Famous In a Small Town

As promised, Here I am again, not even a day later. As I read through a number of blogs today, I became inspired to pick up where I left off in January. I suppose a lot has happened over the last 9 months, and it would be quite difficult to sum it up without rambling. However, The following is a condensed list of what I have accomplished and/or experienced since my last post:

-In February of this year I received my commercial helicopter pilots license (and have yet to put it to practical use in a working capacity)
-on a sad note, In early April I traded my truck for a car (I know, I'm a loser). However, I purchased a Toyota supra, which is pretty much as awesome as cars get, so its all good
-After finishing school, I returned to Grand Forks shortly, before moving to kelowna again for work
-I worked in kelowna at Okanagan college for approximately 3 months as grounds keeper/landscaper
-In June I grew tired of the big town, so I gave my notice, packed my things, and headed up north to my home town of Hazelton
-After 3 weeks hanging out with family, I went in search of work, and on my first stop, I was offered Short term work as a first aid attendant at a Heli-logging camp
-On my way back to GF from the north lands, I ran into troubles with my car, which resulted in a 15 hour trip turning into a 22 hour trip
-I spent the rest of the summer in Grand Forks, doing pretty much nothing except for the occasional day working at Pines Bible Camp and the Pa Van Ranch
-In early September I took a job with ICBC, my most hated branch of the Provincial Government. I was hired by one Katie Jepsen, who has been given money by ICBC to take me on, due to her being in a car accident. I do the work that she is unable to do, and as a result, I have been assisting at/operating a daycare.
-as of this Friday, I will again be unemployed, and will be searching for what is next in my life.

Well, that pretty much sums it up, save for the details.

Last weekend I was shocked to discover that I am famous...or at least that I am recognizable to some. I was at the local shell station, when a kid that I had never met before approached me. "Weren't you in MuG?" he asked. I stood speechless for a moment, basking in the recognition I had just received. After admitting, somewhat timidly that, yes, I was in fact a member of the aforementioned band, he continued on to say that "I think that MuG was one of the best bands to ever come out of Grand Forks". Now, my personal opinion, I must admit, differs slightly from his claim due to the lack of talent, desire for greatness, and overall mediocrity that is MuG, as far as music is concerned. However, that being said, I stand by the fact that MuG is more than just a band, it's a way of life. Only a select few will grasp the true meaning of this, but as is now evident, that lifestyle, which leaked its way into the music scene for a few short moments in history, has not been forgotten. Maybe, just maybe, the self-proclaimed awesomeness that drove MuG, not as a band, but as 4 friends and those who they were surrounded by, made a positive impact on the life of another, and that, my friends, is what it is all about. So, to those of you who were members of MuG, supporters, friends, family,,or hosts to our shows, I give my thanks, and wish you all to know that MuG is still alive as ever to me, it simply isn't as public as it once was.

All the best, and as always, here are some words to ponder

"Through my lips passed eulogies for all the oaths that I have broken
And still the ghost of hope was haunting, through the dark to save the living
And still beneath it all I dreamt that God could be forgiving"
-Josh Dies, Reese Roper

The Return

Well, it has certainly been a while. for anyone who might stumble upon this blog occasionally, I hope you have not been disappointed by the 9 month hiatus. I am currently at work, so this post will not be long, but I will elaborate on any news and stories from the last 9 months of my life in later posts. For now, I wish you all well, and leave you with these words:

"I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade. Then you should find someone whose life is giving them vodka, and have a party"

The Bucket List

I just got home from watching the movie "the bucket list", so i decided to write a list of a few things that I hope to accomplish before I kick the bucket. (some have already been achieved, but are on my list anyways

-kiss the most beautiful girl in the world (stole that one from the movie)
-fly a helicopter
-ride a motorbike across the United States
-walk through jerusalem and judea in the footsteps of Jesus and his Disciples
-work on a ranch
-have a 6-pack (and keep it)
-beat up my brother
-climb to the top of roche de boule
-teach my son how to play hockey
-help build a house for someone who needs it
-read the bible cover to cover
-shake hands with reese roper, richard dean anderson, carl hinderager, and zach de la rocha
-chop wood with my grandson
-go skydiving


i cant think of anything else for now, thats a pretty good list, I think

"Like stars we know will die to soon
There is never any sunrise here in the shadow of eclipsing moons
Crawling on a tightrope
The bravest thing I have is hope"

It's new years eve, and I'm full of empty promises I half pretend to keep this time, just like last year

Back by popular demand, a lack of anything else to do, and the questionable vocabulary of someone who wants me to update, here I go again...on my own...goin' down the only road I've ever known. sorry for those who check regularly and are regularly disappointed, but this blog isn't as easy to keep up as i originally thought. I only write when I am inspired, as the prophets of old spoke the word of God only when inspired by the Lord (However, I am by no means claiming to be writing the inspired word of God...I am no fool nor a false prophet, simply a man with a blog), and inspiration doesn't always come.

many things have happened in my life since november 6th. school continued until right up to christmas, I flew a few times, passed the written exam with a good mark, and mended a very important friendship that had all but slipped away. then christmas came. I was back in the wonderful town of Grand forks, with both my brother and sister home, it was lots of fun. I didn't make it to my buddy's wedding on vancouver Island, which was disappointing, i would have liked to have been there.

On new years eve I found out that my grandma had died early that morning. so, we packed up and headed north for the funeral, and to be with all my family. It was hard being at her house and not see her sitting in the chair that she always sat in, seeing my grandpa so strong, yet so lost without her. 53 years they were married, and through many trials, many differences, they loved one another until the end. Their relationship, although definitely not perfect, is an example of true love, a love that doesn't give up when things are rough, a love that is patient, a love that is...love. It is a real encouragement and something to strive for. it had been 12 or 13 years since our family was all together, and although grandma wasn't with us, we had some good times reminiscing, catching up, and helping grandpa bring firewood in for the stove. my grandpa didn't let me use the ax...still doesn't trust me with it.

so, I set off for home with my brother and his friend. we made it an hour into the drive, just outside of Smithers, B.C., and we crashed our vehicle. it was a minor accident in that no one was seriously injured, but, 4 days later, my body definitely isn't what it was before the accident. I am unable to fly as of right now, and am heading to Grand forks on Friday to see my doctor. This puts me behind in school, hopefully not too much, but I'll find out soon enough, i guess. i've spent a fair bit of time lying down, because it's far more comfortable, and because my leg likes to give out when i'm walking, causing me to fall down and be even more sore, and also somewhat embarrassed.

tonight i went to one of my favourite places to eat, denny's, with my good friends...sparkles and rachel. I love that place, although they renovated the resteraunt in the fall and now its kind of fancy...its weird. but its still denny's...same old bad coffee, huge portions, and little coffee cream things that we always make a mess with. it was good times.

oh...i got new shoes today, they're so nice. it was the highlight of my day until i went to denny's.

well, i think that thats about everything, now you are caught up with my life. and now, some words from Josh Dies that don't in any recognizable way relate to this post...


And so I am the prince of sounds that make ears ring
My princess kiss me with your sweet lips and lo, my heart will sing
If art is in yourself, or in a class in school
If art is ego and selfishness at the mercy of primitive tools
We sing sweet goodbye's in screams and schreeches
And bury these knives in your heart
No paintings or poems to let you live on
We've seen the last of art
As servants and lovers we wash your feet and cry out into the dark
The noise, the beauty, the love you bring stabs these knives right into art
Art is not the world, art is in our hearts