Update time...

So I figure I should let y'all know what's going on in my life right now. As mentioned before (and as can be seen from my picture), I'm on the USC Men's Crew team. I rowed in high school for the Oakland Strokes, then did cross country and track (mostly field events) to get my letterman. When I got to USC I picked rowing back up. Looking back, I would not have it any other way. Living in the dorms gave me the classic college experience, but I was slightly different from the guys on my floor. You see, men's crew at USC is not a varsity sport. We don't have NCAA status, don't get any school funding, and of course we rowers don't get priority registration (get to sign up early for class to make sure we schedule them around the practice times). So the only time we could get everyone down to San Pedro together to row is early in the morning. This means getting up early. Now, I'm an early rising in general, and have always been a morning person. I'm not saying that there weren't times, though, where i would have preferred to just turn over and go back to sleep. But in all, I do not regret that for much of my college career, I have gotten up before the sun. In fact, I consider that a testiment to my character. I remember passing people just getting back from parties in the stairwells as I was leaving for practice. Again, I don't regret this. I'm not much one for parties where I only know a few people. For me, the only real partying I need is Crewapalooza, a party us rowers throw once a semester. We make sure to do it right, and never charge people for booze. We just want to have fun, and the parties always end up being epic. But anyway, rowing has been a major part of my life, and I hope it remains so forever. Yet, this semester has been different for me than any before. Beginning last semester, I developed back problems that didn't really impact me until I came back from winter break. We all came back a week early to do an intensive winter camp, and at the end of the week, I knew I needed to see a doctor. So I went to the Health Center, and got referred to physical therapy, which I have been going to since then. Apparently my hamstrings pulled on my back muscles so hard that they began compressing my spine. Physical therapy has been helping a lot, but I haven't been able to row since January. Just last week, I had a relapse that was bad enough for my mom to fly down from the Bay Area to take care of me. In addition to all my back issues, I had the flu for long time, with a solid week and a half of laying in bed with a fever over 100 degrees. Since then, it's been catch-up time with schoolwork (which is thankfully interesting now that I'm in IR rather than engineering). So right now, I've almost caught up with all the schoolwork (I've taken all the tests I'd missed; the teachers all were very kind in rescheduling). Next week is Spring Break. This is big for me because this is the first year I will not be with the team doing two-a-days. Also different is that this year the eat is going to practice in Newport, which is still in the greater Los Angeles Area. We usually travel to northern California, and row in the Lexington reservoir near Los Altos. However, new coaches, new plan. Even though I'm injured, I would be going with the team. But I finally got a call back from that restaurant that gave me a job. I'm going in to sign paperwork tomorrow, then next Monday, I start my training. I am super excited about this, because it's a chance for me to see what the professional food industry is like. I am sad, however, that I won't be with the guys. I hope one of the days to get down there somehow and cook a good meal for the team, which is the best way I feel I can contribute. I try not to feel bitter about my injury, or let it get me down too much, feeling so removed from the team. After all, I still hang out with the guys (and girls). I just need to find some way to occupy my time, which the job will help with. Also next week, I have to get out to the Health Sciences campus and speak with a spine specialist that I got referred to after my last relapse. While competing this season is out for me, I still find myself enjoying my college experience, and am still happier than ever with my new major. It's also nice to have a plan (moving to NYC is still looking good to me) and having this blog to use as an outlet. Anyway, I'm looking forward to planning dinner for the team and my training next week. I'll let y'all know how it goes.

Cheers,
-Peter