Brady's Blog

Almost exactly two years ago (Oct. 14, 2013 to be exact), I opened up about my struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). It was very hard to open up about it then and is still a topic that I don't discuss often because it is a weakness and an imperfection and, let's be honest, who really wants to talk about how weak and imperfect they are all the time. The last time I wrote about this was two years ago when, after a complicated year, the symptoms came on much earlier than previously experienced. To bring you up to speed, later that winter, I had a dear friend who lovingly pressured me (aka. gave me a ride and sat with me) into seeking professional help. The professional confirmed everything that I already knew and gave me a graduated diagnosis. My SAD was progressive. Simply put, my depression doesn't totally go away during the spring and summer months anymore. It is muted during this period but still finds a way to surge to its full strength again when the se...

The Labor Day tradition in my family has been to attend the State Fair for as long as I can remember. Although my mom was out of town and my dad was working, I was happy that I could continue the tradition with some good friends. After an "early" start (10:30am) of shopping and lunch, my friends and I began our fair experience by searching for a parking spot. Last year, I was tipped off to an area of free parking that was super close to one of the entrances. Apparently, over the space of a year a lot of other people have been tipped off to it as well. Needless to say, we had to walk a good distance just to get in so that we could walk some more. Once inside, we met up with a few friends and immediately made our way to the rides and games. Due to the outrageous prices (for me) and the fear of puking on the array of strange rides (my friends) we did nothing more than walk around and talk. Occasionally the talking took form of a foreign accent to try to persuade game screame...

To be 100 percent clear, my favorite F-word is "free" (hopefully you didn't think it were a different one), but since I now have your attention I will proceed with the next best thing. Football. As I have mentioned over the last few posts, I have multiple dreams and passions in life and this week, my excitement could hardly be contained in preparation for what I believe is one of the best weekends of the year. Rather than reviewing my entire week, I will simply start by saying that on a few, un-numbered occasions I may have let out a loud "eek" whenever commercials for upcoming games aired. Yesterday, I was fortunate that my father left the house for a little bit a couple of times so I could get some hyper energy out. Unlike Saturday mornings when the games are on early, I had to wait (very impatiently) for the 4:00pm start time. Torture. When the Carolina blue and the garnet helmets flashed on the screen, my eyes got big. Then I saw Steve Spurrier. Sure i...

After my last post about my dream #236 of 842 (yes, I used random numbers), I had a few people come to me with the question, "Then, what is your #1 dream?" This did not cause any pause on my behalf. I knew immediately in a general sense what my biggest dream is. (For the sake of this post I will call it my Dream.) I doubt this will be a surprise to anyone but I might as well clear the air for those who asked the question. I personally dislike the term "hopeless romantic" because on the surface it sounds like there is no hope to get what is wanted out of love. This being said, I am a "hopeful romantic". I know that love is good and that I can get everything I want and need from love. That is why my Dream revolves exclusively around my future family. As a kid I had two main goals. Go to college and get married. Well, I have graduated college without getting married so that means I still have one goal left to achieve. Although when it happens, it may no...

In two weeks time, the fashion world will be buzzing and for the duration of the month, new designs will be on display throughout the four corners of the fashion world: New York, London, Milan, and Paris. Those of you who know me also know that somewhere along the line, I got hit by the fashion bug. By looking at me and what I wear you may never guess that but I will say that if I had more money and opportunity, my personal style would be a reflection of the best of the best from the world of sartorial prowess. September 10 is the beginning of New York Fashion Week as designers and style mavens from all over the world congregate in Lincoln Center and surrounding venues to see what is "in" for fashion. Once this fashion week concludes the processions move to London for a week, then Milan, and ending in what many consider the fashion capital of the world, Paris on October 7. One of my favorite things to do, it to look through as many collections as I can (mainly menswear ...

I have spent some time this morning thinking. No, more than thinking; getting my thoughts organized. There is a big difference between where I am now and where I want to be. I know that had things turned out differently in my past, I could be where I want to be right now...or I could be even further. It is, however, useless to think about what would have been or could have been. I cannot change the past no matter how hard I try. I want to though. My thought process this morning was focused on what I wanted out of life. What I want right now that I can do something about. For example, I want a successful career. I can start working on that now. I want to be physically healthy and, let's face it, sexy. I can start that now too! I want to be scholarly in my knowledge of my field of study. Yeah, that is possible too! I want a girlfriend that will become my wife. I want to magnify my church calling perfectly. I want to travel around the world. I want to read all of the literary classi...

I have never been a hunter or an outdoorsy guy of any kind. It's just not my style. Aside from the often cold mornings and the necessity to be still to not scare of the animals of choice, I just can't do it. That necessity to stay still is what baffles me about how the word "hunt" as used in situations other than game hunting. My two "hunts" that I find myself knee-deep in today are these: Jobs and Girls. As the overly stereotypical 26-year-old, unemployed, single male, living in my parents basement, I feel like I am Matthew McConaughey's character in "Failure to Launch"...except that he even has a great job. Thus it is not only a necessity but a goal and great desire to "hunt" for both a job to help me get on my own two feet and a girl to provide me with some companionship (which is on the third tier of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs). To take my initial example with the given explanation (hunting game and staying still) I wou...

I would say this is a decent topic for my 100th blog post!!! (Congratulations to me!) Last week I returned home from the greatest adventure I have ever had. Yes, when I served my LDS mission it was quite an adventure but this was was a bit more...how should I say...extraordinary. Ever since I was younger, Europe has been the one place in the world I have wanted to go. Originally, I specified Italy as the first country only because of my deep and abiding love for pasta. To be super technical, Italy was my first place since I had a layover in Rome, and my love for pasta has expanded to all Italian food, much of which was experienced in Albania (which is very close to Italy if you didn't know). The three months I spent out of the country went by very quickly (especially on the sunny days) and were filled with extensive domestic travels. I would say that for someone who is not from Albania, I am more expert than most. My travels took me from the southern beaches of Vlore to the nor...

In "Fiddler on the Roof, "Tevye speaks some of the most quoted (and danced to) lines in existence. Among those is one which has materialized before my eyes as I have been in Albania: "Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as...as...as a fiddler on the roof!" It is the line that give the show its title and spells out the main theme of the performance. The question arises, how do traditions shape our lives? Do we create ourselves based on traditions? Are they so important that they are nigh unbreakable vows? (Points for a Harry Potter reference? No?) The past couple of weeks have provided personal anecdotes for the term "cultural dissonance" as what I believe to be standard is not how other people live. Thanks to Albania and my friends here, I now have a new understanding on not only tradition but on the seasons of the year and birthdays. Let me elaborate. In my comfort zone known as the United States, I was raised on four seasons each ...

Last Wednesday night I got myself all dressed up as I had my ticket to attend the "Night Ballet" at the Opera House performed by Tirana's "People's Ensamble". I had never heard of the "Night Ballet" but was excited to go to a real Opera House and see professional dancers plie their way across the stage. Straightening my tie I walked in via the red carpet and found my way into the auditorium envisioning it as a grand room with flying buttresses and box seats lining the sides with a balcony or two filled with classy, sophisticated people and an orchestra the size of a full symphony. I should have known better. Being the first one there, I got to see the auditorium in all its glory. Wooden seats with small pads. There might have been one balcony but there was a maximum seating of less than 500. No actual pit for the musicians but 10 chairs with rusty music stands. With all of this, I surprisingly not turned off. Though a bit shabby, it was charmin...

This week marks the halfway point of my adventures here in Albania and what a trip it has been so far. From the first three weeks of solid rain to two cats falling through the ceiling of my apartment the cards have at times seemed stacked against me. I am happy to report though that with all of the trials, I am loving the experience and am learning a lot about myself in the process. A part of me even wonders if this internship (that the Lord so graciously placed in front of me) is more for my personal life and personal progression rather than the work that I am doing. Don't get me wrong. I am enjoying the work that I do but as with every job it has it ups and downs. This has prompted me to think about my life's journey so far and where it is headed. The road before me is forking as I believe it always will. Though I felt like I was done making the big decisions of "What do I want to do when I grow up?" the Lord has taught me that it is good to have options and that ...

This past week I was trying to figure out what I was going to write about this week because it was been somewhat routine. Nothing really out of the ordinary. Since I don't have work on Fridays I was able to go out and about and found a great little bookshop that if I am not careful, I will spend too much money in. After returning home because of some rain, I spent time with my host family talking and watching TV (my favorite is an Indian Soap Opera...don't judge). Once their whole family got home, I was about to head out to grab some dinner as the rain died down when they decided to take me to one of their favorite restaurants. When I waked in this restaurant, I felt severely under dressed. My denims, t-shirt, and fleece jacket found themselves next to sequined mini dresses, ties, and pumps. Aside from the dress of the people my first paradigm about the restaurant came from my sense of hearing. I cannot recall a time when I have been treated to live music while I was eating...

4:30 am struck this morning and I did not hear it. Thunder struck at 4:34 am and I did hear that. After being jolted awake, the intense sound of rain on my window and the sound of the new leak in my ceiling made it nigh impossible for me to get back to sleep. In my frustration, I grabbed my iPad and opened a weather app only to find that rain was in the forecast for the next 10 days straight. At this time I was slightly annoyed because the only weather I have know since arriving in beautiful Tirana is rain. Though sleepless, I remained in my bed trying to relax until I absolutely had to get out of my bed for church. So complete was my temporary insomnia that around 6:00 am I again check the weather app hoping for a different result. Somehow in that short two hour span three of the next 10 days miraculously turned to an image showing some sun and no rain. The excitement of such a small victory was now to blame for keeping me awake. Even though it is only three days in the future and...

When it rains it pours. I am pretty sure whoever first uttered these words looked into the future at Tirana this past week. It has not stopped raining it seems. I am from the high desert and thus am not attuned to this downpour of moisture. That and I really hate rain. It gets me wet. It gets my clothes wet. It gets everything I carry wet. And wet is not my biggest goal in life. Aside from the weather, becoming accustomed to the city is going quite well. I know where I am going whether it is work or church or Institute or home and I know where some of the good places to eat are. I just have to hope that no one stops me while I walk to try to talk to me. That won't work. Before coming to Albania, I was trying to learn a little Shqip (Albanian) so that I could impress the people around me with the fact that an American knows some of their language. Well, they aren't very impressed. Yes, I know some words and sentences but communicating has proven to be my biggest obstacle (...

Before I left my anxiety was pretty high and I told people that once Monday came around I would be pretty okay because I would be in the city safely, settled, and beginning to work. What I didn't expect was large amounts of rain and large amounts of cats. For those who saw the picture you already know the ending to the story but what is a story without a plot? It was a simple, easy morning and we did not have a meeting with our employer until 3pm so we took our time getting ready for the day. We were almost ready when the rain outside started to pick up and became quite heavy. In our apartment we could hear the rain and the wind well but what happened next was louder and more intense sounding. My first thought was that the wind was blowing pieces off of the roof or even a tornado. Thinking quick, I ran to a doorway to wait for it to blow over. Once the noise stopped all I could hear was the water running in the bathroom (my compatriot was taking a shower at the time) and a fain...

Jet lag and culture shock have officially set in and I have only been in the country for 24 hours. But my, what a place. If you have watched movies or seen TV about and second or third tier European cities, they are spot on in their depiction. I guess for movies it also seems like a top tier African city if that helps. If that doesn't help then allow me to attempt to explain the magic that is Tirana, Albania. Traveling into the city to get to my new home I learned about traffic. The main roads have lane lines that nobody really uses. It is an attempt at organization that isn't totally lost but isn't completely followed. In contrast to the large main streets are the tiny side streets that fits one car and one human in width. It is just enough for a car to get around a human that is walking, but forget about fitting two cars wide, won't happen. In my previous life of "first-world problems" everyone drove to the store bought everything they needed and returne...

So I haven't posted in a very long time on here. I tried starting a new blog which kinda failed because of my lack of time (and motivation though I will never admit that out loud). Also, reading past posts I became really emo. (If you have not read past posts, you aren't missing much and I don't recommend destroying your pristine image of me by clouding your mind with my past troubles.)  Yeah, sorry about that. I think I am better now though. Life with its supposed craziness brought me little excitement and thus not much to post about, or so I thought. So I didn't post. Now I have a life and a reason to write. I still make no promises on how often I will write as I have learned to not make promises I haven't kept previously. My reason to write is pretty simple: I, though not a hobbit, am embarking on an incredible journey! Like many hobbits, my life and lifestyle have not been akin to grandiose adventures and I have preferred stay in my little hobbit-hole of a...