family
Google Mail (Gmail) is a great way to get your email. You can use google mail just like your old email except that it handles pictures a lot better.
Family
After leaving Los Angeles we headed up to Ojai, California to visit my good friend Markus. Markus' place in Ojai is absolutely amazing and was a perfect retreat from two full days of "talking tech". Its amazing how exhausted you can get from just talking.
A week ago Diana and I left Florida after spending two weeks visiting my family. She and I are moving to China so I'm not exactly sure when I'm going to see my parents and family again although I don't think it will be too long. We said our goodbyes and wished each other well but I, unfortunately, didn't film any of it. Instead I filmed me saying goodbye to all of the material objects left behind. My guitars, the pool, the house and Jake (but he's not a material object).
Through this video I'm not attempting to put material objects in front of family. This video is mainly a reminder to myself that my life is about to dramatically change. I've sold, donated, or stashed away almost every material object in my life. My entire material life is contained withing 1 suitcase, 1 backpack and 1/2 a duffel bag (and Diana's the same). When I left Florida it all became real my life is changing and there is no going back.
In a few weeks or months we'll arrive in China and begin what essentially amounts to a new life. We'll be living in a new country, new city in a new apartment. Furniture, cookware, appliances, beds, couches, chairs, linens, etc. will have to be repurchased. Our traditions recreational activities will most likely have to be replaced with something new. We will have to find new friends and new hangouts. Our entire lives will be completely turned upside down.
I'm welcoming this change with open arms and I can't wait to land in my new home! China awaits... but first Denver, Colorado and more family in California.
The final goodbye has yet to come...
The rain in florida is intense and it comes almost out of nowhere. In about 5 minutes the sky can go from bright and sunny to dark, deary and then.... rain sheets of intense rain just fall from the sky as if a giant bucket was tipped over. I shot this video last night when, in about 20 minutes , several inches of rain fell from the sky.
Today we're helping out the pool by swimming widly and splashing about in the pool to get rid of the "excess" water. Oh florida.
Roughly a week ago Diana and I boarded an Amtrak train at Penn station in New York City. We had just finished packing and cleaning up our house not more than 10 hours before. We shipped a few boxes to China, shipped a few boxes to Florida and took the rest with us on the train. We traveled with three suitcases, three guitars, one amplifier, and two boxes. It took us roughly one month to rid of ourselves of nearly all of our worldly possessions except the items we could not part with (yet).
I kept...
Diana's parents are in town this weekend. They moved back to China late last year and returned to the U.S to do their last US tax return. Instead of just stopping into the country, turning in their taxes and leaving they decided to take a tour. They started out in San Francisco, headed to L.A, over to Boston and now they are in New York. Originally they planned for just a few days but I think they have decided to stay a little longer; which I think is awesome.
They came bearing gifts so they can stay as long as they'd like. They brought me and Diana (mainly me.. since Diana's is much smarter than I) children's Learn Mandarin Chinese books. Yes the books were designed and intended for us by 4 and 5 year olds but I think that they are awesome. Last night Diana's mother went through one of the books with me. I felt like I was about five years old but that really isn't any different than everyday ;)
These books are awesome!
Ok now in other completely unrelated news Diana's article on hiking in Connecticut was published this morning in the Sunday edition of the Boston Globe (Travel section). You can read it online here on the Explore New England website.
My cousin had a rough flight to New York. Not only did he take a red-eye flight but he also had 3 layovers and the total flight time was about 10 hours. To top that off the airline lost his luggage!
After that flight he was exhauted so he is napping right now. I took the day off so that I could pick him up from the airport and hang out with him but now that he is sleeping I'm a bit bored and I don't know what to do with myself. Diana is out with her friends so I am left here to write blog entries and twiddle my thumbs.
I finally posted something in the Music section. There will be more to come (honestly).
This week I will be carrying around both my still and video cameras with me. Oh there is going to be some good footage... oh yes there will be.
