Who I Am

In honor of my first post in nearly a month (hopefully a sign that much more is to come in the near future), I decided to provide you with a little insight into who it is that you wanted to post all this time. Recently, I have decided where it is I think I'm headed on this life-trek and in doing so, discovered a little bit about myself in the process. This is partly for me - when you put something into print, you mean it a bit more than if you just think it - but it's also for you, my readers. I know all of you (I assume, of course, but I deep-down hope that there are hundreds of people out there with no idea who I am save for this here website) but you may not be aware of who I actually am or what I think about different things. And what I have to say may not be what you want to hear, but it's just the way the ball bounces, I guess. It's not a confessional period, but you might learn a thing or two. And you can judge. It's ok. Just know that I wouldn't judge you if you said any of the following to me. The rest is up to you. . .

So without further ado, I give you. . . Me:

- I am Justin David Gott, but while you are here, you may call me the Rambler.

- I am a mere thirty-eight days short of my 21st birthday (but don't tell anyone, I've had a drink or two already).

- I am white and please don't call me Caucasian until you can point out the country of Caucasia on a map and prove to me that my ancestors came from there. I'm serious.

- I am engaged to be married to Heather Lynn Acuff, my girlfriend of over four years, but because of our individual career aspirations, family influences, and overall goals for the future, may never actually go through with the process of joining in holy matrimony. Only time will tell if our love will stand the test of distance and scholastic endeavors. Either way, one thing is certainly true: I love that woman more than you can imagine.

- I am an alumni of Desert Christian High School (Class of 2005) and Antelope Valley College (Class of 2007) and currently attend California State University, Northridge, where I am majoring in Family Studies Education and minoring in Human Sexuality.

- I am planning on using that degree and the teachers credential that I will attain a year or two after I graduate to become a high school teacher, but more importantly, a basketball coach. My goal is to teach either a Health-type class, a Sex Education class, or even Physical Education, with the main focus on being the best coach that I can be. My aspirations continue beyond a high school, as I hope to, once a Masters Degree has been achieved, coach in college.

- I am at my best when people doubt me and tell me that I can't do something.

- I am severely addicted to basketball. Whether it's playing, watching, or (eventually) coaching, the rush that I get when around the game invented by Dr. James Naismith cannot be expressed with words that I know. I bring the ball up the court at the park in a 5-on-5 bloodbath and pull up for the game-winning three, and I feel alive. I watch Steve Nash, the point guard of my beloved Phoenix Suns, do amazing things and create opportunities to be victorious, and I feel the highest highs when good happens and the lowest lows when the unfortunate occurs. And when a player on a team that I'm coaching follows an instruction that I gave, performs the act perfectly, and is elated at their newfound ability (it happened several times when I was an Assistant Coach last season at Desert Christian), there are absolutely no words to express the pride and joy that I feel. That orange ball has brought to me a love that I didn't know existed. I have sacrificed my body by diving on a wood floor to attain a possession. I have sprained both of my ankles so many times playing basketball, that occasionally, they just give out and I fall to the floor. I wept bitterly as my high school career came to a close at the hands of Yeshiva High School, knowing that I would never again play in front of a crowded arena. And I would do it all again in a heartbeat. There is no other way to describe how much that game means to me, and that is why I need to be around it for the rest of my life. I cannot live without it.

- I am a person who respects those who have faith, whether it be in Jesus Christ or Mohammed, because they are able to go out on a limb that I am presently too petrified to venture out onto. I cannot be considered a "Young Man of God" (has been said of me, to be honest) because I don't know what to think anymore and I don't want to let anyone down at the same time. I'm sorry, but I don't pray and I have seen the inside of a church no more than 3 times in the last year (Christmas Eve being one of those times). I struggle because I can't stand "religion" and how it stops people from being a normal human being and creates all sorts of problems.

- I am open-minded and accepting instead of intolerant and hypocritical. Call me crazy.

- I am 5'8'' but my driver's license says that I am 5'9''. No, I didn't shrink. I lied. I wish I was taller.

- I am grateful for my height (yes, I realize what I just said) because as a wise man has told me, we short people have been challenged by bigger people our entire lives, so there is never a reason to be afraid of them. Been there, defeated that. Thanks. Now bring it on.

- I am a natural cynic, believing that the worst possible thing is most likely to occur. It makes it a lot better when fantastic things occur.

- I am a big brother. I have an almost-16-year-old sister (a brilliant, beautiful young woman who can dance circles around any other girl, literally) and a nearly-7-year-old brother (hard-headed, hilarious, and bound to be a millionaire one day). They are a part of me, so don't even think about messing with them. That little endeavor, my friend, will end in pain.

- I am a good listener. People come to me with problems and I give advice. Take that Dr. Phil!

- I am a lover of all types of music (except techno - sorry Moby). If you randomized my iPod, you could get the following 5 recording artists: Johnny Cash, Kanye West, Linkin Park, Alabama, Weezer. Do it again and you could get: Eminem, Michael Buble, Jimmy Eat World, Confederate Railroad, and Coldplay. I have seen Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Maroon 5, and Lynyrd Skynyrd in concert. I'm going again this summer to see Lynyrd Skynyrd, but this time with Hank Williams Jr. Country is at my heart (I just bought the new Alan Jackson CD and love it) but I will never abandon good ol' rock-and-roll. O, and that rap stuff? Yeah, I can't get enough and I have been known to bust a move from time to time. . . It's true.

- I am a non-smoker and will be until the day I die. All kinds. I have been around marijuana but have never used it. Don't want to. No interest whatsoever. The person I marry will also be a non-smoker. No questions asked.

- I am a Wardrobe Consultant at the Men's Wearhouse, which is a fancy way of saying that I'm a salesman. And I can bullshit with the best of 'em. But unfortunately, the United States' economy has decided to drop like a lead weight in the ocean, and I have been left scratching and clawing at every retail customer who walks through our door. But I'm good at what I do, and I've only been there five months. And I will get you to like what you're wearing. And yes, I do guarantee it (Sorry Mr. Zimmer!).

- I am just like 99.999% of the men out in the world today: I have seen/viewed pornographic material.

- I am a boxer-briefs type of guy, converted in the past year from the baggy boxers. That was a dumb high-school phase. But the BB are here to stay. Trust me.

- I am jealous of those living the "College Lifestyle" if only because my closest friends live so far away from me. My best friend lives in Georgia. Two of my other close friends live in Thousand Oaks and Ventura. Heather lives in Pomona. I live in Lancaster. I lose.

- I am the proud owner of Marty, my 2008 Scion xD, who I purchased in January. I make a payment of $296 a month and happily at that. Marty is everything that I have wanted and more and I am happier every day that I decided to take the plunge and buy him.

- I am one of maybe 10 Americans who does not have a credit card. But that will be changing. Very soon.

- I am emotional. I have been known to cry at many things, namely movies (not all of them, of course, but I don't deny it happening from time to time) and congratulatory moments. You know, like the time when your mom says she is proud of you over the phone while you're driving and you're thankful that no one can see you break down as you listen to her tell you how great she thinks you are. No? Didn't happen to you? Sorry, must have been just me who was blessed like that. . .

- I am the son of a hard-working perfectionist who has taught me how to care for a family and run a household correctly. He is the son of a hard-working perfectionist who taught him how to care for a family and run a household correctly. Those are Numbers 1 and 2 on my Heroes list, and I love and respect them both immensely. I hope to one day be half the men they are, but at the same time, will not settle for half. They wouldn't want that.

- I am dedicated to several television shows: House, Scrubs, The Office, anything with Chef Gordon Ramsey, and the Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert combo.

- I am completely against and cannot stand the following television shows: Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Everybody Loves Raymond (I have my reasons!), and American Idol.

- I enjoy reading good books about all sorts of topics. Books are the original form of escape for those seeking it. And they never go out of style, that's for sure.

- I am a registered Independent. I don't know who I want to vote for in the presidential election in November. On personal levels, I like Barack Obama's age, confidence, and suavity; I like Hillary Clinton's tenacity, perseverance, and stubbornness; I like John Mccain's. . . umm. . . nothing! I don't know why, but I can't stand him. But guess what? He's the one I'm leaning towards just because he doesn't support Universal Health Care and is Pro-Life. . . Dammit!

- I am frugal, but when I want something that I feel like I can afford, I usually buy it. Hence, my massive DVD collection. And my ever-expanding work wardrobe. But it is my belief that there will always be ways to make money and that will never change, regardless of the state of the economy.

- I am a frustrated consumer who cannot stand paying almost $4 a gallon for gasoline. I think it's fishy that since President Bush has been in office, gas prices have risen from $1.60/gallon to nearly $4. It can't all be blamed on 09/11, sir.

- Ultimately, I am a never-say-die, hard-working, steadfast and immovable, dedicated, content but always striving for more, witty, genuine, and relatively simple individual. I am never afraid to succeed, and will always be a winner (that's not some happy Fortune Cookie telling me that, either - that's my other hero, who I know as "T").

And now I am heading to bed to prepare for another twelve hour day. I hope you learned something, or at least found something interesting about yours truly. If you did just that, then come back and see what else I have to say or am up to in the weeks, months, and even years to come (no plans of stopping A RAMBLER'S RAMBLING here).

And as always, take care of yourselves. And just remember:

"You will miss 100% of the shots that you don't take."
- - - Devin Thomas

Until later,