Just the Two of Us

County Custom Perfection Dressage Saddle (For sale)

2012-01-21T01:28:00.000-08:00

Click HERE to place your bid via Ebay

Birthday girl

2011-06-27T06:22:00.000-07:00

Yep, it was Lauren's birthday not too long ago. She is officially working on her third decade of life. Congratulations! I made her this cake and we ate it every day until it went bad. Well, it was more of me eating it. Seems as though I will keep eating things even after they start growing bacteria. Hey, it makes me a stronger person ;-)

Interesting bits of Vegas

2011-06-27T06:17:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of weird things you might see while strolling around Las Vegas strip.

Little alien decorations in a clothing store. See, aliens aren't mean... no matter what the movies say!

I found China's source of sewing machines so they can make all of our clothes

A restaurant in the middle of... well... nowhere!

Transformers! Yep, even in Vegas.

2011-06-27T06:08:00.000-07:00

We were walking down Las Vegas Blvd (aka Vegas Strip) and stumbled upon a real life Transformer! Since we were near the Hoover Dam, I'm kind of thinking none of his buddies told him about the new movie and how there is no longer a need to protect the energon cube. Plus, I thought they would be much bigger in person. Anyway, here is Matt having a little fun with Bumblebee.

Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat (Mirage, Las Vegas)

2011-06-27T05:56:00.001-07:00

Need to catch up on a few things from over the past few months. There was a quick trip to Las Vegas where Lauren was surprised by her sister, Winter, and brother-in-law, Matt. She had no idea where we were going until after checking in at the airport and later that night an even bigger surprise when Winter showed up behind her. It was a really fun three days for all of us and the weather wasn't all that bad considering it was pretty early in the year. On our last day, Lauren and I said our goodbyes to Winter and Matt, then headed over to the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage. They have some great animals on display and here is a quick video of one of my favorites... the white lion.

Engagement photo shoot

2011-06-23T06:07:00.000-07:00

Ginormous: The weed that could

2011-06-11T07:44:00.000-07:00

No one likes weeds. They are always taking over everything and such a pain to get rid of. We've all gone through the phases of embarrassment when it comes to our yards and weeds. Each day we see our yards and think... Ya, looks good enough today. I can probably go another week or so before I need to get that weed whacker and knock 'em all down. We're all willing to sacrifice some embarrassment for not having to weed so often. So I was wondering... is it possible to have such huge and lush weeds you actually become proud of them?

A regular size weed next to my size 12 boot

My pride and joy (notice the same boot at the bottom)

The weed that all other weeds want to become when they grow up

It even blooms at over 5 feet tall!

The last 10 weeks during spring quarter I completely lost touch with my yard. It wasn't even on the brain, period! It was only a couple of weeks ago it finally hit me. I was walking through the yard towards my front door... and... oh man!!! Is that a weed? It was... well... ginormous! I've never seen anything like it and didn't even know weeds could get so big! This particular weed is so big that I've actually grown proud of it and am afraid to take it out. So to answer my earlier question, yes, there does come a time when weeds get so out of control you can actually be proud of them. But I don't necessarily recommend it. Neighbors might not share in your delight.

911, what is your emergency?

2011-06-11T07:07:00.000-07:00

Once in a while I come home from work and feel like I actually helped the world be a better place. Well, let's not get too carried away, so maybe just Monroe. Today was one of those days. It was a crazy Friday night and I was getting case after case and call after call. After a while things can get a little overwhelming but I managed to keep it under control and actually get most of my work done before heading home at 5:30 am. Let me share a few things I've been working on lately....

So imagine you get home one day from another long day on the job. You trudge into the house, placing your keys and wallet on the kitchen counter. Before collapsing on the couch its time to grab the mail. For some reason I've always loved getting the mail. I'm not sure why, but I find it exciting opening up my mailbox and seeing what I got today. Anyway, after grabbing the stack of mail, you flip through it while walking back into the house. A bill, couple of adds, and something from the Department of Licensing. Hmmm... I wonder what that could be? Is my license expiring soon? You flop on the couch and rip open the letter. The headline reads: NOTICE OF SUSPENSION. What!!! How could this be. A quick glance through the letter says you received a traffic infraction and never paid or showed up to court, so now your license will be suspended in less than three weeks. Only problem is, you've never had a ticket and have no idea how this all happened. Now your head is spinning and trying to reason some sort of solution. You've worked so hard your whole life to avoid this type of stuff from happening and somehow it still is. How am I ever going to find time to fix this? Working full time plus any overtime shift you can get, because you wife is a stay at home mom taking care of your two year old daughter.

The following day while you're at work, she takes the baby and drives 40 minutes to the DOL hoping to figure it all out. But unfortunately it gets even worse. There are two outstanding tickets and the second one hasn't even "hit" the license yet, so even if the first one is fixed or paid for, another will be coming right behind it, sending out another suspension notice. Each time the driver was in a different car, neither of which belong to you. But alas, you do recognize the names of the registered owners. And then it dawns on you... there can only be one person responsible. So you call the police in hopes of solving the problem. You explain how this guy you met many years ago in sixth grade became a close childhood friend. He started hanging out with the wrong crowd in high school and got into drugs. You still hung out with him occasionally but you told him never to bring any of that "stuff" around you or your family. Mostly you keep in contact by phone about every month or so. He is married and from what you have heard, he has a hard time keeping a job and was kicked out of his last home a few weeks ago. Only problem is, both the cars listed on the tickets are in his wife's name. Of course, he drives them but never could get a loan because of bad credit. You can't believe this old friend would use your name to get out of a ticket and create a mess of your own life.

Well, it's not quite that cut and dry. The suspect actually has four outstanding warrants, one for a felony charge. Plus, his driving status is suspended. Both times he was stopped he told the officers that he had forgotten his driver's license at home. So he told them your name, address, date of birth, and social security number. Yep, he had all that info. Why, because bad guys go to great lengths to stay out of trouble. Since both of you have the same physical characteristics listed on a driver's license, neither officer saw a reason to not believe him, and now your life is upside down.

But don't worry, my work is not done here. After a photo montage and tracking down where the suspect works, it looks like his days of criminal impersonation and hiding from all those warrants is about to end in a screeching halt. The plan is to take him while he is working next week. Because in my rule book, when you mess with another person's life, I'm going to mess with yours. See ya soon, sleezbag.

In other news, there were two barking dogs late at night that would not quiet down. I literally listened for over 20 minutes and there was never a break in barking for more than 15 seconds. So, the owner gets to see the judge. Nothing will probably happen, but that's the least I can do for neighbors who are tortured with nightmares of barking dogs every night.

Of course, there was the super fat guy who decided to have a party at his house with a few of his buddies. They were hanging out on the back porch drinking and being loud so all the world could here. We stopped by and gave them a polite warning. About an hour later, another complaint from the same neighbor. So I stroll over there in my patrol car and listen for a while. Yep, pretty loud and again they are on the back deck, just after we had told them to take it inside for the night. Being the nice guy that I am, I knock on the door and tell the guy to keep it down and make sure they close all the windows and doors so the neighbors won't be disturbed. I also clearly explain this is his last warning for the night. Of course he is completely inebriated and his breath wreaks of alcohol. I hang out in the neighborhood for few minutes to see what happens. Not more than 10 minutes later, they open the back door and start yelling at each other. And let me tell you, it was not the kind of language you would want your children listening to. The least they could have done is shouted "earmuffs"! I listened for a while and heard them say some not so nice things about the cop who had just come by. After a few more minutes, I rang the doorbell and super fat and drunk guy answered again. I told him he was outside and being very loud after I had just warned him. Of course he started arguing and trying to tell me they never went outside. What a joke. I saw them with my very own eyes and even told him that, but somehow through all his drunkenness haze, he thought his point was still valid. The warnings were all out for the night and I told him I'd be back to give him a criminal infraction so he could explain everything to the judge. I wrote the infraction, walked back up to the house, and rang the doorbell. I peaked through the window and saw the guy duck behind the staircase and try to crawl upstairs without being seen. Of course he was way too fat and I could see the top of his back over the stairwell. He never came the door, which is fine by me because I'll send it through the mail and if he doesn't show up in court, then he'll have a warrant. Of course for the warrant I get to take him to jail and that will make my day!

Yep, got a lot done today. There is lots more to share, but this was the fun part. Now its after 7 am and I'm excited because today is Saturday. Which means Lauren has the day off! It will be our first day off together in a long time. Plus, as of this past Tuesday, my 80 hour work week (with school and all) is finally over until the fall. Now I can focus all my attention on a certain wedding coming up...

More photos from Mexico

2011-03-26T09:57:00.000-07:00

A new family member

2011-03-23T21:52:00.000-07:00

Exciting news! Lauren and I are engaged! After dinner we took a walk to a private cabana in one of the pool areas and after sipping on some wine we walked over to the railing, which was overlooking the ocean waves crashing onto the shore. I got down on one knee and asked my wonderful sweetheart if she would marry me. She said yes! We are making phone calls now to celebrate the news and soon it will be time to start planning the wedding.

Hola from Mexico

2011-03-22T22:00:00.000-07:00

What a difference a few hours in a plane can make. Lauren and I escaped the rain and cold of Seattle for the warmth and sun of Mexico. It was in the low 40's when we left and a balmy 82 degrees after landing. We are loving every minute of it. Since I have a little extra time on my hands (with no school or work), what better to do with it than share some photos with family and friends. By the way, just got my grades for winter quarter. A 3.9 in U.S. Economics and 3.7 in Terrorism. Next Tuesday begins another grueling session of school. I also will likely be taking classes this summer so I can graduate next summer. Anyway, enjoy the photos!

My gorgeous, wonderful loving girlfriend Lauren... and me. Don't worry, I am super happy but taking an 18 month hiatus from showing teeth during smiles because of ugly braces put on last week.

View of Sunset Plaza Resort (our home for a week) with swim up bar at lower right.

Enjoying breakfast on our balcony.

A sunset view from the other side of our balcony.

Three pools and three jacuzzis. Life is so hard!

Private cabanas in the adult pool.

Self explanatory.

Getting tan... okay, a little burnt.

The living room/kitchen area.

A few pics of a very lovely woman.

Thanksgiving

2010-12-02T15:54:00.000-08:00

This year for Thanksgiving Lauren and I piled into my Honda and attempted the drive down to Eugene to visit Mom. I knew it was going to be quite the long trip, because only two days earlier we had been hit with four inches of snow, which had subsequently melted and then turned to ice in the sub-teen temperatures. For some odd reason no one up here knows how to drive in bad weather, which is very ironic considering the weather is bad 350 days out of the year. Add that to the fact that the day before Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year for traffic and the conclusion is that my car better be very comfortable. Lucky for us the maintenance light came on about 80 miles into our trip. Getting down to Oregon was the worst by far, taking the majority of the 8+ hours of driving. Once past the border, it wasn't bad at all. Of course we did stop at Burgerville on the way down, which has become a tradition for Lauren and I on our trips down south. Who can pass up the best fast food on earth?!

Mom made a great Thanksgiving dinner with everything one could eat. After eating to our hearts content we played Take 4 and Cribbage. Of course Mom won on the first game, and Lauren dominated Cribbage, leaving me to watch football in my defeat.

The following day it was off to the big game. #1 Oregon v. #24 Arizona. And what a game it was! All of us went shopping before the game to get our "spirit" on. We yelled and screamed for hours, which all payed off as Oregon ran away with a 48-29 romping.

The Dunes at Florence, OR

2010-12-02T15:33:00.000-08:00

Yep, this happened back in September when Lauren and I drove down to Eugene to visit Mom. The weather worked out perfectly and during one of the days we drove to Florence so have a little fun in the sand. First we walked around Honeyman State Park, then our journey got a lot more exciting with a ride in a sand dune buggy, driven by a very interesting character.... to say the least. As you can see from the photo of us in the buggy before we head out, Mom does not look to pleased with the scenario. But we all survived and after taking some time to get the sand out of every nook and cranny of our clothes, nose, ears, and hair, it was off to a burger joint where we sat in classic car table. A great weekend and a lot of fun!

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T05:39:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure the world celebrated Halloween a day early, on Saturday night. I know in Monroe for sure, since I was working last night. The city was going crazy up until almost 3 am. I was running ragged from one party to another, trying to keep the drunks from beating on each other. It's rather sad when I compare my own childhood to what I see now. Of course, I was just a little naive kid back then, trying to get loads of candy to munch on for the next few weeks. Tonight, it was pouring down rain. Very few, if any kids, were out trick or treating. But thousands were partying the night away, and making my shift rather painful. But everything is good in the world, because Oregon beat USC. Sweet! Now at 8-0, only four more games on the march to Glendale, Arizona.

Extra! Extra!

2010-10-27T23:37:00.000-07:00

Just in case you wanted to see it, here is a link to the hike in Hawaii I wrote about a couple blogs back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEccgWmrJ6o

Still alive...

2010-10-27T23:15:00.000-07:00

Yep, that's right. I'm still alive and kickin'. I've had a rough last few weeks with three classes at school, lots of overtime at work, and a job I'm not sure how long I will have. As with the rest of this country, little ol' Monroe isn't doing so hot in the economic category. Unfortunately the city council has directed most of the budget cuts at the police department... because horror of all horrors, we spend the most money! Gasp! Of course, there are other options, but two blind eyes seems to be the word or the day. After two layoffs in the past month and at least five other positions where officers have left and their positions were unfilled, that leaves us with the same number of patrol officers which were on staff in 2000. The average citizen might not find that alarming, until they realize the number of dispatched calls in the city has doubled during that time frame to a whopping 40,000. As a result of the latest layoffs, minimums (that being the minimum number of officers on duty to patrol the city) has been lowered to reduce potential overtime. Hmmm... does anyone see a drawback to that? Perhaps maybe a little thing called safety? Not just for the officer, but also for the citizens. But I digress. After all, it can't be that important. Especially after the latest research shows the average cost to a city if a murder occurs is a cool million.

This week a possible end to the crisis has potentially been found. As of right now, every penny has been cut from anything considered non-esential, which includes training. The coffers have been cleaned out, maybe even blow dried, because you would be hard pressed to find a single drop. We have been warned that if anything out of the ordinary were to occur, more officers would lose their jobs. What they mean by out of the ordinary is a major crime inducing overtime and added cost. Isn't that ironic. If criminal acts up, I go down in flames.

Birthday Bash!

2010-10-09T21:33:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Adriel!!!! Have a fantastic day and I wish you the best in your 34th year. Wish I could be down there to help you celebrate.

Our little place of paradise

2010-08-27T16:51:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures of the place we stayed at. The home was almost thirty miles north of Kona, on the northwest side of the island. This is also the driest part, so if we were looking for rain, it was the wrong part of the island. I think they get about two inches of rainfall a year here.

The front of the house

From the front porch looking in

The view from the living room

No explanation needed

Making dinner... one night we had ono fish and another evening was an amazing succulent filet mignon.

The sunset from our backyard

Operation "Dinner Out"

2010-08-27T16:43:00.000-07:00

If you don't get the title, just watch the movie "Spy Game". On the evening of our second to last night on Hawaii, I took Lauren to an outdoor restaurant with nothing in the way of the ocean view. We enjoyed watching the sunset while eating delicious food.

Just the two of us

Can't beat this dinner table view!

Lauren

Another picture from our table

Helicopter tour

2010-08-27T16:27:00.000-07:00

On our second full day on the Big Island, Lauren and I took a two hour helicopter tour so we could take in a different view of how beautiful this place is. Neither of us had ever flown in a helicopter before, so it was really exciting. I was doped up on dramamine and Lauren did get a little sick about halfway through, but the sights were amazing.

We used Blue Hawaiian and our pilot was fantastic, with an abundance of knowledge of the island

Just before takeoff

The Pu'u 'O'o vent from above

Lava escaping the tubes and gushing into the ocean

Same as above... but notice the village in the background. They were just "lavaed" out a few months back and relocated only a few hundred yards away. Hmmm... doesn't seem too bright... maybe it's those gasses.

The northeast side of the island is covered with huge cliffsides reaching over 1,000 feet. This creates amazing waterfalls dropping straight into the ocean below. There is evidence on the cliff walls of tsunamis reaching the tops of them. Some parts of the island record annual rainfall of over 400"!

Hiking the Kahauale'a Trail to Pu'u 'O'o vent

2010-08-27T15:57:00.000-07:00

This trail is marked many times with warning signs to "keep out", "closed" or "danger, do not enter". There was even a helipad rescue area half way into the hike. But trusting my guidebook that it was open to the public, we ventured on through the rainforest. Roundtrip it was an ankle breaking nine mile hike, up and down old lava, over and under trees with occasional sudden cracks in the earth. We made it to the end, where the forest comes to a screeching halt, and vast fields of lave are all that remain. The Pu'u 'O'o vent is the only active volcano on the Big Island at this time. The lava flows under the earth's surface through multiple lava tubes until reaching the ocean a few miles away. If you plan on hiking this trip, make sure to keep your nose clear. If you smell something funny, it would be the sulphur dioxide from the vent, which spews 1,500 tons of the gas each day. Once in a blue moon, the wind won't be blowing in the normal direction, making the hike a deadly encounter if you continue on.

From the forest to the lava

Looking at the Pu'u 'O'o vent

Close up of the steam rising

Chillin' on the lava field... we had lunch here

Admiring the "big crack" (not the plumber type)

Photo from another hike, looking back at where we hiked originally. You can see the Pu'u 'O'o vent in the middle-right of the picture, along with the edge of the forest where we came out.

Quick update

2010-08-27T04:17:00.001-07:00

The last few weeks have been a blur. It started out with a quick move, which always ends up being way more work than you originally think. I moved out of the house where I had been renting a room from a co-worker. I'm still living in Monroe, in a three bedroom/two bath townhouse about the same distance to the police department. Now that I officially have a dedicated guest bedroom, I will be requiring all of you to visit me :-)

After three very long days of packing and unpacking, I was off to acompany Lauren on another dressage competition, this time on Whidbey Island, near a little town called Coupeville. We arrived back home on Sunday evening, and the following morning, the two of us took off for Hawaii. One of her dressage sponsers was gracious enough to let us use the house she owns on the Big Island. It was an amazing week with incredible weather, hiking, snorkeling, great food and sunsets. We even toured the island on my very first helicopter ride!

Now I'm back (to earth) and at the beginning of fifteen straight work days as our PD powers through the Evergreen State Fair right here in little ol' Monroe. I'll post pics of the last few weeks as I have time and start to settle in a little more into my new place.

Dust... it's everywhere!

2010-07-27T03:41:00.000-07:00

Riding Watson's Gift (aka Watson)

The last four days (Thursday-Sunday) I spent down in Sherwood, OR, at DevonWood Equestrian Center. Lauren was having a show and competed with both her horses, Watson's Gift and Descartes. This was my fourth equestrian event this summer, and by far the largest. DevonWood is a huge facility and there were lots of horses. The competition started out a little rough with both horses deciding not to cooperate. But Descartes ended on a good note, riding to third place on his second and last performance of the weekend.

Descartes (above and below)

DevonWood is known as one of the largest equestrian facilities in the Northwest. The competition is fierce as riders come from all over to show against some of the best in the area. On Friday I watched the best horse I've seen in person so far, competing at the Grand Prix level, which is the highest in dressage. Saturday's freestyle event, which entails background music choreographed to the horse and rider's movements, attracted a crowd of approximately 400. Even though it was exhausting, especially in the upper 90's heat (not too mention starting off after another all-nighter), I had a lot of fun experiencing a well known show.

Face shot of Descartes

If there was one adjective to describe the last four days, it would be "dusty". With trucks passing by, hundreds of people walking, and hundreds of horses riding around the dirt paths, dust was being stirred up everywhere. There was no way to avoid it. Even after two Clariton a day, I was sneezing constantly. It's never a good sign when you blow your nose and enough dirt comes out to blacken a kleenex. Even the horses were sneezing! Whoever can invent some system to create a dustless barn will be a bazillionair.

Bowing to judges after riding Watson

For now it's back to work again. Just two days, then two straight days of training before one day off. On Saturday, I'll be taking Lauren down to Vancouver, WA for my co-workers wedding and head back up on Sunday before working that evening. Until then...

Las Vegas

2010-07-27T02:00:00.001-07:00

This post will be super short. I went to Las Vegas on my three days off. The end. Well, maybe not that short; but as they say, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. I was there for a bachelor party of another police officer I work with. There was a group of ten of us who all flew there from Washington for the three day weekend. I had to work the night before, so after work early Friday morning, I took a quick shower, finished packing, and headed out the door. I slept some on the flight down, but as we all know, sleeping on plane flights is about relaxing as Chinese water torture.

Arriving in Las Vegas, I drove down to Lake Mead to spend the afternoon swimming and jet skiing right by Hoover Dam. Then it was time to head "home", at a house being rented only a few miles from the strip. The rest of the weekend was spent at various clubs, casinos, and restaurants, including a quick stop at Pawn Stars, the pawn shop featured on A&E. We also hung out with Gavin Smith (famous poker player) and was about three feet from Doyle Brunson, who is known as the greatest legen in poker history. He would be the equivilent to poker as Babe Ruth is to baseball.

It was a fun weekend and ended much too quickly. I got back into town about 1 am on Monday, and started working a few hours later.

Wacky Nut Farm

2010-07-27T01:28:00.000-07:00

Two weekends ago Lauren and I made our way over to Bainbridge Island for a lovely weekend. Lauren had been invited to demo for a dressage clinic at Wacky Nut Farm. It was an amazing 20 acre farm with an on-site bed & breakfast, barn, indoor and outdoor arena, and many walking trails to take your horses on. The camp was instructed by Henrik Johansen, a well known Swedish instructor who has been training dressage for over 35 years. I sat in on some of the instruction, and watched Lauren ride Decartes as she gave examples of Henrik's teaching.

Grooming Descartes for his demo ride

(Below) Kayaking in Eagle Harbor

It was perfect weather and we took advantage, kayaking Eagle Harbor with views of the Seattle skyline, eating great food, walking around charming downtown Winslow, and enjoying the ocean breezes from the deck of our rental home. The ferry rides were enjoyable, other than having to entertain the horse during the multiple hours waiting in line. I was made very aware that horses don't mind being in a moving horse trailer, but things get much more complicated when you stop. We made it back succesfully and back to work I went. This summer has been quite exhausting. I've spent almost every day off doing some sort of activiy. Summer is only half over and so much has already been done. At this rate I'll be more than ready for school to start! Next week: Las Vegas.

Some really good pizza!

It's official!

2010-07-08T11:52:00.000-07:00

I'm calling it now. It's way overdue. It is officially summer. Unfortunately in Western Washington, summer rarely begins before the 4th of July, as was the case this year. But the afternoon of the 5th was pretty nice, and beginning to get warm. Then a heat wave overcame us and people are lining up at stores for window air conditioners. The last two days have been in the upper 80's and today may even reach into the 90's. I've been waiting for this and am very excited for the warm weather.

In other news... my house in Eatonville finally sold. That was a very long 3+ year journey. It may be another three years before I am free and clear of it. But getting the house sold was a huge first step and I'm very happy to see it go.

Lauren and I drove to Seattle this past weekend to go Kayaking on Lake Union. We arrived too late and ended up walking around the marina on the south end. A classic wooden boat show was taking place and we were able to take tours of the inside of some very antique ships. Lauren also spotted an ice cream stand, which of course we had to try. They had some of the most delicious ice cream I have ever tasted. It was hand made and from a dairy on one of the San Juan Islands. It's a good thing I don't live there or I would be gorging on it every day.

Last week I went to the doctor because he wanted to remove two pieces of sun damaged skin from my back. I've been pretty bad about getting sun burned. When you spend most of your life in really hot places, like Indonesia and Florida, it's hard not to. This doc must have dug pretty deep, because in the end I had eleven stitches. Ouch! It's only the second time in my life that I've had stitches, and hopefully the last. I really don't like them and am really happy to have them taken out in less than an hour. So I'm off... back to the doctor to get them taken out. Then it's time to take the motorcycle out. Have to take advantage of the great riding weather!

2010-06-21T15:29:00.000-07:00

I have been horrible about updating this site. I'll never finish a separate entry for all seven days of my trip to St. John, but eventually I may post a few more pics to share with everyone. Over the past three months I have finished up school for the year, which concluded with an overall 3.43 GPA. Only two more years for completion of my BA. It seems like forever, but I have to finish because it is on my list of "five year goals". I started this goal list a few years ago and it also includes being completely debt free, owning a home (not the one I'm currently trying to sell) and having braces put on and taken off. Yep, that's right. I'll be getting braces sometime towards the end of summer. Fun times.

Update on the house. I'm not sure how many of you realize that I'm still trying to sell my house after more than three years on the market. It looks like an end is finally in site. There is a buyer and the closing date is required to take place by the end of June. I'll still be left with a hefty bill, but at least it will start me back on the path to future home ownership.

I also just turned 30! It seems amazing each time I think about it. It's almost like being a "true" adult, but with drawbacks of an aging body. Thank you to everyone for your birthday greetings and wishes. I had a great time with mom coming up from Eugene to visit. We spent time in Seattle this past Friday, enjoying the warm weather and sunshine while kayaking the waters of Lake Union.

That same evening, I introduced her to the family of a wonderful woman I have met. Lauren is a dressage trainer and instructor. She co-owns DuoStar Dressage with her mom, both of whom have been in the profession for years. I have been learning a lot about horses and a few weeks ago went to my first horse show. Lauren is incredibly talented at riding and it was a blast being able to watch her perform. She is a sweetheart and I really look forward to introducing her to all of you.

At the beginning of June, Lauren and I met up with some friends of hers down in Astoria, OR. We camped at Fort Stevens State Park for an extended weekend while attending some of the Goonies 25th anniversary festivities. There were definitely some interesting characters attending this event. Making hotdogs, hamburgers, smores, snacking on chips, and all the other stuff that goes along with camping was a blast. I gained over five pounds with all the crap I ate!

I've been getting back into the running groove. A few months ago, after getting close to 20 miles a week, my knees started killing me. After a few doctor visits, I was able to get custom orthotics from a specialist. Along with a new pair of running shoes, my knees have been doing much better. Now I just need to be consistent and I'd like to be at least to 15 miles a week by the end of July. I'll need help though, and that includes all of you. I'll be posting a link on this site which will take you to an up to date listing of all the running I'v done. This way you can hold me responsible to my goals and keep me on track to keep running.

One last subject. In honor of my30th birthday, I have decided to entertain a mid-life crisis. This may seem a little early, but it gives me an excuse to buy something really cool. :-) So, recently I purchased a motorcycle. This has been a long time in the making. It was almost four years ago that I completed the safety testing for motorcycles along with my license. I found a great deal on the Buell XB9SX, which I've wanted since I lived in Florida (about eight years ago). It has been super fun and if the weather will cooperate, lots of riding is in my future.

I think that about sums it up. There have been a few other activities like going to the supercross at Quest Field and a Mariners game, both with Lauren. I will be taking the summer off in regards to school. Now I won't have an excuse for neglecting this blog.

Happy birthday to Sean and Mom! Sean turns the big 20 and is no longer a teenager! Thank you Mom for taking the train up here and spending a fun weekend together. Happy birthday and happy fathers day to Dad! I wonder if they serve birthday cake in heaven? Hmmm... things to ponder. Happy fathers day to Adriel and Sean! I hope both of you enjoyed a wonderful weekend.

Day 1

2010-03-01T23:28:00.000-08:00

I tried pulling an all-nighter, but around 7 am I started feeling sick. I guess I should have expected that while trying to survive three days on 10 hours of sleep. It didn't help my gut was full of coffee which for some reason has adverse effects on my digestive system. I crashed for two hours and was bright eyed and bushy tailed after the alarm buzzed for a short second. I still needed to pack, shower, and submit the research memo I spent hours on last night. One day I will learn not to procrastinate so much... one day. I proof read the paper and posted it on the class website. The next hour was spent cramming every ounce of clothing, towels, snorkeling gear, tent, sleeping bag, hammock, sandals, and who knows what else into a 70 liter trail pack. The leftovers went into my carry-on. After a quick shower I was driving to the airport... delirious but excited. At this point my body was running on adrenaline. And that bag I packed... well, it weighed 49.5 pounds. That's when I knew it was going to be a great vacation.

The plane trip was a little different than usual. I sat in my usual window seat, luckily no one in the middle, and John Howie in the aisle seat. I didn't know it was him at first. Oh, he is a famous chef in the northwest and owns a couple of restaurants in the greater Seattle area. Of course this was a non-stop flight to Miami, and the Superbowl was in three days. I was surprised how many were going to the big game. Even the captain jokingly said he would trade anyone a round-trip ticket anywhere Alaska Airlines flies for a Superbowl ticket. Then again, maybe he wasn't kidding. Throughout the six hour marathon, random passengers kept walking up to the guy next to me, talking with him about how much they loved the food and blah, blah, blah. I was beginning to get curious. Did this guy somehow know everyone on here? Whatever. I picked up the in-flight magazine and flipped through the pages. I had already slept for two hours and for some reason my body would not shut off anymore. Hey, look at that. The photo in that magazine looks mysteriously like the guy sitting next to me. Hmmm... looking at my neighbor... looking at magazine... sure enough, it is him. How funny is that! An advertisement for his newest steak restaurant in the Alaska Airlines magazine. I didn't say anything. I hate talking to people on planes. I'm already half deaf, and I don't want to be one of "those" people. You know, the kind that just have to talk to a famous person. So, instead I focused my attention on the lovely cream colored tray table sitting in its upright position in front of me. Much better.

By the time we landed in Miami, half the flight was drunk. I scooted along the terminal, dodging middle aged women practically falling down in a drunken stupor. The Miami International Airport was anything but welcoming. I can't remember another US airport in such disarray. I was glad to escape with both my bags in hand to the Marriott. By the time I dropped my luggage and my exhausted body fell to the bed, it was 11 pm. Tomorrow would not be easy. The 7:45 flight sure wouldn't help. Five happy hours of sleep began a new day. I took the 6 am airport shuttle and was greeted by a nice surprise. An upgrade to first class was only $90. After about 10 seconds of intense thought, my credit card was sliding through the kiosk. I mean, why not? My first checked bag would be $20, then another $15 for breakfast and a drink. So really I was only paying $55 for a great seat, a wonderful breakfast, and amazing service. Three hours of luxury at 35,000 feet. From Puerto Rico it was an up and down hop on a twin turbo-prop to St. Thomas. Each stop was warmer, the weather better, and my smile getting bigger. Once after using the bathroom, I started laughing for no apparent reason. I couldn't get the smirk off my face so I stayed in the bathroom. I'm not sure how people would react if I walked out of the bathroom with some mysterious grin, but I'm sure they wouldn't be thinking the nicest of things. So after a few moments, I gathered myself long enough to make it back to my seat without that cheesy grin.

There are no bridges to board and debark from aircraft at St. Thomas. Just the open air steps down to the tarmac. A short walk around the outside of the terminal brings you to an overhang. This is where I knew things would be different over the next seven days. It wasn't the brilliant sunshine. Not the 85 degree heat. Walking under the overhang, I was greeted by locals serving shots of rum. Free rum. This should definitely be mandatory for the continental US! After all the pain and hassle of flying, airport security, and crappy airport food, free shots of rum would help anyone traveling by plane.

I was getting tired of my 50 pound bag. It was heavy and even though I absolutely loved the heat, I wasn't used to it yet. During the mid-day traffic, the taxi ride took 40 minutes to Red Hook, the ferry station. I was amazed at how mountainous the island was. We took the back roads which lead straight over the top of the peaks, creating awe inspiring views of the oceanfront below. The ferry was smaller than I expected and definitely not as updated as something you would see over here. I really didn't care. I was almost home. I sat on the top deck along the edge, my sunglasses on, camera in hand, getting sprayed by sea mist with each lurch the boat made while cutting through the wakes. And there it was... St. John... it all its beauty. Rockefeller purchased almost half the island about 50 years ago, and donated most of it back for use as a national park. Today, St. John is two-thirds national state park, making it easy to find your own private beach for the day. I lugged my baggage a few blocks to the rental car office. The city was bustling and it was a lot to take in. I had to concentrate and focus because in a few minutes everything I learned about driving would change. As they say in St. John, "drink right and drive left". It was a challenge at first, especially going through the five-point round-a-bout. But I was up to the challenge and made it to Cinnamon Bay Campground in no time.

By now I had learned that while visiting the US Virgin Islands, you never start a conversation with business. Always begin with a greeting, some small talk, and then on to the point. Using the custom greeting, the receptionist set me up for bare-site #61. Looking at the campground map, I was dreading the walk. I had my backpack stuffed in a large duffle bag to protect it while traveling, so it was not easy to carry. I would say it was close to half a mile to my site. I couldn't see the beach, but my tent sight was far from the main campground, solitude, the waves crashing down just beyond the hill. I set up camp and decided to take a walk on the beach. Beautiful. White sandy beaches, crystal blue water. A small island within swimming distance of shore. A few large sailboats and yachts anchored nearby. Lush tropical forest reaching up the mountains. It reminded me a lot of Singkawang beach, but mixed with Caribbean sand and water. Fabulous! In the morning I would snorkel around the island and see how my new gear worked out. For now, I needed a shower and then some food.

The campground has plenty of bathroom facilities, but only offers cold showers. No hot water. I didn't care much. I was hot and sweaty and the cool water felt refreshing. I applied a liberal layer of mosquito repellent before donning my clothes and heading to the Cinnamon Bay Restaurant. When you walk in, people wait in line to order from the three choices for dinner, pay, and take their numbered sign to any empty table in the open air pavilion. The place was packed and I sat down at the last table available. The couple who ordered before me had picked the table next to the one I sat down at. They asked me to join them and I happily obliged. This was their second night here after staying in the main town (Cruz Bay) for two nights. They enjoyed the beach and on a whim decided to try their luck with a cabin. Amazingly, they were able to get one of the best cabins for all three nights. The campground only offers four cabins directly on the beach with unobstructed views. You step out the front door, walk 20 feet and the sand glides beneath your toes. We talked for hours, drinking Heineken after finishing dinner. He was half filipino (I couldn't tell) and had been on two Teen Missions trips to Europe as a teenager. What a small world it is! Teen Missions is who I spent a summer with before 9th grade while traveling to Ukraine. She was turning 50 tomorrow and they invited me to their cabin for dinner to celebrate.

By now it was late. I was exhausted. Four beers exhausted to be exact. Time for my first night in paradise. I crawled into my sleeping bag, gazed through the mesh at a beaming moon staring back at me, and listened to the rhythmic waves roll onto the cool sand. What a life. Six more days of this. I was fairly confident in my abilities to handle such a hard life. The temperature was 71 degrees and my mind shut down, blissfully wandering into a state of emptiness.

Taken from the ferry while leaving St. Thomas, USVI.

Part of the trail leading up to my camp site.

Campsite #61

The overhead tarp was provided. Complete with picnic table and 10'x10' tent pad area.

A better look at the built-up tent area.

Busy days ahead

2010-01-23T09:53:00.000-08:00

Can you believe it! It is almost the end of the first month in 2010! So much has happened and the next week and a half will be even more crazy. I'll be driving down to see mom in less than a week during my three days off. Then it will be back to work for three days, with school on two of those days. During that time I have two mid-term exams and have to complete one assignment ahead of time because of my trip. Yep, it's finally here... just around the corner! Off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Ozz! Well, not quite. But I will enjoy some sun, warm weather, crystal blue ocean, and white sandy beaches! In preparation for my trip, I purchased a new lens for my camera which I will be using a lot during my stay at St. John. I'm super excited to experiment around with it and hope it will give me many great photos that I can share with all of you. Here is the first shot I took with it of the box it came in. Wanted to get a shot of the lens... but that seemed hard to do while still using it.

Looks like I will have court on one of those crazy days too... just something else to throw on the fire. That will make two court appearances in the last two months. Sheesh! People need to just accept the fact they are criminals and take the punishment! LOL! Oh well, I'll take the overtime. 'Till next time...

Back at school

2010-01-14T00:02:00.001-08:00

The dreaded time has come again. I'm back at UW for winter quarter, taking two classes. The first is International Political Economy and the second is World History II, covering the time period between 1300 and 1800 AD. At first I was pretty excited about the classes, especially the one on international economy. But after my first two weeks, I'm not so sure anymore. Needless to say, it will be a bitter struggle to the end. Yesterday my professor in the economics class posted the first of three exams. Yep, he actually posted the exam so we could better use our time to study the right stuff. After reading through it, I almost wish he didn't post it. I have no idea how to answer even one question on it, and I'll be testing in just over a week. Yikes! As far as the history class... well, I'll just say this. If it's possible for a professor to weave secular ideas into the study of past events, then by golly, it will most definitely be a UW prof! It has become crystal clear that over the next few years, I will be tested in ways never imagined; most of which will not be academically.

Lately I have started reading many of David Kupelian's writings. It all started with the book, "The Marketing of Evil" which is now one of the most thought provoking and eye opening books I have ever read. One of his latest essays titled, "The Crisis Creators", explains how the government creates crisis after crisis to scare the public into changing views and laws, many of which are completely against our constitution. With everything going on in the world of politics these days, it's hard not to wonder what our future holds in the USA. I think Benjamin Franklin said it best, as if he and the other founding fathers could see into the future. "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, federal, state, and local government (excluding military, post office, education, and hospitals) accounted for 9,792,000 masters... er, I mean employees in 2006. Maybe it's just me... but that sounds like a pretty corrupt and vicious number.

Beneath the Bickering

2009-11-15T17:36:00.000-08:00

Each day we read the newspaper, open our web browser, turn on the television, see the demonstrators on the street corner, or hear the radio announcers constantly bickering over what is wrong in the world. Government run health care or not, more troops in Afghanistan or bring them home, global warming or just a conspiracy, swine flu as a worldwide pandemic or just another excuse for media headlines, investment in the stock market or its impending collapse yet again. People fear for their lives, their retirements, their jobs, their family, and their well-being. A few will stock up for the worst case scenario, gathering fresh water, canned food, medicine, self defense weapons including guns and ammunition. Others will go off the deep end and perform horrible acts to themselves or others. But most will choose to ignore it all, living in oblivion and saying to themselves, “I’ve always been okay so why should it be any different now?”

The choices are confusing. Most are screaming their opinions. “Follow us!” they yell. “We are right and they are the bigots!” “If we just do this, the world will be a better place.” Still others are whispering in our ears when we least expect it, slowly tearing us down until we start to believe and buy into their notion of how to fix all the problems we live in. Equality for everyone. Stop murdering babies. Think green. Peace, not war. Stop dependence on oil. Women should have a choice. Gay rights. The list goes on and on. Each of us listens to the voices. Even if we don’t want to, it is around us, consuming us. We form opinions on these subjects from the media outlets we have heard, speaking with friends and family, lessons we were taught during childhood, and teachers who shared their ideas, just to name a few. But one simple idea has simply escaped our minds amidst all the chaos.

IT DOESN’T MATTER.

Let that sink in for a moment… It doesn’t matter because there is only one answer for why these things are happening. We have lost our focus. Instead, our minds are occupied by fear, exhilaration, greed, remorse, grief, and lust. Our country’s housing market did not crash because of the banking system or government regulations. Our stock market did not crash because of a mortgage lending bubble collapse. Other countries are beginning to see the United States as weak, but not because of our President, collapsing economy, or the skyrocketing Federal budget deficit. It doesn’t matter because no matter what is happening, our focus should only be on one thing.

GOD.

You see, this isn’t the first time this has happened. Throughout history, civilizations that have focused on God and honored Him have been blessed immensely. Great power and wealth have been bestowed among God-fearing people. England was one of those countries blessed by God. It was a light into the dark world; a beacon sending missionaries throughout the world. The Bible was revered and the Gospel was taught among its people. God blessed England with prosperity, riches, and power. But over a short period of time, a Godly nation turned its back on Christ and greeted the world with open arms. Spiritual riches gave way to paper money. Sunday church gave way to alcohol and parties. Jesus’ bride opened her bedroom door and became an adulteress.

England began persecuting Christians and chastising the church. God is loving, He is patient, but He is also just. God will not sit back and watch His people, those who love Him and have kept their focus on His truth, to be persecuted. England’s reign as a world power was crashing to a halt. In 1665 and into 1666, the Great Plague of London ripped through the city, killing over 100,000 citizens. Shortly after, the Great Fire of London destroyed over 85 percent of the homes in London. Skeptics may argue these events were just coincidence. I will let history speak for itself, from Sodom and Gomorrah, to Rome, Greece, the Middle East, Germany, and Russia. Each, at one time a great power of the world, was destroyed; not after becoming corrupt, but after mocking God and attempting to destroy His people.

Our country is much the same. We began with God in our hearts and a mindset to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Even some of our most liberal universities today, such as Yale, Harvard, Princeton and Columbia, started as Bible schools. Over time they have conceded to the worries of this world, losing their focus on what is truly important. Violent crimes, drugs, prostitution, pornography, and corruption run rampant in this country. As early as the late 1920’s, greed was running the United States. Second mortgages were taken out on homes to invest cash in the stock market. The boom of the radio incited a new wave of corruption. In 1919, Congress passed the 19^th Amendment, giving women the right to vote. This was a good step, but what came with it was not. Women’s rights groups continued to pursue ungodly privileges. Women were leaving behind their example of family values in exchange for worldly desires. Hollywood movies began showing pornography, until regulations were imposed. For the first time, cars were made with closed tops, quickly gaining the nickname “brothel on wheels”. It became a place for men and women to hide their acts of fornication and extra-marital affairs.

In 1929, God warned this great nation. Do not put your trust in material things. Turn your hearts back to Me. The stock market crashed and people lost everything. They tried to sell their shares, even at a huge loss, but no one wanted to buy them. The United States crumbled overnight, not because of the stock market, but for a much more important reason. “We’ve seen that throughout history God has brought down cities, nations and entire empires just to protect his testimony on earth” (Wilkerson, 78).

Even after the era of sex, drugs, and rock and roll in the U.S., this nation was still hanging onto its Christian roots. As late as the late 1980’s, long-term missionaries were reaching out and being supported from here. But the church was changing. Values and morals deteriorated at a rapid pace. Pastors began buying into worldly thinking and leading their flock astray. Not purposely, but devastating nonetheless. Christians have opened their ears to the mainstream media. Preachers are afraid to speak out on certain subjects. Perhaps they are afraid of lawsuits, or even just hurting the feelings of those they have been called upon to serve. Being politically correct has become the new status quo. How can our church survive when our leaders become afraid to speak out on politics, or even how to raise our children with discipline and to love the Lord?

But what have become truly alarming are current events; Christians are being persecuted within our own country. It wasn’t enough for the evil to persist on its own. These people have turned their hate and worldly desires against God’s people. It seems to be a daily headline. Tearing down the Ten Commandments from a courthouse. Illegalizing the pledge of allegiance. Forcing public schools to teach sex education and homosexual rights. A father pulling his children out of public school to save them from these immoral ideals; the school attempting to force the children back because the government wants control of our children’s minds. Astonishingly, even some churches have accepted openly homosexual pastors to serve on staff. You can’t live a single day without hearing the Bible or the concept of God being hounded and discredited. President Obama said it best. “Whatever we once were, we’re no longer a Christian nation.” Should we even be surprised by such a comment? The immorality, drugs, violence, decline of family values, destruction of the church, ultra sensitivity to everything morally wrong is evidence to the path of this country. “Now we’ve completely forgotten why we were ever blessed” (Wilkerson, 71).

You hear it every day. People love to say the reason for our greatness is due to our ingenuity, work ethic, inventions, and technical skills. But where did they come from? God works through people to give and take what is His. Our prosperity and power came from God, and God alone. God blessed us and that blessing has gotten to our heads. We no longer focus on the Giver, but the gift. We no longer invest in the Giver, but the gift. Where is your time being invested? Are you spending your evenings watching Sportscenter, writing friends on Facebook, surfing the internet? A pastor may ask, “Are you leaving time for God?” So is that what we need to do? Leave some time for God? Everything else has become the priority… and then we spend what little time we have left, if any, to God. It disgusts me when I see churchgoers wearing earpieces, listening to the big football game during the sermon, or when worship service attendance is mysteriously down each time the Seahawks have a morning game. Apparently, God does not even deserve His own day. Let us change our focus. Let’s give God all of our time, and if we have some left over, then enjoy the multitude of gifts He has graciously given to us.

We also have a responsibility to maintain our gifts. If we have been blessed with a home, protect it by locking the doors. Preserve it by keeping up with basic renovations. If our blessing is in retirement or investments, do the best we can. Let’s not ask God what mutual fund to invest in or what the next big stock will be. Remember, these are gifts, not necessities. At anytime, they can be taken away. As long as our focus is on Him, it will not matter. We do not need a house. We do not need retirement. God has promised to provide for his children, and he will provide us with what He knows we need, not what we believe we need.

Everything of this world waivers and dies. It is only after we began to focus on God alone that we will truly have peace. This is important, because things are only getting worse. More drugs, more suicides, increase in terrorism both home and abroad, stock market crashes, persecution of Christian rights and values, and higher crime rates are just the tip of the iceberg. We are to just do the best with what God has given us, without worrying about if we have enough put away for retirement, if the stock market crashes, if our house forecloses, or whatever else happens. First and foremost, we need to focus on God, and Him alone. Only then will we truly have peace. Because we will finally understand that no matter how bad it seems, He is standing beside us, ready to provide us a miracle. Are you prepared for Him?

The following reference was used:

Wilkerson, David. God’s Plan to Protect His People in the Coming Depression. 1998.

Back home again

2009-09-23T14:35:00.000-07:00

I made it back from Oklahoma... barely. Yet another adventure at the airport. I arrived plenty early and checked in at the front counter. I noticed a new departing time, which was 30 minutes later than the original departure. The American Airlines attendant told me it was due to a mechanical problem, and was currently being worked on. No problem, since I had almost an hour and a half layover in Dallas anyway. I decided to sit in the lounge before going through security because I had an open water bottle and didn't want to waste it. So I sat down, sipped on my Dasani, and watched the big screen in front of me display all the flight times. As time went on, the screen continued to update and then I saw it... the flight was now delayed by 45 minutes... an hour, and finally an hour and a half. Great! Now I'll miss my connection flight. I have to work tomorrow, so that's not good. I decide to ditch the last remnants of the water bottle and crawl my way through security. I arrived at my gate to find a lot of passengers waiting angrily with no attendants manning the counter. So, I sat down and twirled my thumbs as the original departure time came and went.

Finally, two overly polite ladies arrived at the desk and announced the obvious... that our flight had been delayed. They went on to say the aircraft was not able to be fixed, so another plane was flying in from Dallas to pick us all up. At this point, one of the ladies listed about 30 connections, instructing us to come up to the counter if we were on one of these connecting flights. Of course, over half the people got in line for their new itineraries. Lucky for me, I would now be flying on Frontier airlines, and only had to walk four gates down, where my new flight was boarding rather soon. When I checked in at the Frontier gate to get my seat assignments, they gave me 3A for the first flight to Denver, and 1A from Denver to Seattle. Sweet! I was flying first class!

Not so fast. Apparently Frontier does not have first class. They believe in the philosophy that every plane should have one class... and that would be coach. For the next five hours, I stared at a tiny television screen in front of me, displaying the same adds over and over again. DirecTV in the sky, for only $8. "Just swipe your credit card and your life could be so much better. You could be watching so many wonderful things and not bored out of your skull." I have to confess, if it was Saturday, Sunday, or Monday night, I would have gladly shelled out the cash to watch some football. Sadly, it was Tuesday, and there is nothing on tv on Tuesday. So I sat in my midget chair, twirled my thumbs some more, and stared at the flashing screen.

Enough of the trip home. The week visiting my sister was great! I spent lots of time with her, Johny, Calvin and Maya. Anna was so exhausted, and Maya is not helping in that department, as she does not like to sleep. I firmly believe she is training early to be a doctor. Unfortunately, Anna and Calvin came down with some virus and were not feeling well. I think even Johny got it after I had left. I was so happy to be able to help out in a time of need. Cleaning up, cooking, shopping, playing with Calvin, holding Maya, chatting with Anna and Johny in the evenings. It was all so much fun and I really felt blessed being able to help out where I could. Johny even showed me some pictures of construction jobs he has worked on. They all looked beautiful and it is obvious he does excellent work. One day I'm going to steal him away from my sister to work on something for me. LOL!

I slept in Calvin's room during my stay. Obviously he is not used to anyone sleeping in his room. Each night as I would quietly make my way into bed, Calvin would start to rustle around in bed, see me moving around, and then stand up in his crib. He would cry out, "Hold? Hold?". So I would pick him up and hold him for a little bit, and then put him back in bed and tell him it was sleepy time. After telling Anna about this, I guess I'm just supposed to tell him to go back to bed. So, I used that strategy for the last few nights I was there.

I did take lots of pictures while I was there. I've picked a few of my favorites and will post them below.

Calvin loves his storybooks...

Too cute!

Taking a ride in his new Tonka truck

Listen to that engine roar!

Having a grand ol' time...

Calvin loved helping out in the kitchen...

A Day in my Crazy Brain

2009-09-09T22:08:00.000-07:00

Biggest understatement of the year: Last night was weird. I have no idea what got into me. It may have been the mixture of macaroni & cheese with blackberry cobbler topped with vanilla bean ice cream floating around in my stomach. I’m really not sure if lots of cheese mixed with lots of sugar would create the chemical imbalance in my body necessary to evoke such an interesting evening. I was wired! I couldn’t sleep at all… well, that it is until my body collapsed into a state of comatose somewhere between 3:30 and 4 in the morning.

Perhaps it was the stunning victory I pulled off after dinner on Tiger Woods golf. After forcing a playoff on the final hole of a tournament that has more than doubled the amount of gray hairs on my head, I was victorious after a birdie put on the first playoff hole. I danced around, pumped my fist, fell to my knees and yelled at the top of my lungs. Well, on the inside I was yelling at the top of my lungs. I couldn’t be loud, for there were people trying to sleep. All right, it was time to calm down because I had to get some sleep. Brush the teeth. Wash the face. It’s only 11:30 pm! Two nights ago I went to bed at 6:30 am. Yesterday, in my attempt to slowly work my way into a more “normal” routine, I went to bed at 3 am. But 11:30? Yes, this was too early. I tossed and turned, my heart beating a million miles a minute. I poked my feet out of the covers to cool off a bit. No luck. I chucked the blanket off… and then later the sheet flew off the bed. I even sang Christmas carols. Anything to try and fall asleep. Just a hint for those of you who find yourself tossing and turning in bed… singing Christmas carols will not help you fall asleep. But alas, during one deep moment of true inspiration, I came up with a brilliant word. You see, I was contemplating the reason for my fanatical non-sleeping behavior. It may have been the golfing, I thought. So I blamed it on the “golf endorphins”, which must be pumping through my body and keeping me from much needed sleep. Suddenly, my German accent came alive, and I stated the same excuse, but really fast. Wow! A new word! Golfendorfins. Come on, you can do it too! Use your best German accent and say it really fast. It’s the most amazing word ever. I love it! So, as you can see, it was “that kind of weird” last night.

I woke up in time for my flight. A grueling three hours after falling asleep… dragging myself into the shower. Driving to the airport. Ah, yes, the airport. It’s my favorite place in the whole wide world. I love waiting in line to check in, even after I supposedly already “checked in” online. I love paying for a baggage fee, after already paying for my plane ticket. I love walking to gate security, so I can wait in another line. I love watching the TSA worker look at my driver’s license and boarding pass and then put a beautiful little red stamp on it. I really love getting into the next line. Grabbing 15 bins so I can strip away every last bit of my dignity and throw it all onto a conveyer belt. I love taking my shoes and belt off, just so I can walk through the metal detector and make it go off. I love the looks the security guards give each other. I love how one of them will tell me to walk through it again, as if this time, magically, it won’t beep when I walk through it. I really, really love having the same guard wave his super duper trusty wand all around my body and find nothing at all. I love putting all my clothes back on, packing my carry on again, trying to find all the missing items that somehow beamed up to space while going through the conveyer belt scanner. I love walking over a mile because no matter what gate my flight is departing out of; it always seems to be the one farthest from the security entrance I went through. I love getting to my gate, looking at my watch, and realizing I still have an hour until the plane starts boarding. I really, really, really love boarding time. I love when they call my section of the plane to board, how there are hundreds of people waiting in line to board. I love realizing fifteen minutes later, none of those people were actually boarding at that time, but rather just standing around the boarding area waiting for their section to be called. I love the stale smell of airplane as you walk down the boarding ramp.

It was here, inside the boarding ramp, that I first saw it. That last section, when you can look out and see a part of the plane up close. The paint job, chipping away, looking as if it had been repainted multiple times. A really big, deep scratch about six inches wide just above the door. I could see rivets everywhere, most of them protruding from the body. For some reason I thought they were supposed to be flush with the rest of the plane. I really don’t like American Airlines. They have become the ghetto airlines alliance. GAA for short. It seems all they fly are 40 year old MD-80 planes. I made the mistake of going to the restroom during my first flight. I thought it was loud where I was sitting towards the front. Oh no! In the back, the noise is deafening! I’m surprised the environmentalists haven’t been involved in noise brutality lawsuits. Oh, I forgot, their not all that interested in human suffering. But I’m sure if we put some crickets in the back of those planes, they would be shut down in less than a day.

For the next few hours, I played this really awkward game with the guy sitting next to me. It’s called “Nudgy”. The rules are you can never lay your arm over the entire middle armrest. You are only allowed to occupy a maximum of 50%. The goal is to occupy the largest portion of the armrest (up to 50%) but without touching the other person’s arm. If you do happen to touch, absolutely under no circumstances do you ever make eye contact. Just grown ever so slightly, make an awkward movement in your seat and pretend like it never happened. Now slowly make your way back onto the armrest and the game goes on. I failed miserably in this game. I probably had well over 20 awkward touches during my four-hour flight. But I never made eye contact, and that was victory enough for me.

The next flight was even better. After everyone was on board, buckled in and ready to go, the pilot spoke on the intercom. Apparently one of the computers had failed and we would wait for maintenance before heading on our way. Hmmm… I’m not sure about you, but I’m not a big fan of computers crashing on my plane, especially when they are responsible for avionic controls. And why, pray tell, would a pilot ever inform his passengers of this scenario? The only plausible reason I can muster is that computers crashing on planes must be a “routine” experience for this pilot, so it’s no big deal. Welcome to American Airlines! We hope you enjoy our flight experience today… and we would like to offer you a chance to purchase life insurance before we make our departure.

Well, I bought that life insurance and lots of it. Now, let’s see… what shall I do for the last 30 minutes of my life? Duh! Play my favorite game in the whole wide world! Nudgy anyone?

Home Sweet Home

2009-08-01T05:40:00.000-07:00

I made it home. Nothing too interesting about the flight back, other than someone trying to steal my cherished window seat. Some people prefer the aisle, but I've always been a window person myself. It was a rather large plane, with two seats, a row, three seats, another row, and two more seats. My seat was 18G, and it was most definitely a window seat as I had purchased the ticket months and months ago and specifically picked the window. I was walking in the aisle towards row 18, looking at my ticket, and then back up at the numbers. It's funny I do this... as if in the brief moment that I look up I will forget what seat I have. So I keep doing this head bob thing while I walk down the aisle. And then I can finally tell where row 18 is... and there he is... sitting in the window seat. I look at him and he acknowledges me. I tell him I'm sitting there but it doesn't faze him one bit. I'm thinking he must not understand that I mean the actual seat he is in. I place my back in the overhead compartment and then tell him that he's sitting in my seat. He gets up and points at the numbers above the seats. I show him my boarding pass and then point to the "G". He doesn't seem to understand and continues to argue that "G" is the aisle seat. I point out that on the sign, it shows the "G" next to a window icon... and his "F" seat does not have a window icon next to it. Finally he gives up and lets me sit down. Some of you might think I'm ridiculous... but for an almost five hour flight, there is no way I'm giving up that window. I could tell he was upset after sitting down and kept looking around at the other empty seats, waiting for a chance to pounce on them. Lucky for him, the once overbooked flight had many empty seats because a bunch of planes never made it to Atlanta due to weather problems. So after we start to taxi and of course with the fasten seat belt sign already illuminated, he unbuckles and darts a few rows back where he can have his very own little window. It's amazing what we do for a tiny view of the outside world.

A ways through the flight, I started messing around with the built in console in front of my seat. Being such a large plane, it had been updated and each seat was equipped with it's own 7" touch screen system. The only free game was "In Flight Trivia", which proved to be impossibly hard during my first two attempts. But as the saying goes, third times a charm. You play against other passengers in the plane and get points for answering questions correctly, the faster you answer the more points you obtain. There is, however, an all time high scores list, which is displayed at the end of each round. These are the top 10 scores of all time for the "In Flight Trivia" game. I was on a role my third go around. I answered 12 of the 20 questions correctly, giving me 4,450 for the round. Enough to garner #9 on the all time high score list. So the next time you fly the friendly skies with Delta, be sure to look me up.

After a week in the south with the heat and humidity, I was ready to plunge back into the cool northwest weather. Well, it didn't quite work out that way. A heat wave ripping through the northwest had temperatures in the Seattle area over 100 degrees. The house I stay in does not have air conditioning. Worse yet, my bedroom is on the top floor and trying to sleep in a room with the mercury measuring a cool 95 is just not my cup of tee. After a restless night, I dawned the bulletproof vest, jumpsuit pants, longs socks, boots, and a 20 pound duty belt. Fun times! Luckily things have a cooled down a bit and I think todays high is a very reasonable 85.

So, back to my trip. I have a few pictures of Sean and family. I also drove down to Panama City Beach, Florida to spend a few days relaxing on the coast. So there are also a few pics of my time there. All in all, a very fun and mostly relaxing trip.

The Happy Family

Walking along

Sandy toes

A Water, A Miller Lite, and A Gatorade

2009-07-23T23:34:00.000-07:00

So on Tuesday I woke up at 4:15 am. Actually, I crawled out of bed and rolled on the floor into the shower. I lathered up, rinsed off, dried myself, and got dressed. I think by that time I would actually consider myself awake. Now some of you may think this is a normal time to get up. Well, I usually don't even go to bed until around 5:30 am... so needless to say, it was quite the shock to my system. The reason for this early rise and shine episode was a trip to the deep south. I was off to Atlanta, Georgia. For the first few days of my trip, I'm visiting my younger brother, his wife and there soon to be six month-old son. Then I'm off to Panama City, FL for a little R & R before heading back home. So after a very long day yesterday and getting some much needed sleep, today was my first full day of the visit.

I woke up around 11 am. Since I'm staying in someones house, I put on a shirt before heading out to the bathroom to take a shower. After shutting the bathroom door, I pulled my shirt off. Along with the shirt, a scorpion flew past my face and landed on the floor just by my feet. I'm not even sure if it was on my shirt or actually under my shirt and against my skin. It wasn't that big of a scorpion... about an inch and a half long... maybe two inches if you stretched out the stinger, but I haven't seen a scorpion outside of a cage for quite some time. To be exact, it's probably been all the way back to when I used to live in Indonesia. I can't say I'm too fond of the creatures... so it gave me quite the surprise. After giving myself CPR (It's difficult to do... but can be done) and coming back to life, I threw a hand towel on the critter and stomped on it really hard with my foot. (If you are a member of PETA, please remove yourself from my blog as I don't want you here anyway) Everything went great after that... but I was checking every nook and cranny for scorpions all day long. The shoes, clothes, the bed, every time I felt something on my feet, rechecking the shoes... and the bed. Nope, no problem here. I'll sleep fantastic tonight. Hey, what's that on my leg?!

So after breakfast, Sean showed me a tour of the house. Then we went golfing. Lately I've been honing my skills on the golf course by playing Tiger Woods Golf 2010 on the Wii. Some people say it's too hard of a game. It is fairly difficult, but after many hours of playing, I have actually become a pretty descent player. I was excited to play since it would be my first time in almost two years. But that was okay, since I had so much time playing on the Wii... it was like practicing on a flight simulator before piloting an aircraft. I was ready to conquer the course!

But wait! I was already sweating in the muggy heat of North Atlanta. I needed something to drink. So I meandered into the cafe and asked for two bottles of water. Oh, and then I saw some Gatorade and asked for two of those. I handed the lady my debit card and she took it and then looked at the items I was purchasing. "You need $10 to use a card", she told me. Goodness gracious! I know this is the South and all, but seriously, when will businesses finally wake up and realize that cash is the currency of yesterday. I get pretty irritated when places like Arco Fuel and Dairy Queen charge a transaction fee for using a debit card. Well, I was already thirsty, and four hours of playing in this heat was going to kill me. So I looked at the drinks in the fridge. Let's see... I have water to keep hydrated. I have Gatorade, so we're good on electrolytes. Then I saw beer. Oh, gotta have that if I'm golfing. So, I ordered two Miller Lite's and now my bill was acceptable at $12. The waitress gave me the bill to sign and then turned to another customer. I had just finished signing it when she turned back towards me and said that if I wanted to leave a tip to just write it below the total on the receipt. Both of us looked down at the already signed receipt. I looked back up and said, "Oh, sorry". I grabbed my drinks and left as she muttered something under her breath. A tip?! For what? All you did was grab a few drinks out of a fridge and place them on the counter in front of me. You want a tip for that! I'll give you a tip. How about you get a job at a place that doesn't require a $10 purchase to use a debit card.

Okay, so were finally ready to golf. I'm stretching out and feeling quite tight. Airplane seats are not made for 6' 3" human being with long legs. So I stretch some more and try a few warm up swings. But I have a secret up my sleeve. I've been practicing on the Wii... and with that new Motion Plus controller, it's supposed to be super realistic. It had to help my game. I'm all set on the tee box. Ball is on the tee. One last practice swing. Set my feet and let it rip! Oh my! Haven't seen a fade like that in quite some time. Don't think I'm going to find that one. I hate losing a ball on the first shot! I guess I'll start drinking the beer first. It's going to be a very long four hours.

A short reunion

2009-06-24T15:08:00.000-07:00

Here are some more pictures from my time in Portland this past weekend. (Captions are for the picture above)

Dad, Mom, Grandpa, and Grandma talking over a light lunch. This was a the beginning of my allergy stricken day.

Dad cooking some extra thick & juicy steaks. Great job on cooking the steaks Dad! Thanks Mom for all the other delicious food!

Adriel, Dad, and Grandpa talking before dinner. I tried to get some pictures of the wild bunnies in the backyard, but they were very rude and would not pose.

The backyard garden. Mom made some yummy strawberry rhubarb pie, with the rhubarb coming straight out of the garden. Extra fresh, and of course, organic.

Just a neat tree in the backyard.

Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum

2009-06-24T14:33:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I drove down to Portland to visit my parents for a little birthday celebration. Amazingly enough, four birthday's in our family (Dad, Mom, myself, and Sean) are celebrated within five days of each other. My older brother and his family also made the journey to Portland, along with Grandma. Two days later, my other Grandpa and Grandma made the trip from northeastern Washington and I was able to see them for an evening before traveling back home. I had a blast during my time with Mom and Dad, as I always do. I was fed way too much, but who can resist any of Mom's made from scratch scrumptious recipes?

On Monday, the three of us headed south to McMinnville, OR, visiting the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. They also have an IMAX theater, and we watched a 3D movie describing the creation and construction of the International Space Station. This museum is particularly famous for having the only Hercules in existence. You may better know this plane as the "Spruce Goose", designed by Howard Hughes. It only flew once, back in 1947, but to this day still holds the record for longest wingspan of any aircraft ever made, at an astonishing 319 feet.

After NASA retires it's fleet of aging Space Shuttles in 2010, one will be joining the museum and taking it's place among the other rockets and space craft within the "Space Hangar". Over the next two years, a water park on the museum grounds will also be constructed. This park will have the added twist of a gutted Boeing 747 used as the launching pad for multiple water slides. Sounds like I need to make a return trip after a few years.

Where I lay my head down at night

2009-06-13T21:29:00.001-07:00

Ok, this post is mostly for Anna since she's been asking to see my place. But I'm sure everyone else will enjoy seeing the pics as well. For those of you who don't know, I'm renting from a co-worker of mine... who also lives here. I have the upstairs bedroom, bathroom, and loft to myself and we also share the kitchen, living room, and dining room. Oh, I also have half the garage which is really nice. So here are those pics I've been promising...

Here is my loft area... so kind of like having my own personal living room. It is directly across from my bedroom and bathroom. I painted it right before moving in. Yep, two different colors.

The kitchen... well, that was kind of obvious :)

The downstairs living room with a really hot fireplace.

And last but not least, my bedroom... fully equipped with black-out curtains.

Time to fly!

2009-06-06T03:06:00.001-07:00

Hip hip hooray! I finally got to fly! For those of you who don't know, my roommates father has been a pilot for 35 years and will be retiring from Hawaiian Airlines next year after 25 years with them. He started as a "puddle jumper" with Hawaiian, flying from one island to the next. After four years, he gained enough seniority to fly routes from the mainland to Hawaii. Currently he flies the Boeing 767-300ER out of SEATAC.

Ohhh, ahhh, can't wait to get in!

Being that flying is his passion in life, he also flies on his days off. At the Olympia airport, there are two planes tucked away inside a hangar, one belonging to his father, and the other his own. Today we flew in his plane, a small "kit plane" two-seater, for almost an hour. After cruising around for a while, he gave me the controls for about 20 minutes. It was great being in control of a plane... what an incredible feeling of exhilaration it gives! We then headed back to the airport, and just in time, as lil' ol' me wasn't feeling too great. After all the sunny weather we've been getting, today was pretty cloudy and windy, especially for a small plane. Well, it really wasn't that bad, but my stomach just can't take much. To fly VFR (visual flight rules) you need to have a minimum 1,000 foot ceiling (before the clouds) and three miles of visibility. We easily had the visibility, but the cloud ceiling was just a tad above 1,500 feet. So we flew between 800 and 1,300 feet for just over 100 miles. Not a bad first flight. Now if only I could get my air legs under me! :)

Will I fit? Actually it wasn't that bad!

These kits are pretty spendy, but extremely efficient. The engine on this plane is only 110 horsepower and weighs in at a measly 150 lbs. However, it is turbo-charged and also has the capability of producing 100% power efficiency up to 18,000 feet. I was told this is quite rare in small engines, as the higher you get, the thinner the air is, and the less efficient the engine. Most small engines will only produce 75% power at 7,000 feet, so this makes a very large difference. One of the upgrades he's done to the plane is purchasing a new in-flight full feathering propeller, allowing the pilot to adjust the pitch for different aspects of flight. The tri-blade is made of carbon fiber and cost a cool $3,000. Looks like this hobby will be a long time in coming.

Not a bad smile considering at this point I wasn't feeling to hot and just wanted to put my feet onto solid ground.

2009-05-28T16:51:00.000-07:00

50 miles east of Puerto Rico lies the US Virgin Islands, nestled amongst the warm and tropical Caribbean Sea. I had always thought vacationing in a spot like this would cost a fortune. That is, until a co-worker of mine just returned from there. Believe it or not, he actually camped right on the beach. I would have never thought that such a resort island would have camping. But they do, and I actually believe it would make for an even better experience than staying at a hotel... not to mention all the money you save. Well, I was pretty excited about this, as I'm sure you can tell, and just had to share it with everyone.

The campground is located in Cinnamon Bay, which is the center northern section of the island St. John. You would fly into St. Thomas (STT) and then take a ferry over to St. John. Both islands are part of the US, so no need for a passport and you can use your driver's license in case you'd like to rent a car. The nice thing about St. John is the island is very remote and only built up around town. Over 3/4's of the island is made up of national park, including over 20 excellent beach sights. Cinnamon Bay is a short 5-mile drive from the ferry dock and has an amazing beach with incredible snorkeling.

Cinnamon Bay campground offers bare tent sights, or the option to rent a sight with their own tent and linens. You can also splurge on a cottage if you really feel like getting pampered. They also offer a store with basic amenities, restaurant, and multiple bathroom/shower facilities. The best sights are actually the bare tent sights, with many located just off the beach with an unobstructed view of the ocean. The picture just above is the view from one of the tent sights; there's not a hotel in the world that can beat that. I think every morning I would wake up and jump into the 80 degree crystal clear water. The below map shows just some of the wonderful beaches surrounding St. John island. Cinnamon Bay is number 8.

The SHOCK of your life

2009-05-28T06:50:00.000-07:00

Right now it's 6:51 in the morning. As everyone else in the normal world is getting up for another workday, I am updating my blog before going to bed. I'm not sure what I'm going to do tomorrow, since it is my first of three days off. I was thinking of going to an hour long defensive tactics training class... and then maybe going for a 2-3 mile jog. After that, I would probably round out the workout with 8-minute abs and 8-minute arms. Don't laugh! Ya, I know those 8-minute workout videos are so "old school". But wow, do they burn.

Speaking of burning, today... well, I guess it was actually yesterday... I had my taser certification. Yep, that means I got to "ride the lighting" or as others say, "ride the buffalo". So, after my brief two second nightmare with 50,000 volts coursing through my body, I have come up with three conclusion. ONE: Ouch! TWO: If anyone ever points one of those things at me, I will shoot them right where they stand. THREE: I will never volunteer to have that done to me again.

It is very hard to explain what it feels like. The device is actually made to disturb both the sensory and muscular nerves. It creates arcs, disturbing those nerves, at an extreme rate, which basically renders your entire body useless. For my "ride", I was on my knees with two other officers holding each arm to break my fall. The instructor told me to try and stand up. As I started to get up, I knew it was coming, but that didn't help. Immediately my body tensed, my head jerked back and apparently, I made a pitiful grown. My right knee buckled and the left leg went intensely straight. I would have fallen to the ground had it not been for the two officers holding me up. I remember this intense pain and wishing that it would stop. Hard to believe it barely lasted two seconds. The only good news is, unlike pepper spray, it has no lasting effects.

So here is a great clip of a taser deployment. I can't believe this guy. He continues to argue, and each time gets to enjoy a little more of that tingly feeling. If it were me... well, I would have done anything the trooper wanted after the first five second ride.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzTUQ1afSF8

Hosting Dad and Mom

2009-05-23T04:34:00.000-07:00

So, my parents came to visit this past week. We had a great time and ate like kings. It's great to have some good old fashioned home cookin'! On the second day I made french toast for breakfast... of course, with honey butter. Later, we had an early dinner, consisting of a fabulous stew, southern cheese biscuits and a very yummy apple pie for dessert. Everything was made from scratch and it was delicious! After supper, we headed down to Seattle to experience a Mariners game at Safeco Field.

On the way there, I smelled something strange in the car as we sat in traffic. Thinking it was just another car, I ignored it at first. Then I smelled it again while we were stopped at the next light. I started to worry a little because my car is my baby and I take such good care of it. I would hate for it to break down or have something go wrong with the engine. I was trying to figure out what the smell was, and after my mom and I went through a couple of guesses, we ended up on radiator fluid. At that point, I saw a small amount of smoke coming out of the side of my hood. Oh no!!! I quickly drove off the road and turned into a Schucks Auto Supply. My dad and I checked the engine and I found a small leak in the primary radiator hose. It was actually a very tiny leak, but the pressure had sent radiator fluid squirting upwards onto the hood, which then was leaking down onto the engine and creating steam... and that disgusting smell. A quick fix with some special tape, and we were off again to the game.

Safeco Field is an incredible venue, and we had some great seats right behind the Mariner's dugout. Even though they lost, we still had a great time. We did see a lot of runs scored as the score ended up being 10-6 in favor of the LA Angels. After the game, it was pouring down rain, so we ran all the way back to the car and headed back home.

Getting back to the car... don't worry, I had the hose replaced the following day. I have to take good care of her, cause I'm hoping to get at least 400,000 miles... and at just past 166,000 miles, the car is doing just great.

Anyways, the next day was a fabulous opportunity for both me and my parents. I was able to have both my dad and mom ride along with me while I worked as a police officer to keep the streets of Monroe safe. They each rode for three hours, with my dad going first... and probably stealing most of the action. During his time we had a hold up alarm at a bank (which turned out to be false), a warrant arrest, and another arrest for a case I had been working on. Sadly, mom only got a couple of traffic stops, but at least she did get to experience running code to a call.

All in all, it was a great time and I am so thankful they were able to come up north and visit. It was especially good for me since I've been going through some interesting and difficult times lately. Especially on Thursday! What a day that was. I won't go into detail, but it's very encouraging to know I have many people out there praying for me. I hope everyone has a fabulous Memorial Day weekend. As you celebrate this weekend, remember those who have died for this country and pray for those who serve it now. In a nation with ever growing animosity towards its military, many have forgotten, or just plain don't understand, that without our great military, the United States of America would have never existed.

The guys

2009-05-14T16:10:00.000-07:00

I'm almost off to work for another 12-hour shift. At least it's not pouring down rain today... well, at least not yet. Some of those clouds up there definitely give it the potential. This weekend is supposed to be fantastic though... I think sunny and mid-70's! Sadly, the rain will be back on Monday, which is when my parents are coming into town. Maybe that rain can hold back for a day or two.

Sadly, no pictures have been taken. I know, I know! I need to get that camera out. I'll do that this weekend, and also when my parents are here... which means lots of new blog entries and pictures next week. Yipee! But today we're going back into the old files again. I thought these two pics were pretty good... so I wanted to share them.

Let's see, this one is of Carl, me and Dan (left to right). These were my best buds in the Air Force and we hung out all the time. Can anyone say cribbage? Which reminds me, if anyone out there knows how to play cribbage, you need to come and visit me. Anyway, Carl is now in Chicago going to school and Dan is living with his wife in Salt Lake City. He is also going to school and working full time.

This next one is of... well, I'm not sure if it even needs a description. I always wondered how it would be feel to be a Green Bay Packers fan. Those crazy cheese-heads!

Alright, that's it for now. I have to get ready for work. Have a great day everyone!

Good ol' high school days

2009-05-06T03:00:00.000-07:00

I was going through all my old photos and found a few from back in high school. It's weird... high school doesn't seem like that long ago, but next month it will have been 11 years! I guess the time since then has just flown by.

This one is from senior year during one of the varsity basketball games. I'm not sure which German high school we are playing, but I do know we never had a home court at Black Forest Academy until the year after I graduated because the "new" gym wasn't completed until just after my final basketball season. To inaugurate the court, the school did put on a 3 on 3 tournament which was probably the most fun tourney I've ever played in. It came down to my team and David's team (the 6' 8" center for our varsity team). I remember David and I playing each other very hard and making impossible shots over each other. In the end... guess you'll have to ask me if you want to find out who won.

This shot is from the summer between my junior and senior year. The four of us are laying down in the center of Moscow, Russia. Yes, silly American tourists. Always getting into trouble! Actually, the large metal emblem that our heads are lying on represents the exact middle of the city. But if you happen to be in Moscow, don't use this as your meeting point. Instead, have everyone meet back at the big McDonald's. You know, the one that used to be the largest McDonald's in the world... that is until China had to do one better. See, if you meet up there, you get some really tasty food and you get to meet the classy hot girls of Russia. Seriously, the grub at McDonald's in Moscow is WAY better than in the States, and only the classy girls can afford it. But don't tell anyone you heard it from me... it's an insider secret.

Last but not least, we have the big event of the year... the junior/senior banquet. The American equivalent of prom... but without all the dancing, drinking and... well, you know. Pretty much without all the stuff that ruins high school and most relationships. Anyway, this is me and my roommate, Chris. Were in front of a gorgeous BMW that one of our RA's (resident assistant) had rented to bring his date in. I don't remember much about that night but I know I did have a lot of fun. Behind us is Haus Bad Riedlingen (aka HBR) which is the dorm I lived in while I attended BFA. Oh, in case you were wondering, BFA is a missionary school in Kandern, Germany.

Hope you enjoyed this short trip into my past. Remember that each person we meet in life will affect us in some way or another. But those who we let in our lives will change us forever. The people in these photos certainly did just that.

Back to school... hopefully

2009-05-05T18:39:00.000-07:00

So this last week... well, actually the last two weeks, I have been able to get out and do much. The weather is typical Washington spring... which means rain and lots of it. Work has been pretty fun and my big project lately was applying to the University of Washington (Bothell campus). The degree I'm applying for is a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies focusing on Society, Ethics and Human Behavior. I had to write an essay on why I want to study this degree. With some help from mom, I think it turned out pretty good. In case you wanted to read it, I'll post it here:

Some might say I have taken the long road in obtaining my educational goals. I believe my life experiences have been instrumental in preparing me for higher education. This will serve dividends while completing a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies focusing on society, ethics and human behavior. In addition, life experience will enhance application of the content of classes and interaction with fellow students. Educational, personal, and employment experience have each played a significant role to influence my desire in finishing this degree.

My college education includes associate degrees in both Financial Management and Criminal Justice. In regards to the finance degree, one area I would enjoy studying is the vast difference in which each society values money and the reasons behind that behavior. The degree in Criminal Justice was a stepping-stone into my current field of work as a police officer. While taking courses for this profession, I was trained to interact with multiple types of human behavior. However, this training did not cover the reasons behind these actions. Completing a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies would allow me to broaden my view of human behavior as it pertains to policing.

All but three years of my pre-college education has been outside of the United States, in Indonesia, Russia, and Germany. Even though the academic courses were taught in English, the indigenous cultures were evident within the institutions. Attending these schools and interacting daily with the culture of different countries has molded my life. These rich experiences have imparted both knowledge and a hunger to learn more about the world.

At the age of three, my family moved to a remote village on the island of Borneo, Indonesia. I grew up in a society completely foreign to most in the United States. During the eight years I spent living there, I lived in a developing world culture while still keeping the ethical values my parents taught. Each time I returned to America was like seeing our nation through the view of an outsider. Items that we consider normal and everyday, like our incredible freeway system and the multitude of choices at the local grocery market, were awe-inspiring and, at times, overwhelming. As I look back on these differences now, I realize how even the smallest items in each society can drastically change our lives and behavior.

At the age of fourteen, I moved again, but this time to Moscow, Russia, one of the largest cities in the world. As much as the skyscraper landscape contrasted from the bamboo hut village life, the greatest contrasts were in people’s lives. It was difficult to adapt to such a culture change. One element of the Russian society, which contrasted from that of Indonesia, was religion. While the latter was primarily Muslim, the Russian culture was predominantly atheistic and Russian Orthodox. The aspect of how religious values or lack of them can shape the lives of people, and in some cases entire countries, is a further element I wish to explore while studying my degree at the University of Washington.

A few years after high school, I enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving six years on active duty. I followed, led, and supervised a diverse group of people from all walks of life. Although challenging, I succeeded on every front and learned many important lessons, especially pertaining to leadership. These lessons trained me to become a fair and respected supervisor, regardless of differing lifestyles or ethical beliefs. After an honorable discharge, I began my current career in law enforcement.

I have had the privilege of serving as a police officer in the State of Washington over the past two years. I have seen first hand the vast differences in human behavior. More importantly, in working within a diverse community I desire to learn the driving force behind what motivates a human being to where they are in life. In essence, my work is the ultimate reason why I have chosen this program. I believe that a study of our society, ethical values, and human behavior can have a great impact on my development as a police officer.

Being a better police officer is obviously not my only aspiration in life. If the University of Washington grants me the opportunity to complete my degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, I would join the Washington State National Guard as an officer. This leadership role would allow me to guide young members of the armed forces in the right direction while they begin their own path in life’s journey. This degree would also aid my career in becoming a detective, or even a sergeant within the police force. This position would offer multiple opportunities to better the community in which I serve. And that, after all, is what many of us strive to create.

Two generations of fighter jets

2009-05-05T18:11:00.000-07:00

I though some of you might enjoy this picture. On the left is a F-22 Raptor flying tandem with a F-15 over the landing strip of Tyndall AFB, FL. It was taken during the inaugural flight of the Raptor at Tyndall, which would later become its new training base. Of course now, the F-22 is not looking too good with all the budget cuts and I wouldn't be surprised if it is completely phased out over the next few years.

In the blink of an eye...

2009-04-23T04:09:00.000-07:00

I was going through my photos the other day and noticed how fast Calvin (my sister's son) is growing up. The last time I saw him was at my brother's wedding and at that time, Calvin was crawling and just starting to teethe. As you can see now, his teeth are in and he loves to chew on things! He's also walking around everywhere and apparently loves climbing up stairs. I also found a great picture of Calvin and his mother from way back when. Well, I guess it wasn't that long ago after all.

Mt. Hood Railroad

2009-04-23T03:56:00.000-07:00

While down in Portland this past weekend, my parents took us on the Mt. Hood Railroad Excursion Train. The train takes you through the Columbia Gorge to Parkdale and then back to Hood River. It was the first time my sister's son, Calvin, had ever been on a train and he had a great time trying to balance while we chugged along.

Summer weather!

2009-04-07T04:24:00.000-07:00

After some typical northwest spring weather, the past few days have been truly amazing. With highs in the mid 70's, it was time to get out and enjoy the sun. On Sunday afternoon I wandered down to Lake Union in downtown Seattle and enjoyed a little exercise while kayaking. Nothing like rowing in a huge lake with a cool breeze surrounded by incredible views. Ahhh, what a great world it is out there.

Behind this classic speed boat is the Seattle skyline, including the space needle on the far right.

In this shot, the sun is beaming from behind the sails.

Winter Contrast

2009-03-25T15:51:00.000-07:00

Portland Rose Garden; Portland, OR

Last time I was down in Portland, I took this picture while walking through the Portland Rose Garden with Mom and Dad. I love the contrast of how trees change to survive winter.

Dreaming of Retirement...

2009-03-25T15:44:00.000-07:00

Ok, so maybe I'm a little young to be thinking of retirement. But she looks amazing! Can you imagine sailing the Caribbean on a 45' sailing yacht? What's even better, I can stand straight up below deck, with headroom of 6' 7". This is the new Hunter 45 Center Cockpit. Start saving early!

My Dad and I

2009-03-25T15:42:00.001-07:00

Cannon Beach, OR

2009-03-25T13:34:00.000-07:00

This week I was visiting my parents in Portland, OR. My younger brother had flown up from Georgia with his wife and brand new son. One of the days, we traveled to Cannon Beach, OR, the sight of Hay Stack Rock. Before I was harassed by the environmentalists, I was able to take the shot you see in my previous post. While walking on the beach, here is a picture I took of mom and dad all bundled up and in good spirits. It was a little chilly on this late March day.

The Hay Stack

2009-03-25T13:31:00.000-07:00

Hay Stack Rock; Cannon Beach, OR

Favorite pics

2009-03-25T13:22:00.000-07:00

Since I've changed the address for my blog, I wanted to bring along a couple of my favorite pictures. So here are three that I have enjoyed...

Multnomah Falls, OR

Lake Union, Seattle, WA