A-Rod comes clean

Alex Rodriguez admitted today to using performance-enhancing drugs from 2001-2003. I commend him for coming clean to the public and admitting that he was wrong. I'm glad he is coming to realize the truth has set him free. You can read the entire ESPN article here or watch a snippet of the video here:

Rollin' Rainier

My first time to ski Crystal... The pic says everything if you ask me.

Rainier peepin' out through the low cloud cover from Crystal Mountain

Stead's first camping experience...

Stead told me a while back that he wanted to go camping with us sometime. This initially came as a shock to me because I knew Jordan had no interest in camping. It was kinda like asking Stead to eat seafood, you knew he wouldn't eat anything that swims. So why would you ask him to camp? The only thing I had on my side was the epic pictures we always came back with. Pictures got Stead on facebook, Pictures got stead mountain biking, Pictures got Stead an identical Nikon Camera as Seth Yates, Pictures even got Stead pondering, "how can i put picasa, a windows program on a mac." Pictures were truly the number 1 factor of growth in Jordan's life towards manhood, so maybe Pictures would again have the power to change.

Since he approached me, I felt this could be a genuine movement. So, I began to look for opportunities to get Stead camping, but with the winter season approaching, I knew we'd have to hold out for spring 2009.... or would we?

Stead strolled over one night for a slumber party (actually more like some unemployed college aged kids getting together to talk about the days of the old when being unemployed was legit because you were in school) and asked me where the sleeping bag was. I reminded Stead there was a futon downstairs well equipped with a soft mattress and blankets. He was convinced it was ridden with Spiders... probably because he had seen one spider earlier in the day, and he didn't even see it in the basement. But, rather than accuse Jordan of this weakness, I instead encouraged the sleeping bag slumber. This would warm him up for the real thing.

What I didn't know, is that Jordan thought this WAS the real thing. I leave the room for 2 minutes to brush my teeth and when I return, a picture request. As you can see below, Pictures were starting to turn Stead into a camper.

notes wouldn't let me flip this pic :(

Notice the beautiful camping environment, no tent (only a three level house to provide shelter) no sleeping pad (only 6 inch thick couch pillows) and no signs of nature (only an empty computer chair looking on). Jordan was truly roughing it. In his eyes, he had done it... he was camping.

Rob and I intervened as quickly as we could and reminded and encouraged Stead that although this was a good first step to sleeping in a sleeping bag, an activity that would prepare for camping, this, in fact, was not camping.

He exclaimed "are you kidding me? what's this bag rated at anyways temperature wise." I told him 15, to which he starkly disagreed, and i starkly raised my eyebrow. Since he was in a bag that was rated to keep a human body warm at 17 degrees below the temperature that water freezes, he was envisioning himself camping in the Utah outskirts, it was as if he was in the Alaskan woods in his mind.

Of course, we told him, this is no adventure, only training. To that he rebuked us and showed us adventure by him sticking his hand out of the sleeping bag (because remember, he was sleeping outside of the city gates of Narnia, where the pines sung with the breeze of the wind, and the snow fell like forgotten confetti.) Of course, it was adventure to stick his hand out into the cold (heated room) Note the brave pic below.

wow, a hand... notice the moisture wicking cotton longsleeve :)

So in the end, pictures HAD changed Stead. They convinced him that he really had been camping and they ultimately made their way to facebook (as all of stead pics, and i do mean all of them end up) Stead had won. He had been camping in the ice and snow, and had pics to prove it.... Maybe next time we'll try using my desk lamp as campsite lighting instead of the overhead room lights, one step towards more adventure.

What makes Oklahoma different?

Tonight I was checking out the elections on a state by state basis looking for trends and things of that nature. Naturally, I started to check out the home state I grew up in.

Two glaring things I noticed:

1) Oklahoma has their election process down... It was one of the first states to reach 100% results in even though it is in the middle of the country. Either that or people dang sure had their mind made up.

2) Look at the picture below... Wow, that's the only state I found that way!

Ben's Car: Stolen, and then not!

A delightful Gchat session I had today with Lisa...

Lisa's new status message - just found ben's stolen car therefore becoming his hero. 2:39 PM

me: what'sthis?

about ben's stolen car?
3:35 PM
Lisa: dude i found it!

me: when was it stolen?

Lisa: yeah!

so i was driving down 16th
3:36 PM
like by 47th

and i saw it drive by

me: what!!!!

Lisa: and i was like oh it's ben i am going to follow him

me: so you called the cops

i dind't know it was stolen

Lisa: so i started to follow him down 16th and was like honking trying to catch up to him (totally still thinking it was ben)

me: hahahahah

Lisa: it pulled into this parking lok like behind fiji's

(lot)
3:37 PM
and i was like honking and trying to get him to stop

but ben's car is a stick and they kept jerking the car

and i'm like wait a minute that isn't ben

and then i thought maybe it was some friends

me: i'm so entertained right now

Lisa: that he loaned his car to
3:38 PM
and then i was like wait a minute ben wouldn't loan his car to anyone who drove that poorly

and all of the sudden the car parked and two dudes hopped out and made a dash for 45th

and then i called ben and the cops came blah blah

me: hahahaha

and his car was just left there?

Lisa: when we turned the car on it was like blasting some hard core gangsta wrap

me: with the keys?

so they just stole it?

Lisa: yeah they hopped out and peaced out

yuppers
3:39 PM
nuts, right?

me: oh my gosh!

this is awesome!

hahaha

Lisa: i know!

the only sad thing is now ben's car totally stinks

me: hahah

Lisa: but other than that it is back

oh yay.

me: well it kinda always did

Lisa: totally
3:40 PM
at least now he can blame it on something :)
3:41 PM
me: hahah

Lisa: but there was a sweet master P cd in his car

Tim and Ben after realizing Ben's car had been stolen... even while they are in Ben's Car!

I landed a job at Apple

Today I got a job offer from the Apple retail store in U-Village. It is a part-time job and I am still working for the start up company I'm involved in.

I started looking for part-time jobs a couple months back and applied to Apple back at that time. I want to make a little bit of money for myself so that I can help pay the bills and get experience working for a larger company. I've never worked under a management team working to sell a physical product. I'm expecting to gain experience and learn what it's like.

Apple has some pretty cool products, so if you're looking to buy something major, ask me about the friends and family discount I get... maybe I can hook ya up :)

Mt. Si

On April 14th, I had the opportunity to climb Mt. Si solo. I had recently been cleared for physical activity since my shoulder surgery on the 1st of February, and needless to say, I was really excited to be active again.

a picture i had take of myself at the top of the peak

The hike began with an hour drive out to north bend. I found myself getting really frustrated while in Seattle headed towards the highway. It took about 15 minutes to get to 1-5 from my house, a trip that normaly takes 2 minutes max. After getting on the highway, it started to pour and I seriously considered turning back. But, after coming out of the I-90 tunnel headed toward Issaquah, the sun poked through and the rain had been left in the city. At this point, I knew the decision to climb Mt. Si was a good one!

Driving in to North Bend, I found myself wandering around the small town searching for the trail head. The information I gathered from the Internet proved to be tricky and misleading. So, I used my trusty digital phone to call up Rob who steered me in the right direction. I pulled into the parking lot at about 3 in the afternoon, ready to make the 4 and a quarter mile trek up to the top of the peak.

THE ASCENT

Seeing that I had been limited in physical activity for the past couple months, I war a little ambitious in my inicial ascent. I ran for the first quarter or a mile or so and got breathing heavy quickly. After walking a little more to catch my breath, I thought I had at least traveled one mile. Then I came up to a sign that said I had gone half a mile. I was in for a lot more climbing! I passed several people on the way up, and would get a little boost everytime I saw someone in front of me on the trail.

I came up to the top of the trail and had a decision to make; whether to walk over to the snoqualmie valley view, or to climb the rocky haystack scramble. Of course I went for the scramble. (come on, the signs said it was extremely dangerous, how could I back down from that?) I began to head over the rocky mass and began climbing. It was much more difficult then I had expected. I was definitely getting a rush from the exciting climb.

looking west towards downtown Seattle

THE PEAK

When I had reached the top, the cold wind was blowing pretty good and I could definetely feel it in my shorts and light dry fit tob. But, when I placed myself on the highest rock, I was taken a back and realized the unbelievable 360 degree view that was around me. I saw the clouds rushing upwards over the back side of the peak. I saw the clouds overhead rushing east towards the cascades. I could even see downtown seattle! Another older gentlemen who made the ascent was kind enough to take my picture, and then he headed down because he was getting cold. I stayed up there for another 15 minutes and encountered one other climber that had come up. He had a Norwegian accent and asked if I'd take his picture. He kept saying "I'm the king of the world" as he stood on the uppermost rock. He was clearly excited.

I began to make my way down the rocky face, and as soon as I had made the bottom of the rocky climb, it begain to sleet and snow pretty good. I was thankful I had left the peak before it became slippery and wet. I decided to jog down the 4 mile trail all the way to the bottom to get to my car before it became dark. I passed a ton of people on the way down. When I had reached my car, it was 7pm. After stopping by the Nike Outlet in North Bend for the first time, I drove home and got back into Seattle at about 9. It was definetely a re-charging experience, and I'm very glad I decided to make the journey, even though I was alone.

REFLECTIONS

Alot was on my mind during the initial climb up. I had a couple hours just to let my brain run wild, something I don't normally have time for. It was good to mentally go through everything occuring in my life at the moment. My brain was entirely focused and thinking of nothing but hand holds and feet placement when I was going up the rocky ridge. I thought back later and realized how incredible God designed our minds and our thinking capabilities. What focus, coordination, and adaptability our designer had in mind when creating us. The run down was a mental workout. My eyes rapidly fired signals to my brain to let it know where my feet would take the next step. I could not slip and risk falling on my shoulder. It was good for my brain to be in such an intense, demanding position. I miss that quick thinking that usually accompanies me with sports. That hike has helped motivate me to explore God's creation more, and seize opportunities like it that come up.