cleaning out pictures on my phone...

I was cleaning up the pictures on my phone and came across this one from my stay in Boise a few weeks ago. Some friends and I were out at a bar and saw this in the driveway out front....



Because of the street lights the color is a little strange but it actually is a pink "Hello Kitty" scooter with a sidecar :-)

back in vegas

Well I'm back in Vegas again...
Spent all day today working. Didn't get in until late last night. My10:00 flight turned into a midnight flight.
On the positive side I did get an upgrade to first class :-)
Currently I'm writing my blog while being buzzed by a 5 inch long remote controled helicopter. I guess you might say I don't work in the most serious office environment.
The new apartment near MARTA does make dealing with Hartsfield a whole lot easier...

starting anew

I was going to post this yesterday but I got a call from a contract that sent me down to Mobile Al. at 4:00 am....so I decided to get what sleep I could instead.....


Here it goes....

I realized over the last few weeks that the only person that was keeping myself from doing what I wanted was myself. I realized that I had been sitting in my comfort/safety zone (cocoon if you will) waiting for life to happen. I was trading my future happiness for safety. It scares me to death, but I realize that if my life is going to be what I want and if I'm truly going to give myself a chance to be happy, I have to leave my cocoon. So over the next few weeks I'm going to making changes to my life, some small and some larger. I'm going to starting asking "why not?" instead of "why?". I have been forcing myself to go out and do things. I'm going to start doing things because I want to or they seem like fun rather than being completely logical.
I'm going to start living...instead if sitting around like I've already given up on life. I'm picking myself up my the scruff of the neck and throwing myself out of my comfort zone! The first action is a small one but something I've been doing the "why" instead "why not" question for years and talking myself out of it over and over again. Tomorrow I'm going to start flying lessons, I am going to get my pilots license! Wish me luck!

heading home

Went back to San Francisco to help my friend setup a computer lab for her special education students. Hopefully be back in GA by this weekend...

Boise

Spending a few days with a friend up in Boise. I'm having to share a room with a 6 month old golden retriever puppy. I had forgotten how much energy puppies of that age have. Maybe a good couple mile run with him in the mornings will help.

Prayers do get answered

The friend that I drove out to California with has been through more than any person should in one lifetime. I've been praying for her for most of the summer. She is a one of the nicest people I know and I couldn't understand why life was giving her such a cold shoulder. She went with her faith in God and made a move to a town she had never been to with her 4 children. Some people thought she was being foolish but I've never seen a situation where everything was more right. She has found a home here in California. She has been happy since she got here. Everything has just "fallen into place". The job, her house, everything. I put out some requests to friends in the bay area for equipment to help put together a lab for her students and everything needed has been volunteered. The first day we were at a coffee shop and the person sitting next to me turned out to be a special ed teacher in the same school district. He seemed to be really dedicated to special education. As I listened to them talk I realized that both of them really are passionate about special education. I can't explain the joy I have in my heart seeing her finally happy and feeling at home. I feel privileged to have played some small part in her finding her happiness. When I leave to come home I'll have no worries about her because I know shes found her home.
Good luck, my friend, in your new life, you have truly been blessed.

day 7

Since there weren't many campgrounds or things to see between Salt Lake City and Vallejo CA. Decided to just do a marathon tag team 900 mile drive. Got into Vallejo late and I just crashed on the floor with my sleeping bag.

day 6

Day 6. Drove most of the day and spent the night in salt lake city. Getting ready for the long haul across the desert.

day 5

Decided to set the GPS to avoid interstates through Colorado. Boy did that prove to be a good idea. Wound up going Colorado 24 and 82 and saw some awesome scenery. If anyone gets a chance to take this route I HIGHLY recommend it. Pictures really don't do the scenery justice since it's 360 degrees all around you. Some of this scenery helped settle the turmoil that's been in my soul this summer.

Although the altitude made running a little hard a view like this helped.





Word fail me for this view....Pictures don't even get close to the reality...




If the view wasn't enough it's filled with rainbow trout.
There is also a small hydroelectric power station hidden at the edge of the lake...




and then the small beauties up above 10,000 feet

Day 4

Day 4, Dodge Kansas. Looked around boot hill and wandered around front street. Took a nice long run about 5:00am before packing up to get "out of dodge" :-).

Day 3

Day 3 Ottowa Kansas, not much of anything there. Basically just a walmart and a couple gas stations. I have been missing the gym, but I found something at walmart that consists of a couple handles and different size surgical tubing. It may not be as good as the gym, but using it correctly it does leave a burn in the muscle groups, so it must be doing something.

day 2

Day 2, Paducah Kentucky. Went down to the flood walls for the city. They have a series of murals on the walls with plaques that explain each mural that show the history of the city, very interesting and will worth seeing if you happen to get to paducah