And the dream ends....

So I was handed an offer that I couldn't refuse last night. I answered a craigslist ad for a guy who needs his car driven from Boston, to Missoula, MT. Turns out, this guy is going to pay me to drive his car across the country! Seriously. So, while I hate to leave Boston and everything I have experienced for the 6 weeks I have been here....now is the time to make the move back home. I wasn't planning on leaving Boston until the mid to late part of August, but this opportunity is just too good to pass up. It would have cost me 300 bucks to take a train back, or 200 for a plane ticket. This way, I actually get to move home the way I WANT to do it, AND I get paid for it. Can't argue with that right? This guy's name is Scott Edgerton, and apparently he does this is a side job. Buys cars from around the country and re-sells them to make a profit. I'm just lucky enough to have the chance to drive across country like I've always wanted! I'll be touring Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, going to the NFL HOF, MLB HOF, NBA HOF, and the Rock and Roll HOF during my road trip home. I also plan on seeing Mt. Rushmore and a few other sites along the way. I am making this drive in 5 days, ending in Missoula, Montana. This should be one of the most amazing experiences of my life!

Now that my 2 month vacation is coming to a close, its time to get back to the real world. Find a job, build a new life in Grays Harbor. I've learned a lot about myself recently. And I know whats important to me now. Something I've been trying to find for years, but was literally right in front of my face. Yet, I seemed to be running from it at the same time. No more running though, no more dodging my issues, trying to avoid the past, or become a different person. I am ME, I'm just not afraid of that anymore.

Why I don't wanna grow up...

So I've figured out why I seem to stress through life so much. I miss the days where I could just get up and go play basketball on the court next door. Go do random shit with my little best friend Andy. Play with the Hedgepeths from down the street, or play baseball in the street with the Hatch's from across the street. Or the Courts' house. Or making fun of Damion Marlow's grandparents who lived 10 feet away. Or check out Danielle Bryant's sexy girl next door look and wonder if I'll ever be cool enough to date her. Or go make fun of Joyce Joyce because her name is Joyce Joyce. Or put pee in squirt guns and ride around on my Huffy and squirt the stupid punkass neighbor kids. Or get stuck sleeping in the garage because I snuck out on New Years Eve. Or go to Jonathon Boyer's house to play video games all day with the most spoiled child ever. Quite simply, I don't want to grow up.

It seems that the older we all get, the more we take for granted. We trade in our friends, the people we grew up with, and the kids we experience childhood with....for wives and kids of our own. Once we have kids and get married, it seems like all the things we loved growing up just goes in the back of our brain as memories. I miss the days where I could just kick it with the boys and play basketball all day at the Park. Or the times we just got up and took random road trips or went camping or got drunk at the Ropeswing.

Honestly, if I could live those days for my entire life, I'd do it in a heartbeat. No more bills, responsibilities, jobs, stress, wives, ex-wives, babies, child support, alimony, old friendships dying because one became a completely different person, or any other bullshit. I miss having a best friend that I could pal around with all day with no worries, washing trucks so we could buy baseball cards.

I just miss the carefree world of childhood and it doesn't last forever. The "Book of Growing Up" seems to require us to move on from our childhood and move into the stressful world of adulthood. All I know is, I'd trade that book in ANY day, to have the relationships of adolescence back again. No questions asked.

My first 2 weeks in Boston

Hey there people, sorry I haven't written in a while. So, I have officially lived in Boston for 2 full weeks and I must say, life is going pretty damn well here. My roommates are kind of boring and don't seem at all interested in talking to me, theres a lot of wierdos on the subway, and I feel a bit lonely trying to develop friends out of all the people I have met.....but its still been a great experience so far!

I went to the Sox game this past Wednesday and i must say, there is nothing I'd rather do in the world. The atmosphere is electric, people cheer like hell for the Sox and boo the hell out of the opponents....just like they should. So much different then sitting in Safeco watching all the fair weather fans boo their own players. Rooting for your team is more than just rooting for your team, its rooting for what you believe in, for the city you love. Just like friendship, your not always going to agree with what your friends are doing, but you should ALWAYS support them and never "boo" them because they underperform or do something stupid that you don't agree with. Americans in general could learn a lot about loyalty from Boston Red Sox fans. And not just how to root for your team when its winning.

I've also seen a lot of cool things, and I LOVE sitting down by Boston Harbor on Long Wharf, just dangling my feet over the edge and watching all the boats and planes and people and such. A perfectly soft little breeze rolls around, the water is calm and clean, and the 360 view is awesome. Boston has so many beautiful places, but this is my favorite. Parks all over the city, water falls, water shooters, fountains....everywhere. Pretty stuff I must say.

I joined the APA pool league over here for the summer, just as I did in Portland for the spring. I was nervous about getting stuck with a bunch of dbags or boring ass old people, but i totally scored with the people on our team. 5 guys who seem a lot like me who love to laugh and have a kickass time. There competitive as hell too, which is good for me. I won my first match, as did our team. Looks like Boston has to watch out for "Dirty Harry's!"

I got a job at Cambridge Brewing Company, cool place. Brew ALL their own beer in house and don't serve liquor of any kind. Busy place too, I should make killer money there for sure. Plus, there not corporate, and disagree with the whole corporate set up. THey don't care about tattoos, piercings, the clothes you wear, or what you look like. Its a nice change from what I'm used to having. Great people there too, hopefully I'll find some people to hang out with outta that crowd.

I'm having the time of my life over here I must say. This place is amazing, confusing, fun, and downright different from anything I've ever been accustomed to. Which, obviously, is the reason I'm here. That and to find out what I want in life. Chances are, I'll be heading back to the west side after summer is over, but I have 3 months here to accomplish what I want to accomplish and to find out what my path in life truly is. I'd be crazy to think that this is where I'll spend the rest of my life, but its something I have to do and something I WANT to do. I miss the hell out of my little best friend Deuce. A day doesn't go by that I don't miss his little kissies, his playfulness, and his loyalty to me. One thing I've learned so far here in Boston, is that loyalty means a lot to me. More then most people. Loyalty and honesty. Two words I will live by for the rest of my days.

I have arrived!

Boston's newest resident has arrived! I pulled in on Thursday night in Worcester, MA at around 7 pm. My wonderful friend Jamee picked me up and even took me out on the town on Friday night. Its pronounces WOOster, and NO its not the birthplace of worcestershire sauce! People around here call it "The Woo." When I first got here, I was absolutely tired as hell from the trip so I just relaxed and slept a ton the first night. The 2nd night, Jamee took me to this place called Ralph's Rock Diner and it was AWESOME! Totally my type of place. Live band upstairs on one level, a real diner on the main level and a hip, well decorated lounge on the side of the diner. Very cool place! Complete with a photo booth in the lounge. Pool tables, pin ball, great juke box, awesome people running around, and totally awesome decor. i was out with my friend Jamee, her cousin Allie, and Allie's pseudo-boytoy Tom. It was crazy listening to everyone talk and their accents. The bartender Eric was AWESOME! Fast as hell, working by himself on one of the busy bars, and totally should have been in an episode of Reno 911, complete with a porn stache and everything. I totally should have taken my camera! I won't forget it anywhere I go anymore, for sure! Its just so different here, its hard to explain. Everytime I got in an elevator or got around people, they said hi to me and talked me up. Just don't get that in the PNW. People seem happy and friendly, which is also different from the PNW. All in all, a GREAT first day in the Woo! I get to Boston and my apartment tomorrow, so I'll post more about that when I get there tomorrow! Oh, and pics are going up!!!!

My theories on trust and commitment

So, through my life I haven't always been the most trustworthy and committed person. I do have a history of being somewhat of a flake. But, what I have developed over the past couple years is the ability to truly trust myself and understand what honesty, trust, and commitment are. Just because in my past I have been a flake, does not mean that I am today. The past is not a measure of who I am today. I understand that commitment means that you WILL do something, not a maybe or a possibly. If you make a commitment to someone, its something you WILL DO no matter what happens. If you make a commitment to do something or to someone, and then back out....it just makes you a selfish person. Because something happens that makes you change your mind about the commitment you make, does not mean you shouldn't commit to it. For example.....when you marry someone, you take an oath "til death do you part." And you make this commitment under the grace of God. Just because someone changes or goes through a rough time, does that mean you should change that oath/commitment you made under the grace of God? No, because its a commitment! Commitment=honesty=trust. I understand I'm not perfect, but one of my best qualities is my ability to learn from my mistakes. I do that better than anyone I know. And fortunately for me, I've made a LOT of mistakes.........which means, I've learned a lot. I will continue to learn and to grow as a person and as a man. I am all about having truly honest and reliable people in my life and if thats not you, then I say good riddance to you.

A lil something to think about...

I'm leaving for Boston on May 17th and will arrive on May 20th to begin my life there. I can't even explain the excitement that I have inside my head! I just finished saying goodbye to all my Harbor and Olympia friends and family on Friday. I must say it was EXTREMELY hard saying goodbye to Deuce. I know I'll come back for him soon though. One disappointment I have had during this journey is the impact my departure has on other people. I'm at the point now where I feel as if no one even knows or cares that I'm making a GIGANTIC step in my life. Some of the people that I actually truly thought were good friends or close family members have completely blown me off when I try to hang out with them before I leave. Its kinda frustrating because what if I get over there and get shot? Or get robbed and have to live on the street? Or I never come back? Not that any of that is going to happen because I'm a resourceful dude, but what if? I guess I am truly learning who my FRIENDS are and who my associates are. Theres a huge difference between the two! I'm at the point now where I don't really care though. I'm going to make this work, and its very likely that I may never come back here again. I have experienced a lot during my 31 years on this earth and now its time to be me and stop worrying about all the people who SAY they care. There really is truth to the phrase "if your going to talk the talk, you need to walk the walk as well." If you don't care about me or what I'm doing, then don't ACT like you do. I'm a strong enough man to handle the truth. I have made an oath to myself that I will be completely honest at all times. Maybe you should adopt that philosophy too....

It's MY time!

Its official, my moving plans are complete. I will be leaving for Boston on Tuesday, May 25th at 4:45 pm with a target arrival time of 9:10 pm on Saturday, May 29th. I will be taking the train over there and I have a 6 hour layover in downtown Chicago, IL. That should add to the excitement of the trip for sure! Although, I still have a TON of work to do to wrap up my business here, the plan is paid for and in place to be in Boston. Now I just have to wrap up my lease here, figure out what I want to take with me, and close out a few other items while I'm still here. But yes folks, this is a done deal. I'm actually MOVING TO BOSTON! For those of you who support me, thank you......and for those of you who thought I'd never do it, I TOLD YOU SO! Its time to live, to be free, to be me, and make my time arrive!

Thoughts inside my head

I think a lot. Probably too much. Whats funny is my body tells me to not think about things so much, yet when I try to do that......my brain kicks in and starts thinking about it. Its like my body is waging a war against my brain and so far, my brain is kicking ass! All I think about now is Boston, its really where my mind has been since May 19th 2006 when I first set foot in the city. The smell, the sights, the people, the history, the FEEL just.........blew me away. Just the thought of living there and experiencing everyday life there is something my brain AND my body ache for. Its so different from anything I've ever been accustomed to and I want to experience a gluttony of it!

The first step in my master plan!

So, as hard as it is, I sold my car today. The car that has been the most reliable thing in my life over the past 7 years. I almost feel like I gave up my first born son. But its for a bigger cause. I can't have my car AND Boston, and I pick Boston. I got a place lined up already in Jamaica Plain, MA which is about 5 miles from the heart of downtown Boston and 6 miles from the Great Fenway Park. I intend on making myself quite the regular at the greatest sports monument in the world. Although I am not in Boston yet, I feel like my heart and mind have been there for years. The setup is almost complete...........target date of Boston arrival is June 1st, 2010. Wish me luck!