I know it's been a while since I've written, but what a crazy month it's been! I've finally updated all of my information on the travel blog, and am about to post more entries there from my trip to Brazil last fall.

Along those lines, it's always crazy to see headlines and realize that I've been to some of the places that are mentioned. For instance, this story illustrates a reporter getting killed en route to Sucre to cover the unrest that's been evident for quite some time:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7112875.stm

Which is just crazy.

I got back from Minneapolis last night to enjoy a good Thanksgiving with my family. I counted 10 airports that I've traveled through in 4 states and 3 countries in the last 2 months. I've never traveled so much. It's weird because my timelines have shifted: I'm not sure exactly where I've been or what I've done since/between/before these travels.

3 weeks ago I bought the iPhone, just because I'm a consumer whore. Well that's not the only reason, but I really wanted one after playing with Kevin's in Texas. I must say that I love the little thing. That being my 4th major electronics purchase this year (including a new computer, surround sound system and digital camera), I'm spent. I hope that I'm caught up at least for the next year, because I can't afford my tech habits!

My Jeep is currently in the service department at the local dealership, simply because I'm tallying up all the "damage" as I like to call it - to determine if it's worth keeping around or trying to get a new vehicle.



I'm certainly considering this:



But am not sure if it will fit into my budget. A lot of realigning is going to happen with finances, but fortunately with a good trade in value on my Wrangler, it shouldn't be a huge issue. Tomorrow then, is D-Day.

I love surfing online and realizing one of my favorite musicians (Jon Crosby of VAST) has released a new album that's a solo piece with just him and acoustic guitar (apparently). I was just thinking today that at his rate, he'd have something new (or modified) out by the end of the year. So $4.99 later, I've got the MP3's and am ready to go. Jeez I love technology!



Lots of things are coming up in the next month or so including the holiday party for my company, possibly acquiring a new vehicle (likely), DVD's (LOST, 24) and just the holidays in general.

I hosted another LAN party a couple of weeks ago and it was just as fun and successful as the last. The third one won't happen at least until 2008, but that being 5 weeks away, that's not too far.

Once again I'm excited (as always) about everything that's coming up. I'm thankful for all that I have and am excited to push on towards my dreams. I feel that now I can sort of focus on some job stuff and get that done, and am confident that a lot of things seem to be going my way. Even after this lousy speeding ticket.



Ouch.

My brother and niece are coming out for Christmas which I'm genuinely excited for. It's been a long time since I've been around any children during Christmas (probably myself and my brother growing up), so seeing the family expand and such is great. I'm stoked. My niece is the first woman to be born on my dad's side in nearly 100 years. And on my mom's side, the first in about 50 years. So she's a pretty big deal. And so very cute.



Anyway, I will update more later. I hope everyone's well and enjoying the season.

Keep your fingers crossed for snow!

I think one of the things that baffles me is how the internet creates connectivity. Celebrities email their friends, who may or may not be ordinary Joes, just like you and me. But those celebrities have celebrities as well, people they would be honored to meet (athletes, whatever). So in a way it's all relative.

Anyway, I decided a month or so ago to send a message over MySpace to BT, one of my favorite musicians (and personal heroes), asking him for an address to send him something and to tell him what an inspiration he is and how blown away I am by his work. Mainly "This Binary Universe" (TBU) - an instrumental album that has an accompanying DVD with animations and just trippy/awesome themes.


Anyway, I received a response from him this week, in which he wrote to me:

TBU II will blow your mind :) It'll be 2 years from now because of the animations but your gonna freak.

First the new BT album!!
here's my addy
----------------
----------------

THanks man :)

B

I deleted his address for obvious reasons, but the cool thing here is twofold:
1. I have personal confirmation of a follow up to his amazing latest album. This is the first I've heard of any "sequel" or anything.
2. Hearing from a personal hero/celebrity? Completely star struck.

On a side note, I am downloading a side project of Trent Reznor's that's going the way of Radiohead. I decided to support it, as I think any artist these days who is willing to innovate and offer/provide non-DRM tracks is truly in the know of their audience. The particular artist is the following:

Niggy Tardust

Anyway, tomorrow's off to Texas...plenty of updates upon my return!

Well unfortunately the Rockies lost the World Series. It's clear that they just couldn't hit at all, and probably underestimated Boston. I'm glad they went though, what a feat for a team that's been mostly mediocre since its inception in 1993.

I'm heading to Texas this weekend for Baylor's homecoming which I am very excited for! It should be a good weekend to reunite with friends and I will be seeing some of my family too, which will be nice. It will be good to see everyone again.

As previously mentioned, I have officially opened my other blog to document my travels! I'm excited as it's a sliver of my writing and I hope everyone enjoys it to some extent. It doesn't seem to be as elaborate (from Peru and Bolivia) as Brazil's was, but in all honesty, I may expand it a bit, as I need to edit it a little anyway.

Without further ado, here's the link:

Around the world...

(It will have more added on in the coming week, I promise).

Ain't over!

Go Rockies!


That's right, Traci.

Hello!

As you may or may not have been able to notice, I've changed my overall website a bit by making nothing accessible by the previous gateway page. There's a couple of reasons for this.

1.) I'm going to start another blog, only this one will be for my travels and to document all of that. I hope to be revealing that within the next couple of weeks. I think the "gateway" has been confusing as I really have about 10 websites all compiled into one. I hope to make this less confusing with an inevitable re-tooling.

2.) I hope to redesign my site with a couple of things that are going on. It's always just been kind of a "personal" page with nothing really on it save some previous websites, some writing and stuff of the like, but I really want it to be something a bit more. Even though it's one of my better designs, I think it can be done in a better way. I think I will be trying to get rid of the multimedia feel to it for the most part. More details on that, later.

So I will continue to update this blog, as well as the new one on a periodic basis. I hope you keep checking back though, as I hope everything will be clear and concise sometime early in 2008, if not earlier. I'm very excited about what's going on, here.