Blog Summary # 3

I usually do not like going to class but I go because my goal is to be educated and to get a degree so that I can get a better job one day. Some how and some way this class seemed to be very attractive to me with the name Leisure Education. I assumed that we were going to learn all kind of tricks on how to benefit from leisure. I can say that I was extrinsically motivated to come to class every Tuesday afternoon because the class was cool and I did not have any previous background knowledge about the subject.

As we were taught the class materials, we actually engaged in activities that put knowledge into practice. Comparared to a traditional teacher lecture classes and taking notes; this new experience was very enjoyable. We actually had the chance to be more interative as a whole and in our group activities. I eventually became interested in the class and the people I worked with became intrincally motivate to attend class every Tuesday. I also felt I had some kind of personal way of learning outside of class with my basketball team that I coach. I felt I was the one being leisure educated. I was one of the players and my classmates were my teamates and my teacher would be the coach. I did really feel like I was in the shoes of the kids I coach basketball.

This class was able to make me feel less stressed about the grading even though I still get evaluated based on how well I know my materials. But the course also gave me the oppportunity to write anything in my blog journal and of course still relate to the course materials. I was able to express my feelings and values for leisure and how I view leisure as opposed to others. I also had the chance to choose the leisure experience in which I never did before and elaborate on it. I went to watch a hockey game at the Bell Centre, the Montreal Canadiens vs. the Detroit Red Wings with my brother. This course provided me with the idea and concept to leisure educate myself during this event which I had been previously constrained due to lack of companionship.

Overall, this course helped me in some way to find the positive leisure experiences based on what I have learned. I also learned that I can help provide leisure education to people that are seeking unknowingly for the benefits engaging in leisure activities can provide. More importanlty this course I took made me experience leisure while was I still in the process of learning in a classroom at school and gave me more a positive perspective toward leisure education.

Habs won yesterday...

I cannot believe it, the Montreal Canadiens beat the defending Stanley Cup Champions last night the score was 3-1. That is so amazing because I did not have the chance to watched the game. It was Wednesday night and I usually hang out with my girlfriend at her place to watch Dog the Bounty Hunter show. I'm glad that the Habs has finally pickup a win in the regular playing time. I do not even remember the last time they have won!

ALs lose to Calgary in Grey Cup

I guess last night's Grey Cup Final was the last time I'll probably see the Montreal Alouettes play in Montreal for the championship game. All day, I was confident, excited for the game and all geared-up with my Ben Cahoon jersey all day long until finally me, my brother and my friend Ramy and his girlfriend headed at bar set and ready to glory. I was very intrinsically motivate and excited would be the best word to described my behaviour. In the end, I just headed back home with a disappointed look on my face. I was completely silence with the lost. And I also felt a huge dropped down from that defeat for that one and only moment.

I'm in Toronto...

A bit of of leisure time to spend and I decided with my girlfriend to spend it in Toronto. Just a small getaway from the Montreal scenary which I figureout that would be good for both of us and especially when we are both busy with our everyday life obligations. Some kind of escaping from reality... Raining and windy but still enjoyed the moment and time here in downtown Toronto. And I'll be back home to finished off my group project and back to work!!

Blog Summary # 2

As we all can see in my blog on sports and socializing are very important to me in my leisure life. There is also one aspect of my leisure activities that I have not really talked about in my blog but I did mentioned a few times. I coach basketball for the city of Saint-Laurent and also in a small elementary school located in the West Island. As a coach I've been given the opportunity to desmonstrate my values, skills, knowledge and experience based on what I have learned about basketball and my own personal social experiences. I have not really gone in depth about my coaching because I felt that I was employed and getting paid for the work. But on the other hand I am helping kids benefit and even if in a small way in some kind of leisure activity. This will actually be going on my eighth year as a coach.

For me coaching basketball and socializing have something in common because they inevitably overlap each for team unity. To become a great coach is not solely about winning every game and championship banner; it is more important to be able to develop good communication skills and team chemistry. This allows players to interact with other teams and can be used off and on court and in their regular daily interactions.

As a leisure educator, as defined in our studies, my ultimate goal is to help my players to become better basketball players and also make the learning process enjoyable. And most of all appreciate the activity in which they are involved in. I have often reminded my players, and myself as well, that we cannot win basketball games without good communication skills and chemistry and no matter how good we are or how poor we are. The key to success is the try the best we can while we are learning individually and as a whole and then together on the same page we can achieved success. The most important thing that I tell my players is to have fun and focus on their passion for the game of basketball. If they do not have those two significant feelings within them, they will definetely lose interest and motivation for the game.

Basically, all I do is pass on my knowledge and experiences to them so that they can also experience the positive rewards of the game because I see how it has helped me to become a better person in my everyday life and even gave me great satisfaction for leisure. I am happy and grateful to have the opportunity of teaching them basketball as a leisure activity. I am not the best coach and there has definetly been a few times that they have seen me angry, discouraged and yelling and even cursing in which I was not in my best behaviour. I say to myself and to them that all the achievements we gain in our lives help us deal with the challenges.

All my activities and social interactions such as being with friends, family and sports help me to relax, have fun and keep a healthy balance between my everyday life obligations. I'm certain my players will remember me not for how many games that we won but how they taught to not be afraid to try to be better players and people.

WWE Cyber Sunday...

Last night,my brother, my friend Daniel and I was at Le Skratch Bar in Pierrefonds for a Pay-Per-View event WWE Cyber Sunday (wrestling match). It was very exciting Triple H defeated Jeff Hardy again for the third time for the WWE Championship belt and Batista beated Chris Jericho for the World Heavyweight title... There was a lot of excitement during the event at the bar my friend took a couple drinks with my brother and I only took one bottle of Coors Light. I did not experience purple leisure because I was the one responsible for driving everyone back home and I had work early the next day. But I still had a good time!!

Oakley Sales...

On my way home last night, I got a call from buddy's Daniel asking me to go an Oakley sales in ville Saint-Laurent with him, the sunglasses company they also have apparel and footwear products. I did not really feel like going because I was a bit tired but I did not have much to do beside sitting in front of a computer or TV. Why not hangout with my friend since I get a chance to do some socialization. On our way there, there was already a huge lineup and we waited for almost two hours outside in the lovely cold water. As we finally got in the warehouse, the place was almost empty. Nothing left and nothing interesting that would caught our eyes but hey I had fun hanging out with my friend even though we walked out from the sales empty hands. I did enjoyed my evening and to me that was leisure.

Back in my activities...

Thank God my mid-terms are done, at least for now but still the semester is not! Oh! well got to keep my head up and work through it. This Monday, I was able to take a little breather away from my focus of studying and get back in action toward my social and enjoyable activities. The Habs were playing against the Florida Panthers. I stood home and watched the game on TV. No live event this time or else it would be too expensive in which I did last time, I went to watched the game at the Bell Centre for my leisure experience assignment. Watching the game from my own comfort at home was still great but obviously there is nothing comparing to the atmosphere at of live hockey. While, the first period was kind of boring because there was no goals scored and second period was better, the score was 1-0 Montreal and heading to the third intermission. My brother called me to come pick him up from school because him too was kind of missing the game. On my way to pick him up I tuned into the radio station that broadcasted the game which allowed me to keep up with the statists of the game while I was driving. It was also very cool to listen to the game with brother over the radio because we cannot see the plays but we were anticipating for a goal every time the commentator starts yelling, we assumed that there was goal but it was a missed or the goalie blocked the shot. Finally, the Canadiens scored their second and third goals when we were on our way home. The final score was 3-1 for Montreal. I was happy and so did my brother. I was still able to experience leisure while listening to the hockey game at the sametime I was driving.

Mid-term constraint...

So little time this week to keep up with some of my usual activities because I had to study for my mid-term tests. We had a long weekend that was cool...!!! On the other hand, I was stuck studying for my tests and I had to turn down some of my friends' invitation for some social activity as well as spending time with my girlfriend, playing basketball and checking out shoes. Mainly my focus was all toward my study and I did not experienced leisure for sure at time. I was in a state of mind of concentration of working-study and I did not felt any enjoyment out of it but more likely anxiety would better describe my attitude.

Back to my blogging session...

Well, well, well... little break after my first blog summary and now back to business. Earlier tonight I was studying a bit for my upcoming mid-term for my Leisure Education class. While I was studying, I felt kind of tired, wanted to take a nap and get up later and continue instead I went to play some basketball in the city of Saint-Laurent where I coach basketball. I was running with the senior men's team. The guys that I played with in the past asked me if I was going to join the team this year and I told them I won't be able things are different for me these days because school, work, girlfriend and coaching. Two, three practices and plus games during the week that a lot of time and commitment. I cannot make it guys... The reason why I was able to go play tonight it's because I needed to get my body moving and refresh my mind off my everyday life obligations. That was the only main reason why I went to play ball tonight. After a good workout, I felt good and less tired than earlier in the evening. Now, I hitting the bed soon.

Blog Summary # 1

I have come to realize my understanding for leisure consists of activities that I truly love engaging in. Those leisure activities are playing basketball, collecting sneakers and partying. I believe when I'm involved in my activities I experience a lot of positive satisfaction when playing basketball with my friends and my brother. And collecting sneakers allow me to meet other people on the net and partying with friends. A perfect example of me in the past few weeks, I continued enjoying my leisure habit because of the reasons behind are a bit different than when I was younger. When I was young I did it because there was no a true meaning I did because everyone does it. As I'm growing up I realized that I like to have conversation with people and I discovered that socializing it's very good for me when I'm engaging in my leisure activites. It actually provides me a meaningful value of life and it's also keep me connected with my friends and other people that I care about.

I have noticed that I'm very intrinsically motivated when I'm engaged in my leisure activities in which I can become socially connected with my friends and other people. For instance, I play basketball to stay active but I'm motivated by the fact that I know that I will experience enjoyment with my brother and friends. Another example, I don't like to watch reality TV show but I get to spend quality time with my girlfriend. And not least and last, I get to party with my good buddy and other friends, I'm even anticipated for that experience before I do experience it.

I'm not a hundred percent sure that I will be able to get my hands on those Nike Air Penny II retro next month due to my financial constraint. I definetely want to be in possession of those sneakers but my school fees have to be cleared out before I can buy them. For now, I can only talk about and day dream about those sneakers when I look at the pictures of the upcoming release.

In order for me to be leisure educated, I would need to be able to make the connection with the theories learned and associated with my experience toward leisure using methods, programs designs and solutions to solve leisure constraits and hopefully able to help others in search of leisure.

Sunday night basketball

Yup, tonight it was basketball and I almost go there late because I had to pick my brother from his work because he comes to play with me and my other friends in local sports complex in Kirkland. That keeps me and brother close and I get to spend time with him. No serious competition just some clean and friendly pick-up games that we play. We make two and sometime three teams depending on the number of people showing up. I had a great run and I got a very good workout from running up and down the court and I get to spend time with my brother and socialized with my friends, what do I need to ask for more! After basketball, some of us when to hangout at Tim Hortons, I know I'm there for sure...! and we sat a bit and chill and talk about our week. For me playing basketball is very different today as compared to when I was in high school or Cégep. That was my leisure besides collecting sneakers. I sleep and breathe basketball and I was very competitive but now in the present time I play basketball to stay active and to be able to spend time with my brother and my friends which means to keep my social life active.

My friend's birthday party...

Last night, we celebrated the birthday of my good friend Daniel's, he turned 24. We did it in lounge bar in the old port of Montreal which called Melee. Very nice place and modern, you know how the old port looks like... It was more a surprise party, all our friends and my girlfriend also attended the celebration. It has been so long that I did not have the chance to experience a party of that kind since my days in high school. Now when it comes to someone's birthday that I know, I usually hit the restaurant thing, pretty much like old folks. Time has changed... I had a couple of drinks, not a lot only two because I was driving and we were dancing and everyone seems to be enjoying the moment and even though I found the place to be a bit hot, obviously we were around 23 people gather in a small lounge bar. I had a lot of fun to be able to relive the old time of high school party which was leisure in that period of my life. At this moment my leisure life's a bit different than before but that night made me experienced leisure.

Nike Air Penny 2 retro is back...

For those who knows a bit about sneakers and basketball. You must remember Penny Hardaway who played for the Orlando Magic with Shaq in the mid 90s. Well, here is a peace of history from the past that is coming back to the present day; the Nike Air Penny 2. The first colour way, Black/Varsity Royal-White will hit stores sometimes in October and the following with the White one in November. Suggested retail price will be listed for $140 us and most likely around $200 can. So shoe lovers like me, start saving up your money because if you don't they will be gone like the first original release back in 1996. I know if I don't get them as soon as possible they will be soldout but first I need to make sure to payoff my school fees before I can put my hands on them.

Happy to spend time with my girlfriend...

During the week, I do not see my girlfriend a lot beside on the weekend because we both have to deal with our own busy lives. We usually keep in touch over the phone. I said to myself that I'm going to see her and spend some quality time with her. The only day that she's free is on Wednesday night and she stays home to watch some TV show called Dog The Bounty Hunter on A&E, some kind of cops show thing... I'm not a big fan of cops show or reality TV. When I arrived to her place she was getting ready to start her show and I ended up watching the show with her. It was pretty cool! Family cops that go chasing after fugitives in Hawaii... Even though I'm not a big fan of reality TV shows, it did not stop me from spend time with my girlfriend because I was intrinsically motivated to see her and while I was watching the show with her I experienced leisure.

My definition of Leisure

I define leisure as freedom from our daily obligations and it enables me to do whatever I feel like doing without any restrictions. It also provides me a positive state of mind during the moment I experience leisure.

Introduction

Hello ALL!

This is my first posting hope you will all enjoy checking out my blog!!

Have a great semester to all of you!