The Wicked Messenger

The west coast has been home to one of my favourite families for years. I have been fortunate enough to go visit the Golden State the past two years. California won me over after the first 15 minutes of my trip last year. After this trip, not only did I enjoy it all more than last year, donuts included, but I also found an addiction to surfing.

I was accompanied by my trusty surf master Jindroh, who taught me many a great thing when it comes to surfing. Reading waves as they come in, avoiding the bad ones, paddling into the good ones and poppin' up on the board are all keys to becoming a decent surfer dude. Floating around the water while dolphins swim within feet of you is just a little part of the rush when it comes to surfing. The real beauty is all about catching the wave at the right time and riding it down as mother nature supplies you with a free adrenaline rush.

Long boards, nice and easy straight riders.. Short boards, tricky and stylish riders. It truly is something special when you get that rush. Even for my 2 seconds of standing up, feels like a fortnight and that continues to urge me to strive for more. 

The real addiction didn't hit me until I returned home. I took for granted the morning and afternoon surfing that was just there for me. Could wake up at 7am and walk to the beach.. or after some burritos and donuts, I could drive to a pier and see how the waves were. I would feel my body in the water when I would goto sleep - just like feeling yourself on a roller coaster after a day at Canada's Wonderland.. 

I tried wake surfing up in Muskoka this past weekend. It was really fun and definitely my new favourite cottage water activity. That nice 'free' feeling comes with wake surfing.. but Surfing is hard to beat, especially when you are eating some tasty  Mexican food and donuts on the daily.

I'm looking forward to fixing up Betty, my board, and catching some waves hopefully sooner than later. Hang ten. 

Mucho Alofa 

Growing up I had a slew of Idols that I would daydream about becoming. It's amazing looking back on your interests and how they have changed since. Just today my all-time favourite hockey player, Joe Sakic, was selected as part of the 2012 NHL Hall of Fame class. Pat, we don't care about this factoid you say? Well as a youngster, besides the obvious road hockey games, I would lace up my rollerblades and skate around re-enacting some of Sakic's huge career moments pretending it was really Patrick McGarry scoring that game winner.

Sadly, I grew up.. only a little. My attention slowly turned to football during the end of my high school days and I moved on to a hard working grinder from TCU, Ladainian Tomlinson. He was humble, family man, and a star on the field. This was looking like a Joe Sakic on the gridiron to me. Throughout most of university I trained like LT and worked my butt off both academically and athletically. My marks went up each and every term and my skill and leadership improved on the field as well. Ladainian retired this past week, leaving yet another idol to hang 'em up. These occurrences made me reflect on things I've learned from these athletes, and playing sports in general.

I always love seeing the hard working, soft spoken, people of integrity, excel at any level. It's nice to see the success and accomplishments that the people I admired achieved - through hard work and dedication - two things I live by.

All that being said. Throughout my life, I have had the best idols that anyone could ever ask for. Since August 20, 1986, I was born into this world with the greatest parents. They raised me into the person I have become. Allowing me to grow in whichever direction I went. I never took them for granted.. well, maybe when it came time for grocery money in uni. My mom and dad have been amazing. My family is amazing, and if you don't believe me just stop by the house, they'll take you in and feed you. Duke our massive silver lab is a true McGarry, very loveable. As a kid you never really notice or want to notice, because a lot of the time they would be yelling' or telling me things I did not want to hear.. It was all for the betterment of my life! (I never got the "eat your brussels sprouts Patree." - but I woulda ate them!)

I guess what I'm trying to point out is that when you're young, your mind is always racing around with ideas and goals - things on TV or in the media. You grow up and your thoughts all change, maybe they stay the same. ie. I'm thinking about millionaire superstars and how great they are. Even though, through thick and thin, my parents were always there for me. They taught me how to be someone that others could hopefully look up to one day. I'm grateful for that and for them.

I hope you have some lifelong idols that you appreciate as much as I appreciate my parents. 

I want to be someones childhood idol. Here's mine:

What a huge topic to discuss. The single most greatest thing a person can do is experience. Why do you ask? It’s the only way we grow as individuals.

Some people live in a safe bubble, taking on comfortable experiences, never really risking anything. These people are often met with a dull and stale lifestyle. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing either, but you are limiting yourself from your full potential. Limiting yourself from finding your boundaries.

Some people live outside the box. Doing things to test themselves. It’s the ultimate way to grow. It’s exciting and sometimes thats not for everyone. I like big roller coasters, but not everyone does. Find what works and what doesn’t work for you. They always say you’ll never know unless you try.

I think living outside the box is the best, although you need to find a balance. Know when to play it safe, but stick yourself out there as many times as possible. Take advantage of your youth, cause when you turn 51 you can’t be going up on stage in front of a bunch of indie hipsters playing old gems that know one has hear of… Then again I think I will still do that.

These experiences include relationships, friendships, jobs, sports teams, vacations, schools, and so many more things to name.

How do you know if you like or dislike something if you don’t experience. This blog could be never ending, explaining how each experience effects your future and majority of the time in positive ways. Learning lessons. Gaining knowledge. Correcting mistakes.

Live your life outside the box, make yourself nervous and create a little anxiety, see how you react. The more you do or experience something the better you are at handling it or becoming confident with it.

One day I’ll break some of my experiences out and show you real life examples of growth.

Do something different today.

So a few weeks ago I wrapped up my first official full year of coaching at the CIS level with the end of Waterloo spring camp. What an experience it all was, wealth of experience from CFL and NFL savvy coaches, long days, growing pains from a young team, and bad food diets were all apart of this past football season.

I found myself realizing how much I love coaching, and how much I loved to coach these young men, not just on the field, but off it as well. I would be at practice after an eight hour shift of work with maybe 4 hours of sleep, and the players would ask how am I so energetic? Coaching isn't work to me. Feels very natural and seeing improvements on a daily basis is the reward. Keeping the kids out of trouble, or seeing them make a nice play are the things that make it all worth while and make me strive to be a better person and coach myself.

I'm heading to York this weekend to check out their spring camp and see what coaching opportunities they have to offer. Connections are great to have especially in the coaching world. I'm planning on being a teacher, student, and coach come this fall. That's the dream for me, learning constantly, teaching others and coaching. Hard work and patience is the key to all things in life worth having.

Today 17 years ago the McGarry's welcomed twins into the family. I can't believe how time flies. Once little turds, now aspiring movie makers and editors with lots of creativity. They both have a great sense of humour (I obviously rubbed off on them. . ..) and refreshing imagination that will lead to bright futures in whatever they end up wanting to do - advertising, movies, comedy.

Being away from the home nest for 7 years now, I don't get to see any of my brothers often (Edward the oldest, with Sean and Glenn being the twins). So when I do get the chance to visit, I see them change and grow in leaps and bounds. Fast Eddie is working with the nearby elementary school, helping out the kids that need a little extra attention. The young ones are *almost as tall as me and have their own identities and styles now - hilarious.

You always hear about how important family is, and it is so true. If I only had my brothers around, I would be living a good life. They drive me to do great things and I cherish all the time I get to hang with them, even if it is watching Toy Story 3 and trying not to tear up near the end.. I love 'em.

Now I know not everyone has siblings, but that doesn't mean you can't relate to what I'm preaching. Over the years I have grown many more brothers and sisters (poor mom was stuck with 4 boys, and DUKE - male dog). I've been blessed to meet some great people and have grown to be so close to call them family. All the way from grade 2 days, to first day of training camp, and all the ones in between.

Appreciate your brothers and sisters. Yeah, fighting happens, but in the grand scheme of life, they are your family and that trumps all. I'm grateful for all my brothers and sisters. Hope you are too.

Today would've been my lovely nan's birthday. She was one of the strongest ladies I know, one of the best cooks I know, and was just plain beautiful.

She had emphysema which led to her early passing. I think she lived 20 years longer than she was suppose because of the drive she had. She was a hardworking and determined granny. Loved her family.

I'm just wishing her a happy birthday and telling you fortunate ones that still have your grandparents around to love them up.

Such a gorgeous and very fitting day for her today.

Oh the lovely day that everyone sports their finest green attire, finds the nearest lawn or backyard party, and proceeds to consume an inordinate amount ofalcohol. A day where everyone wishes to be Irish and fit the drunken stereotype, and why not? They're cool, know how to party, drink a lot, and the majority are friendly. Did I mention they were cool?

All kidding aside, the day is filled with several amateurs drinking green beer - which is as far away from being Irish as possible - and making terrible blacked-out decisions before passing out on a random couch or street corner. Pour yourself a Guinness and then you can consider yourself a little Irish.

I have never overdone St. Patty's day. Being irish and named Patrick means it should be my second birthday though, right?? Other than a few years, early in university, I have always been working to pay for school and other bills - slaving away like a TRUE Irishman. I love seeing all the pictures come up the next few days too, trying to prove to the world you were at the best party and had the most fun. I went to a BBQ and caught up with some friends while watching some college bball.It was perfect. I was at the party so of course it was amesome - self-explanatory.

March 17th isn't about drinking obsessive amounts of booze to me, yet it reminds me about how badly my bracket is imploding (which hasn't happened so far this year..) It's a time for March Madness. I'm glad people all over can indulge on St. Patty's, I just hate the potato eating drunken stumble bum stereotype that comes with the day. Or maybe I just assume that's the Irish stereotype?

The real Irish don't need one day to get blackout drunk anyways, they already do it on the regular!! My rant is over..

Go State!!