The Graduate...

“Well, that’s done. I graduated from college. What’s for dinner?” - Me.

It took me a while, but I finally did it. I graduated from college. It was awful. I have no idea how I did it. I have no idea where I found the time, or how I found the energy, but it is done. I feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment knowing I finished something I started over a decade ago. If I would have stayed in school all those years I would be a doctor by now, but whatever.

I am a walking billboard for adult learners. I am that commercial of a person sitting up in bed while everyone else sleeps typing away on an essay, finishing homework on the bus ride into work, or taking my lunch break to complete a math problem while trying not to get sandwich crumbs on my MacBook Pro. I did all these things, and although I thought it was terrible at the time, I look back and am proud of the determination I had to get this damn diploma. I have no idea if it will impact or improve my quality of life, but this was a personal goal to get my degree, so I got it.

Over the last two years, while I was in school, I also worked my but off at work and was offered a promotion. During this time I had been dancing the line of work-life balance for 20+ direct reports. Not an easy task when you have a final due every few weeks. We bought a home in Nashville, TN. We moved across the country twice, and we got engaged. And somehow during all of that, I still found time to accomplish my academics. If I can do this, anyone can. I know, I may sound like I am patting myself on the back, but I don’t care, this is my story. I know a million other people have done this, and good for them. Going back to school was rough, but at the same time, it was rewarding. I am proud, let me have my moment.

On a recent call with my soon to be mother-in-law, I vented to her about how I just wanted to drop out. She listened to my complaints and then told me, “You are in your last class, it’s almost over, and when it’s done you’ll be glad you started this two years ago instead of today.” These words stood out to me because every accomplishment starts today. While I was in school, I did not tell anyone; this was a personal quest to prove to myself I could do it. In two years, whatever you start today could be accomplished. Are you going to get started right now? Or, are you going to wait another two years and say to yourself “Next year I will get to that” or “This Saturday I’ll start.” We all know we are full of shit when we say that, so get started on whatever goal you have now, you’ll be glad you did.

What will you get started today?

-YourFriendMatt

Let's go to Disney...

"So, did you have a good birthday?." - Me.

Recently my future in-laws were in town. Jamie and I love having familiar faces in town and love it, even more, when we get to play "host" at Disneyland. We have been on-and-off pass holders at the happiest place on Earth for the last few years. Whenever our families come to stay with us, we put them through the gauntlet of ducking and diving through crowds to get to Space Mountain on time or get the best spot for whatever the seasonal parades are.

This time around we had the additional excitement of celebrating Jamie's mother's birthday as well. Obviously, we got her the ceremonial birthday button, surprise desserts with meals and birthday wishes from cast members throughout the park all day to help bring in her new year. Disney just knows how to help you celebrate. We spent the day hearing, "Happy Birthday, April" being shouted with excitement from every direction all day. This constant excitement powers a typical day and is exemplified when it's your birthday.

But, it is not only the atmosphere that helps make any moment, dare I say, magical, but it is also the people you choose to spend time with. I consider myself a fortunate man. I am continually surrounded by people that make me more intelligent, more positive and challenge me to be a better person. I have so many incredible people in my life and appreciate it every day. Life should be incredible; it's too short not to be. 

I made a very silly, and very amateur, project attached above - all shot and edited on my iPhone X while in the park. Technology is incredible. Check it out and critique! 

Nothing but the best to you and your family!

-YourFriendMatt

Hello, World!

Friday 6-Pack...

Welcome to the weekend! Here are six new alternative rock tracks to get it stared! This weeks list includes tracks from First Ghost, Jank, and Heavy Things! Listen, enjoy and share!

We also have a pop-punk single from Lost in Society, an easy-listener from The Maple State, and an intricate track from itoldyouiwouldeatyou.

Music saves.

Listen, enjoy, and share!

-YourFriendMatt

2016...

“What should we do today?” - Me

We started the year off waking up in Anaheim at Disneyland, me with a slight headache, Jamie with a slight caffeine deficiency. We had spent the night before at Disneyland frolicing like 4 year olds one last time in 2015…but not before splitting a bottle of champagne in our hotel room first…and by splitting I mean she has a glass and I drank the rest…towards the end…straight from the bottle.

We got up - sort of - I found us coffees and a plate of cheap hotel pancakes and we were off to re-enter Disneyland for the first time in 2016, technically the second time in 2016, but who’s counting. We bounced back and forth between the 2 parks and that’s when I received a call. Over the last few months Jamie and I have been looking for an adventure mobile. Something we can cruise in, party in and make memories. The problem was, we are broke, so trying to find something within the $0 to $10 category that wasn’t a used Power-Wheel was becoming an issue. 

See my Instagram for a short video about this ride...@MattBates

Luckily for us, I am a Craigslist guru and have been told I should write a book or open an consulting agency about how to used Craigslist effectively. After searching through, negotiating and losing all hope we found a real diamond in the rough. One of those posts that is almost too good to be true, but we put in an offer 2 days earlier and they accepted. Boom. Win. I got off the phone and we left Disney as fast as we could to go meet up with them before they changed their minds.

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present, Big Red...

Americans...#BigRed...

This has been one of the biggest impulse buys and most unplanned thing I have even done, which is not my style, but this thing is too good, we had to jump on it. This year is even more about just jumping, taking risks and continuing to focus on what makes us happy. This van might look like a silly old van no one wants but to us, this is our coast cruiser, the party machine and something that will be worth the story. (Plus, for what we bought it for, we can sell it and make a profit *Thumbs Up*).

Not a bad start to the new year, a day at Disney, cocktails with some great folks and a new addition to the fleet. 

2016, you are shaping up...

-YourFriendMatt

Getting Our Money's Worth...Part 2...

“Weren’t you here yesterday?” - any random Disneyland cast member.

I have done it. I have spent one month of my life this year visiting Disneyland. I like to think of myself as the reason they raised the prices. We bought our passes on my birthday in January on a whim. Jamie and I do not have any family out here so holidays were a little depressing. Since we had already visited twice over a year (at $300 bucks for tickets for the both of us each time) we figured we would spend our entertainment budget on annual passes to help cheer us up on birthday and special occasions…and since then we have become addicted. 

Taken on my birthday when we got the passes!

We figured even if we went 6 times in a year they would pay for themselves easily. So we got the best passes we could afford, with no blackout dates, percentages off food and merchandise and parking included. I mean when it’s that easy to visit, why not? Going somewhere and knowing you have parking is incentive enough living here. Parking in Los Angeles has become a new level of hell I never thought imaginable. If I can go somewhere and know I have a guaranteed spot and not worry about being towed or ticketed for a small fortune…I am in. Plus, I mean, it’s friggin Disneyland, do you need an incentive to go? It’s the happiest place on Earth.

Taken when my Mom and Sister came out for a visit...and we started drinking...

We have had a year of unforgettable holidays, special occasions, birthdays and random weekends wandering through. I make it a point to yell “Happy Birthday” at anyone wearing a “It’s My Birthday” Disney pin. I have gone on solo trips to experience the park by myself and it is still incredible. It is a bummer they raised the prices so we don’t know if we will be able to renew. It would be a bummer not to have access to it, this was always a dream, like “Oh, they go to Disney a lot, they must be rich.” But, I’m broke and we made it happen. 

Taken from our most recent visit when we dressed up like Burt and Mary...

Glad we got them this year and who knows what next year will bring. I think I got my money’s worth.

Think I can I make it 40 trips?!

-YourFriendMatt

Getting our money's worth...

When we first moved across the country from Philadelphia to Los Angeles we barely knew anyone and had not family here. Our first holiday's were celebrated on cardboard boxes and makeshift furniture since we were still unpacking. We still had to use our GPS just to find a pizza place less than a mile from us. We were lost.

It was Christmas morning and after tripping over loose bubble wrap and the packing peanuts that littered our place we both came to a genius revelation. "Isn't Disneyland close to here?" We said, scrabbling to search Google Maps to find out how far it was. We were in the car within 15 minutes and battled the 405 to get to the happiest place on Earth, so we could drown our sorrows in Mickey shaped pretzels and ice cream.

Since then we budgeted our finances and looked into getting annual passes...and by the photo above, I think we are getting our money's worth...and we still have 4 months to go. Can we break 40 times this year?

Stay tuned...

Side Note: If we paid for tickets every time we went instead of getting passes we would be at around $3,500 each and about $400 in parking...

Halloween or Christmas?

Just 'cause...

Birthday!

Easter!

Easter!

What are the chances of running into him here?

When does it rain here?

60th Anniversary Celebration!