Fun

It can't all be work and no play, right? I've been working really hard, to put my life on the right track and to make sure I get the most of the opportunities I have been given. I have made my education a top priority in my life. I have been a bit obsessive about keeping my GPA spotless and doing every project I am given to the absolute best of my ability. Only recently have I decided I have the time to get outside of myself a little bit and do some service work. Luckily, I love what I am studying and I am able to turn the projects I am given into enjoyable activities. I have been able to schedule my fun to coordinate with school projects. I go skating, rock climbing, hiking, etc. and I take pictures and shoot video that I use for my assignments. Still, sometimes you have to do things just for the pure enjoyment of them. There are times to be selfless and there are times to be selfish.

I remember sitting in my cell, a few months back, daydreaming about what I wanted to do when I got out. Tool has been my favorite band, for the last 20 years. Every time they come around (which isn't very often), I have been locked up. This time, I told myself, when Tool comes around, I am going to see them. I don't care what it takes. One of the other things I promised myself was that I would get to the Ocean, as soon as possible. I have always had an affinity for Mother Ocean.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. I went to see Tool in Portland and then drove to the coast to spend the rest to the weekend at Ocean Shores. I really don't have the words to express to you, how much I enjoyed this trip, or what it meant to me. It was a spiritual cleansing, awakening, and strengthening experience that I have longed for and needed, for such a long time. I can't tell you how many times I have sat in a cell and daydreamed about all the things I was going to do when I got out. However, I never made the right choices and changes necessary to see any of these dreams through to completion. This time around, everything has been different.

I have not taken the easy path. I have not looked for instant gratification. I am working hard to prepare myself for the long haul. Still, like I said before, it can't all be work and no play... Because I had my finances, school work, and life in order, I was able to go on this adventure and enjoy it to the fullest.

Tool did not disappoint. They put on an amazing show. It was truly a visual, auditory, and spiritual awakening. The energy of the crowd was tangible and Maynard and crew seemed to feed of of it, to breath it in, and then breath it back out through the songs they performed. The creative energy in that Coliseum was soul quenching, to a man who had thirsted so long for an experience such as this. I recorded a few songs on my phone. They don't really do the performance justice, but they will always evoke the memory of being there and how alive I felt.

On the way back to the car, after the show, we came across this guy playing percussion using plastic containers. A very talented musician; this guy was making pretty good money, for a street performer.

After the show, we went to Voodoo Doughnuts. This place rocks! If you are in the neighborhood, I highly recommend it (but, not if you are on a diet).

Loaded up with delicious snacks for the road, we headed off for Ocean Shores. We didn't get there until after 4 o'clock in the morning. It was hard to stay awake, but we made it, safe and sound. Once again, it is hard for me to find the words to describe what it meant to me to hear the sound of waves, rolling into the shore. It felt like coming home, after a long hard journey. This video was shot of of our back porch, at the resort we stayed at. 

The underlying purpose of our trip to Ocean Shores was to attend an NA convention; "Clean and Free, by the Sea". I have not broached the subject of addiction yet, on this blog. It is a difficult topic, but this will be the next subject I blog about.