Words Without Pictures

I let my last post's pictures do the talking and now I thought a post without pictures might be due.

I worked on some more computers, another Fry's visit (and a different one this time), walks around the area, washing clothes, and lots of other events that aren't too thrilling but satisfying. I'm leaving next week and my mind has been more focused on what I need to get done, before I leave another place I've come to call home.

I spent some time trying to find the plans Meg and I talked about but came up empty. Meg is my lady if you didn't know. From what I can manage to wrangle from my memory the plans are very tentative and only until April / May thus far.

First place I'll be headed is Taipei, Taiwan. Won't be there long though. The next place to visit is in the Philippines. We'll be staying with some people Meg knows...I think? Not sure on the length of this stay but I'm thinking not longer than a few weeks or so. At his point it should be about early February or near the middle of February.
Now things get a little more on the fuzzy side, like near the end of a bottle of wine. We will be going to Indonesia and looking around. Next is Papua New Guinea. I don't know much about this country but I plan on learning a lot before, and during my stay. Now to a place I'm also excited for is Australia. I'm also hoping the process isn't too long to apply but if we like it there we'd like to say for at least a month or longer. We should be getting to Australia April-May like. From Australia I'm not sure because things are even more up in the air. We might go meet up with other friends in other places, or Japan, but I'd like to see New Zealand while I'm closer that way. After all of this? I haven't a clue what will actually happen, a lot can happen from now until May, but I know I'll be glad no matter what for the experiences by the time May comes around. We might need a break or just change our minds about where we are going because you have to live a little and not always in a planner.

I know making our way back up we'll be seeing Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia to name a few and probably in an order like that. I'm also really looking forward in getting into some volunteer programs, teaching, etc...just getting involved. All of the for-mentioned require a lot of planning though, which will most likely start happening once I leave the states.

The last thought I have is security and money. I'm getting a lot of advice, and I've also done my share of research, but I'm still figuring out all the strategies that will work best for Meg and I. I hear people talk about security belts and such, but my thought is aren't those well known enough that they don't work that well? I'm also worried about getting stabbed to have it cut off of me. I'm not much of a worry bug but I am someone that plans what is possible and looks to prevent it where possible. That's all for now, but as I make more plans I'll post some pictures of what I'm doing and what I hope to do.

Tip for the day, the GPS is your friend...that and wear glasses if you need them!

Dinner, A Show, Walking, & Snow

I've been busy enough and lazy enough over the last several days not to post anything. I thought some pictures could do the talking for me. Just a note, my brother's hair is actually black, but my camera gave him a dye or something.

Pho!!!!

Yesterday I took my mother, sister, and brother to some Pho. My mother and brother's first time. My mom was a little skeptical of why we were there at first, but enjoyed herself once we were eating. This place actually served it the way I am used to, with limes and not lemons. The Pho was great.


Outside of the establishment on Anaheim Street they had a great bike rack. Bike racks like his and other cool designs are all over Long Beach's commercial areas. The unique bike racks remind me of Seattle.



After the food, conversation, and good vibrations (wrong movie?) we went to the mall, which seemed busy but not overly so for a Tuesday evening so close to Christmas. Walked around for a long time and the only thing I noticed was there seemed to be a large amount of poorly named shops. Not funny names just uninspiring, like J-Bees. The DQ intermission was a delight, but the table suffered a few messes by everyone including myself. Bed, Bath, & Beyond seemed to occupy the most of our time. I bought a beard shaver for $12 and a pair of bras for the lady, which was discussed in advanced. It was a pair of the Genie Bras...as seen on TV so hopefully they live up to the hype. I felt awkward buying bras without a woman that when the cashier asked if I needed a gift receipt that I said, "Yes." Don't know why I felt the need to say that considering I've bought Tampons for people before without issue but maybe because Tampons can't be confused for whom they are for and a bra could? :)

By the time we reached home my feet weren't feeling good...dogs were barking. We all took a walk to the beach anyways. The beach was deserted. It was peaceful, beautiful, and sadly cold. We didn't stay long but it was a good conclusion to the night.

Tip of the Day, bring a jacket when going to the beach, even if it seems too warm for one. Never a bad plan of action in my imaginary book.


PS check out my $6 watch from Big Lots...not going to get mugged for this one :)

Hoodies And a Walk

Days have past and still I'm a slave to the computer. I put the finishing touches on my mother's Sony Vaio computer last night. It feels good to knock out the computer issues, but then again I never thought I'd work on computers for almost two weeks. Besides being a hermit at my mother's I have enjoyed my time out when ever possible.

I managed to make it out of bed just before two in the afternoon. I found it hard to get out of bed the several times I was woken before which was either by alarms (mine or not), my mother, or other ruckus occurring. I also managed the strength to place an extra cover over me in the morning after the last of the noise makers left that finally gave me he warmth I needed to sleep right. And when I say cover I actually mean a cloth shower curtain but I wasn't going to complain if it meant the difference between sleeping comfortably or barely resting.

I took my sister along with me on a brisk but reasonable one point seven mile excursion to my mother's work. Looking back I wish I would have taken more pictures walking along Fourth Avenue. I was preoccupied with making sure my sister kept pace. After getting to my mother's work I checked out some local shops including even Walmart! I refuse to shop at Walmart under most conditions because of their business practices but I had gotten desperate trying to find ponchos. They didn't have them so I didn't have to break the nonbinding contract with myself. After making a few more stops Big 5 had what I was looking for.

After Walmart was the point that I met back up with my sister and my mother at her work. We made a few stops and I finally got my first meal of the day well past six. With some renewed vigor I made a final stop at Marshalls and found a great replacement for the hoodie that broke two days prior while zipping it up. All in all I'm excited to take a few more walks around the area. I also know that my new hoodie made both my mother and my sexy girlfriend happy, which I felt rather proud about.

Tip For the Day, don't count on finding ponchos in California to be an easy task. And do check out a Big 5 if you are in the market for some ponchos. Washington must consume more ponchos than I realized because I never had a problem finding them nor do I remember paying as much as I did in Cali for them as Washington—no witty catch phrase for WA...maybe Wash? Sounds like laundry time.

Fry's and the Beach

Simple day, got up, went to Fry's, long drive around Long Beach looking at the coast line, worked on computers, had a long conversation about how my mom wants her computer fix, brushed my teeth.

   

Tip for the day, when installing a fresh OS and there is already a recovery partition on the computer just keep the recovery partition if you can afford the space.

Wet and Fun

Didn't work on computers much today. I did try to figure out my XBMC (XBox Media Center) issues of trying to use my phone as a remote. Never had this much trouble before and I've never given up until now. I'm getting ahead of myself. I first had to wake up early and force my teenage sister out of bed and to get ready, which isn't all that surprising. I then had to walk her to school. What was surprising was that amount of water falling from the sky. I'm used to Seattle, but this was buckets and it didn't let up. Seattle will rain like this sometimes, but never lasts that long. This was on and off all day. Seattle also has better drainage for sewers, and I'm guessing it has to do with Seattle being mostly a giant hill and the raising of the lowest parts. Long Beach on the other hand gets crazy amounts of puddles, and small rivers running on either side of the streets. So assuming you don't get soaked from the rain or puddles on the way, just crossing from one block to another is a challenge with so much water built up in some instances that you can't even jump over the obstacle. I had the hiking boots I got from REI for this trip, which now fully tested let me know I made a good choice. My sister on the other hand just had sneakers with lots of breathing holes. Her feet were drenched after the first few blocks.
We made it to her school and I waited in the lobby for her to take her tests. I felt like I was in high school again, granted I was in a high school. I wouldn't want to go to high school again.
We walked around for a while and I like a lot of Long Beach, but it isn't a walking town like Seattle. Long Beach is a little too spread-out for walking, but maybe biking. I had some Pho at a location I came upon. Pho is Pho and the restaurants seem to be about the same no matter which one or what town.
After getting home and getting a warm shower. Dry clothes felt great. My feet were the only part of me that was completely dry. My "rain" jacket wasn't as waterproof as I once thought. Other than some good Mac & Cheese not much else happened for the rest of the night (see above for my Computer challenges). My sister did manage to get some malware while looking at her horoscope *face palm, one more to fix...again.

Tip for the day, when traveling always keep a spare poncho.

Getting Around

In the last two days I've decided even the name of a familiar interstate (I405 & I5) can make you feel closer to home. I did manage to take my brother to an audition and enjoyed the process but don't enjoy driving around the LA area. I think if I was in my own car I would feel better.
I managed to get my hair chopped down after much discussion with my mom, but over all I'm happy. Now I just have to pass the girlfriend test! :X
Still fixing computers, so I had to make a journey to Fry's today and along the way took a few shots of some sights. I hope Dustin enjoys the pics as he is my only follower so far and he asked for more pics. I'll keep trying for more.
I still haven't made it to the beach, but maybe tomorrow.
A tip for the day is that no matter what Fry's you go in it is basically the same. If Fry's is a second home to you like it is to me this makes you feel closer to home no matter which Fry's you're in.

Cali!!!!

First full day in Cali and I spent all of it inside fixing computers, but hey...it is for family. I have most of everything done. I just need to finish working on my mother's laptop. Wasn't a complete waste of a day because I spent it with family by my side but it would have been nice to get out more.
Tomorrow I get to drive with my mom to work and then drive my brother to an audition. I really don't want to have to drive in L.A. but it can't be avoided. I'm looking forward to walking down to the beach but that might have to wait until Saturday.
Tip for the day don't try to have an in-depth personal conversations on a hungry stomach and low on energy...you end up saying things you don't mean. You'd think as an adult I'd have learned this by now, but maybe someday.

Finally Leaving Seattle

Finally left Seattle for the first leg of my trip, which is in Long Beach, CA. I also quickly found out that I can create and title blog posts but sadly can't compose them from my phone. I'll be limited to only adding entries from a computer.
If anyone is interested in traveling two weeks after Thanksgiving you'll be happy to know most flights are close to empty or are only lightly packed. I had a whole row to myself on South West going to Salt Lake City, and found I still had the seat next to me empty continuing my travels to Los Angles.
Seeing family so far as been what I've come to expect on these intermittent reunions, which is heart warming and chaos. Lets just saying getting a blanket for the night was more interesting than it would have been in Seattle.
That's all for now and my tip for the day would be if the flight attendant asks if they can get you anything else always ask for something additionally to drink because staying hydrated on flights is harder than I remember.

Making Plans

I still have a lot of packing to do, and a other details to figure out, but I did make a commitment to a departure date. I'm leaving next Thursday (Dec. 1) around 9:30 AM Seattle time. I'm going to Cali first to see family. I'm excited, but also a little worried I won't get everything done in time...hoping for the best.

My Blog Lives

Just setting things up so this is the typical boring "under-construction" statement you're probably used to seeing if you used the web in the nineties but thank you for reading it anyways.
Nasair