Into the Great Wide Open

While a great title to a well-know Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers song, this title also signifies the journey that I will begin tomorrow morning, as I roll-out to Maine.

Tomorrow, I begin a new chapter of my life.  This chapter is graduate school.  It is kind of funny because over the last couple of months, as I entered the final stages before leaving, I was almost giddy with excitement.  I still feel that way, but to be honest, over the last couple of days my brain and more importantly my stomach, has been filled with nervous feelings.  Questions have abounded in my head about decision-making and just the adventure ahead.  I have felt nervous, but in some ways, I feel good about the nervousness.  I have been in prayer about this new part of my life and I think just feeling nervous was a way to get me centered on God and how that has to be the guiding light, if you will, of everything I do.  Also, having so many of you supporting my journey has helped so much, more than you know.  I can categorically say, that I have the best friends and support network in the world.

Tomorrow morning I ship out.  The car is almost ready (minus a bike that will go on in the AM).  I have all of what I need (hopefully) fitting into a 2-door Blazer.  For some of you that have known me for many years, that may surprise you.  I have purged and become minimalist in my approach to possessions and the like.  My degree of minimalism is not staggering, just different from how I used to do things.

My next few posts will hopefully be video posts.  I am not promising anything, but I figured since I am making an outpost for my crew in Maine, the crew ought to see what the deal is.  It’s funny, my brain is centering on a hybrid of thoughts.  First, this is just another cool place to go in America.  This is tempered with a thought like I am some sort of modern-day Lt. John J. Dunbar (Kevin Costner’s character from Dances with Wolves-one of my top-7 movies).  While this later statement is a bit of stretch, there is some truth.  This move is a departure from my life of the last few years and honestly, I am going to a place that is new and fascinating and one in which holds a lot of wonderment for me.

Ok, enough thought-streaming.  Thank you for reading.  Oh, cannot leave without some music recommendations.
1) Third Day-Their new record, Revelations is most-excellent.  I need to give it some more listens, but it is excellent and new chapter in their storied history.
2) Incubus-pull out Morning View and give it another whirl.  With obvious hits like Wish You Were Here and Nice to Know You, this record also has some other smart songs, not only musically, but lyrically.  I recommend Blood on the Ground and Echo.

Peace-out friends.

Oh, one post-script.  The picture above is from the great state of Indiana, near the mother-ship between Elnora and Bloomfield.  I took this one day while I was driving back to Bloomington.  I got lucky and yes, I was pulled over at the side of the road when I took it.

Trying to Post More…I Have Things to Say

Ok, a new post in the same month as my most recent post. I am stoked and I have things to say.

Ok, first and foremost. I must give a special thank you shout-out to my friend Jeremiah’s girlfriend because she directed me to this page I am about to link here. As some of you know, I am a big fan of the one-piece pajamas that I had when I was a young man. In fact, I had a pair as a little guy that had the phrase, ‘The Kid’ down one side. Oh, I must clarify something here, these are not the kind with the butt-portal. These are the kind with the feet. You know, the feet that you would have to cut when you were growing because you got too tall? Anyway, I know now that I must get a pair of these. Greatest PJs Ever! And seriously, who knew they would be in Sky Mall? Classic, simply classic.

The Olympics. I have been quite impressed thus far. Starting with a beautiful and culturally educational opening ceremonies to the swimming dominance of USA swimming and some guy named Michael Phelps. I don’t know, he may have a career ahead of him. I do feel bad for other US athletes, especially swimmers, who cannot avoid hearing questions about Phelps when they should get the chance to speak about their own accomplishments. A side note regarding the Olympics. Alright, I have always tried to be a man who is respectful of women. With that said, as I go about this respectfulness, it is a flipping challenge to watch the women’s US beach volleyball team. Holy cow ladies, wear more clothes. You are attractive and running around in sand. I like watching volleyball, have for a long time, but my goodness.

Other news and notes. I am now 29 years old. I can say the following things definitively. 1) I am blessed and quite thankful for having Christ in my life. 2) My immediate family is simply the best. 3) I have many great things on the horizon and I am excited. 4) It has been a challenging last couple of years and at this moment, I starting to feel at the top of my game. I am become stronger in every facet of my life…self-improvement is vital.

I also wanted to say thank you to everyone for the great birthday wishes. I am honored to have such great people in my life. THANK YOU! I also got a great surprise from my little sister and brothers yesterday. Due to schedules and timing, I did not think I would see any family yesterday. Lauren, Lance, and Sam came through huge and surprised me last night. The surprise in and of itself was excellent, but there were goodies. As you can see from the pics below, there are some fun treats. It was such an excellent, timely, and hilarious surprise. I am still laughing about the cookie cake.

Birthday Goodies

Great pic!

Plastic piece in middle says,

Not a ton of music things to throw-out right now. I will say that if you have the ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?” soundtrack, you should give it a whirl.

I am out…thank you for reading.

These Times Are A’Changin

Hello all, it has been longer than I had desired for a new post.

However, there is no time like the present, so let’s jump in the proverbial pool. As the summer draws to a close, there are some exciting things afoot. As some of you are aware I am headed to the enchanting state of Maine to begin graduate school. I start a MA/PhD program in US History at the University of Maine in just a couple of weeks. I am so blessed and lucky to be getting this opportunity. In fact, I will start this adventure next Friday. I will leave the friendly confines of Indiana and start the trek east. The journey will possibly lead me through Pittsburgh for a day, a week in Allentown, PA with my motha, and possibly a day or two with my best friend Brian and Brian’s wife, Kate. After the greetings and visits have commenced, it will be onto Maine.

You may be wondering, have I ever been to Maine? The answer would be no. My first time in the state will be the first time I drive past the ‘Welcome to Maine’ sign (assuming they have one). Some people are a bit taken aback by this revelation. Well listen, yes, I have not been there, but hey, it is not another country. They have Target, post-offices, and US money, so I will be fine. I look at it this way. The period of US History that I want to center on is the ‘between-the-wars’ period. I feel that my journey to Maine is representative of people during the Depression era who would just move to a state if they heard there was work.

The final things are coming into place before this journey. I got my license and registration fixed today, brake work and hair cut next week, final restaurant visits, etc. I am just so stoked for this journey.

Alright, now onto some music news and notes. To start, in the last three weeks I have been fortunate to have seen the Foo Fighters and the Smashing Punpkins in concert. I will review these shows in a later blog. Some other music notes. In a previous blog from the spring, I wrote about the artist M.I.A. If you check out the new film, Pineapple Express, one of her songs is highlighted in trailers.

Music to listen to…I have been geeked out even more than before on the Smashing Pumpkins record, Zeitgeist. It came out last year, but this record still holds up. Give it a listen, in fact, give it multiple listens. This record truly encapsulates the total sound of this band. Please listen especially to the songs ‘Bleeding the Orchid’ and ‘Ma Belle’.

Alright, thank you for reading, I am going to run.