Trading Sun for Shade

Well... I finally made it to Seattle. After a brief 6-week stint in the Nevada desert, I made it to the promised land! It's a weird feeling... packing up everything that I own in the back of my car and driving to a new city and a new life. I just moved into my downtown studio apartment and this is my first experience living on my own.

It's an exciting new prospect and the craziest feeling in the world. Living in a small space has it's challenges. I purged almost 4 boxes worth of things since I've been here. The one box that you perpetually move from place to place and never open, but you know exactly what's inside, I finally opened it!

I found chemistry labs from freshman year in college, ProLink bike chain lube, an Xterra Triathlon swim cap, AP Statistics notes from HIGH SCHOOL, a paystub from Outback Steakhouse in 2002 (can't believe I worked for that little...), and some Splenda. I have no idea why I kept all that stuff around.

It's a great feeling getting rid of stuff I've been carrying around for years is refreshing. I've made a promise to myself that I wouldn't get any more things in my place until I got rid of things of the old.

My studio apartment has remained relatively bare and I'm lacking the necessary funds to just throw money at the problem. All that is in my apartment are my bikes, an air mattress, a camper stool, and some artwork. Oh well, I intend to make my space me and my own home. I plan on living simply with the things I need, but with style...

Shake The Dust.

It's been just over a month since I packed the back of my car and drove out west for a new opportunity in life. It's been a wild ride... There's nothing like the feeling of packing up everything that you own in the back of your car, leaving your community of friends, and the place that you called "home" and forging into this great world.

It's been hard being away from what I call home.
But...
Sometimes we must sacrifice the good for a chance at greatness.


This excerpt from Anis Mojgani's "Shake The Dust" is yet a simple message, but one to take at heart...

<<<< So grab this world by its clothespins and shake it out again and again and jump on top and take it for a spin and when you hop off shake it again for this is yours.

Make my words worth it, make this not just another poem that I write, not just another poem like just another night that sits heavy above us all.

Walk into it, breathe it in, let is crash through the halls of your arms at the millions of years of millions of poets coursing like blood pumping and pushing making you live, shaking the dust.

So when the world knocks at your front door, clutch the knob and open on up, running forward into its widespread greeting arms with your hands before you, fingertips trembling though they may be.>>>>


Flux... then shake the dust...

The Biggest Little City In The World

Reno, Nevada... When I first found out that this was going to be my first work assignment, I couldn't help but think about the Reno 911 inappropriately dressed police officers sporting aviator sunglasses, mustaches, and excessively short trousers. Yup... this is where I'd be living for the next 7 weeks.

Reno's population is roughly 220,000 and there is a saying that, "Reno is so close to hell, you can see sparks." Not far from the truth since there is another small city called Sparks, NV that is just 3 miles east of Reno and lives up to it's hellish connotation.

Reno's downtown sports the architecture and design of 1970s casinos that are packed full of welfare check gamblers, senior citizens burning the last of their social security checks, and failed Vegas dancers trying to keep any hint of limelight they can. This small 6- block area of downtown Reno are also strewn about with the washed up filth of social disgraces, crack whores, and wanna-be hipsters that are attempting to be like their San Francisco and Portland counterparts.

But there's Lake Tahoe, right? Indeed, but it's suffice to say that the only good part about Lake Tahoe is shared with California. It's about a 45 minute drive from downtown Reno to Lake Tahoe and despite Lake Tahoe being a world class resort, the better skiing is still on the California side. Call me a Colorado snob, but I grew up skiing on the back bowls of Breckenridge, bombing down runs at Keystone, and skiing pow at A-Basin. Nothing quite compares to the light fluffiness and utter elation that Colorado powder brings.

It's like Reno is the bastard child of a California/Nevada/Colorado threesome, but no one really knows who this kid is supposed to belong to! It's trying to be a big city, gambling town, and ski resort all rolled into one cohesive package and failing miserably.

Reno's motto is "The Biggest Little City In The World." I think that it should be changed to, "The Little City That Never Was."

Nice try, Reno. Nice try.

25 to Life

Well, I've finally broke down and decided to start a blog. Mainly I was inspired by a lot from friends within the triathlon and design realm as they're posting race reports or new art tips; however, this is mainly for me (and whoever wants to read my stream of consciousness).

I realized that as young professionals and twentysomethings no one really talks about what makes or breaks us during these years. There is plethora of information and everyone talks about the hardships of adolescence, going to college, then marriage and starting a family, raising a family, then retirement... WHAT?!

Did we just skip a crucial time period? I think so.

Our 20s are a time where we begin to explore more as individuals. We forge our own way daringly into this big world with the hopes and dreams that we can make something of ourselves and create our own identity.

We try different things: the job that has no relation to our degree, work 3 different jobs to make ends meet, travel to a different country, or pack up everything that you own in your car and drive onward to a new adventure.

This is our time. Our time to go boldly in the direction of our dreams!