Today is best described as a day with complete lack of woe. I carried no woe for anything.

I woke up early to whisper to mom about what to get dad for his birthday. “… it’ll only be $10 more there, mom.”

I quickly dressed and put on my current favorite red “CA” shirt and my new sexy faded jeans in order to head down to Starbucks for breakfast. Coffee cake and hot chocolate started the morning. Mom headed off for work, but Dad had the day off so we sat for a while.

Upon heading home I stumbled upon the only downside of the day: while driving, we noticed a man and bicycle laying unmovingly on the sidewalk with two people standing over him unsure of what to do.

Today’s the first time I’ve ever called 911. The Asian man lay on the sidewalk with blood dripping from his nose. Apparently, the curb did not have much regard for his bicycle and he crashed while trying to get onto the sidewalk. At first the man didn’t want help, but by the time the paramedics arrived he let them take him to the hospital.

We got home and then I borrowed the car to go shopping for a present of my own to get dad.

After I got back, I went with dad on a couple errands and then we went to Estes Park. We went to The Big Horn for some steamed hickory pork/beef, meandered through various shops, and I bought a new hoodie. I found the restaurant Locals and took a cameraphone picture as a reminder of previous fond memories.

Dad & I wound our way down and back around the shopping district of Estes Park. Soda at Subway, then we returned home. I napped in the car, shades on, and dad drove.

Time passed and mom arrived home. Dad opened his gifts: a Superman comic book (he remarked the other day his mom had thrown away his comics when he was in college) and the new Eisley album (new indie-rock flavor to try). Mom bought him an iPod (black 30GB w/ video). I showed him how to buy TV shows — he’s looking forward to watching Leno on the bus to work.

Wahoo’s Fish Taco’s for dinner (although we all had burritos and mine had shrimp). The brothers didn’t make it, but we’ll see them on Sunday.

For evening entertainment, we watched Catch & Release — a movie based in Boulder. A comedy, romantic, but more sad than cheery. I enjoyed the flavor: Celestial Seasonings, Bolder Boulder t-shirts, and a few scenes actually filmed there.

And tomorrow will be another day.

Categories: Life
Tags: 911, Eisley, Estes Park, family, Wahoo's

Today I found out my parents put the house on the market. They’re going to sell my home. Homes are shells within which we live, but when a home is left behind a body misses the familiarity of the place. I’m going to miss the place.

Another thing I never expected happened Saturday. The church I attended during college burned. It was over 80 years old, made of brick, and absolutely beautiful. It had stained glass windows and a huge mural which had been painted sometime in the 1930’s. Now most of it is gone and they will have to bulldoze the remainder in order to keep it from falling and hurting anybody.

I find myself wondering why I care. Everything I know about the world tells me that nothing is constant, nothing will remain forever, but when you’re living among the change it’s hard not to take it personally.

I spent most of high school in the home. I spent two summers from college there. I lived there two additional occasions after college. Video games, TV shows, poker games… Roxie the dog. Family get togethers. So many memories.

I spent many Sunday mornings in the church, drove friends from college there with me, sat in the wooden pews, stared at the mural, sang from the hymnals. I went to weddings there as well (Rob + Jill, Ben + Kara, Pat + Julia).

The memories will last. Until Alzheimer’s or death, whichever comes first. But knowing the places are (or will be) gone leaves me looking for something more constant.

Categories: Life
Tags: church, family

So much happens in ten days, this is a brief checklist of things I would like to write about, but may never have a chance to get caught up on:

Thursday (May 17): The one-handed man on the plane from Seattle to Denver. Eventless flight to Omaha. Ride w/ Varvel to the bachelor party. Bachelor party.

Friday: Tyler + Luebbe + thai. Tux rental, rehearsal dinner, potential poisoning. Coffee w/ Cora. Final moments talking w/ bachelor-Phil.

Saturday: Wedding + the ups and downs. Sprite toast, substitute best man, seeing people. Dancing w/ the ladies. Tackling Phil’s brother to grab the garter. “May your quiver be full!” Cards.

Sunday: the dog, the airport, $9 roast beef + cranberry juice, mom. G&G, picked up dad at the bus station.

Monday: Getting the U-Haul, Wendy’s, lock, blankets, Mother’s day a week late, mowing the lawn, loading the truck, poker party w/ the Boulder crew. Suzanne unconscious and no good markers to draw on her.

Tuesday: Finish packing and drive. iPod. Stayed in Billings, MT. Smoky room.

Wednesday: Billings, MT to Kirkland, WA. More iPod. Country songs.

Thursday (May 24): Seeing Washington on the Eastside w/ my bro (wetlands, Medina beach, Chipotle). Movie: The Namesake. Trigun.

Friday: Work+

Saturday: Airport + grocery shopping + sausage balls + work.

Sunday: Church. Pirates 3. And typing, typing, typing…

Categories: Friends, Life
Tags: airplane, Colorado, Cora, family, iPod, Jenny, Luebbe, moving, Nebraska, Phil, Seattle, The Varv, Tyler

Sick boy, nah nah nah nah, Sick Boy, woah-oh-oh….

Sorry, I got reminded of an MxPx song. I’m not feeling well tonight. =/

So what’s going on with you people? You’ve been awful quiet lately. I guess I haven’t said enough inflamatory stuff. I’ve figured out how to get Jake to comment, but the rest of you are either not reading or you’re not interested. Come on now… don’t be bored… those YouTube videos are supposed to be entertaining! Then again, Phil did tell me he got hooked on the OK Go video w/ the treadmills. Those guys do some fun dancing.

Slightly over two weeks till move out today. Mom was getting on my case tonight ’cause I haven’t started packing and she doesn’t understand. “I just don’t understand, but okay.” Okay! But seriously, I’ve got an insane amount of packing to do and I’m hoping to move out most of my furniture on Tuesday.

I’m not sure where I’m supposed to sleep if I move out all my furniture. I should probably look into that.

Ha ha ha! Haha ha.

The laughs of a mad man. Mania is setting in.

Turns out the military guy I met a few weeks ago is a hoax. Well, at least somewhat. I hope he wasn’t completely lying to me, but a friend told me recently that military-guy is actually a thief who likes to steal from the porn-store where he worked before getting fired.

Support Our Troops! They’re heros, every one of them! Especially the ones at Abu Ghraib. (Is that inflamatory enough? I’ll find out later.)

Well, enough ranting. I’m gonna go drink some water, watch TV, and heavily contemplate cooking some soup. Mmm… soup.

Categories: Life, Music
Tags: family, moving, MxPx, Phil

My cousin is getting married on Saturday. Oddly, the wedding is at a place dear (I think) to many of your hearts: Snow Mountain Ranch. Who couldn’t love a place they’ve cleaned toilets (Jenny), done massive amounts of manual labor, and formed long-lasting friendships? (Jake, this is where you say something sarcastic =)

So amazingly I don’t have to work on a Saturday for once and I’m hoping to trick my body into letting me leave on a regular schedule this weekend. I got off work at 3AM this morning and actually managed to get almost three and a half hours of sleep before waking up. Time to finish getting ready!

On the Seattle front, I’m in the initial stages of planning a trip out there in October. Not quite moving, but I can take a look around and try to stir up something good.

That’s all for now. Sorry there haven’t been more posts lately, but I’ve been distracted.

Categories: Life
Tags: family, Jake, Jenny, Seattle