Tis' the Season!

Ok folks, let me start by saying I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas and have an amazing New Years as well! I'm not a big fan of the winter overall but I do love the stretch from Thanksgiving through New Years. This past week and a half has been extremely busy and I'm going to tell you all about it.

Last Thursday was my cousin Hollys' birthday and she had her party at the casino. Coming off of a company Christmas party at the casino where I came out ahead $350, of course I was going to attend. Well this trip turned out ok as well, came out ahead $200 and enjoyed an after hours hot tub party in the 10 degree weather! Definitely great memories with great friends. Happy Birthday Holly!!

Friday was Christmas Eve and for lunch I was at my great grandmothers house. Every year she makes the best meatballs and potato salad ever, they are legendary!!! I then went to a different grandmothers house for dinner and had a great time. We also attended the Christmas Eve service at the Fellowship Bible Church in Topeka. If you live in the Topeka area and happen to be looking for a good church, check this place out! The average age is 28 and they have a very modern & contemporary style. (http://www.fbctopeka.com/)

Then came Christmas morning. I was lucky enough to walk away with a new fire pit this Christmas and I'm stoked about it. I normally don't grill out that much in the winter since it's so cold but now that I have a fire pit I might have to light up the ol' grill again! Plus I enjoy sitting around a good fire and just chilling with friends in the evenings...if this happens to be fun for you as well then hit me up.

Later Christmas Day I went to my grandparents house on the Gentry side of the family. We had a great dinner (once again ate way too much) and we watched some basketball. I then spent a lot of time hanging out with my little cousin Lakin (below) and eventually put the little guy to sleep! It was a great day with the family.

Then came Sunday and oh was I jacked up for Sunday. The Kansas City Chiefs played the Tennessee Titans and absolutely embarrassed them 34-14! They clinched the division title for the first time since 2003! I'm definitely stoked that the Chiefs will be in the playoffs again this year and I can't wait to be at the next few games.

Last but not least, I have upgraded fishtanks and have also added some fish to the ever-growing ecosystem in my house! I now have five fish...Jackson (Black Moor Goldfish), Clarence (Gold Guarami), Julio (White Molly), Bennie (Silver Dollar) and Gary (Beta). I also went to PetSmart and bought a 10 gallon fishtank (below to left). At first I threw all five fish into the tank but then after a few minutes Gary (the Beta) kept attacking the other fish so I had to remove him and put him into the old fish bowl. Although Gary has proven to be trouble at times, he is a much appreciated gift from three great friends...Rachel Manry, Jayna Smith and Brooke DeVader! Thanks ladies! Anyway, I think I'm perfectly content with this set-up for now but believe me..it's only a matter of time until I have an aquarium like the one in Deuce Bigalow and also the aquarium in-tables!!

Have a Happy New Year everyone!!!

The One That Got Away...

So recently I decided that I wanted to get a pet. Well I thought of the obvious, how about a dog? The truth is, I travel too much and don't have time to properly care for a dog. So to avoid any crazy confrontations with PETA (don't want blood thrown on my white jacket while walking down the Red Carpet) I decided to go with a fish. I actually ended up getting two fish. One was a normal looking Fantail Goldfish which I named Bruce and the other was a Black Moor Goldfish which I named Jackson. Well yesterday was a rough day, I came home from work all excited to feed my fish and as soon as I walked through my bedroom door...there it is...Bruce is floating dead at the top of the water. I'm not sure exactly what happened. I never forgot to feed him, I put the drops in the water to insure it wasn't toxic and I even bought a plant to keep in the water for additional oxygen. I'm convinced that PetsMart sold me an old fish. Anyway, whatever the reason...please take a moment in silence now for Bruce.

Rest in Peace Bruce. You were a great fish.

The good thing is Jackson is still alive and well. And for everyone that is wondering, Bruce was given the proper "frontyard" burial.

Now that the bad news regarding the past week is out of the way, it's time to tell you about the good stuff. Friday night was the Advisors Excel christmas party and this year it was held at the Prairie Band Casino. The night was kicked off with about an hour of people having drinks and taking pictures. We then went to a ballroom for an amazing steak dinner. The three owners of our company spoke and then the entertainment for the night was introduced. Simon Winthrop was hired by our owners to perform for us. He is a world renowned magician and if you have never seen him then I strongly recommend it, he was amazing! You can check him out on his website, http://www.simonwinthrop.com/.

Above is a picture of Simon with Arnold Schwarzenegger. He has also performed for several presidents, the CEO of Google, Tom Cruise, Wesley Snipes, Demi Moore, Robin Williams, the Prince of somewhere in the Middle East, and Jack Nicholson to name a few.

"Unbelievable..." -Tom Cruise

"Do that again!" -Arnold Schwarzenegger

"That evening Simon Winthrop had our entire group believing he was the World's Greatest Magician" -Jermaine Dupree

Ok, that's enough pub for Simon. After he was finished the ballroom was cleared out and casino games were set up for us. Everybody gambled for the next 2 hours and for every $1000 in chips, you recieved a raffle ticket. At the end of the 2 hours you could take all of the raffle tickets that you earned and disperse them into the pot for several different prizes. There were things like an IPad, tickets to the KSU @ KU game, flat screen tv, cameras, gift cards, remote control start for your car, etc... I put all of the tickets that I won into the IPad cannister but didn't win. Oh well, it was still a blast!

Eventually we worked our way into the real casino and hit the tables. I walked directly to the Black Jack table as I usually do and after a short period was up $175. A bunch of my friends then came up to me and said that they were going to go to an after party in one of the hotel rooms. So I told them to hold on a minute, walked over to the roulette table and put my $175 on Red and it hit. So in about 30 minutes I made $350, not bad. The christmas party was a blast, not many companies throw a bash like our owners do. As we say it, "Welcome to Casino Excel!"

Goals Are Dreams With Deadlines...Right??

Ok people, you are about to hear my thoughts on goals and why I think they are so important. If you open up the dictionary and look up the word "goal," it will be defined as the result or achievement toward which effort is directed. However, I hope that when you think of goals for yourself that it sounds a whole lot more interesting than that! Although I'm not a big fan of Lou Holtz and I hate how he spits when he talks, I do like the way he thinks goals should be a driving force in your life. Lou says, "If you're bored with life--you don't get up every morning with a burning desire to do things--then you don't have enough goals." Dr. Lou says a lot of stupid things but that's one heck of a quote!! (That's the last time I ever give him props by the way) I truly believe that it's important to put a timeframe on the things you want in life. This creates urgency and in the end it makes you more efficient and confident as a person. Whatever it is that you are pursuing or dreaming about, set a date to have it accomplished by and as Larry the Cableguy would say, "Get'R Done!!"

Another quote that I recently read fits percfectly in this conversation and it has quickly become one of my favorites. Diana Scharf Hunt says, "Goals are dreams with deadlines." I couldn't have said it better myself...

About three months ago I decided that I was going to make a list of my dreams/goals and make it so that I saw this list everyday. About 20 minutes after making this decision I was at Wal-Mart purchasing a whiteboard to go up on my bedroom wall. Big enough that I couldn't miss it when I woke up in the morning. Below are a few dreams/goals that I have put a deadline on (2010-2011):

1. Buy a house

2. Buy a new car

3. Visit Greece/Italy

4. Run a half-marathon (Done)

5. Run a full marathon

6. Climb a 14,000 ft. mountain

7. Achieve 1% body fat

8. Read 12 new books

9. Visit Jamaica (Done)

10. Create a blog (Done)

Now many of these goals are long-term goals and take a little bit of time to achieve. I do however make a lot of short-term goals as well, especially at work. I think that it is important to constantly be checking something off of your list, giving yourself a feeling of accomplishment. Anyway, this is how I feel about goals. I strongly encourage everyone that reads this to immediately sit down, grab a pen and pad of paper and just brainstorm. Think about the things that you have wanted for awhile now but just haven't had time...the fact is you just haven't MADE time. If it is important enough to you then you will make time and believe me, there is no better feeling that putting a deadline on a dream and then hitting that deadline!! Before you know it you will be a completely re-energized person and your friends will wonder what's up with you. Make your life a mission, not an intermission!

No No, Don't Go Football Season!!!

Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages, the end of the college football season keeps creeping closer and closer. And I hate it. Many people love this time of year because the trees are turning colors and the holidays are nearing. That's great, but I love it because I get to watch football nearly every day of the week. ESPN has made it to where you rarely go a day without a game and for that I applaud them. Thank you ESPN. For all of you that know me, you know that I'm a huge Kansas State University fan. I also tend to cheer for whoever is playing against Kansas University. In fact, this picture is my brother and I dressed in Missouri colors at the Kansas/Missouri football game at Arrowhead Stadium this past weekend. We were there because our beloved Wildcats were playing an away game at North Texas.

Although this season is almost over, I can definitely say it's been memorable. Below are the games that I've had a chance to attend:

UCLA @ Kansas State

Miami @ Ohio State

Iowa St. Vs. Kansas State (in KC)

Central Florida @ Kansas State

Nebraska @ Kansas State

Kansas State @ Kansas (59-7)

Texas A&M @ Kansas

Oklahoma State @ Kansas State

Texas @ Kansas State

Kansas Vs. Missouri (in KC)

Also a few NFL games:

Philadelphia @ Kansas City

San Francisco @ Kansas City

Arizona @ Kansas City

So as you can see I can't complain that I haven't seen enough football. And if

you are ever looking for someone to go on a road trip with for a football game let me know! Meanwhile, don't forget to cheer on the Kansas State Wildcats in their upcoming bowl game. It looks like it's going to be a matchup against the Syracuse Orangemen in the Pinstripe Bowl in New York. Also, go Chiefs!!! Kansas City has a young team this year but they are looking promising. Hopefully they will make their way back into the playoff picture this year!

This post might not have interested some of you women out there but don't forget...this is the life and times of Josh Gentry and football is a major part of that!!!

No one will win the battle of the sexes, there is too much flirting with the enemy.

Jamaican Me Crazy!!!

Soooooo I've spent the past week in Ocho Rios, Jamaica with a group of friends and it was definitely a rather interesting time! Let me start from the beginning. After arriving at the Montego Bay International Airport we had a two hour bus ride to our destination right outside of Ocho Rios. The whole ride ran alongside the coastline and was absolutely beautiful. Mountains, ocean, waterfalls...I definitely wasn't in Kansas anymore! After arriving at our resort, we soaked in the view and settled in.

The next day we visited Dunn's River Falls and if you ever visit Jamaica I strongly recommend visiting the falls! It's a 960 ft waterfall that gradually makes its way to the ocean. When you first arrive there you are at the top and a walkway leads you all the way to the bottom at the beach...where you begin your journey to the top. It's safe for the most part although it's easy to lose your footing and take some spills...as a few of us found out! But it's a perfect place to see some of Jamaica's natural beauty and take a swim!

The next couple of days were spent soaking up some rays (and clouds!), snorkeling, playing beach volleyball, stuffing ourselves with food, and making friends at the resort. To say that we met some interesting people would be the understatement of the world! Our resort had an island about 400 yards out from the beach and it just so happened to be for nudists only. No one from our group made it out to the island for any of the daytime activities there but we sure did get some stories/details that were rather disturbing from some of them at the hotel bar at night!! (you can either ask me about it or use your imagination i guess...haha) One of the evenings we did go on a catamaran cruise and that was pretty sweet because it gave us some amazing views of the island from the sea and it also gave us an opportunity to go swimming further out in the ocean. This is something I recommend no matter where you go if you are visiting an exotic location.

Another adventure that our group decided to partake on was zip lining through the jungle. The ride up the mountain was almost as entertaining as the actual zip lining itself. The driver of our bus was a Jamaican man named Joe. He claimed to have his PHD certification (Pot Hole Dodger) and it became evident that he needed it because the road that led us up the mountain was about half finished. Not to mention it was extremely narrow and there were times that I thought Joe was going to lead us off the side of the mountain. Let's just say the women were holding their breath! We eventually made it to the top though and then started zip lining down the mountain. If you haven't done this before then you need to, it's a rush and you see some beautiful scenery.

I did however embark on one journey that I DON'T recommend. For months now everytime I told someone that I was going to Jamiaca I would hear the same thing. Stay on the resort property or on the tours and you will be safe...because residential Jamaica isn't the safest of places. However curiosity killed the cat. I decided to pay one of the workers at the resort, Davian, to take me on a short tour (in his Honda Civic) to downtown Ocho Rios at 2:00 a.m. on Saturday night. I'm going to make this short but I will definitely say that any rumors you have heard about the marketplace in downtown Ocho Rios...they are probably true!!! I have never feared my life more. I think swimming in a pool of sharks is a fair comparison. Ask me if you want more details but the skinny is don't try it. The ONLY positive of that experience was some Jamaican Jerk Chicken that I bought from a vendor....through Davian!

All in all Jamaica was a great experience. I was with some great people. Two of them I had not met before the trip, John and Jenna Moyer, but I definitely look forward to many more great times with them in the future!! They are amazing. This was a fun post for me because my true passion is meeting great people and traveling to new places!

Hope you enjoy the read and also get the chance to visit Jamaica! Yeah Mon!! Irie!!

Exciting Week Ahead-->Lookout!

So normally when the summer has ended and the weather cools down I begin a stage of depression. Chilling at the pool and the lake are amongst my favorite things to do in life....only because I'm not near an ocean or that would be my fave. However this fall has been absolutely amazing so far! Not only is there football on TV nearly every night, but the weather has been perfect for about 3 straight weeks. I could almost go for it year round. Ok I'm lying, I definitely need my 100 degree days that are perfect for the pool.

Then it gets even better, now we got Halloween coming up this weekend! I have decided to dress up differently for each night this weekend because I could not choose between the two costumes. Friday night I'll be an angel (a real one) and then Saturday I'm going to be a fellow Chippendale along with a group of buddies. We definitley have an entertaining weekend ahead! If you are interested in joining Saturday then let me know, here is the link: http://www.boardwalkonbroadway.eventbrite.com/. And on Saturday morning I will be in the sacred place they call Manhattan, KS. Hopefully I will be watching the Kansas State Wildcats win their sixth game of the year, therefore becoming bowl eligible. Once again, if you would like to join the festivities then let me know! And no, we don't tailgate like this:

Also going on this week was our RIA College (Registered Investment Advisor) at work. I have two partners at Advisors Excel, Shawn Sparks and Kelli Kenney. We had three financial advisors travel to Topeka this week to visit us and go through a two-day training. One was from Santa Rosa, CA and he has already decided to partner with Advisors Excel! The other two are from Tampa, FL and we hope that they will decide to do the same as they are both great guys! All in all this has already been a great week and it looks to get even better.

I hope everyone else has a great week as well and remember, "there is no such thing as a second chance to make a first impression!"

Welcome to My World

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog! To be 100% honest with you, I'm not exactly sure what I'm trying to accomplish with this blog besides the fact that I'm going to give my FANS (haha) a chance to follow the life and times of Josh Gentry. Parental supervision recommended....just joking!

I recently took on a new adventure/challenge. My entire life I have always hated to run, in fact I can truly say that I've despised running. That being said, one thing that I love to do is take on a challenging goal and then work my tail off to acheive it. So I decided that training for a half marathon would be a good goal to set for myself. I knew that this would not only challenge me physically but also mentally, largely because I'm not a man of patience and I knew that training for a half marathon would take a great deal of patience and time. So about 12 weeks ago I began training. Starting out I was running about 6-7 miles per week and eventually worked my way to 18-20 miles per week thanks to Hal Higdon and his great workout. (http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/index.htm) I strongly recommend this workout if you are training for a half marathon for the first time. Anyway, I was eventually to the point where I felt prepared for the race so I made my way to Wichita, KS on October 10th and completed it! I was also able to record my best pace which was about 7:30/mile....my total time was an hour and thirty-seven minutes.

Now that I've completed my goal and finished the half marathon I'm satisfied.....NOT!!! I have actually now decided to train with my buddy Brady for a full marathon. We started training this week (basically just kept running like every other week!) and we will be heading somewhere warm for the race in January or February. It looks like possible destinations at this time include Orlando, New Orleans, San Antonio, and Phoenix. If you have any suggestions then please give me your feedback!!

Oh and another thing, if you are going to start running long distances and training for a race then buy yourself some good running shoes right now!! These will be your savior!! I was the smart guy that ran in cross trainers for the first few weeks and paid the price for it, I could hardly walk afterwards. Just my thoughts...