Past, Present & Future

Recently, I've gotten a picture of these three time periods through pictures. All things considered, I'm really looking forward to the next few months as we progress into summer. I've enjoyed (to some degree) Oregon's weird and wacky winter, as we've gotten hordes of snow (yes, hordes - the snow was mongolianlike in it's ferocity and size) compared to what we normally get - it's April and it's still dumping buckets on Mt. Hood. However, I recently got a taste of summer when the weather turned to 70*+ for a scant few days, and it gave me a chance to reflect.

Past:

I was digging through old pictures and found these. Dang, our puppy has grown a ridiculous amount in the last 4 months. These pictures are of the first time we took him up to the snow last December. He's now big and no longer cold (he was shivering that day.)

And then I got to pictures of the present - Lane and I got to go on our first "real" (read: not freezing cold) motorcycle ride this year. We've been out a few days, including a good trip with Ian in Corvallis, but I was still numb by the time I got home. This time, it was warm and enjoyable - plus, when you're comfortable, it's easier to push the limits. We doodled around Clackamas, then headed up Highway 224 into the mountains, turning around at Ripplebrook Ranger Station.

And as far as the future goes, we have so much to look forward to. Barbecue (yes, in the good weather I enjoyed a dinner progression of bbq'd chicken, bbq'd ribs and bbq'd steak. heck yes!) I look forward to more of this favorite pastime of mine (food) slathered in Bullseye and smelling good, accompanied by some corn on the cob (when it gets cheaper, holy schmoly $1.25 an ear in the grocery store now.) We're also getting ever closer to closing on the new house (continue praying that it goes through) along with more motorcycling and more fun with friends. I can't wait for spring to shoo and summer to come in!

epiphany

Ever have one of those? One of those moments where things just become clearer? Well, I just had one.

You know what? I'm sick of myself. This is going to deviate from my previous happy-go-lucky posts that seem to be uplifting or something, but it's real, so there you are. I'm sick of worry, self-doubt and whineyness, something that I seem to be adept at, despite my loathing for said attributes. I deserve to be on this:



That said, I can get off the dang failboat if I just can get around to changing things. Luckily, who I am can only be changed one way. By me, and by God. Okay, so it's up to me. Just me, not anyone else. So me, what are we going to do? We're going to change. Yeah, it's nicer to sit back and complain, but it's better to do.

I'm going to realize that my life is pretty freakin' amazing. I have good parents, good friends and an amazing wife. I've got a job. I live indoors. When I stop and look around, I don't have anything to complain about. So why the rant? I really hope that this opens not only my eyes, but some of our readers as well. Far too often in life we're complaining about something and we hear from a friend "Well, look at so-and-so. Your life isn't that bad." And I always hate that - because I know that I'm being irrational, but having someone tell you that does no good. Well, here's me telling you that my life isn't so bad, and maybe you'll think for a minute that hey, yours isn't so bad either.

With this newfound epiphany, what am I going to change? I'm going to change my outlook, and start changing what I'm doing. I need to start enjoying the simple pleasures in life that I used to love but have forgotten in the drudgery of work, death and taxes (the unavoidable things in life, reference Reliant K.) I need to be childlike. I need to stop seeing things that bog me down and start seeing the things that lift me up. And you, dear reader, please feel free to whack me upside the head with a large trout if you don't start seeing this blog filling with my joyful, youthy adventures.

Insomnia

Insomnia is what happens when you forget that your body is super sensitive to caffeine and you drink two sodas at dinner. Then while insomnia takes over your exhausted brain, this is what you do to entertain yourself. '

1. Surf the web for hours researching quilting patterns and ideas.
2. Pathetically attempt to convince men everywhere to donate their unwanted ties to your quilting projects.
3. Message your other sleepless friend about funny things you've found online (please note the image that Becca messaged me earlier displayed below).



4. Fart around on facebook and look for more insomniac buddies.
5. Edit photos
6. Blog about how you're farting around on facebook while your photos are exporting.
7. Think about trying to go to sleep.
8. Realize your mind is too awake to sleep, and then go back to "stumbling" around the internet.

Happy sleepless nights!