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| I traded my big, bushy, backwoods beard for a couple sweet chops. I'd love to post some pictures of this development, but I freakin' got sand in my camera and shorted it out. Now, just like every time I do something a little wild with my hair/beard people want to dictate what I do with it. Why do people do this kinda stuff? Don't they trust me with my own wild imagination? Can't I make a fool of myself on my own terms? It was the same story with my mullet. When I cut it off, it was like I slapped someone's mama. Of course, there were a couple ladies who thanked me. As people were telling me their wonderful plans for my face I noticed they were bouncing these ideas off others, not me. I think people just want to get laughs."Oh, Alan you should cut off your soul patch then you could keep a straight line of hair that starts with your mustache and wraps completely around your head and connects with the other side of your mustache." My other theory is they just want to make me look like a fool for their own amusement. So I'm going to shave a couple lightning bolts in my chops and that will show 'em!
BRING THE THUNDER!
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| I just watched The Producers a couple weeks ago and I can't get that song out of my head. I recommend it.
Life is good in Austin. I finally made a budget for myself. For those of you who haven't already done so, I recommend that too. I should be debt-free by December. Then I can spend all my savings on Christmas presents. Last night, I was able to spend time with Jenny B and Brandon, my two best friends in Austin. It was good to have the old gang back together. I sat in the car as Jenny drove us home last night just so happy to be spending time with wonderful friends.
Today I am going to help my housemate Christian clean his room. Yes, he needs help. There is a smell and you can't even open the door because of all the crap on the floor. Yesterday I cleaned the bathroom and it's IMMACULATE. Brandon mowed and weed-ate the lawn and we watered the garden, compost pile, and trees. Our house is looking better every day. Soon we'll be able to have women over.
That was a joke. No women would ever come here.
I may get a second job. That means I'll be working 60 hours a week. Is that a lot? I've never worked much more than 45. I hope I don't die from exhaustion. Brandon said I'll get used to the workload, then when I do have a day off, I'll get a lot accomplished because I'll have learned better time-management skills.
Take it easy ya'll.
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| I feel great - despite the fact that I twisted my ankle, have six ingrown toenails, six warts on my hands, a messed up colon, and a sore back. Too much information? Good, I like seeing your grossed out faces, or at least, imagining your grossed out faces.
I'm back in Austin now. Just a little while ago, so was Obama and Clinton. I almost went to go see them, but the crowds were too great and my desire to drink also too great. Work is great too. I am kinda big in the program - well, not really. I'm a crew leader of Crew T-Rex. No we aren't kindergarteners, we just are a little crazy. I am sharing the load with Theresa, a funny, fiery red-head. We answer to Terence, or T (hence the name of the crew.) Oftentimes, Theresa and I are left in charge. We are responsible in making sure that everything gets done for America. (inside joke - sorry) Today we finished u a crushed granite trail around the world headquarters for this environmental group not unlike our own at American Youth Works.
So after AmeriCorps I'm planning on traveling a bit. Then I'll get serious and perhaps go back to school to get an MAE and maybe a PhD in Literature. I'd like to teach junior high or high school and continue with my writing. During the summers after I finish school I plan on volunteering with Trail Tamers, working at Philmont, or traveling around. I might even get married if I feel adventurous.
That's it for me, hope to hear from some of ya'll.
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| Ya'll haven't heard from me in a while. Life is good. I have been back home with the old folks since September 1st. I had some great adventures this summer. The trip home was wonderful. I was traveling alone, which is something I recommend everyone doing at least once in their life. When you travel alone, you have no one but yourself to please. You can spend a whole day in an art gallery if you feel like it. You can drive as long as you want and only stop when you need to pee.
Anyway, I was able to see some cool stuff in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas that I've never seen before. I actually was standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona - such a fine sight to see. And believe it or not, there was a girl my Lord, in a flat-bed Ford - but she was a painting in a store window. It was creative nonetheless. I'm sure Winslow chamber of commerce loved doing that little project. Hiking in the Arizona mountains was also a beautiful, challenging experience. I swallowed my pride and turned away from the tallest mountain in AZ because I ran out of water. I think that was one of the most significant signs of maturity I demonstrated all summer! A couple years ago, I would have tempted death and climbed the thing with little water and no hope of getting more for ten miles. Maybe I just have a healthier sense of safety nowadays.
Well, I'm not going to give you a day-by-day account of the trip back. Maybe if you call me I'll share some more stories. I am working as a substitute teacher in Liberty, Excelsior Springs, and St. James Catholic School. I really enjoy it. For the first seven weeks, I didn't have enough work to keep me sane. The past couple weeks I've earned more money than I ever have in a two-week period so that's good. I even got a story published in the local paper. I guess I'm finally putting my college education to work.
The next little bit of news from me is that I'm moving back to Austin in January. I'll be doing another term of service with AmeriCorps. I am really looking forward to this. I think it will be a better experience than the last time. I'll have more responsibility and (hopefully) more pay. I'll also be in a better living situation - a house. I am through with apartments! After the year is over, I will find an outdoor/educational job in Austin. I'm not sure when I'll be back in Missouri, but I will be! Who knows, maybe someone will come along and convince me to settle down...
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| I am getting tired of staring at the computer screen but I want to take advantage of the high-speed internet at UNM Tech so here goes: I just finished my duties as a Wilderness Guide at Double H High Adventure Base. I loved my last crew. They were some good boys from MN. We were able to take a bunch of side hikes to scale peaks and see some cool sights. After they left, I got right back on the trail on a three part quest: 1. To find my advisor's knife 2. To find my tent pole and 3. To see an elk. Unfortunately, I failed at all three. But I was able to see some parts of the ranch that I'd never seen before. This morning I was surrounded by coyotes howling and elks grunting. Although I couldn't see them, my heart was pounding in my chest with excitement. I am reading a book called The Power of Now and I am trying to take its principles to heart. I am trying to let go of the judgements of my past and the fear (or irrational anxious hopes) of the future. The hike I just took is helping me with that. Ask me about this sometime and I'll be happy to elaborate. But being fully present is a great feeling! | | |
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