shine, as corny as that may sound. But those thoughts exist.

You lose weight: I didn't do much extensive exercise during the last 5 days. I played basketball on day 1 and tennis on day 5, but other than that, only went for longer walks with Lionel. My total weight loss was 10.1 pounds. I house a lot of water weight in my chin/neck, and once I cleansed, this went away. Everyone gains weight immediately in a specific part of their body. Mine is chin fat. It's annoying. So this helped against that.

and finally...

Your brain functions better: While on this 5-day juice cleanse, I made a few videos — story of my life, right? — which meant writing scripts, filming and editing. My job isn't physically tasking, so individuals who are reading this, want to try it and are skeptical because they move a lot for a living? I can't weigh in. But mentally, I felt on point. Inspiration came to my mind quicker and writing/editing didn't require as much stress as it sometimes does. Maybe it was because this was my first time doing a cleanse? Would I feel this way going forward with the cleanse? I don't know. All I can say is that these last 5 days made me think clearer.

In summary — I'm proud of myself. Starting something and following through to the end is hard for a lot of people. Even me sometimes. But waking up today and knowing I conquered my 5-day goal? I have an extra little pep in my step.

Maybe it's the juice that's doing that?

Either way, I suggest trying this program. Click here for the regimen that I followed, with recipes, too.

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FACT: You're one of these people. Sorry I'm not sorry.

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[THE LITTLE THINGS]: "A bearded companion"

He lies still, eyes slightly open to remind me that his presence is there. His long, fuzzy beard poofs up around his nose as he puts pressure on the pillow.

His long, lean, goat-like legs extend in a gratifying stretch and his tongue curls up as he lets out an exhausting yawn, bringing his paw pads up gently to shield his eyes from the Sunday morning light illuminating from the window where the shades don't quite do their full job.

It's 7 a.m. and the alarm is buzzing wildly on the oak dresser across the bedroom. The ceiling fan clinks every few rotations yet keeps the room temperature comfortable from the smoldering Florida heat on just the other side of the wall.

Lionel — my 2-year-old Parson Russell Terrier — slowly makes his way up to all fours. He springs down into the most perfectly-executed downward dog yoga pose for a few seconds, before shaking back and forth violently just as pups do. White and amber dog hairs sail off his neck, where his fur is the thickest.

He gracefully scampers down from the tall bed, presses his nose against the closed bedroom door and sits attentively, glancing over his right shoulder blade to see my progress.

I'm not nearly as chipper as he is, but if I don't shut off the alarm and get him his breakfast, my head might explode from the irritating Ennnggghhhh that vibrates off the walls.

I slowly pull the covers off, swing my legs to the left, spring up onto my feet, take a few steps and slide the alarm's switch to OFF. I already feel accomplished. Back to bed, maybe? No way.

Lionel is doing circles, because he knows in just a few seconds, he'll be devouring his food like there's no tomorrow: His favorite part of the day. I push the door handle down, immediately exposing a tiny slit of space for him to push his face through to help me open the door.

Like a tiny, bearded kangaroo he hops out of the room, looking back at me every few seconds to make sure we're on the same page. With Lionel, there's no such thing as "letting your owner go to the bathroom first." He doesn't care how full my bladder might be. No, breakfast is top priority.

I scoop his food into a bowl and set it on the floor. His tail whips through the air like an angry snake, and he crouches down to begin eating. As excited as he is, Lionel always watches me. He follows my every move in between bites, perhaps excited about the next Sunday activity or maybe treating meal time like more of a social experience, which I inadvertently taught him to do.

Without fail, after his food bowl is empty, Lionel does what he always does: Let's out a medium-sized burp deep from within his stomach. What a lil man. We don't teach manners around here, so I normally praise him for it.

After a quick bathroom break outside — for Lionel, not me, although yes, I still really have to go — Sunday mornings are dedicated to spending time with each other. I know this sounds weird, but with all the time I spend on my computer, scripting and editing, as well as my phone, I simply treat Sundays differently.

No texting. No checking email. No watching YouTube. No TV. No technology. Nothing.

We play fetch. We wrestle over a thick rope. We go for long walks under the palm trees. We lay by the window in the living room and watch people head to the beach. We make peanut-butter filled ice cubes.

My entire life, I've been terrified of the thought of being a father. No part of me could ever comprehend being the caretaker of a young child's life. Nor did I want that responsibility.

Adopting Lionel altered something. I know dogs and children are completely different, and I'm not saying taking care of a puppy is even remotely on the same level as raising a human baby. So, what I am saying?

Something changed within me.

I developed a priority shift. Looking out for him and doing what's in his best interest has consumed my brain. I bathe him, clip his nails, brush his teeth and treat every moment I have with this little dude like it's the last we'll ever have together. I'm hooked. I love the ease he brings to my mentality. No matter what happens in life, he'll always be there, the same reliable dog that's been there for me for the past 2 years.

I cherish the chaos, too. His stubbornness. His refusing to go to the bathroom outside when he knows I have to leave to go somewhere. His every-so-often whining at the door as I'm locking up with him still inside. His barking at landscapers. It's all part of the gig.

Owning a dog has, in my opinion, made me a better person. A lot of people say you should never have regrets in life ... that whatever happens is simply a way to learn for the future.

But I have to be honest. If I could go back, I would do a million things differently in my life. But, adopting Lionel has been the single greatest thing I have ever done in my 26 years on this Earth. Indirectly, he's taught me how to treat people better and not to sweat the small stuff, a quirk about myself I have no problem admitting.

Enjoy life's little gems. They're there. You just have to change the way you look at a situation.

And I'm happy to say a little 30-pound Danish and Swedish farm dog taught me how to do just that.

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I'm making Cooking Comically's "2AM Chili" today.

I cook for myself.

But wait. Before you get weak in the knees because of this giant turn on, let me make something perfectly clear.

This is nothing to brag about.

I make the same seven meals in a continuous loop, rarely straying from the norm. And I hate that about myself. I did a poor job growing up of paying attention to my mother, father and grandmother's skills in the kitchen. If I could make some of the meals they did for me growing up ... hell, I'd be much better off. But I didn't. And I'm not.

So I made a little goal for myself in my head. And wow, I actually stuck to it. I'm patting myself on the back right now. Please don't judge.

The goal is to make ONE new meal from scratch from a recipe I've found online. I know what you're thinking: "WOW! One meal?! Don't hurt yourself there, Sean."

Yeah, I know. Pathetic. But anyway. One of my favorite sites in the world, entitled "Cooking Comically", combines delicious food recipes with unique, funny stick figure comics. I am a gigantic nerd. But I love THAT part of me.

I set my sights on the "2AM Chili" recipe. I'm often up till 2 a.m. myself, scripting, editing or watching a movie. So, it peaked my interest. My good friend Jeff, who turned me onto the site, said he made it a while back and couldn't believe how good it was.

OK, time for me to get my ass into a kitchen and actually be proud of something I make. A well-poured bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch only impresses so many people. (In case you're wondering, that number is 0.)

The Publix run was an event, let me tell you. If you were an outsider watching me look for which container of ground cumin to buy, well ... you're welcome. Because that had to be QUITE a show. The saddest thing is that I can't remember a time when I last purchased a bag of flour. Seriously. I don't think I ever have. Or canned green beans. But I managed to get out of the grocery store without forgetting a single ingredient. Still in shock.

OK, taking photos of stuff with my DSLR. That I can do. But the actual cooking part, well, yeah. Let's cross our fingers. I mixed more powdery ingredients together during this preparation than I have in all my other cooking experiences in my life combined. And damn it felt good.

Next up, brown some beef. Hey! Something I know how to do! I was dancing in my kitchen at this point, confident that I could do no wrong. 

Then, chop a half an onion, three-fourths of a green pepper and three cloves of garlic. Uh, so. I have no idea what a clove of garlic is, so naturally like any 20-something who grew up with a computer, I Googled it. And chopped 3 up into small pieces. I feel like the knife had a good time with all this.

Next up, add all the canned ingredients and chopped vegetables into a pot, as the ground beef finishes up it's whole brown-ing thing that it does. Surprisingly, I did this without dropping anything on the floor. I'm as shocked as you are.

I poured the seasoning mix into the pot, as well as the ground beef and began stirring everything up. Moving a spoon. We're cookin' with gasoline now!

All I had to do then was turn the heat on "high" and wait for it to begin to boil, which only took a few minutes. After that, switch the heat to "simmer" and let it sit for as "many hours as you've got."

That part, was simple. But resisting a taste of it was not. Damn, look at this stuff. Did I make something?!?!?! I was still in denial.

I let it simmer for roughly three hours before I couldn't take it anymore. I was wearing the chili smell from my apartment as a cologne. I wanted it in my stomach, so I went for it. I added mini saltine crackers and shredded sharp cheddar, too. The recipe said you'd be stupid not to. I didn't want to be stupider than I already was, so I obliged.

The outcome?

Holy freakin' crap. I don't know if it tasted so good because I knew in th back of my head that I made it all 100% myself, or because it really was that damn good. I ate three bowls in a row until the point of being sick. That sounds really gluttonous but whatever, I figured I'd be honest instead of anything else.

First off, it's spicy. Very spicy. The smokiness is what makes it so flavorful. Letting it simmer truly allows the chili to thicken, locking in those deep flavors from the garlic, onion and cayenne pepper.

I recommend this recipe to anyone. If you want it less spicy, just don't add as much crushed red pepper (cayenne) or chili powder. Some of the readers of Cooking Comically said they substituted other spices for those and it worked out well.

Next week is Spinach Jacks. Stay tuned, if you'd like.

Thanks for reading.

PS — I haven't had a beer (or sip of alcohol, for that matter) in a week, so excuse me if I'm a little on edge. I have the shakes. Detox mode after my trip to Michigan. So. freaking. necessary.

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i hate that they're making me write a title.

Since November, I have publicly despised social media's face.

The misuse of various channels by their users has grown at such an unhealthy rate that my red hair has actually started to turn gray. But honestly, that is probably a good thing. Becoming less of a ginger, one strand of hair at a time.

The Social Media Pessimist web series has gone solo. It has broken away from the pack, like Justin Timberlake did when *NSYNC finally parted ways. Which means I will probably star in movies with Amanda Seyfried very soon. I'm OK with that.

My regularly-scheduled Wednesday videos will remain, along with bonus content uploaded at random times throughout the week. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL and be in the know of everything going on.

Fin. Like finished. Not like the character from Glee.

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Pure Michigan, Pure Comfort.

I was put on this Earth to move.

It's that simple.

Don't sit still, don't give yourself time to think, don't analyze ... just do. And when things aren't going particularly well in life? Too damn bad. Shut up, embrace the moment you're in and cherish the fact you can do whatever it is you want.

None of that motivational quote junk.

This fact was proven — in spades — last week, when I made the impulse decision to get in my Jeep and travel 1,100 miles north on I-75 to Detroit. No real established plan. Just get in, drive until you run out of gas and fill up when you do. And repeat.

Michigan is a comfort place. When I visit (from my current home in Florida), I feel invincible. I realize how corny and stupid that sounds. But, I'm being honest. It's a place I feel like the best version of myself. Somewhere that "questions" and "uncertainties" simply do NOT exist. I have my bearings locked in, both literally and figuratively.

I think clearer. Food tastes better. And beer is stronger.

And here is my 7-day trip to the mitten state through pictures (because typing is annoying sometimes):

I grew up in Redford, Mich., and my dad still lives in the home I was raised. Lionel was reunited with a backyard he's hung out in a couple times. A win-win. No leash for him ... leaving me an empty hand to drink another beer.

Drinking at my buddy Nick's in Macomb Township for a Memorial weekend hang out. Only the best craft beer money can buy. Some Gumball head here...

And Adam holding our empty KBS bottles from the evening. Yes, it was that epic of an evening. I'd like to think it was because I made the impulse to come home. No?

I made my way to East Lansing, my college town, to enjoy a night of pretending I was still 21 years old. This shot is me outside the (old) building of my fraternity house, Lambda Chi Alpha, at 128 Collingwood. The fraternity has since been moved to the opposite end of campus, but this is the house I'll always remember.

And what's a trip to East Lansing without a quick stop to see Sparty? Not 100% sure why this "arms at my sides" pose was the theme of the day, but apparently it stuck.

And when you're a die hard MSU alumnus, and borderline alcoholic, you always stop at The Peanut Barrel for two of these long islands, which you quite literally are only allowed to have two of. Delicious. And full of booze.

The following morning I hit the links with my dad back in Redford. A man who taught me golf yet not enough to the point where I can even come close to beating him. 

Then it was time for the '11 JK to get the new ACE Pro Series Front Bumper and Back Bumper. Ever seen a Jeep without a bumper before? Now you have.

And, as you probably guessed, I couldn't go but a few days without getting the DSLR camera out. Nick and I shot the latest episode of Beer Me Out in his studio. Click here to watch the ep!

The beer drinking continued, this time at One Eyed Betty's in Ferndale with both Eddie and Erik. We knew to ask for the "Secret List" in order to get Arcadia's Special Edition Cellar Aged 3 Years. Delicious.

To burn off calories, I met Adam at Stony Creek Metro Park for a 10K run the next morning. Hungover and running 6 miles? Oh the things I do to myself.

Hustling from Stony Creek, I met my former co-worker Valerie at Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch, and to catch up on everything going on in our lives. It was at this moment that I remembered how big of an influence she's had in my life. Just the best older sister I could ever have.

The next day, I met Nick at Vinsetta Garage to tackle their extensive food and beer menu. Oh, and did we ever tackle it. Gourmet burgers, dogs and fries with the smoothest draft beer in the D.

I spent quality time with my grandfather while I was home, too. He's the person I've looked up to my entire life, and he's only helped me to remember to continue to work hard and push forward toward what I want out of life. My hero.

The final evening of my stay in Detroit, I grilled out with Tyler and drank beers (not O'Douls, but boy were we excited to offer them for YOU). We have big plans for our careers in the future, and we always get to talking about it whenever we have booze in us.

Overall, this trip home was more than I ever could have asked for. I needed it, to be honest with you. I needed to escape from the grind in Florida and to just be with those I grew up with. It gave me great perspective on where I am and where I plan on going.

Now I'm back in Florida and ready to work hard at the next step of my career. So many good things are in front of me. Time to take advantage of all these opportunities.

Oh, and yes ... I did steal this hat from my dad. Ssshhhhhh!

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16 Months in Front of a Camera & Getting Paid To Wear T-Shirts

I towel off after a shower, hang it on a hook and begin dressing myself for Friday. Underwear, jeans, socks ... and of course, a T-shirt.

For the past 16 months of my life, I made a full-time salary wearing them. Yes, you read that correctly. The cotton stretched across my less-than-man-like chest was actual advertising space for any company to rent, essentially, for a day, week or month. For a small price, I would promote a business in that shirt via high-res photos, self-made videos, and a 30-minute live USTREAM show every day.

This experience has been, in a word, incredible. A year and a half ago, I wanted to write comedy, shoot skits, edit them, and integrate my marketing background into it all. Oh, and get paid. That was kind of important. Shampoo for redheads isn't cheap. I don't think I was totally insane assuming that job didn't exist. Then a good friend and co-worker pointed me in the direction of a guy who has been getting paid to do that exact thing since 2009. And he was hiring.

"You're joking?"

This all seemed way too good to be true. But hell, I was a charmer. I'd write him a personal e-mail, all about how great of a "shirt wearer" I'd be, and this guy would have NO EXCUSE but to hire me. Oh the cockiness of a 24-year-old.

But, uh, as it turns out, he receives thousands of job inquiries A DAY from people in every country of the WORLD.

Those high hopes I had?

Not gonna lie. Kinda crushed.

Dammit. I don't really know how to edit a video. Probably not a great detail to mention in a "reply" e-mail. Or really anything I should ever say, seeing as I want to do it full time. I can't imagine Windows Movie Maker is a very respected program in the videomakers' realm. I need that same co-worker and friend's help drastically but was afraid to ask him to teach me the art of VIDEO EDITING in a matter of a month.

But, if I wanted this badly enough, it was time to step out of a comfort zone or two.

After a lot of his help, a lot of practice myself, a lot of asking for my social network's endorsement, and a lot (and I mean a lot) of sleepless nights, I submitted this. I watched hundreds of applicants' videos pour in. Welp, fingers crossed I'm selected? I really had no idea what I was getting myself into.

Fast forward to May 2013.

I'm wrapping up my career as a "Professional T-Shirt Wearer."

I got paid to be a chipmunk, a sassy drunk leprechaun, a professional ice skater, a karate master, a redneck, and a sorority girl. I got paid to play catch with Arena Football League players in Orlando, devour a 6-pound cheeseburger in Memphis, and camp out in a Firehouse Subs restaurant for 24 hours.

I got paid to walk the Las Vegas Strip in footie pajamas, eat tacos from a truck in Cape Cod, and Instagram pictures from the top of the Empire State Building in New York City.

But most importantly, I got paid to be me.

I am that goofball you see on screen everyday. It's no act. There's no personality transformation to get my job done. My mind never stops spinning, always looking to the next idea. I'm inappropriate at the most awkward times. I joke around about sensitive subjects. I simply don't have the patience for a 9 to 5. Or society's norms for that matter. And this unique opportunity allowed me to escape from sitting at a desk and pretend-to-work-but-really-Facebook-stalk-people-when-nobody-is-looking.

I moved from Royal Oak, Michigan to Jacksonville Beach, Florida just three months into the job, to be closer to IWearYourShirt.com's headquarters. I saw a great thing and jumped on it. I created more than 400 videos, took roughly 2,100 photos and laughed just slightly less than 1 million times.

The intimate IWYS community gave me so, so much to wake up to every morning. Fans excited, itching to see what type of content we as a team would post next. There's no greater feeling than having people whole-heartedly appreciate your hard work and want nothing more than to see more of it. It made me job easy, even when it was stressful and more than I could handle, at times.

The future and what's in store.

I am still an employee of The Really Awesome Company, Inc. (IWearYourShirt.com). We, as a team, are developing the next stage of the company. We have an entire business model laid out and this week, we begin building it. I can't give any details, mainly because Jason could crush me with just one of his size 17 shoes, but I can say this:

It's big. Really, really big.

The Social Media Pessimist video series WILL indeed continue, with a new episode every Wednesday morning. We at IWearYourShirt.com will not be wearing sponsored T-shirts or posting sponsor videos.

An e-mail list is being created to keep those interested in the loop about our next big project. Visit our website soon for that.

All the thanks in the world.

I'm sorry about clogging your Newsfeeds for 16 months, but you have no idea how much I appreciate you all. Whether you clicked "Hide" on my profile or not, I want you all the know how grateful I am to have you in my life. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

This job was unlike anything else out there and I did exactly what I wanted to do with it. It taught me account management and client relations, video scripting and editing, public speaking, and how to work harder than you ever humanly thought possible. 

And a gigantic thank you to Jason for believing in me, giving me this opportunity, and flat out teaching me why an entrepreneurial lifestyle kicks ass. There is no other way to live in my book.

You'll be seeing my face in a social media rant soon enough.

Cheers y'all,

Sean Ely ... aka, TheSeanWoW

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The Eats, The Exercises, The Drinks (April 2013)

I'm that blogger who loses interest. And no, I don't expect anyone to keep up with anything that I write, because you'll be — quite honestly — let down. I don't love blogging, but every once in a while, I feel the need to write on here.

You haven't heard from me in a while so what is it that I'm into right now?

The Eats:

I've been doing some work with Firehouse Subs recently. My lord. I had never heard of their 606-restaurant chain until I moved to Florida, but now that I have? An obsession has started. This is a chain-style establishment that feels like a 1-store mom 'n pop sandwich shop. Brisket, Italian, Pulled Pork, Turkey and Ham ... whatever you order is mouth-watering and I just want more of it.

The Exercises:

I don't stick to one exercise routine. The whole point of this blog — and how I live my life — is to act on how you feel in that particular moment. Monday might be a 3-mile run. Tuesday could be a 25-minute weight workout after 15 minutes on the elliptical. Wednesday morning is a 2-hour pick-up basketball day. I've been switching it up daily and what does that make me want to do? Start P90X again Ha, I just can't win.

The Drinks:

My beer of choice is Lagunitas Sucks right now. It's unlike anything I've drank in a while and it's made its second appearance into beer stores after selling out quickly. Get some of it. Now.

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It's 2013! I'm late to the party!

It's 2013. I haven't posted. I hate leaving my blog unattended like that. Unattended is the wrong word. It's 3:30 a.m. My insomnia has only gotten worse as I've aged. I'm working a lot. I'm excited for the future of our company. I've never met people who work harder than this. I've been learning about the art of tequila. I've sampled a lot of unbelievably expensive tequila recently. I still drink craft beer like water. I joined an IMPROV troupe. I love performing on stage. I'm staying in Jacksonville Beach for 2013. Big things are in the works. Shorter sentences seemed more efficient. These are words. More stuff coming soon.

[seanely-blog]

the spoiled, ungrateful 20-something.

I'm spoiled. I'm lucky. I have every great thing a 25-year-old kid from the suburbs of Metro Detroit could ever want. And for most of the year, I strive for more. Like what I have is not enough. Sometimes my health, my family, my life that's so easy to live? I expect those things every day I wake up. I think we all do. That's part of life. It's as if those components of my life should remain perfectly in tact and everything else revolves around them.

But, that's not the case.

Health can spike. Family can implode. Life can turn very, very quickly.

So rather than waiting to learn a life lesson from a tragic life event, I'm taking the day to really focus on the comfort and ease that is my life. How thankful I am for being given everything that I am. Every year on my blog, I talk about what I'm thankful for and what means the most to me. I'm all about traditions, as you can see.

THE PEOPLE

My grandfather is my ultimate hero, the person who sits in the back of my mind no matter where I am or what I'm doing. He constantly reminds me of where I came from, the childhood I so fortunately had and where I'm capable of going with hard work. He's been all over the world and experienced so much in his 80+ years on Earth and, without probably even knowing it, inspires me with his every word.

My mom and dad are very different people, but they share a few common similarities that have made me who I am. First of all, they're loving. They care more about my brother and me than anything else in the world, and that shows. Secondly, they're funny. Without trying to be, they are comedians in their own rights and I think that's soaked through to me. And lastly, they're hard working. They take pride in what they do and they have showed me that sitting around is for losers, to put it bluntly.

My brother is my best friend. The kid that has sat next to me — whether we're in the same part of the country or not — for the past 22 years. He's tough, he's intelligent and he's as sharp as a freakin' tack. His quick-witted humor is the most impressive thing about him and he refuses to ever back down from anything. I love the kid so much. What do people do without siblings?

My girlfriend is this tiny, stunningly-beautiful creature that balances me out, therefore making me a better human being. She never lets me take life too seriously and she's always focusing on the little things that make life so worth living. She's helped me realize that relationships aren't all about smiling and being happy. Life sucks sometimes and the couples that can piss each other off yet turn around and grow from it? That says something. We're continuing to build what we have and I'm glad we've done so. She's the greatest.

My closest friends are few. I say that because I've always been one for keeping specific friends extremely close to me; individuals who know what I'm thinking when something happen in my life, without ever having to actually ask me. I've also realized that I only cling to hard workers. I can't stand laziness or people who don't make something for themselves. I thank these people for pushing me and never letting me sit still.

THE THINGS

Beer because a life without hops is a life without smiles, happiness and skipping.

Legs because a life without the rush of finishing a race is a sad, cold one.

Video cameras because life is too precious not to capture on film.

Lionel Bean because true happiness comes from the love of a puppy

There are — quite obviously — a million other things and people (specifically) that I'm thankful for, but this post had to end sometime today, right?

This year has been a whirlwind, but I'll hold off on all that for now. A year-in-summary post is inevitable for late December. I'm thinking a video will appropriately be made to summarize all that.

For now? I'm thankful for this life and continuing to move forward.

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Want more? 

Vault: Thanksgiving 2011's "thankful (for the ability) to be thankful" post

[seanely-blog]

thanksgiving legs!

It's a post-college tradition: Run a race early on the morning of Thanksgiving.

And just because we moved to the beach didn't mean we'd be giving up on that promise to ourselves. Last Saturday, we completed the Native Sun Mandarin Run 10K. Brit's neck injury was in full force, but the competitor inside of her refused to quit. She still powered through it despite pulsating pain around mile 3.

Look at that smile! The hurt sure vanishes once you cross that finish line. I can certainly relate. Proud of this chick.

So when Thanksgiving rolled around, Brit knew 13.1 miles and 2 hours of suffering wouldn't exactly make for a great holiday. So she sat this one out and banged out a weight workout after cheering me on for the Subaru Distance Classic Half Marathon. "Can't run comfortably? Gimme some free weights." 

For the half, my goal was between 1:47-1:53, as I haven't been running for speed much lately. I felt phenomenal for the first 8 miles, until mile 9 not-so-politely introduced itself to me. My legs felt like they were filled with rocks for 20 minutes or so. By mile 11, I was so amped on finishing, that the pain faded.

My official time was 1:43:33, putting a smile on my face for the day. Under 8 minute miles? I have to be happy with that at this point.

  See? Classic ginger smile.

Also, if you're a runner and you need something to keep track of your stats: Time, calories burned, lap time, pace, heart rate ... well you need to buy a Garmin Forerunner 305, or even the newest model. I've endorsed this product a dozen times already, but it's proved its worth once again this week. The thing does it all. I've been getting into Nike+ a little bit, too. More updates on that as I use it more.

Thanksgiving was a memorable one, as Brittany and I spent it alone (we called it the #ParentlessGiving) for the first time. She whipped up some new recipes, including a Sunrise Baked Potato she discovered on Pinterest. The girl can cook. I am not worthy, I am not worthy.

This photo proves it.

Tired from running. Pinned down by 2 dogs. Help!

Let's go drink some beer, shall we?

[seanely-blog]

the golden, morning run

With each stride, my shoes dig into the sand creating footstep shapes across the coast. My marks are the first of the day. The morning breeze gently ripples across my sweatshirt as I bring my hands up to my ears to secure my headphones into my ears.

My eyesight hangs left, peering into the golden sunrise that creeps over the Atlantic Ocean. It's moments like this where everything else that weighs on me — the hard things in life — appear to, actually, disappear. Three miles down the edge of Florida never felt so minuscule. 

Those little things. The tiniest joys of each day. They are to be remembered, cherished and built upon. A board meeting, client phone call, analytics report ... no, those aren't a Florida sunrise. But find those tent poles of your life and use them to motivate you.

Running can be so exhausting on certain days. But it's times like these where I couldn't be more grateful for healthy legs to run, two fully-functioning eyes to take in the sights and a mature mindset to process the beauty of such an overwhelmingly-gorgeous view.

I'll keep running ... and cherishing.

[seanely-blog]

my first fall in florida

Shorts and sunglasses in late October. I'm finally experiencing the true difference between living in Detroit and living in Jacksonville Beach. Temperatures differ by 30 degrees on a daily basis now, and I'm (still) yet to think to myself, "I'm cold."

This is one of the main positives of moving from my favorite city in the world.

Lionel is also now old enough — and mature enough — to go on 3-mile runs with me. He stays close, doesn't pull and looks upward every 100 yards to gage a reaction from me. Yes, bud, we're still going straight. Keep up the good work.

And when it's 73 degrees everyday, it's also fantastic for a round of golf. When my dad visited, we made sure to hit the links at Jacksonville Beach Golf Club. And when the Sonkes visited, we did the same.

Another random update is that I (sorta kinda a little bit) learned how to drive manual transmission with this Ford Mustang convertible below. I have much more practice to get in, but it's one of those things I never learned and it's always bugged me. Time to make it a thing of the past.

I'm looking forward to the fall weather to continue here in Florida, with temperatures in the low 70's, which makes for very comfortable attire while filming and running around for my job. Ahh fall, you're different here in the southern part of the country, but I like you.