NickTrip.com

I’ll be back in town for about 10 days. A friend is getting married in Lawrence, probably my favorite U.S. town. Then, just hanging out for a week or so. Weather looks ok after Sat.

I have taco via and planet sub in my sights. I think a mini blizzard should do also. I’ve been working my back into shape, about 10 weeks of flexibility and core exercises. I want to run an 800 this spring, that would be fun. Not sure why, mostly the fun of competition. Not sure how the blizzard is going to help, but I know it will. Spring is so far away. I’ve got about 4 more weeks and I will hit the pavement for the first time in 13 months. That’s a lot time without any athletic movements. Not that I have many moves left, but I am interested to see what’s left in the tank.

I’ve tried some fishing out here in Oregon. Not much luck. I’ve driven many miles to find a good fishing pond. That’s really not Oregon style. It’s more rivers and oceans and streams. But, there is a nice lake that I’ve heard about that has bass and crappie, which for now is what I’m looking for. Eventually I’ll get the hang of trout fishing and salmon fishing, but for now, I’m looking for bass. I’ve driven to many parts of the Portland area, and fished in a few places. For me though, I just like getting out there and relaxing, just chillin out. I could do that for hours. The only problem is the ponds that I’ve found are not well kept, which makes it less enjoyable.

Peace out. Have a good week.

I swore up and down that I wasn’t going to get sick on the boat. I mocked the medicine, and told em I was  going old school. I made it about 3 and a half hours…9:30am was the breaking point. Vomit city. From there, until 2pm, when we put the fishing poles up, I was doomed. Every move I made led to me hanging my stubborn head overboard into the dry heaves. Worst idea ever to not take the dramamine. I know, I know. Some people can clearly ride on a boat without getting sea sick. Well, I’m not one of them. I ate a light dinner and breakfast, to no avail. I tried to focus on a fixed point, without staring though, to no avail. I tried to will myself…well, you get the picture. I was only slightly mocked by my brother and sister in law, which I deserved, and then some. But, they were nice, let me be, and cheered me on as I brought in a few salmon, and then, after my body realized that I had popped up all too quickly to reel the fish in, upon sitting down, I would be back overboard heaving. It was so strange. I knew that any sudden movements doomed me. Yet, every time I got a fish (4 total, 1 lost), or someone else did, I would pop up, like I had no idea that by doing so would lead to my demise. I call it being a team player, still trying to take part in the last 4 1/2 hours of fishing without letting my sickness detract from the experience. Others just might call it stupidity. Whatever. I enjoyed the trip, sick or not. We got to catch some wild salmon, I got to spend more time with family, head out into the oceans off the coast of Ilwaco, WA, and we saw whales coming out of the water. How awesome. Three different times. Once, about 200 yards or so, then closer about 100, and the last time, as close as 40 yards. What a great experience. I love fishing, so either way, it was a great trip. Deep sea fishing. Good time. But if you’re in doubt, don’t forget the dramamine. Oh yeah, watch out for the racoon at the local motel. A bit of a mooch, looking to eat my subway sandwich, to no avail (although he did chase me up the stairs).

I’ll get to the dramamine in a bit. Here is a list of things I did in KC. I will be back in Mid Aug. for a friends wedding, and more fun I hope, then it’s back to the school…back to school. Summer is great, isn’t it?

KC:

- Ate a several great places that I love and had some cooking from mom…enchildadas, tacos. Went to Johnny’s bbq, thai palace on westport, salty iguana, chili’s (don’t have em in Portland), italain delight, jack stack bbq (remember now, I went almost 2 years without bbq), among other places. NOTE: this time, I’m going to taco via, planet sub

- Played frisbee golf. I’m awful, but this is my new game. It’s free, easy on my back, and did I say free?

- Fishing. Oh yes! Didn’t catch much, small bass and catfish, but man it was great. I can’t even tell you how much I love to fish. Took me back a few years to some good fishing times in hs and college.

- Family gatherings on the deck. Tough heat in kc in the summer, but get some mosquito candles and good food, and it’s great. When I say family, that includes a lot of people. Friends are family.

- Royals game. Cheap craiglist tickets, virtually free. Got the hot dog derby shirt. What a stadium. Hadn’t been in about 5 years. I loved it.

- Went to 3 and 2 stadium with family to watch a ball game. It was great. And, I went to the concessions to eat. If you ever went out there in your life, you know what I’m talking about. One item that they took off the menu was the burrito. Remember the fried burrito? Well, they have a new one. The sign that day said, “Back by popular demand: The burrito”. What a day. I didnt get it, but I told them how they used to make it. Let’s see if they listened to my advice.

- I spent a lot of time taking an online class. Reading a book, etc…That helped that I was taking that class, to keep me busy during the day. I also spent 3 times a day stretching. My version of yoga and flexibility. I am now doing my back/core excersices. I haven’t done a running workout, or really any workout, since Aug. 1 2009. I hope to hit the paveement late Aug. 2010. Wish me well. One mile at a time.

-Saw some fireworks KC style. Hadn’t been in KC since 2007 for the 4th. That was nice. It just popped in my head, I also ate at town topic. Good burger. Oh, my fave, winsteads as well. Love that place.

-Had a great time at my mom’s 60th. Got to see some folks I hadn’t in a while. I’m telling you, this was a good fiesta. Good food for days.

-Went to chuckecheese with my niece. We won a lot of tickets. We have good skiball players in the family. She is next in line. Made some of the best shots i’ve seen, and the technique is solid. Some work to do still, but I see talent.

-Played some nintendo wii. My favorite game without a doubt is the bike racing game. I know, some will tell you its lame. Real lame. I love it.

- Got to hang with my family. #1 on the list, if that is the only thing I did, it was worth the trip.

-Fish dance at SMP. Great time.

-Watched cable tv like it was going out of business.

I can’t believe that it’s been since March that I’ve posted. Well, I’m back in Portland after a long stay in KC. I was in town for 5 weeks, maybe 6. It was fun. Good to be back home in my own bed though.

KC is always full of things to do, but with 5 weeks, no car, and people working during the day, I had plenty of time to relax as well. It was a great time because there was a lot of family time, and time to catch up with friends. Family and friends, I love them, even if I don’t always show it.

During the first week, my mom’s 60th birthday was the focus. And yes, I mean the first week. Big party, and family over at the house. 8 people in about 700 square feet, one bathroom. It’s tough being the lowest on the totum pole at age 32, especially with family under the age of 10 in the house. So goes life.

From there, we spent a lot of time at my bros house, on the new deck. Sweet set up. Talk about suburban paradise. Man, he put some hard work into it, and it showed. I could live out there. I wish I had that drive to work with my hands. He’s got it. I could write literally 100’s of pages on this trip alone. I love to think about my days. Mabe I dwell on them too much in my mind, but I often replay moments. Usually, I wish I hadn’t been so sarcastic or mean, or that I had said something nice. In my heart I’m always glad to be with my family though.

I’m happy for Kstate, and I hope that they continue to do well. I did pick them to go to the Final 4, although I had Kansas beating them. Won’t happen this year.

I am a fan of hard work, and teamwork. That seems to fit the Kstate mold more than the style Kansas played this year. Not to say that Kansas didn’t have teamwork and hard work, but that Kstate seems to demonstrate that more often.

Good for the state of Kansas that there is still a team going. On Saturday I am going to a concert at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, a Rock and Worship show. I’ll let you know how it goes. I don’t know many of the bands, but I’m hoping to learn a few and hopefully will like their sound.

I committed to going to this concert two weeks ago, and I knew that there would be a chance that Kansas was playing at the same time of the concert. It didn’t seem to matter to me. I have reset my priorities, and while I do love basketball more than most people, I’m sure that I will get more out of this concert and worship than a few games. Hec, I didn’t even watch the KU game on Sat. Not that I don’t care, because I am still a big fan of KU athletics, and track season is starting now too, but I need to put athletics, whether watching, or competing (which for me, is at an stalling point) into perspective.