DC for Thanksgiving

Well…I just got back to Durango yesterday from Thanksgiving break. My family and I made a trip to Washington, DC. It was pretty awesome. I’ve been there a few times, but since I was with my family, we did a good bit of sight-seeing; from a Smithsonian IMAX movie about coral, to the newly built Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. It was a break I’ll remember, and if I’m honest, I wish I were still 3 thousand miles away. Instead I’m in Durango holding on by just a thread.

I stared out the window of the departing plane back to Durango. In that moment I had to admire the beauty of the 7 o’clock sunrise. It is a sight I rarely get to see. As we took off, I took one last chance to take in the imagery. The Washington Monument stood majestically high behind the shiny reflecting pool. It made the sky seem bigger, and I didn’t feel like I was leaving a city of tiny green boxes like I usually do. I was completely alive in this moment, and couldn’t have even thought to pull out my phone and snap a picture. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t have to. It was all there and I knew I’d remember.

There aren’t enough of these moments in life when we are simply content. We are fully present and nothing can phase us, even the voice of the pilot that feels everyone should know our exact altitude and what kind of weather we can look forward to in Dallas, where I’ll spend about 45 minutes.

The Weekend of Brutus

On Grassy Mountain.

Brutus came to the four corners and precipitation was everywhere. In some places heavy rains, in others snow. On our mountain, Grassy Mountain, we received a meager three inches of fluff which was not nearly as much as the omnipotent Weather Channel. I am not sure what to make of that outfit for they rarely seem able to predict accurately for our area. I sure hope they were able to help prepare others for all they did for me was get my hopes up.

In Durango it is rather dry. Visiting the Fort Lewis campus was nice and cold today. The view from the top of the Student Union towards the west showed a very snow-covered Silver Peak. Really amazing. It’s stark contrast to the brown Hogsback Ridge is something truly inspiring, spiritual, and exciting. Full blown winter is around the corner and I will be spending many a weekend at Purgatory, Telluride, and Wolf Creek, snowboarding all day and catching my breath at the base. I think I might tone down my hours at the job just so I can have some time for myself after such a busy semester.

I received my Archaeology test back today. I got 96% on it and I am averaging 98% overall in the class. SCORE! I couldn’t believe that some major slack asses in the class, three actually, totally skipped the test. They had the ability to take it today and only one person took Dr. Riggs up on the offer. And the remaining people didn’t even take him up on the withdrawal slips to get out while they still can. Honesty, I have no idea how anyone could get any less than an A in the class with all the great info he gives and the ability to bring hand written notes to class for the tests. I guess that being late isn’t as bad as not even showing up or giving any effort to even pass the class.

That just makes me wonder how some people even get on in the world. They put forth so little effort and allow everything else take precedence over their responsibilities. They make excuses and think they are fooling people with their jackassery. They cannot or will not commit to their responsibilities and have the audacity to blame others when they cannot step up and take charge and are called on it. I don’t want to be that way. Sure, I am a day dreamer. Sure, I have needs to have my own time, but despite my inability to be punctual I DON’T LET PEOPLE DOWN! I don’t forget my duties. I don’t take the easy way out and expect others to cover my ass or make me look good. I take my kudos and I take my lumps. I am responsible for my own destiny and I realize that.

It makes me glad that I have two great parents and some solid friends that stand by me and help me realize when I need a nudge now and then, just to get back on track. I hope we get to spend lots of time together playing in the snow this winter, too.

Einstein’s theory of tardiness

The work load is piling up before my eyes. I keep telling myself I can handle it, because if I don’t, I’ll just be in school longer…it feels like I’ve been here forever. But I like Durango. It’s a good place with good people. More recently my biggest project is a thirty minute radio documentary for KDUR. While I am very exciting about it going on the air, I have to prove it’s worthy first. While a thirty minute documentary may sound easy, it is not. Formulating questions, arranging interviews, interviews, editing, narrating, finding sound bites…this is all part of the process. With an unlimited amount of time, it would be a euphoric experience. Although, no one really has that kind of time.

The idea of time is funny to me. It isn’t even real. It was made up by humans. In South America it is perfectly acceptable to be an hour late. In America, that would cost you your job. In astrophysics, time has nothing to do with appointments. Time and space are something different, something desirable. Someone once told me, “You think this is important? This dilemma? Zoom out ten thousand years and see for yourself.” Sure, there’s the issue of morality, beliefs, and values, but why stress the small stuff? And to put our lives in perspective, everything we do, no matter how great the impact, is small. I say live free.

On Track(?)

Great news: the tech was able to salvage my hard drive content and transferred it to a new one. So my PS3 is up and running and I hope to actually have time within the next two weeks to actually do my video game review youtube page instead of my dad. He has been a big help.

I am still waiting for the results of my archaeology test, but I think I at least got a high B on it. We will probably find out next week.

This weekend I have a few shifts at work. It is an OK job. I mean, sure I have plenty of time to stand and think, the times I get some phat tips from whomever rolls in, and all the free cookies and coffee I can grab, but I would rather be doing something else.

The winter storm Brutus is coming this weekend and it is predicted that about 6-18″ of snow will fall. BOOYAH! I can almost taste snowboarding season already. Once it arrives I will have to figure out how I am going to work and play. It is amazing how schedules come and go with every week and I never feel like I have enough time to do anything. It gets overwhelming. I recall when I was a kid that days lasted forever, but now before I know it, it is time to go to bed and then start the whole cycle over again in the morning. Whatev… I guess that’s life, so I better just live it.

I still need to figure out how to get to my appointments on time. Heck, I have been having a hard time getting to work on time, too. With snow season coming that will impact my promptness even more. Mom keeps getting on my case about budgeting my time. Dad recognizes that too, but he seems more laid back about it. Mom keeps us both on track even though neither of us are compliant 100%. I have thought about moving out, but I do not make nearly enough money to do that, and if I did I wouldn’t have mom keeping me on track. Ug… Is life incredibly complicated as I suspect once you get out into the real world? Should I just stay at home forever?

CRAP…

What a crappy few days.

All this weekend I have been studying for tests and quizzes for school with zero time for myself. I spent about 14 hours on a Saturday studying for my archaeology test and my brain totally hurts. I think I did well on it, but I arrived to class 15 minutes late because I couldn’t find a parking space on campus. I had to park on a side street about 1/2 mile away and walk. When I finally did get to class I had an awkward moment trying to convince my teacher to allow me to take the test. I didn’t mean to be late, but I was.

Then I go to my English Lit class thinking I had a quiz on american poets. BZZZZZT! WRONG! The syllabus was wrong and the teacher never updated it. I guess we won’t have it for another two weeks. Thanks teach, I could have had some time to have played some video games this weekend…

Oh that’s right, I couldn’t have played video games even if I wanted to. On top of all that the PS3 crashed when dad was playing it. He took it into a technician in Durango to find out that the first sector of the hard drive has become corrupted and retrieving any of the data on the disk is going to be a chore. In the meantime we had another hard drive installed, but no PS3 at home. ARG! I feel like raging today.

I really need a drink, but I guess I will wait another year until I am legal to do so. I wouldn’t want to upset mom by hitting dad’s beer stash. And I sure hope she isn’t reading this right now.

I am trying to find my happy place tonight with a few moments playing Glitch, drinking hot peppermint tea, and perhaps running the spinner pan with some paydirt I took home from Buena Vista this past summer. I do find that watching the blue pan go around in circles and little bits of gold circling upwards to be soothing.

I should count my blessings that I didn’t have to work this weekend, but then I do have a couple of shifts this weekend and of course I have many during Thanksgiving break. Oh well. Such is life.

I will write more if anything else crops up.

Awesome Pre-Halloween Weekend

This weekend was filled with tons of fun. The BOOby run and walk was a complete success. My mom came in 3rd!  They raised a lot of money for breast cancer awareness. Me and my mom went to Zia Taqueria after and grabbed some burritos. Then I went to a buddies house and played Dishonored all day to get in the mood for….the Transvestite Ball! The Tranny Ball was pretty sweet and I pretty much danced all night. I met some beautiful ladies (yes real females, not trannies) and got a few numbers. Halloween festivities never cease to amaze me.

I’ve also been working quite a bit since I started doing front desk at the hotel. It’s a whole different ball game behind the computers, checking people in and answering phones, but I can appreciate the responsibility and higher pay. I’m working on Halloween until 9pm, but after I get off I going to let loose and party like I don’t have an 8am class the next morning. Stay tuned, pictures will be up soon!

Spooky Weekend is Packed With Events

I almost forgot that I am going to be cheering on my mom Emily at the BOOby Run and Walk 5k. It takes place at 10 am Saturday morning, before I am at the KDUR Transvestites Ball. This weekend is going to be just as busy as it is spooky.

Come join us this Saturday, October 27th @ 10am for The BOOby Run and Walk 5k! This is a charity Halloween Costume 5k to help raise awareness and money for Breast Cancer Research.

The start and finish line will be at the Durango Discovery museum and run along the beautiful Animas River Trail, in scenic Durango, Colorado. Cost is $10 for adults 18 and older: $5 for ages 13-17: and FREE for children 0-12.

You can register by clicking the provided link below, or 9am at the start line the day of the race. You can learn more about this great event, or contact Durango Events, by following the provided link to the race website.

My mom and I made a short ad video for the event. http://bit.ly/P5qvkf

There is a facebook event page, too. I think I invited all my friends and acquaintances. If I missed anyone, I am sorry.

So, two great events in one day! I am going to be tired, but it will be a blast. Make sure you make it to both! I will be there ready to cheer and party on Halloween-style!

Laterz.

Spooky Weekend

I’m pretty excited for this weekend. You all should know that Halloween is my favorite holiday and I go hard! (as in my costume). I won’t say what I’m going to be, but lets just say it should be good. I’ll be attending the Transvestite Ball, hosted by Fort Lewis College’s radio station KDUR Durango. The event is pretty crazy and people really get into it, especially since the venue has changed this year to the Lost Dog. I’ll be working the door for KDUR so don’t mess with me or I’ll cut you! 

I’ve been feeling a lot better since the breakup, especially with all of the festivities coming up. I also love fall and watching the colors change. I carved a few pumpkins last night with a friend. It was awesome until our kitchen window spontaneously shattered. We later discovered (actually the police discovered) that a drunk guy smashed it with a rock…anyways he’s in jail. But back to festivities, I hope to see all y’all at the T-Ball this weekend. 

COD

Yesterday was not my day. It started out alright, then from alright to less than mediocre, then just plain bad. I went to a sports bar to watch my beloved Redskins try to pull off a win, and we lost with a few seconds on the clock. Then I got home and checked Facebook and I got a message from my girlfriend, “Hey, we need to talk.” she told me. We didn’t need to talk, she needed to break up with me. And so it was over and I was devastated. This feeling of weakness completely pervaded my soul. I played Call of Duty for 9 hours. 9 HOURS! I slept for 45 minutes, then I went to class.

Today has been rough, but I’ve begun to accept the harsh reality that I am currently faced with. I suppose I’ll be better off in the long run. I no longer have to stress over unreturned phone calls and worrying about where Clara is. The amount of work on my plate is enough.

In other news, Paul Ryan is speaking at Fort Lewis today. Not nearly the amount of hype that Michelle Obama brought to Durango. Unfortunately for Romney/Ryan, Durango is extremely liberal and open to chaos.

Calcutta

Lately I have been thinking a lot. My job gives me a lot of time to think while I  stand idly on “the bricks” and wait for guests to arrive. You wouldn’t believe the thoughts that enter the mind when stricken to one simple mindless task. It’s almost a form of meditation. I have also begun meditating. It eases my mind into a state of bliss, then back to the real world where stress is my predominant nature. Sometimes I wish I were stupid. It isn’t easy knowing my mental capacity exceeds that of the greater population in the world. I am not being facetious, it really is a great weight on my shoulders. It isn’t that I have a great responsibility, but that knowing I am capable of so much, when I accomplish so little. Depending on whose perspective, my life could either be extremely simple or infinitely difficult. I asked a good friend who happens to be very well-travelled, if he could choose three places in the world to visit, what would they be and why. His last answer was Calcutta, India. He further explained that seeing poverty in Calcutta would enable me to see that poverty in America isn’t “real” poverty. But that isn’t necessarily the case because poverty cannot be measured in scales in two completely different places. Poverty, at least in most cases, isn’t a choice, it is a life. So back to my point, I believe that I am under stress all the time. Whether or not someone else see’s my stress as a legitimate issue has so significance to me, because they cannot feel what I feel.

On a lighter note, my girlfriend is coming to visit this weekend. Lets hope I can find some time to hangout with Clara.