Hobbies

Well as I stated in the first page these are my hobbies:  Soccer  Basketball  Learning and Playing the guitar  The card game Euchre  Running Watching Movies  Learning About Computers  Listening To Music  Golfing Badminton Fishing Reading and learning about fish, trees, and dogs   First, I am going to describe soccer. I started soccer when I was in seventh grade, yeah I know I started late so sue me. This was actually the first year I ever did sports. I decided to try out soccer 'cause it looked kinda cool. That year they put me in the fullback postion and the sweeper position which are both defensemen positions. Through the next few years my love for the game of soccer greatly increased and it eventually became my favorite sport. I played on various clubs, playing mostly defense at those times, and eventually got invited to play soccer in Europe. I decided that I wouldn't accept the offer, even though it was very tempting, because I wouldn't know how to communicate with my fellow teamates. I was put in the goalie position as a joke in practice and it turned out I loved playing the goalie position. For the next two years I put most of my effort in learning goalie techniques. All the way through high school my club team try desperately to get an actual high school team. Eventually, with time, we got the high school team approved my senior year. This year was a very exciting time for me because I was a senior and this was my first year playing for my high school. Things were going well and I started the first game in the left fullback position. After wining that game things started to change. Our starting goalie seperated his sholder in practice which meant a lot of changes to occur in our starting line up. Well since I had some experience with goalie I was put into his position. I was not half as good as him but I decided its the best for the team. My first game was terrible and we lost dramatically but through the year I recieved awards for my goal keeping skills. Once I graduated high school I was offered various different scholorships but decided to just play soccer for the fun of it.   I am going to talk about basketball now. I also started playing basketball in seventh grade. I played it all the way through junior and senior high. I did not fall in love for basketball as much as I did soccer but I did enjoyed playing it for fun. I played every position except point guard. I did not have the ball handling needed for that position nor did I have the eyes that a good point guard would have. My favorite position that I played was probably small forward! I loved passing and shooting the ball but for some reason the coach thought that it would be best that I play forward. The funny thing is I'm not a very big guy so I was guarding some BIG guys! I didn't really play that much all the way through high school but I really didn't care. The only thing I was worried about is that I was enjoying what I was doing. Lots of people thought I was a very good player and maybe I was but my coaches didn't care for me as a person so I didn't play. I still play basketball to this day actually but I just play street ball and such. I think I'm way better than I used to be but that is just my personal oppinion. I enjoy watching basketball on television also. My favorite teams at this moment are the Portland Trailblazers and Duke University. My favorite basketball player is Scottie Pippen who is currently playing for Portland. Another hobbie of mine is learning and playing the guitar. I am very new at this guitar stuff but I really enjoy it. Since I am so into music, (because I listen so much already), it becomes fun and very exciting. I also throughly enjoy playing the card game euchre. I started playing this game about 5 years ago and I'm not sure how I learned how to play it. Anyway, I have come to the point where I play it more than any other card game now. The only problem about the game is not everyone knows how to play it and it isn't the easiest game to teach unfortunately. I think it is a very exciting card game though and that everyone should play it! Let's see with running...well this has been an on and off hobbie of mine since the old high school days.  My track coach at the time really, really motivated me to enjoy running.  I've always had some what of a talent in it and have come to enjoy it a lot more than I used to.  It's a good time for me to get some exercise and enjoy life in itself.  Though I'm not as fast as I used to be its still good to know that I can still do what I once did. I love to watch movies but the sad thing is that I am a movie critic always have always will. My favorite movies right now are Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, Big Daddy, Uncle Buck, Nutty Professor I & II, The Rock, Enemy of the State, and Gladiator. My all time favorites are Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile! I love those movies! As you can see my taste for movies varies, I really dont have a particular type of movie that I like. I just like the content and the actors/actresses in them.  I also have grown to love computers very much in the past two or three years. So much that i decided to make my major OMIS which deals with computers a lot. If I would have started all over again I probably would be doing computer science to be honest but OMIS will work just fine! My love for computers began back at Blackhawk College where I took Computer Science 100. I found the class very interesting and exciting. My love for computers grew more and more while I was attending Blackhawk. I became so in tune with the computer that after school and work I would go downstairs to the computer room and play around and learn new things. With the experience I've learned through Blackhawk I know a lot about html which helps. My job currently is working with computers and I love it! Granted, I'm only a computer lab assistant but still it's a big step from working maintenance last year. One of my most cherished hobbies is listening to music as I stated in my first page I listen at least 4 hours but usally I do more than that! Some of my favorite groups are Project 86, Plankeye, P.O.D., Massivivid, Grammatrain/Pete Stewart, and Switchfoot. Some secular bands that I like are Creed, U2, Foo Fighters, Goo Goo Dolls, and Collective Soul. I really enjoy listening to music because it puts real life stories into a deeper meaning. I hope one day that I become an artist just like my all time favorites! My favorite style of music is definitely rock/alternative. I also like some pop but not too much. I really give props though to the bands that try new things and experiment. I'm getting very tired of bands following bands. In my personal oppinion it shouldn't be on the number of albums sold but the number of people or bands it influences. If you haven't heard of any of the bands I've stated as my favorites well to let me explain in a little better detail. To better specify this they are called "Christian Bands" but some people have this weird clique about christian music and I really wouldn't call it that. I would call it music that talks about life and it's daily struggles. The best thing about these bands though is that it's very positive where as secular isn't like that at all!  Last but not least I'm also in the Illinois National Guard. I have been in since March 23, 2000. I left for basic training January 2nd, 2001 and I headed down south to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. It was a very nervous time but at the same time kinda exciting. Like I said on the first page I will be missed a semester here at NIU because of it. I think it will be a good thing though because it will give me some time off from school and think about things.  I definitely recommend anyone to the national guard! It's very convient and plus they pay for school. All I have to do is show up two weeks a year and during those two weeks a year I get paid for them! I think it's a wonderful deal! Golfing...well lets put it this way...I'm still new at it.  People at work call me one of the 'newbies' and I would classify myself as a 'newbie' in this sport.  I believe I've got barely a hundred holes completed thus far in my career but new clubs is a must!  I enjoy the driving range and it shows while I'm golfing but the other stuff boy do I have a ways to go.  I will try to golf every weekend or so to pick it up but it will take some time and I hope to enjoy every step of the way. :o) One of my newest hobbies has become badminton.  Yea, thats right badminton!  I really enjoy the high speed and short courts.  It keeps me in great shape.  I started playing when I was a freshman in high school and haven't really picked up racquet since but now I've found a whole nother level of appreciate in this game.  It actually takes a lot of endurance and skills to be really good.  I hope that I really get involved in some clubs and hopefully start playing in tournaments.  We will see how it goes with my old age, jk! :o) This goes back to my childhood days and has been an interest of mine but never had anyone to learn from.  Well I still really don't have anyone to learn from other than my grandfather.  Whom I'm sure I will take out somewhere.  I hope someday soon to get some good fishing lessons and get out and learn!  This has always been in the back of my mind to learn and do but its hard learning on your own.  Maybe I'll find somone to teach me or something.  I hope this becomes a good retirement plan with golfing as the kickstand. :o) My last but not least hobby is animals.  Since I was a young boy I always enjoyed birds, deer, and small fish.  Now I've got lots of fish and hope to someday have a dog.  I hope by August next year with my own place; which would be sweet!  As far as trees...not so sure where that all came from but if you really take a second and look at the beautiful things God created.  You may enjoy just a small bit of what he's created.  Trees are magnificent in their size and strength and I enjoy learning about them.  I guess that also came from my old grand pappy who I love.  I've learned a lot from him and can't thank him enough for what he is and has done for me.  Email Me I'd love to hear from you and your input about my webpage. If you would like to hear more about certain topics send me an an email! If you have any ideas or things I should do with my webpage tell me, I would love to hear from you too! You can contact me via email @ [email protected]   Last Updated July 13th, 2004. Created by Matt Hartman All contents copyright © 2004 All rights reserved