Meditating in a Sauna

I have a new love. Meditating in the sauna.

Let me explain. Today is my Opa's 87th birthday. He is still very active and does gardening, housework, goes for walks that are several miles long, doe tai chi, and goes to the gym, swims, and much more. He also loves saunas. He taught me the way of the sauna and has told me countless stories of him saunaing in Europe when he was younger where everyone (men and women) go into one sauna. Now that's not how most saunas in the U.S. are, but they are just as relaxing.

To honor his birthday today, I decided that I would sauna after my workout. I got in there and the heat was intense (as it should be). I sat down, looked at the clock, and then closed my eyes. With how busy life is for everyone with school, family, and work, and all of the stresses that go along with everything, it's good to relax, take some 'you time,' and be at one with yourself. 

So I decided to meditate in the sauna. 

15 minutes later I come out and have this happy feeling deep down, knowing that it's going to be a good day.

So I have some homework for you. I want you to sauna. You can go in with nothing on but your birthday suit and a smile (and please have a towel to sit on), with your swimsuit, or with some light clothes. Don't bring any electronics with you (saunas usually have a clock on the wall). Don't talk with anyone. Just sit there and meditate. Take time for yourself and you'll soon fall in love like I did. 

Gym Common Sense

Lately I've been seeing some people at the gym that don't have common sense. I'm here today to tell you the common sense rules for the gym. If you do these things, everyone at the gym will have a good time and you won't look like an ass.


1) Rerack your weights. If you can lift them, then you are strong enough to put them away.

2) No grunting. You might think it helps you lift more or makes you feel more manly, but it doesn't. It makes you look like an ass.

3) Don't drop your weights. Sometimes when you're on a machine, it'll happen accidentally. That's fine. But don't be that guy that keeps dropping the weights so everyone looks to see how much your lifting when in reality, I could probably lift more than you.

4) Share the mirror. If someone is using the mirror, DON'T STAND IN FRONT OF THEM!

5) Keep your shirt on. Even Clay Matthews keeps his shirt on at the gym.

6) If you're going to watch TV while doing cardio stuff, make sure you check with others to see if they are watching that TV. Don't just go flipping the channels. 

7) When you're done with a machine, whether you just got there and aren't sweaty yet or on your last rep for the day, WIPE OFF THE MACHINE! I don't want to get an unexpected sweaty hug from you through the machine just because you were lazy and didn't wipe it off.

ATF Internship

Yesterday I had an interview for a summer internship with the ATF. I got there early so I walked by the river some then went into the building. 

The interview wasn't a strict interview, more conversation like. At the end of the interview, she told me that I should probably get my fingerprints done for the background check which is the next stage and that she would be telling me that night. I figured she wouldn't be telling me this unless if I'm pretty much in. 

On my way home, I stopped at the UWM Police dept and got my fingerprints done. I could tell that the officer who did them was more used to dealing with drunk college kids from the way he did them. 

Right before I left for work, I decided to check my email and not even 2 hours after the interview, I get the email telling me that I have to fill out the background check information and that I have the internship! 

I went to work and my boss called me giddy. Then my best friend Mike stopped by and brought a banana split to celebrate. 

It was a pretty awesome day and I'm really excited.