Connecticut, Texas, Wyoming: The Perfect Triumvirate

LIFE IS SO GOOD.

Many big changes taking place. Ever since I moved to DC, things were okay, and I love that I get to see Ali on every whim, but my urge to be in a different place and return to DC at a later time finally overtook me to the point where it was souring my relationship. Ever since making the decision to move out west and be a snowboard bum for the winter, I've been so much happier for it. So much!

And it was like it was meant to be, since everything fell into place with minimal effort and with extreme speed. With just one afternoon of Craigslisting, I got a response from a guy that he had three other guys looking for a fourth roommate for his apartment (3 blocks from the center square of Jackson, mind you... AMAZING location), and one just happened to be from Villanova... we had met freshman year and had talked about snowboarding.... what a small world.

So my friend Kristina Scarff, who I met at Jackson last winter on my epic JH trip with Omar, happens to also be going back to Jackson this winter. She just checked out the apartment yesterday, gave it the thumbs up, it's good to go, my check is in the mail, my car Thomas is out of the garage and going to be treated to a nice oil change and tuneup to prepare for his first big roadtrip (over 2000 miles!), and I am super, super excited. STOKED!

Meanwhile, KT my roomate found another girl to take my place, so she moved in on Oct 1st and I'll be sleeping on the couch the next few weeks before I leave (and have an extra $700 in my pocket for giving up my room and avoiding owing rent, which will be very, very helpful). Mom and Dad come tomorrow night (Sunday) to help me move all my stuff out of the apartment and drive back to Connecticut early Monday morning. I'll hang there until Wednesday, at which point I will have unpacked, repacked (with everything necessary for my winter in JH in tow), and head back to DC for a great trip out to Austin with Ali-- we leave that very next day.

Austin should be awesome, and it has been a long time coming! He sure has talked up the place for the past 14 months we've been together. And having met so many Texans in DC, all of whom are Texas obsessed and passionate about the many blessings of Austin, I'm very psyched for this trip.

...more to come later, have to get ready for an afternoon with Ali pre-Sette tonight!

And the fall comes...

It always happens: I'm feeling secure in where I'm at, then WHAM. Lost, once again. Not sure where I'm going, if I like the way the path is taking shape, or if I see much of a path at all. But there is comfort in knowing that I'm not alone. This is a common feeling among many people, and especially people at the same place in their lives as I. And with loving friends and family in tow, I can't fail. So I succumb to the feeling, relish the anguish, and release. The moment has passed. Forward motion resumes. I recall my personal philosophy and bring it back to the forefront of my mind. While there are many ideas that I strive to live by, two quotes in particular stand out: “Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable,” and “Lead a value driven life.” Take these ideas, apply them to your daily decisions, endeavor towards your desires. Now get moving. One does not make backward progress, even the slowest of movement is a continuous motion forward. Only in standing still does peril loom.

What of the options that lie ahead? Tread carefully, approach throughtfully, and embrace new challenges and opportunities. Stand firm in your values.


On another note. Here in DC, the scent and memories of autumn come rushing in. Texas Longhorns football and frito pie. Cool breeze and changing colors. It feels different. Another year goes by. It finally feels like a full year with Ali. I like it. I like that I'm here, not a traveler here but a native. Yet just like autumn brings both the wistful feelings of another passing year as well as joy for the fruits of here and now, I feel myself getting closer once again to a crossroads. Just a couple of months ago, it was the move to DC. Now, it's the movement forward to take on that next adventure calling my name. I'm one step closer to my westbound adventure...

About Me

Honest to a fault. Secure in who I am. I appreciate constructive criticism of my self, and I make sure to offer it to my friends. People are often struck by how well I am able to break down and articulate the elements of a situation. I relate well with others and offer good advice when asked. I am a good listener. I am comfortable with silence and do not always feel compelled to speak just for the sake of speaking. I call out others bull. I like and respect when others call me out on mine. I enjoy a good verbal spar once in a while. I consider myself an accurate judge of character. I try my best to practice what I preach. I am a loyal and caring friend. I can get along with just about anyone, and while I am friendly towards most people, there are only a small handful of people I consider my close friends. I know how lucky I am to have them in my life, and I know they are lucky to have me in theirs. I know that not everyone may like me, and I’m okay with that. I am confident, honest, straightforward, and real, and I choose to surround myself with people of the same caliber. I may not always agree with you, but I will always treat you with the respect I want to be treated with in return. I will always go out of my way to help others if I can. I believe in karma and that what goes around comes around. I sometimes grow impatient, but I try to correct myself as soon as I become aware. I strive towards constant self improvement, but I don’t sweat the small stuff. I don’t waste others’ time, and I don’t let people waste mine. I am a leader, but I also know that part of being a team means working together towards a common goal, and at times we must all take turns being the star player. I know to make comprises when I can, and I hold firm when I cannot. I am a good instructor and a patient teacher. I know that there is nothing like an early morning run for clearing the mind, or lifting weights for physical strength, mental stamina, and working through stress. I enjoy a friendly competition. I also play to win. When I am happy, I cannot help but to spread that same joy and positive attitude to everyone around me. I have the power to draw people to me by virtue of my optimistic outlook and love of life. I know that I can get what I want through my charm and personality. I always make big plans and live life to the fullest. I do something, everyday. I am an explorer. I will be able to call myself a mountaineer some day. I make snowboarding look easy. I am a skydiver. I would like to be a cliff jumper. I love adventure. I love the company of others, but sometimes I prefer to be off on my own. I am an independent thinker. I am far from superstitious, but I do think it interesting that my sign is the Gemini, the twins, two opposing personalities. I see this quality reveal itself frequently. I am equally the extrovert and the introvert, the adventurer and the homebody, the dreamer and the realist, the perplexed philosopher and the simple lover of life. I enjoy the satisfaction and results that come from hard work. I know that the prize will not be sent to me; I set my sights high and work hard for what I want. I am an environmentalist. I am a concerned individual, and I will never just sit and watch the world pass by me. I contribute to my community. I appreciate the fact that there is more than one right way to live. I try never to judge people, because I admit my incapacity for knowing what has made them the way that they are. I know that it is easy to break trust but much harder to gain it back. I don’t hold grudges. I enjoy the simple things. I appreciate the way that Italians work to live rather than live to work. I admire the sense of adventure, work ethic, and inspiration that has made America the nation it is today. I am a dreamer. I want to be a cowboy. I fantasize that I will grow old out in the mountains and wide open country, with horses and a big farmhouse with a veranda and rocking chairs. I never regret anything I do or the mistakes I have made, because I know they have made me wiser and shaped me into the person I am today. My only regrets are for missed opportunities. I know that what does not kill me makes me stronger. I push myself to my limits. Then I push harder. I like being out of my comfort level. I always have fun. I don’t get too caught up in the little things. I live in the moment. I am far from perfect, but I am pretty content with who I am.