Friday, December 24, 2010

A trip home for the holidays!

So I now find myself back in Arizona! I have spent that last few weeks working on the property and just hanging out in Elgin. It has been a lot of fun, I have met a bunch of wonderful people there. All are extremely nice, in reality everyone I have met has been quite amazing. We had a party out on the farm that was a lot of fun, it was a couchsurfing event so got to meet quite a few people. Then there was this australian fella who came out with my ex-host Tamilla, he ended up staying for a few days which was pretty damn nice. He was a really nice guy, had been traveling since August around the west coast of the states.
While we were sitting around the fire I happened to mention that I found some Tim-Tams being sold at the local H-E-B... which is texas' local grocery store. His eyes lit up like I had just told him he was going to be a father or just won a million dollars. So we ended up going out and buying a few packages and made a night out of Tim-Tams and organic milk. For those of you who do not know Tim-Tams are an Australian cookie that is rectangular and covered in chocolate, and the best part of them you can bite both sides off and then use it like a straw to suck milk through, making the cookie on the inside all deliciously soaked with milk. They are probably some of the best cookies you will ever have, if you ever find them. Pepperidge farms is makes them, see keep your eyes out!
Anyway, Yesterday, Thursday, I left Austin and flew in to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. It was a little weird being back in Phoenix when I had no intention of going home for a good while. But all the same I am happy to be back with the family. This is the first time in my life that I get to take a trip home for just a visit. It is kind of like taking a vacation from my vacation... Just decided to double up a bit. Right now I am down in bisbee, looking out at my parents yard that I landscaped and with all intention of tooting my own horn, I am still damn proud of this yard. Haha. I cannot express enough how good it feels to be around my family for the holidays. It is nice to be able to take a small break from the road and get back into the loving arms of your friends and family.
Tomorrow we are headed out to see my grandparents which is always a hoot... Surprisingly I am actually looking forward to is at this point. This is all just a part of the adventure, and to be able to see my grandparents is definitely a blessing. As much as my grandfather can be a bit of a handful, you cannot hold it against him. My sister told me a story about my cousins wedding which happened while I was gone that made me feel a little bad. For one my cousin did not invite them to her wedding, which I guess given the history is somewhat understandable but still, they are your grandparents... Then after the wedding the family went back to my parents house where my grandparents were. My grandfather eventually approached my mom and said that Gretchen, my sister, was the only grandchild that talked to him. That actually broke my heart a little to hear it. I mean sure we have had some hard times with Pampa and he hasn't always been the nicest of people, but he is still our grandfather. Anyway, because of that I do look forward to seeing both Mema and Pampa. I have not spent as much time with them as I should and this will be the first Christmas we have spent with them in a good while, so it will be good.
Well that is all I can think to update right now... Sorry I have been slacking on this. I will try harder, but I make no promises. :-) I love you all and wish you all a safe and happy holidays! ALOHA!

Friday, December 10, 2010

The "farm"

Alohas everyone so my journey has found itself out in Elgin... A little recap of my past few weeks. After thanksgiving I went back to the co-op and hung out with the wonderful kids there. One night we all went out to dub step and it is a night that must be recorded!
The night started with a bunch of us walking to the bus stop, we sat there for a bit when a limo pulls up and offers us a ride for 3 dollars a person... I thought it was a pretty good deal but we are cheap bastards and the bus is only a dollar. Then the limo drivers cousin comes up and says he will give us all a ride in the Mercedes for $10, there were 6 of us. So we went for it and rolled up to the club in a baller Benz. We went into the dub step, which I will be honest i am not the biggest fan, but I like to dance. The dj's were pretty solid but it was way too loud... I mean dub step is usually loud but this was unbearable. We hung out and danced for as long as our ears could take it and then decided to walk home.
While walking my friend Jessi recommended we walk down sixth street which is austin's bar street. It was definitely entertaining... All these kids who are nicely dressed and look very nice just getting shitfaced drunk. Upon first glance you wouldn't notice anything but with further investigation you notice every one of them is slurring their words and falling over themselves. It was a crack up.
We eventually got tired of walking and decided to hop on the bus... That is pretty much the climax of this night. Right when I get on the bus I notice barf bags hanging by the window... This was definitely a good indication of the ride we were about to go on. Immediately before the bus is even loaded and moving this girl starts piling all over herself... This girl was gone and her poor boyfriend had no idea what to do. After vommiting everywhere, the bus driver decides she needs to het off the bus, of course this girl couldn't walk on her own so she had to be helped off. While she was getting off the bus a guy with a couple of girls get on. The two ladies grab the two seats next to where the girl just hurled and then the guy proceeds to sit down where the puke was. It all happened in slow motion... Everyone on the bus was yelling "NOoo don't sit there!" while the guy inched closer to the seat. At one moment he stopped looked at everyone and then plop. The guy sat right in the puke. He immediately noticed his seat had sometime extra on there. When he stood up his pant were covered.
Finally the bus settled down and off we went. No more than a minute later another girl started vomiting! This time the girls friends were prepared with the bag up to her mouth... Unfortunately she managed to hit the small hole provided for a handle on the bag. The puke spewed through the hole and all over her friend. All the while that this is going on there is a couple behind me that is clearly breaking up and yelling at eachother. It was much better than any television show!
Anyway a couple of days after that I went out to the farm. When I got there there was no one around. The proerty itself has nothing on it but an uld shack of a house and a bug Jesus bus that I remembered seeing at burning man... It was a little strange but anyway I hung out for a bit and made a fire. Eventually this girl Lindsay showed up. She is an interesting woman to say the least. She has traveled a whole lot and currently is traveling the country with two horses and three dogs! She is a travel writer and has met and knows many of my favorite writers. It was awesome to meet her and again I feel I have found myself in the right place again. A little later the two guys who live out there on the bus showed up. They are very nice guys.
Since then we have just been working around the proerty. Their ultimate goal is to have a sustainable co-op where people can live and work on whatever they like be it art or some other projects. It is very admirable but they have a lot to accomplish still. They just moved onto the property it October.. But it is a place to hang out for a bit and maybe I will be able to help them. We will see! I will update later, much love and aloha!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Oh this beautiful world

As my life continues to move forward into places I have never been I look back at where I came from and smile. I live a blessed life, I have spent so many days smiling that it is hard to remember the bad days. But even as I look back at the few hard times I have had I cannot help but smile at them too. I am so very thankful for everything I have experienced so far, good and bad. Everything has shaped me to who I am today... I have no regrets. 
Everything is now in the past even that last sentence so there is no reason to worry about it, just smile and look forward. This world has proven again and again to me that no matter how ugly it may be portrayed it is still beautiful. There are so many wonderful people in this world and so much beauty left to experience.
We should never have a fear of this world, there are some scary things in this world but the wonderful things completely outweigh them. If we enter the outside world with absolute love and respect, it is my opinion and experience, that the world and community will take care of us. We must be willing to appreciate all the little things and avoid feeling above any of it. Life is life, no matter if you are living it in a shack, on the streets or in a huge mansion, we are all living. And people will find happiness in all of it. There is beauty in all of it. 
I want to thank everyone with the deepest depths of my heart and soul. To all of those people who continue to support me and encourage me. To all those people I met for only brief moments but shared with me the same love and kindness they would a brother or son. And to those who I still have yet to meet in this world. I consider you all a part of my family no matter how quick our interaction may have been. I say it often but this world is absolutely beautiful. I wish all of you a safe and wonderful holiday season. Much love and aloha as always.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Settling into living

So I have been in Austin for about a week and a half, it had been loads of fun. A tad stressful at times just trying to find a bit of work and a place to lay my head for a minute. As of now I have the opportunity to hostel in the place I have been staying which is a pretty cool college co-op. It is a pretty ingenious idea. They have quite a few of them here in Austin, they are essentially dorms only the occupants pay rent and do about 4 hours of work a week. In return they are provided with all the freedom of living in their own apartment as well they have community lunches and dinners every day. For kids in college I think this is a beautiful idea. They all must participate in some way either by cleaning, doing yard work, cooking or helping cook... It gives the kids a little bit of structure, but at the same time they can do whatever they want still without worrying about getting in trouble with school.
My other option is to move onto a farm, it is out of town a little bit, however I would more than likely live for free. It also might offer me a chance to make a little monies... Decisions decisions. I feel like the farm might be best but I have made quite a few friends where I am and it's nice being around good people. But I think I can suck it up and go do a little farm living again. It would be very nice to do a little farm work and just relax somewhere. The only problem with the co-op is it can be a little hectic.
We will see, on another note I have had a great time so far meeting new people and all. I have noticed every guy I talk to about my trip gets inspired. They all drool over the idea of just getting up and going. Almost every guy I have talked to about my trip has said "I want to do something like that". It is pretty funny it must be some deep down hidden desire in all men to leave it all behind and just be free to travel. What ever the case I really hope I am inspiring them and they all do take a little time to explore this great world. Well that is all I have for now! I will update again soon enough much love and alohas!