Jumping On The Bandwagon

2007-04-07T09:49:00.000-05:00

Ok apparently some of you are still awaiting posts here so i thought i'd throw you a tid bit.
i'm officially a climber again, twice in one month i've gotten out there and climbed. its very exciting. Both were crazy slab/friction NC standard crazy climbs. give me steep overhanging cracks anyday. But it is getting me to trust my feet instead of my giant pet pythons (read scrawny arms).
Also super psyched for the summer

thepeakadventure.org

i need to get out and paddle though as i'm taking SWR in May and i need to get in paddling shape.

2006-12-06T12:58:00.000-05:00

Hey Bloggers,
inspired by anonymous
i have additions to my last blog

number of haircuts 2 (the most in several years)
number of blogs (about 12 or some other pitifully small amount

2006-12-02T12:45:00.000-05:00

The year in full.
December, the month of reflection, has got me thinking about what i've done this year. So here in no order is my year.

number of jobs 2
countries visited (by the end of the year) 3
number of cars 2
firsts : caving
      leading on an unclimbed cliff
         kayaking the pigeon, pillow rock, slab,
Nany falls 3 times in a row
time leaving the US as a resident
         anniversary
         true american roadtrip
         green card
         snowboarding trip
number of boats 3
number of apartments 1
number of houses worked on 7
number of weddings 5
number of trips/vacations (at least) 6
number of overnight guests (over) 9 [is the couch comfy?]

2006-10-19T22:01:00.000-05:00

Fall weather

2006-10-14T11:45:00.000-05:00

Well, fall is closing in. It's 8.30am and there is still frost on the ground. Not the best news when i know that there are a lot of things we need to get done at work before it gets really cold. However the cold weather comes with benefits like curling up under oversized bed covers, getting to drink hot things, oh and fires.
In other news, i got my drivers liscence woohoo. PS the test was rediculously easy so i am now even more scared of american drivers, only kidding.......:)..........kinda
What else well Leigh and i are all booked for going back to Belfast at Christmas so again woohoo

2006-10-05T19:44:00.000-05:00

Hey Bloggers, Well i know its been a while but i thought i'd send out a wee blog. Been doing lots of paddling lately even got the chance to take an old friend of Leighs out on the Nanty. I'm hoping to get some photos back of a trip I did on the French Broad a couple of weeks ago. Apart from the paddling its been all work and church. Youth is going great and i love hanging out with all the kids. I'm also really excited about meeting the new youth pastors who are meant to be arriving soon.

2006-08-11T20:16:00.000-05:00

hey all, well we had agrreat time at the beach and made it home in one piece despite crazy storma in South Carolina. I'm on the countdown to my parents arrival. They are coming over next week and hopefully staying around Bryson City for at lleast a week although they seem rather keen on traveling around lots while they're over.
The heat here in BC has been crazy for the last week, so we've been trying to get to work early and leave early. Yesterday though we over did it and almost made it to work before daylight did. I've also been cooling off in the late afternoons with a little paddling action. I've done a fair bit of paddling this summer. not that many rivers but quite a bit of playboating. It's nice when its right by your house. Anyway i should get some things done so i'll leave it there.

2006-07-30T18:56:00.000-05:00

Ok,
So I was inspired by the comments that I got on my last mini
postand i thought i would post again. So climbing last wknd was awesome. Anyone who has climbed with me will attest that i become half puppy dog half crack addict when i get around rock but last wknd i was pretty chilled. I was psyched to get to do it but i wasn't trying and sick hard problems and i wasn't trying to rope up any 5.12s. idid get to lead for the first time in 18 months though and i got to set up some pro anchored topropes . i also got to teach a little bit to some friends and i always enjoy that. i live for that look they get when they are like wow i can do this.

2006-07-20T19:16:00.000-05:00

ok so i am no longer a regular blogger but i'll post for fun anyway.
I just finished a great book callled Velvet Elvis. It's a book on how christianity looks in relationship with this time and this place. Anyway it was really good it made me think and i like that in a book. It's by a MI pastor called Rob Bell. He focused a lot on Jesus as a Rabbi.
oh and i'm hopefully going climbing this wknd.

2006-06-03T15:31:00.000-05:00

HEY Bloggers. I don't expect that anyone reads this anymore after the way i've abondoned it in the last months. Anyways on to the newsy part of the blog. Right now Leigh and i are on the road to Winston Salem. It's wedding season here so we have some miles to put on the car. We had one wedding last wknd Jaime and Jaime. Jaime the boy is my boss kinda and Jaime the girl is a probation officer. this wknd its some of Leighs School friends. next wknd we get a week off Then its Jason and Sarah, friends from church who are moving in 3mins walk from us. Then at the end of the summer its off to Canada for Dee and Cams wedding. Which is really the one I'm looking fwd to the most. Some of the many reasons for this are the journey, the destination, the friends i haven't seen in a long while and the fact that i'll get to leave the country for the first time in a year and a half. That last one is a big deal as i haven't stayed in one country for this long in at least 8 years, possibly longer.
Leigh and i are also excited about a mid summer trip to the beach and about my parents visiting. so all in all it's looking like another awesome summer.

2006-05-09T16:03:00.000-05:00

Hey all, just a quick blog to share that i am alive but busy with 2 jobs and trying to mow the yard occasionally. Bryson City is entering wedding season so we'll be busy for a couple of wknds ahead here.

2006-04-26T13:33:00.000-05:00

hey all,
well its that time of year again, the leaves are sprouting, the flowers blooming and LDP are invading. They arrived on Sunday night, with the standard van broke before they left and overheated going up a hill stories. Its awesome having them here and gives us great excuses to paddle but it also brings up the i wish i was still in LDP feelings. These were expressed by Leigh and Molly last night. So i was wondering would i do it all again. i really can't decide but here are the pros. Life in community, knowing your bills up front (plus they only get smaller if you work), skills based lifestyle, fellowship, spiritually inspiring. Ok i think I've gone far enough to convince my self. But what about you other LDP grads why would you do it again?? or would you???

tug

2006-04-03T17:50:00.000-05:00

I feel God tugging at my heart strings. it a feeling i haven't had in a while. I've been full of praise and worship for God lately. I guess i just haven't been quiet enough to listen to him. But here i sit at 5 am, thunder and lightening outside, and something tugging at me inside. I feel unsure about the things that tug inside. Are they caused by my desires or Gods or simply the lack of sleep. I used to dismiss these tugs when they had anything to do with my desires. Then a couple of John Eldridge books later i felt that God could use my hearts desire for his purpose. And i also felt that my hearts desire had become a little more solidified and clear. Now however that dream and desire have slipped a little. I guess livin' so far outside it it starts to slip away. And then there are these nights where i contemplate throwing everything i have at it. And then again maybe it's just 5 am .............

2006-03-14T17:51:00.000-05:00

Hey faithful readers, well as you all know from Leighs blog we went on a road trip last week. What you probably didn't know was that on the road trip i was rating the welcome centers for each state. Its exciting i know but try and contain yourselves so you can read the whole thing.
Georgia:- you failed as you didn't put one in your top right hand corner.
Mississippi:- you were too arrogant you claimed to give the "warmest welcome" in the south and although you gave us free drinks you had no information, and thats kinda missing the point isn't it.
Arkansas:- you did a good job but you could have done better
Texas:- excellent use of wifi but a lack of charm
Alabama:- you totally rock in all the best ways. Quite frankly you got me super pumped about rest stops.
So there it is folks. I hope you feel educated and feel free to add you favourite state welcome center.

2006-03-12T18:47:00.000-05:00

I'm just testing out a cool new tool that allows me to write blogs offline. That means i may blog more often. I hope my sister is reading my blog still as the photos were mostly for her. well lets see if it worked.

2006-02-26T08:16:00.000-05:00

the amazing machine
the funky couch
the roofrack of power and strength
me in a suit?!?! how bizarre..

The Interview

2006-02-22T12:26:00.000-05:00

ok so here as promised is how the interview went down.
(just incase you don't know this is my US permanent residency interview)

So we arrive late, about 5 minutes. I'm feeling nervous and also like i'm gonna hurl, due to bad food the night before. So we make it to the waiting room and my whole body is not happy with me. Anyway we overhere this woman saying how surprised she is that everything is running on time. So at this point we are settling in to be there the rest of the day and sneek in at the end or try to reschedule. Neither is appealing. But whilst we are discussing this one of the interviewers comes in and calls my name. So I bolt towards her and vaguely remember to make sure Leigh is with me (sorry sweety). Anyway she takes us into this room and proceeds to grill us. She has me pulling out taxes and photos and letters and all sorts. Leigh and i try to tell her how we met without too many mistakes between our 2 versions. I try to get her on side with photos of us in the guiness brewery, then crack jokes about how if Leigh stayed with my family for 2 months that she must be committed to me (family this was entirely a joke don't go getting offended, i love you all) anyway shes warming up. I've got a couple of laughs out of her. And then she starts crunching numbers working out how much we make. {theres a specified amount you have to reach to show you won't spounge off the Gov.} And well this is when i was most nervous 'cause although i hadn't shared this with many people i knew we were borderline on this one. So the laughs are gone and shes not smiling anymore. My stomachs ties itself into another figure eight. But she looks up and says that although it was close we are ok.
My heart leaps.
Then she explains whats next and all the things i can now do. Such as leave the country. Anyway i was super excited and Leigh was awesome all day, looking after my queasy and nerve ridden self.
Next stops,
Canada in Septemberish
Ireland in December
WooHoo

Maybe i didn't survive.....

2006-02-16T15:54:00.000-05:00

Ok so my b'day lulled me into a false sense of security. Ith ought I had survived turning 25 but not so much. It kidnapped me for a month but now I'm back better than ever. So here's the update blog.
Not working sucked so i'm now a carpenter WooHoo
I work with 2 buddies from church, very sweet
I learnt to snowboard in West Virginia with some friends. A painful but satisfying trip
I almost broke my back sledding. I swear i thought i was paralysed, No Joke.
I had a visa interview and am now a conditional Permanent Resident who can leave the country and everything. Trip to Canada here i come. Christmas in the UK oh yeah. 2 years til my next Visa crisis.... YESSS!!!!!!!!
My wife is an excellent student way more studious than i ever knew.
ok so not the most interesting of blogs but at least i'm back on the map now.
maybe tomorrow I'll expand on how i sweet talked the Visa interview lady.
Yeah i still got it,
signed..... The smooth operator

On the other side

2006-01-04T22:38:00.000-05:00

well i made it to the other side. I'm 25.
and the only negative if thought of so far is that I can no longer stay in certain youth hostels and well big woop.

Just watched Cinderella man, really good but a lot of blows to the head. If your disturbed by that stay away. Christmas was amazing i really enjoyed our time down in the piedmont. Hopefully going climbing down in Georgia this saturday. I was tempted to go to a climbing competition in TN instead but after a long december of junkfood I'm not feeling any competitive climbing anytime soon.
Oh on the visa front i got a letter from the US gov. so i have an interview to go to in Febuary.

Anyway thats a quick update for you. Early morning tomorrow so i;m going to bed

Quarter Life Crisis

2005-12-21T09:03:00.000-05:00

Ok so i realised yesterday that it is only 2 weeks til my 25th birthday. So as i washed my ever greying hair (I'm not even kidding about this one) this morning i got to thinking about things i've done that have surprised me. Things i expected to do by 25 and things i didn't so i thought i would share.
First things i didn't expect to do by 25
- Live in 6 different countries (spending at least a year in each)
- Be married :) (i thought i was gonna live the ultimate bachelor life)
- Not have had a real job yet (yes its true, i really don't feel i've had any "normal" jobs)
- ice climbed
- own a kayak
- go through imigration (i still have no idea what the future holds on that score)
- sing karioke (it only happened once and won't be repeated quickly i hope)
- almost totally clear my stuff out of my parents house (i expected to be sponging for a lot longer)

And now the second half of the list, Things i expected that haven't happened yet
- I'm not a world famous rock climber
- I'm not single yay!!!!!
- I'm not a camp director............ yet
- I haven't been back to the southern hemisphere since i was 5
- i haven't broken a leg yet

anyway I'm sure there is more for my list which i might add as the day draws closer but i thought this was a good start.
Hope you young folks are enjoying life while you can i'm off to put my false teeth in...... hehehehehe

a lil' bit of christmas

2005-12-19T23:16:00.000-05:00

Narnia

2005-12-19T08:54:00.000-05:00

Not much time so I'll keep it brief

It was absolutely fantastic. However my enjoyment was limited by the fact that i couldn't concentrate during a lot of the scenes as they were filmed in front of classic NZ bouldering. Curse my climbing addiction. In fact no on second thoughts curse the person who choose the location, how dare they be so inconsiderate. hmph.
Anyway only a couple of days left til Christmas hope you all enjoy the season, family, friends, and the reason.

Another new toy

2005-12-09T09:06:00.000-05:00

Ok so i know that i've been amazingly blessed already this year. But i've got one more to be very thankful for. It's Leigh and mines new laptop. We've gone Mac. And i love it. My old 2 inch thick IBM had done really well. It was second hand when my dad got it, he used it for his work for a couple of years, then it saw me through Uni and helped me get my degree, It was sorely neglected during LDP and when i returned to it afterwards things were on a slippery slope. The final straw was when it become a desktop, earlier this year. It stubbornly refused to work with its battery plugged in. So a new computer was on the cards.
Thus the arrival of the lil' Mac. So now i can actually listen to british radio on the internet whenever i want. I can talk to my parents and family for free using SKYPE (please log on to it). I can play with photos. I can play DVDs, burn CDs. Anyway yeah its been really cool and i love it. And the best thing is definitely talking to my family more than i have in years. I'm a happy camper.

Digital Cameras

2005-12-06T11:55:00.000-05:00

hey all, well I'm in confusion. I'd quite like a digital camera this christmas, maybe somewhere around $100-150. Problem is that having been shooting with thousands of dollars worth of camera equipment for the last 8 months I've become a total camera snob. I know, i disgust myself too. But anyway i just wanted to know from those of you that have one what do you like what don't you like? Please help I don't want to end up with something i won't use.
Hope your all getting in the Christmas spirit. And if not trying listening to christmas songs 8 hours a day. It'll get you there. :)

Its all the little sins that kill

2005-11-18T14:31:00.000-05:00

How is it that our conscience doesn't view sins equally. I mean God does right? But somehow a "white" lie will always be easier to tell than killing someone. Is it social teaching? Is it simply that different people struggle with different things.
I guess it would be all too easy if every sin was as easy to avoid as murder. I mean i realise there are a lot of murders committed in the world and that many people are capable of murder but the majority of us will never be tempted in that way.
i guess i'm just pondering the nature of sin. How it enslaves us. The addictive nature of certain sins. The cycling of others whereby one lie leads to another.
I think i may have listened to too much Christian radio lately. The house is pretty quiet without leigh here. But i would love all your thoughts on the nature of sin.

whats new

2005-11-17T11:07:00.000-05:00

OK, so i thought i'd do a bit of an update on whats going on here in Bryson.

First Leigh and I now have kayaks. They're totally sweet.
Second I've gotten my fathers in laws 1970s bike working.
Third, Leigh is gone for a couple of days and i miss her. Yeah i know i'm a sap but hey i can't deny the truth.

What else is going on.
Well i had a cool day in Ashville yesterday. I got to climb at the bouldering gym there. I test rode a really nice bike. And i found all these really cool gear shops. Oh and then i came home and watched more Family Guy. I really like that show.
Anyway keep updating everybody

a quick one for you

2005-11-05T19:22:00.000-05:00

Ok so heres the highlight of my day......

So i was in the park sitting on a bench today at lunch,
And as i sat there i was praying and feeling a little bummed,
(the reasons why aren't important for the story)
Anyway i was trying to define how i felt and i came to the conclusion that.... I really felt like life was craping on me.
At this moment of self pitying definition...
what happened......
well you guessed it, a bird crapped on me. Right on my shoulder.
The humor did not escape me.
In fact it snapped me out of self pity quite effectively.
And the truth that God has a brilliant sense of humor remains. :)

This is the second time I've written this

2005-10-24T13:41:00.000-05:00

Torn,
I feel torn at. Pulled in 2 directions, at least 2 directions. My heart is lost in indecision and there are no clear ways out.

This is a common theme for blogs to follow. It is also a needed theme for blogs to follow. Maybe in the act of writing a solution can be made clear. Maybe the appeal for advice will be answered wisely and sagely. Or maybe the simple act of submitting your hopes and fears to something public allows you to think and pray your way through to an answer.

The things that tear at me today are not unexpected, unanticipated or unusual. On the other hand they were expected before my marriage to Leigh was. It is the pull of work and life.
I had always said that i didn't want just a job but rather a lifestyle. I don't want a 9-5 I want something that i can pour myself into. Things become more complicated however when i becomes we and dedication becomes selfish.

So here are the specifics.

There is a Christian camp here in Bryson city called Camp living water. And there is a Program Director at this camp called Tim. Tim and I have probably only ever met about 10 times. However in those times he has discovered my kyptonite. It is an all comsuming, work 20 hr days, constant energy, happy hands, passion for camps. Since his discovery he has been playing the snake in the garden and tempting me at any given chance. First it was simply wishful musing "it would be awesome to have a second program director". Then it went to playful "hey i'll give you my apartment if you come work at camp". Then it was tempting " You know if you worked here we could do this". And now the final temptation has come THE ACTUAL JOB OFFER.

So whats my problem? right, well if i viewed working at camp as just a job well there'd be no problem. However i don't think it is.
For me it looks more like this

DO i choose a paycheck or a passion
DO i choose time with Leigh or time in ministry
DO i choose a few little luxuries in life or a life scraping by and making ends meet
Do i choose to be an absent husband or effective program director.

Melodrama aside. It really feels very black and white. I mean can i really have both? Can i really work at a camp and be a good husband? Can i change single minded dedication into multi minded dedication? Does what i just wrote even make sense? Has anyone managed to read this far? Will i ever stop asking questions? Will this blog ever end? Can i balance an empassioning job with a passionate marriage?

Maaawidge.....

2005-10-09T11:54:00.000-05:00

Well yesterday was another milestone. 6 Months married to be exact. She got roses and a collage of photos from our first 6 months. And i got endless cards through the day, british biscuits and a little bendy cupid dude.
At this point i have to pay homage to the humble "digestive" (the british biscuit) quite simply it is the best bisciut in the world. It wieghs in at a mity 3g fat per biscuit and its worth every bit. If you've seen an australian go nuts over a timtam then you know how i reacted.
Anyway our anniversary was great we were able to eat dinner together as Leigh got off work early and then we got all dressed up and went to the Fryemount Inn for a little dessert. And there we sat enjoying the atmosphere and making plans for the next 60 yrs.

Anyway moving past the introverted mush and on to other things.
Just had the best experience the s'mornin' taking photos here in the store. This little girl came in with her Mom and wanted a photo. So we decided on a headshot with an amazing hat, luxurious boa and pearly beads. but she got up there and she was so painfully shy that she wouldn't let me see her face. Thankfully my goofball side kicked in, i brought her out of her shell and she loved it so much we did a second picture. I love working with kids, i love being a goof and i love feeling like i've helped someone enjoy something a little more.
PS kids are cool and smile at the mention of ice cream and "anything silly"

2005-09-27T21:03:00.000-05:00

The Outside

2005-09-27T21:02:00.001-05:00

The living room

2005-09-27T21:02:00.000-05:00

The dining room

2005-09-27T21:01:00.000-05:00

The bedroom

2005-09-27T21:00:00.000-05:00

The Kitchen

Lets go to Canada (or not)

2005-09-27T20:46:00.000-05:00

Well looks like we're not headed North for the winter. Well not this winter anyways. Tonight we found out that our plans to go to medeba for a couple of months are not to be. We were both really looking forward to it and are truthfully quite dissapointed but as i told Leigh the last time that i was turned down on such an offer i ended up in LDP meeting her. So i'm confident that God has a better plan for us. I'd just like to know what it is.
Aside from that life is good. We are still endeavouring to get more involved in the church although neither of us enjoy that awkward putting ourselves out there phase. It like first day at school except it passes quicker at school as you get to see people every day. Anyway we'd both appreciate prayers for what to do with Jan and Feb. If you know any worthy causes let us know.
Thats about it then sorry for the lack of posts lately,
i'll type again soon

2005-09-02T10:07:00.000-05:00

bricks

2005-09-02T10:06:00.001-05:00

flower

2005-09-02T10:06:00.000-05:00

flowers

2005-09-02T10:05:00.000-05:00

photo funtime

2005-09-02T09:52:00.000-05:00

beautiful skys

How to move in a day

2005-09-01T15:49:00.000-05:00

Today we're gonna learn how to move house in a day.
The first step is to arrange to view a place some time in the morning. Not too early mind you, no need to rush lets say 1030.
Next you have to actually meet the person, look at the place and tell them "I'll take it".
Now comes the part where you have to break your lease with the guy who was renting to you. Bear in mind that even if he has been renting you a moldy place in a parking lot he may be a little miffed by your 1 day notice.
At this stage it'll probably be around 12. So kick back take it easy, have lunch and think of how easy it'll be to move all your stuff in a family size car in less than 20hrs. Also at this point you should fill your day up with a couple of things to keep you occupied you know, leave the wife to work go pay some bills, meet a locksmith you get the idea.
This'll take you up to 2pm.
So now start moving your stuff. Load that car young fella.
3 or 4 trips later you may wish to call a youth pastor. Cause although your doin' well that wardrobe just ain't gonna fit on the roofrack.
20mins later said youth pastor should arrive with at least 4 helpers, a huge pickup and a 25 foot long flatbed trailer.
Sweet.
Put them to work and you'll be finished in no time
Oh and don't forget to pick up your wife from work.

This blog was brought to you by the letter P and the number 2
And goes out with huge thanks to our church family who made a humungous task so much easier.

2005-08-25T18:57:00.000-05:00

So what to blog about?
hmmm well. I don't really know to be honest. I'm kinda at a loss for words today. I'm in one of those moods where i don't know whether i'm coming or going. I don't know where to work/live/do whatever. I'm befuddled. And we'll leave it at that.
So onto recreation which is a lot easier to write about and soothes the soul oh so much more. Last night Leigh and i paddled for an hour at the "dip", here in Bryson. It's a nice big friendly wave. Lots of fun to play about on. I tried out a Necky Chronic boat. Loads of fun it surfed really well and if i'd gotten them right it would have squirted and endered beuatifully. But it was just fun to get out there with Leigh and play and encourage each other. Very calming for me.
The other highlight of the past couple of days has been emailing friends and family. I took on the task and feel really good about it. Now if i can only keep up the momentum.
Hope your all well and please keep posting i love hearing from you all.
Also big thanks to my sisters in law for faithfully reading, commenting and even answering peoples questions on my blog

Raft guiding, Floods and more paperwork

2005-08-20T12:07:00.000-05:00

Ok so what a week. Leigh trained me on the alpine tower. And did a very professional job too considering the hard time her co-workers were giving her. I checked out on the Nanty and had my first trip. Checking out took 3 hrs and left me with little confidence and my first trip had me dealing with Vietnam vets who were out to prove they were still tough. It was pretty hard steering when those guys were determined to ignore my commands. I also had a big lady fall over and it took three of us to get her back in. And then there was the new experience of being tipped. It was a little awkward and interesting on a sociological level. Just how people do it, how much they give and the manner in which they give it to you. The guy who gave the biggest gift accepted the least thanks and vice versa.
If you read Leighs blog you'll also see that literally miraculously our apartment avoided flooding. The drain could not have been more clogged.
Oh and i also had the joy of more paperwork, one for NOC one for Social security.
And to finish the week Leigh and I drove down to her Parents for the weekend.

a quick update

2005-08-12T12:40:00.000-05:00

OK so todays question of the day..... If someone gives you a really hard time for not emailing them does it make you more or less likely to email them?

Anyway on to other stuff.
So last Friday Leigh and i paddled the Nanty all on our own. Now for all you big dogs out there this may not seem like much but to me its awesome. I was so proud of us for doing it. Yes the biggest rapid is only a 2+ or a 3 but it was just the two of us. If either of us had swum the other had to check on them, get their boat and find their paddle. Anyway we both did it and ran the falls without tipping. However the back band on her boat dug into her kidneys and on mine supported none of my back and only a small portion of my bum instead. Guess it's time to demo some new boats.
In other news i made it into the NOC staff slide show......
Christmas in August was loads of fun with some quality dancing.... not by me, mine was dubious
Leigh found a pedometer and now lives to walk 10000 steps a day
We might be going to a Sonic Flood concert on sunday
The rec pool in Bryson is cold.. Brrr
Buying baby shower gifts with Leigh takes a while....
oh and the wedding crashers is dumb but kinda funny. Also its a little overly rude in places.

A Fun Day Out

2005-07-30T08:15:00.000-05:00

Ok so the other day Leigh and i went to the Biltmore Estate. A big old house and winery, slap in the middle of Ashville.
So what am i gonna blog about? The Chandeliers, The hundreds of rooms, The Chipendale furniture, the amazing gardens????? No none of these.
Instead I'm gonna tell you about the totally sweet McDonalds across the street. I know i know i can hear your squeals of laughter and sighs of disappointment know. But wait read on.
I've been to McDonalds all over the world, from Quebec to Dublin from Edinburgh to Hawaii. And never have i seen one like this. The building was Tudor esque, it had a small entrance foyer, It had a baby Grand piano in the corner playing Coldplay I mean it was just amazingly bizarre. It was like Ronald McDonald had stolen it from the Burger King, King. Anyway it was cool.
Aside from that Biltmore was awesome. The wine tasting was a lot of fun. The were lots of snack things around, mmmmmmmmmmm. The house was really impressive and felt like a really old French Chateau. The also had a wood carver there who was brilliant and amazingly fast. OH and they run a Land Rover driving school there. As well as the rafting on the flatest section of the FB i've ever seen. They use those oared rafts like you see out west except here its more like a row boat as the current is barely moving.
So thats the latest, hope your all well, :)
D

from Camp

2005-07-15T07:57:00.000-05:00

Well I'm back at my old camp, Camp Westminster in Michigan. This place has been one of the few constants for me in the past 5 years and its so good to be able to come back. This is a very different time at camp to any i've had before. Sure there are constants like throwing people in the lake, dressing in a tut and having my hair braided. But now that I have Leigh in my life, camp just has a different priority in my life. I know this is probably one of the last times in my life that i'll be able to do this and thats ok. I think it was awesome that things worked out for me to do this trip and i've loved it but next time I'll either have to pass it up or bring Leigh.
Well I'm off to teach fishing and then fix my boats
Camp makes me so very tired but in the best way :)

Leaving on a jet Plane

2005-07-03T15:56:00.000-05:00

so, what been the big news of the last couple of weeks?
well there was the flood, see Leighs blog
Leighs birthday,
a trip to Charlotte,
Fingerprinting with the Immigration services people,
The arrival of my Employment Authorization card,
I finally got tickets to Detroit.

And yeah i think that covers the biggies. And so now its time to look forward and whats on the horizon? Well a couple of things.
1 I'm headed to Michigan on Thursday,
2 I'll be away from Leigh for over 2 weeks :(
3 I have to get a social security job to go with my employment card.
4 Mine and Leighs 3 month anniversary, Which i only just realised I'll be in Mi. for.

So it looks like proper employment is imminnent for me. And it leaves me kinda feeling blue. I don't regret having volunteered here at the photo store but i do fel that there are projects that i could have done if i hadn't. I remember talking to Bruce at the start of it and telling him how excited i was and how many things i'd do and he tried to get me to commit to those things but i got swept up in life. And not the time has almost past me by. So i guess that yet again I'm left with the life lesson of spend your time wisely cause it's precious.
I also attribut a huge part of my blue mood to the fact that i'm leaving Leigh for 2 weeks. Since we've only been apart for about 3.5 months since meeting each other this will be a reasonable time away from each other. I'm hoping she can enjoy the time as a chance to hang out with friends at NOC, Paddle and enjoy her Mom and sisters visit.
Right i'm off home to work on some unfinished b'day presents for my family.
have a great day :)

Overbooked

2005-06-23T15:08:00.000-05:00

Ever feel like there are too many things that you want to do?
I feel that way constantly. And i think it's cause i have a "yes" personality.
People ask if i can help them out and my gut reaction is yes. Thus leading to the situation that is now imminent for me whereby I'm in danger of helping the wrong people and letting down the people who realy need my help. More acurately, not the wrong people but those who don't need my help as badly.
Time is such an awesome gift to have but as with a labrador puppy in a dog biscuit factory it is very hard to stay in control of it.

On the news front.
Leigh and I head to Charlotte this weekend and i have some Visa "fingerprinting and biometrics" to do. Then I'm back for a week and a half before i head to MI. I'll be climbing near Lansing for a couple of days and then helping teach sailing at a camp for 2 weeks.
Dee i hope your ready for all those lice checks
Molly It would be cool to see you when i'm around lansing climbing, its not too far from Holland.
Katy, Safe travels and enjoy London
Chris i hope you are starting to get used to sunlight instead of dishpit light
And to everyone else i hope your all having a gret summer, Or winter depending where you are
:)

hey folks

2005-06-17T14:46:00.000-05:00

Well i shot the buffalo. With the camera of course. The shop needed some new backgrounds and there are a heard of buffalo nearby. So i headed out there and got some cool shots.....
What else have i been up to oh yeah i was helping out a camp down here this week. They have an alpine tower and i was learning the "alpine Tower" way of doing things. As well as doing a monthly check of the tower. It was fun to work at a camp again. Even if only for a day. Part of me jumps at the oppurtunities to work in that sort of environment year round. And another part of me fears it for all the consequences it would bring. Camps are still my passion but the question is can i live out my passion permanently or just part time???

2005-06-17T14:44:00.000-05:00

so you thought i loved animals hey??

Totally Pysched!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2005-06-10T07:45:00.000-05:00

OK Time to move on here......................
After re-reading the pity party that was my last post I am fully ready to move on to bigger and better things. I'm fully pumped up about the LDP network thing again and I'm gonna set myself some goals and deadlines for it. (big thanks to those who posted on it, Leigh for being my sanity, and MB for his timely contributions to my world view)

Anyway PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh yes Leigh has finally managed to get me hooked up as far as posting pictures on my blog goes. So from here on in I'll be taking requests. I've had people ask me for photos from here but i have no recollection what of so go ahead and ask and i should be able to hook you up.

In other news: Our car is still not fixed. I'm trying to work part time with a local camp on their alpine tower. My climbing day was rained out but a lot of fun none the less oh and i nearly stepped on a copperhead snake (it even did the coiled up strike thing towards my foot). So life and God continue to be very good to me. Take care, and God Bless,
D

2005-06-09T18:58:00.000-05:00

part of the chair that I am painting w/ Leigh

2005-06-09T18:57:00.000-05:00

this is my morning view on the way to work

2005-06-09T18:50:00.000-05:00

my totally kickin bread bin that Leigh got for me. It makes me feel special

Stroppy boy

2005-06-07T10:07:00.000-05:00

ok so i've been in a full on, no holds barred, to the max, extreme, unwarranted, big girly, unnecessary Strop for the last two weeks. Why i hear you ask...... well cause i really expected or wanted a super pumped up feedback on my last post. Don't get me wrong i really, and i mean that, i really appreciated the comments that people made on my blog. But i guess i'm just doing my usual of taking things a little too seriosly......... And guess thats the theme of my post today.

"its the little things that kill"

I remember hearing this lyric for the first time. It made that much of an impression on me. It was one of those things where you hear it and your like wow that is total truth. Something inside you recognises it and its like words have been sculpted to describe a feeling you have always known.
I mean its happened to me all my life. I've stuck to friends through heartache, grief, pain, loss, bereavement, religious debates, questions of faith, all of it. And yet i've gotten into fights with them over little petty things like a joke i didn't approve of. If some people can make mountains out of molehills. I could make Everest from an anthill, a galaxy from a grass seed or a universe from an onion.

And the only thing i find that helps is patiance. So i hope that i grow in patiance so that one day i can draw all i need from Him and stop drawing it from a fiery Irish temper that is linked to a hideous perception for the scale of my probelms.

* The Author finishes his post in fine form, fully aware that he is the grandmaster of the pity party. But excited at the prospect of being a party pooper and shutting this thing down faster than a pint down an Irishmans throat*

I have a blog…..

2005-05-24T22:56:00.000-05:00

The Dream
So some people have asked what I thought an LDP Alumni network thing would look like well here is version 1.0
I would like somewhere/way for grads to share their passions their dreams their hopes and their realities. Somewhere that tells other grads cool places to work, visit, volunteer and travel. Somewhere that inspires big Dreams and facilitates big realities. A place where ideas can be stretched, where plans can be refined. Somewhere to share knowledge key to the industry. A place that rekindles the fire that burned in your LDP experience.
So what does all that mean in reality. In a solid, tangible way?
I don’t know and I don’t want to be the only one to define it. What I had thought of so far was either a newsletter to start with or maybe eventually a website.
Contents……. LDP top tips…… Recommended gear…….recommended places to work (imagine all the camps that LDP grads have worked for total!!!!!)……. Some form of trading ideas on projects (from a climbing wall in your garage to starting your own camp)…….. a place to network abilities (any grads out there want to teach me more about open boating?) …….. a place to organise grad trips (rock climbing in MI around the 9th of July anyone?) ………..access to a long list of initiative games………. just a place to share the breadth of our expertise.……. who knows? Maybe even the start of a grad adventure racing team???? ……. I think it would just take some careful thought, planning and some definition and it could be the start of something cool and very useful.
As a starting point I was thinking of an email sent to all the grads asking for their current details, their involvement in the industry (if any) and their LDP oriented area of knowledge, physical, spiritual or organisational related.
I think this is the best that I can put all of this right now. I think from here I need help. I am writing to Michael and Mandy about it. But I also need feedback from Y’all. Any ideas how to best start the ball rolling? Any ideas for additional components? Any ideas to facilitate the whole thing? Any ideas at all????? Let me know…….

the ladies i volunteer with

2005-05-19T15:02:00.000-05:00

OK firstly some news
my cousin Adam also known to some of you as "daves hot cousin" has gotten himself engaged. Sorry ladies what can i say he caught Leighs garter and he's always copied me.
Secondly one of my friends is pregnant woohooo!!! she wrote me an email saying do you like my photo? and up popped an ultrasound.
Also as far as my LDP blog below goes well i am taking it to the next level and approaching Medeba so you'll be updated soon with all my ideas, theirs and hopefully yours too

OK now onto the blog.
so i volunteer with a lady from california, one from NY and one from Chicago. ONe followed the Greatful daed on tour for a year. One took a private jet with a millionaire to see the Ramones in concert in NY and one played frisbee with Neil Young in Miami.
Its so cool, they've all done these amazing and wacky things. They've trvelled all over the states. They've married and divorced lots of men and it's just awesome to hear them tell stories. They give me hope that there are still many adventures to be had in this world. There are still places to go, people to see and things to do that will make you say wow. They make me look fwd to see where i end up. They make me appreciate the details in life and best of all they let me in on things that make females a little easier to not be quite as confused by. So heres to those ladies i thank them for their honest potrails of life and all it's aspects.

Look out below

2005-05-16T11:54:00.000-05:00

OK first of all please read and post on my previous blog, if it applies to you.
OK you done now..... yep, Good
so on to today.
well todays blog was gonna be about the people i volunteer with but it'll have to wait cause i've got more recent news to tell.

Firstly my father in law thinks i dressed his 16 year old up like a hooker
Secondly i had an awesome time in Asheville yesterday. Its a real hippy town, complete with ethnic diversity, a liberal view towards drug culture and a highly developed sense of spirituality, (Unusually, Including Christianity which seems quite prominent there, Yay!!) Anyway it was cool and i enjoyed being somewhere that feels like minds are wide open and receptive to new ideas.
So now back to my Firstly.......
i am volunteering at an old time photography studio and so i spent Sat night taking photos of Leigh and her little sister all dressed up. It was fun, i'd go as far as to say good clean fun. BUT, and heres the sting in the tale, some of those old time costumes are those worn by ladies of the oldest profession in the world. (I'm not talking about a lawyer either)
So today it appears i am not the best son in law in the world. And i await an interesting conversation with my father in law next time i see him.
I am every father in laws nightmare, i pimped out his daughter like a hoochie.
Anyeway i'm going hiking, enjoy your day

Back once again with the......

2005-05-13T07:09:00.000-05:00

Hey all, Well this week went decidedly too fast. I think it was the fact that my weekend lasted til tuesday, either that or someones been messing with the clocks again. Anyway I'm back now and i'm kinda trawling for ideas.
I was wondering if any of you LDP grads would be interested in some form of LDP grad network. And if you were what it would look like?
Right now this is just something thats been on my mind. It hasn't been put fwd to medeba or anything so don't go gettin me in trouble by emailing Michael. I just wanted to throw it out to you guys and girls first and then see where it goes. If it was something that would benefit the larger LDP/Medeba community i was thinking about proposing something to Michael/Mandy/Bruce/ whoever else i would need to.
Anyway i'd appreciate your thoughts.
Later

For those about to rock (or who already rock)

2005-04-24T07:19:00.000-05:00

This is me saluteing (sp) some people who rock

Adam N for being an amazing best man, complete with witty song and amazing prayer support
Adam D for being the best wingman i could ever have a friend who knows what you need and when and supplies it
Candice for being many things photographer, editer, dancer, inspirer, a wedding attender and for being Candice
Chris S for always having the right outlook on life and never becoming bitter or jaded
Dee for her wit her courage her ability to put up with crap and for calling a spade a freaking spade
Family, from both sides, for input, care, support, friendship and love
Helen for being a really great big sister who looks out for me whether i like it or not
Katy for inspiring words in her blog and in her posts on other blogs
Leigh for being my wife and all it intails thank you for putting up with me and supporting me
Martin for being a random, the joker in the pack and totally unpredictable
Molly for consistantly taking the time to post on my blog and for being so open. Openess is something i rate highly and your right up there
Scott for being in NC for the next 2 weeks :) and for bouldering with me last year. It was way more to me than climbing
Stephen M for being a great NI friend this winter. Leigh and i can't wait to have you over here some time

This blog was inspired by the amazing people that i am priveliged to know and be able to keep up with on their blogs. If your not on the lists it cause i don't know that you check my blog. So don't go getting your feelings hurt ok?

In other news....
totally sweet bouldering in the Nantahala gorge right above "the falls" rapid. Its totally sick i can't wait to get strong and climb well again.

Everything

2005-04-21T11:59:00.000-05:00

OK so i want to post about like 40 things so if this post is scattered thats why......

So wasps suck, well actually they sting. But mostly they are just annoying cause they are trying to live on the outside of our place and until they come up with some of the rent they can kiss my..... or better yet i'll continue destroying their homes in my role as DaveO Destroyer of Wasps

Hawaii rocks, surfing is my new favourite thing or it was for at least a week. Mopeds came a close second though.

Living in Bryson city is uber cool. there are kayaks everywhere and Leigh wants one now, just like me.

Photography is addictive, maybe not like crack addictive but its close. I'm volunteering with a photographer to fill my workless visaless days. It is so satisfying when you get it right and so compelling when you know what to do to improve it. Also we use these big bad boy digital cameras where the lens alone would bankrupt me.
Oh and today was cool cause we take photos of people by a train and the peoples photo wasn't ready in time and then it was and i ran out to the train and gave it to the people as the train was moving and then the railway guy was like you could have fallen under the train and i was like Phshhh whatever dude. Ok so it was more like ok i won't do it again. But whatever it was cool.
Photography is now my new favourite thing
also i have my own place to climb. I have holds bolted to a headboard and suspended from the roof of our porch thingy.

OK i'm gonna stop now..

PS ever feel like one of those puppies that looks like if it shakes its tail any more it'll come clean off????

that was scary

2005-04-20T07:37:00.000-05:00

so i just went to
www.jumpingontheBANDwagon.blogspot
by accident and guess what?
no guess
come on
No ok well the dude there was like bye guys i'll be back in a week
AND THAT WAS DECEMBER 2002
that was scary.

in other news .....

I'M MARRIED
it's awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love my WIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

also we have internet as of yesterday so expect the posts to come regularly again.

hope your all well :)

things i've learned recently

2005-04-05T08:36:00.000-05:00

1. Moving is hard, tie those doors shut, i almost lost a thumb
2. get a Uhaul, they are huge and totally sweet to drive
3. weddings are hard to plan
4. God, and y'all, have been wonderful. Thanks for the support
5. Visa papers will never be one of myt favourite things

Please be thinking/praying for us this friday, it would be appreciated. Oh and if your not coming to the wedding you will be missed.

I'm back

2005-03-16T23:09:00.000-05:00

Bloggers,
I apologise, I left you all alone there for almost 2 weeks. To those who didn’t notice forget I said anything and to those that did, Awwww your so sweet. J
So what have I been up to that could come between me and what had become my regular blogs. Well there was Leighs wedding shower. Which created quite the atmosphere in the house during the preceeding week. “Clean everything! Everywhere!!”
Then I managed to drag my sorry behind out and do some work for a couple of days. I helped put in air con on Saturday and again last night and on Monday night I helped lay a hardwood floor. Oh I love working let me tell you. It is such a nice feeling to help people out and just to be being active and making something. I know I am often guilty of putting my self worth in what I am doing instead of in who I am but it’s hard not to sometimes. Anyway that’s been the majority of the past little while.
Oh and we’ve been looking for places to live as well. I’ve called up a fair few now, from the scary small to the too expensive and gorgeous. And lots inbetween. But the ones I like best are the one rented by a lady called Dodie who leaves 5mins of news, wearther, daily schedule and prayer on her answering machine message. And the totally hick dude who told me “sorry buddy, they d’un’ got it rented” if that is not the way that english was d’un’ meant to be spoken I don’t know what is?

Heather

2005-03-05T22:55:00.000-05:00

So I’m quite into dedicating my blogs to people and today’s is dedicated to Heather. So your all wondering who Heather is right. Well Heather is a lady who works for a US senator in Concord NC. Heather has a very nice phone manor. Heather is also on crack. Well that’s what she led me to believe yesterday anyway.
So here’s what happened. Someone at Leigh’s church is a former NC Representative. And as such has friends in high places. So hearing our story (about visas and immigration and such) he said “I think I know some people that may help you out” so we were like “that’s awesome”.
So we finally make contact with these people (namely Heather) and she’s like “let me look into it for you” and I’m like “sweet”. Thinking to myself wow I’m gonna get a work visa in a week and life will be peachy, lambs laying down with lions, the works. Anyway, she phones back. And this is where things start going astray. She tells me “well actually you can’t even apply for a visa your not allowed, and even if you did, you’d be refused”. So obviously at this point facing deportation and the prospect of months without Leigh I’m a little overwhelmed. So I asked if there was any way around this, there isn’t.
So at this stage things aren’t going great. But there is one thing left. And that is the fact that God is good. Leigh and I have prayed over our relationship and it’s not perfect, sometimes it’s far from But God is in it. Plus we prayed over Leighs job and Leigh got it. So I don’t believe we are destined to live apart and I don’t believe we are meant to leave the country.
Thus with this motivation behind me I pushed forward, phoning every INS (Immigration and Naturalisation Services) number I had. Finally I reached someone who could answer my questions.
Could I apply? Could I stay in the country? Would I be deported?
Yes, Yes and No….. simple as that.
I was incredulous, I was gob smacked, I was unbelieving, I was very close to heart failure.
So doubting my ability to speak and comprehend Americanese I got Leigh to phone up again. And again, the same answers. I can apply and I can stay in the country.
So back to Heather. Heather, you almost gave me a heart attack, you made me want to break down and cry. But you know what you also made me understand that I need to Trust in God and have a little faith, no matter what stresses I come up against. So, here’s to you Heather. May you never give me advice again, but may you always inspire faith.

Deep down and Theological

2005-03-04T22:25:00.000-05:00

I was tempted to call this blog things I used to know. Cause you know what, I used to know loads of stuff. I used to know the theme song to Fraggle Rock, I used to know better than my parents, I used to know a bunch of stuff. Anyway I’m getting sidetracked, it’s like one of Spicers blogs.
What I specifically used to know was about Genesis (not the band, the book) I used to know that creation wasn’t necessarily 7 days long. Why did I know this well I’ll tell you.
1 days didn’t exist before the sun and moon and those weren’t created til the third “day”
2 God is all powerful he can take as long or as short a time to create the world as he wants.
3 the hebrew word for day ( yome or yowm {with a hat on the O}) can be translated as a space of time.
Now you may be thinking, that is well thought out buddy. However its not so don’t compliment me.
What I had failed to take into account was the following
1 light and dark were created on the first day
2 the day was defined by light and dark long before the existence of the sun and moon was known and understood
3 yome which was mentioned earlier actually means a literal day unless a space of time is defined by an associated term (ex. Gen 2 vs 4 most translations no longer even say “day” in this verse)
So what did I ..”used to know” well I used to know a small part of the defn of yome. Which as it happens I got second hand. I also used to know that being vague and saying God could have created the world in 7 secs or 7 years was more popular than the literal 7 day translation.
So it turns out that if I can redefine my theology in the space of a couple of hours and some reading, then I really don’t know a lot. The exciting thing is it doesn’t take much to expand your knowledge other than an open mind, some time and a good selection of books.
This blog is dedicated to those who inspire me to question things, those that talk to me openly, those that care enough to tell me I’m wrong and also to those who have given us resources, be they concordances, hebrew dictionaries, bibles or whatever.
P.S. to all of those who read this and were like “yo, boy is dumb, he only just figured all this stuff out, that is whack”. 2 things, 1 you talk like someone off Jerry Springer and 2 I never went to a bible college or had any real bible teaching.

The good day

2005-03-02T22:14:00.000-05:00

Hey bloggers, today was a good day. You know one of those days that just makes you think everything is gonna be alright. Cause you know what moving to a new country isn’t easy. Most days I hate that I don’t have a job to get up and go to. I feel like a bum that I’m earning nothing. And you know what today was a good day. To start with my wonderful and very talented fiancee got a job at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. I am so proud of her and so excited for our life up there. She is amazing. Then we went to these pre marriage meetings that we’ve been going to with the minister that’s marrying us. And that was awesome cause it was just really nice to talk to him and his wife. It was just like wow other people go through the same stuff. You know that feeling where people have total empathy with you. Anyway I hope that some of you guys out there had a great day today and if not I hope you can share in mine.
Dee I hope the room is going well
Chris I totally agree with your writings on Youth pastors it made me crack up

Needles

2005-02-28T21:13:00.000-05:00

So today I went to the doctors office to get shots. Tetnus and MMR which I need for my visa application. And well it confirmed all that I knew about needles.
1 They don’t hurt as much as I always think they will
2 They still suck no matter if they hurt or not
3 It doesn’t get better the more you have of them
4 I’m ok with not liking needles cause it means I’ll never get hooked on IV drugs

The rest of the day was rather underwhelming in comparison.
Darkhorse you were missed with your encouraging comments such as “oh look your bleeding on the floor”
Oh and the upside of the day the nurse gave me these really cool kids band aids. Why do kids get all the cool medical supplies. I say no longer. I claim these bandaids on behalf of BIG kids everywhere.
They are purple, yellow, blue, green and barbie pink. With airplanes, pink flamingos and kayaks.
Thanks for all your comments
It’s gret to hear from you all,
D

I Love Free Stuff

2005-02-27T21:19:00.000-05:00

Well who doesn’t right? But well I love it a lot. Especially when it comes from one of my favourite pastimes….. Rock Climbing. Yes to those of you who know me you’ll be none too shocked to hear that my passion/obsession is still alive.
Yesterday I competed in a bouldering comp. at a rock gym here in Charlotte NC. And as you may have guessed I ended up with free stuff. But you know what was even better than me getting free stuff was that other people got free stuff and even better than that You could get free stuff.
Cause the most exciting prize given out was the smallest. It was just a cap and a magazine and some bits and pieces and it was given to this girl who thought she’d done crap. I’d seen here around the comp and she was really frustrated cause she had a bad ankle and she was swallowing her pride and competing in the beginner level. And why I hear you ask was it so exciting to see her get a prize? Well she was just so frustrated all afternoon, so mad that she couldn’t do things she normally could. And she expected nothing she was miserable and then as the prizes are announced there she is bashful and beaming. So here’s to you lady with the boyfriend from Maine.
Let here inspire you all to go compete in a rock climbing competition and who knows, it may be you with free stuff.
On a more predictable side note. The climbing was totally wicked. Lots of sick problems that had me pulling shapes and going splat on the crash mats. No egos and lots of people there to spot you when you're 12ft up on a bouldering problem that feels like you need a rope on. Plus lots of absolute machines doing inspiring problems that involve some kind of dark arts cause there’s no way any normal person could do them.

Spicoli in Mullet Cave

2005-02-24T22:37:00.000-05:00

This blog is dedicated to the new tough guy in town the great Spicoli. To those of you that are readers of IHOS (international house of Spicer) You will realise that the great Spicer won an amazing battle this week. He stuck to his guns toughed it out and stuck it to the man. Or woman in this case.
Anyway this morning I got my climbing magazine delivered and on looking through I found a route called Spicoli in a place called Mullet cave and I thought that would amuse you Spicer so hence the title of my blog today. On another Spicer related note my blogging name of D-tone is related to him
so I’m hoping he’ll comment on my blog with the wrestler related explanation.
Anyway kudos to you Mr Spicer
And to any others I’ll blog you later byebye

I'm new......don't hurt me

2005-02-23T22:37:00.000-05:00

So yeah I've finally sucumbed (sp?). All the cool kids were doing it, what can i say.
It joins the long list of things that i thought I would never do and have ended up doing. And so in honour of that my first post is going to pay homage to these things.
1. Smoking - Always thought it looked gross, tried it, it was and yet i still crave the nicotene due to all my Uni friends smoking around me for 4 years
2. Getting Drunk - Reasons very similar to #1 except that it was my Uni RA (supposedly responsible person) that managed to get me into a stupor
3. Eating peanut butter, marshmallow and salty crackers all together.....wait for it........ melted.. Yeah that one again falls into the gross category
4. Getting a cell phone/mobile phone always thought they were a bit unnecessary. Turns out they are BUT they are a lot of fun to play games on whenever you arrive too early somewhere.
I could go on but well we'll put it this way 3 out of 4 of these experiences have been gross so i'm looking to even the score a little with this one...........

Plus I'm crap with emailing y'all so I'm hoping this will keep you all updated at least a lil' bit anways.