Nashville, TN

The head moves the mouth moves. Audio is clear, I'm still young. The music is live. The Christmas lights are just right. Did I mention the music? A piano that makes you think it came from heaven. The pool that acts like a hot tub and fire and cheese and wine so fine shall we dine in a hurry though because it's almost time for the ceremony. I guess enjoying comes easy around here. Sleep til when ever. Stay up til when ever.

Switch gears a bit.

Communication. Distance. Mouth full but nothing is there. Under current of conversation alive but dead. Stopping this train of thought making my fingers work slower on the keyboard. Self reflection. Pondering needs. Hoping for connection. Carrie Underwood (I switched gears again) I haven't met her yet, but she's close I can tell. Within a 100 miles. Within at least 2 friend connections which was probably 3 3 days ago. Closer. Closer. God's will. Hope. Peace. Confidence. Trust. God's best.

Wine. Freedom. Moderation. Love. Abundance. Poetry. Love. Writing. Enjoyment. Relating or connecting; ultimate high. Seeing how far I've drifted away from a loved one, ultimate low. Holy Spirit connects and reconciles. Prepare the way for the LORD. Wisdom. Trust. Hope. Love. God's Hands.

Good night.

Subing has been great!

I'm getting ready to head to Nashville this Wednesday! Oh boy! Then I'll be back in NE for Christmas and the following week. I've got 2 more days of high schooler's this year. But I'll be back in January for more!

I got some info for a community theatre here in Hugoton. I'm might have to check that out.

We'll I better go break the ice for the horses to earn my keep around here.

I hope everyone is having a merry, peace filled, joyous, love abounding, Christmas!

8th Grade

I spent the day with 8th graders today. Yesterday I got my substitute teaching application done and they put me on the list! I stayed up late and checked for jobs online at 2 AM and one showed up for the next day! I was excited to sub so I did it. It was fun, I was nervous partly because of my clothes. When I dress up for stuff I always feel like a newbie. "Oh look at the newbie, remember when we used to wear clothes like that?" Oh well. I tried to find some clothes at the store tonight, but I need my Mom to tell me what to wear. Oh man, did I just type that? I am tired. Hopefully I can get rested and ready for High School tomorrow!!!

The Shafer's

This isn't the most recent pic, but it's close. My sister wasn't back for Thanksgiving. She was down in Mexico watching the ocean come and go. We had fun doing a project for David's (my older brother) kitchen. Now that he has a girlfriend his house is looking like a real home, and it smells good too! Michael is about ready to graduate he doesn't know what he's going to do. When Jess (my sis) isn't in Mexico she attends Belmont U in Nashville, TN. She will (hopefully) graduate this fall. My mom is working on her masters for teaching. And my Dad is wondering what he will do when all of his kids are out of the house. He'll probably get a motor home and travel around visiting all of us.

That's a short look at the Shafer family. Stop by some time, I'm sure they'd love to pop you some of their famous popcorn. You'll have to watch home movies of our family though because that's all we ever watch for entertainment.

Hitched a ride to Wyoming!

Well I made it to Gillette! The surprize birthday party was a success! A lot of little events on this trip made it memorable. I threw up, I worked with a carpet layer, went to youth group, saw a day old baby, watched Ironman, ate some turkey sausage, went out to eat with former co-workers, worked on (or watched a friend work on) a car to drive back to Kansas, watched Xpelled, House, and drove 500 miles to Ord, NE yesterday. I got to see what my parents do for fun last night. I didn't realize they had so much fun. Party animals really. I stayed up with them and thier friends til around 3, playing darts and ping-pong.

Once I get back to Kansas I'm going to apply to be a substitute teacher. I'm excited about that. Hopefully my juvenile petiton, wont slow me down much. That's a story for another time.

The search is officially OFF!

On November 8th around 1:oo in the PM Brian Shafer, a housesitter in SW Kansas, was on a stake out in front of White's Foodliner downtown Hugoton. Keeping his eye on the Saturday afternoon customers entering and exiting Brian noticed a bagger that just might know the mexican family he was looking for. He decided to make his move. He was then ackwardly waiting to talk with the man when out of the blue a friendly mexican lady was looking at him. Brian commented to reporters, "Yeah we caught eyes and she smiled and then pointed to her eyes pointed back to me. She then acted like she was riding a motorcycle and then pretended to put on a helmet." Brian couldn't believe it! This was the lady that was in the car when Brian lost his stuff. Her name is actually Madi. She then got her sister Coni, whom he thought was her daughter, on the phone and handed Brian the phone. "I said hello and got to the important part about asking about my backpack (mochilla) with my wallet (billetera) and my helmet (cosco). She said, "Si si!" I said, "We We!" Not really. But she said that she would bring it by the store after she showered." Brian told reporters. Brian then called his parents and shared his joy with them. When Coni got there she gave him his stuff and they then tried to talk with each other. She ended up inviting him to church (mexican pentecostal) and for food afterwards. After she said the food part Brian was sold.

The authorities has taken Brian's stuff off the Most Wanted list and peace has finally been restored to this sleepy little town in Kansas.

Brian also wants to inform you that he is going to a families house, whom he went to church with, for fun and finger foods tonight and that he is excited about that.

I've got a lead

Well I've got the names of the dance hall's in Liberal. I guess I'm gonna get John Travolta on this case. Whack! Ouch! Yeah Yah!

Sherlock Shafer

Well I'm not packing much supplies for espanol territory but I'm heading in. There's a Mexican Market just down the street from the library. I got some info from a transator to ask the most inportant guestions. WHERE IS THAT GIRL!!!!!!!!! (¿Dónde está esa chica?)
She still hasn't called or came by to drop off my stuff. I've got a friend in town that knows a lot of the people here; she is going to help me out. But today I'm getting my hands dirty AKA taking matters into my own hands (rightfully so) I don't have gun so I might get in some sticky situations. Ewww... Well see how far I can get.

I've got to make this trip sound exciting somehow; give me a break.

OH no snakes!

I guess this farm I'm staying on is known for it's many rattlesnakes. I failed to mention that I saw one in a prairie dog hole warning me with it's handy rattle. I was temped to use my 22 on it but my logic set in when I invisioned him striking me after I undoubtedly missed.

But not to worry, I've been trained...wait a minute I haven't been trained!!! AHHHHHHH!

Tonight I'm going to the free meal at one of the Hugoton compressor manufacture shops.

Oh I should tell you my story of the nice latio's that picked me up yesterday after I ran out of gas on the scooter, but I only have a minute left. To tell you quickly, they still have my wallet, backpack and helmet. The lady got my number for some dance gig. Well see!

Not just muts; hunting dogs!

Yesterday I spent the day crawling around the pasture hunting prairie dogs (not 'prairie' looks completly wrong). But fear not I missed every time. But I got anxious and shot a rabbit. The dogs didn't even eat it. I know, I know I felt bad.

Then I tried to feed the gold fish in the horse tank but they didn't take to grasshoppers.

I finished watching the two DVD's of the Andy Griffith show. Some of those shows are pretty funny. Like the one where the hillbillies that play awesome bluegrass come to town, a one and a two and a yeeeeHAHHH!!! Oh yeah there's a tape of YEAHAH out at the house too but I'll have to be pretty bored to watch that. Yeah maybe tonight.

2 Dogs, 1 peacock, and a few dead mice.

Well I spent a couple days out on the farm and I only have one thing to say, "Ahhhhhhhhhhh." I miss the slow way of life. I reminds me of of home in Nebraska. I just took a ride on the scooter into town (10 miles down the road).

I got the grand tour of the area this weekend. A nice sheriff to watch the place, a library, a few stores downtown, the baptist church, and many places seeking young industrious kids like me to work for them. Hugoton is 10 miles from the house and Liberal is about 25 minites. Liberal is about 1/3 the size of Gillette. The exciting thing is it's 60% hispanic; so I guess I wont have to move to Mexico to practice my espanol.

My time is up on the computer! Miss you all!

U Turn in Portland

A sabbatical leave from my sabbatical leave. Without thinking it over and over and over, I decided to help a former employee and good friend from Gillette. His dad just recently died and he needs someone to house sit for him for the winter months. I guess I'm the man for the job. I left Portland on Tuesday and now I'm in Laramie (using Kolten's computer); I had a nice warm place to stay last night, oh yeah! Oh yes and the community shower was great at about 1 AM.

I think I will take this time to slowwwwwww down and read, write, paint, sit around, make a snow man, eat some cheese and watch T.V. I look forward to stopping everything to gain fresh perspective and plan for the future. I wonder if secluding yourself is a good idea if you want to get material for a stand up comedy ruitine. Oh well, we'll see.

BTW I did connect a bit with some film writer's. I hope to keep in touch with them as I am in southern Kansas sitting on a house.

Talk to you all later!

A sight of Gillette?

Yesterday I went to a preview of a seminary down the street. I didn't know the preview was happening that night so it was good timing. I was eating the free meal with 10 other prospective students when out of the blue a guy from Gillette came to my table! I met Paul this summer at a young adults group I was invited to in Gillette. He mentioned that day that he was moving to Portland. He has been attending the church that I visted the last 2 sundays here in Portland. That was crazy. It was also funny to hear that one of the profs was born in Hastings, NE; the very town that I was born in! I guess it's confirmation. So, I will now embark on my seminary adventure! Well...not quite yet. But the events are a bit strange.

I also ran into an interesting fellow named Christopher. I was standing by an overhead TV just for a moment as I was interested in a Larry King interview with the maker of the new movie, "Religulous" and Christopher asked, "Anything interesting?" I told him that this guy made a movie about how rediculous all the religions of the world are and has a fun time laughing at people of faith. Then he started to mention how arragant this man was and pointed to different reasons why he thought this, he then said that I have many of the same traits. I said, "Yes I am aware that I am very self absorbed and that I love myself so much that I hate myself." That all happened in about 2 minites or less. He then went on to say that he is autistic. I had a great talk with him and we went on our seperate ways. He did say that I should check out a free seminary in South Korea. I thought that I would share a bit of this strange conversation I had yesterday.

My Sabbatical Leave

Home cooked meals, showers, a warm sleeping bag, a bike friendly town, and an OmniMAX theatre down the street; who needs anything more? One thing I heard about Portland was that people move here to enjoy life. I have realized that enjoying life involves making the choice to enjoy it. Often I am extreme in one way or the other. But every now and then just for a season I am balanced on that tetter totter. Pizza and pop, has been a desire and of course IMAX, which I haven't gone yet, but I did sit in on a planatarium showing. My scooter is running great. The electronics are unreliable but if I am back before dark then the trip is a success. The lights were working today, but they stopped working halfway throught the ride.

The largest city park in the United States is here in Portland. It exeeded my expectations. There were no swings or slides, unless you wanted to slide down the side of a hill, which will probably end up being a tumble. The maze of trails can take you deep inside an old green forest with green vines and carpetlike green algae growing on the trees. Green, green, green! (When I wrote green over and over I started to think that I spelled it wrong.) The green that radiated from the forest reminded me of a fake exibit at a zoo my family went to on a vacation.

I'm keeping my eyes open for oversea jobs. I partly considered crabfishing but I have people in my life that care about my wellbeing and that would be far too rough on them (and me). I haven't made much progress in connecting with any filmmakers yet, but I did hear that there are a lot of indi film makers in town.

Kiasa is a daily reminder of my lack of love for dogs.

The house spider (cross spider) is actually more civilized than the dog. We've been feeding her. It's pretty cool actually.

Portland, OR

Well I made it!

OK now what? Haha. I surprised my friend Joe last night at his work. He couldn't believe I was in Portland. It was fun. I hung out with them at their fav. pool hall, ok bar. One of my goals for this trip is to see what my friend does here and he told me that I saw it all last night. He works til midnight, hangs out at a downtown bar, plays some PlayStation, then sleeps in til 12 to 12:30 and then goes to work til midnight.

Well that's checked off the list. Now I can pursue some connections with film makers. I've got some pics to post but I'll do that later. For some reason I've been influenced heavily by my last roommate in Gillette, I'm craving pizza and pop for the next 3 months. Oh and cheese burgers that are as big as dinner plates. Thanks James.

Clarkston

I made it through the Lolo pass last night. I wanted to stop an fish in the river along the way but I wimped out. I rolled into Clarkston last night. A nice lady at the Best Western let me park in their lot.

I feel at home now because I ran into my friends formerly from Gillette. The Dwyers. They just took me to TacoTime and now were hanging at their place.

This is the 'check point' for the trip. I'm going to do some thinking about planning for the rest of the trip here. But Kyle was right I need to get to Portland and quit working so much right now.

I might head out soon.

Missoula

I went for a hike up the M hill at the University of Montana this morning. I parked at Wal-Mart last night; today I figured I'd hang out at the campus and explore Missoula scooter style. Oh yes I forgot to tell you about the new words I learned from my cool friends in Bozeman. If something is cool it's sick or dope and it's not cool to say shucks. I just I found out how uncool I am. Oh well. You must have to be into extreme skiing and ride BMX to understand.

I'm enjoying this blogging thing. It's great hear from you!

Bozeman

Well I've got it a little farther than Billings. I met some neat people here in Bozeman. I will refrain from talking about Billings. But Bozeman is kind of cool. How come nobody told me about this place? They say that it's a prestigious town and it's booming even more than Gillette! I'm working hard, way harder than I did in Gillette. I cleaned horse stalls (easy), and picked up irrigation pipe (harder) in Billings, ew Billings... and today and tomorrow was and will be roofing (hardest). But the guys I work for are some young business owners and they are pretty cool, at least they try to fit that part, the 'cool' kids. They are somewhat like me I guess. They like to travel and they have done a lot of it.
The motor home is running good. My fridge quit, so it's all fresh food from here on out! (Not really they just took me out to eat some deep fat fried chicken. I did have a salad though!) Thanks for keeping in touch everyone! And for those who haven't well...I forgive you.

Billings

Downtown Billings! Made it to my first stop. It sure is nice not being in a hurry.

On my way!

Just a quick note to let you know that I'm lllllleaving Gillette! I'll be on the interstate in less that 10 minutes.

I was able to find someone to keep my pickup until I found a buyer! WOW THANKS A TON!

Thanks for all your support and your comments.

Saturday Night Live!

Well I'm seeing that things don't always work out as you would like and/or as you planned. I think I ran into some scammers on craigslist saying that they want to buy my pickup and that they will send me a check. But I think that I'll wait a day longer and try to sell it locally. SO... I'll plan on leaving Monday instead. Who knows, maybe I'll stay in Gillette forever!

This picture speaks for itself.

This is when I cry out for help.

On my knees I come to you.

On my knees i bow.

i have nothing to bring to You

But You have given me everything.

Preparing or Preface

Reality seems to set in in waves. I must live in a make believe world for the most part. Friends bring me back sometimes, some movies, family, you know questions like, "What in the world am I doing!?!" come to mind.

Today is the day I sell my pick-up, clean the RV, and pull up the anchor. Tomorrow I plan on leaving after the church service.

It's good to know that I am loved and that God is in control.

This is the place I am for now.

I just finished my last day of work. Now I don't know what to do. I know that I do want to stay connected with friends, so I am making this blog for you to travel along with me.

I am hoping to take off this coming Sunday or Monday. Oh boy!

This is a good pic of my Mom and Dad whom I love dearly. Notice the waterslide in the background. This will be further explained in a future post, I'm sure. Ok not really.