A good friend of mine told me that this year, her usual recap of the previous year would extend back to view the significance of the past decade. It made me think about the last 10 years I spent on this earth, the tremendous growth I've gone through, and the many memorable moments (many of which have been shared on this blog). Just 10 years ago, I was a 21-year-old, 208 lbs, 6.5% body-fat, pass catching machine, preparing to play in the Rose Bowl against Wisconsin. Fast forward to 2009 and I'm pushing 220 lbs, of which a bit more than 6.5% is of a gelatinous nature (I know somebody who likes it, though).
Where did the time go and where did the pounds come from? Let's see if we can figure this out with a recap of the last decade.
1999 - Preparing to play in the Rose Bowl... Played with two horribly sprained ankles, and bursitis in my elbow...
2000 - One of my proudest years, as my family celebrates my graduation in June. Finish my final football season ranked #2 in Pac-10 history in receptions (I will be the only one to get this correct when it is the Aflac trivia question).
2001 - Wrist surgery... Signed a free agent contract with the San Diego Chargers... Cut by San Diego Chargers after catching a game-deciding touchdown in my first NFL game and clearly outperforming the receiver that they kept (I'm not bitter or anything)... Spent my time as a part-time appliance salesman at Best Buy (I know all the newest dishwasher technology)... Re-signed by San Diego Chargers (somebody came to their senses).
2002 - Allocated to NFL Europe by San Diego Chargers... Live in Barcelona for three months... Tear my ACL in the ninth game after leading the league in TD receptions (here's where I should have quit football)... Spend a year in physical therapy in Birmingham, AL.
2003 - Move to D.C. to see about a girl (check Good Will Hunting)... No NFL teams call... Head to South Carolina to play some Arena II football, and find out that the team meals are at Waffle House... Drive back to D.C. and make myself at home... Back to working at Best Buy, but this time, I'm actually running a department.
2004 - Quit job at Best Buy... Drive back to California (ALONE)... Signed by Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe... Despite earning a starting spot, cut by Scottish Claymores (Yes, you read that right; cue Jay-Z's - Politics As Usual)... Signed to B.C. Lions of CFL... Decide that Canadian Football is for Canadians and retire from football (humor me here; I use the word retire as if it was a hard decision for me. $30,000 CDN is not worth the trouble)... Begin working in Stanford Athletic Department and moonlighting as a personal trainer.
2005 - Baptized... Ankle surgery... Walk into Borders and stumble across GMAT book... Realize that $25K isn't going to cut it in the Bay Area and apply to business school... Fool Stanford admissions for the second time, and I'm admitted to Stanford GSB... Begin to amass tons of student loan debt.
2006 - I learn that every company (especially a certain home improvement shop with an orange sign) is a mess on the inside... Purchase my first pair of turntables and DJ 2DEGREES is born.
2007 - Touchy Feely changes my life... Graduate from the GSB and enter the world of finance.
2008 - Exit finance to work at Stanford... Turn 30 years-old... My god-daughter Mikayla is born!!!!!
2009 - Knee surgery... Blog begins... Utterly miserable from January - October and contemplating leaving San Francisco... Fourth quarter comeback doesn't lead to a victory for 2009, but the game is no loner lopsided, and I have a lot to look forward to in 2010.
2010 - ???
So what does 2010 have in store for me? Last year's motto "NEW $HIT" didn't really work out. So this year I'll draw inspiration from music. Which of these should be the motto for 2010?
2010 - I Can (Very Obamaesque)
2010 - On To The Next One (works even if 2010 sucks)
2010 - The Winner (I deserve to win in 2010)
2010 - Imma Be (I control my destiny)
As usual, I can't end without hitting y'all with some music. So here's the 2010 DJ 2DEGREES OUTLOOK MIX.
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