tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16233979555999413222024-03-12T18:27:34.069-07:00My Guide To Life"The first step — especially for young people with energy and drive and talent, but not money — the first step to controlling your world is to control your culture. To model and demonstrate the kind of world you demand to live in. To write the books. Make the music. Shoot the films. Paint the art."
-Chuck PalahniukJordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-39183447568228312582023-01-23T07:46:00.004-08:002023-01-23T07:46:34.834-08:00Houston Marathon 2023<p><b><u> Houston, Texas - January 14-16, 2023</u></b></p><p>I came back to Houston this year as determined as I'd ever been before a race. I PR'd there in 2020 on a decent weather morning, faltering a bit in miles 19-22 before closing hard to put up a 3:45:12, a bathroom stop at mile 15 not helping me reach my sub 3:45 goal. But last year I was supposed to be here racing the half to try and put up a new PR, but instead was sidelined with my dreaded back issues, so I watched my friend Kyle run a blazing 1:35 in my bib in absolutely ideal weather conditions instead. I also got to watch a lot of my other teammates who I had logged a ton of miles with go out and take advantage of that weather and throw down some very impressive marathon times. I signed up for the full later that same month, ready to come back and prove to them and myself that I could do a committed season and send it on the Houston streets a year later. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZc-sP6FobGjbAbiqSNwu6fOEsKsI3Is5z-9t77eXzUwshQAGAdMvZLRh9trN2cUcqRzreYCEKM-DMO7MC5OVJl5QV4En5s4kepNkIXRL1TRw0ICwOsP5Mj2hxqqmBHLa4mierhI4xaAJKCmKA7ds7aCjMz145uHaKxGdsws4UIMBnlphL77Y58Fd/s4032/IMG_4612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZc-sP6FobGjbAbiqSNwu6fOEsKsI3Is5z-9t77eXzUwshQAGAdMvZLRh9trN2cUcqRzreYCEKM-DMO7MC5OVJl5QV4En5s4kepNkIXRL1TRw0ICwOsP5Mj2hxqqmBHLa4mierhI4xaAJKCmKA7ds7aCjMz145uHaKxGdsws4UIMBnlphL77Y58Fd/s320/IMG_4612.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Tate, Heidi and I drove to Houston on Saturday morning, and enjoyed a lively group dinner with my Rogue Evening Edition family while celebrating Coach James Dodds’ birthday. He gave an impassioned speech / pep-talk that I had heard last year but held more weight this time around - as I was actually toeing the line the next morning. It involved being calm, being focused, having a good time, doing what you said you would do, and facing the pain. All great things to take into daily life as well as a marathon. I went to bed knowing I had done the best I could in terms of training, hydrating, and focus when it came to my 7th road marathon. The rest was out of my control, nothing left to do but to send it. </p><p>I guess I should note one thing about doing my best in terms of training here, in that I missed over 90 miles of my training plan due to an unexpected series of ER visits in November around Thanksgiving, as a potential blood clot in my kidney caused me intense pain and a ton of medical testing. Eventually I was given the go ahead to begin running again, although not entirely cleared for super hard efforts (like long runs with pace workouts in them, or red-lining a full marathon), so I was able to get back on track and hit almost all of my prescribed runs in December. But missing a 50 mile week just 7 weeks out from the race was far from ideal. Nevertheless, I persisted (sorry, couldn't resist).</p><p>Another variable worth calling out was that during our family dinner, we all got an email from the Houston Marathon warning us of warm temperatures on the course the next day, and advice from medical professionals on how to handle. This was definitely not what you want to be reading 12 hours before a race you've spent months preparing for, with a specific pace in mind. Dodds' informed us we should adjust our goals by 4 to 5 minutes due to the humidity, but part of my pre-race anxiety was truly not knowing what my goal was anymore. I had done all my speed and pace workouts with 8:00 minute miles in mind, which equates to around a 3:30. After the kidney issues, I thought high 3:30's might be realistic (maybe beating Dodds' 3:36 PR or Dan's 3:37 debut from last year), but now with heat and humidity coming into play I resigned myself to shooting for the same goal I had in 2020, which was to go sub 3:45. </p><p>I woke up race morning and had a good breakfast, a good poop (very important pre-race), and tried to stay calm as I got antsy about my race kit (do I go shirtless or not was the main concern). I left just before 6am to walk to the convention center to drop off my gear bag and continue to try to practice staying calm, "calm as a Tibetan monk" was what Dodds' had prescribed. I got to walk/jog to corral A with my friend Campbell to ensure we made the closing cut-off time, and a bit unplanned we ran into our friends Sydney, Liane and Becca, which added to calmness I was shooting for. Everyone was all smiles and seemed relaxed all things considered. It was already 61 degrees with a humidity in the 85% range, realistically the kind of weather that was going to make the next few hours a suffer-fest, but everyone seemed in good spirits. I peeled off right before the start for one last bathroom break, crossed the line at 7:05am and started my watch, trying to lock into a comfortable pace. Mile 1 my watch read 8:35, which if I could carry for another 25 miles would bring me in right around my goal time.</p><p>Crossing a bridge between miles 2 and 3, I heard a group of guys commenting about how great the sunrise looked over downtown Houston to our left, which they were definitely right about. I heard a voice call out from behind me saying “you are going to think I am stalking you.” It was Sydney, who had started ahead of me but had also peeled off to use the restroom early in the race and was now in lock step with my pace of 8:30’s. We didn’t really agree to it before or even during, but we ultimately began running together, cracking jokes and enjoying the sights, sounds and crowd support of the race while knocking out mile after mile at a somewhat robotic clip. I was already feeling the sweat pour and my heart rate be more elevated than I wanted for this early in the race, but having the company was a welcomed distraction and so I continued to “send it” and see if/when I might break. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_VAK7Q3z0sHYBda0-qqH0vtjPtTFU5gvp6qHCP7JCam1TxL-E3AuxIplQ8sL7QL2dAVNLqTZFJTqxp0EqAVtfuRO3eLbnEQfEfz4EIG6VdxKDw5olacbz-T51uPQhCrDMHnHVmo-K9wXuVFCSDyKx64pIh8z0VrwfW3_mBcN27GD6PmRrXV90IMc/s3788/course.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3788" data-original-width="2546" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_VAK7Q3z0sHYBda0-qqH0vtjPtTFU5gvp6qHCP7JCam1TxL-E3AuxIplQ8sL7QL2dAVNLqTZFJTqxp0EqAVtfuRO3eLbnEQfEfz4EIG6VdxKDw5olacbz-T51uPQhCrDMHnHVmo-K9wXuVFCSDyKx64pIh8z0VrwfW3_mBcN27GD6PmRrXV90IMc/s320/course.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><p>We got boosts of energy from seeing friends out on the course, Cameron and unofficial Rogue photographer at mile 3, Minkun multiple times at 5 and somewhere around 10, Brooks rep and Houston based Eric around mile 9, and coach JGar running with us around the half-way point. We also got passed by some of our friends, Kyle and Derek, as they sped by to fast half marathon times. Through 14 miles we were right on pace, even as the sun began to peer through the crowds and heat us up even more. JGar tried giving us the advice about thinking about adjusting our paces while he ran with us, since everyone seemed to be suffering in the warmth, but we tried our best to ignore it, even getting to run with Dan for a bit as he passed us en route to another staggeringly impressive PR of 3:32. But once he was out of sight, I began to realize if I didn’t want to blow up the same way I had at Big Bear in November 2021 (or even at Goodwater Trail marathon in January 2021) that I would need to make some adjustments, so between mile 15 and 16 I slowly faded behind Sydney and let her go on without me. </p><p>I settled into my “long-run pace” of 9:30’s and focused on my form, trying to stay on time with my nutrition and hydration while also trying to stay positive, even as I saw my PR attempt fading with every mile. Miles 17-19 were a slog on a long straight neighborhood road, where I remembered hitting the wall a bit in 2020, but I managed to not walk and not feel some of my usual knee pain I often get around this distance in previous races. As I turned into the park and passed the 20 mile marker, I realized that if I could run the final 10k in under an hour, I’d for sure go sub 4 hours on the day, and maybe even had a chance to flirt with my second fastest marathon time so far (a 3:55 at Vancouver in 2019). Feeling refocused, I almost blew it up by running a bit too fast through 21, but eased back into my comfortable zone, trying to save something for the final kick. </p><p>The music I hated playing through speakers posted onto the poles and trees in the park in 2020 actually seemed to propel me through it this time around, and I was already feeling proud of myself for not going to a dark place at almost any point in the race, and instead staying focused on the task at hand. As I passed mile 23, I felt hopeful I might be able to make this PR-minus one (2nd), and strategized my remaining nutrition as I wondered if it was too early to “go fishing” to pass people as we went through the hilly sections on the back half of the race. I again focused on my form, as I was worried about a left foot and also right hip cramping sensations that were sneaking up on me, and took advantage of the smoothness I felt on the short downhills when they revealed themselves.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgannSHCl_JVflEpG9Fj-f8sfVyY7SFf9bhlEUuVUp7bcvGIEk5xE0Nu5B5bHD7-KERJQDKcwsNsx-szNkPJGgROdKLuPNiLN_TuEC2SlVG36Akl84sHB3OWZ2zHnxaXV3abg7r8bzB6DVI29ifbNWtR09xGWaTf3ixJYhAsJiltqqOCfl_9xXMgQKh/s4032/finish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2590" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgannSHCl_JVflEpG9Fj-f8sfVyY7SFf9bhlEUuVUp7bcvGIEk5xE0Nu5B5bHD7-KERJQDKcwsNsx-szNkPJGgROdKLuPNiLN_TuEC2SlVG36Akl84sHB3OWZ2zHnxaXV3abg7r8bzB6DVI29ifbNWtR09xGWaTf3ixJYhAsJiltqqOCfl_9xXMgQKh/s320/finish.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><p>Finally, as I could begin to hear the noise of the crowd near the finishers corral, I decided it was time to push. I remembered the long runs I had done this cycle that included pace work in them, and remembered those were 8 minute miles, and tried to lock into that sensation. Then I ran into Cameron with his camera and he decided to run me in from around the 25th mile marker. As I entered the shoot I saw my watch hit mile 26 at a sub 8 mile pace. I knew I still had a least half a mile left if not longer, based on when my watch had beeped during previous miles compared to mile markers, but I was full speed ahead at this point so there was no turning back.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37_IgEOhRZ2K09r-wQpIpk3UnP0QY_wC8S3mxWRZ7qt77uPORMck7J2yFd1rfqbEw2WP4RPTdkB4Gv6DFezvqwPN2u2egyKUOpaDl_TMa3Ow8SY6Iuxty-NBTMW_H16PH6DhSqLLIdyWe3c9umJEfriAcT5Q0jmEyOLRAUWsdd34rv8s7sE7lwzqY/s979/syd2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="979" data-original-width="593" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37_IgEOhRZ2K09r-wQpIpk3UnP0QY_wC8S3mxWRZ7qt77uPORMck7J2yFd1rfqbEw2WP4RPTdkB4Gv6DFezvqwPN2u2egyKUOpaDl_TMa3Ow8SY6Iuxty-NBTMW_H16PH6DhSqLLIdyWe3c9umJEfriAcT5Q0jmEyOLRAUWsdd34rv8s7sE7lwzqY/s320/syd2.jpg" width="194" /></a></div>Then up ahead, I spotted Sydney running with her husband Cam, which gave me more energy to try and catch them. I debated slowing down to finish with them, but already had momentum going and was close enough to the finish line that I just mumbled some words of encouragement as I kept my stride pace up and ran by them. The finish shoot felt way longer than I remembered, and I almost ran out of steam before the end, but kept my form and opted to not look at my watch until the very last second. As I crossed the finish line I looked down and saw 3:53:59 on my watch, over a minute faster than Vancouver, and heavily whispered a “FUCK YEAH!” to myself. I thought about crying for a bit, but also didn’t want to faint, so I worked on getting my breath back, just in time for Sydney and Cam to finish behind me. I ended up beating her by 5 seconds, but she had PR’d by nearly 12 minutes, so all in all it was a great day for both of us, even if we are both already hungry for a lot more (sub 3:30 still my true goal for my next race, with a BQ in 2026 what I am ultimately working for).<p></p><p>After retrieving our finishers medals, shirts, and mugs, we met up with Liane and Becca and drank our chocolate milks, before I hobbled back to the Airbnb with Tate and Heidi. We met up with more Roguer’s at Rodeo Goat for burgers, then at 8th Wonder for a large group photo, then Pitch 25 to end the night. We also got to see Bill and Kasia from Iceland at 8th Wonder which was a nice mini-reunion. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uHE3OphBKG_ntbsUSE2GDkuiqm1LcmmZBNY7vH2CR_qSn7Apq6QK3Qj1D56jyJh1SOIagf7Y3ANrQenOiwisK2zCUsYoAy9F7a5jyXdyEpFZ0jm4A9LQB86JN5zMMSpvKxdpx5L1vBlxNfVI0S32SBu8jxZ7AYALhpE9YZPJJTQO8enX2551zJh-/s1600/iceland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uHE3OphBKG_ntbsUSE2GDkuiqm1LcmmZBNY7vH2CR_qSn7Apq6QK3Qj1D56jyJh1SOIagf7Y3ANrQenOiwisK2zCUsYoAy9F7a5jyXdyEpFZ0jm4A9LQB86JN5zMMSpvKxdpx5L1vBlxNfVI0S32SBu8jxZ7AYALhpE9YZPJJTQO8enX2551zJh-/s320/iceland.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p>Ultimately, I am disappointed that it wasn’t another PR, and that it has been 3+ years without one now despite feeling more consistent than the years I was hitting them consecutively, but I also am super proud of my attitude during the race and not being hard on myself, which ultimately allowed me to adjust and have a decent day despite the weather. I do believe that I could have fun 10 minutes faster in ideal conditions, but also don’t think I could’ve even sniffed 3:30. So the big takeaway for me I think is that I need to up my mileage in future cycles, and also potentially slightly increase the pace of my easy runs. It really may be a matter of, if you want to run faster, you have to run faster (thanks for the advice Campbell). I hope my team lets me come back (since I didn't PR), and I can't wait to take the lessons I learned during this cycle into my next training block - once I figure out which race is next. Philly? LA? We'll see where my attention is drawn once I get my legs back, but also I don't think its unrealistic for me to say... Houston, I'll be back.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjokCC8hTOE0PjW-hyw1OhFkx80WqcEsMXuUfk_KOdVLm5BZv1Im-irTKIX3s73zPM3ofvXjPrGyrFUJzm8RUhMg5Qcxj1MEzPZDIFFqi3aeIRlMI2zEHwEvV2_ELEZg6yhETmg862N5p_Prndwi-zjGkq2H13bM-x_6WTMZCKZgEdmJPUUzDFZtt/s4000/t8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3418" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjokCC8hTOE0PjW-hyw1OhFkx80WqcEsMXuUfk_KOdVLm5BZv1Im-irTKIX3s73zPM3ofvXjPrGyrFUJzm8RUhMg5Qcxj1MEzPZDIFFqi3aeIRlMI2zEHwEvV2_ELEZg6yhETmg862N5p_Prndwi-zjGkq2H13bM-x_6WTMZCKZgEdmJPUUzDFZtt/s320/t8.jpg" width="273" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-74632114813836696202023-01-13T07:52:00.004-08:002023-01-13T09:06:21.242-08:00Mexico City 2022<p>Tate and I had been talking about going to Mexico City for as long as I could remember. It was one of those cities that seemed unique and distant enough to feel exotic and a little scary, while close and accessible enough to not break the bank or require Xanax for the flight. But we never really took action towards it, whether it be due to the pandemic, other trips popping up, or daydreaming about similar but further away locales such as Spain. However, earlier this year when I saw one of my favorite bands, Khruangbin, would be touring in Mexico City in late October, which is also when Día de los Muertos is celebrated, it seemed like the perfect excuse to buy some concert tickets and figure out the rest of the logistics of the trip later. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwkSB4E9yVv1VShGxvhZ0GfGvVm1ovyG-8mcl9h0jNRGYg4DxjtzLVViN-e_kQURrdIqy7DIdHQWTy6F3Jwb-wZWzHIlCrJ1gahT_YVb1dzYbLnWHG5Nime8A9B1XtvPo2_y4ljLsm7brHvGT3iqWn7kwdfI15AnOK6LCpI99cAnceDaigMa6jWcG/s960/CDMX.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwkSB4E9yVv1VShGxvhZ0GfGvVm1ovyG-8mcl9h0jNRGYg4DxjtzLVViN-e_kQURrdIqy7DIdHQWTy6F3Jwb-wZWzHIlCrJ1gahT_YVb1dzYbLnWHG5Nime8A9B1XtvPo2_y4ljLsm7brHvGT3iqWn7kwdfI15AnOK6LCpI99cAnceDaigMa6jWcG/s320/CDMX.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Always an optimist, I assumed we would be able to talk someone into going with us, so I grabbed four tickets to Khruangbin's October 28th show at WTC Pepsi Center, and started crowd-sourcing recommendations from people I knew or encountered. Which turned out to be a lot more people than I expected. Mexico City has seemingly become an increasingly popular destination for remote workers, which Tate and I both are, thanks to it's central time zone location, beautiful weather, amazing food, and short flight from a lot of US cities. Eventually my dad and his wife Laura confirmed they would join us for the concert, so the more specifics of the trip began to take shape. We were fortunate and grateful to have them meeting us there, as they had been to CDMX multiple times and therefore could show us some of their favorite spots. </p><p>About 10 days before the trip, our original week-long Airbnb cancelled on us, which kicked off that uneasy yet exciting feeling I always have before going on an adventure. We were able to book two new Airbnb's close to the area we originally wanted (albeit a little more expensive this time) and on October 26th drove to Dallas for the night before flying out of DFW on the 27th - shout out to the ultimate host, my sister, for housing us and driving us to the airport. After an unexpected flight delay, which we now know should have been expected on Aeromexico, but also after some free beers and tequila in first-class, we landed in Mexico City at around 7pm.</p><p>We successfully made it through customs without issue, grabbed an Uber from the crazy pickup line out front, and made our way through the congested streets towards our first Airbnb. We didn't realize when we first booked the trip that Formula I was also taking place the same weekend we were in town, having just had the same experience in Austin the weekend before. Couple that with Day of the Dead celebrations getting started, and traffic was pretty awful basically the entire time we were in town. Thankfully my dad and Laura had arrived the day before, and after some confusing instructions and a random tenant had been able to get into our first Airbnb. We met them there, put our stuff down, took a shot of mezcal, and headed out to find food and drinks. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8zGuvMhy1HeTzlTCtYAIPPRt6F-_OudRrfWJHwDUC7JgZqE08ItPfEGMCrNgSY8ecTH0tjgXqF35Zoef3aauTnwzz_tejytHwFu4CT9RlHzmbG-tubHWKScXlIrcD_kBfIX3nFaBgYKDIrcxjl2j6bktsHMOcLTxwMwFld638kZ0WJsVA05ueICa/s548/Yellow.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="458" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8zGuvMhy1HeTzlTCtYAIPPRt6F-_OudRrfWJHwDUC7JgZqE08ItPfEGMCrNgSY8ecTH0tjgXqF35Zoef3aauTnwzz_tejytHwFu4CT9RlHzmbG-tubHWKScXlIrcD_kBfIX3nFaBgYKDIrcxjl2j6bktsHMOcLTxwMwFld638kZ0WJsVA05ueICa/s320/Yellow.png" width="267" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>My dad and Laura had met a younger couple their first night in town who had recommended a trendy tapas spot in <i>Roma Nte</i>. called <b>Polpo</b>, which we walked to and grabbed a table. At first the music was a little too loud for our tastes, but once we settled in with drinks we got used to it. The plates were good, especially the octopus, but a theme for the trip emerged as we left in that due to me being in the middle of a pretty intense marathon training cycle, I was perpetually hungrier than the rest of the group. We attempted to stop by another bar the young couple had recommended, but found it to be too crowded, so eventually we ended up at a cute bar and grill called <b>El Traspatio</b>, which was beautiful decorated with festive flowers and I was able to scarf down a hamburger while everyone else sleepily drank a margarita. The delayed flight had put a bit of a damper on our first night, and the Airbnb was pretty bare-bones and the bed wasn't the comfiest, but I managed to get some sleep despite the lack of air conditioning and airflow in general meaning I slept with no covers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JFfzHTpRfuYGvHSO6O8shg0dWOzuX4lF1ddB4TUJToYsdp2ZBjkumzK3YM9Z5-FLbeOTpxjo74mO3oEWfVzthJyVl8Th11-9aB5PKLZJcDm2Beu3k7rDW3pifVEhTh3t8JDbBcS7WRnJYudN90aU2m057fQiU4g95Q1wwLjxjsbS1LSndrDN9fRs/s2048/Brunch1.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JFfzHTpRfuYGvHSO6O8shg0dWOzuX4lF1ddB4TUJToYsdp2ZBjkumzK3YM9Z5-FLbeOTpxjo74mO3oEWfVzthJyVl8Th11-9aB5PKLZJcDm2Beu3k7rDW3pifVEhTh3t8JDbBcS7WRnJYudN90aU2m057fQiU4g95Q1wwLjxjsbS1LSndrDN9fRs/s320/Brunch1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I woke up on our first full day ready to explore some of the city on foot while everyone else slept in. I found a short loop I ended up running multiple times during the trip on a street called Amsterdam that circled <b>Parque México</b>. I was immediately taken aback at how many trees lined all the streets in the part of the city we were staying in. We had been told Roma, Condessa, and Polanco were where a lot of foreigners stayed and hung out when visiting CDMX, and all these parts of the city were treelined with a mix of older historic buildings, bigger new high-rises, and hip cafes, bars and restaurants. After a lovely 5k, I took a quick shower and met the rest of the group at a nearby coffee shop called <b>Flor de Café Roma Norte</b>, before we had to set out on the first big excursion of the week.</p><p>While working at TikTok earlier in 2022, I had posted in a running chat group about my Rogue Expeditions trip to Iceland, encouraging people to sign up as needed a full group in order to ensure the trip would happen. One girl named Kim took the bait, got her name on the waitlist, and ended up taking part in the trip. Kim just also happened to be in Mexico City the same days we were, and had suggested we take a <b><a href="https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/75047?s=42&unique_share_id=B95BEC50-9786-4FFE-907E-68BDE6226976&_branch_match_id=1121085568216305964&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXT0zKS9LLTdX3jjJwcSv3CC0qTQIAVdnjVxsAAAA%3D" target="_blank">Taco Bike Tour</a> </b>her friends had recommended. So at 10am on our first full morning, we met at a parking garage with Kim and a group of about 8 other strangers, put on some optional helmets, and followed our tour guide Chris around the city to learn about the neighborhoods and eat some delicious tacos. We had so much fun, stopping at 5 different locations to try out 6 different kinds of tacos, and my biggest regret was not finding out the names of all the different stops in order to be able to recommend them without the need for the tour (**so instead, just take the tour - it was worth it**). We ended with some beers at <b>La Bodeguita del Medio</b>, which we meant to come back to at a later date when they would have live music and try out their famous mojitos, but with so much to see and do in CDMX we never did make it back. <b>** Update, the taco spots were La birria de los gueros de Juanacatalan, Molino el Pujol, El Rey del Suadero, and El Turix (thanks Laura!)**</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dDqcaGq8bCLt2W2BZKxpH8SopSMiF06Yi5T2htKq1v_FNz-vSvb9OHnzP10Zte9i_-9V6wGV_C3Wg931n5B0obFbZK-7aLW5DgMnqakgw7MyEdh3mbQnkrxslXK-1hCBKUD4gJdzYlEbnAgeSP9mvNt94a3dJ4S8WSABplF-kERl3k92PzwnifXf/s491/Bike.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="491" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dDqcaGq8bCLt2W2BZKxpH8SopSMiF06Yi5T2htKq1v_FNz-vSvb9OHnzP10Zte9i_-9V6wGV_C3Wg931n5B0obFbZK-7aLW5DgMnqakgw7MyEdh3mbQnkrxslXK-1hCBKUD4gJdzYlEbnAgeSP9mvNt94a3dJ4S8WSABplF-kERl3k92PzwnifXf/s320/Bike.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>After biking 7-8 miles, we all desperately wanted to get some rest, but unfortunately one of the more annoying things about Mexico City is that when purchasing tickets to an event in advance (which often times you have to do), the only way to retrieve the tickets is to hike over to one of the multiple Ticketmaster locations, typically located inside some giant mall or Liverpool store. We needed to get the tickets for the Khruangbin concert later that evening, so found the closest location to our Airbnb and took an Uber over. Thanks to F1 being in town, the line was very long and moved very slowly, but at least the location was near the furniture part of the store, so the others got to rest on a couch while I waited. With the tickets finally in hand, we walked the mile back to the Airbnb and all tried to squeeze in a power nap before dinner and drinks. </p><p>We wanted something on the quick side, so for dinner we walked over to <b>taquería Orinoco</b>, which despite it's fast casual feel ended up being some of my favorite food we had the entire trip. After we scarfed down our tacos, we walked over to the nearby bar called <b>Mano Santa Mezcal</b>, and proceeded to catch a buzz before trying to hail an Uber to the concert. Traffic was absolutely awful in that part of town, thanks in part to an evening thunderstorm, and as I got tipsy I also got unnecessarily grumpy - fearing we would be late or even miss the show. Fortunately, we arrived at basically the perfect time, able to grab some drinks right as Khruangbin took the stage. In retrospect I do wish we had gotten there a little earlier so that we could have been closer to the stage, as WTC Pepsi Center was a massive standing room only venue which meant unless we were willing to push our way through the crowd, we had to watch from pretty far back. Only Laura was brave enough to push her way up front, but the concert was still awesome for all of us, and I can only hope I am fortunate enough to see Khruangbin in a different country again at some point in my lifetime (I think this was probably my 8th or so time seeing them live haha). Luckily the Uber after the show was quick and easy, and we finished up an epic full first day back at the "bare"-bnb drinking a nightcap and laughing at what a jerk I had been in the first Uber (sorry, again!)</p><p>I woke up a bit hung over the next morning, but still managed to get a 3 mile run in, mostly around the same loop as before, and again met the rest of the group afterwards, this time at a cool brunch spot called <b>Maque</b>. The coffee helped, as did the mimosas, and then the ladies decided to go to a mercado while dad and I checked out a nearby sports bar that was supposedly where Liverpool supporters in the city would meet for games. The bar, called <b>Le Guti</b>e, was tiny and opened exactly at kick-off, but it was fun cheering on my team in a different city as I had done before in Vancouver, New Orleans, etc. and luckily we left at half-time with the score tied at 1-1 (so we didn't have to see Liverpool ultimately lose at the end). Then we packed up our stuff and headed to our second Airbnb, which was leaps and bounds better than our first. We were welcomed with a free bottle of mezcal, and we enjoyed it while sitting on our huge patio, complete with a hammock. This second location was the kind that made you start to contemplate if maybe I could also be a digital nomad living in Mexico City for an undetermined amount of time. Ultimately the downside was getting eaten alive by mosquitoes the first two nights here when we slept with the windows open, but otherwise loved the location and vibe. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3puMvt-8VmLP_LWo8JCKFpDuy_bw9qKWvOuwQiKeRT4iU46rGQr69_tmXgLUYPllZM_7cPiakhpWElFXFV3nMqujoUrdl5G3ti-1fQrWK7swho0y6Jlnu9KCX9QQxFOn5iVMVJKzTA29wkD_pky04HbUysptkxNY1tMfAPrhHG_YSTWHr0TmdztqC/s960/Parade.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3puMvt-8VmLP_LWo8JCKFpDuy_bw9qKWvOuwQiKeRT4iU46rGQr69_tmXgLUYPllZM_7cPiakhpWElFXFV3nMqujoUrdl5G3ti-1fQrWK7swho0y6Jlnu9KCX9QQxFOn5iVMVJKzTA29wkD_pky04HbUysptkxNY1tMfAPrhHG_YSTWHr0TmdztqC/s320/Parade.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>That evening, we walked down to the Angel of Independence (El Ángel de la Independencia) to watch a Día de los Muertos parade. It was cool to see the floats and costumes, and afterwards we walked to another nearby Mezcalería called <b>Xuni</b> - where we had guacamole with crickets in it! They were surprisingly chewy (I expected them to be more crunchy) and had a sort of almond flavor to them. From there we tried to get into a few nearby restaurants that had been recommended to us, but thanks to the parade they were all packed, and ended up eating at a somewhat unremarkable little bar called La Guillermina. But at least we were fed, and we all went to sleep pretty quickly once we got back after the later night we had the night before. </p><p>I woke up the next morning for another run, this time a 5 mile loop I found on Strava that took me through <b>Chapultepec</b>, the giant park twice the size of Central Park, where I accidentally ended up on a Hello Kitty themed 10k course for part of my run. It was nice to have most of the roads I was on closed off to traffic, either due to the race or due to the fact that the main artery of the city, La Reforma, is closed on Sunday's for a time to allow for people to bike up and down it. After my run and meeting back up with everyone at the Airbnb, we took advantage of the road closure and rented bikes to ride for a few hours. Unfortunately, the bike my dad was on kept having issues with the chain falling off, but we still managed to get in around 10 miles of cruising (just with lots of stops for manual repairs) before returning the bikes and heading to lunch. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTvm1XJC_hr-tpvXan2o94MeNkkSX-leyQhFNgy9JGTk4tnTOb7HTdf6eNmWfYIXigt1c2JXBHfabm3ZdFK1omCVXNb15QsHhCMinSwxEJnL_CGZ8lXhWRZ6vlUuxPmbZIzXaT9Vi59pqJxczkjA3SPvq7CMYlsThptznA2G9m8lKxwxqOJqJd6li/s2048/fancy%20lunch.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1940" data-original-width="2048" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTvm1XJC_hr-tpvXan2o94MeNkkSX-leyQhFNgy9JGTk4tnTOb7HTdf6eNmWfYIXigt1c2JXBHfabm3ZdFK1omCVXNb15QsHhCMinSwxEJnL_CGZ8lXhWRZ6vlUuxPmbZIzXaT9Vi59pqJxczkjA3SPvq7CMYlsThptznA2G9m8lKxwxqOJqJd6li/s320/fancy%20lunch.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>We got a table at the mostly empty <b>Sonora Grill</b>, which ended up being one of my favorite meals of the trip. We got a salad since the restaurant seemed nice enough to not have to worry about how they washed their produce, I got some soup, and we all got some amazing tacos along with tasty cocktails and french fries. Between the run and the bike ride, this meal saved me. We also got to watch the start of the F1 race that was in town that weekend, which the restaurant had filled up with patrons also watching by the time we were heading out the door to head back to a Ticketmaster location to pick up tickets for the next two nights festivities. Once back at the Airbnb, we rested and listened to some music, as I began to feel a bit run-down. <p></p><p>That night, Laura had gotten us tickets for the <b>Ballet Folklórico de México</b>, a beautiful and vibrant Mexican traditional dance show with lots of different styles representing the different regions of Mexico, including some beautiful outfits, Mariachi music, and much more. I still didn't feel very well, and the mostly full venue, while extremely beautiful, did not have any sort of airflow, so I spent a lot of the performance treading between genuinely enjoying the beauty in front of me while also trying to focus on breathing and staying calm as to not faint or have an anxiety attack. Ultimately I would highly recommend people go see this performance, but maybe not wear long sleeves as I had. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDJxus5CfRjhjBcbLaGyKwLPkWELTb7nZ3Bo7VzjRxIxx4LecKoTKnYVjYh4m6qhOXcrucX6Scfwrv-7cblRs8y1yBsuMJTD5i8fcrvsgwuxFE9q6381jnIWTnVSBekwbTdJIyHKwbt5ZQWekCsCr-pIAJFcvEuVYihZ0YSP3o_HJoRkk2IGU5L98/s2048/ballet.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDJxus5CfRjhjBcbLaGyKwLPkWELTb7nZ3Bo7VzjRxIxx4LecKoTKnYVjYh4m6qhOXcrucX6Scfwrv-7cblRs8y1yBsuMJTD5i8fcrvsgwuxFE9q6381jnIWTnVSBekwbTdJIyHKwbt5ZQWekCsCr-pIAJFcvEuVYihZ0YSP3o_HJoRkk2IGU5L98/s320/ballet.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Afterwards, we walked down to Plaza Garibaldi, where typically there are lots of mariachi bands playing for diners in the many cafes along the square, but I guess due to the F1 race and Day of the Dead celebrations happening across the city, there was what could only be described as a mini-music festival happening in the plaza instead. Essentially a boy band was on stage, with some extremely loud speakers, and there were dancers trying to coerce the crowd to dance along with them. It was certainly a sight to see, but not the vibe we were looking for. Luckily after some time debating our next move, Laura recalled that we were walking distance to one of her favorite restaurants, and we walked a few blocks over to see if we could be lucky enough to grab a table. </p><p>Lucky is exactly what we were, because we ended up getting a table in one of the oldest and coolest spots we saw during our time in the city, a legendary restaurant called <b>CAFÉ DE TACUBA</b>. Famous for their spicy mole, mariachi bands, and cathedral like building, it felt like stepping back in time being here. Tate ate one of the biggest tamales we had ever seen, I enjoyed my enchiladas, and we were serenaded by music most of the time we were there. There was also a waitress / hosted walking around dressed as la catrina that was some of the best makeup I had seen in regards to day of the dead costumes. </p><p>Fortunately I woke up the next morning feeling much better than I had the night before, and met up with my friend Kim (Iceland running buddy) for another morning run. We found out the hard way that Chapultepec is closed on Monday's for cleaning, but still managed to run along the edge of the park and I was able to get in 8 miles for my "middle long run." I met back up at the Airbnb before we headed off for a late breakfast at a cafe along the edge of Parque México called <b>Café Toscano Condesa</b>, which felt very European as we sat at an outside table and people watched as locals walked their dogs around the park. Tate wanted to go to a mercado to do some shopping, so we decided to leisurely stroll towards that part of town, making a pit stop for a coffee (plus maybe a beer and a mimosa) at a spot called <b>Cicatriz</b>.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BO9ZAGwbSa7d_OM4eAfjpKo_fVuTR1WkmMe6mErkBT_2mcY1ZOaOoJ_xF7NhInC1JTD8umq4tg-Im1qrDyBTjPIvfCsGsOgJDOfq0TpeVE4gXBqgIBvd6nnnb4A19Jf4aI4O8unlxlAtc-ob46rpizslfK0dW5qLKbqLiRIrzWwiaqCHfFwmDQjy/s2048/balcon.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BO9ZAGwbSa7d_OM4eAfjpKo_fVuTR1WkmMe6mErkBT_2mcY1ZOaOoJ_xF7NhInC1JTD8umq4tg-Im1qrDyBTjPIvfCsGsOgJDOfq0TpeVE4gXBqgIBvd6nnnb4A19Jf4aI4O8unlxlAtc-ob46rpizslfK0dW5qLKbqLiRIrzWwiaqCHfFwmDQjy/s320/balcon.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>We eventually made the place Tate wanted to see, a traditional artisan market called <b>Mercado de Artesanías La Ciudadela</b>. Her and Laura found some small fun things to purchase, while I lamented the fact that I didn't find the bar until we were on our way out. Afterwards we attempted to have a snack on top of the Sears near the Centro Histórico, but quickly left after being seated because we couldn't really see from our table and they only served coffee and smoothies (aka no alcohol). Our next goal was to find a patio restaurant my dad and Laura had been to before that they loved that overlooks the <b>Catedral Metropolitana</b>. Our first attempt failed, but we had a drink anyways at the tourist trap called Los Sabores del Molcajete, before finding our much more ideal spot called <b>Balcón del Zócalo</b>. This place was beautiful, with a great view and great photo ops with giant Mexican flags waving in the wind behind us. We didn't end up having dinner here, and instead attempted to grab a table at Azul Historico, but when that wait seemed too long, dad and I went upstairs to have a mezcal in a tiny bar while the ladies went to see if they could get a table elsewhere. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4xnkVMeKJ3HZCFnbc6UiawlCPXgMYRRqTHgkIskDRIv3HwXS88Lc6AJjbZhlYNtKHgMzBd3v834ZjY2KPd3NX91h8G7LjZy7suaN672JSA2C7gRjNX2ridZHB1O2dJNSXVCneqzaRITPCwVuTqSY-WjQJ0PQkJ6HeqpvXiP-z000c8KFVYrlxol1/s2048/sancho.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4xnkVMeKJ3HZCFnbc6UiawlCPXgMYRRqTHgkIskDRIv3HwXS88Lc6AJjbZhlYNtKHgMzBd3v834ZjY2KPd3NX91h8G7LjZy7suaN672JSA2C7gRjNX2ridZHB1O2dJNSXVCneqzaRITPCwVuTqSY-WjQJ0PQkJ6HeqpvXiP-z000c8KFVYrlxol1/s320/sancho.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br />We eventually met them at <b>LA OPERA</b>, another famous historic restaurant, and our table was being serenaded by another mariachi as I came out of the bathroom. This bar claimed to be around since 1876, and included a bullet hole in the ceiling supposedly come from the gun of none other than Pancho Villa. We had come to Mexico City with recommendations mostly from people our age that focused on the more modern parts of the city like <i>Condesa</i> and Roma, but we were finding that we enjoyed being in the older parts of the city just as much if not more.<p></p><p>I woke up early the next day again to run, an easy 3.5 miles before heading to grab some pastries and hitting the ATM ahead of a long day. Laura had booked us a tour, which I thought was primarily going to consist of riding / drinking / eating along the famous canals called <b>Xochimilco</b>, but that was only a short stop on the full day's worth of activities. We crammed into a van and fought traffic to our first stop, a famous silver shop called Plateria Rafael, where pictures of celebrities filled the walls like Leonardo DiCaprio, and I ended up purchasing a ring for myself after a free shot of tequila (at 10am in the morning). </p><p>Next, we headed to the Frida Kahlo museum for a photo op outside before we walked into the parks of <b>Coyoacán</b>, which is definitely an area I'll want to explore more next time I am in the city. I will admit that floating the canals was very fun, and the food prepared literally on the water in boats next to us was delicious. But after that I was pretty exhausted, and I didn't love how long it took to get from each location to the next in the notorious CDMX traffic. We did get to stop by a cemetery and see the memorials being left for Day of the Dead which was cool to see in person, and the final stop was at the huge University which included murals painted by Juan O'Gorman. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAYjgYVCVL4tiSJTIirfKoTHiLcVdwdKeUR_ZfsSfyvY8wtjEil74is84MUeWFcb67CQSgCc8blwltH5NCGcSrLUVajROOeCbFhrjiVs9zw26Qp6omV-p-6WTZpLeU4HdGcL6GDp-D7hnevFmjyAY_Ha-DKjxJ72XNYFhYbsLH-cfrsltI9d5VJLa/s960/gondola.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAYjgYVCVL4tiSJTIirfKoTHiLcVdwdKeUR_ZfsSfyvY8wtjEil74is84MUeWFcb67CQSgCc8blwltH5NCGcSrLUVajROOeCbFhrjiVs9zw26Qp6omV-p-6WTZpLeU4HdGcL6GDp-D7hnevFmjyAY_Ha-DKjxJ72XNYFhYbsLH-cfrsltI9d5VJLa/s320/gondola.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Finally back at our Airbnb in the late afternoon, we rested before heading out to find drinks on our way to the Lucha Libre wrestling match we had tickets to. We hit up <b>Bar Las Brujas</b>, which apparently has made some "best bar in the world" lists before, although I wasn't super impressed. I was impressed by the pageantry and showmanship of the Lucha Libre however, which in my opinion is another can't miss event for anyone visiting Mexico City for the first time. My only complaint was how quickly it was over, I would've liked another hour or more of cheering on the good guys against my dad who had decided to back the bad guys. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeRfI81JhLE3z4nzhkhIoDdbEtTrumHOZUmZT20iW4uOzhRrcFISSSGYQQ196UYpIb9PIT4Bj0uq4l3bIN3_hAWfjeAs7Y2mRCzsU82_Q3CSewsB12GdbjedzZxUhXUX0XvXJzxOgjrxuxS_u5e8QkJcnyxct3pWDwSACU0jAmgZsJocLXg6Nc1xh/s2048/lucha%20libre.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeRfI81JhLE3z4nzhkhIoDdbEtTrumHOZUmZT20iW4uOzhRrcFISSSGYQQ196UYpIb9PIT4Bj0uq4l3bIN3_hAWfjeAs7Y2mRCzsU82_Q3CSewsB12GdbjedzZxUhXUX0XvXJzxOgjrxuxS_u5e8QkJcnyxct3pWDwSACU0jAmgZsJocLXg6Nc1xh/s320/lucha%20libre.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br />Afterwards, we fell back into the pattern of trying too hard to find something perfect to do for dinner / nightcap drinks, and after some arguing ended up at a tiki bar called <b>Waikiki Tiki Room</b>. I thought it was a pretty cool spot personally, but I think we were all tired and hungry at that point, so we decided to go back to a known crowd favorite and had more tacos back at Taquería Orinoco. I am not kidding when I say I would eat there almost every day if I lived I went the digital nomad route down south for a few months. Once back at the Airbnb, dad and I got to have our inevitable late night chat deep into the night, which is something I always miss and cherish when they do get to happen. We went to sleep later than we should have, having solved all the worlds problems.<p></p><p>Another morning, another slightly hung over 30ish minute run. I was proud of myself for the consistency I showed during the week, despite the drinking and walking and biking. Dad slept in while Laura, Tate and I stopped by a smaller version of <b>Panadería roseta</b> closer to our Airbnb for some pastries, before finding a spot with a beautiful patio to take advantage of the perfect weather for a final brunch. We ended up at <b>La Ventanita</b>, a cool spot around the corner from our Airbnb with a pretty view of a fountain. Dad joined us for this (eventually), and afterwards we decided to take advantage of our last full day and keep the train moving. First, we went for a drink on a "rooftop" called <b>Supra Roma</b>, which was actually completely indoors but at the very top of a tall building with a very cool view of a lot of the city. Next, we got lucky and grabbed reservations for one of the most fun stops of the trip, an absolute party of a scene at <b>Domingo Santo</b>, complete with live music, guacamole with an entire fish body in it, and me being serenaded to by the lead singer literally sitting in my lap. This spot is actually an adults-only hotel in the old part of town that I would definitely look into staying at for future visits. </p><p>We ended up back at Azul for another drink at the tiny mezcal bar upstairs, before finally figuring out how to get up on the roof for cocktails on the terrace. Lastly, we ended the trip with one more mezcal at arguably the coolest mezcal bar of all the ones we managed to go to, a dark hip spot called <b>Bósforo</b>. Tate and I had to call it a night at that point thanks to our early flight the next morning, but it was a great final day of an overall amazing trip that I will never forget. I feel fortunate to have gotten to explore Mexico City with my dad and Laura and Tate, similarly having gotten to explore Quito, Ecuador with my dad years ago while he lived there. I also am looking forward to more trips with Tate, including right back to Mexico for a relaxing Valentine's Day weekend in Cabo. Not sure that one will be blog worthy, as I hope it just involves a lot of drinking on the beach, but we'll see what happens. Gracias a Dios! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVGUivMErPGJxLWYwTUUrRNhIvMJd91bDiXj2tcCo8uB05tgC0XnNhvLzvE-XE0QXNO2TeWsLIKUf6hXq9p34yJm3TbApQ0PHLavVJjvzyA1fMgKAMGUYkTGWi-Z-DzMPW0ksDBnxQwqg-IQ2jgvnPwfZ0fQ0gpBqoamnU3FTM9EfBPvCU_wTkhiL/s2048/fin.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVGUivMErPGJxLWYwTUUrRNhIvMJd91bDiXj2tcCo8uB05tgC0XnNhvLzvE-XE0QXNO2TeWsLIKUf6hXq9p34yJm3TbApQ0PHLavVJjvzyA1fMgKAMGUYkTGWi-Z-DzMPW0ksDBnxQwqg-IQ2jgvnPwfZ0fQ0gpBqoamnU3FTM9EfBPvCU_wTkhiL/s320/fin.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-83934363606888124752022-10-12T07:18:00.003-07:002022-10-12T07:18:46.188-07:00Rogue Expeditions - Run Iceland 2022<p>Earlier this year, one of my group chats (this one mostly consisting of running buddies) was buzzing with messages about a potential trip to Iceland. My friend Will had been in contact with the founders of Rogue Expeditions and was trying to gauge interest from us about getting a group together to get the company to add an extra trip to their already busy calendar. We needed at least 8 people for it to happen, and after a quick conversation with my girlfriend Tate, I let Will I was in if this hopeful plan came to fruition.</p><p>It helped that Tate had already been to Iceland for two weeks a few years ago with her family, traveling basically the entire ring road in a rented car. Since she doesn't care much for running, but loves traveling as much as I do, a trip like this would (and always will be) a bit of a delicate debate: about using paid-time off, the overall price, and seeing parts interesting and beautiful parts of the world... not together. She deserves a shout-out for being so encouraging, so wanted to ensure I included it early on. </p><p>The wheels started moving faster than I anticipated, as I didn't want to get my hopes up too high in case the trip didn't come to fruition. Another running buddy, Dan, and his wife also threw their hats in the ring - so we were already halfway there. We began sharing the link to the trip details in our friends, family, even work circles (more on that later) to try and recruit more people to sign up. The trip was to be at the end of August, but we needed a confirmed full trip by around the end of February for it to be a go. Surprisingly, we all ended up putting our deposits down before Valentine's Day. Now, we just had to impatiently wait 6 months to visit the land of fire and ice. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexBgHRIljn706oQDY7k4dSHB1IG5YxvFN50ohea3uR_QvFU4fqk9Xn_YgrYBYzSi2y_3Nwd7wY22KgaHQm6qdlsZd_x04yTFCcv0tMtPn4Sx_eHzGslCdEMQcCIiMRsis2AsDzv7nK200ERGwhbBBkCjocm8B2-8eeoe7UOEEmyxAbjTJEQDftcf2/s960/church.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexBgHRIljn706oQDY7k4dSHB1IG5YxvFN50ohea3uR_QvFU4fqk9Xn_YgrYBYzSi2y_3Nwd7wY22KgaHQm6qdlsZd_x04yTFCcv0tMtPn4Sx_eHzGslCdEMQcCIiMRsis2AsDzv7nK200ERGwhbBBkCjocm8B2-8eeoe7UOEEmyxAbjTJEQDftcf2/s320/church.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Fast forward to August 25th, and myself, Will, Dan and Anah were boarding a plane to Reykjavik (via an ultimately annoying layover in Newark). We arrived at 7am Friday morning, a bit sleep deprived - I think I got about a 3 hour nap on the nearly 6 hour overnight flight - but excited for the week ahead. We took a bus into the city, dropped off our luggage at the bus depot, and headed for a coffee shop. It ended up being right next to <b>Hallgrimskirkja</b> (the church of Hallgrimur), Iceland's tallest church, and the country's sixth-tallest building overall. We caffeinated up, walked around more of the downtown area, popped our heads into some gift shops, drank a White Russian at <i>The Big Lebowski Bar </i>(because the dude abides), and enjoyed lunch at a local brewery called <i>Bastard Brew & Food</i>. Here, a former coworker of mine at TikTok (Kim) met up with us, as she had flown in the night before. She had put her name on the waitlist at the beginning of the year when I had first dropped the link in a running interested group chat on the company internal communication tool. Then we all headed back to the bus station where our guides would be picking us up to officially start the trip, and we got to meet the rest of the people joining us on the trip.</p><p>Day 1 (Friday) - <b>Hotel Kriunes / Heiðmörk</b></p><p>We got to the hotel to check in and get settled for our first two nights in Iceland on the southeast outskirts of the city. We were just getting started to know our guides, Sean and Gunnur, as Sean began explaining the optional "shake-out" run - and the different options available for it. Our hotel was situated on a lake, and on the other side of it was a great hiking trail that connected to the two mile trail around the lake from our side. If we wanted to connect to that trail system, the "easy" shake out would be NINE miles. I laughed at this in my three hour of sleep in 36 hours, jet-lagged haze, full well knowing I intended to the longest distance offered all 7 days of the trip (I never said I would do them all without comment or complaint, however). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6o2QDO5U9oOU134XPu_T2FURD0MJKTDIMbeee1upowpNHYbJVPnalv5JY6HH9RGqo6VkSGEUI-qb9ug2ZOgd63VDeBDqMileMocH0eHJRjNwAZCajMu-hPjoc7bhI7ISJDxS_JKcwy-tEX1inoZD7bY_F7kaAxWPEeJDshzLWyhYgkl2eJYFIB18/s783/day1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="783" data-original-width="775" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6o2QDO5U9oOU134XPu_T2FURD0MJKTDIMbeee1upowpNHYbJVPnalv5JY6HH9RGqo6VkSGEUI-qb9ug2ZOgd63VDeBDqMileMocH0eHJRjNwAZCajMu-hPjoc7bhI7ISJDxS_JKcwy-tEX1inoZD7bY_F7kaAxWPEeJDshzLWyhYgkl2eJYFIB18/s320/day1.jpeg" width="317" /></a>Some people opted for a 4 mile out and back, but quite a few were just as stubborn as me, and for good reason: the weather. Coming from a summer in Texas full of 100 degree days and basically no rain, we had lucked out our first day in Iceland with some uncharacteristically sunny weather. No way I was passing up a beautiful trail run in 55 degree sunshine. I did however have to make a pit-stop off the trail about halfway through the run as the shrimp tacos from Bastard Brew made their way through me (apologies to the camp site barbecue pit I had to squat behind) but hey it wouldn't be a trail running trip if that didn't happen at least once, so at least I got it out of the way early (happened on the Flume Trail in Tahoe back in 2016 - sorry people I don't make the rules). </div><p>After the run we met for dinner at the hotel restaurant (the first of many delicious dinners we had on the trip), and Sean broke down what the next day would have in store for us. Dan and I were both struggling to keep our eyes open for most of the meal, and I promptly fell asleep almost immediately once I got back to the room around 8:15pm. I was excited I had stayed up all day so that I could hopefully get a good night sleep and miss out on any extended jet lag. When I woke up, I was a bit confused since it was so dark in the room (it was only dark from about 10pm to 3am the week we were there) and I was assuming it had to be like 5 in the morning at this point. I grabbed my phone and looked at the time... 9:30 (PM). I had succeeded in taking an hour nap, and was feeling as wide awake as I ever had before (it felt like 4:30pm to me back in Austin). I tried to fall back asleep before eventually playing on my phone a bit, and luckily my roommate Will woke up about 30 minutes later and laughed when he saw me playing on my phone as he was just as awake as I was. </p><p>After about an hour of chatting and looking at our phones, we decided to go for a walk outside, and wouldn't you know it, we were able to the <b>northern lights</b>! At dinner we had made a pact with some other folks in our group that we would all try to wake each other up if anyone saw them at any point during the trip (since typically they aren't very visible until starting in more like October) so we went and tried to wake up a few people, and by the time we got back outside they were mostly gone. But one girl in our group was able to catch a decent photo of them, which was good because Will and I wanted to make sure we weren't crazy, and evidently the lights came back out again around 2am and put on an even better light show. I am still thankful I got to see them at all, and once we got back to our room Will and I didn't bother fighting the jet lag and streamed the Austin FC game on our phones (a fun win against LAFC) before finally dozing off around 2am, alarms set for 7am and a big day ahead of us.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-zXTMR683j9WxUwhTOvNrLxzg3ks7g3E6czw1oN7bvQcrnNeK_CXkWcf_Uqc0l0ZN27ZGdhp4PkCdFw3po1p4pjUj-zYsmSH-1JkiSauVd4tKLkXnT9uMsuJGYImJSNpvwyke6F-6odNOPIo1kujHlWr7PFZTOFjjZ7E-1i4J2H6-WmWQjygjH71/s1433/day2.5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="1433" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-zXTMR683j9WxUwhTOvNrLxzg3ks7g3E6czw1oN7bvQcrnNeK_CXkWcf_Uqc0l0ZN27ZGdhp4PkCdFw3po1p4pjUj-zYsmSH-1JkiSauVd4tKLkXnT9uMsuJGYImJSNpvwyke6F-6odNOPIo1kujHlWr7PFZTOFjjZ7E-1i4J2H6-WmWQjygjH71/s320/day2.5.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Day 2 (Saturday) - <b>Búrfellsgjá and the Blue Lagoon</b></p><p>After what felt like another long nap, we woke up to some breakfast before heading out on our first destination run of the trip. We'd be heading to one of the most beautiful trails in the Reykjavik area through the Búrfellsgjá Lava Channel. Mt. Búrfell was formed in a single volcanic eruption just over eight thousand years ago. Fissure (gjá) is really not the correct term for Búrfellsgjá because it is essentially a beautiful and seemingly intact lava channel, just over three kilometers long. The run actually started in a wooded area our guide Gunnur was familiar with, which included a nice view out towards the ocean. There aren't really any "forests" in Iceland, thanks to the Vikings and other Icelandic residents from centuries ago cutting down all the trees for ships, housing, etc. The run ended up being around 7 miles with some rolling hills, tough volcanic rock sections, sandy valleys, and ended at a natural stream that we took sips of water from to commemorate our finish. Most of the water in Iceland is incredibly clean thanks to all the lava rock it filters through.</p><p>Afterwards, we went to a little park area for a picnic, before heading to probably the most popular tourist attraction in all of Iceland, the <b>Blue Lagoon</b>. You have probably seen the pictures before of the teal / aqua water that almost doesn't look real. The pools themselves were basically created by mistake at first, supplied by water used in the nearby Svartsengi geothermal power station. I was skeptical at first, afraid their would be way too many tourists for my liking (I had envisioned this trip to be somewhat "off-the-grid" but once I was in the water, drinking a Gull beer and wearing a silica mask, I pretty much instantly understood the appeal. It is beautiful, the water looks and feels amazing, and to be fair your skin looks great afterwards. Some things are popular for a reason, so this is one of those expensive stops I would actually still recommend to anyone coming to Iceland in the future. It also helped that we once again had lucked out with some sunny weather, so much so that I actually got a little sunburned while we were at the lagoon, something I didn't know was possible at that latitude. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyiOadEj4d2hPQqkt1rdWmIDrfRr16-fdufNnafXfL4L-apjasvbnhatDarQUM-tJjWUmLvTCfWdrApKaiEGS6di9snm-1wzmYxYKy262PH_aFZpfXikL8s4XyvkM68tlE-TEP5ULt1lAT73IASZrgwzEhRTMXWh2M3rIPAaxRIgiJKR5MV1wVsCf2/s2048/day2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyiOadEj4d2hPQqkt1rdWmIDrfRr16-fdufNnafXfL4L-apjasvbnhatDarQUM-tJjWUmLvTCfWdrApKaiEGS6di9snm-1wzmYxYKy262PH_aFZpfXikL8s4XyvkM68tlE-TEP5ULt1lAT73IASZrgwzEhRTMXWh2M3rIPAaxRIgiJKR5MV1wVsCf2/s320/day2.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p>I grabbed a coffee from the cafe and we loaded up the bus back to the hotel - but not without our first (and I guess only?) injury of the trip, as one of the women from Georgia had stubbed her toe on the sharp volcanic rock while walking in sandals, leading to some blood and the first aid kid. Once back at the hotel, a few of us were able to watch an Arsenal EPL game in our room until it was time for another delicious dinner. Afterwards a few of us hung out on the patio of our room overlooking the lake, dreaming about the rest of the trip ahead of us. The next day would be a big one in regards to distance traveled on the bus, the amount of stops we'd have, and the sights we would see. Will and I didn't try too hard to get to bed early this time, and instead watched Into the Spiderverse for awhile before eventually attempting to get another long nap in ahead of Sunday. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Day 3 (Sunday) - <b>Reykjadalur Hot Springs and The Golden Circle</b></p><p>After more like 6 hours of sleep this time around and another quick breakfast, we were on the bus headed south. This time we wouldn't be coming back to our hotel for the first two nights. We were headed to the town of <b>Hveragerði</b> (a fun one to pronounce and eventually became one of the jokes of the trip - "What happens in Hervy-Gerdy stays in Hveragerði"). The run itself took place in the <b>Reykjadalur valley</b>, taking us into some mini-mountains and around some natural springs. The longer option took us on what could only be described as sheep paths, which was confirmed when the trail itself was actually blocked in front of us for a time by actual sheep. We actually got our first taste of some more authentic Iceland weather, with some strong wind gusts, a little fog / drizzle, but overall the just over 7 hilly miles were beautiful and extremely fun. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgff8wONHhUnNv_SxVJHCoQlKgSlw_SaX2azDaCB644IXd2ZVPHeKy3T0cpak66VygwjpMvHsyeDj2nTIQutX6jFzNhdTnuO6QPXDyHvh41xTrTdExxYKj4DDIKLEa6xQ3Oof5U-DXd9Rrz1xEq48NoNrqvp3rlJR3y9mtO_Bikm_eKxBuwB-Er1qXn/s2048/day3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgff8wONHhUnNv_SxVJHCoQlKgSlw_SaX2azDaCB644IXd2ZVPHeKy3T0cpak66VygwjpMvHsyeDj2nTIQutX6jFzNhdTnuO6QPXDyHvh41xTrTdExxYKj4DDIKLEa6xQ3Oof5U-DXd9Rrz1xEq48NoNrqvp3rlJR3y9mtO_Bikm_eKxBuwB-Er1qXn/s320/day3.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p>The highlight of this run was the natural <b>thermal hot spring</b> river that ran through the middle of it, connecting with a cool stream to let you essentially choose your preferred temperature for a dip: warmer to the left, cooler to the right. Most of the other people on the trip had a similar mentality to me, which is you never know if/when you'll ever been in Iceland again, so you're not going to NOT get in the natural water places when given the opportunity (even if it means you have to put on your shoes again afterwards and finish the last 2 miles of the run a little damp). It was easy to dry off however since most of the last mile was a downhill we got to "bomb" down, save for slowing down to make room for some riders on those famous Icelandic ponies we didn't want to spook. </p><p>After we got back to the bus, we headed over to the local swimming hole in Hveragerði, which our guide Gunnur's family has been using for decades. This was more of a man-made pool / hot tub set up situation, but it also included a cold-plunge bucket which again a lot of the group felt obligated to try. You can probably already sense a theme here, which is basically all of our runs ended with us getting into some form of hot springs / body of water. We showered up and headed to lunch at a really cool new hotel in town that had food trucks (albeit inside) along with a couple bars and a coffee shop - all of which felt like it wouldn't be out of place in Austin, let alone in some small town in southwest Iceland. So I would definitely add the <b>Greenhouse Hotel</b> as a lunch stop on your itineraries. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZYATIZOib1MSC3IOiZzMRN8U-WE-KLuya1GoZpIi0Ut_llpd-gTet5vneODQd1ZR1ho8Lv9kAc-jNFJu2FSbo2BH-EOhJvmcDmcOPZ_Ju-OXKsy4dCi75KITSJJs0FHrVO7Lz-atizNfhINXkeq1DvGANBBM8vyxqwJNgAs1y4xKVvTVO--uoSJ0/s2048/day3.5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZYATIZOib1MSC3IOiZzMRN8U-WE-KLuya1GoZpIi0Ut_llpd-gTet5vneODQd1ZR1ho8Lv9kAc-jNFJu2FSbo2BH-EOhJvmcDmcOPZ_Ju-OXKsy4dCi75KITSJJs0FHrVO7Lz-atizNfhINXkeq1DvGANBBM8vyxqwJNgAs1y4xKVvTVO--uoSJ0/s320/day3.5.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p>After lunch we got back on the bus and headed to our next stop, <b>Þingvellir National Park</b> in Selfoss. Our guide did let us know that some of Game of Thrones had been filmed in the park, but what it is really known for is the Alþing (Althing), the site of Iceland's parliament from the 10th to 18th centuries. It was cool to walk through the park and learn some history (thanks to Gunnur), and then it was back on the bus to head to another well-known stop. </p><p>Next, we went to one of the more picturesque stops of the entire trip, <b>Gullfoss falls</b> (the golden waterfall). I had (sadly) heard of / seen this amazing place on Netflix before (the sadly part due to it being in that Zac Efron travel show) but even that couldn't have prepared me for how beautiful (and powerful) the falls, located in the canyon of the Hvítá river, were in person. I had spent some time talking to my therapist before the trip about trying to stay present as much as I could while in Iceland, and this stop was where I tried my hardest to put this in practice. I spent most of the time just listening to the sound of the water crashing over the edge, feeling the mist hit my face, almost drinking it all in. It wasn't always easy, as this was a very crowded tourist attraction, but again sometimes things are touristy for a reason, and I can't imagine coming to Iceland and not seeing this in person. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0Xz6nu5h0MLVqFfsJsbHjI8fA8KBhVQMuRRBHybzacbpGNA_qFdpWD4Lv2CFvwW_MzVA6HNF18-8-zq4S_Ldb1Gapab-LPyLEcFjKOIcwKkacgaMo6xTaBA_YWhyfNLYgbA88nPocTiATnX32YdFn0D5-kpYFKkwobXCAwvShtxgUmvLXGi_Q2fO/s960/waterfalls.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0Xz6nu5h0MLVqFfsJsbHjI8fA8KBhVQMuRRBHybzacbpGNA_qFdpWD4Lv2CFvwW_MzVA6HNF18-8-zq4S_Ldb1Gapab-LPyLEcFjKOIcwKkacgaMo6xTaBA_YWhyfNLYgbA88nPocTiATnX32YdFn0D5-kpYFKkwobXCAwvShtxgUmvLXGi_Q2fO/s320/waterfalls.jpeg" width="225" /></a></div><p>The stops weren't over there, as next we hit up Iceland's version of old faithful in <b>Geysir</b>. The great geysir was the first geyser described in a printed source and the first known to modern Europeans. Having never seen a geyser in person before, it was cool to see the water shoot high out of the ground. However, I was getting a bit tired at this point from all the riding in the bus (and still not being caught up on sleep since the flight over) so after a short period I ended up in the gift shop, enjoying the absolute BEST cup of hot chocolate I have ever had. Seriously, get one if you go there. Finally, we ended at our hotel for the next two nights in <b>Flúðir</b>, where we ate dinner and where I finally got a decent night sleep, ahead of another upcoming day of firsts for me. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Day 4 (Monday) - <b>Langjökull Glacier, Friðheimar, and the (not so) Secret Lagoon</b></p><p>Not sure I'll ever have a Monday like this one again. Finally feeling fully rested after a true 8+ hours of hard sleep, I was ready for a true adventure. We ate breakfast in the hotel lobby / restaurant (which was basically taken over by our party for the duration of our two night stay) and packed our gear for a big day. We needed to be on the road early to meet with our guides, who would be taking us up onto Iceland's second largest glaicer, <b>Langjökull</b>. We got out of our van with above average sized tires, and into a similar sized van but with much larger, easy to inflate and deflate, tires - which would be needed for the F-roads we would be taking across the highlands to get to basecamp. F-roads are unpaved gravel tracks that only open during the summer months and are only accessible in 4×4 SUV's.</p><p>After a bumpy ride across the desert, we got to the cabin where we would be changing into our gear before we headed the rest of the way to the edge of the glacier. This morning's adventure was not running across the ice, but snowmobiling! After some safety tips and instruction how-to's, we paired up and headed north up into the ice and snow. The view was amazing at first, and hearing the cracking and ice beneath our sleds was magical. After about 15 minutes or so, the visibility got next to the nothing, a mix of fog and windy and potentially some snow? Was really hard to tell, but still fun to be cruising along following each other up higher on the glacier where there was snow now under our skis on top of the ice. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mcCJ8DeDvLbkYuYLjNCv4w-Kf8gKVDm2etpLHYKoAzF0OewWbZQlEcKtByI4y11WO_6OP2s04w3JoMg-NJ_LJbYfM0x1WMU5hqpVa_xTEULVwumJD0EWh80NaC4BJlT61aupUwKVaCQgVJQ-usraV4P1mm2KXzyNIwdZfJ_-3qUNOQVZ1tU2i89q/s960/snowmobile.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mcCJ8DeDvLbkYuYLjNCv4w-Kf8gKVDm2etpLHYKoAzF0OewWbZQlEcKtByI4y11WO_6OP2s04w3JoMg-NJ_LJbYfM0x1WMU5hqpVa_xTEULVwumJD0EWh80NaC4BJlT61aupUwKVaCQgVJQ-usraV4P1mm2KXzyNIwdZfJ_-3qUNOQVZ1tU2i89q/s320/snowmobile.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p>After about half an hour, we got off the machines and had a snowball fight, learned some history of the glacier, made some snow angels, and then switched drivers as we headed back down to basecamp. I was the driver for the second shift, and nearly took a tumble once (immediately before the group in front of us did in fact flip their sled - no injuries thankfully) but the ride overall was incredibly fun and beautiful. Coming back down onto the ice near the edge of the glacier, the clouds opened up and we had a beautiful view as we followed a river of melting snow and ice down our path from before. My first time snowmobiling and hopefully not my last (but not sure I can ever go somewhere else that will top a glacier in Iceland).</p><p>After we got our gear turned back in, got back on the big bus, and headed back into the highlands, our glacier guide dropped us off with our original tour van and driver, and she drove us down a seldom used F-road, where the next part of our day was to begin. We'd be running along another F-road into a "forest" (again, not many of these in Iceland) before we headed to our next stop for lunch. The run itself was 5 miles of gravel / sandy F-road with some rolling hills, followed by a very steep hill as we got into the forest which meant for most of the final mile we got to bomb down a very fast and fun trail in the woods. It was felt like throwing in a fartlek at the end of the run, which felt nice to get some speed in our legs in the middle of the trip. Then we loaded into the van to head to lunch.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUK91dSGX2Qb7xpREyLVM5ZehI0kz1_FXgOhZ-iVaSl053lbjpGZkcCMULHiCwKC_GFud60KCDH3ZHuAl8prgSfdEIDFmyZPi9zXVRcQ8bK1Hh-_Oz-CqIaBpLCUFZkOKgIM3qPZr7LEM30Fvmv5Dqtlc-vZ6WJT8-g4JCvYHGn0eJoUWqUV-iI5C9/s2048/vinbudin.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUK91dSGX2Qb7xpREyLVM5ZehI0kz1_FXgOhZ-iVaSl053lbjpGZkcCMULHiCwKC_GFud60KCDH3ZHuAl8prgSfdEIDFmyZPi9zXVRcQ8bK1Hh-_Oz-CqIaBpLCUFZkOKgIM3qPZr7LEM30Fvmv5Dqtlc-vZ6WJT8-g4JCvYHGn0eJoUWqUV-iI5C9/s320/vinbudin.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>Lunch was probably the most memorable meal of the trip. We headed to Friðheimar, a country-style, family-run restaurant offering tomato-based dishes from onsite greenhouses that also has stables on-site with lots of Icelandic ponies. The meal was simple, simply the best tomato soup any of us had ever had, complete with two different choices of tomato beer (still not exactly sure what that means but I had both and they were both interesting and tasty). After the meal we got to tour the greenhouse and meet some of the pollinating bees, followed by a presentation of one of the Icelandic ponies doing the different gaits they are famous for. It was a surreal experience to have been on a glacier and a snowmobile for the first time on the same day (literally within just a few hours of each other) that I also ate the best tomato I've ever tried. Iceland is such an eclectic place. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1gwamOHpE6FYFOIM0DtkOt1_Fy58KtcrRS47EmzkJoYthOujqxXgW267ot1IKUqC2RAF4LZWg6euCKX8kV5s7ceJhZa1ICeB_XY281wxGmOR-nhGtdc0P-uaRrxGdavhSdUrfABnwovC9bQjMLC5JT4bHHMTW44O6jncQRqLjd09muQDFj0zeFPQ/s2048/secretlagoon.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1gwamOHpE6FYFOIM0DtkOt1_Fy58KtcrRS47EmzkJoYthOujqxXgW267ot1IKUqC2RAF4LZWg6euCKX8kV5s7ceJhZa1ICeB_XY281wxGmOR-nhGtdc0P-uaRrxGdavhSdUrfABnwovC9bQjMLC5JT4bHHMTW44O6jncQRqLjd09muQDFj0zeFPQ/s320/secretlagoon.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>After we left the greenhouse, we stopped by a Vínbúðin (liquor store) so we could have more beers and pre-dinner cocktails, and then headed to the local pool in the same town as our hotel (Flúðir) called the Secret Lagoon. This public geothermal pool was created in 1891, making it Iceland's oldest, and was full of a mix of tourists from all over the world. It was a melting pot of conversations in different languages, and the perfect way to unwind after the adventurous day. Once showered back at the hotel, we had burger night and instructions for the next day (another travel day including changing hotels), so once again it wasn't as difficult to fall asleep this time around. <p></p><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Day 5 (Tuesday) - <b>Landmannalaugar and the legend of Dan</b></p><p>Landmannalaugar is a location in Iceland's Fjallabak Nature Reserve in the Highlands. It is at the edge of the Laugahraun lava field, formed in an eruption in approximately 1477. It is known for its natural geothermal hot springs and surrounding landscape and is famous for its colorful rhyolite mountains and epic day hikes. We got to this epic reserve via a long "road" trip on some bumpy F-roads in the highlands, with a stop at Frostastaðavatn which looked to be a giant crater lake with winds so strong we could lean into them and now fall down. The weather was finally reaching full "Iceland" on us, with rain greeting us as we got to the entry of the park. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwY7ur-wFK-fgzzrZjuPGZ2KLxDhd135ffCkHBHiK72TAN6CIX1em7wMH4-yuzzemxvGKKgR72JvNLN-rlbvWu6WwH4qyNO63qAMQslr62eexOo2yUNZujwmA3V1omhFfsDju-xnzwWwaFlnxkLY_EAncbEpyDvW445a1ASShFLaNd0UrFuIXdf7Ze/s2048/LM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwY7ur-wFK-fgzzrZjuPGZ2KLxDhd135ffCkHBHiK72TAN6CIX1em7wMH4-yuzzemxvGKKgR72JvNLN-rlbvWu6WwH4qyNO63qAMQslr62eexOo2yUNZujwmA3V1omhFfsDju-xnzwWwaFlnxkLY_EAncbEpyDvW445a1ASShFLaNd0UrFuIXdf7Ze/s320/LM.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>After some notes from Sean at basecamp, we headed off on a slightly shorter version of what had originally been planned, due to the wind and low visibility the higher up we went with all the drizzle and fog. We'd go up almost 1,000 vertical feet within the first 3 miles, before coming back down and winding down in the valley and next to the river, ending in the lava fields. It was a cold, beautiful 6 miles in full, and even with less than stellar visibility was still one of the most beautiful runs I've ever done. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AWZFS5VdF0ODKu_41vQ4kzqCumz_tvMWqJ2dXQxn_AFcFfktC-XqOh0QvjbFvkiNlt9XMjUQVKxfBIdM7VprFCkrpJyJVGnon1Yaqhyj8UcYqEv19dJQdgNxFiP6OmvIldJh9iM03upwtxJWT1YgPOy9aZbCbsgvNMO995I4WfE2aPpSl1wlzYQO/s1238/hotpot.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="871" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AWZFS5VdF0ODKu_41vQ4kzqCumz_tvMWqJ2dXQxn_AFcFfktC-XqOh0QvjbFvkiNlt9XMjUQVKxfBIdM7VprFCkrpJyJVGnon1Yaqhyj8UcYqEv19dJQdgNxFiP6OmvIldJh9iM03upwtxJWT1YgPOy9aZbCbsgvNMO995I4WfE2aPpSl1wlzYQO/s320/hotpot.jpeg" width="225" /></a></div><p></p><p>Afterwards, we continued the trend of ending all our runs in a pool of warm water, walking almost a half mile on what I can only describe as a long "pier" from the visitor center to the Laugasvæði (bathing place). Once there, we began stripping down to whatever level of modesty we felt comfortable with (there were eventually a few Europeans who hopped in topless), but before my buddy Dan could get all the way in, a group of motorbike enthusiasts who had been cruising across Iceland and had already been in the pool before us swam over and asked Dan if they would go buy "as much beer" as he possibly could. To my surprise, Dan said yes - and one of the fine gents promptly handed over his credit card for Dan to pay with. Now remember, we are well off the beaten track here, half a mile from the visitor center (which was basically just a shack, a tent, and a few school buses converted for mixed use) and we were already cold and wet. As Dan trodded off, we all laughed about how there was no way they would sell him enough beer for everyone (easily over 20 people), and even if they did - how would he carry it the half mile back to the hot pot? </p><p></p><p>Well, about 10 minutes later, we spot tall Dan carrying what looks like 3 cases of Gull beer in a giant container over his head, and everyone immediately started laughing and cheering. An English bloke broke out into chants of "Dan you fucking legend!" and spent a majority of our time in the hot springs asking if they could trade the Dan from their group for our Dan. Dan had taken an empty bucket labeled "free stuff" that would often include camping supplies for backpackers beginning the three day hike to Thórsmörk, and did what legends do. It was probably my favorite hot springs experience of the trip, and afterwards we dried off, got some hot soup from one of the school buses, and got back in our van to head back to our next lodge for the night. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXbRACaq9rY17PryyUnobtIHG_ffLZQdZznfidXmuPO8P8g7crrPMTH-DRWP0aTgKk6RL_0tgUsWJu5xUwGNQnqWP9wQyme4_BoEbDt4cwFyBwW8nxX01rT53hMw0ED_92ldZ7ytEwzKGF9O04a_NEjhnyimihwjHdliiQtRx_CVdSXAhRjZzKdlY/s2048/cottage.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXbRACaq9rY17PryyUnobtIHG_ffLZQdZznfidXmuPO8P8g7crrPMTH-DRWP0aTgKk6RL_0tgUsWJu5xUwGNQnqWP9wQyme4_BoEbDt4cwFyBwW8nxX01rT53hMw0ED_92ldZ7ytEwzKGF9O04a_NEjhnyimihwjHdliiQtRx_CVdSXAhRjZzKdlY/s320/cottage.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The new "hotel" was more like a cottage, built at the base of a volcano called Eyjafjallajökull, and apparently the recording artist Sting had once stayed there for a week. We enjoyed an amazing home cooked meal and spent time drinking wine by the fireplace, before once again crashing hard for the night thanks to the rain outside. That rain would end up altering the remaining days of our trip, however. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Day 6 (Wednesday) - <b>þetta reddast and Seljalandsfoss</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuGfZoStKn2ZgvGfZpwU6jUeQG4uE4dhvNsyf9ZVxEcfHLEAi8QSnqzKj_A83v762WJoQoyh3wOJg9zXAWzW3aUpYuu5pd4SgGm416S7McfxAUi_KDx6yPzJ_YXn4FHOqQu3baKFKtVS5V5r6utKYu2o_5XVT3IP1GK4vmHUiZNFdHq_Wzak2omMt/s2048/waterfall2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuGfZoStKn2ZgvGfZpwU6jUeQG4uE4dhvNsyf9ZVxEcfHLEAi8QSnqzKj_A83v762WJoQoyh3wOJg9zXAWzW3aUpYuu5pd4SgGm416S7McfxAUi_KDx6yPzJ_YXn4FHOqQu3baKFKtVS5V5r6utKYu2o_5XVT3IP1GK4vmHUiZNFdHq_Wzak2omMt/s320/waterfall2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>We woke up to more rain and a change of plans. We were supposed to head to Heimaey, a small island off the southwest coast, and potentially see some puffins and their babies. Unfortunately due to high winds, the ferry ride would've consisted of 10 foot swells or higher and with no trees on the island we would have been highly exposed which didn't sound fun in 30mph winds. So we called an audible, and instead ran along the farm roads near our hotel to the nearest waterfalls. “Þetta reddast” can be translated to “it will all work out okay” a sort of unofficial motto for Icelanders, and we began embracing this while running the 5 miles in the strong wind and rain. <p></p><p>Once we made it to Seljalandsfoss, it was absolutely beautiful, and actually already being soaking wet made the excursion a bit more exciting, as we had no fear to hike in the stream to get to the first waterfall hidden in what could almost be called a cave, and getting to walk behind the other falls. Luckily the van was in the parking lot and quickly shuttled us back to the lodge. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTn4L1FmJawa3mGqGVQ1SdrdbhpmaL1fYi_AdNpY22TDVcLDW--eaT1r0Lo0TfQfakdDUl66X3JtF7OOuTGOqRMO_oGAeTTMyRAKz3CeSUTTok0W_1EWkKve51KeUiQ28ou7HggUq7Xyx6wKYfe7FDcffpJSkIYjX1bZfyHMu0V7dX2YQ9tFAuCFEJ/s2048/waterfall3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1700" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTn4L1FmJawa3mGqGVQ1SdrdbhpmaL1fYi_AdNpY22TDVcLDW--eaT1r0Lo0TfQfakdDUl66X3JtF7OOuTGOqRMO_oGAeTTMyRAKz3CeSUTTok0W_1EWkKve51KeUiQ28ou7HggUq7Xyx6wKYfe7FDcffpJSkIYjX1bZfyHMu0V7dX2YQ9tFAuCFEJ/s320/waterfall3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>After the run, we continued with plan B options and ate a great lunch at a little restaurant in Hellishólar, and then visited the newly opened Lava Museum to learn about the history of all the volcanoes in Iceland. Afterwards, we of course had to hit a local pool for some hot tub soaking, which was even more fun in the cold rain. We hit another Vínbúðin, enjoyed another delicious meal at the lodge, and enjoyed a beautiful sunset by the fireplace debating what our next Rogue Expedition trips should be. Already experiencing that bittersweet emotion that tomorrow would be our last full day of the trip.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>Day 7 (Thursday) - <b>Thórsmörk</b></p><p>We woke up, loaded our luggage into the trailer, but took off in the bus with the trailer staying behind at the cottage for us to pick up on the way back from the national park. The road to get there would be bumpy and include multiple river crossings. We were headed to Thórsmörk, a mountain ridge named after the Norse god Thor. It is situated in the south between the glaciers Tindfjallajökull and Eyjafjallajökull, and with all the rain the two days prior, the river crossings on the road were coming more and more often. </p><p>Unfortunately, by the time we got close to the main entrance of the area we wanted to reach to run from, we hit a river that our van (even with large tires) couldn't make it across. We watched a bigger bus get stuck in the middle of a newly swelling river, and decided to backtrack a bit and do a shorter run by a glacier we had already successfully driven past. It was a bummer to miss the biggest run of the trip, but Þetta reddast and no one complained about not putting ourselves or the van in any danger.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVcbJe72TRXzWrGUYAbGiz5iYUoMX01s22RAkbpHOsq2Vw_u8TJCsxjC7GRtPqtBzio0BWg0tixNPOu11FymLRx_ABZWne2cIKkhdgQpc6nrSXwWS3Vpl6TZ5XiaMu2w-U21Ul4oWrTa3sqhPzH08MerLNxijXzpB4sig5tzGWDW78OUk9BXpSSdT/s2048/porsmork.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVcbJe72TRXzWrGUYAbGiz5iYUoMX01s22RAkbpHOsq2Vw_u8TJCsxjC7GRtPqtBzio0BWg0tixNPOu11FymLRx_ABZWne2cIKkhdgQpc6nrSXwWS3Vpl6TZ5XiaMu2w-U21Ul4oWrTa3sqhPzH08MerLNxijXzpB4sig5tzGWDW78OUk9BXpSSdT/s320/porsmork.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p>That was until about 2 miles into the run, one of the guides suggested we hike up one of the ridges to run around the top and enjoy the view from up there. From the valley we were in, it didn't seem like it would be that difficult to make it up, but looks can be deceiving. By the time we were over halfway up, rocks began falling all around us and it was time to make the decision of either committing to getting all the way up or turning back down. I have a fear of heights, but oddly that made going back down seem like the worse of the two options, as going back up seemed to promise an easier run down the ridge back towards the van then trying to shuffle down all the loose rocks I had just come up. I put my head down and crawled my way to the top, a little too fast ultimately, as then I had to wait at the top for over 20 minutes while everyone else either made it up or turned back. </p><p>I managed to find a large boulder that wasn't going anywhere to lean against and try to stave off my potential vertigo, and eventually everyone either made it up or back down safely. We made it back to the van where we had an impromptu picnic, and everyone was able to laugh about what ended up being probably the most dangerous half hour of the trip. Ultimately I wasn't super despondent about the shorter day, as I was dealing with a sore-throat and fatigue from the day before (more on that later). We loaded back into the van, grabbed the trailer after we got through all the river crossings again, and headed back into Reykjavik for our last night. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08nscQE-NEhLrTI1_oj8mtDhTq7ddUj4JHziDqT_i9llKNJBdc5ctfn5JbBNXLQ9hM_oGm6FvdOg1BdpvGkoJzNk2dF9RaUeIDtZ8040FBZz84CduWCxBtHyS94-s9NpWjnPr8nKxYCCfCa1tZe3CjLnPABTRgcsrlmMW5GJG_JwA691Av9YcVW_K/s2048/thorsmork.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08nscQE-NEhLrTI1_oj8mtDhTq7ddUj4JHziDqT_i9llKNJBdc5ctfn5JbBNXLQ9hM_oGm6FvdOg1BdpvGkoJzNk2dF9RaUeIDtZ8040FBZz84CduWCxBtHyS94-s9NpWjnPr8nKxYCCfCa1tZe3CjLnPABTRgcsrlmMW5GJG_JwA691Av9YcVW_K/s320/thorsmork.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Once back into the city and checked into our hotel, Will and I headed out on a mission to find a tattoo shop to help us commemorate this epic adventure we were on that was winding down. We succeeded when we came across Street Rats Tattoo, and after chatting with the artist, both wound up getting Þetta reddast tattoos, me on my calf and Will on his arm. Initially we had talked about getting a puffin or some other Icelandic animal, but we didn't make it to puffin island so "it will all work out in the end" seemed like a fitting way to punctuate the trip (in Viking script, of course).</p><p>We met back up with the rest of the gang for a quick beer before heading to the last dinner of the trip at an upscale restaurant called the Fish Company, and then back to the hotel lobby bar for the "awards ceremony." It was a great way to cap off the week, and fittingly enough my award was of course the Þetta reddast award. Afterwards, a few of us went out and hit The Drunken Rabbit, an Irish themed bar not far from our hotel, where there was live music playing and Guinness drafts pouring, and managed to close the bar down staying out until 1am. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcYjV8kUcbwgMeQX2Fpz_HqwMgc1vFt8E7NIAaZXBVjqy9qMRmJVUV0B4QYWUY25_Nfxj7NdGHh4wMCI-rWIQD9QElB3gEx35YE2L3xNTGf4aW8csbk2U5uoImcJqLJMJuv1Jrb9YwFcRbfOKBJ5Mizzp9JJT-J8NJUGsahqylBHiOV1tc32qAQ5B/s414/PR.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcYjV8kUcbwgMeQX2Fpz_HqwMgc1vFt8E7NIAaZXBVjqy9qMRmJVUV0B4QYWUY25_Nfxj7NdGHh4wMCI-rWIQD9QElB3gEx35YE2L3xNTGf4aW8csbk2U5uoImcJqLJMJuv1Jrb9YwFcRbfOKBJ5Mizzp9JJT-J8NJUGsahqylBHiOV1tc32qAQ5B/s320/PR.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>Sluggishly, we made it up the next morning to catch the bus to the airport and ultimately our flights home. Before we even managed to make it all the way to our respective cities however, reports started coming in from the group text thread that positive covid tests were hitting a lot of the group. I assumed my sore throat from earlier in the week meant I too would wind up with a positive test once I got home, but somehow I managed to stay negative the entire time I made it back to Austin. Ultimately, everyone seemed to agree that the trip was worth it even if it meant some of us got sick, and the positive outlook was that it seemed no one was symptomatic until they were safely back home and therefore it didn't interfere with any other aspects of the trip. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9uy5k__CAoI6B8Wvc0QtiXUU6ceWlaOobmJgtra_8j2UKee8x239O9M7MoaCVn5KF29ZYsL5eqtfVtr0KoqzZ_0qUnH27o5jV1uV_Pl_5Wt2_j5uF8FQOVHb5A4OTbQb4Y1y-BERTIFgdk5IO5_QZBElVfyfQVxTLWphNibAPQP8dAdYY49iEOhz5/s2048/rek.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9uy5k__CAoI6B8Wvc0QtiXUU6ceWlaOobmJgtra_8j2UKee8x239O9M7MoaCVn5KF29ZYsL5eqtfVtr0KoqzZ_0qUnH27o5jV1uV_Pl_5Wt2_j5uF8FQOVHb5A4OTbQb4Y1y-BERTIFgdk5IO5_QZBElVfyfQVxTLWphNibAPQP8dAdYY49iEOhz5/s320/rek.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>I don't know that anyone will ever read this blog post (or future ones coming after it) but I wanted to ensure I got as many details down from the trip as I could while they were still somewhat fresh, although admittedly it is not October 11th by the time I have finally finished this long post. I am proud of myself for going on another adventure, grateful to Sean, Gunnur and the entire Rogue Expeditions crew for their amazing planning and guiding, and hopeful that I'll continue to be able to take trips like these in the not-so-distant future. SKÁL!<p></p><br /><p><br /></p>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-24252229218349101462017-07-22T13:49:00.001-07:002017-07-22T13:50:35.942-07:00What is Wealth to You?I realized that I haven't been writing much the past few years, and when I have been it has revolved around sharing memories from vacation experiences I have had. So I thought it was time to start "journaling" again and not focus so much on only highlighting epic moments in my life. I'd like to be able to look back and also remember the thoughts and feelings I was having on a more regular, real-life basis. So, here is my first post in that direction.<br />
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I recently began reading Tim Ferris' book called "Tools of Titans" after my good friend Chris gave it to me for my birthday. Within, Ferris highlights tricks from different people he has interviewed throughout his life, mostly on his podcast "The Tim Ferris Show." I was listening to one of those podcasts episodes on a Saturday afternoon on my way back from San Marcos, where I had class as part of my graduate degree program. Now I have to admit, this podcast (both this specific episode and in general) is not my favorite, because Ferris can often times come across as a very self-absorbed douchebag. And yes, I see the irony in the fact that I am making that statement while writing a blog post that I am assuming other people will read, but here we are. In this particular episode, Ferris was answering questions his listeners had voted on via Twitter, and as I sat my cruise control to 75 and was only half listening to his answers, he said something that actually hit home with me.<br />
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"Wealth is not stuff, wealth is time."</h3>
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Now, out of context, this may not make much sense. But ultimately what it boiled down to was that Ferris was pointing out how he does not value materialistic things as much as other people he might encounter in his highly successful career, but rather he enjoys the freedom his success has given him. This freedom affords him the opportunities to test the tips and tricks he writes about in "Tools of Titans." His "wealth" allows him to choose experiences over "stuff" if he so chooses. His success gives him the flexibility to do what he wants, where he wants, when he wants. My ears popped up when I heard this, because that is exactly what I want for my life.<br />
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I've typically had a hard time explaining to people that I've never really felt motivated by money. I view myself as a hard-worker, and I am notorious in all my past jobs for never being late and rarely missing work due to illness or otherwise. However, most of my childhood I was fortunate enough to have the freedom to do whatever I pleased. School came easy to me, so there was never much stress involved with grades or homework. Sports also were second nature to me, probably because of the freedom my hardworking parents allowed me to have that basically translated into me playing any and every sport I wanted, whenever I wanted, wherever I wanted. Unfortunately, this did not translate well into my adult life. Despite my youthful dreams, I was not naturally physically gifted enough to turn sports into a profession. And despite obtaining degrees with relative ease, I had no direction for what I would do with my career as I transitioned into adult life.<br />
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Picking a major for my undergrad was difficult, as I was good at a lot of things but never great at any one thing (I made the exact same score on math as I did on verbal on my SAT's - 600/600, for example). I started in psychology, and ended up with a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Development - that to this day I have never used. I just hoped my interpersonal skills might bode well for me in that field. The goal of moving to Austin blinded me to what the next step would be once I got here, because I was sure that getting here would lead to me being happier. I succeeded in getting here, but it didn't take long for me to start asking myself "well now what?"<br />
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Since then I've had jobs in customer service, sales, marketing, and even as a photographer, but could not figure out a calling or a passion. The goal of making money has never been my endgame, it has simply been the means to an end. Whether that be to continue to live Austin, travel more, or now to pay for graduate school, it has never been the idea of "wealth" that has propelled me forward. It is that longing for freedom, the ability to work on projects I am interested in, or passionate about, and the flexibility to work on those projects when and where I feel I would be most productive and/or happy. Knowing that, my smart and loving wife helped me find a graduate degree program in a field (Mass Communications in Digital Media) that hopefully will help me end up in an environment that resembles at least some of those goals.<br />
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It seems funny that most of us work jobs we don't like simply in the pursuit of financial wealth, just so we can purchase things that we hope will distract us from the unhappiness we feel in other aspects of our life. What is the point in having a car that is so expensive you are afraid to drive it? Or that in order to afford it you have to work so much that you don't have the time to drive it? I know I am not the first person exclaiming this feeling of wanderlust and wanting flexibility to not have to "keep up with Joneses," but I feel compelled to ask the people close enough to me that took the time to read this all the way through... <b>what is wealth to you?</b><br />
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<br />Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-8438772426098442242017-01-27T10:15:00.002-08:002017-01-27T10:20:00.995-08:00South by South AmericaBack in March, I was fortunate enough to use my week off from graduate school to visit my father. At the time, he was teaching English in the city of Quito, located in Andes mountains of Ecuador in South America. It was a chance to get out of Austin during one of the busiest weeks of the year, SXSW, and see my dad for the first time in over 6 months. Now, over 6 months later, I am reflecting back on the journey, which was my first time traveling internationally outside of going to Mexico for my senior trip after graduating high school.<br />
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Earlier that previous Fall, I actually had to go through the long process of getting my passport before I could take the trip, meaning I didn't have one until I was 28 years old (all I needed was a birth certificate to go to Mexico at the time). Once I was over that hurdle, I booked my flight, and let my dad know that his Christmas present was that I was officially coming to visit him. We were both very excited that we would get to share the experience together.<br />
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My flight to Quito included a long layover in Miami, were talking 8 hours, which I spent in an Irish pub in the airport drinking one too many pints of Guinness, because despite having taken long flights before, I was still pretty anxious about both the flight and the trip in general. However, I lucked out with an exit row seat (on the biggest plane I have ever been on), which meant I had plenty of legroom for the remaining 6 hour flight. I landed at the Quito Mariscal Sucre International Airport around 10:30 PM local time, and earned my first passport stamp. I met my dad just outside the baggage claim, excited that my checked bag had also made it to South America with me. We took a long but seemingly tame cab ride to his apartment, caught up while watching a soccer game on TV, and tried to get some rest for the big week my father had planned for us that would begin the next morning.<br />
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We awoke early on Sunday morning, and my dad made us breakfast. Then we set out on first "big venture." We walked through the mostly empty city streets down to the closest bus station, and took the bus to Parque La Carolina, essentially Quito's version of Central Park. There were people walking dogs, rollerblading, playing soccer, basketball, and volleyball. We walked past the soccer stadium across the street, and bought passes for a bus tour that would take us outside the city to Pululahua and Mitad del Mundo. We got to sit up top on the double-decker bus, and the hour long bus ride took us through a lot of the city, which had a very impressive graffiti art scene that covered a lot of the walls we passed by.<br />
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Our first stop of the tour was the Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve. "Pululahua" means “cloud of water” or fog, and is a collapsed volcano that erupted over 2500 years ago. The view overlooking the now extremely fertile valley was impressive. I was thankful I brought my GoPro for the trip, which<br />
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provided some great wide angled shots, and I had to own up shamelessly to using the "selfie stick" I brought along as well. Another interesting thing about Quito is how drastically the weather changes throughout the course of a single day. As you can see in the picture, I have on a pullover plus a rain jacket, when I started the day in a t-shirt and was sweating while siting in the park. Bringing layers everywhere we went was something dad had thankfully prepared me for.<br />
There was also a performer playing a pan flute, which if you've seen that episode of South Park would understand why I found that so funny.<br />
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Next on the tour, we went to Intinan Museum. This museum was small, but very informative, which appealed to my history teaching father. We got to take our photos while standing on the equator line. The demonstrations the guides provided were fun, such as showing how water swirled in different directions when funneled through a hole while on opposite sides of the equator, shrunken heads, and tribal dances. The next leg of the tour took us to the Ciudad Mitad del Mundo, or "Middle of the World," which is a large monument constructed in 1979 to honor a French expedition in 1736 to map the equatorial line. We enjoyed some local beers and coffee at the shops nearby before taking the bus back into the city and heading back to the apartment. It was a great first day.<br />
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The next morning, we headed down to Centro Histórico, or "Old Town," which is the oldest part of Quito, to witness the weekly changing of the palace guards at the presidential palace on Plaza Grande or Independence Plaza. The President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, appeared on the balcony and waved to all of us in the crowd. It was the first time I have ever seen a president of a country in person before. It was cool to see the long standing tradition in person, as guards lined the square, road in on horses, and there were even police present in riot gear. Unplanned, we ended up running into some people my dad knew from the church he had been attending while living there, and we all went to grab coffee and lunch together after the ceremony concluded.<br />
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After lunch, we walked to the Basílica del Voto Nacional, which the largest neo-Gothic basilica in the Americas. Building began in 1892, and I had never seen a church this big before in person. It reminded me of the types of architecture you would find in Spain. We climbed the steps to the top of the spires, where we had magnificent views of the most historic parts of Ecuador. Although we did not visit another famous landmark in Quito, the "Virgen de Quito" statue atop El Panecillo, we had a great view of the hill and the statue atop from the church. You can see the spires and the statue in the picture to the right. I was impressed with the beauty of the architecture in this part of Quito.<br />
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Our next stop in this part of the city would be a hostel I had read about online that was supposed to have a great rooftop bar. My dad had warned me that he hadn't experienced a lot of nightlife since he had been in the city, so I wanted to try and find somewhere laid back where we could drink a few beers and maybe meet some other travelers. It took a little exploring to find the appropriately named Secret Garden hostel, we found our way onto the roof and rested our weary feet on the beautiful patio, drinking tall bottles of South American beer. Originally I thought we might just have one or two and head home, but we began getting into convesation with interesting travelers from Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, and other interesting places. As the sun set, a fire was started in the pit and dinner was served, so we stayed and watched the historic downtown light up. We shared stories and cigarettes with our new friends, and if I ever find myself in Quito again in the future, I know exactly where I will be staying.<br />
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The next morning, we had breakfast and then took a cab to a popular gondola called the Teleferico, which takes visitors up a few thousand feet on the western slopes of Pichincha, an active volcano. We got there early enough to be one of the first people up the mountain, and our early arrival also ensured a clearer view of the city before the inevitable clouds blew in for the typical afternoon rain showers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYN7-uoK6tWnfVw0Jz-TVTi4amW3WzLUaZATeZnF2eH_b2QI7pg4uWOyS_iyB79NmBLFqiCSYANirt-1OOIGP94C0IKnyIRJ7ZIKGoBFM0iPURLmv3EeVVQRVeNopbVRHHrgogTKBSsyM/s1600/995346_10100213219460319_1053390865996876430_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYN7-uoK6tWnfVw0Jz-TVTi4amW3WzLUaZATeZnF2eH_b2QI7pg4uWOyS_iyB79NmBLFqiCSYANirt-1OOIGP94C0IKnyIRJ7ZIKGoBFM0iPURLmv3EeVVQRVeNopbVRHHrgogTKBSsyM/s400/995346_10100213219460319_1053390865996876430_n.jpg" width="400" /></a>From the Teleferico, there are trails you can follow that take you up the rest of the mountain volcano, which dad had ventured up a few times (but never all the way to the top). After about an hour or so of hiking (which is a lot more difficult than it sounds at that altitude - over 10,000 feet) we reached a sketchy part of the trail, which is where my dad had turned around each time he had made it that far when previously hiking up there. We thought about turning back, but earlier on our hike had picked up a solo traveler (ironically enough also from Texas) and when we saw him successfully maneuver the part of the trail to continue on-ward, we decided we too would try to take on the mountain. After that, we caught up with some more hikers (this time from Holland), and we felt a little bit better about continuing up the sometimes treacherous trail. After a couple hours, we made it all the way to the top! At over 14,000 feet, it was definitely a challenging experience, but both dad and I knew we were thankful to have done it. It's not everyday you can say you climbed to the top of a mountain volcano in South America!<br />
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Having not been quite properly prepared to be hiking for 6+ hours, we were exhausted (and dehydrated / famished) by the time we got back down the mountain. So after eating, we spent the rest of the day recovering at dad's apartment. We knew we needed to get our rest of the rest of the week.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpTWHKhPx-O31BbnFjOBKZqqDx9-kUSIXbvJK_3FDv-bMPQKc-vcPWxGZDOFsoUhGQXvGLJxzyj_2WDGNA2XDM_OPCD6pOWwfD33gU6onwalV_wqhPuRhi_8-H0t5AD6OooP6WH08O_M/s1600/12376357_10100213222633959_6955226425013786458_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpTWHKhPx-O31BbnFjOBKZqqDx9-kUSIXbvJK_3FDv-bMPQKc-vcPWxGZDOFsoUhGQXvGLJxzyj_2WDGNA2XDM_OPCD6pOWwfD33gU6onwalV_wqhPuRhi_8-H0t5AD6OooP6WH08O_M/s320/12376357_10100213222633959_6955226425013786458_n.jpg" width="240" /></a>The next morning, we packed up and caught a bus to another bus station, where we would board a different bus to take us outside of Quito and into the jungle. We were headed to Mindo, Ecuador, known for it's "Cloud Forest." It was a nice change of pace from the hustle and bustle of Quito, and after an only somewhat terrifying couple of hours on the bus on some windy mountain roads, we arrived in the sleepy tourist town of Mindo. Dad had been here before as well, and had found a great hotel for us to stay in. We checked in, dropped off our bags, and found a restaurant to eat at right on the river which runs through town. We sipped beers, and watched as dozens of hummingbirds fed on the feeders hanging around the patio we were sitting on. We spent a long time here just soaking in the sound of the river, talking with the different travelers, and enjoying the time getting to spend together. Afterwards, we took advantage of the ping pong table back at our hotel. That night, the owner of our hotel had his band perform for the guests, playing authentic Peruvian and Ecuadorian music including pan flutes, and it felt like we were getting our own SXSW experience all the way down in the Cloud Forest. It was also nice to end the night in a real bed versus the somewhat uncomfortable couch I had been sleeping on back in Quito.<br />
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The next morning, we took a taxi down a very wet, muddy, potholed filled mountain road to the "Terabit," which is a cable-car that takes visitors over the top of the Cloud Forest canopy and over to the other side where there are trails you can hike to a bunch of different waterfalls. Despite my fear of heights (and the somewhat sketchy looking cable car that was powered by an old car engine) it was awesome to be gliding across the top of the jungle. We hiked for a few hours to a couple different waterfalls, and I couldn't help but get in the water at one of them (despite some reservations about a certain kind of fish we had heard about on an earlier tour...). It was one of the most green places I have ever seen in person, and was a great way to spend St. Patrick's Day. We were enjoying Mindo so much that we decided to stay an extra night, taking in the live music one more time before departing back to Quito the following morning.<br />
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Once back in Quito, I began packing up my stuff since I would be leaving the next day. We spend time in the garden behind my dad's apartment building, enjoying the beautiful view of the mountains. We went to dinner in a nice part of town and had a great meal with some terrific wine, then casually walked through the city back to dad's apartment. We woke up the next morning to go have some breakfast and coffee, and then grabbed a cab back to the airport. A tear-filled hug, and back to America and reality I went. It was absolutely the trip of a lifetime, and I am so grateful I got to spend time with my dad and best friend for my first trip abroad. Dad successfully moved back to Texas, and I am so proud of him for taking the leap to do something he had always wanted to do which was live abroad. He truly is the most interesting man in the world. I hope we can both look back at this post and relive such a wonderful trip, and I hope we get to take another one somewhere like this again sometime soon! Thanks for reading, Cheers!<br />
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<br />Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-36973429122434954712016-11-22T11:30:00.001-08:002016-11-22T11:34:15.320-08:00NYC Marathon Playlist<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">(as originally written for and posted by KTSW San Marcos</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://ktswblog.net/2016/11/18/jordan-cooper-nyc-marathon-playlist/">https://ktswblog.net/2016/11/18/jordan-cooper-nyc-marathon-playlist/</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">On November 6, 2016 I was lucky enough to be one of 50,000 people who got to run the New York City Marathon. The race began in Staten Island, and made its way through all five boroughs including Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and ending in Central Park in Manhattan. Throughout almost the entire 26.2 mile course, there were crowds cheering us runners on, which is why the NYC Marathon is referred to as New York’s biggest block party. It was estimated that over one million people came out to cheer us on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Despite the overwhelming crowd support, occasional on-course live music, and epic views of one of the greatest city’s in the world, there was no way I could have survived the four and half hours it took me to complete the race without a playlist rocking in my bluetooth headphones. The night before, as I tried to get some rest in the Airbnb I was staying in, I had to figure out what I wanted to be included in this playlist. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I knew I wanted to avoid starting the race too fast, which is a common mistake for first time marathoners such as myself. So I started off my NYC playlist with </span><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">Tycho</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">. Their new album “Epoch” was the perfect ambient soundtrack to keep my mind and body away from moving too fast as I made my way over the Verrazano–Narrows Bridge. I got to enjoy the view of Manhattan off in the distance across the bay as I made my way into Brooklyn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">In Brooklyn, I wanted to keep the chill vibes going, but also find my rhythm as we entered the crowds on the roads cheering us on. I stuck with the electronic feel and went with </span><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">ODESZA</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">. Their album “In Return” has long been one of my favorites to run to during training, as it provides melodic beats to find my pace with and soak in the neighborhoods like Bay Ridge we were running through. By the time we got to the infinitely hip Williamsburg, one of Brooklyn’s best bands came on as if by fate: </span><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">LCD Soundsystem</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">’s “<i>This is Happening</i>” provided the soundtrack for the rest of the second borough, and I may or may not have run one of my fastest miles to “Dance Yrself Clean.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">As we passed over the Pulaski Bridge and into Queens, passing the halfway mark of the race, </span><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">Glass Animals</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">’ newest album “<i>How to Be a Human Being</i>” took over, and it felt like perfect timing for this upbeat album as the crowds grew larger, louder, and rowdier. I was feeling great, smiling from ear to ear as I occasionally even sang along aloud to some of my favorite tracks like “Youth” and “Poplar St.” As we crossed over the Queensboro bridge and into Manhattan for the first time, my playlist got a little grittier for the first time, as </span><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">Queens of the Stone Age</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> blared guitar rifts into my ears for most of my trip up First Avenue. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZXZ0SPEVil5ucTqv5jPKn3Ickz2zjrR8tlS2UXRO3TLdmn7pCOFlsk0t76sP-w0d9G7fftKdKvn7bQb6A0vJInK6ge8ZXJtpe4Wd2akOjILI88_l96LA9h6hmXcDBtgi09x9dvGd8OE/s1600/578215_241946490_XLarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZXZ0SPEVil5ucTqv5jPKn3Ickz2zjrR8tlS2UXRO3TLdmn7pCOFlsk0t76sP-w0d9G7fftKdKvn7bQb6A0vJInK6ge8ZXJtpe4Wd2akOjILI88_l96LA9h6hmXcDBtgi09x9dvGd8OE/s400/578215_241946490_XLarge.jpg" width="265" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;">As I made my way into the Bronx, with it came my all-time favorite band </span><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">Radiohead</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">, whom I have already written a lengthy blog post about for KTSW earlier this semester. As much as I love everything Thom Yorke touches, it was almost ironic that this would be who I would be listening to as I hit the wall as runners call it, and began struggling in the race for the first time. Although it only lasted between miles 21 and 23 of the race as I returned back to Manhattan, I will always remember how terrible I felt when I heard “Everything In Its Right Place” during my first marathon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">At mile 23, I was surprised to see my wife cheering me on, and even coaxed her into running a couple of blocks with me, which provided me a much needed pick-me-up (along with the energy gels I had consumed a few minutes earlier). As I entered Central Park to finish the last two miles, my favorite album of 2015 was there to take me home. </span><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">Tame Impala</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">’s “<i>Currents</i>” is one that I continually find myself coming back to, and I sped through the crowds to “New Person, Same Old Mistakes.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I finished the race in 4:34:15, running negative splits (meaning I ran the second half of the race faster than I ran the first half) which is hard to do on a challenging course like this one. I could not have done it without the amazing volunteers at the water aid stations, my beautiful wife surprising me towards the end, and the playlist I put together just a few hours before the race. What are some of your favorite albums to run to? Which ones should I include in my future races? Let me know in the comments below!</span></div>
Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-1679336264138598072016-11-22T11:29:00.001-08:002016-11-22T11:32:33.962-08:00The EDM Transition<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">(as originally written for and posted by KTSW San Marcos</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://ktswblog.net/2016/11/13/accepting-the-edm-transition/">https://ktswblog.net/2016/11/13/accepting-the-edm-transition/</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">We all have that one friend. The one who never misses an electronic music festival. Who prefers furry boots to sneakers. Who only listens to music that sounds like an old computer trying to connect to the internet via dial-up. And if you haven’t been to a show that didn’t involve glow sticks in years, then you very well may be that friend. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I am not here to criticize your taste in music. In fact, I myself have been to countless EDM shows in my 20’s. But as I come within months of my 30th birthday, I thought I would try to help broaden the horizons of some of those people who insist they only like DJ’s or people who wear a giant mouse-head when they perform. Because regardless of how much you love dancing all night to dubstep or house or trance, eventually you will reach a point when you just can’t hang like you used to.</span></div>
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That’s where I’d like to step in, and introduce you to the EDM Transition. There are tons of bands out there that are heavily influenced by the EDM movement, or influenced the very DJ’s you find yourself blaring in your car as you drive to your early morning classes to try and wake you up. As fun as it can be to watch someone push a couple of buttons to play that catchy hook you can’t get out of your head, (I am looking at you “</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">The Chainsmokers</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">”) I think you’ll find that not only are some of these artists in your wheelhouse, but seeing them perform live with real musical instruments might take seeing your passion for “live music” to an entirely new level.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The first transition can be entirely painless. Many artists are already combining EDM with live instruments when they perform. Take </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Big Gigantic</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">, and similar artist </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Griz</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">, as an example. Both of these acts add a saxophone to their tracks, and if you have never seen someone blow on a sax over some heavy beats, then you are truly missing out. Similarly, Pretty Lights Music artists </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Break Science</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> incorporate keyboards and live drums with electronic elements. Consider these baby steps out of EDM and into more conventional music genres.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Next, if you insist on the visual elements of EDM shows and festivals, I would recommend the “jam-band” groups. Some of my favorites include </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">STS9</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">, </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Thievery Corporation</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">, and I throw local Austin legend </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Ghostland Observatory </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">into this category when they are touring. Others would include </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Phish</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> and </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Widespread Panic</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">, to name a few. At these shows, you’ll get a lot of the same elements you get at EDM festivals, some of which I won’t go into too deeply here. But all typically have incredible set designs and light shows that help captivate the audience along with their large bands full of multiple instruments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The electronic acts playing with a full band trend continues with groups such as </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Emancipator</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">, </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Beats Antique</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">, and </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Bonobo</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">. The bands play live renditions of studio material, with a singer, and often times additional band members such as a keyboardist, guitarist, saxophonist, string section, electronics, and drummer. Even traditional DJ’s who typically focus on the old-school style of spinning music on wax records, such as </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Wax Tailor </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">and </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">RJD2</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">, have begun touring with full live bands in support of their albums. You can catch both of them at Empire in Austin in the next few months.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Many artists do not identify as electronic music bands, although their music is in my opinion very influenced by the genre. Some of these include </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Tycho</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">, </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">SOHN</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">, </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Neon Indian</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">, and </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Washed</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Out</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">. These groups incorporate electronic elements into their songs, and provide a nearly seamless transition away from EDM and into more alternative and indie music genres, the kind we like to play here at KTSW. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Even some of the most popular bands in the world have heavy electronic elements incorporate into their process. I have been pleasantly surprised by both </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Bon Iver</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> and </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">James Blake’s</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> newest albums, which both have added new sounds and effects into their more folk sound. My two favorite bands also give and take to and from the electronic community. Both </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Radiohead</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> and </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Nine Inch Nails</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> have been pioneering in pushing the boundaries in mainstream, alternative rock and adding sounds they could not have produced with instruments alone.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">So next time you get in the car and plug your phone in, instead of listening to that </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Major Lazer </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">song for the 100th time this week, consider trying out some of these options as an alternative. I think you’ll be surprised how much you’ll enjoy these and still feel like you are getting your EDM fill.</span></div>
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Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-14684509603134273572016-11-22T11:21:00.002-08:002016-11-22T11:34:07.767-08:00Going Solo<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">When I first move to Austin at the beginning of 2010, the chance to see live music consistently played a big part in my decision to relocate there. Growing up in a conservative East Texas town, getting to see bands perform was rare. After attending SXSW in Austin in 2002 and visiting friends in the city often while I was in college, I saw that it lived up to the hype as being the “Live Music Capital of the World.” However, once I got there, I ran into a problem: What do I do when I want to go see a show and no one wants to go with me?</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Despite having friends living in Austin already, not all of them were as eager to go see bands they had never heard of at small clubs and bars on random weekday nights as I was. I will admit that at first I was hesitant to go alone. It was definitely outside of my comfort zone. Who do I talk to in between sets? Who do I turn to and yell “this band is awesome!” or “this song sucks” to? I had only had concert experiences with friends in the past, so it felt a little awkward to be standing in a crowd alone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">My mindset completely changed during my first time attending Austin City Limits in 2010. Although I showed up to the festival with a group, it was inevitable for us to get separated once bathroom breaks and beer runs started. I found myself alone, floating my way through the crowds. Once I came to terms with the fact that it was highly unlikely I would find my group again, I felt a sense of freedom in the fact that I could now essentially do whatever I wanted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Gone were the worries of checking to see if everyone could see the stage, if anyone needed to use the restroom, the debates of when to leave this set to make it to another one across the park. I realized that although I had lost my friends, I had 70,000 other “friends” in the park all there to enjoy the festival just like me. I witnessed LCD Soundsystem deliver an electric performance as the sun set behind the crowd, tried flirting with Warpaint for the first time from the front row, and held up Wayne Coyne from the Flaming Lips in his plastic encasing as he walked out into the crowd. From that moment on, I realized seeing concerts alone may not only be enjoyable, but might actually be preferable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">There is a lot of coordinating that goes into attending shows with a group of people. When and where do we meet? How close does everyone want to get? Will we be able to find each other if we need to go to the bathroom? These can all cause stress before the show even starts. It can be even worse when going with a significant other. The worrying about their experience can actually take away from your own personal enjoyment of the concert. There is also the dreaded “can we leave early?” question that can arise. “Leave early? And miss the encore? Are you crazy?!” Speaking from experience, this can lead to tension, both during the show and long after the concert is over.</span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Going to a venue alone gives you the flexibility to move through the crowd and find a spot that is just perfect for you and you alone. We all come in different shapes and sizes, so when you are in a group it is not always easy to find somewhere that suits everyone. Rolling solo also eliminates distractions. While I agree sometimes it is great to share concert experience with friends or significant others, there are also times when you want to focus on the show itself and get lost in the music, and not have your chatty Cathy friend next you trying to show you their Snapchat. Which reminds me, while we are on the topic of concert etiquette…<br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>If you are going to a show so you can chat with your friends, go to a bar instead so the rest of us can hear the band we paid to see! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Please excuse me while I step down from my grumpy old man soapbox, but seriously - if you are talking loudly with your friends during a headlining set of a show, have some courtesy and either save it for afterwards or consider moving to the back of the crowd. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">So next time you want to go check out a band, consider only putting one ticket in your cart at checkout. Get there when you want, grab the perfect spot, and enjoy the undistracted and stress free environment of getting lost in the music. You may never want to go with a group again!</span></div>
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Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-42812243261571709272016-08-25T12:45:00.003-07:002016-08-25T12:48:23.153-07:00Rockport - August 2016Last week I visited Massachusetts for the second time with my wife. The first time we came was in December of 2013, just a few months after we started dating, so that I could meet her father who lives in Rockport just outside of Boston. It just so happened that the week we were there was one of the coldest weeks they have had in that area in almost 25 years, and I also managed to catch the flu during the flight. But despite single digit temperatures outside and trying to contain my triple digit body temperature inside, we managed to have a fun trip which included touring Fenway Park and catching a game at the Garden to watch the Celtics play the Knicks. We also spent a day in Rockport, which was the day it snowed over half a foot. Seeing snow fall that hard while also looking at the ocean was a surreal experience for me.<br />
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This time, we were smart and decided not to visit the Northeast during the winter, and would be seeing Boston and the coast in the middle of August. Amanda has been visiting the area for most of her life, as her father has lived in Rockport since she was 4, so visiting for her feels as much as a homecoming as it does a vacation. I have been lucky enough to go to Ecuador to visit my father earlier this year, and more recently took a trip to Lake Tahoe with Rogue Expeditions (see previous blog post for a recap of that trip), so I was excited about getting to take one more trip before we both start the Fall semester of our graduate school programs.<br />
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After early flights, we arrived around lunch time and her dad picked us up at the airport and drove us the hour or so out to Rockport, where we ate lunch on a patio overlooking Cape Ann and the Atlantic Ocean. We ate clam chowder and caught up, and then headed to his condo to unpack and get settled. After a short jog around town to shake out our legs, the evening was spent telling stories and laughing, and once in bed, we stayed up to watch Benjamin Button all the way through despite being exhausted from our 3 AM wake up call that morning.<br />
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On Friday, Amanda met with a higher up at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for lunch to network and learn more about the hospital, and her father and I strolled down Newbury Street, a popular shopping and eating destination in the heart of the city. My father in law proceeded to give me excellent life advice over our lunch, which is typical when spending time with him. When we picked up Amanda after her meeting, she was beaming with excitement for having gotten to see a lot of Mass Gen and share her ideas for her future with a fellow UT graduate. We stopped for ice cream on the way back to Rockport, and settled in for a movie that night.<br />
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The next morning, I decided to go on a running adventure and run along the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway to the Annisquam Lighthouse about 6 miles away from where we were staying. The road itself lived up to its name, and the Light(house) at the end of the tunnel was stunningly beautiful. People commenting on the photo I posted to social media asked if it was really a photo I took, or rather a picture of a painting I was posting. I had not been prepared for how beautiful the coast is in the Northeast during this time of year. Even the rocks were beautiful. That night Amanda and I shared a romantic dinner at the same balcony restaurant we ate lunch at the first day, and watched the sunset over the sleepy town.<br />
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On Sunday, Amanda and I rented bikes and explored Rockport on two wheels. The houses are a combination of historic, huge, and beautiful, and come in all shades of colors. We finished the bike ride with a dip in the ocean at Front Beach, which added to the bodies of water I have gone swimming in this calendar year (Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador, Lake Tahoe, now the Atlantic Ocean). We ended our day watching Memento, which we had never seen.<br />
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It was bittersweet having to head home the next day, as we felt as though we had just gotten comfortable and relaxed in our little beach condo getaway. But it was great to finally get to take a trip together, as we had both traveled without each other over the course of our first year of marriage, but hadn't taken a trip together since right after we got in engaged over 2 years ago to Portland. While it can be good to have those breaks away from each other at times, trips like these remind us that we truly are each other's best friend, and it left us feeling refreshed before we both get busy in the grind this Fall.<br />
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<br />Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-86962626193376899662016-08-23T12:53:00.002-07:002016-08-25T12:15:42.004-07:00Running with Strangers<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Almost
exactly two years ago I joined my first training group at Rogue Running in
Austin, Texas and was invited by my coach to come listen to an informational
meeting about a run based traveling company called Rogue Expeditions. I sipped
on a beer and watched intently as this couple named Allison and Gabe described
how their love for running and traveling had led them to start this company,
which included trips to locations such as Kenya, Patagonia and Morocco. I
remember being struck by how passionately the couple talked about wanting to
create memorable adventures for those who signed up for their trips. Going on
one immediately went on my bucket list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Flash
forward to two weeks ago, as I was boarding a flight to Reno, Nevada where I
would be picked up along with five other first-time Rogue Expedition trip
takers to be the 2016 group to #RunTahoe. I had hardly slept the night before
due to excitement, yet ultimately still did not really know what to expect. I
would be staying in a cabin with strangers, visiting a part of the country I
had never been to, and logging my longest week of miles this calendar year (not
to mention logging those miles via trail running which was also not something I
had done a lot of). So the sleepless night of excitement may have also had
twinges of nervousness mixed in. However, I managed to make my short connection
at LAX and arrived safely in Reno (as did my checked luggage) and was greeted
at the baggage claim by a very cheery Allison and other runners in the group.
The excitement from everyone was palpable, and even one participant whose
luggage had not arrived with her flight was still in great spirits as we all
began to bond in the car ride to our lodge for the next five days. Pretty
quickly my nerves about vacationing with strangers began to subside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> For runners, bonding is not a new
concept. There is the bond created from sharing the misery of training runs.
There is the amazing atmosphere created before, during, and after races in
which there is always a feeling of celebration. There is that shared runners
high when sharing a drink or meal that feels truly earned. I have also found
that it is often easy to bond with other travelers. When you meet other people
away from home, you get to share stories, and people seem to really open up
when they are out of the comfort zone of their daily routines. These two
different ways of connecting with people are merged in this environment
cultivated by Rogue Expeditions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">After
arriving at the cabin and getting to meet everyone in the group, we set off on
our first run of the trip. The Donner Lake Rim Trail would give us amazing
views of Donner Lake, where the infamous Donner party was stranded in the
1840’s, and we would get to cross over the famed Pacific Crest Trail. Running
at altitude can be a bit of an adjustment, but the amazing views and perfect
weather distracted us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Gabe, Allison, and our other guide Sarah were
all very gifted in the kitchen, and each meal prepared by them provided perfect
fuel for the adventures we were having during the trip. We had everything from
Thai food to fajitas to steaks, and being able to have home cooked meals only
added to the family vibe of the trip. On day two, we ran the Rubicon Trail,
ending with a picnic on a secluded beach right on Lake Tahoe in the popular
area of Emerald Bay. The cold water was refreshing as we ate and took photos of
the amazing views around us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Day three was the long run, which
consisted of 14 miles on one of the most popular trails in the world – the
Flume Trail. The views of Lake Tahoe from high up on this trail are incredible,
and neither my words nor my pictures can do them justice. The pace for everyone
on this run was slow, as we knew we would be stopping frequently to take
pictures. We once again ended with a picnic on a beach, this time eating
Argentinian styled wraps and climbing on the boulders of Chimney Beach. Back at
our cabin, the group bonded over Cards Against Humanity and crossword puzzles,
and the atmosphere continued to feel more like a family reunion then a house
full of people who had just met days before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The fourth day was meant for
recovery, but multiple people got up early to go on an extra run before the
scheduled trail so that one of the group members who had to leave early from
the trip would not have to run alone. The scheduled run took us through the
abandoned tunnels of the transcontinental railroad. It was incredible to see
the amazing graffiti artwork within the tunnels, and seeing tunnels carved
and/or blasted through the sides of mountains was impressive. After another
picnic, we headed to the Truckee River to go whitewater rafting. Truly living
up to their promise of epic adventures, the hours on the river were a great
change of pace from the trail running.</span></div>
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the final morning, everyone woke up and run the “optional” last run to Moriah
Point overlooking the Royal Gorge. Once again, the views did not disappoint,
and it was hard knowing we would have to say goodbye to our little cabin on the
Serene Lakes. As we began departing, genuine hugs and warm wishes were shared,
and plans were already beginning to circulate for when we could all get
together again for a reunion. It was not surprising to any of us that a lot of
people end up signing up for multiple Rogue Expedition trips. I recently wrote
a blog post for Rogue Running about joining a running group and finding a
family, and that theme again permeates my feelings towards this trip. The
connections shared, the experiences that Rogue Expeditions cultivated for us
will never be forgotten by everyone who attended. Every detail was taken care of
for us, and all we had to do was show up, run, and enjoy the views. I can’t
wait to sign up for my next trip, and hope my words will inspire others to do
the same. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-73770998113557179362016-08-23T12:38:00.001-07:002016-08-25T12:17:36.059-07:00I joined a running group to make friends, and instead I found a family<div>
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<i>(As originally posted for Rogue Running in Austin, Texas)</i><div>
<i>https://roguerundown.wordpress.com/2016/07/06/i-joined-a-running-group-to-make-friends-and-instead-found-a-family/</i><br />
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In August 2014, I decided to join a training group at Rogue Running in Austin, Texas. I had just gotten engaged to my now wife, whom I met on Tinder (which is a story for another time), and was coming to the realization that as I had grown in my relationship with her, I had lost some of the friendships I had previous to meeting her. Although I graduated from college about a month before moving to Austin, my first four years in the Violet Crown could be viewed more as the “party” portion of my life than the four years I spent in college in my hometown in East Texas. However, most of the friendships I had made during that time were based more around going out and drinking than on something I could consider a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. As I moved down the path towards marriage, my time spent on the bar scene lessened, and I realized I needed a way to meet people that would be a little more conducive to my new, attempting-to-be adult lifestyle.</div>
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I learned about Rogue from a friend who had successfully run her first marathon while training with one of their groups. Previous to joining, I had casually trained for and successfully run a number of 10k’s and half marathons, which I did as almost a form of justification for my indulgent lifestyle. It was also somewhat meditative for me, the solitude of pounding the trails or pavement, so I was a little hesitant about running in the August Texas heat with a bunch of strangers. I tried to maintain a positive attitude, especially considering I had at times in my life experienced the infamous “runners high” and figured if I could catch that sense of euphoria occasionally, that surely I could meet 1 or 2 people I might be able to bond with.</div>
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What happened over the course of the next few weeks, months, and now years is a laundry list of life lessons in connecting with people. Running in a group appealed to my competitive nature in a way I had not seen coming, and also reminded me of my past growing up playing team sports including soccer and basketball. I had not imagined a sport as considerably “solo” as running could be groomed and improved thanks to having a team or group around you, taking pleasure in your progress. I also learned that misery truly loves company, and that “embracing the suck” with fellow runners allowed me to overcome mental barriers to run distances I never could have imagined on my casual solo runs of the past. The accountability these connections provided gave me strength on those early Saturday mornings when I did not want to get out of bed to put in the work I had signed myself up for, and at the end of every one of those runs, regardless how I felt during, I always felt accomplished and grateful for the kind words received from the cheerleaders around me. </div>
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Post-run stretches turned into hang outs, dinners, happy hours, holidays, and life events. I even took my turn at coaching a few groups occasionally as an assistant coach for a season. The bonds forged on the roads of Austin have turned into lifelong friendships and a sense of community and family I could not have imagined. As I spent the Fourth of July with over 50 runners who woke up early to run in the hills of West Austin before enjoying some amazing food and fellowship, I could not help but be grateful for the family I have come to feel a part of. As I train for the New York City Marathon this November, I know that I have the support of hundreds of runners who truly want to see me succeed, and it will be those smiles and handshakes, likes on Facebook, and good luck filled text messages that keep me going. I didn’t need an app to find friends; I just needed to go Rogue.</div>
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Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-25211440028517360042014-02-28T09:54:00.001-08:002016-08-23T12:45:25.141-07:00Finding my iSoul Mate<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“How did you meet?” I used to try to avoid this question like the plague when talking to people in regards to me and my girlfriend. People seemingly always put a lot of importance in the validity of a relationship based on how it began. Sure, I admit that even I was guilty of this for a while. I would have preferred some epic chance first encounter like I stopped to help her change a flat tire on the side of a busy highway, or returned her missing cell phone to her and left my number inside, but the reality of today’s modern and mobile world is that leaving meeting someone of substance up to chance encounters leads to a life of loneliness and longing. Even in Austin’s vibrant nightlife and bar scene, working up the courage to talk to someone you find physically attractive is intimidating, and it’s hard to truly get to know someone over club music and stiff drinks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“We met on Tinder.” It’s not glamorous, it isn’t how you imagine your favorite Nichols Sparks’ novel beginning, and it is typically met with a shocking laugh or uneasy smile. But it is how I met my girlfriend and now roommate. For those not familiar with the so-called “dating” app Tinder, it is a mobile app based on a simple concept of “Hot or Not.” Pulling photos users get to choose from their Facebook profiles, Tinder gives people the chance to be as shallow as they want in trying to “connect” with people on the site. You can set a radius of up to 100 miles from your current location, and set parameters for the age range you’d like to see potential matches within. With a simple swipe to the left or right, you decide if the person you are viewing is attractive enough to try to potentially establish a connection with, or if they are better off being sent back to the depths of anonymity. You are only given the opportunity to converse via message with someone if you both give each other the positive swipe or “like.” Which to a lot of people can seemingly mean “like, I would totally do you.” From there, it is up to your own pick-up lines to get you past the potential cat-fishing, virtual relationship stage and into the real, scary world of face-to-face interaction. What did I go with you ask? “You look really familiar, do we know each other?” Don’t worry, I’ll post another entry sometime soon titled “Pick-Up Lines 101.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Tinder can be a lot of things, depending on what you’re looking for and how you go about using it. A lot of people assume that everyone on it is simply looking to “hook-up.” Now I don’t necessarily believe that everyone using it could potentially meet their future spouse, but I have known many people who legitimately try to use the app for its so-called intended purpose: dating. Tinder provides a way to meet people in a world that is obsessed with their iPhones and instant gratification. The “You have a New Match” message you receive whenever someone whose photo you gave a positive swipe to reciprocates that “like” is an undoubtable ego-boost. Couple that with the fact that meeting someone randomly is nearly impossible in the go, go, go fast-paced atmosphere and environment a lot of people (especially in a city like Austin) live in these days, and you’ve got a perfect match… pun intended.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">When explaining how I met my girlfriend to people who are unfamiliar with the app, I try to break it down in simpler terms. If you are single (and not even necessarily unhappily so), whenever you go to a bar, or even Whole Foods, a yoga class, the dog park, etc., you typically are not going to strike up a conversation with someone of the opposite sex unless you find them aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Now, this may sound shallow or unfriendly, but I am a realist and reality is that the first thing people who are either consciously or subconsciously looking for a mate are going to judge is appearance. This is a primal thing. So the fact that the first conversation I ever had with her was following an alert on my phone telling me that she had deemed me attractive, allowed me to come from a place of confidence. Similarly, a female accepting my offer to buy her a drink could have the same effect. The primary difference being that when I sent her that amazing pick-up line of “you look really familiar,” it was coming at a time where we were both at our own homes, completely sober, with very little distractions. So in a way, meeting her on Tinder provided a much easier, safer, and “real” environment to begin to get to know each other than if it had started by me trying to grind up on her at the club. Tinder opened the door, the rest was up to her and I.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A little bit of Facebook creeping, a lot of text message wittiness, and a Snapchat scavenger hunt later, and we were no longer just a virtual fling, but a real life item. Despite having since lessened our social media carbon footprint by deleting most of the aforementioned apps, I honestly believe our relationship would not and could not have begun in any other way. The accessibility of each other’s friends lists, photos, and instant communication all these provided allowed us to get a sense of what the other was like before we ever met, and essentially helped expedite the process that neither one of us even knew we were on or looking for. 9 months later, and we have been happily living together for months, with the rare fights usually stemming from what else but jealousy caused from social media and virtual communication. It’s a slippery slope at times, but I can say with full honesty and confidence that Tinder changed my life. With one swipe, I found the woman I want to marry. And if and when that day I propose comes, and she says yes, you better believe I will be posting about it on social media and sending my story into Tinder so that they can publish our story (and pay for our honeymoon).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Happy hunting Tinder-ers, choose your swipes well. You never know who might be on the other end just waiting to become your new flame. #godblesstinder</span><br />
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Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-84396058196357207032011-12-25T13:16:00.000-08:002011-12-25T14:11:09.206-08:00A Christmas Story<div>You guys might not know this, but I consider myself a bit of a loner. I tend to think of myself as a one-man wolf pack. Some of my gifts this year for Christmas included new tires for my car, and new running shoes for my feet. Both gifts couple well with some of my favorite hobbies: long, often solo road trips... and long, always solo runs. I also have been both self-proclaimed as well as notoriously been dubbed by others as being somewhat of a Grinch and/or Scrooge. After graduating high school, my parents divorce, moving out of the house I grew up in, and a few lack-luster (and at times lonely) Christmases, my sense of jolly had fallen by the wayside. I, for the better part of the last decade, had alienated myself from the Christmas spirit.</div><div><span><br /></span></div><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpMnLHsc65Y3oOCy7iyP4_I5LcoS2XAsnSys4qS3FVeM6D2aERvTnzuru6Vf2xo_5MVKVoCVmbXkWypLq61_T3VqUagjtGEOV7oVj6Mt06AnZsSzAu1cLHpIDCot9n7PMpr_20y8ypbU/s1600/scrooge.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpMnLHsc65Y3oOCy7iyP4_I5LcoS2XAsnSys4qS3FVeM6D2aERvTnzuru6Vf2xo_5MVKVoCVmbXkWypLq61_T3VqUagjtGEOV7oVj6Mt06AnZsSzAu1cLHpIDCot9n7PMpr_20y8ypbU/s320/scrooge.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690190068191278722" /></a><br /></span><div><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div><br /></div></span><div><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Last year, I tried turning over a new leaf. I opened up to the idea of Christmas a little more, got to spend time with my family, and enjoyed seeing the joy on my nephew Jude's face as he opened presents and talked about Santa. It made me long for some of the holidays from my youth, when that special toy, popular shoes, or brand new bike were under the tree. It wasn't a sense of jealousy I felt, considering I was the boy in my kindergarten class who told everyone Santa wasn't real, but more just a longing to be excited about a time of year that everyone else I know looks forward to year round.</span></div><div><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div><div><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">As I departed for East Texas on Friday evening at work, I turned on a playlist of some of my favorite tunes, turned my phone off to save the battery, and began battling the holiday traffic. Once I got close to Tyler, I began contacting friends and making plans for the night. Hours later, I was surrounded by old classmates, friends new and old, ex's and old teachers and bosses, what seemingly felt like all of Tyler. Getting to see so many people I hadn't in a long time, and more importantly seeing my closest friends that I miss all the time was a really good experience. I used to dread going out in Tyler, and still admit to being very snobby about the scene now for obvious reasons of being spoiled to the nightlife available in my new home of Austin. But on this night, I realized that I wasn't out just for the sake of being out, and that I hadn't driven excitedly with a smile on my face all 4 hours to Tyler because I was looking forward to a Jameson and water at Rick's. I was so excited just to be in the presence of good people, the kind of people who have known me my entire life, been there for me through my highs and lows, and genuinely love me despite knowing literally all my faults and flaws. Although I am still bitter that the bar closed at midnight, it was still awesome getting to see so many people, and I woke up Christmas Eve in a great mood, despite the typical hang-over and lack of sleep.</span></div><div><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpW2i8IysVPpnfwbe8QMiqMlPXXPZHfGyccSg1qZzsVh_fYH6YX9D1KrHc6WoyrLKBC4UxMtZ1SA79e8knf3gwDJebkW_3P2BuCpEQpBW1rwv4auLaNnvvbqduyyf9dyp9CYmeQg7AZMA/s1600/P1020732.JPG" style="line-height: 18px; "><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpW2i8IysVPpnfwbe8QMiqMlPXXPZHfGyccSg1qZzsVh_fYH6YX9D1KrHc6WoyrLKBC4UxMtZ1SA79e8knf3gwDJebkW_3P2BuCpEQpBW1rwv4auLaNnvvbqduyyf9dyp9CYmeQg7AZMA/s320/P1020732.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690190669797047570" /></a><br /><div style="line-height: 18px; "><br /></div><div style="line-height: 18px; "><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">I went for a long run at my old spot, Rose Rudman, in the rain, and tried to sweat out the toxins from the night before. After lunch at Jason's with my dad, and watching football with friends for a few hours, I was feeling extremely at home. Like I had never left Tyler, doing all the same things I did throughout high school and college. That evening, I went to my mom's house for presents, food, and drinks. Spending time with my entire family, eating a wonderful meal, sharing stories, exchanging gifts, it was a perfect night. Jude of course was as excited as last year, which was no surprise, but what was shocking to me was the excitement and sheer joy I was feeling as well. The gifts I got were all perfect, despite me not asking or even hinting for any of them, and the gifts I purchased for everyone all turned out to be hits.</span></div><div style="line-height: 18px; "><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 18px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeELnARgxBBLahJeOIranKRyLQrSrvznSs9Na9D8pcu2qX_sOCiNJrSOXYRlDcB0d4qPZgA7AV30Zjl3SwwI_u_pvw3v9JzQIX8xOnpg1JQsoj_H7ITxKEXeNRnQpxnnEbKNmPaHVSpKw/s1600/P1030238.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeELnARgxBBLahJeOIranKRyLQrSrvznSs9Na9D8pcu2qX_sOCiNJrSOXYRlDcB0d4qPZgA7AV30Zjl3SwwI_u_pvw3v9JzQIX8xOnpg1JQsoj_H7ITxKEXeNRnQpxnnEbKNmPaHVSpKw/s320/P1030238.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690191640841067938" /></a></span></div><div style="line-height: 18px; "><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 18px; "><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">This weekend has been hands down one of the best Christmases I've had in years. I wasn't focused on taking pictures to look back on later, I was focusing on making memories that I will look back on forever. As I drove the long drizzly drive back to Austin this morning, it finally dawned on me what my problem had been all those years. The true meaning of Christmas, past all the religious, political, and economical riffraff is about surrounding yourself with the people you love, that love you in return, and being able to share not only food and drinks and presents with them, but more importantly to share with them your feelings. To let them know how much you love them, appreciate them, and are grateful for them. It doesn't matter if you got that iPad you wanted, or if that gift card you gave was warmly received, its about the handshakes, the hugs, the kisses, and the I Love You's that the holidays bring out in everyone.</span></div></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gPJFI3BUhzg8zKKc99Pb2ZcYyz6kvPpi_kFZ4jx2BzYA9mfDVQkyBySlZBsMul7SuRST9iNO9S9Us8ys-LmjLBaPnzfTyLu_5o-teMCBAjx_kX4Pe7MTN0giHxSpz5IDLCrBpzAqeu0/s1600/P1020918.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gPJFI3BUhzg8zKKc99Pb2ZcYyz6kvPpi_kFZ4jx2BzYA9mfDVQkyBySlZBsMul7SuRST9iNO9S9Us8ys-LmjLBaPnzfTyLu_5o-teMCBAjx_kX4Pe7MTN0giHxSpz5IDLCrBpzAqeu0/s320/P1020918.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690189065756453746" /></a><br /></span><div><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div><br /></div></span><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">So just wanted to say to all my friends and family, both the ones I saw this past weekend and the ones I didn't but hope to see soon, I just wanted to let you all know that I love you all, I am extremely grateful and appreciative of all the love, support, friendships, and bonds I've been able to create, develop, grow, and share with you. I hope that everyone has had a great and warm Christmas, and that the new year brings many blessings and happy times. I am overwhelmed with how lucky I am to be where I am, but most importantly being who I am, and I know that the person I am is a direct result of the people I've been so blessed to be surrounded by in my life. Thank you so much!</span></div><div><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div><div><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Happy Christmas!</span></div><div><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div><div><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">-Jo Jo (Jo)</span></div></div><div><span><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6J9gZ98wLO64hQV8xxVjrSv6K3-gzf7QeeJUD19ERQydm2LwYfIO2_7o88j8Mtkj8C0bwQiY-hcw2LfwcHoDoFBupV2qtRWydRCVR2HSm8cylEccGGvozpZE2n8h8hwDbaSZXvXNeWlg/s1600/P1030528.JPG"><span><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6J9gZ98wLO64hQV8xxVjrSv6K3-gzf7QeeJUD19ERQydm2LwYfIO2_7o88j8Mtkj8C0bwQiY-hcw2LfwcHoDoFBupV2qtRWydRCVR2HSm8cylEccGGvozpZE2n8h8hwDbaSZXvXNeWlg/s320/P1030528.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690188489037797186" /></span></a><br /><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div></div>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-596751453592527752011-11-14T19:28:00.000-08:002011-11-14T20:40:58.092-08:00Occupy Ourselves<div>I apologize in advance for this being lengthy, hadn't updated in awhile...</div><div><br /></div><div>The past 2 years, I've been living a life full of highs and lows (quite literally), and until recently I pretty much had been sticking to the high points when it came to updating this blog and more or less bragging about this wonderful life I've been living. Well this past week I hit probably the lowest point I've reached since moving to Austin, and ever since then I've been trying to find some semblance of sanity, a clear picture of clarity, an answer to this arrogance I have seemingly created in my on-the-surface Polaroid perfect life. </div><div><br /></div><div>24 is a strange age, trying to balance that feeling of still being a young and dumb college kid, with the responsibilities and hardships of being an adult living in the so-called "real world." Instead of "what are you studying?" or "what do you want to be?" it's "what are you doing these days?" Well, truth be told, I've been living life centered more or less around one thing... myself. And although at times I have felt completely justified in that venture (see older blog posts for proof), claiming that I will only be this young with such little responsibility for so long, the truth is, I've been hiding the painful truth. The truth I've been either too stubborn or naive to look at, but one that reared its glaring and ugly face at me recently, and that is the fact that I am not entirely satisfied with the life I'm living or the way I've been living it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Do I regret everything I have done the past 2 years? Not in the least. I have seen more concerts then just about anyone I know, met some incredible people, made friendships that will last a lifetime, found a wonderful girl who is patiently putting up with me and my constant mistakes, and accomplished many things on my bucket list. So I can't say the past 2 years have been a complete failure. But it dawned on my recently that I've been hiding behind my rock-n-roll lifestyle to mask some of my insecurities and deficiencies. I have slowly but surely been trying to numb myself, self medicating, and justifying it anyway I could. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am the Occupy Wall Street generation. We have been taught our entire lives that if we did good in school, got into a good college, studied and worked hard, that we would graduate and find ourselves working jobs we could be proud of. That the transition from college to the real world would be as simple as the one from high school to college was. That we could have our cake and eat it too. Well reality is upon us, and the truth is we are struggling to get blue-collar jobs as much as we are to get white-collar ones. The man who sits behind me at work listens to conservative talk radio all day everyday, and I hear all these older right-wingers screaming how we all hold this feeling of entitlement, that they worked for everything they earned and we shouldn't be upset with where we are at right now, we should just suck it up and deal with it. Well its true, we may have this feeling of entitlement, but its because it was what we were raised to believe. What we were taught since birth, from that older generation, the ones who weren't too proud to flip burgers. They taught us that we should get an education, that unlike them we shouldn't have to start at the bottom and work our way up. They worked hard so that we could get that education, and not fight to make it just to get by. </div><div><br /></div><div>Well here I am, 24, a college graduate, struggling to get by. Working a job I needed no education for, at the only place who would even give me an interview. I have numerous times flooded the job market, applying to hundreds (literally) of companies, sending my resume out to anyone who would read it, and don't even get contacted to be informed that I wouldn't be receiving an interview. The few employers who did all said the same thing, I lacked the work experience. Well duh, because I went to school the past 18+ years of my life, like I was told to do my entire life. </div><div><br /></div><div>Growing up, I believed by 25 I'd have a firm grasp on my future. I'd have something concrete to cling to, a job to be proud of, a nice car, a fancy apartment or condo or house even. Possibly be engaged or even married, contemplating baby names and working towards my first million. The reality is; at 25, I hope that my nearly 10 year old car will still run, that my crummy apartment won't be entirely caved in as the foundation has slowly begun to sink in, that I make enough money to afford to pay all my bills and still afford to have any amount of fun and eat meals more complex then Ramen Noodles and spaghetti. As far as marriage and babies go, despite seeing a growing number of Facebook statuses changing and baby pictures being posted, I would never even consider looking at an engagement ring until I could not only afford one, but could afford to get married. And at the rate I'm going, that might happen when I'm... 40? </div><div><br /></div><div>So I've numbed myself to the reality of my situation, I go out and party just to forget that in all honesty I'm pissed off with what I've worked so hard to achieve. The older generation looks down at me, scoffs at me, because they think I don't know what hard work is, that I haven't gone through hardships or been through what they've been through. Well I've got news for them, for the past 20 months I have missed exactly 1 day of work that wasn't a vacation day asked for months in advance (which was this past Friday). I've worked 50+ hour weeks for a majority of that time. I've supported myself, paid my own bills, and managed to stay completely debt free. I don't owe anyone anything, I don't have a credit card or student loans to pay off, and I am proud of the fact that I can look at myself in the mirror and say I am self-reliant. So this so-called sense of entitlement you claim I am so naively crying about is a bunch of bull shit, because I work hard and all I want is what I was promised my entire life. I want a return on my investment. </div><div><br /></div><div>I may not be able to control the economy, or what companies will or wont hire me, but there are a few things I can control. Namely, my lifestyle and the type of person I'm striving to be. So instead of pretending that my reality isn't in fact my reality, I've decided its time for me to grow up a little bit. That at 24, maybe getting wasted all the time and spending most of my hard earned money on booze and concerts isn't necessarily justifiable just because I'm not satisfied with the job I've fallen into. So instead of that beer, tonight I'll pick up a book. Instead of watching that unrealistic TV show about the perfect family or deadbeat love-able "hero" who always manages to get by despite being a dumb-ass, I'll write, and go to bed earlier so I can wake up earlier to work even longer hours. Instead of self-medicating and trying to escape reality, I'll go for a run and try to improve my physical well-being even if I can't improve my financial one.</div><div><br /></div><div>Friday morning, 11-11-11, I woke up with a new take on life. Thankful to be alive, with a feeling I had been given a second chance that I might not have even deserved, and I'm going to try hard not to waste it. I want to be an example that people from my generation are not worthless hippies who want hand-outs, we are capable, hardworking, educated 20-somethings who will change the world when someone finally gives us the chance. It starts with self-improvement, and I encourage all of my friends to do the same. Am I saying I will never have another drink or see another concert? Hell no, I moved to this city to enjoy it and I fully intend to keep doing it. But that doesn't mean I can't be smarter or more mature about it. And maybe, if I keep my head high and a firm grip on my reality, I can be the change I want to see not only in myself but in this fucked up world we live in right now. </div><div><br /></div><div>I worked over 11 hours today. I grocery shopped to save money. I put gas in my 10 year old car. I ran 3 miles. I did laundry at the apartment I pay for. I ate healthy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I wrote this long blog that no one but myself will probably read. I will read a good book till I fall asleep. I told the people I care about how much they mean to me... And I will get up tomorrow and do it all over again. Life is a daily struggle, but its all about making choices. I'm here, taking it one day at a time, but in the end the only person I need to impress is myself. And today, for the first time in awhile, I am proud.</div>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-48241268912013701432011-09-27T18:51:00.000-07:002011-09-27T20:26:13.035-07:00Austin City Limits 2011<div>Summer coming to an end meant one thing to me, 3 letters that people in Austin say nonchalantly like they are reciting their ABC's: A.C.L. Despite the weather still feeling like the dead of summer, I had once again been anxiously awaiting for this week to get here. Of course, I bought my tickets before the line-up was released way back in May, and the chances of me missing Austin City Limits was as likely as rain was in the forecast the past 4 months since I had purchased the tickets... zero percent.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>I started off ACL week with Deadmau5 at Austin Music Hall. Being one of the more entertaining acts at last year's festival, I thought catching him at his own show would be a cool way to kick off what I like to refer to as my fall break. We got to the show a little too early unfortunately, but did get to see Tommy Lee do a DJ set, yes that Tommy Lee, which was surprisingly entertaining. Dubstep DJ Excision came on next, and was also pretty legit if you are into that kind of thing. I can be when in the right mood, but unfortunately was not quite at that level on this given night. So once Deadmau5 finally hit the stage I'm sad to say I was pretty tired, and being surrounded by high school kids with glow sticks was just not cutting it for me. We stayed for about 45 minutes, got to see some incredible visuals from Deadmau5, and hear his infamous electronic beats. All in all I left feeling a little dejected, and a little worried about how I was going to survive the next few days of all out music.</div><div><br /></div><div>The only official ACL Aftershow I bought tickets to in advance was for Pretty Lights with Nas and Run DMT at Austin Music Hall the night before the festival officially got under way. I knew a few different people going, so I showed up solo and just made my rounds. Run DMT were a pair of local Austin DJ's, and they got things going with some good jams. Nas came on next, and a little intoxicated due to his birthday being the night before, put on a surprisingly impressive set complete with some of his older classic hits. The place was getting live to "Hate Me Now" and the energy in the venue was contagious. The anticipation for Pretty Lights was palpable, and when he finally came on, the place exploded. Pretty Lights went on a little after 11pm, and didn't stop playing till after 2am. It was by far the most visually entertaining show I've ever been to, and he straight up rocked out. The most important element to me at a show is crowd involvement, and not a single person at AMH was standing still for nearly 3 hours. His set, set-list, and crowd involvement were all flawless. I walked away knowing there was no way any show I could see at ACL the next 3 days would come close to touching what I had just been a part of. Easily top 3 best shows I've ever seen, if not the best. Do yourself a favor, and catch his act if you ever get a chance. Seriously. Do it.</div><div><br /></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XwGfjMAIp1r4bxXKMfW87CpZcrmwAKsJZksrOWiQlA7vmCpGSlHwnpqm45pxHn_EELC5XS-m9u_ppa3NryszGPJw7n5Xd6Tdb1BuVdNBGwtw9ZgMGYRNHlQC4TNgPJmirhU1InYY1DM/s1600/P1030043.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XwGfjMAIp1r4bxXKMfW87CpZcrmwAKsJZksrOWiQlA7vmCpGSlHwnpqm45pxHn_EELC5XS-m9u_ppa3NryszGPJw7n5Xd6Tdb1BuVdNBGwtw9ZgMGYRNHlQC4TNgPJmirhU1InYY1DM/s320/P1030043.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657245654684878530" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><div><div>So on very little sleep, I awoke Friday feeling rejuvenated and back to being excited thanks to the show the night before. After the ritualistic Kerbey Lane brunch filled with homefries and mimosas, it was off to the festival early to get our money's worth. After dropping off some flyers downtown for my friends over at Tortoise & Blonde (<a href="http://www.tortoiseandblonde.com/">http://www.tortoiseandblonde.com/</a>), I made my walk over to Zilker Park. Along the way I started chatting with another guy making the pilgrimage wearing a Caribou shirt (one of the best concerts I went to in 2010), and after about 20 minutes of trading stories and laughs, came to find out his name was Jordan. Small world. Having already gotten my money's worth the night before, I more or less just tagged along with my friends to whatever show they wanted to see, and since none of Jordan's friends had made it down there yet, he ended joining as well. We started at Theophilus London, and during his set the unthinkable happened... it started raining. Granted it wasn't a downpour, more of a light drizzle, the crowd still went pretty wild none the less, so thankful for the cool off during the hot day and the much needed rain the entire area of south Texas so desperately needs. Then we hiked over to the other side of the park and caught some of Wild Beasts, and Brandi Carlisle, whose Johnny Cash cover had the crowd feeling like shooting a guy down in Reno. James Blake was interesting, but not really my cup of tea, and despite my eternal love for Ray LaMontagne I just simply was too far away, and too hot, to truly enjoy his set. I tried to get over to catch some of Foster the People's highly anticipated set, but was left feeling very disappointed both by the poor sound and the overall performance of the hipsterish band. Thankfully, Nas saved the day again when him and Damian Marley put on a killer set on the main stage in the heat of the late afternoon. Was so happy I got to see anyone with the last name Marley, especially from as close as I got. Once their set was over I had a decision to make, keep my spot close and get mobbed in with the thousands of people piling in for Kanye West, or bail and watch it from a distance and make it to my ride in a timely fashion. I made a game-time decision and pushed my way close, having already seen Coldplay before I knew this would probably be the only headliner I'd actually see at the festival this year. Waiting an hour stuffed between 50 thousand people is an interesting experience, and in no way is fun, and I was getting quite cynical towards the end as I sobered up and waited for Kanye to come out, because lets face it... Kanye is an ass hole. I fully expected him to come out late, half-ass his performance, and leave me feeling completely unjustified in my decision. Note to self: always underestimate performers. Kanye came out in the middle of the crowd on a huge lift, only 5 minutes late, and absolutely killed it. His first 5 or 6 songs were all jams, and the crowd involvement was off the charts. I completely took back all my bad mouthing of him and was left pumping my fist watching the throne. The only downside was having to snake my way out of all those people to make it back to my ride waiting for me near downtown. Apparently I made the right decision once I finally got out of there (alive, thankfully) as I heard his show ended up being best at the beginning and declining a little towards the end. I ended up literally tripping over a friend on my way out of the park, as ACL never ceases to bring all types of people together. All in all it was a successful first day, thanks mainly in part to Kanye's surprisingly dope performance.</div><div><br /></div><div>A little tired after a long first day of drinking in the sun, I slept in, went to lunch with Lauren, and took my sweet time getting down to Zilker. I decided rather than trying to stage hop all over Zilker like I had the day before, I would be better off just posting up at one stage all day, sending out a mass text to anyone I knew at the festival as to where I was letting them know I'd be there all day, and just sit back and enjoy the experience. I picked the Google+ stage, where Alexander, Skrillex, and TV on the Radio would be playing on that day. I had bathrooms 10 yards to my left, a water filling station 20 yards behind me, a bar 10 yards past that, and a prime spot about 20 yards away from the stage. During Alexander, some friends met up with me, and we enjoyed sitting around listening to the melodic tones, drinking, and letting the light rain that had started up cool us off. Skrillex came on and we got a little closer and enjoyed a very entertaining and fun set, with the surprisingly large crowd completely into it as much as we were. Surrounded by good friends I rarely get to see, we danced and had a great time dubbin out to his jams. Once his set finished up, I pushed even closer to get a prime spot about 3 rows back for one of my girlfriend's favorite bands, TV on the Radio, so I could find out just why she likes them so much. I quickly found out, as they put on the most impressive set musically I saw all weekend. I also was about 10 feet away from Christian Bale standing on the side stage apparently filming a movie, so whenever one comes out in a few months that involves him being at a festival or something, look for me snapping photos in the background.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJh9dUlfw7-rh3xmOnikfyDYlRDrswuMySYswuGZcQBLSJpnqVnvIxGZ-afxdR86mIXrFiB21RYRqtrja2ERdE_KPiTCkfxm-EZQVSO6VIDPYF65q8_5N8K_x-IqzdtbZJyMT-SRcR-SM/s1600/ACL2011.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJh9dUlfw7-rh3xmOnikfyDYlRDrswuMySYswuGZcQBLSJpnqVnvIxGZ-afxdR86mIXrFiB21RYRqtrja2ERdE_KPiTCkfxm-EZQVSO6VIDPYF65q8_5N8K_x-IqzdtbZJyMT-SRcR-SM/s320/ACL2011.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657245027382380658" /></a><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HGeCwYY4uCB3khyphenhyphenkHH5kpRKxgo0IGqm02Iz1v-of30b5ipkN_S_MXFhclQk1J4kgpSoDA-XFM-Q3u_Xswm4250GUbw3Gp6qmi7suYhsfc4jdifoVhRbgOfitHavVO1WwUq0B8MmJ28s/s1600/acl20112.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HGeCwYY4uCB3khyphenhyphenkHH5kpRKxgo0IGqm02Iz1v-of30b5ipkN_S_MXFhclQk1J4kgpSoDA-XFM-Q3u_Xswm4250GUbw3Gp6qmi7suYhsfc4jdifoVhRbgOfitHavVO1WwUq0B8MmJ28s/s320/acl20112.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657244934427854082" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>Sunday, after not exerting as much energy the day before, I woke up early ready to make the most of my last day at the festival. After a burger and some beers at Black Sheep Lodge, I headed back to Zilker with the same game plan as Saturday, post up at Google+ and enjoy not trying to deal with maneuvering through 75,000 people. Chiddy Bang kicked the day off, and they put on a surprisingly entertaining set, as I was not impressed the first time I had seen them a few months back. The white guy playing drums made a huge difference, as did having a large group of friends around me again versus essentially seeing them alone the first time, and we all danced and had a great time despite the killer heat. Elbow went on next, a band my sister introduced to me a long time ago and I have always enjoyed. We had a great spot close for this show, and they put on a very good show musically. Empire of the Sun was the last show of the night at this stage, and I was not at all prepared for their wild and crazy show. It was like a 1980's band meets an Andy Warhol painting, and I was happy to be so surprised by a show. Those crazy Aussies had the place rockin, and having already seen Arcade Fire earlier this year, I didn't mind only catching a few of their songs from their headliner performance from way in the back before saying so long to ACL 2011.</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbglphWVp7q-y_WXqy5361PQbAwzm0k8gecnxycnf1XJQDYaqYqTV7_T8WqMeJRSxRQzqsz8m2w2nYVvOueHVRlzoxQIKPox8HzNEmNkyAhTzSXfwD1LLE3LrZbnPGokzejxy6ecMUywc/s1600/P1030128.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbglphWVp7q-y_WXqy5361PQbAwzm0k8gecnxycnf1XJQDYaqYqTV7_T8WqMeJRSxRQzqsz8m2w2nYVvOueHVRlzoxQIKPox8HzNEmNkyAhTzSXfwD1LLE3LrZbnPGokzejxy6ecMUywc/s320/P1030128.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657244729282211826" /></a><div><div><br /></div><div>I took work off Monday, a lesson I learned the hard way last year, and was lucky enough to win free entry to an ACL (the PBS TV show) taping of the British band Gomez. I didn't know much about them save the one song I had on an ACL Sampler I had downloaded a few weeks back, but I was third row for their hour long show and they were very impressive. It was a nice intimate way to finish up another successful festival week. Ironically enough, I ended this past week the way I started ACL last year, by seeing Neon Indian. This time it was at Mohawk, and it was another great night.</div></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1VmrFiWz_yuhyphenhyphen0iZaxokTy7uT-wrOXFfi6AAcnZk6iL5AW5G0YTXZ_aYK1JOc-cixXuokEB1Z-pcI0vqDv1b38H6wEFWcb5oPGa64D-MtIw6gE4McnIJo82sV-MmXkzKazzoYPBRUH8/s1600/P1030205.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1VmrFiWz_yuhyphenhyphen0iZaxokTy7uT-wrOXFfi6AAcnZk6iL5AW5G0YTXZ_aYK1JOc-cixXuokEB1Z-pcI0vqDv1b38H6wEFWcb5oPGa64D-MtIw6gE4McnIJo82sV-MmXkzKazzoYPBRUH8/s320/P1030205.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657244491819196722" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><div>Its times like these that make me thankful to be alive, to be living in the town that I do, and being able to have the means to do the things I want to do. I am so grateful to be at this place in my life, where I have amazing friends, a great supportive family, a beautiful and caring girlfriend, a job that allows me to live where I want to and support myself, and an attitude that has challenged me to open up and meet new people, try new things, experience new events, and become a person I am happy and proud to be. I can't wait to go back and read this posting, just like I read last years "Austin City Limits 2010" post when packing for this years festival, and relive all the incredible moments I was lucky enough to be apart of. To everyone who were a part of this years memories, thanks! I don't know that I will be going all 3 days to ACL again next year, but it is definitely an experience I will always cherish and remember.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers.</div><div><br /></div><div>-J</div></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGViRmsJMEwWRnZB6O-cLUvvG52QUPKEejNFzN62Xz2Qr5zad4GwexISXbaRuhsw89rcn0ffStBhX-9cwarUP9PQ3F1qkWGnr1rMoa9jT4U78MNeC5YotTvxJJQfdTmjrvZV4orgWYKw/s1600/P1030193.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGViRmsJMEwWRnZB6O-cLUvvG52QUPKEejNFzN62Xz2Qr5zad4GwexISXbaRuhsw89rcn0ffStBhX-9cwarUP9PQ3F1qkWGnr1rMoa9jT4U78MNeC5YotTvxJJQfdTmjrvZV4orgWYKw/s320/P1030193.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657244309092670482" /></a>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-58142899730095117862011-09-04T14:54:00.001-07:002011-09-04T15:45:41.064-07:00500 Days of Summer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNuudBl8rdtMloAZxWEiQsCuOLYiWD9nAvo9gaG_aw6yvvmQ_H55orWUUst3N8qBaw8KiqHO3vVW5ehTQyLZcYslor5OVFX_LUGiEpYkib2GcCMIjusjYr00qo5ktmwOiMj7C6ItdZG0/s1600/P1020763.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNuudBl8rdtMloAZxWEiQsCuOLYiWD9nAvo9gaG_aw6yvvmQ_H55orWUUst3N8qBaw8KiqHO3vVW5ehTQyLZcYslor5OVFX_LUGiEpYkib2GcCMIjusjYr00qo5ktmwOiMj7C6ItdZG0/s320/P1020763.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648639273372201346" /></a>
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<br /></div><div>It's Labor Day Weekend... already?! Where did this summer go? It's gone like all the water in Texas, and with ACL looming I figured it was time to update this because I'm sure I'll have an epic posting coming for that amazing festival weekend. A lot has happened since Memorial Day and New Orleans. <div>
<br /></div><div>It's been a crazy, hot, rain-less summer here in Texas, and I kicked it off with a trip to Houston for Free Press Summerfest. A smaller, more intimate festival in the heart of downtown, I got to see some pretty good bands for cheap such as Beirut, The Black Angels, Yeasayer, Cut Copy, and the headliners Weezer. Other than sliding down the hill we were sitting on during the festival, fighting the overwhelming humidity and 100 degree temperatures, and a little rain (the last time I felt rain, and this was the first weekend in June) we had a great time with friends. Cut Copy had the show of the festival in my opinion, and I can't wait to see them again at ACL in less than 2 weeks.<div>
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<br /></div><div>The middle of June consisted of a few river trips for floats, a Girl Talk concert on the river that I won free tickets too, some free shows at Blues on the Green at Zilker Park, and a lucky free ticket to see Florence and the Machine's taping of their show for Austin City Limits on PBS #gingergotpipes. Since moving to Austin I've won more free things then I ever did before I moved here, tickets to shows namely (including the pair I use for the first date I went on with the ole lady), "swag" packs with beach towels and water bottles, etc. I digress, moral of the story is moving to Austin was the best decision I ever made. I'm a firm believer that you have to go out and make your own luck, and that being a positive person will mean positive things will happen for you. I'm living proof of that, and sometimes I feel like I'm Forrest Gump-ing my way through life, but that for better or worse it's brought me to exactly where I want to be with some amazing stories along the way.</div><div>
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<br /></div><div>The end of June brought me to the coast of Louisiana for my friend Blake's bachelor party with the boys. We did some fishing, ate some amazing fresh seafood, and I brought out the mustache for its debut. It got mixed reviews on Facebook, but I have to admit I grew kind of fond of the lip blanket over those 4 days. Trips like those with guys I have been friends with my entire life always help put things in perspective, and having a solid group of people I've constantly surrounded myself with like that is the sole reason I am the person that I am. Poker games, drinking games, constant jokes, and reminiscing on stories from our past, its hard to believe we are all where we are, moving on with our lives and growing older. These are people that have known me since I was 7, 8 years old, and accept me for who I am flaws and all. We've learned that no matter how long we go without seeing each other, how far apart we move away from each other, no time or distance can break the bonds we have forged, and I'm eternally grateful for not only those guys but all the people in my life both now and in the past, because without them I'm not sure I could have made it through some of the difficult times I've been through, and I know I wouldn't be the person I'm proud to be right now.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZaAwSpw5pCgc3pC6RkfVRN1OXw55XF01RwSF5zWhdMgEh6hdgfnE-ScKCN4_eTxcsOKnitS8AG2cu0ZAgkaskeNzaK3ebvCj2wmAShm4-hP_N6NM65FBMvX64ViF2jJHVbNH5-63CkVs/s1600/P1020822.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZaAwSpw5pCgc3pC6RkfVRN1OXw55XF01RwSF5zWhdMgEh6hdgfnE-ScKCN4_eTxcsOKnitS8AG2cu0ZAgkaskeNzaK3ebvCj2wmAShm4-hP_N6NM65FBMvX64ViF2jJHVbNH5-63CkVs/s320/P1020822.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648637807682960450" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Fourth of July was spent grilling out with friends and avoiding the craziness of downtown. Not long after that, another group of guys I've been close with for a long time came down to Austin so we could all go see Kid Cudi, and once again he did not disappoint. A crazy night downtown followed, and another river trip the next day. My family I stayed with in Portland when we went back in May came down to Austin not long after that, and we got to party with them at an awesome mansion on Lake Austin they were renting out along with a few other friends and family, and I got to take my 21 year old cousin downtown to show him Austin on a Thursday night. We had a great time, and it was awesome getting to be around my aunt, uncle, and 3 cousins for a few days in my part of the world. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Next, I got to take Lauren to my hometown and show her all that Whitehouse/Tyler had to offer. We went to celebrate my nephew Jude's 4th birthday, which again makes me feel really old. Got to see some friends I hadn't a long time, my family and grandparents, and show Lauren the house I grew up in. It was a good trip, but also reminded me that as much as I'm thankful of my upbringing and growing up how and where I did, I'm even more thankful to be out of that place and on to bigger and better things. I use to be bitter towards Tyler, and even hard on it and the people that live there. I'm not quite so cynical anymore, but I still feel that Tyler has a way of trapping people who become comfortable there. That's not necessarily a bad thing, I just think some people who stay there too long become narrow minded and closed off to the rest of the world, and maybe should learn that there is more out there to see, do, and learn. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Anyways, the summer ended with a long awaited trip to Galveston to stay at a beach house with a bunch of friends. I had never been to Galveston before, or even seen the ocean in Texas before for that matter, so it was nice to finally experience that. The water was actually pretty nice, the house was awesome, including a deck on the roof with a great view of the gulf, and we had a great time drinking and hanging out with friends on the beach. There is nothing like the vast ocean to put you back in your place and help you understand how small you are. We are all just blips on the radar, and we are all here for just a second on the clock of the world, so I live my life trying to make it the best I can, experiencing the most I can, seeing everything there is to see, meeting anyone and everyone who wants to be a part of my life, and creating memories that will make this life seem worth living when I reflect on it in the future. No one lives forever, but we can all create moments, impressions, friendships, bonds, and love that will outlive us even after we are gone. </div><div>
<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0x4tanXyM1e7hUjAySBEcFfRuqz_AgSWhI_PapKR4Fn-SUzyRGXjvTDubTqLbUU9yWNsdMNnQ2zflDKO3XHDTXaqaUeTefk37yqMBHHDJvOP0K89hOfy3PRGVOKb4RdfJMis_gd6F-4/s1600/P1020980.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0x4tanXyM1e7hUjAySBEcFfRuqz_AgSWhI_PapKR4Fn-SUzyRGXjvTDubTqLbUU9yWNsdMNnQ2zflDKO3XHDTXaqaUeTefk37yqMBHHDJvOP0K89hOfy3PRGVOKb4RdfJMis_gd6F-4/s320/P1020980.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648638326999029474" style="cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div>
<br /></div><div>I kicked off what I dub as "concert season" here in Austin with a show at Emo's seeing The Ettes rock out, and the schedule of upcoming shows is just unreal. ACL, White Denim, Deadmau5, Pretty Lights, Neon Indian, Incubus, Death Cab for Cutie, Portugal the Man, Washed Out, Beats Antique, Minus the Bear, Ghostland Observatory, and Fun Fun Fun Fest. Also going to check out a tribute to the Beatles play that is coming in town straight from Broadway, as well as a play starring John Malkovich. I moved to Austin because it is the live music capital of the world, and I'm still taking full advantage of it. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>The summer of 2011, the summer of no rain, will be one I will always look back on with a smile on my face. Portland, New Orleans, the ocean, the river, concerts, friends, and memories that I wouldn't trade for the world. Being 24 is an odd, sometimes awkward age, but I'm loving every minute of it. I'm still somewhere between being an immature, naive kid and growing up to become a functioning adult, but its fun hovering here in purgatory. To all my friends and family that took the time to read this, thank you so much for making my life one I can be proud of and happy with. I'm eternally grateful to each and every one of you, and I hope that we get to be together soon and make more memories I can write about here to look at later and smile at. I love you all.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>-J</div><div>
<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFfJ14RblXm2v4Inb6qDDS6JuV5n5g4aVFvcdlb4o7VrY7LPtaV0SpHH6uATGm7OiHO5Mi-cf9D3cMoep6b0sZo97E4sH9jV_3bXzNIG5-v4dHQBdN2T4BktxPzkXPIgZ4yN402fB_AU/s1600/P1020917.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFfJ14RblXm2v4Inb6qDDS6JuV5n5g4aVFvcdlb4o7VrY7LPtaV0SpHH6uATGm7OiHO5Mi-cf9D3cMoep6b0sZo97E4sH9jV_3bXzNIG5-v4dHQBdN2T4BktxPzkXPIgZ4yN402fB_AU/s320/P1020917.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648638045217205570" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 252px; " /></a></div><div>
<br /></div></div></div>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-91972494562936483882011-06-08T09:59:00.000-07:002011-06-08T10:50:59.672-07:00New Orleans<div>Memorial Day Weekend 2011, me and 9 other guys road tripped to New Orleans for our friend Chance's 25th birthday. Having just been to Portland 2 weekends before on a trip that was more or less completely planned by myself, going on this trip having not planned a single thing was quite refreshing. I didn't have to drive, I had no idea what hotel we were staying in, I was simply just along for the ride, and what a wild one it was. We drove to Houston on Thursday night to cut the drive down some, and went and caught The Hang Over 2. More or less the same plot as the first movie, but it was still entertaining none-the-less, especially with 10 guys who were about to head to a notoriously crazy party city. After an uncomfortable nights sleep on the floor, we woke up early and headed to "Nawlins."<div><br /></div><div>The sudden bumps in the road made me look up from my lackadaisical day-dreaming facebook creeping and tweeting on my phone and I knew right off that we were in Louisiana. Entering that state often feels like entering a different county, from the people to the food to the architecture, everything just feels very different from home. I of course started drinking before we actually arrived in New Orleans, since it's so rare I'm afforded the opportunity to not be driving. So as we drove around the French Quarter looking for our not so noticeable hotel, I tried my best to hold the intoxicants in. After a few phone calls and u-turns we finally arrived, and I made it to the bathroom at a photo finish. From there we unloaded all of our stuff and instantly walked down to Bourbon to grab a drink and check out the sites.</div></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fYUnKxCo-rA5cKPRrEv4A0PKU3XfivFAGTRJkg-GRK_KTD6noUN6o0piHXShYcBq-rgYVjeHIPkQPIqJi__0PRSgcqwiZLSLRPKb0ehQV7F3KIpUvor34yv6FiJ4U5gw6HDs1-xgsA4/s1600/bourbon+st.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fYUnKxCo-rA5cKPRrEv4A0PKU3XfivFAGTRJkg-GRK_KTD6noUN6o0piHXShYcBq-rgYVjeHIPkQPIqJi__0PRSgcqwiZLSLRPKb0ehQV7F3KIpUvor34yv6FiJ4U5gw6HDs1-xgsA4/s320/bourbon+st.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615906030123134418" /></a><div><div><br /></div><div>Bourbon street is like Austin's 6th street, mixed with Memphis' Beale street, throw in a little of the Vegas strip, all mixed together in a shot tube which is ultimately taken out of the cleavage of some waitress in a bar you can't pronounce. We grabbed some of the famous "hand-grenade" drinks which are supposedly the strongest in New Orleans, and found a balcony to post up on and check out the other tourists. I still have no idea what are in those grenades, or how many of them we ended up drinking throughout the weekend, but I wouldn't be surprised if rufilin wasn't one of the main ingredients. A little tired from the drive, hungry, and sweaty from the south Louisiana humidity, we headed back to the hotel to regroup. After grabbing some pizza slices, we eventually ended up back on Bourbon at a bar called the Beach, which is where we spent the rest of the night. Some friends of ours that are locals came out, and we all drank hurricanes, grenades, and shots from girls who would slap us both before and after taking them, and pretty much danced non-stop till sometime late in the night (early in the morning). I managed to get lost somewhere between Bourbon and the casino, but after a few missed turns I managed to wind up back at the hotel.</div><div><br /></div><div>The next morning, most likely still intoxicated which can be the only explanation as to why none of us were hung over, we all woke up laughing remembering the nights events. We walked down to a little hole in the wall joint called Hobnobber's for some shrimp poboys and gumbo. After that some of the fellas went over to the casino, while me Chance and Connor headed over to Jackson Square to check out the sites. We saw the Mississippi, which was extremely high. We had feared a few weeks earlier that our trip might get flooded out, but as high as the waters were they remained low enough for us to make it. On our way back from Jackson Square to a little sports bar beside our hotel to catch the UEFA Champions League Soccer Championship game on TV, I once again was playing on my phone when Connor says to me "Holy (crap) is that Vince Vaughn?!" When I looked up, not more than 10 feet away from me and walking in my direction, sure enough it was Vince. A little stunned, none of us could manage a word as we literally walked right by him. He seemed to be in a pretty serious conversation with whomever he was with, and his dark sunglasses also made it seem like he was trying rather hard to be conspicuous, so we thought it best not to chase after him for an autograph or picture. Still, it was another highlight from the trip.</div></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRvpZVK01uDfO_Q6or8uoWaHxkQ6TuJANhkF_A38k1V774My-AoIuc9UOsA0c0K_QMyxDqrEWBNv4d67VKtM3v1xPdvWpp18frO1Hiaz8BkeRoqEnjn-fS0_0ImoFt_nCiekZuJ63Dfs/s1600/hobnob.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRvpZVK01uDfO_Q6or8uoWaHxkQ6TuJANhkF_A38k1V774My-AoIuc9UOsA0c0K_QMyxDqrEWBNv4d67VKtM3v1xPdvWpp18frO1Hiaz8BkeRoqEnjn-fS0_0ImoFt_nCiekZuJ63Dfs/s320/hobnob.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615905909105819778" /></a><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-xEvPH0P44DpforSD_K-_IGl7io0VdUmGcJ5Be5Ke8xuresONdY6-q-jmf4nssJWH6uazPfzfZaELsmY7M3WthkJF-FGiWlgflx1nhgdJ3873tEvvC2kFLSZzu2_8Y3KZ1H8vZyQjOU/s1600/jackson.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-xEvPH0P44DpforSD_K-_IGl7io0VdUmGcJ5Be5Ke8xuresONdY6-q-jmf4nssJWH6uazPfzfZaELsmY7M3WthkJF-FGiWlgflx1nhgdJ3873tEvvC2kFLSZzu2_8Y3KZ1H8vZyQjOU/s320/jackson.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615905830290316578" /></a><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-xEvPH0P44DpforSD_K-_IGl7io0VdUmGcJ5Be5Ke8xuresONdY6-q-jmf4nssJWH6uazPfzfZaELsmY7M3WthkJF-FGiWlgflx1nhgdJ3873tEvvC2kFLSZzu2_8Y3KZ1H8vZyQjOU/s1600/jackson.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Our friends met us at the sports bar as we watched Barca take on (and eventually beat) Man U, and we sipped on some cold beers and talked about how great a city New Orleans is (and how much we like day-drinking). From there, we went back out to Bourbon, where we saw a guy more or less get knocked unconscious by one of his drunk friends, saw some street performers that were apparently also on "America's Got Talent" at one point, and eventually made our way over to Frenchman street. Along the way, we stopped at another hole in the wall joint that our local friends knew about, and ate some amazing jambalaya, crawfish pie, and mac-n-cheese. The place didn't have seating, so we ate on a stoop outside some house in the middle of downtown New Orleans, and got some strange looks from people on carriage tours as they rode past. After we made friends with a bum who played on his drum, we went down to Frenchman to check out what would be the New Orleans equivalent of Austin's "east-side." We didn't feel like paying covers to get in anywhere however, so we just listen to some jazz from the sidewalk for awhile before heading back to the hotel to shower, dub out a little, and get ready for what was sure to be another crazy night on Bourbon.<br /><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOZKQ5k5dYyjEBiIsVE9oKnSxHE82jbrnT5113OhzqXzsReb2DfDwMau9D0GGaYC03C4NxJT0Y2gpYPG4652KDO1s7oVFWlnir5hOzEQvB-XmiGl46fcBJl84vhxk2lYsxJLNweDhOVI/s1600/dancing.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOZKQ5k5dYyjEBiIsVE9oKnSxHE82jbrnT5113OhzqXzsReb2DfDwMau9D0GGaYC03C4NxJT0Y2gpYPG4652KDO1s7oVFWlnir5hOzEQvB-XmiGl46fcBJl84vhxk2lYsxJLNweDhOVI/s320/dancing.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615905764510446098" /></a><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbdB9OiGt-XfC3l-6uaRPDEqz7dFX6G2aO7haTrSh3DSbjkOcJgd9bSGMj4Pr8bNZdMdDB0evQocTf7Xb9AF7S_5nW51f8446Jo5ITX8bQSdMh8WiDUseR1HYGY0Q4Xnj1fzEh5vxpdg/s1600/stoop.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbdB9OiGt-XfC3l-6uaRPDEqz7dFX6G2aO7haTrSh3DSbjkOcJgd9bSGMj4Pr8bNZdMdDB0evQocTf7Xb9AF7S_5nW51f8446Jo5ITX8bQSdMh8WiDUseR1HYGY0Q4Xnj1fzEh5vxpdg/s320/stoop.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615905553874695298" /></a><div><div><br /></div><div>Saturday night was equally as crazy as Friday night, complete with Shivers and Vrba ending up on stage at a bar doing their best Vanilla Ice and Justin Bieber impersonations, respectively. Most of us ended up staying out till 3 or 4am, and come Sunday morning we were all in pretty rough shape. The 8+ hour drive home from New Orleans was definitely the worst part of the trip, but all in all it was one of the best weekends ever and one that all of us will undoubtedly always remember.</div><div><br /></div><div>New Orleans is high on my list of places that everyone should visit, just be prepared for the crazy people, the not so pleasant odors, and the strong drinks. The food, atmosphere, architecture, and history of the city are amazing, and I look forward to many more crazy weekends there in the future.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pUTI4saqkJ18QOQ43V9lubefSSgKZQFH9WlhyphenhyphenRZhH7QJ-yI_ZdXtrdokS3yZUujWqvYh2tI58k5ApgUxJHPfXZBxeeaEJZprsRwswu2UWBDjdyRiDMULmeANeo-emKXboj9dLfDJiSc/s1600/nolaaa.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pUTI4saqkJ18QOQ43V9lubefSSgKZQFH9WlhyphenhyphenRZhH7QJ-yI_ZdXtrdokS3yZUujWqvYh2tI58k5ApgUxJHPfXZBxeeaEJZprsRwswu2UWBDjdyRiDMULmeANeo-emKXboj9dLfDJiSc/s320/nolaaa.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615905454388767250" /></a><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div>To the guys who are reading this who were on this trip: no homo. muff said. what is dubstep?!</div><div><br /></div></div></div>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-69364496656018197432011-05-23T12:10:00.000-07:002011-05-23T12:55:17.125-07:00May-day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtaA4w1cHZcI25W4zwhUCkLa4PYtRBXb5C4gXaaVaqmSMkIMObyLSVpnfnpZ_2Rc1JgsPovz0vfQiE7HTZu4QI4D9AcRQziD3BF3sxPzq1avY9mvIkBYtuiEYJ9SovH-XOzSCbyC3Gps/s1600/Mack.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 302px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtaA4w1cHZcI25W4zwhUCkLa4PYtRBXb5C4gXaaVaqmSMkIMObyLSVpnfnpZ_2Rc1JgsPovz0vfQiE7HTZu4QI4D9AcRQziD3BF3sxPzq1avY9mvIkBYtuiEYJ9SovH-XOzSCbyC3Gps/s320/Mack.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610002083492105218" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>A lot has happened since my last update back in March. I turned 24. I found out my "sprained" ankle is actually a stress fracture. I changed positions at my work. I went on vacation. It's been a crazy few weeks. Time to find some clarity in the midst of all the mayhem, my daily soul searching that has me closing my eyes when I hear certain songs and leaves me staring at my screen saver as pictures from my past scroll by.<div><br /></div><div>My birthday was an eye-opener. Apparently at 24, I can't hold my liquor like I use to. After a crazy week filled with shows, a drama filled night downtown, reggae fest, and a not so fun-day Sunday, I realized that celebrating birthdays stops being as fun once you hit 21. Now instead of that seemingly never-ending upward journey towards "maturity," its just a depressing reminder that life comes at you fast, and you need to cherish the moments you get with your friends, family, and loved ones, and maybe not let the alcohol consumption throw a dark shadow over the bright light-hearted fun you had imagined. I was thankful for the eye-opener, because at 24 I learned that I'm far from being grown up, and that's okay... but that maybe doing a little bit of it now wouldn't hurt anything. Growing up is a weird, ironic journey. But I'm here trying my best to learn and grow from it everyday.</div><div><br /></div><div>May came, and with it came a new position for me at Mercedes Benz of Austin. I am no longer the Service Cashier, or helping out in loaner cars, but am now the photographer for the Sales side. I essentially shoot photos of all the new and used cars we get into inventory and upload them onto our website, cars.com, autotrader, etc for customers to browse our selection before ever coming into the dealership. Although I lack professional photography experience, my bosses at MB realized I'm a pretty quick learner, and after a week of training I was on my own left with nothing but a $3000 camera and a studio to start perfecting my shots and getting on par with what they want. I'm really enjoying the position so far, as where instead of dealing with customers all day I spend most of my time alone in a studio with my iPod, camera, and whatever $50k+ car I have on the turn table. I eventually hope to get more into the website side of things, as well as potentially becoming more involved with the social-networking the company does (since obviously I like to do that already), so I feel that the move is a beneficial one for me. I just hope I can continue to improve, learn, and grow, since I'm still one of those college graduates who isn't using his degree and has no idea what he wants to do with his life. I live in the town I want to live, make enough to live on my own, attend all the concerts I want to, and still have enough left over to try and spoil my better half, so I can't complain. Everything happens for a reason, and with enough patience I think eventually I'll find something perfect for me, but for now this is a good fit.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyE0qa9_U65-qANdo9nY6iSiiJamJze6Tqwb07TOYcin03n_hDy0ZkMadplxTOfc-GNt0ZPHgs1N88PrWF-2jxX1dwx0kcBS62ywCkOGTfMi-UvUmQsAuMI7vYJiVW1AtYp8pAEd6vk30/s1600/me.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyE0qa9_U65-qANdo9nY6iSiiJamJze6Tqwb07TOYcin03n_hDy0ZkMadplxTOfc-GNt0ZPHgs1N88PrWF-2jxX1dwx0kcBS62ywCkOGTfMi-UvUmQsAuMI7vYJiVW1AtYp8pAEd6vk30/s320/me.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610002001247008114" /></a><div><div><br /></div><div>With the arrival of May, some amazing concerts also came, including Arcade Fire, Rusko, and Fleet Foxes. Arcade Fire put on one of the best shows I've been to in a long time, easily in my top 5 performances ever to see live. Rusko had Stubb's rockin and yet again dubstep did not disappoint in providing a fun night. Fleet Foxes filled my eardrums with their sweet melodic tones at Stubb's during a cool evening. The rain that night subsided just in time for them to put on an great set. I've seen so many amazing performances since I've moved to Austin, and I'm eternally grateful for the opportunities I've had in my life to see some truly unique and unforgettable concerts.</div></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSMWVchk5RMTv2TlUsVKAV8CBa5YEKIH1vbbaRf-cg4Fp7XgGbSOuzBQtlhz9grhCSPLNDS5M7k15zgcqVV6-ERuoF3XilKaD3O3M4NAKJTlIGD0n-Lr9pdDHwZoalU7F1oUTVMbpeUU/s1600/AF.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 287px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSMWVchk5RMTv2TlUsVKAV8CBa5YEKIH1vbbaRf-cg4Fp7XgGbSOuzBQtlhz9grhCSPLNDS5M7k15zgcqVV6-ERuoF3XilKaD3O3M4NAKJTlIGD0n-Lr9pdDHwZoalU7F1oUTVMbpeUU/s320/AF.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610001840814126418" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><div><div><br /></div><div>Friday the 13th arrived (my notoriously "lucky" day) and with it came a long awaited vacation to Portland, Oregon. Despite a few hiccups along the way thanks to flying stand-by, me and the lil lady managed to make it to Portland late that Friday night. Saturday was filled with walking around beautiful downtown Portland, checking out a farmers market, eating some good "cart" (what we in Austin call "trailer") food, lots of vintage shops, a 3 story H&M, a few record stores, and an awesome cook-it-yourself "Hotpot" dinner at Lauren's uncle's house. Sunday we ate with my aunt, uncle, and cousin and did some more vintage shopping and walking around cool parts of Portland, and got lost in the massive bookstore called Powell's. Sunday night me and Lauren went to dinner at the fancy Portland City Grille. On the 30th floor of the tallest building downtown, it was a perfect place to enjoy some amazing food and take in the beautiful view of Portland. Monday, after we tried the world famous Voodoo Doughnuts, where I had the best donut I've ever had (it had maple bacon on it) we ended up getting stuck in Portland for another day (so sad right?) and got to go see Bridesmaid's and I ended the trip with a beer-flight of 10 amazing beers at a cool brewpub my uncle and aunt took us too. All in all it was one of the best trips I've been on in a long time, and it was nice to experience a unique and beautiful city like Portland. Austin is still home, but if I ever decided to relocate, Portland is high on the list of potential places.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeH_K2QvrZfadoSkxdhfeuTus0ETfZQJhM0O64IznsDWsskKuIdB3S_NhSFMd2TxSb0-KUw1brHtAVHuSi_hX41HX-7IlcKY_fTfI1_EiS_CJzcPSHxpCBa4C8V-VRnxtn3kihDrnaa8/s1600/Donut.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeH_K2QvrZfadoSkxdhfeuTus0ETfZQJhM0O64IznsDWsskKuIdB3S_NhSFMd2TxSb0-KUw1brHtAVHuSi_hX41HX-7IlcKY_fTfI1_EiS_CJzcPSHxpCBa4C8V-VRnxtn3kihDrnaa8/s320/Donut.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610001725072113890" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOq0pA1xnfo8JCFECDKqy2XaqBEq7gvbs8MgSmUxCMd0_0vZMG3BXLkYI5NO3yOGSTw4c4VZW28G_ooBeXR1z_AXF_eea4mLSqnrQ53yA35qU7Tq29mFIYku65b8h4lY7_2xz2GNv0ZU/s1600/Portland.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOq0pA1xnfo8JCFECDKqy2XaqBEq7gvbs8MgSmUxCMd0_0vZMG3BXLkYI5NO3yOGSTw4c4VZW28G_ooBeXR1z_AXF_eea4mLSqnrQ53yA35qU7Tq29mFIYku65b8h4lY7_2xz2GNv0ZU/s320/Portland.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610001639201371026" /></a><div><div><br /></div><div>This weekend I head to New Orleans for Chance's 25th birthday, and considering the Portland trip was the first time I had left Texas since going skiing in Colorado before moving to Austin last January, I think another trip out of state is still in order. Just the fellas on this trip, so hopefully we don't get into too much trouble. The following weekend I'll head to Free Press Summerfest in Houston to see some great bands like The Black Angels, Yeasayer, Beirut, Cut Copy, and Weezer just to name a few.</div><div><br /></div><div>Summer is finally here, and with it is the inevitable river trips, amazing concerts, and the 100+ degree days Austin is famous for. I'm thankful for how great 2011 has been already, and I think Summer '11 in the ATX will be no different. I don't know how much longer I'll be in a place in my life where I can be selfish, do what I want whenever I want, and only be responsible for myself primarily, so with those thoughts in mind that is how I anticipate spending the rest of 2011. Hopefully once my ankle heals up I can start training for half-marathon number 2, which I also hope comes before the start of the fall soccer season for my club team Celtic. Already anticipating my second Kid Cudi concert in July, and looking forward to what else the summer has in store. One thing about living in Texas your whole life, you learn to enjoy those hot summer nights, where your skin is tinted tan and red from a fun day in the sun, and the breeze<span class="Apple-style-span" >that hits you makes you close your eyes and reminds you how thankful you are that you have a cold beer in your hand and good friends laughing around you.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(24, 24, 24); font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >"And I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is." - Kurt Vonnegut</span></span></div></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggx0Mu1hVLxS_X9VEjr8pwHyKLSOgFnfqigf0IRfVHsj_vu0GDZMVMiCQDfgc6FMjDjM3TdwssiHpS4RbbyR9l3_U4oqLbbapCkyQtUQAjFpDKSvcck09GB9Hy_zr-oyc-49skrLE6Pdc/s1600/Livey.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 249px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggx0Mu1hVLxS_X9VEjr8pwHyKLSOgFnfqigf0IRfVHsj_vu0GDZMVMiCQDfgc6FMjDjM3TdwssiHpS4RbbyR9l3_U4oqLbbapCkyQtUQAjFpDKSvcck09GB9Hy_zr-oyc-49skrLE6Pdc/s320/Livey.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610001431901275362" /></a>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-83796212196292405082011-03-26T09:27:00.000-07:002011-03-26T10:51:33.515-07:00March Madness<div>Heading into March and spring, I knew it was going to be a tough month. I already knew in advance I was scheduled to work 3 of the 4 Saturday's of the month up at Mercedes Benz, and throw in my first half marathon (see: A Race to Self Discovery), SXSW, a 10k, soccer games, pops spring break, the NCAA tournament, and the addition of some roommates, and this month has been downright madness.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>I started this month off by completing my first half-marathon in San Marcos on a grueling 13.1 mile hill-filled course. That following week, I got to hang out with my dad for the first time in awhile as he came in town during his spring break week, and for the rally for Texas teachers at the capital. We got to play our usual tennis match (in which he finally won back the infamous trophy, on which I of course blame my sore legs since it was 2 days following my half-marathon), and we got to have some beers, laughs, and celebrate fat Tuesday together. Anytime I get to spend time with him, I realize how blessed I am to have such a cool father, and best friend. I learn more and more how much of who I am is directly because of who he is, and that I wouldn't be half the man I am were it not for the values he instilled in me from a young age. I can only hope to be half the man he is, as his selflessness, caring, and overall love for life is an inspiration to me everyday.</div></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EsC2RUyc-mtx428lHtanirihyphenhyphensAqCTPFGSwtHZmW5xt1pUWeBzpGgrqoIVOGDVtThBRs-ENXtUQXmJ0rCLrwrkpixf8Q-LY6_1YdNWdFEEgxWbGzrdGb0AASSoDnoW8GZrtVtpl4nlg/s1600/pop.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EsC2RUyc-mtx428lHtanirihyphenhyphensAqCTPFGSwtHZmW5xt1pUWeBzpGgrqoIVOGDVtThBRs-ENXtUQXmJ0rCLrwrkpixf8Q-LY6_1YdNWdFEEgxWbGzrdGb0AASSoDnoW8GZrtVtpl4nlg/s320/pop.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588444436408999058" /></a><div><div><br /></div><div>The following week I put in my second 60 hour work week ever, and ultimately had my ankle sprained by a cheap-shot foul during one of my club team's soccer games. Not exactly perfect timing considering SXSW was just kicking off, and a 10k and more soccer games were looming in my future. But I suffered through it, and after an eventful St. Patrick's day downtown with friends, I took my first paid-day off from Mercedes, and spent it working for a booth at the Style X(by) event at the convention center held during SXSW. This fashion based event offered booths of different types of styles, clothing, shoes, etc. and had fashion shows, alcohol, and tons of different vendors. I worked for an up-and-coming online eye-wear company called Tortoise & Blonde, and after two 12 hour days on my feet selling shades, I sadly couldn't muster up enough energy to ever use my artist wristband I had acquired to catch any South-By shows. But with money in my pocket, some new connections made, and hopefully a potential future career change (fingers crossed) I considered the week a success. Thanks to a heavy ankle brace, I managed to push through the exhaustion just long enough to play in our next soccer game, where we remained undefeated and took down the top team in the table.</div></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvNv69JGHHk7FgnaRF_Fb2qILapXH_I8H1K59RjzX-AUBut4rBleQ4YQ4gOM6aOdAgyTE3CDWe-5OOwyj4Gtbfg9gn7yFwpCyo4ZZ9_kJg9XUVM4ZVoUUCjzDfZpVUOfqvakyesPKiyQ/s1600/jcm.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvNv69JGHHk7FgnaRF_Fb2qILapXH_I8H1K59RjzX-AUBut4rBleQ4YQ4gOM6aOdAgyTE3CDWe-5OOwyj4Gtbfg9gn7yFwpCyo4ZZ9_kJg9XUVM4ZVoUUCjzDfZpVUOfqvakyesPKiyQ/s320/jcm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588444359010241314" /></a><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLvp5SMxw9UzSRm1UcMjLTDfLMijD6i9POLgzLlkR6fqsHo6_K5SqcJfJbbHTYUWBK288YWKP6UDmYzuunIKQxCeKz4Kf-W2APDS6IYF9oMLSn0iNkRi6PdxBf4gDi4K9S_aITg43bmw/s1600/tnb.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLvp5SMxw9UzSRm1UcMjLTDfLMijD6i9POLgzLlkR6fqsHo6_K5SqcJfJbbHTYUWBK288YWKP6UDmYzuunIKQxCeKz4Kf-W2APDS6IYF9oMLSn0iNkRi6PdxBf4gDi4K9S_aITg43bmw/s320/tnb.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588444270886928018" /></a><div><div><br /></div><div>This week I finally got a raise from the company I have been working at for the past year. Thursday night I went to an awesome jazz club on Congress and thats when this sense of peace started. Being in a pretty good place financially and mentally, I now open my doors to my sister and Jude who will be staying with me for the next few weeks as Monica looks for a new job here in Austin. It might get a little stressful at times considering how O.C.D. I am about everything, but I'm extremely excited to have them and get to spend time with them. I am especially excited that I may get the coolest person in the world to live in the same city as me again, as I love anytime I get to spend with my fashionista, all knowing musically, and overall better-than-hipster sister and rock star nephew.</div></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYq1ZJAiam1aJ4RCxAPY1TxvDB9OO77KNkawY0oraYjw3zkO54fWQjtF9qf7gxSY4bgZGEI68KSZhxeEA61scal22wPVWRQMM2b1FKn_IB9dMeFJ651Yx8EgiiSi4DCoxvZySZvmtPzM/s1600/mojo.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 249px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYq1ZJAiam1aJ4RCxAPY1TxvDB9OO77KNkawY0oraYjw3zkO54fWQjtF9qf7gxSY4bgZGEI68KSZhxeEA61scal22wPVWRQMM2b1FKn_IB9dMeFJ651Yx8EgiiSi4DCoxvZySZvmtPzM/s320/mojo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588444181640382450" /></a><div><div><br /></div><div>Last night, as I prepared to have some friends over to celebrate my raise, I sat back listening to some Stevie Ray, and finally took a breath. Despite all the chaos, I again find myself in a really good place. Unlike the craziness that the NCAA tournament has held this year, I find myself at peace. I have a job that puts money in my pocket and allows me to live in a city where I can live the type of life I want to. I have friends who I can count on anytime I need them, and a girl that I absolutely adore. I have an amazing family that keeps me grounded and is primarily responsible for all the good that is in my life. I find these moments of nirvana are important to note, because when the times of chaos undoubtedly come again its being able to remember these moments that remind you that in the end it all works out for the best, and no matter how unpredictable it can be, more times than not it's usually worth it.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxS0UCFVWEt4poDzlpuL1FvvTIUPLULT_aZFidRtms_86A6kXlhwImAvLL7zpX0erRpb_VbJyBSfzt_vSyHfEtzy42jITvSW5jv7BQEwgAR1UM748b47N0v4dig7hyphenhyphensmmoBi_rpy3Vcc/s1600/livey.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxS0UCFVWEt4poDzlpuL1FvvTIUPLULT_aZFidRtms_86A6kXlhwImAvLL7zpX0erRpb_VbJyBSfzt_vSyHfEtzy42jITvSW5jv7BQEwgAR1UM748b47N0v4dig7hyphenhyphensmmoBi_rpy3Vcc/s320/livey.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588444093144409458" /></a><div><div><br /></div><div>Tonight I am spoiling myself and finally updating my wardrobe some, and taking the girl that has been part of that nirvana feeling for me out to dinner. Tomorrow I run the Capital 10k and hope that my ankle holds up for my soccer game later that afternoon. This up-coming week I'll see Ghostland Observatory in concert for the fourth time, Cold War Kids for the first, and go camping for the first time in over a decade at Enchanted Rock with friends. April will be another chaotic month with shows such as Warpaint, Gogol Bordello, and Sleigh Bells; as well as some festivals such as Reggae Fest and Psych fest. I will also turn 24, and when I stop and look around at just where my life will be at that point, I can confidently say I will be for the most part satisfied. And I think that is something to be proud of, because I know not everyone my age can say the same. I read a quote today that I'll end this with because I found it very appropriate for this time in my life:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something."- </b>Thoreau</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div></div></div>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-19804640095219444212011-03-08T12:39:00.000-08:002011-03-08T13:48:00.168-08:00A Race... to Self-Discovery<div><br /></div><div>As 2011 approached, I, like most people, contemplated what my "New Year's Resolutions" would be. The year of 2010 had been an incredible one, full of dozens of concerts and music festivals, late nights downtown followed by 4th meals, new restaurants and old habits. All extremely fun things, but not exactly the healthiest life-style I had ever had. Granted I did still run and work out here and there, I still knew that the new year brought an opportunity to reevaluate my choices and make a few changes that could improve my well-being. The typical things came to mind; get in shape, eat better, drink less, etc. These all seemed somewhat mundane and boring, however, and I wanted something a little more challenging. Something that would ultimately drive me to do all those things, but with an end goal. Something that I couldn't give up on after just a week and say "oh well, better luck next year." So with those things in mind, I decided to start training and sign-up for my first half-marathon. There was one in Austin towards the end of February, but 6 weeks seemed awfully soon to try and get enough running in to be prepared, plus it was pretty pricey, so when I stumbled across one in nearby San Marcos at the beginning of March for nearly half the price, I jumped on it and registered for "Moe's Better Half-Marathon."</div><div><br /></div><div>After an extremely over-indulgent New Years Day full of alcohol and unhealthy food, I started training the second day of the year. I printed out some work-out routines, and started altering my diet. I ate fast food maybe one time a week if at all, cut-back on my drinking, and hit the pavement putting in miles. I had run cross-county in high school, and throughout college had run a few miles a week just because I liked the way it made me feel (aka helped me justify my vices from time to time). Just a month in, I was already running 4 to 5 miles a night 4 or 5 days a week, and seemingly making good progress. February hit, and the temptations for eating poorly began, so I tried to kick those out by doing even more athletically. I joined a soccer team in Austin's Men's Soccer Association league, and with trainings on Tuesday nights and games on Sunday's, I was given even more incentive to continue trying to stick to my resolution.</div><div><br /></div><div>Shortly after Valentines day, I went on a run and managed to put in 8 miles. Now this might not seem like much considering the half I was training for would be 13.1 miles, but it was a milestone for me as I had never run more than 7 before at one time. Feeling confident, but also a little under the weather due to allergies, I took a few days off after that. Big mistake. For future reference, I will never do that again. I peaked in my training earlier than I had wanted to, and the last 3 weeks before the race I never ran more than 3 times a week, and never further than 5 miles. Soccer, work, concerts, and having a girlfriend all jammed up my schedule, and as race day approached, I felt a little uneasy about the prospect of trying to accomplish the goals I had set out for myself for the race, which were to run the entire thing without walking, and to finish it in under 2 hours (which would require a pace of around 9 minute miles). The weekend of the race I had come, and I ended up going downtown Friday night and staying out late drinking before I had to get up early for work, and didn't get in bed till after 11pm that night (due to nerves if nothing else) even though I had a 4am wake up call Sunday in order to make it down to San Marcos in time for the 7am start. To say I was nervous would be a massive understatement, but the day was here, I had paid my registration fee and picked up my race packet, so there was no turning back now.</div><div><br /></div><div>Arriving to the Tanger Outlet Center in San Marcos where the start and finish line for the race were around 6am, I was trying to keep positive thoughts in mind. The weather was a little cooler than I would have preferred, a brisk 36 degrees, but there was a hallway by the bathrooms we hung out in to keep from the wind while we stretched and warmed up for the race. This was a great marathon to do as my first one, because it wasn't very crowded and pretty low-key. All the participants and organizers were friendly and up-beat, and I was losing my nervousness and finally sliding into that feeling of anticipation. I was ready, or at least as ready as I'd ever be, to see just how far I could push my body. We lined up near the front of the pack at the start, and at 7am set off on the 13.1 mile long course through the hilly San Marcos countryside.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now although I rarely am awake for it, the times that I am and get to the sunrise I always have a sense of accomplishment no matter what I'm doing. So seeing the sun come up over the farms of the central Texas hill country as I ran by was a very rewarding feeling in itself. I was enjoying it so much that I ran my first mile entirely too fast, and thought there had been some kind of mistake as I passed by Mile Marker 1 and looked down at my watch to see 7:13, a little under my 9 minute pace I had intended to run at. I tried to slow myself down, but still came in too fast at Mile 2 around 14:45. This ended up being a good thing, because my nervous tick seems to be drinking water, and I had drank 2 to 3 bottles worth en route to San Marcos that morning. So at the first porta-potty stop at Mile 4, I had to make a pit-stop. Having to wait on someone in front of me, this took about 2 minutes time. So when I left I was just under 36 minutes, so right on pace for where I wanted to be. Miles 5 and 6 were both right on pace just under 9 minutes each, and as I approached the steep downhill between miles 6 and 7, I was feeling more and more confident.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I finished zig-zagging the hill and realized I was just about halfway done with the course, I was having an out-of-body experience. Here I was at 8 in the morning and had already been up for 4 hours, was 7 miles into my first half marathon, the sun was shining without a cloud in the sky, the temperature was a perfect 45 degrees, and I felt like I could run forever. I was smiling to myself, feeling very much like Forrest Gump, and almost as if on cue, "Freebird" came on my iPod. That lengthy song alone killed almost 2 miles, and an array of eclectic tunes accompanied me as I continued on my way from Bob Marley and Bob Dylan, to Radiohead and Rage Against the Machine. As I approached and then ran by Mile 8, I knew that anything past this point was a new personal best for my distance wise, and I know that the photographers and on-lookers cheering us on during the race probably found my huge smile a bit odd.</div><div><br /></div>Entering double digits at Mile 10, I began having the debate with myself about rather I should try and pick up my pace a little (I was still hovering right around the pace I had set for myself of 9 minute miles), of if I should relish the fact that I was still feeling great and push myself more. It was at that exact moment that I saw for the first time of the race someone off the side throwing up. This to me was an omen that I did not ignore, and I maintained my pace rather than speeding up. After nearly being spit on by a guy running with his friend, I ended up staying with them for awhile as they seemed to be right at the same pace as me, and having been running alone for most of the race it was nice to have a little company. A few laughs as we hit Mile 12 and I decided that there was no point in leaving anything left on the course, so I kicked it into gear and decided to try and start passing anyone and everyone I could. The fact that a lot of the people in front of me were girls and/or people in their 50's and 60's was both impressive on their end, and made me become a little prideful on mine, and gave me just the motivation I needed to try and beat as many people as I could coming down the home stretch.<div><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwU9qIAP2CnEwLtVtXdnVlhC_Ikx4a5yX7_3W-HMho-FH6yDKrVqZTYYZUAE66kAiMjH9T9NhV_SWZJiWtO94N8JlOSn5f6mZ6xYUqAzf0gdPKPhZzOflmjQ6thESpEu4ki8E-b_IEBs/s1600/run.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwU9qIAP2CnEwLtVtXdnVlhC_Ikx4a5yX7_3W-HMho-FH6yDKrVqZTYYZUAE66kAiMjH9T9NhV_SWZJiWtO94N8JlOSn5f6mZ6xYUqAzf0gdPKPhZzOflmjQ6thESpEu4ki8E-b_IEBs/s320/run.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581828746716443026" /></a><div><br /></div><div>As I came around the last turn and could see the outlet center in my sights, I began running even faster. I then caught sight of my friend Blaine, who had already finished, with my camera (as I had asked him to) taking pictures, and that also helped pushed me through. I passed 2 girls on the last 100 yards and finished with a time of 1 hour 58 minutes and 12 seconds. I had accomplished all my goals; I hadn't walked any and I had finished in under 2 hours. The course was pretty challenging, as there were a lot of hills (a few of them pretty killer), and the colder weather at first and a slight breeze (headwind) here and there also came into play but all in all I would say it went about as perfect as possible. I devoured a cookie, banana, orange, and Gatorade, and had a permanent smile on my face the rest of the day.</div><div><br /></div>I had my first experience at The Mighty Cone trailer on South Congress, and then went out to Zilker Park to check out the Austin Kite Festival. I finished off the near perfect Sunday with dinner and drinks at Chuy's with my dad. It was one of the best days of my life, and most rewarding, because I had accomplish a goal that I had set out completely for myself. I was not trying to impress anyone, or make a soccer team, or win a race, I had simply set out to achieve something, done it, and the reward was the feeling it left within me. Now I can cross that off my bucket list, and have a memory to look back on forever. Next up, I have a 10k in Austin at the end of March, as well as 5 more soccer games this season as we try to move up the table in our division. Its been a very rewarding year so far in 2011, and I can't wait to see what else I will be able to accomplish. I've already read more books in the past 3 months than I did all last year, and am planning on running at least one more half-marathon before 2012. So who knows what 2012 may hold, possibly a full marathon? The possibilities are endless, because when you learn how far you can push yourself, you learn how much it takes to be able to push it even further. And I think thats what this half-marathon meant to me, a journey, a race to self-discovery.<div><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbASSbjnaF3g6Jz7-xQhnlrEzNqeN87G6AcMygxrjZCisDo7rEAI2rsAaIHwi2mzYrYKBw-DDhZmSl-jZ3tWVHDg1cTs51ScKJypC0W87FwlizFuezDH5PId2vWaIvFBGxTOqpzKE61c/s1600/moes.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbASSbjnaF3g6Jz7-xQhnlrEzNqeN87G6AcMygxrjZCisDo7rEAI2rsAaIHwi2mzYrYKBw-DDhZmSl-jZ3tWVHDg1cTs51ScKJypC0W87FwlizFuezDH5PId2vWaIvFBGxTOqpzKE61c/s320/moes.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581828543963222450" /></a><br /></div></div></div></div>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-27152839830655124482011-03-05T10:50:00.000-08:002011-03-07T09:51:06.708-08:00Nocturnal FestivalLabor day weekend of 2010, me and a few friends decided to make the drive out to Apache Pass Event Center outside of Rockdale, Texas which was more or less about an hour away from Austin. We had all purchased tickets for a music festival, one with a very interesting line-up and theme, and also one that in all reality we both didn't know much about, nor what to expect once we got there. The aptly named Nocturnal Festival lasted from 4pm to 4am every evening that weekend, and included such performers as Girl Talk, Bassnectar, and Rusko. We were heading out on Sunday evening to catch Lotus, Pretty Lights, and Kid Cudi. With much anticipation, excitement, and a little bit of uneasiness, we pre-gamed at my apartment in north Austin for a little bit and then left with the sunset around 8:30 to head up highway 79 to the pass. Almost immediately, we all realized we had made a very good decision.<div><div><br /></div><div>En route, we passed Dell Diamond, home of the Round Rock Express baseball team. They had just finished up their game that night, and apparently were treating visitors to a surprisingly good fireworks show. We managed to pull up just as it had started, so I pulled my car over the side of the road and we got a free showing to start the trip off with. It seemed like fate, as we laughed and listened to some road-trip music and drank our "to-go" drinks (sorry mom, sorry dad) and watched the display. So once it finished up we continued on our way, our spirits even higher than before at this point.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>Once in Rockdale, we decided to stop at the lonely gas station in town and pick up a few more supplies (water, ice, gatorade, advil, etc). It was at this point that I noticed the first dilemma of the trip. Looking at the reflection of my car in the store's window, I noticed my front headlight was out. I instantly was a bit panicked due to the aforementioned to-go drinks and knew that an out light was just the kind of excuse the cops in these po-dunk towns of central Texas would be looking for to pull me over on a night such as this one. But, having taken defensive driving shortly after moving to Austin (due to a speeding ticket I received speeding back to Tyler to pack up and move my things to the Atx), I knew that in this situation the smart, and legal, thing to do was to simply turn on my brights and hope for the best. Turns out having somewhat low-powered lights, although a problem in certain situations, was a blessing in this one. Because we safely made it to the venue and back to my apartment again much later that night without any issues, despite passing quite a few of Texas' finest along the way. Again, this night was shaping up to be a good one.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1to1OWMS1SjfbiHb81q9no7OM0GuLfYsZdp_3utliYJyV9lmQ4mApoKFawv1GCFy8G0jUEIECnPv0_Wdgvo2AqFi75mUdBCnyEFUyhpL3eDUePqS_iriGuCG9taAgDFzWVWggwnGGA4/s1600/lotussss.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hE2HfvcHvQWbipRiCOIuFAsEHC_YGKovqENmhSG6JhZ2jb43aXzHaNNds7dpIGf17JqLhd4ocWO1FViYVbKkhX_UA0wUtIFiQym9UMo7acLmtg7MEp61htvNHNj64hysY7LS7nmwFgk/s1600/kid+cudi.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hE2HfvcHvQWbipRiCOIuFAsEHC_YGKovqENmhSG6JhZ2jb43aXzHaNNds7dpIGf17JqLhd4ocWO1FViYVbKkhX_UA0wUtIFiQym9UMo7acLmtg7MEp61htvNHNj64hysY7LS7nmwFgk/s320/kid+cudi.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581396081114315314" /></a></div><div><div>^Kid Cudi</div><div><br /></div><div>So finally around 10 we made it the event center, a.k.a. the farm, parked, chugged, and found our way inside. Lotus was set to take the stage around 10:30, so we grabbed a few beers and found a good place in the crowd. The festival was set up into 4 different stages, each one themed, with about 8 artists a night performing at each. Lotus put on an incredible set, complete with a great light show and killer beats, and we were buzzing like bumblebees. But as good as Lotus was, that was just the kicker, because the only reason I bought a ticket in the first place was coming on next: Kid Cudi. I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd get a chance to see Kid Cudi at a festival, let alone at one this close to where I lived. So the second his name popped up on the Festival list, I instantly purchased a ticket (despite the increase in price that his name being added to the bill, added to the bill). Loving life, me and my friends all sang loudly together as we too were successfully on "the pursuit of happiness."</div></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hE2HfvcHvQWbipRiCOIuFAsEHC_YGKovqENmhSG6JhZ2jb43aXzHaNNds7dpIGf17JqLhd4ocWO1FViYVbKkhX_UA0wUtIFiQym9UMo7acLmtg7MEp61htvNHNj64hysY7LS7nmwFgk/s1600/kid+cudi.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ryx7vCpf1qIL-ukwq5pe_6DooXMHN7bgbX1GIDrNPbQamzZJFW8M5RxtffwBqbSElcVqsEVTklOHaZIINgeQQ4yn13qrz5YF-k-BuqZ8MSCK4fspjTcpiRVKPDqd9_kSGpxKo4wG8c0/s1600/fireworks.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ryx7vCpf1qIL-ukwq5pe_6DooXMHN7bgbX1GIDrNPbQamzZJFW8M5RxtffwBqbSElcVqsEVTklOHaZIINgeQQ4yn13qrz5YF-k-BuqZ8MSCK4fspjTcpiRVKPDqd9_kSGpxKo4wG8c0/s320/fireworks.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581396015326137250" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div>Kid Cudi's amazing set ended in fireworks, the only concert I've ever been to that did, and it was absolutely perfect. Pretty Lights came on after Cudi, and in retrospect I wish I would have stayed for more of that show than I did, but riding on high from Kid Cudi and general curiosity led us to venture away from the stage we were at and check out the other sights and sounds around the park. There were all kinds of lighting fixtures, some in trees, other's standing alone, and the unique array of concert attendees were a sight in themselves. It was one of the most eclectic displays of people in one place I have ever seen, with half-naked girls in body paint running past guys dressed in all black and gaudy gothic stones and belts, to your average wanna-be hipsters such as myself, and everything in between. After walking through a maze of Christmas lights complete with 3d glasses, we decided that it was getting pretty late and we should probably try to beat the rush out of the farm and head back to Austin at a somewhat decent hour (it was around 2am at this time).</div></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ryx7vCpf1qIL-ukwq5pe_6DooXMHN7bgbX1GIDrNPbQamzZJFW8M5RxtffwBqbSElcVqsEVTklOHaZIINgeQQ4yn13qrz5YF-k-BuqZ8MSCK4fspjTcpiRVKPDqd9_kSGpxKo4wG8c0/s1600/fireworks.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMKCVgr5EZ9CreTqS_B3E_6h9it-SiA8-S4M-LGjeAsE-EAMEvSfLXrS0l9rwLpgGmKR5_DQLKGcvfsjn5BciV0ywn9YtIqNi4bG7Di4Xl7vzwTdF8cg2qQbE8sPdAchSOtg3ADyPrcg/s1600/prettylights.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMKCVgr5EZ9CreTqS_B3E_6h9it-SiA8-S4M-LGjeAsE-EAMEvSfLXrS0l9rwLpgGmKR5_DQLKGcvfsjn5BciV0ywn9YtIqNi4bG7Di4Xl7vzwTdF8cg2qQbE8sPdAchSOtg3ADyPrcg/s320/prettylights.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581395945930563202" /></a></div><div><div>^Pretty Lights</div><div><br /></div><div>We successfully found our way back to my apartment, with me free-styling more or less the entire car ride home in order to ensure I stayed awake and coherent for the trip. Not wanting the seemingly perfect night to end, we all crammed into my hot tub once back at my apartment complex, where we had some cool stories to share with some intoxicated (even more than we were) neighbors, who's foreign accents to this day escape me as to where they were from. Finally crawling into bed around 5am, the smile I fell asleep with was one of pride, success, and contentment. We had conquered and survived Nocturnal, and come away with memories from a night that could only be described as simply perfect.</div></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMKCVgr5EZ9CreTqS_B3E_6h9it-SiA8-S4M-LGjeAsE-EAMEvSfLXrS0l9rwLpgGmKR5_DQLKGcvfsjn5BciV0ywn9YtIqNi4bG7Di4Xl7vzwTdF8cg2qQbE8sPdAchSOtg3ADyPrcg/s1600/prettylights.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2I3uAXn8QrYQzAi6BgU6ajzrX_zjrtcolSMhQ9x_H7vKUgywjIiwj-vuuL6BCxgptI_5wjPA5o4nEgP85G6zkz_WTgieiJ4drK73o-om5saRvXXbMvqFWGxnDKJD7NhnaV22cDreepnA/s1600/crazylightsss.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2I3uAXn8QrYQzAi6BgU6ajzrX_zjrtcolSMhQ9x_H7vKUgywjIiwj-vuuL6BCxgptI_5wjPA5o4nEgP85G6zkz_WTgieiJ4drK73o-om5saRvXXbMvqFWGxnDKJD7NhnaV22cDreepnA/s320/crazylightsss.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581395793407298306" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div>This April, Nocturnal Festival returns to the Apache Pass Event Center in Rockdale, Texas, and for 2 nights will transform peoples lives. I have not decided yet if I will be returning, as I am simply afraid to try and top such a perfect time, but I highly recommend that any and all who can attend this amazing event. My advice would be to try and find a designated driver (as you always should) since I have heard stories of people who were not as successful as we were at avoiding the 5-0. Also, bring lots of water for afterwards, which looking back on the night was the most important purchase of the evening at the gas station.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2I3uAXn8QrYQzAi6BgU6ajzrX_zjrtcolSMhQ9x_H7vKUgywjIiwj-vuuL6BCxgptI_5wjPA5o4nEgP85G6zkz_WTgieiJ4drK73o-om5saRvXXbMvqFWGxnDKJD7NhnaV22cDreepnA/s1600/crazylightsss.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBDtMfIix7yUOEix4zYk6WJEKSfUa5oukgYQV9Nboxgm703RdjYyGtqXLNoc7gup22MKaZUlJ6yz2smG4nGH7l5zlLh4hIHl5S5wM9EPQt5cJZywXPFJdpNY3bwlnsg4JMAZaGcdm_q0/s1600/group.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBDtMfIix7yUOEix4zYk6WJEKSfUa5oukgYQV9Nboxgm703RdjYyGtqXLNoc7gup22MKaZUlJ6yz2smG4nGH7l5zlLh4hIHl5S5wM9EPQt5cJZywXPFJdpNY3bwlnsg4JMAZaGcdm_q0/s320/group.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581395698256809714" /></a><br /><br /><div>This years line up is amazing, and includes:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; " ><b><i>Above & Beyond<br />Bassnectar<br />Big Gigantic<br />Crystal Castles<br />Excision<br />Ghostland Observatory<br />Kaskade<br />STS9<br />Zeds dead</i></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here is also a link to the trailer for this years festival, which is footage shot from last years which I just described above:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6fLNL-N_CQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6fLNL-N_CQ</a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-70709327576192562632011-01-31T19:48:00.001-08:002011-03-04T11:27:52.452-08:00Year One<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzmay0eZioQoX6UsunuwldctedGQAZ3I4qp2pQyykNtUIJLENRf_WS30hio1ixnS3bIiUzvJwZhIWQVTkg28Bdtczrny11ultnI__p-9h831Zw1v3jYJVQcNpRuxVp6-c4Jjf2-zcjco/s1600/uhaulin.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzmay0eZioQoX6UsunuwldctedGQAZ3I4qp2pQyykNtUIJLENRf_WS30hio1ixnS3bIiUzvJwZhIWQVTkg28Bdtczrny11ultnI__p-9h831Zw1v3jYJVQcNpRuxVp6-c4Jjf2-zcjco/s320/uhaulin.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580303451798463938" /></a><div><br /></div><div>On January 31, 2010, I packed every thing I owned into a u-haul and moved to Austin, Texas. I had lived in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); ">Whitehouse</span> and/or Tyler in East Texas my entire life, and besides a few stints of living with some friends in apartments in Tyler here and there, had never lived completely on my own before, either. Needless to say, it was understood that moving from the shiny buckle of the bible belt to the liberal island floating in the sea of Texas conservatives that is Austin was going to be a bit of a "life-changer." Having been in Austin over a year now, and my one-year of working at Mercedes-Benz of Austin coming up on March 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); ">th</span>, I thought it was time to update the blog again and reflect on the past 13 (my lucky number) months of my life<br /><br /></div><div><div>When I moved down here, I did it almost on a whim. I had gotten a job at a Marketing Agency (that ended up being more or less a pyramid scheme selling Direct TV at Best Buy that I immediately quit 3 days later), and after receiving the job offer in mid January after a trip to Austin for a party following a "graduation trip" skiing in Colorado, I immediately found an apartment in North Austin near where my work would be in the Arboretum. After signing my lease and paying my deposit (and getting a ticket speeding on the way back to Tyler due to excitement), I packed up all my belongings, which sadly could all fit in a relatively normal sized u-haul, and made the move to the Live-Music Capital of the World.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PTfZDopCIOiqIlzkgzxWyktF7p6cHDpbkj59YVI6vXO9az5YkUfbrI6R66u8msHHPnF-OBWu8pwQyNKabsSgNWYjr5P57lYVHUDUJcdi0MKvsD4v3ZNWkSdfDaIP_BFfCMWxN83rfKo/s1600/heycc.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ37PISwaLKgFGbmijRDNHG2Lfbc3UXRT4Avdh18svuwqjFr7rv7W6PtRXtMya6_a6WtUOtUkJyWkCBtPiMxndeHDmcaQeYKgpA_fPz2tZ-JnsvJr3RRyKfeYcLM6ILlDeNnqimTvpVMQ/s1600/atx.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ37PISwaLKgFGbmijRDNHG2Lfbc3UXRT4Avdh18svuwqjFr7rv7W6PtRXtMya6_a6WtUOtUkJyWkCBtPiMxndeHDmcaQeYKgpA_fPz2tZ-JnsvJr3RRyKfeYcLM6ILlDeNnqimTvpVMQ/s320/atx.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580303197790755666" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Now to say this was completely on a whim is not entirely accurate. When I was 14 years old, I came to Austin for the first time with my dad over Thanksgiving break and got to watch the Longhorns take it to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Aggies</span> at Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, and I was forever changed. A few months later in March, I came back with my dad and sister for my dad's college roommate's dad's 80<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span> birthday party (now that's a mouthful). That party took place at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Omni</span> on 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span> Street and just so happened to fall on the same week as the infamous South by Southwest music festival here in Austin. Even back then, my sister was always in the know and infinitely cooler than me, and she managed to find a few shows we could go to while we were in town. So as a freshman in high school with curly hair and a mouth full of braces, I hit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">SXSW</span> and saw a few shows like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Starsailor</span>, and the kicker being Better Than Ezra with Johnny Lang at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Stubbs</span>. From that week on, I knew that if I were to stay in Texas past high school or college, that Austin would be the only place I would live. The people, the city, the music, the feeling, everything was different from what I had grown up with in my small little hometown of 4,000+ people in the East Texas pines. Through some circumstances outside of my control, I wasn't able to attend the University of Texas at Austin as was my dream, but I managed to live vicariously though other friends college experiences, and got to travel all over the country with the money I saved from staying close to home for college. But after graduating in December of 2009, it didn't take long for me to make the move out of that sea-of-settling Tyler trap that so many people fall into (no disrespect to all my friends still "on their grind" in Tyler, just wasn't for me).</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PTfZDopCIOiqIlzkgzxWyktF7p6cHDpbkj59YVI6vXO9az5YkUfbrI6R66u8msHHPnF-OBWu8pwQyNKabsSgNWYjr5P57lYVHUDUJcdi0MKvsD4v3ZNWkSdfDaIP_BFfCMWxN83rfKo/s1600/heycc.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PTfZDopCIOiqIlzkgzxWyktF7p6cHDpbkj59YVI6vXO9az5YkUfbrI6R66u8msHHPnF-OBWu8pwQyNKabsSgNWYjr5P57lYVHUDUJcdi0MKvsD4v3ZNWkSdfDaIP_BFfCMWxN83rfKo/s320/heycc.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580303257175925730" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>So here I was, 22 years old and living out my dream, sort of. After quitting the pyramid, I was in a bit of a bind. I already had bills piling up from my new apartment, so I was on the job hunt hardcore. I don't think I've ever sent more emails out, browsed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Craigslist</span> and Google more, or had more sleepless nights due strictly to stress in my entire life than I did that month of February. Thanks to some graduation money I had saved up, and the love and generosity of my parents who I am and will forever be in debt to, I managed to survive until I lucked into a position with Mercedes-Benz of Austin through a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Craigslist</span> add I hadn't even remembered replying to. A year later, here I am still living paycheck to paycheck, but living a life as good if not better than I had imagined when I pulled out of me and my dad's apartment in Tyler for the last time (with teary eyes, I might add). </div><div><br /></div><div>Since I've been here, I've been to more concerts than I would have ever dreamed imaginable (some of which can be read about in other blog posts i.e: Nocturnal Fest, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">ACL</span>, etc.), met some of the most interesting people I will ever know (including a beautiful girl that lets me take her on dates), made some friendships that I think will last a lifetime, and still managed to stay close with the people that have always been in my life (and always will be). and through it all discovered not only a new city and a new life, but a new me. I've always been one to value self-awareness, but I never realized how much more important self-discovery is. Sure I try to pretend like I know exactly who I am or what I want, but the truth is that changes everyday. So I don't think anyone can ever be completely sure of those things. What I've learned is that you just have to roll with the punches, make yourself open to new people and new experiences, and try to do it all with an open mind.<br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ37PISwaLKgFGbmijRDNHG2Lfbc3UXRT4Avdh18svuwqjFr7rv7W6PtRXtMya6_a6WtUOtUkJyWkCBtPiMxndeHDmcaQeYKgpA_fPz2tZ-JnsvJr3RRyKfeYcLM6ILlDeNnqimTvpVMQ/s1600/atx.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvtCdE72Q65WsLFYcW1_9Lv-oPdO4BW7uGfFAXXSBxFLx3q8OZap6wbWXZmpAK3aK-f3Qgr4g3A4C1Y8XFFqqyd6sYqg70pshTdb-UJCIANuBGww_mEhYcZW0_6uDprlRJsuOC-jM8EA/s1600/aclll.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvtCdE72Q65WsLFYcW1_9Lv-oPdO4BW7uGfFAXXSBxFLx3q8OZap6wbWXZmpAK3aK-f3Qgr4g3A4C1Y8XFFqqyd6sYqg70pshTdb-UJCIANuBGww_mEhYcZW0_6uDprlRJsuOC-jM8EA/s320/aclll.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580303151789036258" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I haven't left Texas since I moved here over a year ago, so I'm commemorating this amazing 1+ year in Austin by booking a trip to Portland, Oregon today in May. I made a promise to myself that Austin would change me for the better, and I can undoubtedly say it has. I've been crossing things off my Bucket List (see <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">blog post</span>) left and right, and this Sunday I will scratch another one off as I run in my first half-marathon in San Marcos. Fittingly enough, I will wrap up that day by heading to one of Austin's most popular locations, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Zilker</span> Park, to see a vintage Austin event, a Kite Festival. Followed by a visit from my old roommate, my dad, for his Spring Break. The next few months are lined up to be exactly what I moved down here for, full of amazing concerts and festivals, good times with friends and family, and experiences that I could not have if I were not living here. </div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiduyQhUZcrxY51vNtLMC2ksUpLAOZEOqtDT3wNgyVNCyIYxCmXwxmSAC4dVk3WuG4Y1Dc57S5m4_cgAIZXvziXMf2wsNlFfGpGQfIyAyhNIdO3b-jQni7SkNiGTCQJkMk2GgzDyC1U4/s1600/ivey.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiduyQhUZcrxY51vNtLMC2ksUpLAOZEOqtDT3wNgyVNCyIYxCmXwxmSAC4dVk3WuG4Y1Dc57S5m4_cgAIZXvziXMf2wsNlFfGpGQfIyAyhNIdO3b-jQni7SkNiGTCQJkMk2GgzDyC1U4/s320/ivey.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580303310611296386" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>So to everyone who has made Austin worth while for me since I've gotten here, I thank you. Without you, all of this would not be possible, and I would not be the person I am right now. I am so thankful to be this blessed and lucky, and I do not take you or my life for-granted. I know that mine is a life a lot of people would love to have, and I try to live daily as though it could all be taken away from me at any moment. Because in my nearly 24 years, I've learned that it really could.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_Abv2JxtMN-oJiu40Hp5fSZclcrlB2CJ2wY7x3yaY3ti3gyok0z5j6OttTHxMHe6YNZl9uRXW2UVDpbxjhKO4eTHF0ENTD6TaYLbDXaBH-KFNX02NAW9RgobI9Gf7njaUzaTnSCcopo/s1600/jc.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_Abv2JxtMN-oJiu40Hp5fSZclcrlB2CJ2wY7x3yaY3ti3gyok0z5j6OttTHxMHe6YNZl9uRXW2UVDpbxjhKO4eTHF0ENTD6TaYLbDXaBH-KFNX02NAW9RgobI9Gf7njaUzaTnSCcopo/s320/jc.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580303398790792594" /></a></div><div></div>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-65361288330933312282010-10-12T18:01:00.000-07:002010-10-13T05:21:44.299-07:00Austin City Limits 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNhHh6ax1m55wd0nx2s4A3eSGe886XpNjZm7uHWR6_SR6cjsMhe9AYoEKN3-KseR6hkTP_ki49uSNUwJuo9LjIXs_w4lWn-Mapdp2Nc2OAlpEc_wFFur5_zn7146IgPtfCxHWSnk-Og0/s1600/P1010126.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 171px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527361889541383698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNhHh6ax1m55wd0nx2s4A3eSGe886XpNjZm7uHWR6_SR6cjsMhe9AYoEKN3-KseR6hkTP_ki49uSNUwJuo9LjIXs_w4lWn-Mapdp2Nc2OAlpEc_wFFur5_zn7146IgPtfCxHWSnk-Og0/s320/P1010126.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The Wait.<br /><div><br /></div>After nearly 6 months of anticipation, painfully watching the calendar, sorting through the line-up, and then the schedule, and then the map, feeling similar to a kid on Christmas Eve, it was finally here: Austin City Limits Music Festival 2010. Now to say I was excited about this would be accurate. To say I was giddy as a school girl would be closer to the actual truth. This would not just be my first ACL, but my first multi-day outdoor music festival ever. So I was definitely curious to see just how well I'd do. Most people who know me know that I do tend to go to a lot of shows, so the idea of doing it for 10 hours a day, 3 days in a row definitely seemed right down my alley. With that as my only justification for spending 185 dollars 6 months before the festival (and 3 months before the line-up), I pulled the trigger. Now it was finally here. <div><br /></div><div>The Eve.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Part of my excitement and anticipation also came from the fact that the Friday of the festival would be my first day off from work since I started there March 8th. Having already seen Phantogram at Mohawk earlier during the week, I was more than pumped and prepared to get the festival underway. So me and some friends decided to go check out an official ACL pre-show Thursday night at La Zona Rosa. Neon Indian was playing with Prefuse 73, and tickets were easy to get thanks to 5 or 6 other big name acts doing pre-shows that night (who am I kidding, I got my ticket like a month in advance... but mainly because the Black Keys sold out in 10 minutes). Prefuse 73 was a surprisingly good show with a lot of percussion and a decent light show, and Neon Indian was even more impressive. A shot or two of Jameson and a few beers during the show led to an appropriately drunken night of a lot more shots of Jameson on dirty 6th. A late, but very successful ACL Eve.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Beginning</div><div><br /></div><div>Naturally being that excited, I was up by 8:30 even with the late bedtime. Nursing only a slight hang over, and knowing we had a long day ahead of us, we loaded up on some Magnolia's brunch. A few shots back at the apartment and off we were in cabs headed to Zilker. It took everything in me not to break out in a sprint to the gates when we got out of the taxi (I probably would have if I knew where the hell I was going). A few long lines at the bag check (which was surprisingly and thankfully pretty lenient), and to get my wristband and we were finally in. The weather was a perfect 86 degrees sunny and breezy, and we walked around a bit till we found a nice spot at the AMD stage for Blues Traveler. Seeing John Popper do a killer Radiohead cover of "Creep" was definitely the highlight of that set. We stayed near to make sure we had good seats for the next band but did get to catch some Miike Snow playing next door at the Honda stage. Next up came one of the bands I was most excited to see on the line-up, The Black Keys. They of course killed it, and I managed to down about 50 dollars worth of beer between 2 and 5 in the refreshingly warm sun. This was the absolute perfect state of mind to be in to walk back next door to see Beach House. I daydreamed and danced to Victoria and considered the day a success... except that it was only 6 when she silenced her angelic voice. I vaguely remember moving through a sea of people with traces of Spoon, Slightly Stupid, and Sonic Youth playing in the background. We then managed to catch an outside spot for Vampire Weekend, which for the time brought back a tiny spark of energy. It was now 8, and I was done (very literally). This just happened to be when I saw a utopia that was the food court, and the long trail of trailers full of treasures at the end of my double rainbow. With so many decisions in front of me and the ability to eat a small horse and/or child, I panicked and pulled a rookie mistake. I managed to spend $20 in under 10 minutes on a personal pizza, Torchy's taco, and some good ole fashioned cheese fries. I was officially the happiest person in Zilker park, and had a permanent smile on my eyes half-opened sunburned face. I fell asleep on my backpack peacefully as I watched from a distance the light show provided by Phish. I don't know many people who would fall asleep during Phish, but after a day like that I found it totally justifiable. A quite sleepy walk and car-ride back to a couch, and I was passed out by 11:30. This turned out to be a good thing for the long weekend I still had in store.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTgKpDwsAvw9GUVM70rz3S88glRjskVYBM1IIvZdxYX-zHkoIQ20wPcfxlMquwbqVcjB0M_2T8L3dg5yH0281N28ifKUwR65ViGYrNLsU6vhj_D-7TEXzNWabZNhUkBwCzJpVi6kjwPk/s1600/P1010176.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 247px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527360321949826690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTgKpDwsAvw9GUVM70rz3S88glRjskVYBM1IIvZdxYX-zHkoIQ20wPcfxlMquwbqVcjB0M_2T8L3dg5yH0281N28ifKUwR65ViGYrNLsU6vhj_D-7TEXzNWabZNhUkBwCzJpVi6kjwPk/s320/P1010176.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>The Rally.</div><div><br /></div><div>Rested. Refreshed. Energized. I knew day 2 was going to be good the second I woke up on the couch and my friend was playing LCD Soundsystem's "Dance Yrself Clean." Thanks to a handy little chatroom-like text inbox that ACL provided access to, we all managed to keep in contact throughout the festival, and organized a quick recovery/pre-game meal at Kerbey Lane. A walk down to the liquor store to get supplies to bring with us as we were going to be and were much more prepared, and we were ready to rage. Our bank accounts and stomachs were done with expensive festival beer. Another cab ride down to Zilker and we managed to get down to the Budweiser stage to catch Gaslight Anthem. We saw some of the Black Lips set over at Zync and then headed down to see one of my personal favorites, Broken Bells. A good performance with an interesting Black Keys cover of "Everlasting Light" as we walked back across the park to catch The XX. I managed to get separated from the group during that trip thanks to an abundance of whiskey in my bladder that could not be put on hold, especially with the valuable and rare porta potties so near in sight. So I ended up being pretty far back from the what looked like an already kind of dull XX performance, so I strolled on down a little further to claim a good spot for LCD Soundsystem. I wasn't alone for long thanks to my red and white umbrella landmark, and me and the ladies danced to a very awesome show. I jetted from there over to meet up with another friend and caught the show that in my mind will be the most talked about of the weekend, Deadmau5. His light show dominated the black sky, and the whiskey had me feeling warm as could be on a beautiful cool Austin night. I ended up in towards the back for that night's headliner Muse, but that was okay because their light show was equally as entertaining as Deadmau5, and having the Austin skyline as the backdrop was a perfect touch. I left early from this to meet up with the gang and head over to Antone's for an official aftershow I managed to win free tickets to. After impatiently maneuvering through some hellatious traffic, we saw Girls play a great show and it was fun to go from half a mile away in the back of Muse to front row at Girls less than 2 hours later. That was definitely the apex of the evening, because after that things went downhill fast. Feeling great after a 5 hour energy shot, and not wanting to leave downtown yet, I walked down to dirty 6th to see if I could find some of my friends down there. This was extremely difficult to do thanks to the large crowd of people, and the lack of a cell phone which had died earlier in the day. The only successful thing I managed to do in this time frame was scarf down some Ropollos pizza. Also hard to do in Austin on a Saturday night during ACL weekend... hailing a cab. Trust me, the walk from Beauty Bar on 7th near the interstate to Kerbey Lane on Guadalupe is not fun to do alone at 2 in the morning. I did manage to run into some old friends in front of the Omni, and watched a girl get softly bumped by a moving car in the street. So at least I managed some quality entertainment. But all is well that ends well, and I ended up with a shower and then in a comfy bed, so the walk did not end in vain.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjIHfVY5q0pcD58gIGcAGbvvJRo0UKR2QlbN-fIOE1Ru1ten0PFpHI9BU5mGLk1p-Ai7Fp-gCq7vKQNS1XlkL_j_XP8wRKpvrDJCLQvkjS_kc7lx-PcU1IekHNnB1aGEWtIG9tQ7Obow/s1600/P1010280.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527362640990073330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjIHfVY5q0pcD58gIGcAGbvvJRo0UKR2QlbN-fIOE1Ru1ten0PFpHI9BU5mGLk1p-Ai7Fp-gCq7vKQNS1XlkL_j_XP8wRKpvrDJCLQvkjS_kc7lx-PcU1IekHNnB1aGEWtIG9tQ7Obow/s320/P1010280.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>The Finale.</div><div><br /></div><div>Still in my clothes from the night before, I managed a ride back to my friends apartment down near Zilker. I put the clothes I wore Saturday back on (as my other bags were at my friends duplex down south that I never made it back to the night before) and began the walk down to the festival. It was 11am on the last day of my first ACL, and I intended to make it count. I stopped by the gas station for some essentials (5 hour energy, Gatorade, toilet paper) and by a little market on Barton Springs for the best breakfast taco I've ever had and some hippie all natural deodorant, and marched into my last day alone. I caught a little bit of Ruby Jane's performance, who I had seen shred the stage with Blues Traveler on a fiddle on Friday all at the age of 15. She was very impressive. I then found the lifesaver that was the phone charging tent. I left my Blackberry to regain some life and went to catch a show I had been looking forward to all weekend, Warpaint. I had heard so many good things about them, they were the reason I was already seeing my second show of the day and it wasn't even noon yet. They lived up to the hype, and I was on cloud 9 for the day. I finally met up with my friends again, and we leisurely caught some of White Rabbits and then the Foals. They stopped off at Blind Pilot but I kept moving to assure a good spot for another show I had immediately circled when the line-up came out. Portugal, the Man exceeded my expectations and put on one of the best performances musically of the festival (I'm also fairly sure I saw Kate Hudson standing in the VIP balcony). After this I tried the appropriately named Love Burger and went to claim my spot for Yeasayer, another show that I knew I had to see. Their performance was good, but a tough one to get through. Standing with the sun beating down on us, sleep deprived, dehydrated, hung over, and exhausted from the mini marathon I had done the night before all definitely took a toll on me. But I managed not to pass out, and I popped a squat after the show to sit and wait on the reason why I never once contemplated selling my 3-day pass no matter how desperate I may have been for money at any point since I had purchased it. I had a prime spot for The Flaming Lips, and I intended to keep it. Best decision I ever made. Wayne put on the performance of the festival, and I was close enough to snap some amazing pictures. A compilation of exhaustion from the weekend, the culmination of some of the best shows I had ever seen, and the fact that it was the Flaming Lips closing my ACL experience with "Do You Realize..." I definitely teared up during the finale (I had something in both my eyes, okay). My back could officially take no more after that, and I old man hobbled out of the festival early to miss the Eagles (sorry dad) and catch some bands from my hometown (Mass Rituals and Knifight) play a show downtown at Emo's. It was a fitting way to end such a memorable weekend, watching and supporting local music, the way its done in Austin.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDqLotMupDjrxnh13I7Af3IQN3i4ltduy2XYPSgrKIlzObkqKCYm4jyX2gWpC6b70-l6NfEtGIk-fbX6clls0jxFAbpNeh2O1qPetY-hbr_LWbDSL3JiZDo9fYUvOKo11GBgFISiKQ2I/s1600/P1010302.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 314px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527358246411439826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDqLotMupDjrxnh13I7Af3IQN3i4ltduy2XYPSgrKIlzObkqKCYm4jyX2gWpC6b70-l6NfEtGIk-fbX6clls0jxFAbpNeh2O1qPetY-hbr_LWbDSL3JiZDo9fYUvOKo11GBgFISiKQ2I/s320/P1010302.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It was without a doubt one of the best weekends of my life, and I wrote this to help me remember and look back on in a few years when future festivals I attend will most likely have led me to some slight memory loss. To everyone reading this who was a part of this amazing weekend, I say thanks. Its memories like these that I will cherish for the rest of my life, and my first ACL will forever be something I will look back upon with a smile on my face. </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYF-MN9QZXRNzQsRJXIrlxS9ORBxPmMQ1EcU4l-syNu2DLs8co0EWu2zz7PEw_ZSud3JPpUR2z9bB4tdpoTZVYD6i8CFeYE79kPt10jH703q9NYisYvQ8Zxhv5M7Ch_pYkclgWv02VLQ/s1600/P1010333.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 173px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527359847836801346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYF-MN9QZXRNzQsRJXIrlxS9ORBxPmMQ1EcU4l-syNu2DLs8co0EWu2zz7PEw_ZSud3JPpUR2z9bB4tdpoTZVYD6i8CFeYE79kPt10jH703q9NYisYvQ8Zxhv5M7Ch_pYkclgWv02VLQ/s320/P1010333.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fW9jeZrsFRFka_xJ58DrSN-9x5vSDzuP87pbODkYhzHmi83HZOcUdGtzc6QM25yFx1ujOXdxTDzcjwEDOzGBVVre2xQ5O5stDYTaGwxZzP172qli-_ceuLenYEkQaan62yy71luUR-Y/s1600/P1010117-pola.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 263px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527360509603237026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fW9jeZrsFRFka_xJ58DrSN-9x5vSDzuP87pbODkYhzHmi83HZOcUdGtzc6QM25yFx1ujOXdxTDzcjwEDOzGBVVre2xQ5O5stDYTaGwxZzP172qli-_ceuLenYEkQaan62yy71luUR-Y/s320/P1010117-pola.jpg" /></a></div><div></div>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-29404788775908047562010-10-04T05:48:00.000-07:002010-10-04T06:46:24.927-07:00Is This Real Life?<div>Haven't written anything in way too long, so I thought I'd recap some of the things I've been up to lately, as well as what I have in store for me over the next month.<br /><br />Fall brings a sense of change. The leaves, and temperature, start to drop. The colors outside slide from a growing green to a slowing orange that almost gives the illusion that time is slowing down for a moment, maybe so we can stop and enjoy one of the few times of the year when living isn't Texas isn't unbearably hot (or humid). This year fall has seemed to mean "concert season" here in south Texas.<br /><br />I started off my concert season at a neutral site in Rockdale, Texas... Yeah, I wasn't real sure where that was either, for the appropriately named "Nocturnal Festival." Headliners for me were Lotus, Pretty Lights, and KID CUDI (yes, I am also on the Pursuit of Happiness). Although the details from this night may forever be a bit hazy to me, I can say with full confidence that it was one of the most fun nights I have ever had. We had a great group of people with us, and every detail throughout the night seemed to happen perfectly and without a hitch. I almost feel guilty for how great this night was, and to all who missed it I apologize sincerely. The apex of the night for me came after Kid Cudi's set was finished and fireworks were going off overhead. I laid back on the grass, looked up, and couldn't help but smile, and be thankful to what a great past 9 months it has been since I moved to the ATX, and feel that strong sense of excitement at the upcoming weeks ahead. </div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLczCC67o9lCX9tgCv-JVjiHdpX4iIUp4SG9YcfhpGJsx_OH8Rv2ZWeolf0JyI1NGbTPwPMy8DASrxi-P1iaSx9h983hMncI7HropfGsXz0fnU3B3bqZM4DNfkwNoVYyAeBXNrym762U/s1600/k.bmp"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524185757016734434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLczCC67o9lCX9tgCv-JVjiHdpX4iIUp4SG9YcfhpGJsx_OH8Rv2ZWeolf0JyI1NGbTPwPMy8DASrxi-P1iaSx9h983hMncI7HropfGsXz0fnU3B3bqZM4DNfkwNoVYyAeBXNrym762U/s320/k.bmp" /></a><br />KID CUDI<br /></div><div></div><div><br />Next came an away game in Dallas at Superpages.com center with a familiar team, Dave Matthews. The typical tail-gating ensued while trying to avoid the pastel-colored polo wearing fraternity brothers as best we could. Granted, once inside the venue, everyone is too wasted to care and it is a lot of fun to see 20,000 white people (none of which can dance) all move their bodies like they were having seizures, hopefully none were. All in all, a very successful road trip.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYrjr2pU363ejNCCXo5d3dsq7gTC6hcbsU91SqXPPgrR4ZbCGStDlSXvidsPOiquoSOVAYJEcx7Ti7QAMb91WfcEqGIgi4jKUyHiXRpNOkVrMvejAPPGmOVE2boljmd91ciR_iVdgGrw/s1600/b.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524185520605451570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYrjr2pU363ejNCCXo5d3dsq7gTC6hcbsU91SqXPPgrR4ZbCGStDlSXvidsPOiquoSOVAYJEcx7Ti7QAMb91WfcEqGIgi4jKUyHiXRpNOkVrMvejAPPGmOVE2boljmd91ciR_iVdgGrw/s320/b.jpg" /></a><br />@ DAVE<br /><br /><br />After this, I needed a show where I wouldn't feel left out not wearing a fishing shirt, so the obvious solution was Ratatat. Over the past 9 months, I'd say Stubbs is where I have seen the most shows (see also "Ben Folds, Passion Pit, Bassnectar, etc) so I knew this was going to feel like home. The show was exactly what I expected, a giant dance party with a great light show and even better music. I was pleased, and lets just say I lived that Monday night to the fullest. Being 45 minutes late to work the following morning was completely worth it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hkPLAMAH8JOEKfXtCzIJ5LoFOzqjqpzsjUwDxkyjzYcFZ73Wljx4cjvxiQk7Al508Lj5UiBBvfqaK_o5jz8lk5dxzXPmO3zu2ed212MzYbEbx8hv2ujhnor6J_xvK4kzR9FfjHd7aGk/s1600/r.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 178px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524185869377509618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hkPLAMAH8JOEKfXtCzIJ5LoFOzqjqpzsjUwDxkyjzYcFZ73Wljx4cjvxiQk7Al508Lj5UiBBvfqaK_o5jz8lk5dxzXPmO3zu2ed212MzYbEbx8hv2ujhnor6J_xvK4kzR9FfjHd7aGk/s320/r.jpg" /></a><br />RATATAT<br /><br /><br />Next up, and most recently, came Bassnectar (round 2). This show took place in Dallas during Texas/OU Red River weekend. Naturally, me and the boys went up to Dallas Friday night, and met up with some friends at a bar. We got to enjoy an awkward "magic show" performed by some traveling group of gypsies that included throwing darts to pop balloons taped to a man's back, cutting melons using a man as a cutting board, and a girl squeezing herself through an unstrung tennis racket about 10 times, all while a masked man played the themes to Superman and Star Wars on a miniature accordion. For the big (and ultimately depressing) game, we grilled out and ate like kings, and drank accordingly. Chance and I had feverishly been anticipating round 2 of Bassnectar ever since the aforementioned show we saw at Stubbs back in May for Chance's birthday. The moment had finally come, and after some pregaming in the parking lot, we stumbled inside Palladium for what I will forever remember as one of the most intense shows I have ever been to. Bassnectar waited till 11 to come on because Sara bareilles was playing next door, and he wanted to be at maximum volume to sufficiently melt our faces off, which he in turn did. By the time we got out of there at 1:15am and got our Whataburger and crawled into bed at our La Quinta (which of course means "next to Denny's" in Spanish), we all passed out with smiles on our faces.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTwRuMS5_DWjFMVJs5NXLSjaBY6drKJWRfXyAvZ1HjV8XWB4J1cozBMZ3JxNRCY_Lzs1ItFssFB0tBpdz9VbkJzLt-YF3E4_3RGPLh-zj5QsNi2gJQrCBuS7KST5TCV698whxM2drnAc/s1600/bas.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524185674087834850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTwRuMS5_DWjFMVJs5NXLSjaBY6drKJWRfXyAvZ1HjV8XWB4J1cozBMZ3JxNRCY_Lzs1ItFssFB0tBpdz9VbkJzLt-YF3E4_3RGPLh-zj5QsNi2gJQrCBuS7KST5TCV698whxM2drnAc/s320/bas.jpg" /></a><br />BASSNECTAR<br /><br /><br />On a side note, the typically great weekend was capped off with a great movie. The Social Network was both informative and entertaining, and was obviously a topic I could easily relate to. It'll be fun to watch again in a few years and see how much things have changed even since now, and to remember that I was a freshman in college the year Facebook blew up.<br /><br />Next on the list is Phantogram at Mohawk on 10/05, followed by Neon Indian at La Zona Rosa on 10/07, which in turn kicks off my first ever ACL experience on Friday 10/08. I cannot express nor contain my excitement to finally be attending a large music festival, especially one so notorious and with such a good line-up as Austin City Limits. I most look forward to seeing The Flaming Lips for the first time, along with the Black Keys, Beach House, The XX, Deadmau5, Yeasayer, and a long list of others that I hope to squeeze in throughout the weekend.<br /><br />Sufjan Stevens will be in town on the 19th and I will most likely cry during the concert, and in no way is that depressing. I'll see Ghostland Observatory for the third time on the 28th in Cedar Park which is all of about 10 minutes from my North Austin apartment, so obviously I couldn't pass up that opportunity. 2 days later, I'll see STS9 for the first time for their "Halloween show," once again at my home venue of Stubbs. As you can see, October is chalked full of fun and potentially amazing experiences, which I intend to take full advantage of. So that is the update from the 512 and life and times of Jordan Cooper. I hope to see you at one of the shows, or out on the town afterwards. Maybe in November I'll slow down, catch up on sleep and working out, start drinking less and eating better, but for now I'm going to live life full of nights I remember more from the pictures I scan through the morning after, and I'm not going to apologize to anyone for that.</div></div></div>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1623397955599941322.post-83055613615637502772010-06-07T17:31:00.000-07:002010-06-07T17:53:15.140-07:00Forever YoungHadn't updated this in awhile because I have been pretty busy. This past weekend was the first time in over 2 months I didn't have someone staying with me, the first time in over 6 weeks I didn't go downtown, and the first time in a over month I didn't float the river. Other than grocery shopping I accomplished very little except for some pool time and some serious R&R.<br /><br />Sometimes I have trouble turning my brain off and truly being able to let myself relax and enjoy where I'm at. I see people all around me taking very different life paths then the one I am currently traveling. I have friends getting married, having children, others off traveling the world, starting their careers, buying houses. It amazes me sometimes to think that I really am 23, really on my own making it in the "real world," and really have gotten to this place in my life.<br /><br />When I was at the pool by myself on Saturday I saw a little boy not any older than 5 playing by the pool. I saw the sheer joy in his eyes when his dad started playing catch with him. And I could honestly remember what it felt like to be that kid. To not have a care in the world, to have absolutely no idea what I was suppose to be when I grew up, and not caring. To not have every moment of my life scripted out for me, but to be able to just enjoy being alive and doing care free things, like playing catch with my dad.<br /><br />I find myself watching the slideshow of pictures I have on my computer as my screen saver. Maybe I'm vane, but I find myself constantly thinking as the pictures scroll by just how lucky I am. I've had an absolutely amazing life. I've seen some incredible things, been to some awesome places, and have met some of the most interesting people I can think of. But at the end of the day, the thing I'm most thankful for are the people in my life who have helped me get to this place where I am today.<br /><br />I'm thankful I saw that little kid playing, and that I was able to have a weekend alone to stop, take a breath, and remember the things that have made me such a happy person almost my entire life. Sure I've had a lot of hardships I had to overcome, but for every sad or negative situation that has happened to me, I can think of a 100more happy positive ones that trump those. Nothing in life is perfect, no one is perfect, and you can't enjoy the sweet without the sour, so I'm as thankful for the bad times as I am the good.<br /><br />I think what I'm trying to say is sometimes when life seems like its flying by, sometimes its best to just stop; remove yourself from the fast lane for awhile; and just remember to enjoy the little things. I'm a 5 year old trapped in a 23 year old body, and I hope that never changes. I have my responsibilities, I take care of my business, but at the end of the day I hope to always be young at heart. Life is too short to take seriously all the time, and if you don't stop and smell the roses every once in awhile, you'll wake up one day old, sad, alone, and wondering where your life went. As for me, I'm here, I'm today, and I'm happy. And it is my sincere hope that you can say the same.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbI2-O2T0lKfH27hI1OIjUUAzWHtRxchfsF4S3afTwtVNTf3TtXGq_k4jLefLBGUCGVXd1V__WJ6bLARxc6xxZnvqBMnDyP72Ms-zuAckk4e27CRG4ZixQMz1_VF7CQJe9jHqQ7J7lmB8/s1600/babyfat.bmp"><img style="WIDTH: 213px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480198655075470306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbI2-O2T0lKfH27hI1OIjUUAzWHtRxchfsF4S3afTwtVNTf3TtXGq_k4jLefLBGUCGVXd1V__WJ6bLARxc6xxZnvqBMnDyP72Ms-zuAckk4e27CRG4ZixQMz1_VF7CQJe9jHqQ7J7lmB8/s320/babyfat.bmp" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bcLHB5kGIEszKaCnPFGvG7SOTCn4uRwTuIvgNS26Ep37i2gf_4DaL0L10LKbZwmc_mSTd31Gq6_eFF0hHgjoftfcEhs1LJa0n6zo6nQ-CGR4AKk04CJosta10WwnrX47OrVjvQkCZE8/s1600/grad.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480199072602895522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bcLHB5kGIEszKaCnPFGvG7SOTCn4uRwTuIvgNS26Ep37i2gf_4DaL0L10LKbZwmc_mSTd31Gq6_eFF0hHgjoftfcEhs1LJa0n6zo6nQ-CGR4AKk04CJosta10WwnrX47OrVjvQkCZE8/s320/grad.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCYJ5-z6V48xth7H659eBt7HPbRmow1xGdAMhXdpu3OrjPhFss7i1CeaXmRhnWsYTcFDwmPSwkpI1MiOkSG0bBZhEkdu1KzQNtj81PNtaJ4CvH4LIqGZ8cbmd5k9B57PkTdVSYjr3mFA/s1600/fedup-pola01.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 263px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480199407506584146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCYJ5-z6V48xth7H659eBt7HPbRmow1xGdAMhXdpu3OrjPhFss7i1CeaXmRhnWsYTcFDwmPSwkpI1MiOkSG0bBZhEkdu1KzQNtj81PNtaJ4CvH4LIqGZ8cbmd5k9B57PkTdVSYjr3mFA/s320/fedup-pola01.jpg" /></a>Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15441955351039717060noreply@blogger.com0