Chaos!

I am EXHAUSTED! Ben just left this morning and I already miss the guy. Since the time he's been here I haven't gotten to sleep before 2am I think and I am pretty much at my limit. I just want to relax. On the upside, my mom just made Christmas treats and we were surprised with an AWESOME brand new HDTV. It is breathtaking and I was absolutely blown away by the clarity. I get so excited just thinking about it actually.

I remember when my friends and I went on our road trip a while back and we had the chance to watch my grandpa's HDTV. The show I remembered most was the 'sunrise' show. They basically show a real-time sunrise from different places on earth and in HD it is just amazing. I found this show on our TV and was up early enough this morning to watch it.

Also, we played some XBox 360 on it and it left me drooling! We played Need For Speed, Call of Duty 4, and Assassin's Creed. The graphics were CRAZY! We didn't have those kind of graphics when I was growing up :). I can't wait to find even cooler shows or games in HD. It is like I have seen the light!

Umm... Some other stuff... I am going to be working back at Orange Julius again for just a couple weeks because I need some money and they aren't hiring at Office Depot right now. It might be awkward but at least I will get some breathing room as far as money is concerned. It has been extremely helpful to have a credit card. I have found that being able to consolidate everything into one payment is really helpful.

On Monday we had another world famous Zietzke barbecue that was amazing, as usual. It was fun to do a barbecue with Ben and Steven, not to mention the fact that it was the same night we were surprised with the TV.

Anyways, I can't think of much else to talk about and I think I'm going to take a nap now! *Sigh*

Later,
Daniel

It's For Sure

On Friday I went to Tacoma Community College to drop off the rest of those required documents. I had been shooting emails back and forth with the secretary of the EMT program there and, long story short, she told me that a person had already dropped the EMT class. Since I was #1 on the waiting list she said that I was in and that she would send me the confirmation code, etc. to be able to register on Monday. That made me so relieved and happy!

What's more, my best friend Ben just got here on Saturday and we got to go out for my brother's birthday to the Cheese Cake Factory which was great. The past couple days have turned out to be great and I can't wait to spend more time with Ben and Steven. Tomorrow I believe we are going to barbecue some steaks and a whole bunch of other stuff which will be awesome, as always.

Anyways... Gotta get to sleep because I'm exhausted, so you have a good night!

Later,
Daniel

Success?

If you don't already know... In the past couple weeks I have left Central in order to pursue my EMT-b certification at Tacoma Community College. This is bittersweet considering the hassle, but if all goes well I will actually be on schedule to get my EMT-b certification by the end of winter quarter (my original plan). Not to mention that it will cost less for me to live at home, etc. Plus, I can work while I'm going to school which is a big plus.

I found out today that I am #1 on the waiting list for the EMT-b class which means that I am fairly likely (or I should say hopeful) that I will be able to get in. From everything I've read, this should be doable. Honestly... I CAN'T WAIT! I am really excited to start learning how to save people lives!

As far as work goes... I have applied to the City of Kent to work as a "Temporary After-school Youth Leader" which sounds so awesome. Not only that, but even if I have to settle for a different job, which I am very reluctant to do, they are hiring firefighters as well. I fit the qualifications, but realistically I don't think the chances are very good. I will still apply, though and just the fact that I may be interviewed for a position like this means that I am making progress. I am this close to making $4000 a month and being able to do all the things I've wanted to do. Not to mention this much closer to getting my full EMT-P (paramedic) certification.

I keep telling myself all I need to do is get through the next couple weeks and I will be there, even though it seems like it never ends. Today is the first day that I have actually seen good signs in a while though and that makes me feel great. I have a few things baking away and the realization of progress is good.

Not much else to say for now... Will check back later.

Goodnight,
Daniel

Politics

In the past I have taken several political quizzes online out of pure curiosity. Here is what I got:




Another quiz that I took said that I was most aligned with Duncan Hunter as far as presidential candidates go. I don't know how truthful these online quizzes are, but they are pretty fun.

Later,
Daniel

Update On My Investments

So I have been happy with the progress I have made over the past couple days (which I know means nothing in the broad scheme of things). I have made about 2.8% off my investment of about $28k. This means I've made just under $800. In reality I have netted a profit of just over $500 after trade commissions. Check this out (HERE).

I expect them to take a dip next week just because I think they have to go down sometime. We'll see though. I have also started messing around with options which are especially lucrative. I lost about $200 in options today even though I only put about $4k into them. That's a pretty big dip, but in the end, I was able to stay up for the week because my stocks continued to rise. I definitely expect my options to rise as well, but who knows. I am at least thankful that my stocks haven't plummeted right away because that would have just been discouraging.

In the near future I want to try some options/stock trading strategies to see if I can get a solid return over a couple months. The strategies I'm considering mostly consist of 'covered calls' and 'conversion/reversal' (or 'reverse conversion') which sound promising although I still need to learn more.

We'll see how it goes.

Later,
Daniel

My Investing Game

So I have set myself up with an account on Investopedia. This is basically a virtual copy of the stock market where they give you a starting amount to invest with and you can practice and learn about investing in general. It is more tailored to specifically stock and options trading so there are no bonds, commodities, etc.

My first day ended and I made .46% on about $28k of varied stocks that I had purchased. This meant I made about $130! But of course I was down overall because it would cost me about $220 in brokerage commissions to trade it all back; each commission being $20. I know one day means practically nothing, but at least I didn't start off too poorly!

I decided to go with mostly big-name companies to begin with because I figured they would be more stable. I plan to maintain a patient and stable strategy throughout the majority of my portfolio, while leaving a small percentage specifically for more volatile and risky investments. These big-name companies included Boeing, Exxon Mobil, Amazon, Ebay, Citigroup, Adobe, Apple, and Home Depot. Although I do have reasons for choosing each one, I am unsure of what the outcome will be. That's why this is so fun! There is no risk and I will actually be learning something that I can use in the future. In fact... Here is a screen shot that will let you see exactly what I have (HERE).

Eventually, I hope to use what I learn to invest smartly with my own money in the near future. I don't want to 'get rich quick' but instead, maintain a steady 9-11% return on my investments. This may be a little too hopeful, but I think it can be done safely from everything I've read. I would also like to rollover some of the money I make into safer, more diversified options like bonds for example.

If you think I am nuts let me know. But regardless, it is fun to imagine the possibilities!

Goodnight,
Daniel

List Of Things I Have/Will Do

Could say a lot of other stuff, but going to keep it simple. So, in no particular order here goes...

Things I have done:

1. Flown a plane
2. Flown in an open-cockpit biplane
   
3. Driven a boat
4. Gone indoor skydiving
5. Built a potato gun
6. Driven a Corvette
7. Fired a rifle, pistol, and shotgun
   
8. Gone on a roadtrip w/ friends
9. Seen "The Declaration of Independance" and "The Constitution" w/ my own eyes.
   
10. Been to the top of the Empire State Building
11. Seen (what was/is) the World Trace Center
    
12. Wakeboarded and innertubed
    
13. Walked the streets and taken the subway of Manhattan
14. Been to down-town Chicago
15. Been to 'The Strip' in Las Vegas
    
16. Witnessed my best friend graduate from boot camp
17. Attended a John Mayer concert
18. Seen a super-old map book in the depths of the Library of Congress as well as super old maps of where I live
19. Been to Washington, DC and seen all the monuments
20. Worn BDUs w/ LBE
21. Visited Hearst Castle
22. Swam in the ocean
23. Graduated high school with a college degree
24. Smoked a cigar
25. Gotten a speeding ticket
26. Was involved in a car accident
    
27. Been to the University of Washington and Central Washington University
28. Worked in the food-service industry
29. Been to Disneyland and Seaworld
30. Been to a Broadway show
31. Been camping
32. Played several instruments
33. Completed a titration
34. Became a registered voter
35. Seen a (pro) baseball and basketball game

Things I want to do:

1. Get my pilot license
2. Backpack through Europe (could separate into several other bullets)
3. Sail around the world
4. Join the Traveler's Century Club (visit over 100 countries)
5. Fluently speak a foreign language
6. Get my HAM radio license
7. Get a bachelor's degree
8. Get my Airframe & Powerplant Certification
9. Learn HDR and black-and-white photography
10. Climb a mountain
11. Build my dream home
12. Save a life
13. Get my EMT-P (paramedic) certification
14. Become a Firefighter/Paramedic
15. Incorporate home automation into my house
16. See the Grand Canyon
17. Own a significant amount of land
18. Build my own plane
19. Have a family
20. Restore a classic Chevy
21. Own a motorcycle
22. Own several guns
23. Get my CCW permit
24. Maintain a 'physically fit' lifestyle
25. Learn a martial art
26. Learn to rock climb
27. Walk into the wilderness and live for an extended period of time
28. Go into space (could be possible in my lifetime)
29. Mentor a teenager
30. Learn basic woodworking, metalworking, and home repair
31. Try scuba diving
32. Go on a cruise
33. Play 'airplane roulette' at least once
34. Have my dad over for an amazing BBQ of my own someday
35. Write a book (maybe, sounds overrated and I'm not a great writer)
36. Get married
37. Own a truck
38. Go on a road trip with no predetermined destination
39. Visit (at least drive through) every state
40. Fly in a helicopter
41. Live like there is no tomorrow

Well... That's all I got right now. Some of these are more trivial than others but I think, overall, this is a good representation of how I want to live my life and what I want to do. I will talk to you all later.

Goodnight,
Daniel

A New Post...

Dare I say that moving out to Central was a waste of valuable time and resources? I am beginning to believe this is true. Although I still maintain that some good must come from it Only time will tell.

<sacrasm>
I could focus on the problems of the past, but why do that when you can have even more fun discussing the likely problems of the future!
</sacrasm>

By the way... That is an HTML reference for you all because, inside, I have the genes of a techy and I am proud of them. If I only knew Ruby on Rails!

Like I was saying, though. Could it be any harder to get into the Tacoma Community College EMT program?! I'm surprised I didn't have to sign anything in blood. Wait a second... I'm not even done filling out all the applications, maybe I will...

I am rambling because I am so bored/frustrated/hungry/tired and I can't get over it. Although I have never been an 'angry' person, there are times in my life that I just want to break something. These thoughts usually involves me judo-chopping a desk in half while semi-caveman screaming at the top my lungs (bad picture, I know). Then I stand like the Incredible Hulk with my shoulders hunched over and legs bent slightly, looking at the new piece of modern art that I worked so hard to create. Sometimes I just keep punching stuff. 'Nough said.

Onto more pressing topics... I got Steven my guitar and amp for Christmas. That's right, haha... I think it will go to good use in his presence. Actually, it has gone to good use in his presence! He already has a set-up that is good for what he likes. That is, if you like to pound your head on a brick wall or judo-chop a desk in half. My favorite lyrics of any Killswitch Engage song are "fixation on the darkness that engulfs this world drain the life force of our people"... Okay, okay... I may have taken that a little out of context, but just intersperse the word "change" randomly in the middle and you have the gist.

So, that's about all I got right now but I am thinking about making another post shortly. I mean within another hour or so. Not sure, though. There may be a new episode of "I Love New York 2" on that I just have to watch. Either that or "A Shot At Love With Tila Tequila". Ugh.......

Later,
Daniel

P.S. I'm trying to be more entertaining... Is it working?

10 Songs I Would Be Murdered For Listening To

Well, it has been a while since I've posted anything and this one is certainly a treat (for you). Haha... I am surely going to regret it! But what the hey. In the interest of entertainment and being myself, I'm moving forward. My friends know that I don't care much about what people think and I am pretty confident, so here goes. In no particular order:

1. "Love Song" by Sara Bareillis - I honestly really, really like this song. The way that the chords build into the AMAZING (and extremely catchy) chorus is just gratifying. I don't think there's much else to say about this song. There are a lot of intricacies that I like about this song.
2. "Woody's Roundup" by Riders in the Sky - I know Ben wouldn't kill me for this one because he showed it to me! Haha... This one is from the Disney movie Toy Story 2 I think. It reminds me of being a kid I guess. The simple harmonies and the nice violin in the background. The way that the chords build is so awesome. Ahh... It is just a nice song!
3. "She's Everything" by Brad Paisley - Great song... But I'd still be murdered for listening to it because It's country. I'd say my friends are missing out, simple as that.
4. "Wait For You" by Elliott Yamin - Another great song... Unfortunately for me it's borderline R&B and a full-bodied Pop. I like the way the beat is as well as the really driving chords. Each phrase increases the 'pressure'.
   
5. "Misery Business" by Paramore - Well, the girl can sing. I would describe this as punk rock, that's one strike. I can't get passed the chorus, it is very satisfying. Something about it is very catchy. I definitely won't vouch for the 'skill' of the musicians. Sometimes a song doesn't have to be complex to be good.
6. "Come A Little Closer" by Dierks Bentley - Completely country, drawl and everything. It is almost sickening. I really like it though. 'Nough said.
7. "Cupid's Chokehold" by Gym Class Heroes - It is the "buh-da-da-da". If you know what I'm talking about, I think you would agree. That is the only part I sing when I'm listening to this song. It is just fun to sing that over and over again. "Buh-da-da-da"...
8. "Always Be My Baby" by Mariah Carey - Oh boy... I like the harmonies though... Look folks, I don't make this stuff up! Haha... And I can't help what songs I like! What can I say. I'm not going to not listen to something I like because someone thinks something weird about me (without even knowing me, anyways).
9. "Our Song" by Taylor Swift - The main thing about this song is that it is SO catchy. I mean holy cow... She sounds like a 12 year old, but it is just so catchy!
10. "On The Way Down" by Ryan Cabrera - I can't stand the guy and I don't even like the song that much but it is nostalgic. It is the song that happened to be playing on the radio when I got my ticket. That was when I was in the 11th grade. It reminds me of a better time I guess.

So there ya go everyone... I have equipped you with enough ammo to make fun of me for years. But like I said: I don't make this stuff up and I can't help what songs I like! Besides, these are pretty much the only songs that fit this category anyways.

Look, I'll get back to you guys later! I hope you all had as great a Thanksgiving as I did.

Goodnight,
Daniel

*Drool*

Later,
Daniel

Edit: Well... I originally had to leave so that I could get to this combo jazz night thing that is required for my music class. I got there and they had a sign up saying that it was moved to 8:30pm instead of 7:00pm because of something else going on. So I'm back and I can spend a little more time on this post. I hope you like the video. This is the first time that I have done something like this, but I definitely want to do more in the future, along with pictures and other cool stuff.

When I started this blog, I wasn't that motivated to write that often, but now that it has grown, I have enjoyed it more and more. I just want to keep watering it so to speak. I don't have a lot to say, so I guess I'll let everyone get back to it. By the way... It is kind of frustrating that the jazz night was moved to a later time because now I won't get to watch The Unit! Oh well...

World Travel

This post is mainly directed at Steven. I know that Ben will have already seen a lot of the world by the time that Steven and I get around to doing this, but I would love for it to be the 3 of us guys as well. Anyways... Are you still game with doing our backpacking trip? I know that I sure am!

I have decided that I am going to start putting away money once I get a job so that when you get out of school or get up enough money or whatever it is, we can head out on this great backpacking trip that we've been talking about. I can just imagine how awesome it would be. We would have to figure out where to go, how to get there, and I know that things will go extremely wrong at least once.

I think 6 months is what I would like to aim for. Traveling to/through almost every European country and really having the adventure of a lifetime. It has to be long enough that we forget that we are ever going home, until of course it comes to an end.

In the meantime... I was thinking that we should both get together sometime and actually start planning out our trip. I think we should make a huge list of places and things that we want to see and then start figuring out what we'll have to do to accomplish it. I'm sure we'll have to cross some places off our list, but we should be able to hit most of them. Also, I think we should compile a list of all the languages that we will need to have a brief knowledge of. We can split the list in half and each of us can learn as much as we can about each language so that when we get over there, you or I will be in charge of communication when people are speaking our language. You know what I mean?

We can compile a list of all the resources we might need for wherever we are traveling; where all the hostels are, train stations, airports, etc. This would be good so that we can plan on the fly. If we want to stay an extra day someplace, we can. Anyways... You want to do some of this this weekend? I know it is a long time in the future (I don't think I'll have about $20k anytime soon) but it is so complex that we need to start planning as soon as possible. This will be the craziest trip of our entire lives!

I cannot wait for the day when we are on a train, exhausted, traveling through the middle of Germany or France or England or wherever, just quiet and listening to music on our way to our next destination. The experiences are priceless!

Sound good? Let me know what you think...

Hasta la Vista,
Daniel

Those Cigars...

So, I went to the 'cigar store', aka the tobacconist, and I asked the lady there what I should get for my first smoke. She recommended a few different ones for me to try, so I got two. I also had to get a cutter and she gave me some matches and something to keep them in so that they wouldn't dry out.

I waited to smoke them until I was back at my apartment. It was pretty simple, although it was extremely tough to light it up with the matches because they went out so fast. I finally got it lit and started actually smoking it.

It was pretty uneventful. The taste was definitely earthy and unique. The taste of the cigar appealed to me in the same way that coffee does. It is a kind of bitterness, i guess. The only thing that I didn't like as much is that the flavor was on my tongue for a long, long time. Not a huge deal, though.

The next day I smoked the other one just to get rid of it (for the most part). Overall, I'm glad I did it. It is not something I would do every day, or even every week, but there is a time for it to be enjoyed I think; Like a fine glass of wine.

Anyways... Not much else to say I guess. One thing I wanted to mention was that I noticed that my writing is poor when I'm listening to music. In the future I am going to try and refrain from listening to music while I write in order to keep the quality and coherency in check. Have a good night.

Later,
Daniel

My Roommate

He sure is an interesting fellow. I originally had two roommates, Todd and Mark. Todd was actually on a waiting list for an apartment that he had set up, so he ended up having to leave about 3 weeks into the quarter. He was a great guy and I regret not keeping up as well as I should.

So I'm stuck with Mark! That isn't a bad thing i guess, but it isn't a good thing either. He rarely leaves his room but he is a nice guy. We don't have much in common so I don't expect us to become friends or anything. He actually has provided me with some form of entertainment over the past weeks that I've been here. I will hit my two favorite highlights for you...

First, a week before last, he simply walked out of his room, opened the front door, glanced in my direction before stepping out and informed me that he was going on a road trip to Los Angeles so I shouldn't worry. Literally out of nowhere! It reminded me of Groundhog's Day. I was a little taken back by this so I was like "umm... okay, I guess I'll see you later then." And that was it! He was gone for about 6 days I think. Later he told me it was "the craziest weekend of his life." I don't have any doubt about that.

Second, courtesy of Mark, we now have another roommate. Mark had his friend over and they were in his room (you guessed it!) doing whatever they do, watching YouTube videos of cars I think, when he comes out and asks me if I want to see our new roommate. I was like "uh... okay then." He told me to "stay right here", then came out shortly after with a hamster that he has affectionately named "Winston". I was like "what!?" and he told me that he was just $20 at the pet store. He now lives in a box on one of the desks at my place. I will eventually post a picture of him, but he is a shy one, so it is a trick to even get one.

Anyways... I believe he is pretty well taken care of as he has some bedding, a plastic house, a water bottle, and some food. Mark seems to take pretty good care of him, i guess.

Mark doesn't get in my way, in fact he doesn't do all that much of anything that I know about (except I'm pretty sure he smokes pot every once in a while). He seems to be a nice guy and I can't help but laugh to myself when he does the crazy stuff he does. By the way... At this very moment, his friend is over and I can hear weird jet-engine type noises coming from his room, haha... Funny.

Goodnight,
Daniel

Uncertainty

This is that second post that I was talking about :). Need I say more? After I was done with that last post (below this one) I decided to change it up and make it a little more creative. I swapped out my pic to a little better one. I look semi-high but I'm wearing a smirk that is pretty normal for me.

Anyways... Onto more important topics. Oh, by the way, if anybody comes on here I would love to see a comment every now and then. Not that you have to, but it will be more exciting to here your thoughts as well.

I guess before I go, I will hit on a very important topic for me. The past 6 months or so have been a huge change for me. I changed colleges, changed careers, changed living accomodations, and I even changed my plans many times. This has become a frustration of mine. It seems that every time I think I'm making progress, I always hit a brick wall. Now it is becoming more and more apparent that my time at Central was pretty much for nothing.

When I got to Central I was anticipating getting my EMT-B certification in winter quarter because I needed a prerequisite First-Aid class. I met with the head of the department, Jim Pierce, and he informed me that number one, I didn't need the First Aid class anyway, and two, they aren't offering the EMT class in winter quarter. So I'm frozen basically. He did give me a contact however, where I'm hoping I might get my certification in the same time-frame this winter. It isn't as high-caliber of a class, which is disappointing, but there isn't much to be done about this.

What's more... I found out that to be a Paramedic in King County, you are required to go through their Paramedic program. Granted, it is touted as the best program in the world. I would very, very much like to get into this program because it is operated at Harborview Medical Center alongside the University of Washington, not to mention the fact that it is "ten times more rigorous than any program that Central could ever offer", according to an experienced classmate. I definitely want to be the best.

So, does this mean that I'm going to be forced to leave Central? I mean, I still have a housing contract and going for just a single quarter doesn't show much commitment. I think I will have to stay at Central for at least one more quarter in order to have housing while I'm taking this new EMT class through Kittitas County (I think). Regardless, I will have to leave soon and once I do, there won't be much of a point unless I have to settle on coming back because I can't make it into the King County program.

Another thing I should mention is that I also feel extremely uncomfortable about my parents helping me out so much with the financial aspect of everything. I just want them to know that I am so grateful and I know there is no way I could do any of this without them. I really hope I can settle into an EMT or firefighter position soon so I can get on my feet and start paying them back. I really feel obligated to start paying them back by the time Matt gets into college. That is my personal goal, regardless of how supportive they are. The last thing I want to do is make it harder for my parents to offer the same support to Matt when he gets into college.

It is a good time to mention that to even get into the paramedic program offered by King County, you have to have at least 3 years experience as an EMT. During those first 3 years, I will most likely get my Firefighter I & II certifications (at least I) which would be great. I definitely want both the fire and EMS sides.

This may turn out to be a good thing but in the meantime, there is not much certainty in my life. It is akin to a combat zone: you make a plan, realizing in the first place that your plan is literally going to be shot to hell. The best I can do is to keep pushing forward and pray for the best.

I have to crash but thanks for coming here and getting in on the action, haha... If anyone has any advice, I would love to hear it. I have a lot to write about right now, so don't be surprised to see more posts in the near future. Also, once I get up to Skykomish for volunteer work I definitely plan on bringing my camera and snapping some great pics of my work and the Cascades. I will get those posted soon after, but keep in mind that ski season hasn't even started yet so that is probably a while down the road. I also want to make a post about me and those cigars I told you I'd buy... Haha... Fun stuff, I smoked them both. Talk to you guys later!

Goodnight,
Daniel

Leadership

Yesterday was a great day. I went on a long drive up to the Skykomish fire department, just pass Stevens Pass. It was about a 2 hour drive up from Ellensburg. We first went to one fire station where we had a brief class on head trauma so we could be prepared for the ski season. This department is responsible for the pass and the roads in and around the area which can become very dangerous with ice. We have to be prepared for more 'trauma' cases vs. 'medical' cases. We had a little bit of a meet and greet with the volunteer firefighters up there and then went to the main department where we would be sleeping and living.

It seems like a great place. The volunteers made it clear that they will be letting us do pretty much as much work as we are comfortable with. I feel confident in my abilities, but I also know that I'm about the least experienced person there. We got to jump in their rigs so we know where all the equipment we might need is. I can tell that the first time out is going to be STRESSFUL, haha... I am excited though. It is almost unrealistic getting in the ambulances and seeing all this stuff. I am still trying to accept the reality that I have all the equipment available to me. I have to accept the fact that in an emergency I'm in charge. Even if I'm not completely sure, I have to look 100% confident so that the patient is confident. Imagine if I told a patient that I've never done something before! If they are really scared, they could actually go into shock and that would be HORRIBLE! I almost have to switch into a 'leader' mode. I really change when this happens and I love it! It comes completely naturally to me when I do switch, though.

My goal is to become a captain of a fire department or station. They are ultimately responsible for their team, but they also get to be in the action with their team. If you become a chief, you have to do a lot of paperwork and you see less action in general. I might want this when I get older, but definitely not for most of my career. The biggest thing I enjoy about being a leader is putting your team first. One of the things that bugs me so much about retail is how the managers are so stuck-up. My last boss, Scott, was actually a great guy. He even came in on the 4th of July to support the people working that day. Most managers would think that they earned their day off, etc. But Scott came in and struggled through it with us. I guess this follows the "don't tell your team to do anything that you wouldn't do yourself" motto, and I respect him for that.

I was going to go more in depth about my views on leadership, but I was having trouble actually explaining it. Anyways... I am very excited to go on my first call and have my first patient. I gotta put my 'leader cap' on and get to it! I'm thinking about doing another post literally right after this tonight, but we'll see i guess haha...

Later,
Daniel

Random Rant

I wanted to make a post but I didn't have anything really important to talk about, so I'm going to mush a whole bunch of small thoughts into one post.

First... There has been this anticipation that all the time I'm spending over there in Ellensburg would turn me into some crazy cowboy. That definitely hasn't happened, but I have found some country songs that I like. I think it's the lyrics that appeal to me. I have also decided that I like the country more consistently than the city. I tend to like the city when I realize that there is nothing to do around a small town. I really enjoy the wide-open space more than having the trees everywhere. This is just generally speaking. I can put myself in the mood for anything, really.

Second... I came home a couple days early from school in order to spend Halloween with my family and hand out candy with Steven while playing some guitar, as per tradition. I have really enjoyed the brief vacation.

Third... I saw "American Gangster". That was a good movie, I thought. It wasn't my favorite at all and some of it was a little hard to follow because there were so many players in the drug war that it portrayed.

Woah... This is a real time update! After that last paragraph up there (my 3rd point) I was changing the song that was playing in Napster and I was thinking in my head about how I really want to support Napster because I don't like the monopoly that iTunes has created, but I have a hard time supporting them when their software pretty much sucks when compared to iTunes. Then I signed in to find another song and it asked if I wanted to go to a site to download the NEW version! I was like "heck yeah" and I just downloaded it as I was typing this... Now it is installing. We will see........

Anyways, like I was saying... Actually, I didn't have anything else to say about that topic anyways.

The last point I was going to talk about I now cannot remember because I am preoccupied with this installation. Ah crap... It's telling me I have to restart my computer.

Well... I'll talk to you guys later and finish this post sometime. Actually, I like where it is. I'll post again soon.

Later,
Daniel

What a Day

To begin with, I missed my first two classes because my alarm was set for PM instead of AM. At least I got more sleep I guess. Then, at 3:45pm I went to a Red Cross JARCA meeting "downtown" (less than a mile from my place). I got there and the receptionist said that I was an hour early. The email said 4:00pm! "Whatever... I'll just walk around." I hit Boogie Man Music (love that place!), a really awesome book store, ACE ("The helpful place"), and the pet store (basically a free trip to an under-funded zoo). I eventually went back to the meeting at 5:00. Umm... The meeting started at 4:30. Wow... Thanks a lot lady! It didn't matter that much because the first hour was just meet and greet anyways.

Little did I know, it was only going to get worse.

After I went to this incredibly boring fake concert thing that was required for my music class I went to the student union building to buy myself some dinner and some small groceries. First of all, the concert was a DVD of Miles Davis who is well known as the best trumpet player ever next to Louis Armstrong and "Dizzy" Gillespie. Personally, I can't stand his style, but whatever. John Scofield was his band's guitarist (at least for that concert) and I didn't like his style either. He is pretty well known as well though.

Anyways, like I was saying, I went to the student store over there to get some small groceries. I got some more milk, some mac & cheese, some Ritz crackers, and some sharp cheddar squeeze cheese. Don't get on me for my super healthy diet now! Haha... From the classroom and store it is about a 5 to 10 minute walk north. Right when I left the store, I knew the bag would break because the dude put all that stuff into one bag. I put my worries into the back of my head as I turned towards home.

I was halfway home when the bag broke. Imagine that! Haha... So I inevitably looked like a complete idiot in the middle of the walkway picking up my stuff and filling my pockets. By this point, I'm thinking, "I knew this would happen, but it's not a big deal... Just get home, it's dark and it's freezing out here."

I get the rest of the way home and reach for my keys........ My Keys........ MY KEYS! "They're gone! Well crap... Did they fall out of my pocket when I dozed off at that concert. I did have to sit pretty weird in those chairs to be comfortable. I didn't leave them in the car, did I? I just drove it to the Red Cross JARCA meeting a little while ago."

I pulled out my Surefire to check my car (it's very dark outside). They were not there. This was unfortunate but better than the alternative. I immediately set my groceries right next to my car and started a brisk walk back to the classroom. It was like a refrigerator outside anyways, so I wasn't worried about spoilage.

I finally got to the class room in record time. I checked my seat, the seats next to mine, even the next row down and they were not there! This either means someone saw that I left them and took them (for good or bad reasons), or I left them at my place when I left earlier today. I was sure that they just wouldn't fall out of my pocket at any other times than these.

I knocked and rang, but no one answered and my roommate was out. I tried to break in. I would have been successful if I had a screwdriver. I tried to improvise with some stuff, but was unsuccessful. That took me a little while. I then walked around and tried to think of something else to do.

I eventually went to the apartment of the head-people, I don't know what you call them. They are like part-time student managers that have to deal with all the crap that normal managers don't want to deal with. I rang and nobody answered, even though it was within their office hours! Ugh... They did have a sign up that listed a bunch of phone numbers though. I walked to someplace warm and eventually called the on-call manager. She sounded hot, but that's another topic. Finally, all I had to do was wait!

I set my bag down and put my groceries into it to avoid the inevitably awquard moment when she looks down at my random groceries sitting on the ground by my car and I have to think of a good explanation while I can barely talk because my mouth is almost frozen off. I didn't have anything else better to do, so I laid on the hood of my car and watched my breath condense in the air. While I was looking up, I saw a shooting star! That was nice. I haven't seen a shooting star in forever!

I was there for a while getting colder and colder. Then, all of a sudden... Guess who opens the door and comes out! My roommate's friend! What the... I was like "Dude! Are you kidding me?! I knocked; I rang; Thanks a lot!" I called the manager girl and had to turn her away (probably the last bad thing that happened tonight) then stepped inside and picked up my keys, turned on the TV, drank a Mountain Dew, and ate my crackers with squeeze cheese.

Later,
Daniel

Camping

These were the views of Cooper Lake, where Steven, his brother Kurt, and I went camping this last weekend. It was cold, but manageable. This was actually the second time that Steven and I had been there (we won't discuss the first time, it was a disaster! haha).

It is hard to see the details in the pics above because I had to shrink them. Email me if you would like the entire pictures. It is a very picturesque lake up there in the mountains and all. Our campsite was pretty simple and there were only a couple other people there. It was nice because we were able to spread out far enough that we were pretty much never bothered by the other people.

We tried to fish, but that was unsuccessful. I think we really need to get out towards the center in order to have a good chance of catching anything. Although, another guy was fishing on the shore. I don't think he caught anything, but he was in a better spot than us.

We cooked hotdogs over the fire with our extender pole things. They turned out really, really good I would say. Haha... Steven realized that he didn't buy 'hotdog' buns but instead bought hoagie (sp?) buns. They worked out fine. In the future, I am going to work on saving enough money to buy myself a tent and some better gear.

It was a great time and I can't wait to go camping again, this time in a new spot that we have never been to. I better catch a fish next time! I also have to make a note to myself that my first car needs to be a truck, definitely.

Later,
Daniel

Life's Pleasures

They teach you when you are little that you should stay away from drugs and alcohol and I completely agree. And for the entirety of my life up till now, that 'rule' has been important to me. For a long time though, there has been this thought in the back of my mind that as long as you abide by the law, and ALWAYS use MODERATION, there should be no problem with exploring these types of things.

I am not trying to be rebellious or anything like that, but I am sincerely interested in trying some of these things. First of all, I do not want to be adventurous in an irresponsible environment. And like I said, as long as there is moderation, I think I will feel comfortable. I mean, if so many people in the world have enjoyed tobacco and alcohol (both in various forms) then there has to be something to it. I think cigarettes are sick because of all the additive type of crap they use, but the main thing that turns me off to anything like that is its overuse. Chain smoking is gross I think, as well as binge drinking. If people are motivated to create amazing vodka or even wine, there must be something to it!

So this brings me to my main point... I am really, really curious about cigars! Call me crazy, but cigars are completely simple, they don't have all these crappy additives, you don't inhale the smoke apparently, and many other interesting things. I would of course never smoke more than one at a time and I would never smoke one for no other reason then to get a buzz or whatever.

Anyways... I am getting to the point where I really want to try this, so I think I am going to ask my parents and see what they think. Unless they have some strong advice saying that I shouldn't, I am going to go out, buy a single cigar that the cigar-person says is a good beginning one, and smoke it by myself (unless someone wants to do it with me. It could be embarrassing! haha). There are many things that appeal to me about this activity; to many to list, but I am not trying to go behind anyones back about this. It is actually kind of embarrassing saying this! I would never have thought I would say this before. The only reason I would go behind anyones back is because of that reason!

So yeah... Just letting everyone know. It is interesting that this will be the 'headline' post for a while so everyone that knows me will come here and see this and think I'm crazy... haha! Oh well, I haven't shared this with anyone but my Grandma anyways (That doesn't make me safe... haha. Love you Grandma!).

Later,
Daniel

Family

Oh man... I had an epiphany last week. I really, really want to have a family! Since I have had some time to see the loneliness of living on my own and the pure elation that comes with seeing my family again, I don't think there is anything more important to me. Sure, I want to do so many things in my life. The list already contains becoming a pilot, fixing up an old Chevy, building a plane, traveling the world, learning hundreds of weird skills, and many other things. It is constantly growing, too.

I don't know... I just really want to have a couple kids. I want to take my kids to their grandparents house and be spoiled. I want to watch my wife with my kids. I want to watch them in school and I want to teach them all the quirky things that my dad taught me. I want them to depend on me.

I still want to do all the small stuff, but my priorities have changed.

I saw that movie "Into the Wild" the other day as well. It was a pretty sad movie considering that he never actually found happiness. But his revelation at the end was still valuable, I believe. There definitely is no happiness without people to share it with. I think I had a similar revelation. It sure is good to know that I figured this out before I was 5 minutes from dieing (respectfully)!

Later,
Daniel

Music

So I haven't been keeping as up to date on this blog as I should, but I have been pretty busy. Anyways... I finally got my computer back from the shop and you would not believe how much I have taken my music for granted. I could barely survive without my music!

Over the past couple of weeks I have been rediscovering my music collection. I have been shining my light on the nicks and crannies of my collection; the songs that I hadn't played for months, the songs that always get looked over, even the songs that I wasn't in the mood for at the time. Certain titles that have captured my interest once again: "Hemorrhage" by Fuel, "Gravity" by John Mayer (heck, a lot of songs by John Mayer), "Only Hope" by Switchfoot, "Lenny" by SRV, "Iris" by The Goo Goo Dolls, and many many more.

What's more, I haven't just been rediscovering my music, but also adding to it. Many of the songs that I bought recently have been favorites of mine for a while, they just hadn't been added to Napster. Some new songs include "Lie to Me" by 12 Stones, "If You're Reading This" by Tim McGraw, and some others.

This brings me to my main point... Have you ever listened to a song that is SO amazing that you just crank up the music and literally pray that it fills you up? That is the only way to describe it other than that the song becomes a part of you! I know... deep. But really, this happens to me quite often because almost every song I buy is absolutely amazing.

I just bought the live-in-Birmingham version of "Covered in Rain" by John Mayer and it was unbelievable. Now granted, I already have the concert DVD so I have heard this song over and over, but tonight I rediscovered it. I proceeded to crank it and pray, baby! Ugh... people say there is no perfection, but that right there is damn close.

I was thinking about it, and not many people know what it is like to improvise a solo. Hell, some people don't even know that John Mayer or SRV or Jimi Hendrix or whoever is making something up off the top of his head! Well, it isn't really just making something up; I can't explain it. I haven't been really good enough to ever improvise something great, but every little bit that you can create like that just gives you this amazing feeling. I really think that although I can dream for the song to fill me up, the only way to really achieve this is to be the person soloing. Are you following? I'm kind of confused myself but I think I know what I'm trying to say. It is sad that many of the people in this world will never be able to experience this.

Catch you all later,

Daniel

End of an Era!

'Nuff said about that...

Today was my last day! I have worked at Office Depot for about six full months now (that would be since mid-late February) and I must say that I am glad it has come to an end. My job was to be a 'stocker' of course.

When people ask what being a stocker at Office Depot is like (of course I get that all the time! haha), I tell them the entire job is simply to complete a never ending scavenger hunt. I get to work and either begin to stock things that were shipped in freight (evening/closing shift), or work on outs (opening shift). This is while constantly doing 'recovery', a.k.a. 'facing'. This basically means 'make things look nice'.

The routine for stocking all items is essentially the same:

1. Move items from pallet to u-boat (just a cart thing basically, as shown below)
   
   
2. Then, find where they all go and put them out (scavenger hunt)
   
3. Repeat...

The routine for working on outs is just a little different:

1. Go find the item that is out (good luck) (scavenger hunt)
2. Put the item out
3. Cross off list, repeat...

By the way, an 'out' is a place where an item's location is empty. Outs are possibly the best method of torture ever invented. Not only do items take forever to track down, but when you finally find the item you're looking for, you have to get a ladder and pull it down from the top-stock. The box you were looking for is almost always the one on the bottom of the stack of boxes. But hey, that's why they paid me so much, right? Outs have taken up the majority of my time over the past few weeks because I have been working the killer opening shifts (5am-1:30pm... that's Mon.-Fri.).

Anyways... I even bore myself with all this ranting! I will just let you imagine for yourself life as a stocker during back-to-school times at an office supply store...

I have, however, gained many great experiences from working at Office Depot, the first being the opportunity to genuinely help people. I get an enormous amount of satisfaction out of being able to give people honest advice and surpass their expectations. In the same way, people have surpassed my own expectations. I have found most people to be kind, considerate, and reasonable.

Well I could go on and on, but enough for tonight... Before I go, I do want to just say thanks to the people at the OD for a relatively good experience in retail. Alex, you rock man! Muahaha...

Thanks again,
Daniel

P.S. I lost power once during this post. We are currently experiencing the beauty of a lightning storm up here! I have the window open and am listening to the rain come down with a cool breeze coming into my room. Truly awesome stuff...

Friends...

When it comes down to friends, one thing to always keep in mind is the old adage "quality over quantity". These are words that I live by. For me, satisfaction comes from knowing that what I have is the best. I have two best friends: Steven and Ben. Both are like brothers to me. I thank God for both and regard their friendship as more valuable than life itself. This is something they know.

The reason I bring this to light is because exactly two weeks from this date, at this time, I will be packing to move out... forever! This is daunting for a number of obvious reasons, the biggest one being the absence of family and friends (Ben, I already miss you man!). More on this later, but for now let me leave you with the reason for late nights, great company, great food (garlic bread and potato things, yeah!), and a look at the indelible faces that are my best friends...

Ben

Steven

I could not be more lucky!

Guys... I will see you later,
Daniel

My 'purpose' [for this blog]

Jimi Hendrix once said, "In order to change the world, you have to get your head together first." Sounds pretty reasonable if you ask me, although kind of ironic coming from a man that didn't necessarily have his head 'together'. Profound to say the least.

I usually save my serious side for deep conversations on intellectual topics. I am definitely not at home in the world of drama, where every moment suddenly has its own soundtrack and script. That is why it is in this domain that I intend to release my profound side, so that you may delve into the shady corners of my mind! In all honesty, I am hoping that this blog will help me to continue to communicate with family and friends in the coming months as I move out and continue my search for 'purpose'. Believe me... I only talk like this at night (or on this blog, haha).

So here's to new experiences! I leave you with the lyrics of I'm Not Superman, by Nicholas Barron from his album As I Am.

I do my best to fly but I'm grounded with these feet
Every once in a while I feel pleasurably complete
I'm a cheap suit serenader with my sing song opinion
Stoned by the alpha males who roam to rule the kingdom
I'm not a cartoon crosshatched in three dimensions
Or a carnival freak crossed out or an invention
A quivering uncertain neurotic jumpy spazz
Please take me as I am
-----------------------------------------------
I'm not Superman, I can't fly
I do my best, man just to get by
I'm not Superman, I'm just me
Just a regular Joe in my own galaxy
-----------------------------------------------
Kaboom goes the fantasy when opens up her rubies
The jacks tell the kings that the hearts at the movies
Frequency's gel when the hero meets clown
You gotta get away when the sharks clamp down
My kryptonite is envy, And soured optimism
With every single bound it's either prism or prison
Be fun and unrealistic that's my motto to the t
As my plastic horse gallops into the next galaxy

(Repeat Chorus)

I just want to be myself
I can't get over tall buildings in a single bound
You know I can't be no one else
Won't you take me as i am

(Repeat Chorus)

Catch up with you later,
Daniel