I smell terrible. The reason is simple. They smoke over here, a lot.
Jordan, Eric, Chad, Teasy, and I went to the Volksfest at Nurnberg last night. It is similar to any one of a thousand hill billy redneck carnivals you would find in the dirty South only with a few things that make it all German.
1. Everyone drinks - And when I say everyone, I mean everyone, from kids no more than 12 to teenagers galore. And we are not talking the standard 12 oz'rs of previously mentioned South, or even the tall ones of those in Mississippi, but whole 1 liter masses. These things were huge. I had one with soda in it and I could barely finish the soda, and these teenagers, 16-19, were drinking two or three. Shocking. (I guess this isn't so different than the South)
2. Everyone smokes - and when I say everyone, I mean everyone, from kids no more than 12 to teenagers galore. I don't even think it is a popular or rebellious thing for them to smoke, it is just literally what everyone does. (This isn't either)
3. Everyone loves American music and know the words better than I do. (Or this )
4. Everyone is a lousy dancer. (The following is a very funny story for those people that were there, which means nothing to anyone reading this. My good friend Jordan is a great dancer. If you know him then you understand why, but also know that he is the heart throb of every girl that meets him. He is the perfect Casanova. Tall, dark, handsome, with a winsome personality, smart, helicopter pilot, and most importantly loves Jesus more than anything including his own life. Teasy and I were joking most of the evening about how Jordan's past is one of broken hearts and dashed dreams. So Jordan, being an excellent dancer, one with no shame either, is up on the table just dancing his heart out. As the evening progresses, I notice that more and more girls stop watching the band on stage and start staring at Jordan. The more he danced the more the girls watched him. One girl even poked me and ask that I move so she could have a clear view of Jordan dancing. Jordan even had is own groopies. Five girls came up to our table between sets and asked Jordan for his autograph. They wanted his stinking autograph.) Germans have no rhythm and I do believe that the doctors over here implant a board in the back of every German newborn which inhibits their ability to move with any sort of grace. (Maybe there is no difference at all)
5. Everyone uses hair gel, especially the guys. The mullet still lives, along with the Mohawk and this other one where a guy makes his hair stick straight out in all directions only completely flat on top, sort of like a well used toilet scrubber. (OK, the Germans have us on this one)
As I said, I smell. I was enterprising though because tonight Jordan had an officer's call at the local Irish Pub. I wore the same clothes today as I did yesterday so I fit right in. I also had my first Guiness at an Irish Pub in Germany. Now all I have to do is have a Guiness at a Irish Pub in Ireland then I am set.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Day 24: Here
My first blog from Europe. I wanted to send this yesterday, my first day, but I never managed access to a computer. So lets recount the first twenty four hours. I flew into Frankfurt, Germany, landing at 0811. Customs and Passport services went smoothly. I then spent a few minutes confused about the trains. I couldn't figure out how to buy a ticket because the automated purchasing unit was all in German. I broke down and went to the customer support person. There was a 0909 train to Wurtzburg and I had more than enough time to get on it, but the guy sold me a ticket for the 1001. I made my first mistake on the train. I failed to notice that some seats are reserved and I ended up in one of them.
Jordan was meeting me in Wurtzburg that afternoon. I called him from the Airport and he directed me to walk around the town till he got there at 1300. In Europe, they use the 24 hour clock instead of our normal am/pm clock. For those of you that are not familar with the 24 hour clock, everyone else in the world is so you should be. If you are lucky, I will teach you how to read it someday, but I am not going to teach you now.
Wurtzburg was nice. I walked around doing the tourist thing. It was great to soak up the culture a bit and think about all the differences. I kept looking at people and asking myself if they were from the States or Germany. Buying a phone card was my first conversation with a German. She didn't speak English which was fine because I don't speak German. Phone card in hand, I countinued my exploring. First cathedral, first bakery, first shoe store. I now own a great pair of very European looking walking shoes, Rolands.
Jordan and I met up, continued around the town, and then left for his place. On the way, we stopped at a few little German towns, most notably, Rothenburg. Anyone familiar with Germany knows that Rothenburg is probably the most famous of old German towns. It is the only walled city still standing. It was real, true, tourist filled Germany at its best. I took tons of pictures.
Back at Jordans place, we ate a small dinner, had a great talk, and then I hit the couch after being awake for 30 straight hours. I slept for 14 hours. Now I sit in Jordan's office. We are meeting up with a number of his friends this evening for dinner. I will tell you all about that later.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Jordan was meeting me in Wurtzburg that afternoon. I called him from the Airport and he directed me to walk around the town till he got there at 1300. In Europe, they use the 24 hour clock instead of our normal am/pm clock. For those of you that are not familar with the 24 hour clock, everyone else in the world is so you should be. If you are lucky, I will teach you how to read it someday, but I am not going to teach you now.
Wurtzburg was nice. I walked around doing the tourist thing. It was great to soak up the culture a bit and think about all the differences. I kept looking at people and asking myself if they were from the States or Germany. Buying a phone card was my first conversation with a German. She didn't speak English which was fine because I don't speak German. Phone card in hand, I countinued my exploring. First cathedral, first bakery, first shoe store. I now own a great pair of very European looking walking shoes, Rolands.
Jordan and I met up, continued around the town, and then left for his place. On the way, we stopped at a few little German towns, most notably, Rothenburg. Anyone familiar with Germany knows that Rothenburg is probably the most famous of old German towns. It is the only walled city still standing. It was real, true, tourist filled Germany at its best. I took tons of pictures.
Back at Jordans place, we ate a small dinner, had a great talk, and then I hit the couch after being awake for 30 straight hours. I slept for 14 hours. Now I sit in Jordan's office. We are meeting up with a number of his friends this evening for dinner. I will tell you all about that later.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Monday, March 28, 2005
Day 22: Last one at home
My last American Post. This one, I promise will be short because it is costing me $.25 per minute. I sit here in the Dallas Forth Worth International Airport at one of those Internet Access Points. It is no fun to type here because the keyboard is way off the norm.
I wish I had time to go through all the emotions I feel now at the start of my international journey, but it is costing me money that I am not replacing at this time. Which basically means I am gong to end this blog and just give a shout out to all my friends and wonderful family.
I will write more when it doesn't charge me by the minute.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
PS No spell check this time in order to save time.
I wish I had time to go through all the emotions I feel now at the start of my international journey, but it is costing me money that I am not replacing at this time. Which basically means I am gong to end this blog and just give a shout out to all my friends and wonderful family.
I will write more when it doesn't charge me by the minute.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
PS No spell check this time in order to save time.
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Day 19: Chick Flicks and other nonsensical things
WARNING! THIS BLOG MAY BE LONG
It is only two days from my eagerly anticipated departure for Europe. Yesterday I was watching a short DVD from Rick Steves about traveling tips and got all excited. Have you ever been just living life and all of a sudden a huge smile sneaks up and pastes itself all over your face? For minutes or even hours after that you couldn't put it away. That happens to me a lot. Mostly on days that I fly, but sometimes just for completely random events or thoughts. Yesterday had one of those times. This big grin just appeared out of no where and stuck around for quite a while.
I am getting excited about leaving. For a number of reasons, but before I get into them, let me go back and write about something that has been on my mind for a number of days and I just never put in the time to put into words those thoughts.
I have to go back and tell you a bit about my Persian Excursion. I spent over 13 months in lovely South West Asia. The details of my time there is a whole other blog and I will spare you most the them. While I was there, I had the opportunity to write, consistently, to a wonderful young lady that I had never met, at least not in person. On the next to last day before leaving the States, in desperation, I signed up with one of those on-line dating sites and connected with this girl. I will call her Cara to protect the innocent. Cara and I wrote tons of letters, hundreds of emails, and talked on the phone a few brief times. Again, I won't go into details but I do have a point.
I said that I sought out this relationship ship in desperation, and that is true. As I was getting ready to head off to war, I realized that few if any of my friends or relatives would write me. My family is not a writing family. My friends actually surprised me tremendously and kept a fairly extensive dialog going. (Kudoos to Erika, Sarah, Mike, Rich, the Cairns, the Hoyts, Grandma, and others) But before I knew that, I was very worried that I would spend the entire year there and have little if any contact with the world I left behind. When Cara came along, it was much more than I expected and she ended up being one of the rocks that really helped me. The thing is, and this seems a little selfish looking back, but it was great to have someone else in the world that cared. Someone that was interested in what I had to say and how I felt. I am full of words. I surprise myself in how much I want to talk. Surprised because I am not a people person.
This self analysis goes deeper into my own psyche than I want to, but growing up, I always considered myself a people person. Over the years and especially since really turning my life over to Jesus, I have come to see that I have, again and again, fooled myself. I wouldn't say I am introverted, I just like being alone, which is why it is so weird that I talk a lot. Even now, I am probably saying too much. I have even been told that I am too open and honest and forthright with my emotions and that has hurt me in the arena of guy/girl relationships. Does anyone else find it unusual that an open guy would be a turn off for certain girls? I don't know.
This brings me to my actual point of this blog. It is about the blog itself. Back in Iraq, I was able to write to Cara and know that she cared and I could spill into her letters all the words that I had stored up during many, many, many, lonely hours in the wilderness. Cara is not a part of my life today so this blog has become some what of a substitute. I can write these words and pour out to all of you my thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Ironically, there is a bit of fantasy involved because I don't know how many, if anyone, actually reads this. I know my parents do, and other people have told me that they will follow my journey, but there is really no concrete face. The fantasy comes in when I just imagine that there is someone like Cara out there that cares and is interested.
This is good for me in a selfish sort of way. I think all people, Americans especially, are general closed individualists. There are a million reasons why I think this is true, but they all boil down to sin. God created us for fellowship, notably with Him, and so sin has done to us the opposite of God's intentions. I am no different and can isolate myself and avoid human and Godly interactions with the best of them. This blog is certainly a way to express my inner child.
This brings me to a bigger point about blogs themselves. They are both good and bad in that they allow normally closed people to truly open up, but they also, if taken to extremes can allow someone to live completely in a fantasy world.
Think of this scenerio. A dude lives alone. He is compensated because he works for a company telecommuting or even with his own on-line company. My friend Adam has his own on-line company (and a wife for that matter so he isn't the best example) and I was at his place the other day. We were talking about how the Internet and an answering machine has allowed him to establish the appearance of a large company when really it is only him and two others. So this dude, not Adam, lives well. He orders from Albertsons.com, plays World of Warcraft, works and eats without ever seeing another human, and lives his entire adult life alone. Netfix has replaced the video store, Amazon the book store. Any major retailer worth their salt is on-line so the world is literately at your finger tips like the well worn keys of a Dell Inspiron. He can do this and never feel lonely because an entire existence has been created in the world of fantasy. Is that good? Maybe? Maybe not?
There is a book out there called, Bowling Alone, by Robert Putman. I have never read it but heard the author once on the radio. His premise is that Americans no longer have the social capital they used to and that is a bad thing. Like I said, I never read it, but he may have a point. Maybe I should read it.
Maybe I should end this blog and go watch Friday Night Lights. I think I will. Shoot, I never even got to my reasons for smiling. That will just have to be another blog.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
It is only two days from my eagerly anticipated departure for Europe. Yesterday I was watching a short DVD from Rick Steves about traveling tips and got all excited. Have you ever been just living life and all of a sudden a huge smile sneaks up and pastes itself all over your face? For minutes or even hours after that you couldn't put it away. That happens to me a lot. Mostly on days that I fly, but sometimes just for completely random events or thoughts. Yesterday had one of those times. This big grin just appeared out of no where and stuck around for quite a while.
I am getting excited about leaving. For a number of reasons, but before I get into them, let me go back and write about something that has been on my mind for a number of days and I just never put in the time to put into words those thoughts.
I have to go back and tell you a bit about my Persian Excursion. I spent over 13 months in lovely South West Asia. The details of my time there is a whole other blog and I will spare you most the them. While I was there, I had the opportunity to write, consistently, to a wonderful young lady that I had never met, at least not in person. On the next to last day before leaving the States, in desperation, I signed up with one of those on-line dating sites and connected with this girl. I will call her Cara to protect the innocent. Cara and I wrote tons of letters, hundreds of emails, and talked on the phone a few brief times. Again, I won't go into details but I do have a point.
I said that I sought out this relationship ship in desperation, and that is true. As I was getting ready to head off to war, I realized that few if any of my friends or relatives would write me. My family is not a writing family. My friends actually surprised me tremendously and kept a fairly extensive dialog going. (Kudoos to Erika, Sarah, Mike, Rich, the Cairns, the Hoyts, Grandma, and others) But before I knew that, I was very worried that I would spend the entire year there and have little if any contact with the world I left behind. When Cara came along, it was much more than I expected and she ended up being one of the rocks that really helped me. The thing is, and this seems a little selfish looking back, but it was great to have someone else in the world that cared. Someone that was interested in what I had to say and how I felt. I am full of words. I surprise myself in how much I want to talk. Surprised because I am not a people person.
This self analysis goes deeper into my own psyche than I want to, but growing up, I always considered myself a people person. Over the years and especially since really turning my life over to Jesus, I have come to see that I have, again and again, fooled myself. I wouldn't say I am introverted, I just like being alone, which is why it is so weird that I talk a lot. Even now, I am probably saying too much. I have even been told that I am too open and honest and forthright with my emotions and that has hurt me in the arena of guy/girl relationships. Does anyone else find it unusual that an open guy would be a turn off for certain girls? I don't know.
This brings me to my actual point of this blog. It is about the blog itself. Back in Iraq, I was able to write to Cara and know that she cared and I could spill into her letters all the words that I had stored up during many, many, many, lonely hours in the wilderness. Cara is not a part of my life today so this blog has become some what of a substitute. I can write these words and pour out to all of you my thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Ironically, there is a bit of fantasy involved because I don't know how many, if anyone, actually reads this. I know my parents do, and other people have told me that they will follow my journey, but there is really no concrete face. The fantasy comes in when I just imagine that there is someone like Cara out there that cares and is interested.
This is good for me in a selfish sort of way. I think all people, Americans especially, are general closed individualists. There are a million reasons why I think this is true, but they all boil down to sin. God created us for fellowship, notably with Him, and so sin has done to us the opposite of God's intentions. I am no different and can isolate myself and avoid human and Godly interactions with the best of them. This blog is certainly a way to express my inner child.
This brings me to a bigger point about blogs themselves. They are both good and bad in that they allow normally closed people to truly open up, but they also, if taken to extremes can allow someone to live completely in a fantasy world.
Think of this scenerio. A dude lives alone. He is compensated because he works for a company telecommuting or even with his own on-line company. My friend Adam has his own on-line company (and a wife for that matter so he isn't the best example) and I was at his place the other day. We were talking about how the Internet and an answering machine has allowed him to establish the appearance of a large company when really it is only him and two others. So this dude, not Adam, lives well. He orders from Albertsons.com, plays World of Warcraft, works and eats without ever seeing another human, and lives his entire adult life alone. Netfix has replaced the video store, Amazon the book store. Any major retailer worth their salt is on-line so the world is literately at your finger tips like the well worn keys of a Dell Inspiron. He can do this and never feel lonely because an entire existence has been created in the world of fantasy. Is that good? Maybe? Maybe not?
There is a book out there called, Bowling Alone, by Robert Putman. I have never read it but heard the author once on the radio. His premise is that Americans no longer have the social capital they used to and that is a bad thing. Like I said, I never read it, but he may have a point. Maybe I should read it.
Maybe I should end this blog and go watch Friday Night Lights. I think I will. Shoot, I never even got to my reasons for smiling. That will just have to be another blog.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Friday, March 25, 2005
Day 18: I hate my life.
Huskies lose in Upset
Is it possible for just once in my life that my team could win?
The University of Washington Huskies Men's Basketball team lost to Rick Pitino's Louisville Cardinals, 93 to 79. It was miserable to watch after about 15 minutes. Before that I thought the Dawgs had it in the bag, but that Garcia guy was amazing. I know who I am rooting for now.
It is a sad day in Dawg Country. Let us all have a moment of silence...
...Next year.
Everyone needs to start writing their congressman and petition for Brandon and Nate to stay for their senior years.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Is it possible for just once in my life that my team could win?
The University of Washington Huskies Men's Basketball team lost to Rick Pitino's Louisville Cardinals, 93 to 79. It was miserable to watch after about 15 minutes. Before that I thought the Dawgs had it in the bag, but that Garcia guy was amazing. I know who I am rooting for now.
It is a sad day in Dawg Country. Let us all have a moment of silence...
...Next year.
Everyone needs to start writing their congressman and petition for Brandon and Nate to stay for their senior years.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Day 17: Yes it is!
Some of you that know me and have looked at the recent updates are maybe asking this question, "Is Jason's hair different?" Well, yes in fact it is. I purposefully did not mention the bleaching I did to my head before now because I wanted it to be a surprise for my parents. They are always upset whenever I do weird things to my appearance and they insist those things make me look less attractive. I always respond with the statement of my not trying to impress anyone then they remind me that I am still not married. I say something about not worrying about getting married and they lament about that. Seriously, I have these sorts of conversations with my parents all the time.
Have I mentioned about how my parents tried to set me up with a daughter of one of their friends? It was a very nice gesture from my mom, and I love her dearly, but it wasn't good timing. I do take a little blame in allowing the setup to take place because my mom did ask my permission but I digress...
All I really wanted to do was post this picture of my new hair color. Unfortunately I couldn't get a good picture that didn't make it obvious that I am thinning on top, but as I tell my parents often and you guys just now, I am not looking to impress anyone and my head and hair were given to me by God so I have nothing to be ashamed of. Besides, you can ask my dad about his hair loss timeline and the few follicles I have remaining, comparatively, I have on borrowed time. So without further fan fare, here is the picture no one knew they were waiting for.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Have I mentioned about how my parents tried to set me up with a daughter of one of their friends? It was a very nice gesture from my mom, and I love her dearly, but it wasn't good timing. I do take a little blame in allowing the setup to take place because my mom did ask my permission but I digress...
All I really wanted to do was post this picture of my new hair color. Unfortunately I couldn't get a good picture that didn't make it obvious that I am thinning on top, but as I tell my parents often and you guys just now, I am not looking to impress anyone and my head and hair were given to me by God so I have nothing to be ashamed of. Besides, you can ask my dad about his hair loss timeline and the few follicles I have remaining, comparatively, I have on borrowed time. So without further fan fare, here is the picture no one knew they were waiting for.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Day 16: Website Update
For everyone that is following my journeys, you should go back to my website and look at all the new pictures and links. I just put up all the stops along the way to Georgia. I have been sitting at my computer for the last 5 hours which is why I don't have much so say in this blog.
One thing I do want to lament about is the Titles to these posts. Since I am obviously not managing a daily posting regiment, figuring out which day of the journey I am on is kind of difficult and so I imagine that I am going to look for another creative way to begin my posts.
I miss everyone. Feel free to drop me a comment and I will send you a letter. A real hand written letter through the US Postal Service. I have been reading the NT and am convicted about sending letters. This post is a confession so if you don't get a letter from me in the next two months, shake your figure at me when you see me again.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
One thing I do want to lament about is the Titles to these posts. Since I am obviously not managing a daily posting regiment, figuring out which day of the journey I am on is kind of difficult and so I imagine that I am going to look for another creative way to begin my posts.
I miss everyone. Feel free to drop me a comment and I will send you a letter. A real hand written letter through the US Postal Service. I have been reading the NT and am convicted about sending letters. This post is a confession so if you don't get a letter from me in the next two months, shake your figure at me when you see me again.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Friday, March 18, 2005
Day 12: YES!!!
I figured it out. Check out Day 3 Oh and here is the picture I was talking about.
Most of you know that I had surgery a few months ago, but I doubt you all had a chance to see the results. Here is a picture of the wounds a few days after the surgery...
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Most of you know that I had surgery a few months ago, but I doubt you all had a chance to see the results. Here is a picture of the wounds a few days after the surgery...
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Day 12: Frustration
A quick post as most bloggers do when they are frustrated. I have the desire to post a picture on my blog, but it doesn't seem to want to let me. I keep getting some error when I upload the file. I wish I knew more about computers. Luckily, I am heading down to my friend Adam's place tomorrow so hopefully he can help me out.
One other thing. I just returned from the theaters after watching Million Dollar Baby. Great movie!! The Academy actually did justice to the system and picked a winner. I usually am not impressed with their choice of feature films, but this one was a winner. Surprising too because the setting of the movie seemed odd. I will confess that when I first read about the film in Sports Illustrated I thought they were just blowing smoke, but I will probably agree that Million Dollar Baby may just be the best boxing movie ever. I haven't seen a lot of boxing films, but this one is good.
I have some other comments, but it is late and I have an early start tomorrow. One of these days I will sit down and write more. Maybe, Tiffany says that I write too much and because I trust my sister, I will call it.
Oh, I just saw a great picture that if I remember I will post on the web. We will see.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
PS This is so frustrating. Now my stupid computer won't go on-line so I can't even post this blog. Obviously I got it to work eventually, but aaauuuuggggghhhh!!!!
One other thing. I just returned from the theaters after watching Million Dollar Baby. Great movie!! The Academy actually did justice to the system and picked a winner. I usually am not impressed with their choice of feature films, but this one was a winner. Surprising too because the setting of the movie seemed odd. I will confess that when I first read about the film in Sports Illustrated I thought they were just blowing smoke, but I will probably agree that Million Dollar Baby may just be the best boxing movie ever. I haven't seen a lot of boxing films, but this one is good.
I have some other comments, but it is late and I have an early start tomorrow. One of these days I will sit down and write more. Maybe, Tiffany says that I write too much and because I trust my sister, I will call it.
Oh, I just saw a great picture that if I remember I will post on the web. We will see.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
PS This is so frustrating. Now my stupid computer won't go on-line so I can't even post this blog. Obviously I got it to work eventually, but aaauuuuggggghhhh!!!!
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Day 9: Survey of extra time
I have a few extra minutes on my way to the rents and an idea hit me so I decided to pull over and hammer out this post. I have a request of all my many, many supporters and fellow blog walkers. I need both of you to comment on the following:
While driving through South Carolina, I noticed something about the billboards on the sides of the highway. I noticed that there are ones for the various strip clubs, topless bars, and adult’s stores of the area. Some of you are saying, “So!” The thing is, I haven’t noticed them before now, at least not on this journey. I am wondering if I didn’t notice them because I just didn’t notice them, or I didn’t notice them because they are in fact not there. I am thinking back to Washington and driving up and down the 5 and for the life of me I can’t think of any. There is one billboard for Hooters right as you come down the hill into Fife, but besides that, and I don’t even consider that one in comparison to those here, I can’t think of any.
So my request is for all of you to post comments about the number and frequency of adult billboards in your area. When I have compiled a good amount of data on the subject, I will write more. I have developed a hypothesis from my own travels, but before I give it I want some untainted data. Get back with me as soon as possible.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
While driving through South Carolina, I noticed something about the billboards on the sides of the highway. I noticed that there are ones for the various strip clubs, topless bars, and adult’s stores of the area. Some of you are saying, “So!” The thing is, I haven’t noticed them before now, at least not on this journey. I am wondering if I didn’t notice them because I just didn’t notice them, or I didn’t notice them because they are in fact not there. I am thinking back to Washington and driving up and down the 5 and for the life of me I can’t think of any. There is one billboard for Hooters right as you come down the hill into Fife, but besides that, and I don’t even consider that one in comparison to those here, I can’t think of any.
So my request is for all of you to post comments about the number and frequency of adult billboards in your area. When I have compiled a good amount of data on the subject, I will write more. I have developed a hypothesis from my own travels, but before I give it I want some untainted data. Get back with me as soon as possible.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Monday, March 14, 2005
Day 8 : Forgetting the Past...
For the first time in my life, I sit at the United States World War II Memorial. Hard to believe that the great feat of human kind, the most awesome display of unity, power, strength, resolve, compassion, justice, and liberty was not memorialized until just this last year. I do not, however, condemn those that failed before us because sitting here today shows that the wait was well worth the price. It is inspiring and humbling to be here. The designers and minds which embodied the soul of a nation in this memorial have truly captured what was accomplished. To describe it would be an injustice. I would suggest that you visit here, but a suggestion is not strong enough.
I do not believe in imposing my preferences on others. An opinion is just that, and I believe that this country, as displayed from 1941 till Hiroshima, will die to defend an individuals right to theirs, but that doesn’t discount the opinion. You should visit this place. Located next to the most recognized memorial of Washington, across the reflecting pool from the remembrance of the President who lead this great nation through its most disappointing season, and near the memorial I feel marks the greatest sorrow this nation has felt, here you sense its blessing.
So in the strongest way, I implore you to come and pay your deepest respects to the nation, men and women, that make your life possible. As the Muslims have Mecca, and the Jews Jerusalem, America’s soul is drawn to the hallowed white marble ways and structures of its center. A deep and infinite price was paid; tragedy after tragedy has been met with the most resounding clash of fierce steadfastness; sacrifices beyond comparison have been made for you and for me. Know that "Those who forget their past are destined to repeat it."
I am embarrassed to even compare my life with those of the generation before me that made my life possible. However, today the sacrifices are still being made, and our sacrifices today are no less important and no less memorable because they are a continuation of yesterday.
To my right is a class of high school students. Their teacher is describing the Washington Monument and how it was built during the Mexican American War and how the bricks change color one third of the way up because of the interference caused by the war. Unfortunately he is wrong, but is sounds good. It is comforting to know that the youth are still being shown their past. They are still being told what prices have been paid. They are still being given the opportunity to honor and respect their elders. The conclusion of that instruction will also mark the end of this nation. May it never be.
I hope that you will heed my advice and experience and remember your history.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
I do not believe in imposing my preferences on others. An opinion is just that, and I believe that this country, as displayed from 1941 till Hiroshima, will die to defend an individuals right to theirs, but that doesn’t discount the opinion. You should visit this place. Located next to the most recognized memorial of Washington, across the reflecting pool from the remembrance of the President who lead this great nation through its most disappointing season, and near the memorial I feel marks the greatest sorrow this nation has felt, here you sense its blessing.
So in the strongest way, I implore you to come and pay your deepest respects to the nation, men and women, that make your life possible. As the Muslims have Mecca, and the Jews Jerusalem, America’s soul is drawn to the hallowed white marble ways and structures of its center. A deep and infinite price was paid; tragedy after tragedy has been met with the most resounding clash of fierce steadfastness; sacrifices beyond comparison have been made for you and for me. Know that "Those who forget their past are destined to repeat it."
I am embarrassed to even compare my life with those of the generation before me that made my life possible. However, today the sacrifices are still being made, and our sacrifices today are no less important and no less memorable because they are a continuation of yesterday.
To my right is a class of high school students. Their teacher is describing the Washington Monument and how it was built during the Mexican American War and how the bricks change color one third of the way up because of the interference caused by the war. Unfortunately he is wrong, but is sounds good. It is comforting to know that the youth are still being shown their past. They are still being told what prices have been paid. They are still being given the opportunity to honor and respect their elders. The conclusion of that instruction will also mark the end of this nation. May it never be.
I hope that you will heed my advice and experience and remember your history.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Sunday, March 13, 2005
In the beginning... Day 7: Excellent Perserverance
This is not working out as well as I had originally planned. Only three out of seven days have produced a blog post. I had such grand intentions. Oh well. What this means is that now everyone will be a recipient of one huge post instead of many smaller ones. If you are interested though, I have many very good excuses, very good. See, I have been spending my time either with family that I haven’t seen in years, or on the road. Neither of those places is conducive to writing. Even now, I am only able to post this message because I am staying with my Aunt and Uncle in Pennsylvania and they have gone to sleep. It is 11 pm Sunday night and seeing that I took a nap this afternoon (it was wonderful) I am all full of energy. You may be asking yourself how I made it all the way from Montana to Pennsylvania. Let me tell you!
I left MT relatively early on Thursday. The plan was to get somewhere into Minnesota and stay the night. Then I would pull into Eau Claire, WI early on Friday and spend the night with my great Aunts and Uncles. Unusually, that plan happened. I drove across the states of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and then Wisconsin. I can tell you that I went through No Where, because on Thursday I was in the middle of it. Wow, there is a whole lot of nothing out there. Ironically, it is still beautiful. I kept thinking back to Iraq. Iraq had a whole lot of nothing too, but it was ugly. Doubting myself, however, my opinion might have something to do with my innate bias for the USA, but I would venture that there are thousands of other people that feel the same way, they are all service men like myself, but hey. In driving that day, I had some good times and not so good times. There isn’t much to say about 14 hours of monotonous driving, but near the end of the day, actually in Wheaton, MN, my wonderful sister called. She needed help putting pictures up on her blog, http://tiffanyhightower.blogspot.com/. I didn’t know how, as you may have guessed with the evidence being the pictureless blog you are reading now, but I did my best to help. We talked for a bit and just then, for some unknown reason, I started to feel lonely. I think it has to do with talking to Tiff. She and I are best friends and I probably open up to her more than anyone else in the world. Well, there are certainly things I don’t tell her, but those are probably things that no one but a select group of guys knows, and those guys don’t know things she knows. What I am trying to say is that no one knows everything about me, but everything about me is known by someone.
I was telling Tiff that I was lonely. Driving in the middle of no where, thousands of miles from anyone I knew, I was lonely. There was a point that I almost turned my car around and drove back to Seattle. I was ready to give up traveling, settle down, get a job, buy a house, get married, and live the rest of my life boringly serving God with great joy and passion, not bored but boringly as Mark Driscoll said in a sermon on I Timothy. Obviously I didn’t. The only thing that kept me from turning the car was my commitment to YL in Germany.
It was late when I got off the phone with Tiff so my next goal was finding a place to sleep. I had decided that I would splurge and get a hotel. Normally my car is more than sufficient, but old age is getting to me so I wimped out. It was freakin cold outside! Think about it, Minnesota in March. I vote yes, cold! It worked out great because Thursday night, UW was playing ASU in the Quarter Finals of the Pac-10 Tournament. I turned the game on with 3:26 left in OT. UW went on to win the game, beat Stanford in the Semis and Arizona in the finals to win the Pac-10 title for the first time ever and also grab a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Amazing, UW a #1 seed. Who would have ever thought I would have seen that in my lifetime? Going all the way baby, I only wish Illinois wasn’t so dominating this year, but I have hope, and “hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.” Wake Forest is the #2 in our bracket. It seems likely that we will make it to the Final four, if so then it will be against Illinois in the Semis. Beat them and I think you can give UW the national championships. Cross your fingers and pray hard. God likes it when we pray, especially about important things like NCAA basketball.
Friday brought me to see most of my living great Aunts and Uncles. Surprisingly, I have ten, five originals, five by marriage, still alive, all on my mom’s side and 80% of them are living in WI. Pictures will follow, in due course. Seeing them all again was wonderful. The last time was almost 20 years ago and I barely remember any of them. In fact, I didn’t remember any of them, but I know them now so they can expect me again when they see me.
I left WI Saturday morning and knocked out the longest leg of this journey. I pulled off exactly 1000 miles of driving in just over 16 hours. That was brutal. I do not recommend it to anyone and it, as with other things, made me realize that I am getting old and do want to settle down. I accomplished that feat because I wanted to get to PA and my Aunt and Uncle’s for church on Sunday. I made it, but not without much pain. (Please, cry for me.)
So here I sit. It is almost midnight now and I will sign off and pen more tomorrow before I hit the road again, this time for DC. I know this has been a long one, I apologize and will do my best the keep it from happening again.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
I left MT relatively early on Thursday. The plan was to get somewhere into Minnesota and stay the night. Then I would pull into Eau Claire, WI early on Friday and spend the night with my great Aunts and Uncles. Unusually, that plan happened. I drove across the states of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and then Wisconsin. I can tell you that I went through No Where, because on Thursday I was in the middle of it. Wow, there is a whole lot of nothing out there. Ironically, it is still beautiful. I kept thinking back to Iraq. Iraq had a whole lot of nothing too, but it was ugly. Doubting myself, however, my opinion might have something to do with my innate bias for the USA, but I would venture that there are thousands of other people that feel the same way, they are all service men like myself, but hey. In driving that day, I had some good times and not so good times. There isn’t much to say about 14 hours of monotonous driving, but near the end of the day, actually in Wheaton, MN, my wonderful sister called. She needed help putting pictures up on her blog, http://tiffanyhightower.blogspot.com/. I didn’t know how, as you may have guessed with the evidence being the pictureless blog you are reading now, but I did my best to help. We talked for a bit and just then, for some unknown reason, I started to feel lonely. I think it has to do with talking to Tiff. She and I are best friends and I probably open up to her more than anyone else in the world. Well, there are certainly things I don’t tell her, but those are probably things that no one but a select group of guys knows, and those guys don’t know things she knows. What I am trying to say is that no one knows everything about me, but everything about me is known by someone.
I was telling Tiff that I was lonely. Driving in the middle of no where, thousands of miles from anyone I knew, I was lonely. There was a point that I almost turned my car around and drove back to Seattle. I was ready to give up traveling, settle down, get a job, buy a house, get married, and live the rest of my life boringly serving God with great joy and passion, not bored but boringly as Mark Driscoll said in a sermon on I Timothy. Obviously I didn’t. The only thing that kept me from turning the car was my commitment to YL in Germany.
It was late when I got off the phone with Tiff so my next goal was finding a place to sleep. I had decided that I would splurge and get a hotel. Normally my car is more than sufficient, but old age is getting to me so I wimped out. It was freakin cold outside! Think about it, Minnesota in March. I vote yes, cold! It worked out great because Thursday night, UW was playing ASU in the Quarter Finals of the Pac-10 Tournament. I turned the game on with 3:26 left in OT. UW went on to win the game, beat Stanford in the Semis and Arizona in the finals to win the Pac-10 title for the first time ever and also grab a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Amazing, UW a #1 seed. Who would have ever thought I would have seen that in my lifetime? Going all the way baby, I only wish Illinois wasn’t so dominating this year, but I have hope, and “hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.” Wake Forest is the #2 in our bracket. It seems likely that we will make it to the Final four, if so then it will be against Illinois in the Semis. Beat them and I think you can give UW the national championships. Cross your fingers and pray hard. God likes it when we pray, especially about important things like NCAA basketball.
Friday brought me to see most of my living great Aunts and Uncles. Surprisingly, I have ten, five originals, five by marriage, still alive, all on my mom’s side and 80% of them are living in WI. Pictures will follow, in due course. Seeing them all again was wonderful. The last time was almost 20 years ago and I barely remember any of them. In fact, I didn’t remember any of them, but I know them now so they can expect me again when they see me.
I left WI Saturday morning and knocked out the longest leg of this journey. I pulled off exactly 1000 miles of driving in just over 16 hours. That was brutal. I do not recommend it to anyone and it, as with other things, made me realize that I am getting old and do want to settle down. I accomplished that feat because I wanted to get to PA and my Aunt and Uncle’s for church on Sunday. I made it, but not without much pain. (Please, cry for me.)
So here I sit. It is almost midnight now and I will sign off and pen more tomorrow before I hit the road again, this time for DC. I know this has been a long one, I apologize and will do my best the keep it from happening again.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Wednesday, March 9, 2005
In the beginning...Day 3
Hello to all!!!
This is really the beginning of my travel blog. I thought about starting a whole new blog just for my travels, but I realized that I can barely keep up with one blog, let alone two. It is like a man that thinks polygamy is a good thing. What is that guy thinking? I am not even married and I feel overwhelmed by women at times. A wife will be even more overwhelming, I mean wonderful, and two... I don't even want to think about.
So one blog it is, and this is it. I had great intentions of making this a daily thing. It would allow information to be passed, others to enjoy, and me to practice diligence and perseverance during the "up-in-the-air life" which I am currently leading. But for the astute observer, you will see I already missed Day 2. I thought about going back and making up a Day 2, but that would be worse than not, so not is yeah.
I am currently staying my last full day with Jared here in beautiful "Big Sky County." Those that haven't been here, they are not kidding about the big sky thing. Yesterday I slept in a bit. Jared was off early, before I arose, so I rolled out of my sleeping bag around 9:30. Hey, that is 8:30 Washington time. I spent a good bit of the morning working on the Internet, buying plane tickets, getting the oil changed in my car, and mailing some stuff at the post office. Jared came home and we went to his school to print some stuff off. Then we walked down to their SUB and I was blessed to see my brother, Montana State University Northern Homecoming King 2004-2005, adorned for the next ten years on the walls of that hallowed building. I was so proud a tear welled up in my eye, but dried and died before it fell (Water doesn't last here, there is no humidity). We then enjoyed drive-thru dinner and headed back to his pad from some old school StarCraft. (A note worthy endeavor, my first blog link)
The games lasted into the morning. Jared paid for the games with a follow-on call to his girl friend who was not at all pleased that he ignored her the whole evening. (He will probably pay for this note too if the girlfriend ever sees it) This morning, he was again gone before I awoke. I got up early because my great-uncle Richard called to coordinate my next stop over. 8:15 was when I rolled out of bed. I ate a little cereal and then sat down for some time in the Book, but found it next to impossible to keep my eyes open, so for about two hours, I napped and prayed, but not at the same time. I know rough life.
Jared has returned from class so I will cut this short. A few administrative notes. I said earlier that I purchased my plane tickets. I fly out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, aka The William B. Harstfield, International Airport on the 28th of March, stopping in Dallas-Fort Worth and then on to Frankfurt, Germany. My return flight is scheduled for the 24th of May, no promises. I also signed up for my Hostels International membership, on the cheap baby!!
So the trip has begun. I already miss most of you and since I am in a Tolkien mood I leave you with this quote, don't take it personally.
"I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve."
J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, British scholar & fantasy novelist (1892 - 1973)
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
This is really the beginning of my travel blog. I thought about starting a whole new blog just for my travels, but I realized that I can barely keep up with one blog, let alone two. It is like a man that thinks polygamy is a good thing. What is that guy thinking? I am not even married and I feel overwhelmed by women at times. A wife will be even more overwhelming, I mean wonderful, and two... I don't even want to think about.
So one blog it is, and this is it. I had great intentions of making this a daily thing. It would allow information to be passed, others to enjoy, and me to practice diligence and perseverance during the "up-in-the-air life" which I am currently leading. But for the astute observer, you will see I already missed Day 2. I thought about going back and making up a Day 2, but that would be worse than not, so not is yeah.
I am currently staying my last full day with Jared here in beautiful "Big Sky County." Those that haven't been here, they are not kidding about the big sky thing. Yesterday I slept in a bit. Jared was off early, before I arose, so I rolled out of my sleeping bag around 9:30. Hey, that is 8:30 Washington time. I spent a good bit of the morning working on the Internet, buying plane tickets, getting the oil changed in my car, and mailing some stuff at the post office. Jared came home and we went to his school to print some stuff off. Then we walked down to their SUB and I was blessed to see my brother, Montana State University Northern Homecoming King 2004-2005, adorned for the next ten years on the walls of that hallowed building. I was so proud a tear welled up in my eye, but dried and died before it fell (Water doesn't last here, there is no humidity). We then enjoyed drive-thru dinner and headed back to his pad from some old school StarCraft. (A note worthy endeavor, my first blog link)
The games lasted into the morning. Jared paid for the games with a follow-on call to his girl friend who was not at all pleased that he ignored her the whole evening. (He will probably pay for this note too if the girlfriend ever sees it) This morning, he was again gone before I awoke. I got up early because my great-uncle Richard called to coordinate my next stop over. 8:15 was when I rolled out of bed. I ate a little cereal and then sat down for some time in the Book, but found it next to impossible to keep my eyes open, so for about two hours, I napped and prayed, but not at the same time. I know rough life.
Jared has returned from class so I will cut this short. A few administrative notes. I said earlier that I purchased my plane tickets. I fly out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, aka The William B. Harstfield, International Airport on the 28th of March, stopping in Dallas-Fort Worth and then on to Frankfurt, Germany. My return flight is scheduled for the 24th of May, no promises. I also signed up for my Hostels International membership, on the cheap baby!!
So the trip has begun. I already miss most of you and since I am in a Tolkien mood I leave you with this quote, don't take it personally.
"I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve."
J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, British scholar & fantasy novelist (1892 - 1973)
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Monday, March 7, 2005
In the beginning...Day 1
I am now on vacation. Not that I wasn't basically on vacation before now, but now I am really on vacation. I write to the masses from my younger brother's apartment. As you can see from this posting, it is almost 11 pm and Jared has to be up and at school by 5:30 for his Nursing clinical. Because of that and considering that I too am a bit fatigued from the 14 hours I spent in the car, I will retire after this short message. I do want to say quickly that the 14 hours was very productive and convicting.
There is a chance that over the next few months everyone will be able to observe my mind has it processes a new Idea. I had one in the car. It most likely came from the numerous sermons I had listened to. During the eighth and final sermon, I started to picture my future in a way that, when I have had that image before, is normally, quickly rejected as not for me. But this image stuck around and will be on my mind and in my prayers during these travels, maybe.
I am not going to open up yet and share what this image was because I have a tendency to get real excited about an idea that ends up only being a flash in the pan. This trait comes from my father. If over the weeks the idea sticks around and I feel God drawing me further down that path, I will let you in on the secret, which won't be a secret then, but is a secret now.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
There is a chance that over the next few months everyone will be able to observe my mind has it processes a new Idea. I had one in the car. It most likely came from the numerous sermons I had listened to. During the eighth and final sermon, I started to picture my future in a way that, when I have had that image before, is normally, quickly rejected as not for me. But this image stuck around and will be on my mind and in my prayers during these travels, maybe.
I am not going to open up yet and share what this image was because I have a tendency to get real excited about an idea that ends up only being a flash in the pan. This trait comes from my father. If over the weeks the idea sticks around and I feel God drawing me further down that path, I will let you in on the secret, which won't be a secret then, but is a secret now.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
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