Blog # 3: Caught up in the Moment

The game is on the line and there’re only a few seconds left in the fourth quarter.  The quarterback takes the snap and drops back. He rolls out to my side threatening to pass.  There I am, running as fast as i can manage, keeping myself perfectly positioned on the inside of the target receiver.  I don’t allow more than a few inches distance between our bodies as he cuts left, fakes a stop, then accelerates full speed down field.  The quarter back hurls the ball toward us.  If this ball is caught by the receiver they will win the game. Fighting off the pressure of countless eyes and a team of heavily invested players and coaches I narrow my focus to the task at hand.  The moment approaches as the ball begins to fall toward us.  Noticing the receiver’s eyes lift toward the sky to find the ball, I watch more carefully. While still running full speed and keeping myself positioned, I wait for the exact instant when the angle of his stare has lowered enough to indicate that the ball is close.  Now. I turn my head, completely losing sight of the receiver, trusting my judgment.  I look for the ball and find it just a few feet away.  The stadium lights are glaring and my warm breath is billowing, smoke like, into the cold night air.  I jump and raise my arms to get between the speeding ball and the hands of the receiver.  The timing has to be perfect, the amount of thrust must lift me to just the right height and the ball must hit my hands in precisely the right location allowing me to stop it’s rotation and it’s course.  Then it happens; the ball hits my fingers. I flex my sore hands and feel the spin absorb into my skin.  The leather has just enough grip that I control the ball and stop it’s forward motion bringing it to a stop in my grasp. Success. I have intercepted the ball and stopped the other team from scoring.  We win the game 21-17! Euphoria.  It all flashes back.  Weeks of struggling under hundreds of pounds in the squat rack to strengthen my legs, hours of studying the plays of the other team to help estimate where on the 52 yard wide field that receiver might run, years of watching my diet and counting carbs to ensure the optimum nutrition to grow the muscles and tendons I need to control and protect my skeleton, it all comes together to one indescribable and unmatchable satisfaction and realization.  I have done it.  I have mastered the art and controlled the outcome of the game! Now onto game two!

Blog # 2: Leaving Home

The day before I left home was full of preparation.  I had to pack all my things in the smallest little suitcase I’d ever seen! And then stuff that along with all the biggest suitcases I’d ever seen (those of my best friend, Colby) into the smallest trunk ever! We did get it all in there miraculously and were able to get the trunk closed.  Mom rounded up all the half empty bags of chips and crushed ice to fit into our thermos-like water bottles and put them in the fridge so they would be chilled in the morning.  I drove a 1995 white Honda Civic that my dad had sold to me for a few hundred bucks, so a good portion of the day before was spent tuning it up for the big drive.  I put air in the tires, changed the air filter, brakes, headlights, windshield wipers, and topped off all the fluids.  As night approached a few of my close friends came over to say bye.

I woke up at three or four in the morning and forced my legs to carry me to the shower.  The warm water wasn’t making it easier to wake up.  I got dressed in my room for the last time and brushed my teeth in my bathroom for the last time.  It was pretty weird honestly. Dad made me a couple egg sandwiches, like he always did before school, and told me to make sure I ate plenty of protein, then hugged me and told me he loved me.  Mom was scurrying around trying to find some more treats and was saying something about ‘boys and their crazy adventures’.   All my siblings had said their good byes the night before.  I grabbed by back pack and thanked my dad then hugged and kissed my mom, took the snacks from her thankfully and walked out to the car.  Of course they followed to the door way and watched as I threw my stuff into the back seat and got in.  I turned the key, revved the engine and with a cheesy wave and cheesier smile I left.

 I went to Colby’s house to pick him up and he was waiting outside with his parents.  His mom was a wreck.  His dad was even crying! I really didn’t know what to do so I just stood there awkwardly watching them huddled together.  Then she came at me! I was wrapped up in a wet teary hug before I had a chance to stick out my hand for a hand shake, the usual deterrent. His dad nodded to me and told me to drive safe.  We had never left home before and we honestly were a bit excited! We headed to get some gasoline and a few energy drinks at Dave’s Family Car Wash to keep us alive on the long road to the rest of our lives. As we drove off into the fresh morning, we reminisced about all the good times we were leaving there in the place we called home.  We were off to sell pest control in Kansas City, MO!!! 

Blog #1: "Me in 100 words!"

I am an enthusiastic 22-year-old skater from Arizona! I love being warm, getting sun, swimming, snowboarding skating, watching movies, the show Survivor, my 1992 Nissan Stanza (named George after Seinfeld’s George Costanza) and doing math! I strongly dislike credit cards, answering machines, traffic tickets, Walmarts that don’t have self checkouts and dead batteries.  I plan on visiting the Philippines soon (that's where I missioned!!), becoming an orthopedic surgeon, buying a Ford Raptor, inventing something useful and learning Spanish.  I’m addicted to ice cream, cold cereal, steak, chocolate chip cookie dough and skim milk. I am the 2nd of 5, the first Alger to serve a mission. I am Zack Alger. BAM!!!

So I think a long time ago I may have started a blog but I'm not sure... so this ought to be thought of as my first "real" blog. Yay!! I figure blogging is a very "open sourced" activity.  When I say that I'm not referring to computer language but rather implying that you can do/say whatever you want!  This is my bathroom wall! Anything I want to throw out there for the world to hear can be proclaimed via "Just Gotta Blog!".