The Adventure List

One of things I love most about visiting a new place is exploring. Being in unfamiliar territory can be both scary and exhilarating at the same time! One of the best parts about exploring is the anticipation that comes before the adventure.  For me, getting lost in a sea of new experiences and surroundings is only half of the experience. To fully grasp the depth of ones own emersion, all of the senses need to be stimulated. Having some level of knowledge prior to the experience allows for a greater appreciation of the event, and allows your emotional psyche to become fully immersed in the physical reality you are experiencing. Basically, before visiting a new place, I love to plan my adventures. I love to research all of the facts and learn the finest of details before diving into the experience.

Since I am moving to the Pacific Northwest in the next 24 days, I have been filling my mind with as much detail about Washington as I can. Being captivated by all of the new opportunities that will be at my disposal, I have started an "Adventure List". Similar to the well-known "Bucket List", my list is not focused on achieving some personal satisfaction before I die, but rather living life to the fullest. Experiencing the awesome nature of God's creation humbles me, while purifying my praises of exaltation. Life can be an adventure as long as we allow it to carry us along.

My adventure list isn't just a product of my own imagination, but rather a creation fueled by friendship. Perhaps the best part of this adventure list is who I will share the experiences with. Creating an adventure list with one of my closest friends from WA has been an experience all of it's own. Adding new items to the list almost every day, we now have a plethera adventures waiting to be experienced!  Just part of the list includes:

Wine tasting and drinking

Fresh Sea food at Pikes Place market

Camping

Back backing
Staying in a cabin in the mountains
Hot springs
Skiing in the mountains
Helicopter tour
Bar with good car bombs?

Hookah lounge
Getting lost
Scuba diving 

Going to Puget Sound

River rafting through the mountains 

and the list goes on and on... 

Just today, I was discouraged and anxious about leaving my home in the next 24 days, forever. Then I received a text from my friend in WA, saying she had added an item to our list, kayaking from Readmond to the Redhook Brewery. My butterflies flew away. 

Get ready WA, here I come! 

Seattle WA: 31 days, 23 hours, 4 minutes, 3 seconds

 My countdown has begun. I'm heading for Washington state in only one month! It's hard to believe that time is going by so fast and yet so slow! I am ready to be in Washington, settling in and looking for a job! I've had enough of this limbo in between. I either want to be all there or all here, not in both places at the same time.  

I'm tired of my apartment looking like a playground of boxes and debris. Each night, I find myself navigating a maze of boxes just to get to my bed. Its really quite ridiculous and is starting to get old. Boxes seem to fill up every aspect of my living environment;  piling up in the middle of my living room and lining the bedroom walls. My garage is no exception, as it is filled with numerous items that remain mostly un-boxed at the moment. I have just been so busy! Who knew moving across the country would involve so much attention to detail? For example, the bank I have always used (since childhood) does not have a branch in WA state, forcing me to change all my accounts linked to that bank to a different banking provider. Having multiple accounts enrolled in "auto-pay" has made my banking life all the more difficult. Changing account numbers and deactivating the auto-pay feature for numerous companies has been an absolute nightmare. Just when you think your utility company has deactivated that auto-pay feature (as they promised) and you make that manual payment, BAM! They still take out via auto-pay, doubling you payment for that month. What does that equal? Well for me, it seems to turn into hours on the phone with a representative from a different country, trying to reverse the double payment. Additionally, "this is not a good time to discuss my eligibility for an upgrade or some new promotional feature". Not cool.

Overall though, I'm happy with my choice of choosing Chase bank. The transition from 5/3 Bank was mostly seamless, taking only about two days to complete. I'm also really excited about all of the new features offered by Chase that I will be able to use, like the spending-tracker which break's down all your spending for each month and show's you the areas you spend the most on. They also have a really interesting "Cash Back" feature with their Freedom credit card, which I am eager to try out. Hopefully earning money on each purchase I already make. I'm also enrolled in their "Bill Pay" feature, that puts me in control of paying my bill's, as opposed to that dreaded "auto-pay" feature. So my banking world is finally looking up! :)

Samantha: On the chair

Tabatha: Sunbathing in the window

My dad is flying in on this Tuesday (Today is Saturday) and we are going to spend a week moving a whole bunch of stuff to my parents garage. This is exciting, because I am so ready to get rid of some of these boxes!!! I will be hauling most of their stuff that has accumulated in my garage, but also some of my stuff that I think is either pointless to take along or nearly impossible to take with me. Unfortunately, the two cats I have been babysitting fall into that category, and won't be able to come with me. So my dad will be taking them back with him. This is going to be pretty hard, as they have really grown on me over the past 6 months... it will be so lonely with out them. :(

Reuniting one last time.

The details presented here have not been inflated or exaggerated in the slightest way. This is the actual account, as it happened from memory.

My eyes slowly peel open. The sun lit room is a bit out of focus, so I blink once or twice to clear the matter from my eyes. Sigh. Pulling the covers off to the side, I struggle to sit upright on the side of the bed. The sun seems to be shining behind the tilted blinds, casting a luminous warm glow on the walls. Yet, oddly I seem hear the all-to-familliar sound of rain dancing on the tin roof of the patio. A light rumble of thunder resonates in the distance. Standing up, I stretch to loosen my stiff muscled. I walk down the short hall to the kitchen, as I have so many times before. The kitchen was clean, everything in its place except for a few papers scattered about on the counter. Looking at the floor, I remember noticing how distinctly clean and fresh looking the carpet and furniture seemed. "Humm", I think to myself. "When did my parents find time to come here and clean?" There used to be so many boxes and junk laying around that our cottage looked like a neglected storage unit that had been abandoned. Walking from the kitchen through the living room, I step into the patio. This room seems a bit darker, as it doesn't face the sun and when the blinds are all closed, the room is barely lit. I walk over to one particular window next to the door. This window has a habit of popping out of its track during wind storms, as its older and needs to be replaced. I decided to check it, since the sound of the rain on the tin roof had intensified. Pulling the blind's away from the window, I'm startled to find a rather new looking secure window in its place. Lightly tugging on the frame, I confirm its in place."That's strange" I remark. "Why would my parents replace that window now?" Deciding to step outside, I open the door. The rain is really coming down. I feel it hitting my face and hands. I look over to the lake. The waves are dancing about, making small white caps and ripples with each small collision. The sky above the lake has a distinctively ominous appearance. Random flashes of lightening give the dark clouds brief moments of light. The sun shinning brilliantly from the east lights up the rain and further darkens the storm clouds. It's actually really beautiful, I think to myself. Looking about, while standing in the rain and sun, I realize something is wrong. The yard hasn't been this groomed and cared for in years. Thinking back to the clean cottage, and new window, I realize whats going on. Im am in a dream! I walk over to the wooden hand-rail of the deck. The rain has soaked it and makes small splashes with each additional drop that strikes the wood. I run my hand over the soaked wooden rail, and feel its distinctive groves. I can believe the attention to detail! I look about in amazement, trying to grasp every part of my dream. The yard looks so great, green and healthy as my dad always kept it. Walking down the stairs, I decide to follow the path around to the back side of the cottage. All along the way, I take in the amazing details created within my dream. I am captivated by the virtual reality of the situation. Knowing I'm in a dream, I strive to take in as much detail as possible. This is amazing and so beautiful! So real! The rain seems to let up a bit as I pass our tool shed. The paint looks so fresh and new. "It's such a pity we have let this beautiful place get so run down recently" I think to myself.  Walking between the cottage and shed, I pass into the back yard where I am instantly shocked by what I see.

"Grandpa!" I yell. I run over to him and give him the biggest and longest hug I have ever given. My eyes well up with tears. "You look so great grandpa!" He smiles, "I feel great". Standing in amazement, I struggle to understand and take in every bit of this experience. "I miss you so much grandpa!" I say with tears streaming down my face. Looking at me, he smiles and rubs my shoulder. I feel the dream begin to flicker and fade. "No!" I shout at the top of my lungs. Although, I have never been in this situation before, I know what is happening. I am about to wake up. Running back to the cottage, I feel it necessary to determine what date I'm in. Was this dream so detailed and vivid because it was coming from a memory, or was this some new creation? I needed to know. Running into the kitchen, I look for the calendar which would give me the year and day. I couldn't seem to find one. My mom always had one hanging on the wall near the stove, but for some reason one was not there, just the nail where it used to hang. Running to the window and pulling the blinds aside, I look to the back side of the cottage. I see grandpa still standing there, he has his tools out and seemed to be working on part of the cottage. "There's still time", I think to myself. Looking about the small room, I decide to rummage through the scattered papers on the counter. Rustling through several papers and envelopes, I discover a store receipt. Frantically scanning over the receipt, I look for the unique time stamp. "Ahha!" There it was, in vivid detail. "06.08.06 at 15:03". I quickly head back outside. The sun was still shinning while the rain continued to pour. The thunder rumbled loudly overhead. As I ran along the path to the back of the cottage, I noticed my grandfathers bike propped up. I knew he was still there and still with me. Running around the corner to where my grandfather was standing, I noticed he was holding a piece of plastic over the top of his head. "It's really coming down", he remarked with a smile. "grandpa", I yell over the rumbles of thunder. "Can you tell me what day it is?" He looks at me and smiles while shaking his head, "Humm, I'm not really sure." He lifts his hand and adjust the piece of plastic on his head. "Your watch! Can you look at the date part and tell me what today is?" He looks at me and smiles, "I probably could". At this point, I feel like he knows the date but for some reason is reluctant to tell me. "I went inside and found a receipt, I think its some time in June. Does that sound right?" "Grandpa?" Smiling, he tilts his head to the side. I feel warm and at peace, comforted by his presents. The dream again starts to flicker, like a old film reel nearing it's end. "I love you grandpa!" I shout, as his image is exchanged with the blur of my bedroom. Laying on my pillow, I feel the cold of soaked tears. I blink, and then take a deep breath. "Thank you grandpa."

My grandpa was my biggest fan. He taught me so manny wonderful things in life. My grandpa died of pancreatic cancer on 03.23.08 on Easter Sunday, while I stood at his bedside. I watched him take his last breath, and felt his heart stop beating. I miss him beyond belief. Im not sure why or what inspired this dream, or even what allowed me to know I was in a dream. But I am SO thankful. So happy I was able to hug my grandpa one more time and feel him hugging me back. I am so thankful I was able to say "I love you" one last time.

I miss you grandpa.

A Magical and Revolutionary Device at an Unbelievable Price

Being a self-proclaimed "MacHead" (pronounced MAK-hed. n. a slang term for a person who regularly uses and/or is somewhat obsessed with Apple computers; or Macs.) I figured I would do a quick blog on my favorite company's newest product. Also, I want to apologize for my rather pessimistic previous blog. My emotions, whether good or bad are always reflected in my writing. I guess that's what will make these blogs true to life. Enjoy!

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I love futuristic things. Here we are, living in 2011 (that even looks and sounds futuristic to me!!) surrounded by a plethora of devices that allow instant access to as much information on any subject as you can possibly handle. Being born in 1986, I was able to experience the pre-future revolution (i.e. the 80's) while shortly thereafter experiencing the development of super-computers and cutting-edge advancements in technology. In a nut shell, I grew up at the end of the Walkman-era (I had a Walkman as a child) and the beginning of the iPod revolution (after going through the awkward CD-player phase, I got my first iPod in college).

Apple has changed my digital life. I remember the situation that brought me to my first Mac computer (Brace yourself, here comes a flashback story). During sophomore year (2006) at Hope College, nestled all safe and warm in my little Hope bubble, I was on top of the world. Living in Scott Hall room 308 with my roommate Jon Dean, an RA for the third floor, we had everything going for us. Our dorm room was tricked-out with everything a college male could love. We had neon lights, electronics, gaming systems, a projector TV system (our wall was a giant 8 foot by 10 foot screen), lap top computers, 1st generation iPods, diet coke, and a few books. Everything was great, until that fateful morning. I remember waking up in a frenzy. My alarm clock had not gone off making me over 20 minutes late. Disoriented and slmuiteamously high on adrenaline, I stumbled about the dimly lit room. Jumping from my bed over a scatter of loose sheet paper, then tripping over a gaming controller and landing in a pile of clean yet, unassorted clothing items. Sigh. I had no time to gather myself. Quickly logging onto my Dell Laptop, which was situated on my crude college-owned wooden desk chair; I checked my email to make sure my class paper had been sent the night before so I could print it later. Grabbing a towel, I darted out the door to the bathroom across the hall from our room. Although I was already late, I refused to be late and dirty when I arrived to class. My shower was quick, making it the kind I hate because I can't fully enjoy the warmth of the water and steam. Making my way back to my room, I got dressed and headed off for class. One hour and thirty minutes pass before I return to my dorm room. Opening the unlocked door, I immediately notice a few extra papers scattered about on the floor. For a guy's dorm room, its not unusual for papers and all sorts of stuff to be laying about. However, I remember thinking it was somewhat strange that my roommate would leave parts of his treasured gaming system askew about the room. Slowly, as my eyes turn upward from the floor to the desk chair where my laptop once sat, I see an empty space and power cord dangling from the side of the chair. "Holy shit. Where is my computer?!?" Running across the room, I throw papers, magazines, and books. Clothes are flying from the floor as I franticly search the room for my computer. "Maybe my roommate moved it. Maybe I moved it sometime early this morning." "Holy shit. I think we've been robbed." Instantly I was on my phone, calling my roommate at the animal museum where he worked. 

Jon: "Hello?" 

Brent: "Hey, JD, did you move my computer?"

Jon: "What? No. Why?"

Brent: "Dude, I think you better get back here right now! I think we've been robbed!"

Jon: "What the Fu@k!?! Why? What's going on?

Brent: "My computer is gone, your gaming system and some other stuff"

Jon: "Shit. I'll be there in a sec."

Brent: "Okay, I'll call Campus safety."

Jon: "K" 

Click.

In the end, we had been robbed. The items stolen included a gaming system, games, controllers, thumb drives, my laptop computer, keys and some other items. In the bathroom across from our room, we found some of our magazines and school papers along with a doo-rag and a swisher sweet cigar. According to the police, the individuals probably waited until we left for our morning classes. They easily knew our schedules as they were posted on our door. Since the bathroom, was right across from our dorm room, it is believed that the individuals smuggled stuff into the bathroom where they packed it away before leaving. That day really sucked. I lost years worth of music, photos, papers, games and a whole plethora of others items on my computer that were priceless. That night, I remember laying in bed, angry at the fact that I had lost so much. I remember praying that night. For whatever reason, I decided, in the midst of my anger to forgive those individuals who had stolen my digital world. I forgave them, before finally falling asleep. Early the next morning, I remember receiving a call from my parents Home Owners Insurance company. They told me to go to the store and get another lap top to replace the stolen one as soon as possible. My parents apparently had full replacement insurance, where the insurance company will fully replace an item by category (at new value), not by a depleted market price or current used-value like cheaper insurance plans tend to do. After the call, I remember dropping to my knees and thanking God for being so amazing during times of difficulty. Later that day with my roommate, I ordered my first MacBook Pro laptop computer, loaded with every new feature and option available! God is so good!

So about this new Apple device!! Yesterday, March 2nd, 2011 Apple released the iPad 2!!! It is loaded with amazing new features! Front and rear facing HD cameras, A5 duel core processors, and a whole bunch of other new stuff, making it an amazing and futuristic device. Which I love! I really want one. I wanted the first iPad, but told myself to wait for the second generation so all the bugs could be worked out. However, since I am getting ready to move to Washington state soon, I might need the $499+ it takes to purchase one. So I am stuck. Do I spend the money or not? Please Vote!

I am making a new poll in the upper right had corner of the screen. Please vote!!!! 

The results are in 17:1 for the last poll, 97% agree I should move to Wa!!! Thanks for voting!!