Archive — Mike Blackaby
2 Jun
Chariots of Fire…
I hate exercise. On the other hand, I also hate the thought of being 500 pounds, so I occasionally attempt physical activity. I like hockey, tennis, and snowboarding, but the one form of exercise I have never understood is running.
21 May
Three Feet Under…
I remember the first year I started working for the Town of Cochrane for my summer job. They put me on a little John Deere mower and it took me forever to learn. However, after a few weeks I started to get the hang of it; then I started to get cocky. I would pull into the yard and kick up a dust storm as I spun into my parking spot on the gravel road. I would roll up my sleeves, put on my sunglasses and jam to my iPod as I sped around trees and playgrounds, cutting grass like a pro.
12 May
The Perfect Gift
Mother’s Day comes every year, and yet I still seem to forget it every time. This, however, has not always been the case. When I was five years old, I was determined that my mom would have the best Mother’s Day ever, and what could be a more perfect gift than breakfast in bed?
9 May
A Hero is Born
I love superheroes. Last Halloween I dressed up as Batman (unfortunately they never make superhero costumes in adult sizes, so my friends encouraged me never to don my juvenile caped crusader outfit again!). I grew up watching the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and they even appeared as the theme of my birthday party once or twice. I have often wished I had powers like the X-men or a secret identity like Superman (people still seem to recognize me with my glasses on!). The thought of fighting the forces of evil makes my heart race with excitement, and a couple of years ago, I had a chance to live my dream…
28 Apr
Out Of Control!
I hate flying. I have had opportunities to fly overseas several times, and the air travel has always been miserable. At first I thought this resulted from the severe lack of anything to do while in the plane, but I have recently discovered this is not the only reason. The real explanation is that I’m scared. It’s funny, because I participate in much more dangerous activities everyday (such as riding shotgun while my brother drives), but every time a plane hits turbulence I start to panic. I struggle grasping the fact that an unknown pilot is deciding my destiny while thousands of feet in the air!
23 Apr
Got Milk?
I had two very disturbing experiences the other day. The first happened while I was at band practice… . My other experience came when I returned home that night.
16 Apr
BEATLEMANIA!
I love music. I started learning drums about eight years ago and have been privileged to play in numerous bands during this time. I also enjoy playing guitar and currently play in a rock band called Fading Rebel and love it! My interest in music led me to start reading a book I found in my school’s bookstore called The Gospel According to The Beatles by Steve Turner. It is a fascinating book about the spiritual journey of the Beatles and what part religion played in their lives. As I was reading the other day, I came across a controversial comment John Lennon made during the height of their success, where he claimed the Beatles were “more popular than Jesus.
15 Apr
Why I Hate Malls…
I have a love/hate relationship with malls. When I go to the mall, I’m on a mission: I like to know exactly what I’m looking for so I spend the least amount of time in the mall as possible. I do this because nothing bores me more than the hustle and bustle of a busy shopping center.
1 Apr
I Would Rather Die
Public speaking is the most widespread phobia, even topping the fear of death! This often makes my dad say, “People would rather die than give a speech!” I am one of those people. My whole life I have been afraid of public speaking!
27 Mar
A Minivan, a Spider, and a Brush with Death
It started out as a peaceful summer drive in my minivan. Yes, I owned a minivan, complete with the speakers and blue interior lights that I added to give it a more “me” feel. I was driving through a set of stoplights when I caught something out of the corner of my eye descending from the roof onto my right shoulder. Now you must understand, there is one thing in life I am deathly afraid of. I’d say I’m afraid of failure, pain, rejection, and all the normal stuff, but nothing competes with my fear of spiders.
