how the tables have turned...

It seems my string of incredibly mind numbing, frustrating, minimum wage paying, anal boss pleasing, low end society jobs has finally come to an end. As of this summer I will have responsibility, "specialization", and the most coveted of all--a title. That's right, I have officially received the news that I have been hired as an "Outdoor Program Consultant" at Northstar Outdoor Adventures in Japan. Pretty soon I'll be hanging plaques on my wall, firing people, and putting a title on my office door which will probably be my bunk bed. Actually my work will be developing, standardizing, and leading backpacking trips--which is hard because to have a good backpacking trip you have to do more than just walk. Walking is boring...because it's walking lets be honest. It's a really amazing opportunity to utilize my studies/experience because Northstar has nothing that would be considered in N. America as, "industry standard" so there's definitely areas that I can help improve. The situation is a bit tougher/sketchier due to the fact that there is no organized search and rescue and no helicopters in the area. But at the same time there's little/no liability so I guess it balances out...unless someone dies. Working at Northstar will combine my three dreams: Japan/Japanese people, ministry, and the outdoors. It is for these reasons I submit that no summer job could surpass this one.
All visitors are welcome.

This may be the most normal post I've ever posted-there's no ranting, words in capital letters, or exclamations...I feel so average

Banzai! for the matrimonial conjugal betrothal of a dear wedded one

I would like to take this opportunity to announce the glorious betrothal of my brother, friend, and mentor; Cami Potter AKA "The muffin man". It was the 18th day of the 3rd month of the 6th year of the 4th lunar circumnavigation of the 1st day after St. Patricks commemoration of the 5th stage of the 8 fold path to enlightenment when we sent him off to the sound of a shattering bottle of champagne over his head (you know, like what they do for ships…only metaphorically). The ceremonies were fun, the bachelor party was superbly executed, and the grooms dudes were…well there’s no beating around the bush, we were hunks. Huge hunks of monkeys; Extraordinarily large, perhaps superfluously enormous, copiously corpulent HUNKS. Though of course in the shadow of Muffin man we were all but a dirty worm to be run over by steal studded winter travel tires. But after all the fun was over I was left with a feeling similar to that experienced after a funeral. I suppose that’s because in some ways it was an end. It was also the beginning of a super awesome new thing, but it’s always good to recognize and celebrate an end. Banzai for Mr. and Mrs. Muffin—may they dance and frolic where the women flow like salmon and the wine flock to beer like Capistrano. We salute you.

The coffee bean: crutch or crux?
My latest theory has been that in the Northwest coffee is popular because living in the Northwest freaken bites. Lets be honest, during the peak season a typical Northwesterner may not see the sun for weeks or even months. This is not humanly normal. The body says to itself “hey, I need some artificial stimulants to put an artificial sun back into my dismal, sad, glum life”. And if the patron prefers legalized stimulants then he/she would naturally go to the nearest dealer for a fix of that sweatshop supporting black, miry, teeth staining liquid diarrheic we have come to “love” (aka be addicted to) called coffee. Granted there is s certain coffee culture in the northwest that is educed by a lack of any other social day time activity by way of the drizzly depressing weather outside, and for that reason many of us have gone astray. But not you!! Boycott!! Picket!! Pillage!! Vikings!! Amsterdam!! Freedom fries!! GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!! LONG LIVE THE SHERRIFF OF NOTTINGHAM!!
At this point I will just assume that I have lost all my friends. But I don’t care!!...Heck, lets just go talk about it over coffee.

two ultimate truths

There are two great ultimate Truths; first, the cuteness of kids on skis. You know the polless-wonders who fly down any color run getting air off moguls. They do all this without a single flaw in balance or finesse that would put any ballet dancer, or yes, even Sir Michel Jackson to shame. For being the most fearless/daring/fate-tempting skiers on the hill-a toast to the children of the skis. Cheers.
The second great ultimate truth; cuteness of snowboarder girls. I don't know how they do it, but a chick boarder bombing it down a run, off a sweet jump, and ending in a cloud of powder is just about the cutest thing I've ever seen in my life. I don't know about you but I'd sit next to one of these boarders on the lift any day. I give them two thumbs up for style, form, and a desire to be recognized by outward performance. Good work ladies, you're an inspiration to us all.

And for those of you ladies who desire a special male companionship but have no snow sport experience, don't worry, most men prefer ladies in swim suits anyways. That's a two thumbs down for gross men. You people are an inspiration for us all to wear deodorant-for that we are thankful, but at the same time one noble deed does not make up for a life of grossness. Better luck next time boys.

arrogus insecureum

There is nothing that tastes more bitter in my mouth than arrogant outdoors people. Especially the ones who are incredibly amazing at everything and presume that, because they are amazing at everything they have more worth than those that are not (a mathematical equation that I have developed for this called in Latin, "Arrogus-insecureum", the conjecture that {more ability = more worth}—a desperately grade school philosophy. This attitude is evident even in Batman Begins, with the quote "It's not who you are, but what you do that matters" Everything in this business is performance based, the more performance the bigger the ego, and consequently, the more ones mouth is open conceitedly bragging about his own abilities in a manner that portrays rancid insecurity of the most desperate echelon.

This is the one thing that ruins the beautiful outdoors; ugly people.

muse

There have been a few times recently when watching a movie or reading a book when I feel as though I see my life in a clear light—it’s as if for a second the fog clears, nakedly exposing what the heck my life is. I envy those inspirational stories of people my age who pursue justice, hang out with the poor, seek truth, and fight for answers in far away countries. And it leads me to wonder if what I am doing with my life is in any way accomplishing or leading towards any kind of common good. Or have I become diluted by vain N. American promises and ideals, have I forgot the people I met in impoverished countries, their justice and their need for truth, have I narrowed my mind to the mundane, do I only care only for myself. In these moments there is a strong sensation of discontent—my life does not align with my virtues. But how can ones life be judged if not by his virtues? It is the few and far between who seek virtuous living, and even then it is mostly a conscience-appeasing living which attempts to amend the conflict between personal interests and virtuous living via justification and philosophical summersaults. One such summersault that I’ve been thinking bout recently is the quote “Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Many selfish things make people feel alive, but do they come alive doing those things? Is not true life found in the pursuit of service to others so that we can “come alive”?
Temporal, immediate satisfaction: search for thing to come alive = come alive = help other people

But, does “coming alive” give us eternal meaning? I would argue that in order for a finite being to have purpose, it must have infinite meaning. If a finite being is without infinite meaning, it is aimless and in search of temporary solutions to simulate purpose in order to convince the person that life is still worth living.
Goal focused, satisfaction in journey: Search for infinite meaning = by helping others = infinite meaning

I suggest that this is the finest goal; to lead life in the pursuit of infinite meaning—this can mean hanging with the poor, seeking truth, pursuing justice, talking with that kid, or fighting for answers in far away countries. There is no worse fate that I can think of other than laying on my death bed with a mind full of regrets that I had spent my life on temporal acquisitions instead of just doing something.

I think that made sense...