The Crazy Sunshine

This is yearly tradition that I hope to never break. On Thanksgiving I like to give a bulleted list of things that I am thankful for. This seems particularly important after a difficult year like 2009.

#10.) My hobbies and interests. From WoW to Magic, to my increasing forays into Cosplay I am thankful for the time and energy to pursue things that make me happy. The may not be the most productive of hobbies, but I'm glad of the distraction (sometimes) and for the things that can keep my mind occupied. I am also thankful for the opportunity to share my hobbies with other people. Games are more fun with your friends.

#9) Jessica's mother and father have created for us all to share a wonderful bounty of home cooked thanksgiving food. A feast that can be shared by many people, and can be frozen to be enjoyed for the remaining days of November. I am grateful for the food which I will eat, because I recognize that not everyone will be so fortunate. I have not mentioned this before, but I suppose its because I always take this for granted.

#8) In terms of utility provided measured against cost I can think of no more valuable object than my car. Its got more than its fair share of quirks and flaws, but this car has been through an awful lot. I don't always treat it right and I've put almost 100,000 miles on it in the past 7 years, but still it does me solid. I hope that it can last me at least another year before I have to put it out to pasture. But, for the time being, I am thankful for a mode of transportation that keeps me independent.

#7) PortconMaine, in no small estimation, might be the best thing that has happened to me in my life. I've met the best people I'll ever meet, and I have a thing to look forward to every year. I love being involved with this event. I like performing on my stage. I like the look in the eyes of all the attendees. I am thankful to those who have given me an opportunity to be a continuing part of this event, and I am thankful for the wonderful community it has fostered.

#6) Recently I've been going to the gym more often, and I feel like that's been helping my overall mood. My cardio endurance has improved by a significant margian, and I'm starting to see real results in my general body shape. I am thankful for the good health this is providing me with, and also thankful for my continual well being. No great ailment affects me, and I am lucky to be able to go about daily life without encumbrance. Too often, I feel, I take this for granted.

#5) I am thankful for the lessons that can be learned from hard experiences. Character isn't built by making easy decisions, or without sacrifice. Experience, they say, is the best teacher and I have been taught some harsh lessons this year. Though I would be remiss if I simply wrote 2009 off as a crap year. That would count out all the good times that were had, and all the the things that I learned. Though it was difficult, I am almost glad of what happened. It forced me to have realistic perspectives, and brought me closer to some of my friends. I am thankful of those opportunities.

#4) More than ever I am thankful of my education, and my ability to continue my master's program at Edgewood College. Graduate school is a luxury that not everyone has access to, and I should be taking every advantage that I am offered. It is also in a new environment where I am meeting new people, and that diversity is making life more interesting. I must apply myself in my classes harder than I did during my undergrad, and I must ensure that my time is spent building a career. I cannot allow this opportunity to be wasted.

#3) With each challenge I face I seem to grow more reliant on the advice and guidance of my father. Throughout numerous ordeals he has always been able to support me, and I feel I still do not fully comprehend his extreme patience. Words can scant express my gratitude for all the tremendous things he has done for me over the years (and this year in particular). I can honestly say that I would be lost without his help, and he has done more for me than any other member of my family. I am thankful for this wisdom. His guidance. And his patience.

#2) More important than my connection to any one person is the love I share with Jessica Nayes. We have been together for over 2 years now, and I am still very happy. We have lived together for several months now and have not driven each other crazy. Our relationship faced enormous stress and hardship this year, but we have remained together despite long months of forced separation. It proved to me that this was a relationship worth keeping, and worth fighting for. I do not write about her often in public, but sufficed to say that I believe we are truly in love – and that is not a word I am willing to use lightly.

#1) This year, more than others, I relied on my friends. I asked from them more than I could give in return, and (at times) I selfishly ignored their feelings because of my own problems. And yet despite my negative attitudes you all remain my very best of friends. I am blessed to be able to know all of you, and I feel I cannot ever fully express how much you all mean to me. I truly feel that I could not ask to seek companionship in a greater group of individuals then the ones I currently call my friends. And so it is for friends, both past, present and future, that I am most thankful for. This year, and every year henceforth.

Hannah Abbott, Brad Anderson, Molly Brewer, Nate Brown, Tom Caddigan, Amanda Wolske, Jekka Cormier, Laura Daniels, Dan Rothe, Heather Day, Garret DeHoyos, Mary Dumke, James Gavel(rest in peace), Bill Gross, Kevin Hammer, Alex & Liz Jackson, Liz Johnson, Ethan Jud, Peter Keuler, Amu Kolpin, Alex Kopack, Tim Koster, Autumn Leonard, Connor Lewis, Wille MacLaren, Tori Marshall, Sarah McDole, Jen "CJ" McDonald, Ross Miller, Jenny Mimier, Tony Mueller, Jesse Olson, David Overton, Keith Pittman, Nicklaus Reichel, Stacy Robinson, Sam Ross, Jonno Schacht, Chelsea Smith, Jason Swanson, Brian Tingdahl, Melanie Tingdahl, Charlie Wanniger, Alaina Werkhoven, Shawn Wilson, Justin Wojkowksi, Julie York, Amanda "Arch", Ian "Ian", Tim Wintle, Sarah H, Vu Tran, LAZER, Vandel, Andrew "Weer'd" Beard, Waldo, Dancin' Johny Bash, Lizzie Knowland, Ryan York, Dan Scwartz, Sam Ellis, Chris Seneca, Ana Kaufmen, Dean Frank, Heather

Have a good Thanksgiving.

One update a month? Thats probably about par for the course. But I like keeping in touch with people back home so I reckon that part of my duty is to report on whats been happening 1200 miles out west. Some good things actually. I finished up my first graduate school course last week (Executive Communication) with a perfect score. Granted its just a base class and its not really any more challenging than any of my undergrad work, but it was nice to do well in a graduate atmosphere. I've also got top marks in the rest of my classes at the mid-term mark, so here's to hoping that I can finish strong. I like to feel that I am more committed to graduate courses than undergrad. I admit that I made some mistakes, and the harsh reality of today's economy was a good teacher. I (hopefully) won't be repeating my mistakes, and will get the most out of my classes.

Aside from classes I've also started a new exercise regime with my friends. It started with some light jogging 3-4 times a week about 2 months ago, and it has evolved into heavy cardio mixed with heavy lifting 3 times a week at a local community center's gym. In September I struggled to jog for more than a block or 2, and now I run 3+ miles at a time. Yesterday I even ran an 8-minute mile for the first time in my life. I'm pretty proud of that. I've set some goals and I've been keeping track of my progress in excel. I hope I can keep with it this time. I worked out a lot more my freshman and sophomore years, but kind of lapsed since then. I'd like to be in much better condition than I am in currently. I mean, my dad is almost 53 and he did a triathlon last year – so whats my excuse for being doughy?

Other than that Halloween is this weekend. Big block party in Madison should be pretty fun. I'm going to meet up with some people I just met in my classes so that'll be fun. I'm a little jealous of the sweet zombie LARP Julie has planned, so I QQ for that- but hopefully I'll be able to make the next big thing. I did a lot of costume work this month so my actual halloween costume is a little lacking. I'm basically just putting on my steampunk outfit and goggles and matching it with a red scarf and an iron cross to be The Red Baron (Snoopy's greatest rival!). Which reminds me I should post pictures of the Sarumon the White wizard robe I made up for Ring Game (and then promptly ruined by running through a brambly forest all day).

I hope everyone else is doing well. Looking forward to visiting you all soon!

Actually feeling pretty good today. For the past few months I feel like my situation has been getting worse and worse, and my anxiety threatened to overcome me. The details are not worth summarizing, but sufficed to say that things were looking pretty grim for quite awhile. However, I feel like things are finally starting to turn around.

I'm not fully employed currently, but I did recently get a part time job with Saga Communications as an Operator on Duty for Portland Radio Group. What that means is for 6 hours a week (Saturday mornings 5am-11am) I'm in charge of making sure that 8 of the major Portland radio stations are broadcasting normally. Sure its not as fun as having my own show on WSUM, but I'm learning an awful lot about commercial radio and its all very interesting. And while I'm still searching for another job, at least in the meantime I have around 100 bucks a week I can use to chip away at my college loans.

And there's another thing thats got me in a pretty good mood. Over the weekend me and most of ya'll saw Coraline. Pretty cool film overall, but I have to say my favorite scene was the one featuring a brief musical cameo from one of my favorite singers: John Linnell of They Might be Giants. I read a little more trivia about it and found out that TMBG was originally going to do most of the Coraline soundtrack, but the songs they produced didn't quite match what the director wanted, but that the songs the Giants did create are going to be released on future albums. How cool is that?

Now check out this scene again. Notice how the character singing even manages to look just like a caricature of John Linnell. Its too amazing for words.