This, My Comeback

“Wow” was all I could say after my first workout in well over five years.  Not that I hadn’t been in the water or swam a lap here and there, but this was my first true, set filled workout and it was tough.  But I feel I would be jumping that gun here if I didn’t give my, you, my readers a bit of background.  I don’t know how well you all know me so I will write this as if you have never heard of me and one of my web design guru friends has told you that I have a great, content filled blog (which I am sure you, my web design guru friends are doing- haha)

My Name is Brandon Montgomery, I grew up in the Great State of Texas. I spent some time in Grand Prairie, then moved to Allen, then finally Wylie.  I really enjoyed all three (at least what I can remember of them).  But it wasn’t until I was in Allen that I met my friend Brett and his mother who were driving forces in my life in the pool.  I wasn’t great at baseball or basketball (ask Brett, the kid struck me out I think every time I have faced him in a game, although I do think a won a game of stick ball or two) but for some reason Brett and his Mother really thought I should take a shot at this “competitive” swimming thing.  Something about having big feet and hands for an 11 yr old kid would make me a great swimmer.  So it was a sunny early morning in Allen, Tx that I tried my first stint in summer league swimming.  I believe that team was called Coast.  I did pretty well, I made it to their regional where I did a flip turn in the middle of the pool thinking I was at the wall (I knew I should have worn those goggle things everyone else did). After Leaving that meet I took about a week off it was at this time that Brett’s Mother, really started stepping up her talk Brandon into swimming routine, so much so that shortly after that, I found my self staring at the largest pool I have ever seen.  It was 50m long, outdoors and it seemed like it would never end.  I was convinced that I would drown half way down.  But it was at this pool in Plano, Tx that I got my start.

Steve Matere (sp) was his name, he was a “portly” individual with a walrus like goatee (so I had decided at age 12). He walked out shook hands with Janet and asked who this “gangly” kid was, and why she had brought me.  She said (and it was one of the nicest things anyone had said about me that I had heard), “This kid has huge hands and feet, if he ain’t a swimmer then I don’t know what a swimmer is.” Steve asked me what I could swim, I answered… …um, everything.  He laughed, quite a jolly laugh if I remember correctly, and asked if I wouldn’t mind showing him.  I jumped in at the shallow end, put on the goggles I had borrowed from Brett and started my freestyle.  “Good LORD!” was that pool long, my arms felt like they were ready to fall off when I got to the other end, “You want me to do, what!?” Could you believe that the walrus looking guy was asking me to swim another length of the pool this time a different stroke, what next, Fly!? Sure enough upon completion of my second leg fly was in order.  None to pleased was I about this, what was that woman thinking bringing me to this insane man.  But I tried it and I am pretty sure he felt my pain because about half way he stopped me and asked me to finish up with backstroke.  I did gladly, although I am sure no technique was used, and I am doubly sure I pulled on the lane line a time or two.  “He will start on Maroon.” was all he said, then walked away to coach his other swimmers.

My first practice I walked into the pool, I want to say it was Plano Senior High, but I can’t remember.  I was a member of Cops now and the fall season was just getting under way.  There he sat, walrus man (who I later found out was called Steve Shamus Matere) in a white lawn chair screaming and a hollering about this that and the other.  Eesh, not exactly the jolly man I met the other day, but I was determined to give it my best shot, I walked out to him and asked me he wanted me.  I soon found myself in the second lowest (and youngest) group on the team.  Here I was a grown 12 year old and 6-7 year olds were beating me and Brett’s brother Josh (also younger) was in a higher group and would have been destroying me. Very embarrassing, but I stuck it out and Steve- not sure of his last name, but he did have a lisp- coached me up pretty fast, once I had the technique I moved up to Gold, now we were cooking.  I was at least only 2-3 years older then these kids.  As I progressed in my skills and ability to handle workouts they got longer, harder and far more satisfying.  I went to an A/bb/C (or something like that) meet and ended up scoring really well, a few golds here and silver and a bronze and I was hooked.  I loved this sport.  I didn’t have to rely on anyone or thing other then my self to improve or win, it was all up to me how awesome.  Next, it was Chris’s turn.

“Chris McCurdy and Jerry Hidenriech are putting together a team, I am having my boys switch and I think you should as well, Julie.” Next thing I new, I was swimming out at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Tx, on Senior 2 (second highest level in this team) on a team called ATAC.  I had my friends Brett and Josh, and I was meeting new people and great swimmers all the time.  I swam with one of the Hardest working swimmers I had ever met (she was on Senior 1) Jana Brock.  She could train and would train harder then anyone I had ever seen.  We all trained hard and it was an outdoor pool YEAR ROUND.  I know people think TX is always hot, but the winters get pretty chilly.  It was INSANE, but a great experience, plus we all had great year round tans! I had a ton of fun and probably learned the most I could about technique, Chris was a great coach, hard but fair.  But eventually  I think the daily commute was just two much especially when it was starting to be twice daily.  It was discussed and I was told that I would be moving to Metroplex Aquatics with Brent Mitchel.  His resume was pretty solid, coached at swim Atlanta (one of the most successful teams in the sport) before that he had swam at Florida.  He swam breast-stroke which had become my main stroke so it was a perfect fit, we were both competitive, fiery and a little sports nuts (countless argues over who was better 49ers or the Falcons).  He tweaked my technique and really taught me to taper, and focus.  He was the only person who could calm me down after a loss or bad swim.  To me he was the best fit I could ask for and any success I have had in the water is all due to him.  He also had to deal with the fact that I hated failure so much that I would find ways to not do my best, so I could say it wasn’t my best performance and therefore had it been said best performance I would have won.  It was a terrible mental battle and he helped me win it many times.  And that pretty much gives you my swimming history… …oh right, why I quit to begin with, wow so many reasons.

I think I was a little burnt out, having been in the water for about 6/7 years and doing two adays and not having much of a life I just needed a break, so when a youth pastor (who shall remain nameless) came to me and asked me to step into a role of being mentored for the ministry, I jumped at it, you can’ t argue with religion!  I have always regretted that move, even to the point where I got back into the water at the age of 19 to try my hand after a 1/1.5 year lay off.  But I could never find my rhythm, I knew I missed it and that I loved it, but I just couldn’t focus.  It was then that I finally walked away for good… …well what I thought was for good.  I am typing here, roughly 2 hrs after the completion of my first comeback workout and now I must explain why I am trying for a third time to be a good, no I will be honest, I am trying to be a great swimmer.  I am not going to settle for being okay, or a master’s swimmer only.  I am going to through my whole heart into this and see what comes of it!  I am going to strive to be a competitive swimmer once again.  (my Goals I will share with you all later in this already way to long post)  But the reason I am coming back is because I know, if I had truly tried and truly committed to swimming that I could have been amazing.  I had someone I swam with back in the ATAC days say, “he has so much natural talent,” Why do I have that talent? Why let it go to waste?  So when the opportunity came and I saw a chance to get back into the water, I jumped on it and I am going to train hard and smart, eat right and doing whatever it takes to give myself the chance to succeed.

My first workout was painful and slow and it reminded me of the time I joined COPS.  I was nervous to start, what if I couldn’t do it, what if I was really to old?  But I did it and I finished it and finished well, almost puking in the process.  My arms felt like jello at first and then like lead (which doesn’t do well in water), but I finished.  It was only 3000 meters in about 1 hr, but I finished.  I made all my intervals, some by mere seconds, but I finished.  And after I was done, I felt right, I felt right when I started, when I put on my suit, when I put on my goggles.  I know I am supposed to be in the water using my talents and abilities.  I loved it, as painful as it was, it was infinitely more pleasing.  When I told my Fiancee and my Parents that I was attempting a second comeback and a third stint into swimming there reactions surprised me.  They were elated, ecstatic and over joyed.  It was as if they new I needed this and were just waiting for me to realize that I missed it.

The situation is this, the United States Marine Corps (USMC) has decided that they are going to put together a swim team to compete in Open events.  The times are fast, real fast, but I have had those times (some easily) in the past.  I have until June 30th to submit my resume which means I have to find a swim meet some time in mid June in order to have a sanctioned times sheet.  I have picked a few target events and I will narrow that to two main events by late this month.  I am unsure if I will make the team and even if I don’t, I will press on and re-submit my application as soon as I have met their time standards.

My near goals:

1. Make the USMC Team: A- 100m Breast-stroke, B- 200m IM(individual Medley)

2.  Improve on those times and give myself a fighting chance at Olympic Trials

3.  Get to the 2012 Olympic trials, and do well

They are high and far reaching I know, and I have a long, hard journey ahead of me, but I believe that if I train, eat and do what is necessary to succeed then I will.  If something goes wrong and I am unable to then at the very least I will know I truly gave it my best effort and I can lay it down and not feel remorse, or regret for what could have been.

I ask that those who know me pray that I will keep focused in this adventure and not get discouraged, but when I do, that I will just push through and move beyond.  I will try to keep this blog updated with my progress on a weekly basis (time permitting) and I will keep you abreast of what I am thinking and feeling emotionally and physically as I take on this challenge.  I still have no name for this, but I feel that this, My comeback will be a story to tell some day.  And there I believe is my title, “This, My Comeback.”

The End Of Poverty: At First Glance

I don’t tend to read the forwards to too many books, but hell Bono wrote it so why not?  He starts with this line, “Hunger, disease, the waste of lives that is extreme poverty are an affront to all of us.”  This indeed sounds as if it should be true.  I suppose he did his job I was sold on trying to read this book now.

My first attempt to read this book has not gone well, I must be sold on a book or an idea before I start doing the research or reading necessary to be “in tune” with the concept.  I was not very sold on this topic because I am extremely un-mercy gifted (I lack any mercy) and I hate giving (mostly to people I don’t know, if a friend needs twenty bucks sure, but Jim Bo the Hobo, not so much go get your booze money from someone else).  I found myself not so much drawn by the topic but the argument (if you know me I love to question and argue to a fault).  So there I was, sitting at work bored of counting weapons and what not and I decided a quick trip to the on base library could do me some good.  I got there and I couldn’t get the book out of my mind so I looked for it, found it and rented it… …err, leased it, no wait I think the term is borrowed.  I took it home and looked at it over the next few days refusing to pick it up, but I finally broke down and picked it up.  My friend Brett posted this on his blog, you can find him at the following places (www.bretttilford.com, http://getnectar.com, http://twitter.com/bretttilford) I read his blog and then made a few comments and then realized I had no place commenting on a subject I new little about.  It was with that in mind that I truly sat down to read this book today.  I was okay with everything up until I read this line: “…he knows the problem is not one of infrastructure or logistics or adherence.  He knows that the problem is simply that the world has seen fit to look away as hundreds of impoverished Malawians die this day as a result of their poverty.” WOW! Are you serious, Mr Sachs?  No one has ever bothered to lend a helping hand to those struggling with poverty and disease?  What about the people like my Friend Josh R. (if that link doesn’t work: jrunnels.blogspot.com should get you there) or the great people like Jeremy and Jennifer Price  (www.jeremynjenprice.blogspot.com).  Or how about people like you and Bono, Mr. Sachs?  ooohh wait wait, what about the $500 BILLION that has already been sent there, what has that done?  made like 3 wells, two schools and a ton of warlords rich!!  Don’t try to tell me that the “…world has seen fit to turn away…” The world has done plenty it is time for you, Malawi, to step up, stop hurting yourself, stop the in fighting, if you truly cared about your country then instead of being corrupt and thinking of yourselves as individuals think of yourselves as a community of people that should join together, dig your own wells, find something you can contribute to the world (aside from HUGE aids numbers) and start building your economy.  Yes I know that you have tons of people sick and unable to work.  but there must be some that can group together and really start traveling the country and building improvements.  I don’t claim to have the answers but I know that when you live your life as a victim you will always be the victim!

I have not finished the book and I will try, but if this book is just another “is me, look at this sickly child, give me your money….” I will most assuredly return it to the library with out finishing.

Okay with that said, new topic.  Another book I have been reading is, “Men in Black.” No not the movie with will smith in it, but a book about the supreme court and some of the problems or should I say the wrong turns it has taken.  I am not speaking about specific cases in the sense of right and wrong.  I am merely speaking to the fact that cases that have been seen are not something that the supreme court should be discussing.  They are to defend the constitution, they were not created to make new laws (which they have).  I am still not very well versed on the subject so this is mostly a request that you comment with your opinions, thoughts, ideas and such as I continue to read more and do my due diligence.

Who are They polling?

I was reading the USA Today and it said by a 3-1 margin, Americans are okay with big government. Did I miss something? These Americans said they were okay with big government “…so long as It backed out..” ummm can anyone tell me what the governent has ever taken control of and then simply walked away from with no strings attatched? One a word, Nothing!!! The GOV is like that childrens book, “If you give a mouse a cookie.” They will ask for milk, a couch and your bed and favorite teddy bear to sleep with.

America was not founded to have large GOV control of everyhing. Here is what the GOV should concern itself with (pay attention Barry O.): The safety of this country (the military which means you should probably stop cutting funding), and up holding the law. Economics should be monitered not controlled, it will always work itself out. Education- where the real history is taught not the presiding opinions of the “leadership”. Energy is acxeptible, not the regulating but how we can better use it in our daily lives.

I do not usually way in on this topic, but I felt I must.

I was thinking

I was sitting here waiting for my laundry to dry, lost some where between a race and a basketball game when I started to think about my blog.  There was nothing in particular, I was not thinking of any one blog or any future blog for that matter.  If there was a topic to my thoughts it was how has my blog changed the world.  Not the 6+ billion people that exist on this planet, but the 25+ people that read my blog, have I helped them to think about their view points differently?  Have I added new light to their already well lit “arenas” of thought?  or have  i merely contributed to the billions of thoughtless, mind numbingly dumb posts, tweets or any such things that occur on the Internet.  Am I truly just one more person in an Internet world that hosts millions that adds nothing good or new to this world?

I think that for the most part the answer is yes!  How sad, I don’t want to be that person at all, I don’t want to add nothing to this world all the while filling it up with useless drivel!  And so here is the end result of this train of thought, I Brandon Montgomery, will post nothing.  I will post nothing until something that I think will add to this world in a positive matter!  I am not saying that the current post I am working on is the answer, but simply an announcement that I will work hard to ensure that my blog is one of the few that is not self serving, not just in existence to throw random tidbits out, but is here to be provocative, and challenging.

I got a text from my mother on Saturday letting me know that Rush Limbaugh would be speaking at the CPAC conference, he was supposed to have twenty minutes and ended up taking about an hour and a half.  I must admit that there were times when my skin rose in goose bumps, he is a very gifted speaker and he did bring up some great points.  He scoffed at the idea that the “Regan Era” was over, for all practical purposes telling Newt Gingrich to shove it.  He said that, “He hopes the president will fail.”  And I found this to be interesting, he has said this before and the media lost it’s mind, however, he seemed to ignite the crowd with his statement.  I don’t think that he means he wants this country to fail, but rather that he simply wants the policies and bill’s that the President is putting  forth to fail.  But I am getting into a topic I rarely talk about so I shall move forward.

Religion:

I have been doing some thinking of late, mostly in regards to creation and the insane concept that is brought to us in Genesis.  My first thought was, how cruel is God.  And I know some of you die hard, bible beating types are sitting there praying that God would remove the demons that make me ask, or say such things.  But just follow me here and you will see.  My first thought was why would God put the one thing Adam couldn’t eat in the middle of everything he could? Second, why would he point it out? (Notice I give you a panel of all green buttons and one Dark green button and then I say don’t push the dark green one, you can push all the others, just not that one, your going to push it) then on top of that he creates an animal that is “craftier” then the others, and then either creates it with evil intent and the ability to talk, or he creates it’s ability to speak and then allow-es Satan (Lucifer if you prefer) to in habit such an animal and on top of it all, puts it in the garden with the tree!?  Doesn’t that sound like Man  was set up for failure right away?

I have to run, but I have many more thoughts and they will follow soon as I can find some time to put them down!

Holy *^%!

Randy “The Natural” Couture the heavyweight champion of the MMA world is returning to the Octagon to fight the up and coming Brock Lesner!  This is a MMA fans dream fight!!!  Just thought I would let my readers know.  Mark your calanders for Nov 15th!

Untitled

I could not think of a title that would give to this blog what it needed, no word came to mind that would appropriatly describe what I am about to write about and what you are about to watch (if the video works- if it does not work, go to youtube and search for “Every Other Weekend” by Reba McEntire and Kenny Chesney)

I was going through you tube looking for the random stuff that you can find on there when I stumbled across one of the most powerful songs I have heard in quite some time.  I am not one that succombs to emotion (just ask my darling girlfriend) but I heard this song and it ripped right through my stone clad heart.  I would say enjoy, but that word is not right for this song. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DCMsDHcdLI