Go West, Young Man

Here I am on a beautiful Friday morning in Illinois. I am filled with anticipation as I work away in the office all day. Because at 2:30 this afternoon, Joy is picking me up and we're heading off to the airport. I shall arrive in Seattle, Washington around 10pm and then the adventures will begin.

You see, Blom is out there for the summer doing his law internship. And I happened to have a free ticket with Southwest that was set to expire on July 15. I couldn't let it go to waste, and so I'm heading out to Washington and Oregon to spend some time with him over the big 4th 'O July weekend. We have set some high goals and expectations for ourselves, wanting to become the adventurous and rugged men we talk about. Here's the run-down:

FRIDAY NIGHT:
I will get in around 10 and then we'll head straight south and find our way to a campsite near Mt. Hood, about an hour east of Portland, Oregon. We will set up my never-been-used-except-for-in-the-guest-bedroom North Face tent and try to get some sleep.

SATURDAY:
We'll be up bright and early to go and rent some skis. Then we're going to go up to Timberline on Mt. Hood to do some skiing in July. Now, if you are a close blog follower, you will recall that my first experience skiing was last year in Colorado, and it quickly became just about my favorite thing in the world. So I'm excited to get on some slopes again and hopefully won't have to start all over. We'll finish up in the afternoon and then drive a couple more hours south. We'll set up camp near the Three Sisters, three mountains that are part of the Cascade Range.

SUNDAY:
Once again, we'll be up early. This is our long day of hiking, for indeed, we are planning to climb the South Sister, which is the tallest at 10,300 feet. And hopefully, my dear buddy Taylor Skiles will be joining us for the climb (someone has to carry me back down). Taylor went with me to Nepal in 2003. We'll be exhausted when we get to the top, but who knows, maybe we'll throw some snowballs as we look out over Oregon. Then it's back down. Our bodies will have nothing left to give, but they won't have much time to recoup. After we get a little rest and some dinner, Blom and I will drive west towards the coast. We'll camp on the beach and think about the two days that have already gone by and the two that are still to come.

MONDAY:
Blom and I are both gonna try something we've never tried before, and I'll be honest, I'm a little nervous. We're gonna try to surf. Whenever I think about the cool-people sports of the world, I think of surfing and lacrosse. Whenever I think about people being swept out to sea, I think of surfing. I am neither cool nor sea-literate, but I'm going to do my best. And I can't decide if I want Blom to be better or worse than me. I'd like him to be worse so I don't feel like such an idiot trying to doggie-paddle while he rides the big waves, but I figure if he's worse, then goodness, he must be pretty bad, and I sure don't want him to get swept out to sea either. Monday night will be relaxing and going out to dinner with my good friend Dawnette, who I also know from my summer in Nepal. After a dinner of great company and conversation, Blom and I will load ourselves back into the car and drive up to Washington, where we'll spend the night at his place, and where, it is rumored, there is a hot tub. My muscles will be crying out.

TUESDAY:
We'll sleep in a little later on the 4th and then borrow Blom's roommates two kayaks. Then we'll have a relaxing few hours working our way around Puget Sound. After that, all the phsysical activities will come to a close. We will then relax, have a nice dinner, and watch some fireworks by the coast. I will fly home Wednesday with memories for a lifetime and aching muscles for probably just as long.

I think it's just about the best itinerary I've ever seen. It certainly is different from the itinerary I had for my trip to NYC six years ago with Blom and Drew and wanted to fit in as many Broadway shows as possible. Oh how things change. This weekend, I'm not actually sure if we'll be able to do all this stuff, but we're gonna try and hopefully weather will be wonderfully cooperative. Regardless, there are few things better (is there anything better?!) than good company and some time in some marvelous nature. You can be sure to expect an update. That is, of course, assuming that I don't get swept away to sea.

Azzurri!!!

I just want to say I have never been so thankful for ESPN and ESPN2. You see, it's the World Cup, and although I am by no means an expert, I have been loving keeping track of as much as I can this summer. I remember being in Italy during the 2002 World Cup. Sadly, theAzzurri didn't do all that great, but it was just an awesome experience to be in the country during the World Cup. Needless to say, the entire nation shuts down. Ridiculously huge screens are set up in the piazzas and there are riots if they win and riots if they lose. I absolutely love it.

The game yesterday between Australia and Italy was big, and Italy pulled out the victory with Totti's pentalty kick. Let the Aussies be mad...Italy won and is moving on to face the Ukraine, and I believe, to move on again in their pursuit of ultimate victory. Here are my predictions for the final eight teams:

Germany and Argentina will be a good game, and I think Germany is going to pull out the victory in their homeland. As I mentioned, Italy will win over the Ukraine, hopefully grabbing and early lead. When Germany plays Italy, I of course think Italy will win, as long as tempers are controlled and all the players are playing as they should. That game is on July 4, and what I wouldn't do to be in Germany for this Independence Day.

On the other side of the bracket, I think England will take Portugal, but I'm saying it goes into overtime. Beckham will continue to be an athletic/pop icon and we'll all wonder how his sports center in California is going to turn out. As for Brazil and France, well, I'm saying Brazil. They are the returning champs and nicely defeated Ghana's valient efforts. I wanted Spain to win over France, but the Frenchmen proved tougher than expected. Brazil and England will meet and the I am going to predict England over Brazil, although I could easily be wrong with that prediction.

If all goes as planned (and I can pretty much guarantee it won't), Italy and England will meet for the final match in Berlin on July 9. The entire world will be watching as Italy claims the title. There will be madness in that country I love and I will weep with joy and open a riserve bottle of Chianti. I will then take my Italian flag off of the wall and hang it from the balcony, proclaiming my love and my devotion.

Dang, maybe I should work for ESPN. This is good stuff.

Piano Success!

I will make this short, but I wanted all of you to know that my wedding piano playing was a completely success. I even stalled appropriately when the flower girls just wouldn't come down the aisle or when the ushers just couldn't get the aisle runner to unroll. I think I kinda saved the day. So if any of you out there need a wedding pianist, just let me know. Get me while the fingers are still hot.

Wedding Pianist

One week from today, I will be making my debut (and perhaps my finale) as a wedding pianist. Dear friends of Joy and I, Julie (Joy's maid-o'-honor) and Daniel, are getting married, and I shall be the one tickling those ivories as the ladies (Joy and Julie and moms and all those other no-name bridesmaids) walk down the aisle. And here's the truth: I'm nervous as I'll get out. To put this all in perspective, I need you to know that yes, I was a music major, but piano wasn't exactly my strength. In fact, I failed my scales the first time I took my piano proficiency and then had to have intensive coachings with Dr. Rediger to ensure my passing and graduation. So when Julie asked me if I thought I was up for the job of playing at her wedding, I had a feeling of terrified optimism. I wanted to say yes, but realized my talents were limited.

I did accompany Master Loralee Songer in the Blomgren wedding last summer (Happy One Year Anniversary Blom and Kelly!) and played well until that near-end chord with complete and inappropriate dissonance. And yes, I then tried to fix that dissonance and found the wrong key again. For the last weeks, I have been reliving that horror. For this wedding, I am in charge of playing the prelude, mothers' entrance, bridesmaids processional, and of course, the all-important entrance of the bride. There are moments when I'm practicing that I wonder what in the world I've gotten myself into. But hey, I'm gonna try my best and pray that the noticeable mistakes happen early and that the nerves get gone long before anything important happens.

There is one key benefit to this job: since I'm the pianist I can veto playing Pachabel's "Canon in D." Maybe being at a wedding where that song isn't played makes all those wrong notes well worth it.

Happy June

It's been a little while since I've been here at my blog, so I thought I'd drop in even though I don't have a whole lot to say. First, I shall answer those two wonderful people who've responded and read my blog. Firstly, no, DeMario, I haven't stopped reading. I'm a little slowed by reading Brothers Karamazov. Not only is it 750 pages, but it's a little slow. So I've set that side for now and have actualy started reading, even though it's not on the list, The DaVinci Code. Yep, I've joined the masses. And so far, it is rather intriguing.

Dawnette, I'm so distressed: the Italians are gone for good. I can barely believe it myself.

Over these last few weeks, I've been working quite a bit more at the agency. I'm picking up several new clients, so getting to know them and reading their files has been taking up some time. I don't actually know if I'm good at my job or not, but I'm trying, and overall, I'm enjoying it.

Also, on June 3 I did turn 24. I'm saying my age because during the week Joy actually thought I was turning 25. Yeah, I know. Well, I had an awesome birthday (Nate, Holly, and LaBianca...it was so great to see you!), and Joy gave me an awesome homecooked meal AND an iPod! You see, I've wanted one for a while now, but it's just not in the budget, but sneaky little Joy has been picking up extra lunch duties at school to pay for it. Yeah, sweet, huh?

Let it be know that on Memorial Day I was at Wrigley with Jen and Vince (as well as Kevin and the Cosgroves) and...shock of shockers...the Cubs won! Joy and I are also going to the T.U. alumni game next Wednesday, so maybe they'll pul out a victory again for us. Sadly, Jen and Vince won't be there this time.

So that's my life these days. Thanks for staying tuned. Much love and peace.

Oh Mona

At the start of my summer vacation, I am already checking books of my list. The first I completed was: Becoming Mona Lisa. Overall, I really enjoyed the book. Very educational in the world of renaissance art, Leo da Vinci, and of course, the most famous painting in the world. It was rather interesting to read about how the painting actually got to such a state, and although some chapters were a little heavy and in-depth for my purposes, you really get an inside look into the world's most famous painting and the many different factors that all helped contribute to its fame. Of course, Mona and da Vinci are everwhere these days with the Code out and all, and this was a good reading that I actually used in a discussion last night with one of the bartenders at my restaurant. I mean, the fascination with Mona Lisa's smile and da Vinci's claim as the "ultimate renaissance man" really didn't even start till the 18th century. And as for the Last Supper painting in Rome, well, I guess it's too bad that da Vinci didn't even know how to properly mix his paints and hence, the painting pretty much began wasting away the day after it was completed. Perhaps that's what made the code easier to find.

Return to Shelby

This past weekend, Joy and I made a very quick trip to the town of my high school and parents: Shelby, Ohio. Now, most of you know that if I was to pick one place to live for the rest of my life, Shelby probably wouldn't be it, but nonetheless, it's a pleasant little town, characteristic of small-town middle-America. In short, it's completely different from Chicago.

Of course, this past weekend was Mother's Day, but one of the main reasons we decided to make the quick journey was because my grandparents were going to be in town, which is a rarity since they don't do much traveling anymore. For those of you who don't know, I absolutely LOVE my grandparents. They are straight up the best, heroes in my life, and although they may be aging, they are most definitely still witty and funny and loving and all the things that a grandparent should be.

Joy and I left Chicago at 5:15 in the morning on Saturday (yeah, I can't believe it either) and arrived in the metropolis of Shelby just in time for a little lunch. After lunch, it was time for one of the great traditions in my family: Pinochle. (In case you don't know, Pinochle is somewhat similar to Euchre. In case you don't know Euchre either, well, get out more I suppose.) We officially brought Joy into the Maynard (these are my mom's parents)-Becker tradition, and I can say she did quite nicely indeed, first being partners with my mom and then my grandpa, who is the all-time authority on all things Pinochle.

After a couple of games, Joy and I just had to take a nap. Then it was time for the evening festivities: dinner at my sister and brother-in-law's house. It was quite a party with all sorts of laughter and even a lively discussion related to...well...hell and liberal theology. I find a type of pleasure in being able to bring out some "shocking" views into my family and it always ends up that they wonder if I am going down the wrong path and wonder what the big city has done to me. Needless to say, it was tremendous fun. We then had a little time of mother and grandmother gifts and then the real fun began when my grandparents started sharing some stories from their youth. And wow were they crazy kids. Stealing and killing chickens for a prom dinner, running away to elope in Michigan but then having to call home because my grandma forgot her birth certificate, and stories of their time living in China. There's not too much out there that's better than sitting around listening to your grandparents tell stories, watching them laugh and enjoy remembering, seeing them interrupt each other and hold hands. Yep, it was a nice evening.

After we all returned to Shelby, Joy and I went to Chris and Jen's house for a quick game of Settlers. Congratulations to Jen, both on a nice victory and also on some fantastic almond bars. (Jen, if you ever read this, Joy wants the recipe.) Then it was off to some deep deep sleep because we were straight up exhausted.

Sunday was pretty low-key. We went to church and then sat around for a while showing pictures and what-not, and then sat down for a fantastic lunch. Then it was time to head home, so Joy and I packed up the Jetta and gave some hugs. On the way out the door, I saw a really nice hanging plant my mom had so I picked that up and we took that with us too. It is now hanging beautifully from our balcony at Country Glenn. Thanks mom.

So there you have it...a quick Mother's Day trip to Shelby, Ohio. I can honestly say that while I immensely enjoyed my time with my family, I can also say that a highlight of the trip was the actual driving to and fro. Joy and I realized that it had been a while since we've had a road-trip together, and it was so much fun to sit in the car with our snacks and coffee, talking and laughing and making lists, which is one of the things we always love to do while driving. Yeah, we both love lists. I know...we're not cool. There was also that one highlight where Joy told me she desperately had to go the bathroom (why do they never give you any warning time?!) and then literally began crying when the next sign said that the next stop was 38 miles away. She didn't make it that long, and so there we were, car on the side of the road, Joy sitting on the edge hoping cars flying by weren't laughing at her as much as I was. Another highlight had to have been the Michael Jackson dance party sing-along we had on the way home. Nothing makes a road-trip good like a lot of choreographed moves to "Black and White," done especially foolishly when passing other cars.