Rain, radio, and rallying from homesickness

The Biblical rains have continued in California this week. I don't hate rain, as a matter of fact I think the California's "golden hills" appear as if they need a serious drink towards the end of summer/beginning of fall. especially when you compare it to the lush greenery you see back east that time of year. I am however really annoyed by the fact that I have to carry around an umbrella with me where ever I go. When rain threatens around here it can pretty much happen at any time. The fancy weather predicting machines and their seasoned meteorologist masters stand no chance against the micro-climates of the Bay Area. A flash storm can give you a clothed shower and make your khaki pants appear see through if you are into that sort of thing or not. Also since I've never had to be perpetually linked with an umbrella, I find that I am not very adult about carrying one. Today I caught myself walking down the street wielding it like a sword wishing I had taken up fencing or watched more Ninja Turtles as a child so I learned more cool sword moves from Leonardo. Maybe I should watch other umbrella carrying adults a little more closely so I don't hurt myself or put some body's eye out with that thing sometime in the near future.

Work has been going well this month. The store has calmed down considerably and I'm slowly taking on more responsibility at KALW. I've started writing the morning digest Thursday mornings which consists of scanning news sources and writing a summary e-mail to help brainstorm story ideas. The station also debuted its brand new news website and I'm also learning to become a web editor. I really hope I can find the time and energy to get out in the field and put my special stamp on a story in the near future. I miss the excitement of being out in the field covering a story. I love hearing what other people have to say and having a job where the unexpected can be expected virtually everyday.

I think that's part of the reason why I've been a touch homesick lately. I miss my former job, my friends, and my family in Maine. While I did enjoy skipping the holiday travel season and staying in the relative warmth of California, there is certainly something to be said for being surrounded by familiarity that time of year. I am very excited for my first full year out west. Tahoe next month and true friends visiting in March, April, May, and June! I love being a tour guide so at least the first 6 months look like a sweet start.

Tahoe, Yosemite here we come!

A lot has happened in the past week as bright sunshine and moderate temperatures have been replaced by rain, clouds, wind, and chill. The good news is my basement is flooded which makes taking out the trash and laundry nearly impossible. Aside from putting chores off for a couple of days, my hope is that all this rain in San Francisco will translate into white fluffy snow for the Tahoe area. About one month from now Candace and I head to the hilly trails of Tahoe for skiing, snowshoeing, and other discoveries. My only snowshoe experience comes from high school gym class back in Maine, but Chris and Ben have had some great experiences out on the trails this winter and we figure if those jugheads can do it so can we! Besides it promises to be at least 40 degrees warmer with a little more daylight and a significant less chance for frostbite than the western Maine hills. I'm really going to enjoy visiting the snow for a weekend, then returning to the snow-free city!

The Yosemite trip is coming together as well. Friday we obtained campsite reservations and wilderness camping permits. Now all we have to do is make like The New Kids on the Block and make sure we've got the "Right Stuff" for and overnight hike and camp plus a death defying ascent up a 45 degree rock face. Should be fun!

On a side note, I can't believe that its Martin Luther King Jr. Day already! One year ago today Gordo, Byrne, and I were on the Mall in Washington listening to Bruce Springsteen, U2, Cheryl Crowe, Garth Brooks, Usher and more! It was cold and windy and out 2009 Inauguration adventure was just getting underway!

Walking the winter doldrums away

My only regret is that I have not written more in the past month, otherwise my holiday season was a productive one. I worked like crazy for the first time in many retail high seasons. It is funny how Christmas seems to find a way to zap your bank account no matter how much you work though. Christmas was nice and relaxing I'm glad we decided to stay in California rather than pay twice as much to fight through the extra giant airport crowds o our way back to Maine or Bermuda.

20-10 is shaping up to be the year of the hike. I'm already making plans for several major hikes this year. The first of which will likely be Mt. Diablo (3,849') over in the East Bay this winter. This May Chris and Ben are rolling in for a visit and we plan to storm Half Dome in Yosemite (8,880'). That will be a 2 day adventure as we'll probably set up camp half way in little Yosemite Valley. Then this summer when I return to Maine, we'll tackle Mt. Katahdin (5,268'). I'm really looking forward to these hikes and am determined to keep myself in the best physical shape possible so I won't be sucking wind in the thin air. Today I set out to conquer Mt Davidson (925', most of it driven) and San Francisco's famous Cliff Walk from Cliff House down to the Golden Gate Bridge. After hours of running, climbing, walking, stumbling, and sight seeing (I even saw a naked man at Baker Beach) I figured a blog and a picture would be a fitting end to my day of exploration.

The Holidays Approach!

The hustle and bustle of the holidays, a move across town, and laziness are my reasons for not writing lately. Since my last entry I got my 1st ever real X-Mas tree, I've gone ice skating, and celebrated my first Thanksgiving away from Maine.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holiday's not only for what it represents but because I have a lot of good memories associated with the holiday. Delivering extra huge newspapers with my dad and brother in the neighborhood, going to the Portland-Deering game at the Fitz, and eating my weight in Turkey, veggies, and rolls are experiences I'll always think of fondly. This year we cooked multiple dishes in our brand new kitchen, watched a little football, and went for a walk around our section of town. Not very traditional but still a lot of fun.

This past Saturday Candace and I brought home our very first real Chrismas tree. We scurried to the Home Depot, wrestled with a tree or two, selected a special one and carried it through the parking lot where we tied it to the roof of my car and hit the freeway hoping it wouldn't slip off onto the road. We made it home, set up the tree, decorated it and now I have to water it everyday while Candace works in Bakersfield. Meanwhile at least our recently murdered conifer is not a fire hazard.

Ice skating in nearly 50 degree temperatures was a trip. The guy who handed me my rental skates gave me a "how to tie them" tutorial and I was one of the best skaters on the ice by virtue of me not falling on my fanny every 5 seconds. I also managed not to take out any kids the entire session which is more than I can say for most of the San Franciscans taking part in the 2 o'clock session at the Embarcadero Rink!

Brian 30.0

As Grammy Award winning recording artist Seal once proclaimed "time keeps on slippin, slippin, slippin, into the future". Birthdays are a strange thing. Every year you take stock of what you've accomplished over the previous year. The years that end in 0 have an added importance because you look back at the last 5, and 10 years and think about what you would have, could have, or should have done differently and some of the major things you wouldn't change even if you could turn back time.

I think a lot of people that just had the year I had would chalk it up as a loss. Economically it was a disaster, the first year since I started working (paperboy at 12) that I've made less money than the previous year. The economy killed the job that I loved, one that was tailor made for someone with a great sense of adventure and an even better sense for time management. Living so darn far from Maine is tough. I miss my friends and family and so many great traditions that come with the Holidays at home. Wild Turkey shots with the boys on Thanksgiving Eve, my dad's peanut butter fudge and chocolate covered peanut butter balls, The Portland-Deering Thanksgiving Day game, going to the movies with my brother on Christmas Day, and all the tomfoolery that is New Years Eve in Portland.

For all the thoughts of what I lost this year, I feel like I've gained so much more. Its great not to spend 2-3 hours a day on the phone and to come home and have a big hug waiting for me every night. I now live in one of the most wonderful cities in the world. There is always so much to see and do, no snow, no windshield scraping, and palm trees. When I visit home I get a hero's welcome (no parades yet, but next time perhaps). I have a job that covers my bills and I've even broken down the door that leads to the realm of broadcasting. Not bad for someone who has spent only 6 months in a state with a grotesque unemployment percentage. It gives me strong hope that 30 will be even better than 29!

All Things Maine

My trip back to Maine was both tiring and reinvigorating. My father decided it would be a terrific idea to run me around errands on my very first day back following my red eye flight to Boston, a 2 hour wait at the airport, and 2 more hours on a bus back to Portland. I fell over in exhaustion when we finally arrived home. The next 2 days were dedicated to getting the Spooktacular off and running. We had to figure out a way to get our pulley operated flying dragon to work, decorate, find last minute costume stuff, and hammer out other details. The following days were loaded up with visits with friends and family, making sure I got and Amato's Italian Sandwich, a Pats Pizza, a chance to sample some of Maine's fine microbrews, as well as Len Libby's delicious chocolate.

I also made my return to the Maine airwaves to cover Maine's Gay Marriage issue on election night. I was honored and thrilled to be put on the issue garnering national attention, especially since I haven't been covering news in my home state since March. WGAN has a great news team and I was glad to be part of it again. Its been hard breaking into the news biz in California. I was talking about that over dinner with my friend Sarah (a career councilor) the night before the election. She told me I should do whatever puts me in my "zone". I told her that I haven't felt that level of zen in quite a few months. Early Wednesday morning I slid under the covers of the small single bed that occupies the guest bedroom at my dad's house. I had a big smile on my face. I had found it again.

SPOOKTACULAR

Ladies and gents it is time again for the Halloween Party where legends are made. I love costume parties, and the Spooktacular is well worth the trip back to Maine to prepare and partake in. I always have a bit of trouble deciding what to be as way to many ideas fly around my brain to just pick one. Over the past several years I've been Sonny Bono, the Verizon Guy, a Blueman, Clark Kent and Superman, and Super Mario. My goal each year is to be something really simple and leave others kicking themselves for not thinking of it. I've ever spent more than $20 on a Halloween costume and this year I didn't pull a penny out of my pocket. It is great when you can pull things out of your closet or borrow something from a friend to complete your look. Besides boxed costumes are LAME!

I'm really looking forward to going back to Maine and reconnecting with my friends. It'll be the last time for a while as Candace and I plan on moving soon. Plus let's face it leaving California for ice and snow of Maine during the winter months is the definition of masochism. Even I'm not that sick!