Well, I'm twentyseven now. And I feel older. I feel like I should probably be in bed, but I know that if I don't write this now, I won't until I get back from the mountains.
First, the year behind me. Someone asked me how twentysix was, and I replied that my year was atypical. In a way it was a life reboot. I moved [again], started school [again] and grafted myself into a new group of people [again]. I suppose the mid to late twenties is full of mini-reboots, I just chose to do several at once. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, but I managed to survive. I did a lot though: got great grades, ran a lot, ran a half-marathon, made it through a really cold winter, made it through the floods, and managed to avoid girls altogether.
Second, the day. I had a great birthday. The night before I went with my family to a seafood place and got my mom to try sushi, which she liked - of course. Then, continuing the [not really] theme, I went fishing with my dad and we caught a ton of crappies [calico bass]. That evening I went out with a bunch of friends for dinner and drinks, and even won a round of darts. It was nice to see a bunch of people and get a ton of great messages [thanks!!!].
Third, the next year. Twentyseven should be alright. A lot of school, more hanging out with friends, more girl-avoidance [maybe]. I'm excited to return to my studies, and hope to have a more definitive idea of what is next by this time next year. I'm planning several trips: Portland in January, NYC for spring break and possibly working on a feature film next June [hep!]. It has potential, but every year does, right?
Fourth, the next week. My dad and I are leaving for Colorado on Saturday. We're going to a place near Platoro, to a lake where the Navajos used to summer. It will be a week of hiking, fishing and relaxing. I'm quite excited about it. And it has given me an excuse to bulk up my outdoors equipment supplies. I now own some Chacos. Sweet.
Fifth, the next few minutes. I'm going to bed so I can be a decent fill-in boss tomorrow. I've made it three days without yelling at anyone and I might be able to make it the full week, as long as I get some sleep tonight. Thanks again to those who took part in my birthday in any means, it means a lot to me. you have my love.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Altered meme
What does "meme" even mean? I don't know, but I'll use it as an excuse to post before I turn another year older. I had a pint beforehand to loosen my typing fingers, so I hope this goes well. I was "tagged" by Monica, and am supposed to share seven facts about myself and "tag" seven people to do the same - which I won't do. Also, I'll use these seven facts as a way of communicating what I've been up to lately.
1. I finish summer school tomorrow. Five credits and a GPA boost, I can't complain, but it will be nice to have the fullness of my days to... work.
2. I turn twenty-seven on Friday. Expect a blog about that. It seems like such a big number.
3. I am going to Colorado in August with my dad. It should be a really good time. We'll be packing in [riding horses] and hiking out, in between: trout fishing, hitting up a thirteener [we can't all be Jason Bowden], relaxing and enjoying time with my pops.
4. I have been riding my bike a lot this summer and have really enjoyed it. I mean, saving money, saving the enviroment and burning calories? Seriously high quality. One problem I have though. As a noob biker I notice that a lot of other bikers give a horrible name to biking. They are all about cars sharing the road, right? But they don't give a crap for following the rules of the road. Case in point: nearly getting hit by other bikers who were ignoring a stop sign. Real cool. No wonder most drivers hate bikers. Also, if there is a bike path next to the road on which you are riding your bike, you are an idiot.
5. This is getting tough. Umm.. Oh, I finished A Tale of Two Cities. The last two hundred pages or so were really good, I wish I had gotten to that point sooner. Now reading As I Lay Dying. Also reread the last Harry Potter book somewhere in there, it's still wonderful.
6. I've been running here and there. My IT band on the left knee is still giving me fits. Actually it's been pissing me off slash depressing me quite a bit. It sucks to have several years of working towards being a distance runner just kind of dwindle away because of some injury that is difficult to do anything about. I'm trying different things, but have resigned to the fact that if they don't work out I'll just do some other endurance sport [biking, hiking, cross country skiing, etc.].
7. Don't judge me, but I've gone and upgraded my nerdery. Big time. I started playing World of Warcraft. Let me explain. It has been a really boring summer; people haven't been around, it's really hot out, my knee has been hurting. I actually thought I might be getting depressed and then I realized that I had just been really bored [similar to Wayne Campbell's scare with mono]. And then some friends were playing it and I thought it looked interesting and I gave it a shot and now I like it. Don't judge me. If you're looking to blame anyone you can primarily blame Josh J. and Kevin, and secondarily blame Meister Sanchez and the Koz [for introducing me to RPG's].
Anyway, that's what is going on. Feel free to enter into my life and maybe we'll have a real-life adventure. I would like that. Fer realz. you have my love.
1. I finish summer school tomorrow. Five credits and a GPA boost, I can't complain, but it will be nice to have the fullness of my days to... work.
2. I turn twenty-seven on Friday. Expect a blog about that. It seems like such a big number.
3. I am going to Colorado in August with my dad. It should be a really good time. We'll be packing in [riding horses] and hiking out, in between: trout fishing, hitting up a thirteener [we can't all be Jason Bowden], relaxing and enjoying time with my pops.
4. I have been riding my bike a lot this summer and have really enjoyed it. I mean, saving money, saving the enviroment and burning calories? Seriously high quality. One problem I have though. As a noob biker I notice that a lot of other bikers give a horrible name to biking. They are all about cars sharing the road, right? But they don't give a crap for following the rules of the road. Case in point: nearly getting hit by other bikers who were ignoring a stop sign. Real cool. No wonder most drivers hate bikers. Also, if there is a bike path next to the road on which you are riding your bike, you are an idiot.
5. This is getting tough. Umm.. Oh, I finished A Tale of Two Cities. The last two hundred pages or so were really good, I wish I had gotten to that point sooner. Now reading As I Lay Dying. Also reread the last Harry Potter book somewhere in there, it's still wonderful.
6. I've been running here and there. My IT band on the left knee is still giving me fits. Actually it's been pissing me off slash depressing me quite a bit. It sucks to have several years of working towards being a distance runner just kind of dwindle away because of some injury that is difficult to do anything about. I'm trying different things, but have resigned to the fact that if they don't work out I'll just do some other endurance sport [biking, hiking, cross country skiing, etc.].
7. Don't judge me, but I've gone and upgraded my nerdery. Big time. I started playing World of Warcraft. Let me explain. It has been a really boring summer; people haven't been around, it's really hot out, my knee has been hurting. I actually thought I might be getting depressed and then I realized that I had just been really bored [similar to Wayne Campbell's scare with mono]. And then some friends were playing it and I thought it looked interesting and I gave it a shot and now I like it. Don't judge me. If you're looking to blame anyone you can primarily blame Josh J. and Kevin, and secondarily blame Meister Sanchez and the Koz [for introducing me to RPG's].
Anyway, that's what is going on. Feel free to enter into my life and maybe we'll have a real-life adventure. I would like that. Fer realz. you have my love.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Lovely, lovely madness
I saw The Flaming Lips in concert last night, and it was a beautiful madness. Despite the bros toking up right next to me, the old drunk guy trying to fall over on me and having little to no room to stand, I had a blast!! So much confetti, huge balloons, crazy video screens, teletubbies, costumed people, making friends with those around me and then dancing and sweating my heart out with them [and James!]. I didn't know many of their songs, but that didn't stop me from having a great time - and that must be the definition of a great show, right? I don't normally post lyrics, but it was wonderfully to sing this song with thousands of people last night, so enjoy. you have my love.
Do you Realize?
Do You Realize - that you have the most beautiful face
Do You Realize - we're floating in space -
Do You Realize - that happiness makes you cry
Do You Realize - that everyone you know someday will die
And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round
Do You Realize - Oh - Oh - Oh
Do You Realize - that everyone you know
Someday will die -
And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round
Do You Realize - that you have the most beautiful face
Do You Realize?
Do you Realize?
Do You Realize - that you have the most beautiful face
Do You Realize - we're floating in space -
Do You Realize - that happiness makes you cry
Do You Realize - that everyone you know someday will die
And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round
Do You Realize - Oh - Oh - Oh
Do You Realize - that everyone you know
Someday will die -
And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round
Do You Realize - that you have the most beautiful face
Do You Realize?
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Ten years ago, part two
It was ten years ago today that I sat down with my friend Karen and heard the Gospel. I can't say that I understood it, or that I truly understand it in its fullness today, but that day I chose to follow Jesus. Ten years, wow...
It seems as though a lifetime has passed since then: finishing high school, bouncing around, finding myself in the community of 104, bouncing around some more, Portland and now relearning community life again here in Ames. I've come so far and yet I'm still much like the sixteen year old version of me. It's lovely to think about where I was back then, what is happening in my life now, and what could come to be in my life someday. God is good.
For the past four years I've felt as though I was in the proverbial desert of life and faith - maybe that's what being in your mid twenties is all about. Something changed in Portland, and I could sense that my time in the desert was coming to a close. Beyond were mountains, and in those mountains lie goodness and hardship and certainly that is coming to fruition. There is goodness here in the communities that I am part of, and there are difficulties, both both are found here and in the near future. Nearly everyday I find myself glad to be where I am, both figuratively and physically. The other days? I'm wishing to be physically in the mountains.
What I've been learning: From conversations started in Portland and further developed in Ames I've been coming towards a "radical" step in my faith. The concept within this step is the moving away from not doing and towards doing. Rather than dwelling on what I shouldn't be doing, or shouldn't have done, attempting to focus on the actions reflecting the following of Christ. I use the word "attempting" because it is not an easy task. For some nine years I have been in the do not mind set [which at times is an appropriate mind set] and those sorts of patterns are not easily broken. It certainly is an interesting juncture in my journey.
It's been a good ten years, and I can only hope to say the same thing a decade from now. God, thank you for loving me, for caring about this world, for letting us participate in your love - I love you, though I wish I could live it more clearly. Friends that I call family, thank you for helping me stay on the path of goodness and non-safety. I love you all,
Travis
It seems as though a lifetime has passed since then: finishing high school, bouncing around, finding myself in the community of 104, bouncing around some more, Portland and now relearning community life again here in Ames. I've come so far and yet I'm still much like the sixteen year old version of me. It's lovely to think about where I was back then, what is happening in my life now, and what could come to be in my life someday. God is good.
For the past four years I've felt as though I was in the proverbial desert of life and faith - maybe that's what being in your mid twenties is all about. Something changed in Portland, and I could sense that my time in the desert was coming to a close. Beyond were mountains, and in those mountains lie goodness and hardship and certainly that is coming to fruition. There is goodness here in the communities that I am part of, and there are difficulties, both both are found here and in the near future. Nearly everyday I find myself glad to be where I am, both figuratively and physically. The other days? I'm wishing to be physically in the mountains.
What I've been learning: From conversations started in Portland and further developed in Ames I've been coming towards a "radical" step in my faith. The concept within this step is the moving away from not doing and towards doing. Rather than dwelling on what I shouldn't be doing, or shouldn't have done, attempting to focus on the actions reflecting the following of Christ. I use the word "attempting" because it is not an easy task. For some nine years I have been in the do not mind set [which at times is an appropriate mind set] and those sorts of patterns are not easily broken. It certainly is an interesting juncture in my journey.
It's been a good ten years, and I can only hope to say the same thing a decade from now. God, thank you for loving me, for caring about this world, for letting us participate in your love - I love you, though I wish I could live it more clearly. Friends that I call family, thank you for helping me stay on the path of goodness and non-safety. I love you all,
Travis
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