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27 THINGS I DIDN'T KNOW SO WELL AT 26

ONE

Dunbar's Number: 150-200. This is the amount of social relationship links that your brain and spirit were designed to handle. Anything beyond that is unnatural for humans. Remember that during the next moment of political outrage, the next moment of mass tragedy, the next celebrity scandal. Those things are real, but they're also beyond the scope of human ability to fully process. We were built for more intimate circles. If more of us gave all our attention to empowering 150-200 others, the world would be radically different.

TWO

It's always a good idea to find a few people about five years down the road from you to learn from. Sometimes it's as simple as taking a few mental notes from somebody who lives a joyful, generous life. I've been getting so much inspiration from certain people just on the other side of thirty these days.

THREE

Love hops on planes, bursts through international borders, and books inconvenient itineraries, all for the sake of being with the people who matter. Thank you, Lola, for showing me.

FOUR

In a world that seems to insist on your anger all the time, the best way to rebel is to be joyful. (Thanks, Brad Montague!)

FIVE

Artists get to work in the midst of injustice, telling stories that build empathy and creating beauty that draws others in the way that logic and reason cannot. 

SIX

Happiness and comfort are two of the biggest pursuits of the world around me. What the world needs most right now is joy. We can keep drinking from all sources of entertainment and pleasure, but we'll stay thirsty until we find joy.

SEVEN

I'm naturally an enthusiast with a huge appetite for life– it's a great quality for showing others what an God's joy looks like and sparking a desire to create more joy. I can also be prone to over-committing and spreading myself too thin. Quality over quantity, every time.

EIGHT

There's a time to challenge others, and a time to be patient with people as they grow and learn. You can spend a lifetime learning how to know which is which, but a good rule of thumb is that your critique is only as valuable as the time and energy you're willing to invest in another person to help them grow.

NINE

“I’ve noticed something about people who make a difference in the world: they hold the unshakable conviction that individuals are extremely important, that every life matters. They get excited over one smile. They are willing to feed one stomach, educate one mind, and treat one wound. They aren’t determined to revolutionize the world all at once; they’re satisfied with small changes. Over time, though, the small changes add up. Sometimes they even transform cities and nations, and yes, the world."

(Thanks, Beth Clark)

TEN

Nine times out of ten, you’ll notice that whenever something controversial happens that divides people in sides, I default to reminding everyone to try and get along. To avoid trying to take sides, and to find some sort of common goal. Most of the time, I like this approach and I like that I have some sort of built-in avoidance for wanting to take sides.
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That said, this isn’t always the right approach.
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In an instance where people are being oppressed, when one set of ideas contributes to people being harmed, being put at risk, being separated from family, being vulnerable to hate crimes, being talked about as if they were not entitled to the same treatment as any other human, or being excluded, it is impossible not to choose sides.
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To choose to do nothing, to say nothing, or to act like it isn’t happening contributes to the status quo. It allows the oppression to last a little longer, for that many more lives to be ruined. There is no real neutrality in oppression. Yeah, speaking up may result in a few difficult conversations, but there is no improvement without sacrifice.
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I think there are ways to do this that are respectful of people while still challenging harmful ideas. And it’s difficult to get it exactly right. But one sure-fire way to not get it right is to let my non-confrontational nature to be an excuse for not showing my Muslim friends, my black friends, my LGBT friends, and all others in my life that I care.

ELEVEN

Sleep is totally a spiritual discipline.

TWELVE

This world is totally hungry for joy and hungry for justice. Many people take on the assumption that these things are mutually exclusive. They're not, and when you find someone who pursues both joy and justice, the force-for-good that creates is magnetic. (See: the Rapper, Chance)

THIRTEEN

Ain't no Twitter in Heaven. (Thank you, Chance)

FOURTEEN

It's dishonest and wrong to turn a blind eye to the injustices, outrages, sadness, and oppression in the world. It's equally as wrong to neglect the stories of good. Simple ones of ordinary people overcoming obstacles and creating opportunities for others. This isn't the type of thing that makes the news, so be sure you find some other way of including good in your outlook.

FIFTEEN

An early morning walk-of-the-dog, with your thumb rubbing her leash like a string of prayer beads– that can lead to some of the best, most enriching prayers.

SIXTEEN

You create a community through the things that you communicate, the things you accept, and the things you celebrate. (Thanks for that one, Jake! It's been way more relevant to my life than I thought it would be at the time.)

SEVENTEEN

Wounded idealists turn into cynics. (Thanks, John Ortberg) Constantly growing idealists turn into humbled, sober pragmatists who actually make change happen.

EIGHTEEN

Good people can have bad ideas... ones that can support ideas that harm other people. And they can still be overwhelmingly good people. Remember they weren't created for bad ideas, but for great actions, and that'll help you speak in love. Remember that bad ideas also harm the people who hold them, and that'll help you speak the truth.

NINETEEN

Trying to win arguments is nowhere near as effective as trying to win people. You can win the argument, but both of you will likely go home less fond of each other, clinging to your beliefs. You can, instead win people. Look for the good in them, even if it takes a lot of squinting. Feed that good. And show off a better way to live.

TWENTY

I have yet to encounter a leader that I truly admire who doesn't have humility down as one of his or her most core, defining characteristics. For every single leader that I've found myself admiring, I have a personal memory of that person taking the initiative to apologize for a wrong, admit not knowing things, or doing "grunt work."

TWENTYONE

"The future is built with the present moment and how we take care of it. If you are fearful, the future will be fearful. If you are uncooperative, the future will be divisive."

"Community practice is crucial at this time. It's crucial not to be alone in front of the computer, reading media. That makes the world dark for you. Find flesh. There are still wonderful things happening."

(Thank you, Phap Dung!)

TWENTYTWO

Ask people to recommend more books. It's a good go-to question.

TWENTYTHREE

Challenges can be exciting and fun. Some are easy to embrace, especially if you have my personality. Some other challenges, however, are both hard and difficult. They take us away from our comfort and into pain. Grief is a challenging process. Health challenges are no fun.

Thing is, they make you grow as a person, and really, that’s where their value lies. 

TWENTYFOUR

Never take what you have for granted. There are things so much bigger than the usual things we freak out about on a day-to-day basis.

TWENTYFIVE

It's absolutely worth it to invest your time in things you love doing, and things you find important. The things you do regularly and repeatedly often become the things you get asked to do for others, and even the things that help pay the bills. The only way to get there is to try, and it's totally possible to take the "safe road" and still fail. Pursue what you're wired for, and you just might surprise yourself.

TWENTYSIX

Go ahead and make plans, but also leave lots of room for things not to go according to plan, room to have to rely on faith, room to still be amazed in the end. Feed hope and it'll feed you right back.

TWENTYSEVEN

Think of the most joy-driven, generous people you know. Ask them to tell you their stories. Ask yourself how you can help build more people like them.

Last Year's List

APRIL 2017

#91 Medford Dog Park

01 April 2017 // Medford, Oregon

As her last act as a Doggy of Oregon, Beignet decided to take a dive into the juiciest mud puddle in the park.

Exactly what I wanted to share the rental truck with – a soggy donut. 🍩

#92 Beignet the Copilot

02 April 2017 // Bakersfield, California

For how much energy this one has, she was a surprisingly good passenger in a fully loaded moving truck.

She ended up making the road down to California a whole lot better. I’m so glad that the bulk of this move is behind us.

I’ve been slacking on good-things posts lately, so here are a few other things making me happy:

The USWNT scored in their push for equal pay, and deservedly so. They shouldn’t need to be the powerhouse team that they are in order to justify being paid equally, but just to make it clear that they are, they cruised to a pretty easy win versus Russia to celebrate.

Also I finished reading the food memoir Life From Scratch– more memoir than food, but the personal story was so strong and unexpected that I plowed right through the book.

#93 Beignet’s New Digs

03 April 2017 // San Diego, California

The moving process must look so weird from a dog's perspective. Then again, what doesn't?

Glad she's settling in to her brave new world.

#94 It’s Only the Himalayas

04 April 2017 // San Diego, California

“Wherever you go, whatever you do, just… don’t do anything stupid."

–S. Bedford

Book No. 13 of 2017

This was a fun read. Nothing fancy. Just a fun, simple travel-logue that I blitzed through in two sittings.

A sense of humor carries throughout the book, and the stories are interesting in their own right. It successfully made me pretty ready to get up and travel somewhere remote.

⭐️⭐️

#95 After Work

05 April 2017 // San Diego, California

The hope was to find a job I loved, that would allow me to come home and keep living a life that I loved.

Achievement unlocked.

#96 Seaport With Beignet

06 April 2017 // San Diego, California

“I am ready for my yearbook photo!!!”

Keep hamming it up, Beignet.

#97 PDX-a-Lot

07 April 2017 // Portland, Oregon

Third trip to/from San Diego and Oregon in the past month.

My wish was to still be able to visit Oregon a LOT after moving out. So far that's come true, though I wouldn't mind these visits spacing themselves out just a bit more.

At least I'm in Portland this weekend for a real good reason.

#98 Jesse & Raquel

08 April 2017 // Canby, Oregon

It was a good weekend for sure.

Congrats Jesse & Raquel – so glad we could be there this weekend. Can't wait for the next time we get to hang out with you two.

#99 PDX Outro

09 April 2017 // Portland, Oregon

It’s probably gonna be a little while before I’m back in Portland.

I’m gonna miss this city, including my favorite airport in the world. To make sure I made the most of my last few fleeting moments, I spent the wait for my flight stocking up on PDX goods and eating some last bites of my favorites for a little while, including:

Trying out the matcha and orange cointreau brulee flavors of Blue Star. That last one was absolutely amazing, and even better than the rum brulee release I’ve had before.

Grabbing a bottle of Som drinking vinegar, because it’ll be a while before I get to stock up.

Picking up a couple jars of Yumm Sauce. They aren’t terribly hard to reverse engineer, but I want to get right to making some Yumm bowls this week.

#100 Silence

10 April 2017 // San Diego, California

“Kichijiró was right in saying that all men are not saints and heroes. How many of our Christians, if only they had been born in another age from this persecution would never have been confronted with the problem of apostasy or martyrdom but would have lived blessed lives of faith until the very hour of death.”

–Shusaku Endo

Book No. 14 of 2017

I want to learn and read so much more of Shusaku Endo right now.

The sad realities of martyrdom and persecution are so real globally and historically, and yet, in my immediate world, I have the hardest time truly grasping what that confrontation is like.

Shusaku Endo’s novel, set in mid-1600’s Japan, explores the religious persecution and the pressure to apostasise put on a group of underground priests. The book goes through a lot of grit and ugliness and is definitely not the sort to just put a pretty bow on things. I loved it and I do have a pretty good interest in seeing the Scorcese adaptation.

⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️

#101 Run & Bloom

11 April 2017 // San Diego, California

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”

–Robert Louis Stevenson

#102 Croque Madame

12 April 2017 // San Diego, California

I've really lapsed on my cooking goals for this year, for a number of life-reasons: moving, lent, etc. - Now that I have my kitchen workstation all set up though, it's time to make up for lost time.

Made this croque madame tonight, and was pretty pleased. Swiss emmentaler, some fake but convincing tofu-ham, and bechamel in a triple layered toast, topped with the egg and shaved cheese of course.

The one and only thing I would've done differently is try to make the bechamel less salty. But that is it!

#103 She’s Here

13 April 2017 // San Diego, California

Finally! The house is now a home.

As fun as San Diego has been so far, now it really starts to get good.

#104 Good Friday 17

14 April 2017 // San Diego, California

It feels like there's some degree of appropriateness that our move coincided with Lent the way it did- that I was offered the job on Fat Tuesday and that Deanna finally arrived in San Diego on Maundy Thursday.

It's been forty days of waiting, excitement, patience testing, celebrating, missing, hustle, and adjustment, and now, a new life.

Getting to pray through the Stations of the Cross was so appreciated for Good Friday. Thankful for life, in every sense of the word.

#105 Meat Market

15 April 2017 // San Diego, California

The discovery of this meat market and where to get some of the more exotic cuts of meat around town was definitely a high point of the weekend, especially if anyone wants gator burgers. And, it’s totally along my route to work.

Hooray for Siesel’s Meats.

Actually, I’m simply thrilled to know where I can purchase some black pudding. Depending where you live, it’s a pretty elusive food item in the USA.

#106 Easter & Earth

16 April 2017 // San Diego, California

"The tree, which had brought about the fall and the loss of Paradise, shall be the instrument of redemption."

–St. Augustine

Happy Easter everybody.

Feeling so thankful for life. Spiritual life. Physical life. My new life. My love life. The kind of life you extend to others. All kinds of life.

Also, California is a pretty sunny place.

#107 Together

17 April 2017 // San Diego, California

It’s a era of so many new things and I’m loving it.

In the middle of so much excitement, the days have my permission to trickle. To move as slow as they’d like.

To me, a new town feels like a playground. But we’re here for the long haul, so it’s all good to move slow now.

I have my whole crew in town. I have the chance to chase down so many possibilities, but in the process, I don’t want to miss any of it.

#108 Salmon Miso Broth

18 April 2017 // San Diego, California

Mission 10: This idea is one I’ve been sitting on for a little while- making a ginger miso broth infused with salmon and scallion oil that plays a perfect host to udon noodles, mushrooms, and a little cut of salmon.

The results: After putting it off for a few days, I made the soup and this turned out to be one of the best soups I’ve ever made! For how easy it was, it came with a pretty high payoff. The broth had just the right amount of sour and tang to it. This is one I’ll be making again for sure!

#109 Staff Volunteer Day

19 April 2017 // San Diego, California

I have at least a few family members who think I spend my working hours physically planting trees.

Sometimes they're right.

Had an awesome volunteer day getting to visit Coastal Roots Farm. I love what they do!

#110 Pachinko

20 April 2017 // San Diego, California

“A God that did everything we thought was right and good wouldn't be the creator of the universe. He would be our puppet.” 

–Min Jin Lee

Book No. 15 of 2017

Wow, what a beautiful book.

The things I initially heard were comparisons to Cutting For Stone and the Kite Runner- and I kind of get it. Set in complex cultural boundaries, following multiple generations of a family’s story but with enough focus to really flesh out and bond with characters. Plus some deep and truthful themes of family and faith.

I liked the characters. They were honest, sincere, and didn’t fall for the tendency that most contemporary authors have of equating cynicism with authenticity. It was just the sort of book that at the end leaves you with a strong appreciation for family history, strong women, and perseverance.

⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

#111 Duck Poutine

21 April 2017 // San Diego, California

Mission 11: One of the meals in Eugene that I’ll miss the most will be the poutine at Rye– for less than ten bucks you can get a pretty good size portion of really good duck poutine. Of course they wouldn’t reveal the whole secret recipe, but I did get the waitress once to admit one of the key ingredients. Duck fat. With that knowledge, I sought out to try and recreate it.

The results: I don’t make gravy often so I definitely didn’t quite make it the same as theirs. Also in retrospect, beef broth would have been a good addition. But overall I thought the gravy turned out better than any previous attempt of mine to make gravy, and the fries were satisfyingly done.

#112 North County Earth Festival

22 April 2017 // San Diego, California

"I want creation to penetrate you with so much admiration that wherever you go, the least plant may bring you the clear remembrance of the Creator ....One blade of grass or one speck of dust is enough to occupy your entire mind in beholding the art with which it has been made."

–St. Basil the Great

Happy Earth Day!

Fun times repping Plant With Purpose at the Earth Day Festival in Oceanside. Doing it all over again tomorrow in Balboa Park. Come give a shout!

#113 Earth Day 2017

23 April 2017 // San Diego, California

Balboa Park has the largest outdoor Earth Day shindig in the country- and it was so fun to be there on behalf of Plant With Purpose!

So much sun and so many people with so much passion for so many causes I didn't even know existed. Hopefully more people are aware of ours now too.

#114 Grapefruit Macarons

24 April 2017 // San Diego, California

Mission 12: I’ve been on a roll with macarons lately, and feeling a bit more daring, I decided to see if I could start with a totally out-there concept and turn it into a macaron. Grapefruit rosemary is a great combo, I figured, let’s go with that!

The results: Well, my hot streak ended, because these macarons puffed up and got out of hand. I meant to make a whole batch of them but wound up with only six survivors. Fortunately, those six survivors were pretty good.

I still don’t know what went wrong, but the texture just didn’t come out the way it was supposed to. I got the shells to puff up way too much. The redeeming factor was that they all came out tasting pretty great. The grapefruit buttercream filling was refreshing- made from the real deal. If only those shells turned out, these would’ve been even better.

#115 Around the Block

25 April 2017 // San Diego, California

This city is extremely diverse. And I love that. It’s diverse in so many different ways- race, age, politics, walk of life. I definitely missed that living in the Northwest the past few years. It also happens to be one of the most segregated cities I’ve come to know, but I love that it gives me an opportunity to connect people who might not otherwise interact.

Got to spend an afternoon in City Heights to get oriented for a volunteer opportunity. I love this neighborhood in a way many in San Diego miss out on. The diversity. Lots of life. A bit of an edge too, of course, but I need to be connected to that.

#116 Dreaming & Dinner

26 April 2017 // San Diego, California

I love having Chris and Katie over to talk about big dreams we have and the most generous, joyful people we know… and how to help develop more people like them!

No doubt, getting to reconnect has been a big perk of coming back to San Diego.

#117 Salt & Pepper Chips

27 April 2017 // San Diego, California

Mission 13: Homemade chips are far and away better than the packaged stuff. I remember trying homemade chips for the first time as a twelve year old and being totally amazed that chips could actually taste that good. I decided that it wouldn’t be too hard to make a batch.

The results: Salt and pepper are my favorite chip flavors, usually, so I figured I’d keep it simple and go with those, plus just a bit of chopped parsley. I loved the chips and wouldn’t have changed much. They paired perfectly with the Modern Times guava gose we ended up eating them with.

#118 Creative Mornings: Beyond

28 April 2017 // San Diego, California

This was such a fun way to start off a workday– I finally got to attend a Creative Mornings San Diego Meetup, something that’s been on my radar for quite a while.

I had a blast getting to meet all the other creatives working locally over communal coffee and doughnuts, plus Kirstie and I totally got free headshots from Shuttershock/Stacy Keck.

I will definitely keep coming back!

#119 Liberty Market Time

29 April 2017 // San Diego, California

Sinking our teeth into an alfajor at Liberty Public Market’s Paraná and getting all nostalgic for that Argentine life.

One of the most dangerous bits of temptation is a subtle one- it’s to accept life as a casual occurrence instead of a miracle. It’s to eat simply because it’s lunch time, without taking in the flavors. It’s to look at a sunset with a list of chores stuck in your head. It’s to jump into new days without the awareness that each one is a temporary, wonderful gift.

Stay on the lookout for this temptation, and resist it with a few deep breaths and a pause for wonder.

#120 Dog + Nephew + Pool

30 April 2017 // Bakersfield, California

Dog plus nephew plus swimming pool equals a real good time.

It’s not quite summer… but it’s been feeling more and more like it lately, and I’m totally okay with that.

MARCH 2017

#60 GCF

01 March 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

When it’s all said and done, the thing I’ll be missing most about Oregon are the people. More than the hard-to-believe campsites, the friendlier cost of living, and the short list of restaurants I look forward to getting a taste of next time I’m back, it’ll be the people.

All that other stuff was waiting for us the moment we arrived in Eugene, but the community we had there, that took some time and effort to cultivate.

Our church felt like a family from very early on.

Many of our GCF friends were walking through some very similar challenges at just the same time.

UO introduced me to quite a few new personalities.

I am happy that it seems like many of the friends we made all seem to be entering new seasons of life, about to start on new adventures or to enter the next stage of an ongoing journey. I’m glad that for a good window of time, we got to get there together.

#61 Valley River

02 March 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

Today I decided to go on a walk and to not stop until I felt like it. The path by the river goes on forever and allowed me to do just that.

I kept thinking about how over the past few years I would compare my life to the one I lived in my early twenties where travel, idealism, and adventure were abundant. The past couple years have been quieter ones and I often wondered if I got "off track" somewhere along the way. Life got too quiet... and I have a hard time with that. (7 trait, def.)

Then... in seemingly an instant, life became full again. I found my way back to being a dreamer, chasing opportunities I can hardly believe are open to me.

But I think I can appreciate this so much more having gone through a much quieter season. I can embrace adventure with a better appreciation for the simple things. I can be an idealist conscious of the hard work it takes to make ideals reality. That wasn't the case four years ago.

God keeps on reminding me that he isn't one to waste time.

#62 David Minor Theatre

03 March 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

I'm gonna miss Eugene's quirky theatres.

As our last date night I'm Eugene- at least for a while, we kept it simple with a movie night and mango hefeweizens and some fantastic beasts.

#63 Joy Friends’ Housewarming

04 March 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

We started announcing that we were officially moving out at our friends’ housewarming party and it’s been an emotional freefall ever since.

I’m feeling so thankful for the people we’ve been able to get to know over the past couple years here in Eugene. Our friends at Joy Church were a big part of helping us develop and further our sense of community, and there are so many faces that we’ll be missing.

#64 Joy Church Eugene

05 March 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

A year ago, Deanna and I had yet to find a church in Eugene where we really felt like we belonged. We knew we’d know it when we found it, but also, we had already lived there for a long time to no avail.

A week later, we walked into Joy Church– a small startup group of families and people meeting at a community center by our house. We quickly gathered that they were a new church. Really new. Like, that was only their second or third week of existence. People seemed surprised that we found them, but we knew we found something special.

Between their belief that “every city needs more joy” (really, I was feeling that way about Eugene right around then) and the warmth of community we got when we went out to Killer Burgers right after the service with a bunch of people we just met, we knew that the church was the right fit.

In the past year, they quickly outgrew the community center. Outgrew the first movie theatre cinema, and are quickly about to outgrow the largest theatre in the movieplex. Also, we grew closer to a lot of the families and friends we got to know through this church.

Today they celebrated their first birthday, and it saddens me that it coincides with my first day since moving out of Eugene. But I’m so, so happy for them. And so thankful for the work Jake and Bethany and the staff and volunteers put in to making it a strong community. And so glad our stories got to overlap for a year.

I only wish I had found them a lot earlier while living in Eugene, but I guess we pretty much found them as soon as we possibly could have. Happy birthday, Joy! I hope to be able to keep visiting lots.

#65 We’re Moving

06 March 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

This change is gonna be so bittersweet.

I took a job offer, a really sweet one, that will start on Monday in San Diego. I drive down next weekend.

I'm going to miss Oregon. A lot. That much is clear. Long before we even started dating, Deanna and I would just talk about how much we liked the Northwest and how we'd probably end up there someday.

And we did. We moved up the week after we got engaged. We've gotten married, finished grad school, switched jobs, made friends, and adopted a dog while living in Eugene. It's a place where we made so many memories and saying my farewells the past few days has been a hard order.

It's a good thing I really like the job I'll be starting soon. And I think I'll like living in San Diego as an adult much more than I did growing up there. I'm sure we'll make it feel like home soon enough. In the meantime this week doesn't feel real.

#66 PDX Farewell Dinner

07 March 2017 // Portland, Oregon

Had to take a daytrip to Portland before leaving Oregon so I could have a farewell with these faces. One of the big things I’ll miss will be being so close to some of our Portland friends– but more reasons to keep visiting.

Thanks Jesse and Raquel for getting married so soon. This farewell dinner was a bit more like “see ya in a month."

#67 Eugene

08 March 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

It all kind of happened so fast. One day, I get a phone call and the offer for a job in San Diego. I always knew I was going to accept, but I called back a few days later to make things official. I got excited. A new city. A new job. A great job. There was so much to look forward to. Then it started to sink in– Leaving Eugene behind is going to be difficult.

In spite of that, I’m glad that it’ll be hard to leave. That wouldn’t have always been the case. As a smaller city, one with stretches of grey days that would seem to never end, it often tested my patience. I usually wanted more activity, more community, more things to do.

I eventually found those things, but only after it had taught me how to appreciate what was in front of me, how to balance ambition and appreciation. The ironic thing is, that makes it much harder to leave. But that’s a good thing. Goodbyes should be hard. It means you’re leaving behind something good.

#68 Birthday Beignet

09 March 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

Our girl turned two today! (Or sometime roughly around today, but we celebrate her birthday on her adoption day.) She wasn’t so fond of the party hat but I told her it would just be for Insta.

Two is fourteen in dog years, so I guess we now have both a two year old and a teenager at home, in the same fur. 😳

Right when I was in the thick of grad school, Deanna was sure my life would be better with a fur creature in the house. And she was right! Beignet has made some otherwise ordinary nights hilarious with her antics, her silent screaming outside the door when she begs to get into bed with us, her musical outbursts when she thinks we’re about to drive towards the dog park, and her fondness for road trips to Bend.

She’s also been quite a handful at times. We adopted a really high energy dog, and there was that time when she treated herself to an entire package of extremely nutrient-rich maize meal from Africa. But she’s a sweet one and having her in the family definitely adds to our lives.

Happy birthday, Beignet. You’re our girl.

#69 Eugene Farewell Party

10 March 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

Our friend Jordan threw us a nice send off at his ranch on my last night in town.

I’m gonna miss this group of people right here. GCF was a good community to have at a time when a good community was hard to find. It seems like a lot of us will be starting new adventures soon, but I’m glad we all did the Eugene thing together.

Also, most of my farewell events revolved around Code Names and I’m totally cool with that.

#70 Southbound

11 March 2017 // Sunnyvale, California

The long drive between Eugene and San Diego is made much better with this in the middle.

Happy birthday, Daniel

#71 San Luis

12 March 2017 // Los Baños, California

"The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion.

He hardly knows which is which.

He simply pursues his vision for excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide if he is working or playing.

To him he's always doing both."

–James Michener

Found this idyllic reservoir <30 minutes outside of Gilroy. I knew I had to pull over and go have fun and be thankful.

#72 Day One on the Job

13 March 2017 // San Diego, California

My first day at the new job went splendidly.

Friendly coworkers, a pretty exciting mission, and a Mexican potluck as a welcome. That’s a sign of a pretty good fit.

I’m really looking forward to getting settled in at Plant With Purpose. Plus, I have a medicine ball instead of a desk chair. Here’s hoping it does what it’s supposed to for my abs!

#73 Parental Crashing

14 March 2017 // San Diego, California

Thanks to my parents for letting me crash with them until my new apartment was ready to go.

I couldn’t stay too long because it started to feel way too much like 2004, but it was a huge help when work started a week before my lease.

#74 The Righteous Mind

15 March 2017 // San Diego, California

“If you really want to change someone’s mind on a moral or political matter, you’ll need to see things from that person’s angle as well as your own. And if you truly do see it the other person’s way– deeply and intuitively– you might even find your own mind opening in response. Empathy is an antidote to righteousness, although it’s very difficult to empathize over a moral divide."

–Jonathan Haidt

Book No. 10 of 2017

This is a book I’m very glad I read. Haidt seeks to explore while people are so often divided into liberal and conservative camps, both fueled by a belief that they’re doing the right thing.

That’s something that had interested me too, and although I don’t share every worldview with Haidt, I found his insight into moral palates one of the most satisfying theories about what defines a person’s political orientation. The short version is that there are five “flavors” of morality– care, justice, loyalty, authority, and purity. While liberals will have strong tastes for the first two, conservative tastes would be more distributed across all five.

The long version is worth reading, and I found it to be a rare thing claiming to be a helpful “explanation of the other side” that actually lived up to the claim.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#75 Luna Ave.

16 March 2017 // San Diego, California

“I’m never gonna wait
that extra twenty minutes
to text you back
and I’m never gonna play
hard to get
when I know your life has been hard enough already.
When we all know everyone’s life
has been hard enough already
it’s hard to watch
the game we make of love,
like everyone’s playing checkers
with their scars,
saying checkmate
whenever they get out
without a broken heart.
Just to be clear
I don’t want to get out
without a broken heart.
I intend to leave this life
so shattered
there’s gonna have to be
a thousand separate heavens
for all my flying parts."

–Andrea Gibson

#76 First Week Down

17 March 2017 // San Diego, California

Cheers to a really good week.

After my first week of my new job, I couldn't feel more thankful. I love it. It's exactly the sort of role I dreamt about having years ago- and now it's a reality.

Also, the USA just won the World Baseball Classic and I'm getting close to the end of reading Pachinko. So many good things.

#77 Moving In

18 March 2017 // San Diego, California

I officially got the keys to the new place on Friday and got to start moving in. It made for a fun weekend of IKEA trips, furniture assembly, and picking out a houseplant. And... no more driving around with all our stuff in the car!

Good to be home.

#78 IKEAing

19 March 2017 // San Diego, California

New apartment means a visit to a certain Swedish Meatball restaurant that also lets you try out their mattresses.

#79 Loving This Job

20 March 2017 // San Diego, California

Going to work feels a lot like I’m playing. I have a lot of fun with what I get to do, and I know that’s a privilege for sure. I get to flex creative muscles, work with great people, entertain my international tastes, and do something that I believe helps people.

Case in point– the other day I got to spend about an hour and a half brainstorming ideas for a children’s book. It was a lot like that scene in Elf, minus the angry Peter Dinklage.

#80 The New Jim Crowe

21 March 2017 // San Diego, California

“Racial caste systems do not require racial hostility or overt bigotry to thrive. They need only racial indifference, as Martin Luther King Jr. warned more than forty-five years ago."

–Michelle Alexander

Book No. 11 of 2017

Wow. This book was a challenging and important read for me. It came recommended by numerous people whose intelligence and experience with matters of inequality I respect, so I knew I had to take to reading it sooner, rather than later.

The writing in this book was plain, but in a powerful way. By laying out the statistics and historical episodes that people of color in the United States have faced over the last century I began to deeply appreciate the drastic way the Civil Rights Movement shifted public perception to make overt bigotry unacceptable. At the same time, it helped me understand the new challenges this creates.

Whenever there’s a big step made towards equality, like abolition or the Civil Rights Movement, the old inequality usually finds a new way to express itself. After slavery, bigotry took the form of Jim Crow laws. Alexander convincingly makes the case that after Jim Crow, mass incarceration became the new vehicle for racial inequality- a tougher one to fight because of its lack of an explicit label.

This book was written at the beginning of Obama’s presidency, but in many ways it’s even more relevant with age. I don't know if this would be effective in swaying somebody committed to the idea that the world is post-racial, but I found the information and facts in the book to be extremely important to deal with.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#81 Looking to Run

22 March 2017 // San Diego, California

Finally hitting a groove here in San Diego means that it’s time to start running again. Or to at least find the right trail.

Started down this one this morning for just a couple miles. I think I’m onto something.

#82 In Search of a Good Morning

23 March 2017 // San Diego, California

Still on the hunt for my morning spot- the place I get to when I’m up early enough to watch the sunrise and watch the waves crash. It’s a spiritual experience.

Started today by testing out this bench. I think even the search for the right spot will be good.

#83 Meeting Downtown

24 March 2017 // San Diego, California

Got to spend my afternoon in a meeting downtown in one of the sweetest East Village offices. Good midday visit.

You and I are off to a good re-start, San Diego. Way to be.

#84 Chris Coffee Dates

25 March 2017 // San Diego, California

From public speaking to college housing to podcasting, Chris Ward is one of my all time best collaborators.

Now that we're living in the same city for the first time in a long time, I can't wait to see what happens next.

#85 Ducks In

26 March 2017 // San Diego, California

Final Fo' Baby!

This Duck just migrated south. Still a Duck.

#86 Crossing Paths

27 March 2017 // San Diego, California

“Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment."

–Paolo Coelho

#87 The Bluest Eye

28 March 2017 // San Diego, California

“Beauty was not simply something to behold; it was something one could do."

–Toni Morrison

Book No. 12 of 2017

This was an important read that feels like one I should’ve gotten to long ago. I didn’t until now, but I’m glad I finally made up for a little lost time. At first I wasn’t sure how strongly I’d be able to connect with a book that seemed to be about body identity, but hey, I found a few entry points.

It doesn’t feel right to say that I loved it. So much of The Bluest Eye was written for the sake of intentional discomfort– something designed to provoke a little more self awareness in its reader, but in a less nihilistic way than Lolita infamously sought out to do.

It is fair to say that Toni Morrison is a gifted writer I look forward to reading more of. Her writing style is fluid, and this book still manages to be sharply provocative in 2017… all the more so when you consider when it was written. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#88 Sunset Resolution

29 March 2017 // San Diego, California

You know how there are tons of people who live close to some major attraction who never seem to take advantage of it? All the people in Anaheim who never go to Disneyland. All the people in Chicago who can’t remember the last time they just took a walk up the Magnificent Mile. The people in NOLA who know Bourbon St. is for the tourists.

I’ve been guilty of this myself. I went to college for four years right on the ocean. I never learned how to surf and didn’t make a habit of going to the ocean regularly until towards the very end. I grew up in San Diego and still have zero memories of that world famous zoo.

Well now, I live in one of the best places to watch the sun turn everything a blazing orange, and I’m feeling pretty committed to seeing it in person as often as possible. And if I miss one, I’d better have a much more legit excuse than whatever Netflix original.

#89 Moving Phases

30 March 2017 // San Diego, California

3/13 - Get to San Diego; start work
3/17 - Move into our apartment
3/31 - Go back to Oregon; get the dog; drive down the moving truck
4/7 - Back to Oregon again for a wedding; Deanna begins her drive down to SD
4/16 - Being able to eat meat and try a lot of the good looking restaurants in my new neighborhood.

What a month! Needless to say I'm looking forward to getting on to Phase 3 and taking another step towards a normal-ish life.

#90 Moving to Move

31 March 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

Not gonna lie, yesterday was pretty much no fun. Fifteen hours of loading up everything we own into this truck, trying to keep the dog from freaking out too much, and juggling a carpet cleaner, emergency trips to Lowe's to do wall repair, and donating half our things- with more donations yet to come.

This more than makes up for my extended absence from any sort of gym.

In honor of #LiNKWeek I am now going to drive this massive, fully packed vehicle across state lines.

FEBRUARY 2017

#32 Designing Your Life

01 February 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

“Living coherently doesn’t mean everything is in perfect order all the time. It means you are living in alignment with your values and have not sacrificed your integrity along the way."

–Bill Burnett & Dave Evans

Book No. 04 of 2017

This book was one of those business-oriented self-help titles that seemed to make some pretty grand promises on its book jacket. Naturally, I was skeptical. But it did offer some big picture ideas regarding “designing” a life that worked well for you in was including and beyond your career. Being on the job hunt and having the cleanest slate ever, I figured it would be a good time to check it out.

A lot of the ideas in the book were seemingly random. There’s a chapter in there about job interviewing and networking. One about brainstorming and mind mapping. One about evaluating your life. In one way, it made sense, but it also felt like a random assortment of exercises and ideas. Thankfully, the exercises and ideas were helpful and so they had a bit of value.

I’m thankful I read this book. I went through and did some of the exercises, so I think I got my money’s worth out of this one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

#33 Sinigang

02 February 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

Mission 04: Make a version of this Filipino sour pork soup on par with the stuff you had growing up.

The Results: I mostly used Yasmin Newman’s recipe, with a few modifications. I always thought it was vinegar that gave the soup its sour taste, but it turns out… it’s tamarind! I had a good amount of seared pork belly, some bok choy, and eggplant in here. Sinigang isn’t one of my favorite Filipino foods, even when it’s good, but I thought my version turned out alright alright.

Also, I gotta get some more photogenic bowls.

#34 Pandemic

03 February 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

Some of my favorite nights with Deanna these days is clearing the table off after dinner and playing Pandemic. We badly needed a board game we could indulge in whenever it was just the two of us. Pandemic was the perfect choice.

It took us a little while to engineer the gameplay to just the right level of difficulty, but I think we’ve got it. Great game. My one big complaint is that three of the six pawns are different shades of green.

#35 Alpaca Farm

04 February 2017 // Creswell, Oregon

The other week I took Deanna on a nice little date to an alpaca farm not far behind our house. I know you're all thinking it. Wow! This is something right out of The Bachelor!

Nothing but the best for my sweet girl. And the best means alpacas because they are the best of the best. You may be familiar with their work from the sweaters I've worn to many a Christmas party.

Alpacas. You guys are my favorite camelids and camelids are my favorite livestock. You keep doing you.

#36 Super Bowl LI

05 February 2017 // Springfield, Oregon

Give it up for the real Super Bowl MVP– teamwork. As in New Belgium teaming up with Ben & Jerry’s.

Thanks to Tai for hosting!

#37 The Circle

06 February 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

"Most people would trade everything they know, everyone they know- they'd trade it all to know they've been seen, and acknowledged, that they might even be remembered. We all know the world is too big for us to be significant. So all we have is the hope of being seen, or heard, even for a moment."

–Dave Eggers

Book No. 05 of 2017

I'll give Dave Eggers credit for something, he knows how to think up a book premise so interesting-sounding that I find it hard not to read. Does he always deliver? That's a different question.

The concept of a Brave New World style dystopia that emerges from some Google-Facebookish mega network sounds intriguing. And it had the chance to make some interesting points.

Unfortunately there were a few things I felt fell flat with the book. First, I don't think Eggers added anything new or substantial to the conversation that hasn't already been said in most anti-social media rants, he just lets those play out to their logical extremes.

Also, most characters lacked a believable or interesting motivation and came across as flat. I've seen the film trailers for the adaptation and I think it has the potential to be better than the book. If anyone can rescue flat characters, I'll take my chances with Emma Watson and Tom Hanks.

⭐️⭐️

#38 Smith Family Bookstore

07 February 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

I suspected that being done with grad school would result in me reading a whole lot more. That ended up being the case. At this rate, I’ll have read a book a week throughout this year. And I’ve already come upon some good ones.

Here are some of the things that have helped me read more–

1) Using travel time well. I finished Trevor Noah’s memoir and The Righteous Mind both on extended airplane trips and with airplane time. There’s something about sitting inside a flying iron capsule that lets me enter a deeper focus I can't in “ordinary life.”

2) Designate time. I’ve been better at reading before going to sleep, mostly because it helps my mind transition and my eyes get ready to shut. But consistency is probably the big reason I’ve done so much reading this year.

3) Read with purpose. I used to force myself to read some books so that impulse purchases from four years prior wouldn’t go to waste. I cut out the impulse purchases, and as a result, the feelings of obligation also went away. Instead I look to mix up my genres, read what I’m passionate about at the moment, follow friends’ recommendations, and things that pertain to my life at the time.

#39 Here I Am

08 February 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

"There’s a Hasidic proverb: ‘While we pursue happiness, we flee from contentment.'"

–Jonathan Safran Foer

Book No. 06 of 2017

I picked up Here I Am both excitedly and nervously... excited because Foer's other two novels are a couple of my all-time faves, nervous because it's been over a decade since his last and what if the magic wears off?

JSF really doubles down on his style in this book, for better or worse. There's one moment when, in order to show a character's discontentedness, he lists her architectural likes... for a whole page in parallel sentences. A little excessive there, and without a character like Oscar in Extremely Loud, it felt more out of place.

But! There are these moments where Foer rears his brilliance at showing a character's complicated interior life through amazing narration... as he does when the character Jacob realizes the scarcity of moments that make him feel alive.

Compared to his well-received other novels, this book takes similarly great creative risks but lacks a loveable central character like Oscar or Alexander. Jacob is an overly familiar mopey 40-something divorcee and Sam is a more cynical twist on Oscar. While the first half of the book is extremely domestic, it does take a more captivating and creative turn when geopolitical drama surrounding Israel is introduced.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

#40 The Waiting

09 February 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

Man, 2017 thus far has been kind of a patience tester. And I normally think of myself as a patient person. Flight delay? NBD I got a good book. But I've found that once I've gotta wait more than 24 hours with a little uncertainty in the mix, then the challenge begins.

It's tough to remember so I gotta remind myself- life wouldn't be the same without a little uncertainty, a little suspense, and a little I-wonder-what's-going-to-happen next. It's only in some messed up Black Mirror world where we know how everything turns out in the end, and even the most miraculous life events are greeted with a shrug.

#41 Lardon Rolls

10 February 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

Mission 05: So there’s this place in Portland– Philippe’s Bread. Maybe I’m (for obvious reasons) biased, but I love their stuff. One of my favorite items is their lardon rolls, which are perfectly fluffy and carry just the right hint of bacon all the way through. My goal was to try and make some on par with that.

The Results: So I didn’t quite do that. Not that mine were terrible, but there’s a reason why Philippe’s Bread is one of the top bakeries in town. I thought mine were alright, but I wish I could’ve figured out how to get the hint of bacon to resonate throughout the whole roll. We did make some of these into buns for breakfast sliders, though, and that was just great.

#42 Early Valentine’s Day

11 February 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

Happy Valentines Day!!!

Before I had Deanna in my life, a good Valentines Day would be a rare thing. I thought I just had the worst luck ever when it came to February 14. Maybe I was being overdramatic, but also, I might’ve been right! I’m married to the best girl ever, and yet, being able to properly celebrate the day continues to elude me.

Last year it was being sick. This year I’m in California for some interviews. Maybe I’ll get a rad job and that’ll allow me to afford some pretty sleek dates.

Thankfully, we preemptively celebrated over the weekend. We went to go see A Dog’s Purpose (Giant Beignetface, as I call it) and then had dinner at Membrillo Latin Kitchen and oh my goodness, you guys, I had one of the best dishes I’ve ever tasted there. Seared scallops with black garlic and squid ink chimichurri… yes please!

#43 OMW San Diego

12 February 2017 // San Francisco, California

Good things have been happening lately!

First of all, I just learned that pandas and sea cows are no longer considered endangered due to population increases. This is actually somewhat old news, but it’s news to me. Hooray for them! Especially the sea cow. The best New Years’ Resolution I ever made was in 2014, when I decided to start calling manatees by their proper name.

On a more personal level, I’m en route to San Diego for an interview! I’m feeling cautiously optimistic, but this is the first time I’ve been flown somewhere to interview and that’s an exciting feeling.

And finally, last week I finished Gene Luen Yang’s graphic novel series, Boxers and Saints. Long story short, I loved it! I thought the story was so well told, and I don’t normally read graphic novels. I’d be totally down to explore some more, if I can find others of this caliber.

#44 Interviewed

13 February 2017 // San Diego, California

The reason I’m spending a week in San Diego this month: I got an interview with an organization I'm a pretty big fan of.

Every day leading up to it was building excitement and tension. If I get the job, I figured, I would be doing exactly what I'd hope to be doing with my career– as opposed to taking a job just cause it'll feed the family. Plus, if I spent years doing something I was less in love with, I'd be putting myself in line to keep doing that in the future. But I need to nail the interview to even have an option!

Normally I would tell nobody until it was a done deal and I was hired, because that's how I like to roll. But I guess I really wanted the job because I told some people who I wanted prayers from. And I think that paid off. I think they liked me at the interview.

#45 Chris at Bankers

14 February 2017 // San Diego, California

Photography tip: hang out with your friends and get wrapped up in a conversation that goes for so long that the sun goes down and the commemorative photo must be taken using a way-too-bright phone flash and salvaged on Photoshop.

Wait, that’s not a very good photography tip… but it’s a great tip for fun!

#46 Holy Parking

15 February 2017 // San Diego, California

We’re parked!

Remember where you parked.

That should be pretty easy.

Maybe you should drop a pin?

Nah, trust me I’ll remember.

Okay, but just to be safe–

No, man. This is a parking space you won’t forget.

#47 Ballast Blast

16 February 2017 // San Diego, California

The past week in San Diego has been fantastic! And of course Ballast Point with cousins was a necessary part of the week.

A couple other good things–

One of my first favorite albums of 2017 has reared its head. If you like Jack Garratt or James Vincent McMorrow, might I suggest Sampha's newest album? I've been digging it.

Also, I've been learning some fun stuff about Mike Illitch, the Little Caesars CEO who also owned the Detroit Red Wings and Tigers. A lot of the athletes he employed are coming out and saying great things about the guy, who happened to quietly pay Rosa Parks' rent for years until she died. I love it when people do secretly incredible things.

#48 Julian’s Classy Office

17 February 2017 // San Diego, California

Ok so Julian gets the prize for coolest workspace I've visited. I mean, his desk is right over the ballpark and a dozen steps to a beer and kombucha tap.

Thanks for showing me around! Hope we get to have some more meet ups soon.

#49 Baked Bear

18 February 2017 // San Diego, California

I do love some cousin time.

So far this year has gone by at both lightning speed and at a snail's pace. It's been a couple months of hurry-up-and-wait and hoping and dreaming about opportunities that are so close but yet to come.

I have so many ideas I'm looking forward to implement. For now, I've got a couple days more to sit back and trim the excesses from my life to make sure I have ample room for what I want front and center.

#50 Chris at Legacy

19 February 2017 // La Mesa, California

Went to church on Sunday and– oh hey, I know that guy!

For real, though, I'm very proud of Chris and happy to see him in a role he's very much made to thrive in. Plus he spoke on Purim and the book of Esther which is one of my faves and one I've been into a lot recently.

#51 SD to EUG

20 February 2017 // San Diego, California

Spent a whole lot of time yesterday in airports because of crazy weather and flight delays. Thankfully I got to charm my way to some food vouchers! My visit the past week to San Diego was great! Honestly, it was one of the best times I’ve had in a city where I’ve spent a lot of time.

I loved seeing a whole bunch of family and old friends, many of whom have just moved in the area pretty recently. And I got to make some new friends I meshed with just about right away.

I was super happy to see how green it was. All that rain really paid off. I don’t know if I’ve ever appreciated it’s flora so much.

And I love how much new stuff has popped up since I last frequented its neighborhoods. New restaurants, book stores, community groups, and of course, microbreweries.

Here’s hoping and praying that I’m back again in the city very, very soon.

#52 Boxers (& Saints)

21 February 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

“What is China but a people and their stories?"

–Gene Luen Yang

Book No. 07 of 2017

I don’t think I’ve given graphic novels their proper credit or attention in the past, so I sought to rectify that this year. I heard good things about Gene Luen Yang’s Boxers & Saints series, so I decided to start with that and I am so glad I did.

The complementary stories show two different sides of the Boxer Rebellion in China a century-ish ago, where peasants and countrymen in China rose up against the urban elites and the foreign missionaries and Chinese converts to Christianity who were bullying them. Except among those converts were people who Chinese traditions had oppressed.

This story itself does a great job of reminding us that in every conflict there are two sides, each with deeply personal motivations. It’s well told, visually, and the story got compelling right away. The elements of magical realism and heroic iconography were also awesome. The first of the two books focuses on the Boxers’ side of the story, and how one village boy turned his love of opera into his motivation to be his people’s defender. I ranked Boxers above it’s Saints counterpart, only because the story is longer and in the case of this series, that is a good thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#53 (Boxers &) Saints

22 February 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

“The world will never be exactly as we want it, Vibiana. But regardless of how imperfect things may seem, God’s will can still be found."

–Gene Luen Yang

Book No. 08 of 2017

The sister piece to Boxers– this book focuses more on the perspective of the Chinese converts to Christianity during the Boxer Rebellion, those deemed “foreign devils” by revolting peasants.

Of course, this book/series does a fantastic job of using a simple story to show how things are more complex than that. While many of the missionaries and their governing allies are undeniable bullies, other Chinese villagers have found acceptance among them while their societal traditions have once bullied them. The characters are so well developed, noble and flawed.

I wish that Saints was equal in length to Boxers, as it left me wanting more- but in a good way. The final scenes, in which the two stories are tied together, happen so beautifully and richly that you’re reminded of how people’s differences are equally capable of producing beauty and brutality.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#54 Matcha Shortbread Cookies

23 February 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

Mission 06: I’m not a big sweets guy, but one of the huge exceptions would be shortbread cookies. I think it’s because they’re buttery and give you a bit of that sweet and salty magic. What could make it better? Maybe a little bit of bitter? I wanted to try and add some matcha to make it even better.

The Results: I’m happy! Matcha is one of my favorite flavors, and you really don’t want to do a whole lot to take away from its depth. I ended up using large flake sea salt instead of regular salt in the dough and it turned out to be an improvement– when eating the cookies you’ll get more scattered sharp notes of the crystals and that is one of the things that actually compliments matcha pretty well.

#55 Red Pepper Linguine

24 February 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

Mission 07: I’ve been working on trying to get some better veg-friendly meals going. Homemade pasta seemed like a good bet- and red pepper linguine seemed to be enough of a complex flavor so I wouldn’t really miss the meat.

The Results: In terms of flavor- I’m happy. The red pepper taste was alive and well, and complemented by a modified marinara sauce, sea salt, and crimini mushroom to add a few extra notes. Unfortunately the texture was a bit off. Our kitchen/apartment is a little too small so we don’t exactly have a great space to spread out pasta noodles to dehydrate overnight, so I just had to face the fact that it would get a bit on the mushy side.

#56 Silvan Ridge

25 February 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

This weekend was an oasis of sunlight in the middle of a month of monotonous winter days. It was too good that we had to get out and had fun.

After getting the dog tired out at the dog park, we headed to the outskirts to do some wine tasting.

It was our first time at Sylvan Ridge… a simpler vineyard compared to the others we’ve tried in the valley, but their complementary tasting had some good malbec as a part of the flight.

#57 Hired

26 February 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

I have degrees in International Studies and Nonprofit Management. I also have a knack for telling stories, communicating, and marketing. A job that contained all these elements would be the perfect fit for me. After finishing grad school, though, I figured I would take one that contained two of the three, or maybe even just one. I’d eventually get to that perfect fit, but I expected to have to work for a little bit in a less-fit role to support the family for the time being.

Then, I checked the website of a nonprofit organization I’d been following for years. Plant With Purpose. I discovered them through my friends Chi, Jihyun, and Youngjin three years ago and kept them on my radar. It turned out they were looking for someone to do their marketing. They do amazing work at reversing deforestation and reducing poverty… and way more people should know about the great stuff that they do.

I sent a resume. They sent emails. I sent emails. They asked me to come to San Diego. I came, ate the best burrito I had in years, and also interviewed. And then I went back to Oregon. They called me and sent emails. I sent emails. And after all that, it became official. I was hired.

And… I found this old newsletter that Jihyun gave me when he told me about them for the first time. Now I’ll be helping to put stuff like this together!

#58 The Seven Story Mountain

27 February 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

“It is only the infinite mercy and love of God that has prevented us from tearing ourselves to pieces and destroying His entire creation long ago. People seem to think that it is in some way a proof that no merciful God exists if we have so many wars. On the contrary, consider how in spite of centuries of sin and greed and lust and cruelty and hatred and avarice and oppression and injustice, spawned and bred by the free wills of men, the human race can still recover, each time, and can still produce men and women who overcome evil with good, hatred with love, greed with charity, lust and cruelty with sanctity. How could all this be possible without the merciful love of God, pouring out his grace upon us?"

–Thomas Merton

Book No. 09 of 2017

I have wanted to read some Thomas Merton for a long, long time. The consensus was that The Seven Storey Mountain and his conversion story would be the right place to start, so I found a sweet eighties copy at a used bookstore and dove right in.

This book and Merton’s thoughts and stories are all pretty meaty and substantive. This memoir starts off a bit slow but then really ramps up a bit before the middle. It’s not the sort of book you can quickly blitz through, but it’s also not the sort of book you’d want to. While this book in particular is about Merton’s gradual embrace of the monastic life, it is scattered with the sorts of thoughts and quotes I came to expect from snippets others have shared.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#59 Dutch Bros.

28 February 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

One of the worst parts about San Diego? The Dutch Brothers aren’t the same. Literally. I did a search for Dutch Brothers here and apparently all they do is repair cell phone screens.

Here’s one thing I’ll be missing from the PNW for sure.

HIRE PHILIPPE

HIRE PHILIPPE TO HELP TELL THE STORY OF YOUR TEAM, BRAND, OR ORGANIZATION

BOOK PHILIPPE

REQUEST PHILIPPE FOR YOUR SPEAKING EVENT

**Philippe is on staff with Plant With Purpose, an international development organization. For any talks given that focus on or significantly incorporate Plant With Purpose's work and mission, all speaking fees will be used as a contribution to the organization's work. For more information visit plantwithpurpose.org

WHAT I'M READING

I'm an avid reader and I read all sorts of things. I've been trying to get better at writing reviews, since that's something I appreciate as a writer myself. Feel free to click through the links if any of these titles catch your interest and you want to know what I thought.

2017

• Red Letter Revolution: What If Jesus Really Meant What He Said? by Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne  (✮✮✮✮)
• How to be Everything: A Guide for Those Who (Still) Don't Know What They Want To Be When They Grow Up by Emilie Wapnick  (✮✮✮✮)
• Eight Flavors: The Untold Story of American Cuisine by Sarah Lohman (✮✮✮)
• The Magician King by Lev Grossman  (✮✮)
• Side Hustle by Chris Guillebeau  (✮✮✮✮)
• To Sell Is Human: The Surprisng Truth About Moving Others by Daniel H. Pink  (✮✮✮)
• The Kindness Diaries: One Man's Quest to Ignite Goodwill and Transform Lives Around the World by Leon Logothetis  (✮✮✮✮)
• This Child Will Be Great: Memoir of a Remarkable Life by Africa's First Woman President by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf  (✮✮✮)
• Shadowbahn by Steve Erickson  (✮✮)
• The Mothers by Brit Bennett  (✮✮✮)
• The Most Dangerous Place on Earth by Lindsey Lee Johnson  (✮✮✮)
• Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance (✮✮✮✮)
• Break Open The Sky: Saving Our Faith From a Culture of Fear by Stephen Bauman (✮✮✮✮)
• We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo (✮✮✮✮)
• Lila by Marilynne Robinson (✮✮✮✮)
• Amoris Laetitia: On Faith and the Family by Pope Francis (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Perfect Little World: A Novel by Kevin Wilson (✮✮)
• Truffle Boy: My Unexpected Journey into the Exotic Food Underground by Ian Purkayastha (✮✮✮✮)
• Roadmap to Reconciliation: Moving Communities Into Unity, Wholeness, and Justice by Brenda Salter McNeil (✮✮✮✮)
• Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff (✮✮✮✮)
• The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui (✮✮✮✮)
• The Next Worship: Glorifying God in a Diverse World by Sandra Maria Van Opstal (✮✮✮✮)
• Homesick for Another World by Ottessa Moshfegh (✮✮)
• The Enneagram Advantage: Putting the 9 Personality Types to Work in the Office by Helen Palmer (✮✮✮)
• Universal Harvester by John Darnielle (✮✮✮✮)
• Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond (✮✮✮✮)
• Age of Anger: A History of the Present by Pankaj Mishra (✮)
• The Magicians by Lev Grossman (✮✮)
• Life From Scratch: A Memoir of Food, Family, and Forgiveness by Sasha Martin (✮✮✮✮)
• Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Silence by Shusaku Endo (✮✮✮✮)
• It's Only The Himalayas by S. Bedford (✮✮)
• The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison (✮✮✮✮)
• The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander (✮✮✮✮)
• The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt (✮✮✮✮)
• The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton (✮✮✮✮)
• Saints by Gene Luen-Yang (✮✮✮✮)
• Boxers by Gene Luen-Yang (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Here I Am by Jonathan Safran Foer (✮✮✮)
• The Circle: A Novel by Dave Eggers (✮✮)
• Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans (✮✮✮)
• Jesus, My Father, The CIA, and Me: A Memoir of Sorts by Ian Morgan Cron (✮✮✮✮)
• Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Commonwealth by Ann Patchett (✮✮✮✮)

2016

• Chicago by Brian Doyle (✮✮✮✮)
• Going Somewhere: A Bicycle Journey Across America by Brian Benson (✮✮✮)
• Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE by Phil Knight (✮✮✮✮)
• Blood, Bones, and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef by Gabrielle Hamilton (✮✮✮)
• Street Life Under a Roof: Youth Homelessness in South Africa by Emily Margaretten (✮✮✮✮)
• The Birth of Korean Cool: How One Nation is Conquering the World Through Pop Culture by Euny Hong (✮✮✮)
• Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence by Vicki Robin (✮✮✮✮)
• A Tale For The Time Being: A Novel by Ruth Ozeki (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Garden City: Work, Rest, and a New Way to Be Human by John Mark Comer (✮✮✮)
• Beautiful Ruins: a Novel by Jess Walter (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Cuisines of the Axis of Evil and Other Irritating States: A Dinner Party Approach to International Relations by Chris Fair (✮)
• Laudato Si: On Care For Our Common Home by Pope Francis (✮✮✮✮)
• Homegoing: a Novel by Yaa Gyasi (✮✮✮✮)
• If You Feel Too Much: Thoughts on Things Found and Lost and Hoped For by Jamie Tworkowski (✮✮✮✮✮)
• The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country by Helen Russell (✮✮✮✮)
• Fight: A Case for Christian Non-violence by Preston Sprinkle (✮✮✮✮)
• Born for This: How to Find The Work You Were Meant to Do by Chris Guillebeau (✮✮✮)
• Eat My Globe: One Year to Go Everywhere and Eat Everything by Simon Majumdar (✮✮✮)
• A Hologram for the King by Dave Eggers (✮✮✮)
• The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future by Chris Guillebeau (✮✮✮✮)
• Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment by Martin E.P. Seligman (✮✮✮)
• The Son of Laughter by Fredrick Buechner (✮✮✮)
• Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee (✮✮✮)

2015

• The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro (✮✮✮)
• The Light of the World: a Memoir by Elizabeth Alexander (✮✮✮✮)
• And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseni (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Under the Same Sky: A Memoir of Survival, Hope, and Faith by Joseph Kim (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Trail of Crumbs: Hunger, Love, and the Search for Home by Kim Sunée (✮✮)
• A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami (✮✮)
• Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng (✮✮✮✮✮)
• The Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (✮✮✮✮)
• The Girl in the Picture: The Story of Kim Phuc, the Photograph, and the Vietnam War by Denise Chong (✮✮✮✮✮)
• NW: A Novel by Zadie Smith (✮)
• A Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins (✮✮✮✮✮)
• When Waters Whisper by Dan Daly (friend's book)
• The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories by Marina Keegan (✮✮✮✮)
• Forever the Road by Anthony St. Clair (✮✮✮✮)
• This Is The Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett (✮✮✮)
• The Global Soul: Jet Lag, Shopping Malls, and the Search for Home by Pico Iyer (✮✮)
• The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz (✮✮✮✮)
• The Invisible Girls: A Memoir by Sarah Thebarge (✮✮✮✮✮)
• State of Wonder by Ann Patchett (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Home by Marilynne Robinson (✮✮✮✮)
• Scary Close: Dropping the Act and Finding True Intimacy by Donald Miller (✮✮✮✮)
• A Country at War With Itself: South Africa's Crisis of Crime by Antony Altbeker (✮)
• Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder by Ariana Huffington (✮✮✮✮)
• A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity by Nicholas Kristof (✮✮✮✮)

2014

• Crazy Like Us: The Globalization of the American Psyche by Ethan Watters (✮)
• Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche (✮✮✮✮)
• The Happiness of Pursuit: Finding the Quest That Will Bring Purpose to Your Life by Chris Guillebeau (✮✮✮✮✮)
• India Becoming: A Portrait of Life in Modern India by Akash Kapur (✮✮✮)
• Sergio: One Man's Fight to Save the World by Samantha Power (✮✮✮)
• Moment Maker: You Can Live Your Life or It Will Live You by Carlos Whittaker (✮✮✮)
• Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (✮✮✮✮)
• Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul by John Eldredge (✮)
• Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit by Erwin Raphael McManus (✮✮✮✮✮)
• American Dervish by Ayad Akhtar (✮✮✮✮)
• What is the What by Dave Eggers (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Fingerprints of God: The Search for the Science of Spirituality by Barbara Bradley Hagerty (✮✮✮✮)
• Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thich Naht Thanh (✮✮✮)
• The Tiger's Wife: a Novel by Téa Obreht (✮✮✮✮✮)
• The Crowd, The Critic, and the Muse: a Book for Creators by Michael Gungor (✮✮✮✮)
• Girl Meets God by Lauren F. Winner (✮✮)
• Into The Mud by Adam and Christine Jeske (✮✮✮)
• Life of Pi by Yann Martel (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Aleph by Paolo Coelho (✮✮✮)
• The Entitled: a Tale of Modern Baseball by Frank Deford (✮✮✮)
• The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God by Timothy Keller (✮✮)
• Snow by Orphan Pamuk (✮✮)
• With: Reimagining the Way You Relate to God by Skye Jethani (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami (✮✮✮✮)
• Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katharine Boo (✮✮)
• Holy Nomad: The Rugged Road to Joy by Matt Litton (✮✮)
• Wounded Prophet: a Portrait of Henri J.M. Nouwen by Michael Ford (✮✮)
• Preemptive Love: Pursuing Peace One Heart at a Time by Jeremy Courtney (✮✮✮✮)

2013

• The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson (✮✮✮✮)
• Neighbors and Wise Men: Sacred Encounters in a Portland Pub and Other Unexpected Places by Tony Kriz (✮✮✮✮)
• Quitter: Closing the Gap Between Your Day Job and Your Dream Job by Jon Acuff (✮✮✮)
• Population 485: Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time by Michael Perry (✮)
• Does Jesus Really Love Me? A Gay Christian's Pilgrimage in Search of God in America by Jeff Chu (✮✮)
• In Search of a Confident Faith: Overcoming Barriers to Trusting in God by J.P. Moreland (✮✮)
• Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto by Chuck Klosterman (✮✮✮✮)
• The Myth of Certainty: The Reflective Christian and the Risk of Commitment by Daniel Taylor (✮✮✮✮✮)
• In The Shadow of the Buddha: Secret Journeys, Sacred Histories, and Spiritual Discovery in Tibet by Matteo Pistono (✮)
• Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall by Kazuo Ishiguro (✮✮✮)
• A Public Faith: How Followers of Christ Can Serve the Public Good by Miroslav Volf (✮✮✮)
• Life After God by Douglas Coupland (✮✮✮✮)
• Burma/Myanmar: What Everyone Needs to Know by David Steinberg (✮✮)
• On The Road: The Original Scroll by Jack Kerouac (✮✮)
• Miracles by C.S. Lewis (✮✮✮)
• The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott (✮✮✮✮)
• The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out by Brennan Manning (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Pursuing Justice: The Call to Live and Die for Bigger Things by Ken Wytsma (✮✮✮)
• Love is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss One Song at a Time by Rob Sheffield (✮✮✮)
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis (✮✮✮✮)
• The Catalyst Leader: 8 Essentials for Becoming a Change Maker by Brad Lomenick (✮✮✮)
• Faith and Doubt by John Ortberg (✮✮✮✮)
• Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall (✮✮✮✮)
• Out of Exile: Narratives from the Abducted and Displaced People of Sudan by Craig Walzer (✮✮✮)
• Around Africa on my Bicycle by Riaan Manser (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Searching For God Knows What by Donald Miller (✮✮✮✮)
• The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay: a Novel by Michael Chabon (✮✮✮✮✮)
• The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life by James Martin (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India, and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert (✮✮✮✮)
• Communicating for a Change: Seven Keys to Irresistible Communication by Andy Stanley (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Father Fiction: Chapters for a Fatherless Generation by Donald Miller (✮✮✮✮)

2012

• The Storyteller of Marrakesh: A Novel by Joydeep Roy Bhattacharya (✮)
• Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Through Painted Deserts: Light, God, and Beauty on the Open Road by Donald Miller (✮✮✮)
• Escape From Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West by Blaine Harden (✮✮✮✮)
• Muscular Faith: How To Strengthen Your Heart, Soul, and Mind for the Only Challenge That Matters by Ben Patterson (A Friend's Book)
• Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott (✮✮✮✮)
• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time: A Novel by Mark Haddon (✮)
• Have a Little Faith: a True Story by Mitch Albom (✮✮✮)
• The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical by Shane Claiborne (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World by Bob Goff (✮✮✮✮✮)
• The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Out of a Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis (✮✮✮✮)
• The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde (✮✮✮)

2011

• Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand (✮✮✮✮✮)
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (✮✮✮)
• Haiti: After The Earthquake by Paul Farmer (✮✮✮)
• Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy by Kevin Bales (✮✮✮✮)
• Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola (✮✮✮✮)
• The Poisonwood Bible: A Novel by Barbara Kingsolver (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (✮✮)
• Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (✮✮)
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (✮✮✮)
• The Five Love Languages: How To Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate by Gary Chapman (✮✮✮✮)
• Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity by Mark Batterson (✮✮✮)
• A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life by Donald Miller (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith by Rob Bell (✮✮✮✮)
• The Road by Cormac McCarthy (✮✮✮✮)

2010

• Never Let Me Go: A Novel by Kazuo Ishiguro (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections Between Sexuality and Spirituality by Rob Bell (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut
• Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan (✮✮✮)
• Wild Goose Chase: Reclaiming the Adventure of Pursuing God by Mark Batterson (✮✮✮✮✮)
• The Elementary Particles by Michele Hollebecq (✮)
• Gomorrah: A Personal Journey Into the Violent International Empire of Naples' Organized Crime System by Roberto Saviano (✮)
• The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller (✮✮✮✮✮)
• The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University by Kevin Roose (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality by Donald Miller (✮✮✮✮✮)
• Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer (✮✮✮✮✮)
• The Medium is the Massage: An Inventory of Effects by Marshall McLuhan (✮✮✮✮)
• The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (✮✮✮✮✮)
• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseni (✮✮✮✮✮)

JANUARY 2017

#1 Welcome to 2017

01 January 2017 // Manhattan, New York

This young year is off to a really, really good start.

I can’t recall the last time I started a year with so much mystery surrounding my life… so much wondering what’s going to happen next. It’s refreshing since last year felt fully planned out from the very beginning. Right now, all I know is to anticipate a handful of big changes… and that’s as specific as I can get!

This year, I hope to live with openness. Open hands, doors, minds, openness for new things and holding on to old things loosely. Not knowing what comes next can be scary, but I’m finding that I really, really like it. Life feels less like a conveyor belt when you’re forced to take things just one day at a time.

#2 Drive to DC

02 January 2017 // Washington, D.C.

Spent the second day of the year driving through several East Coast states and the giant Burger King freeway exit that is New Jersey.

We did it to get to Washington, D.C. to hang out with Deanna’s cousins for a few hours and even though we weren’t able to hang out for very long, it was well worth it.

I’m not always madly in love with Washington D.C., which is kind of a shame because in my field that’s where almost all the jobs are. But it does have its sweet spots.

#3 The Daily Show

03 January 2017 // Manhattan, New York

Now this was fun… Deanna and I took a chance on standing in line for a few hours in the rain and we earned ourselves seats inside a live taping of The Daily Show.

Honestly, I’m pretty partial to Trevor Noah, and I have no doubts that a lot of that fondness is because of my broader love for South Africa. He won me over just after he came to the U.S. with his knack for accents in his half-hour Laugh Factory Special. I know his reception as Stewart’s successor has been mixed, but I appreciate his perspective as a relative outsider. Especially as one who was brought up in the collapse of apartheid.

Anyways, if you watch his episode with Michael Che from a few weeks ago and overhear somebody with a weird laugh that sounds like morse code for ‘IAIAIAIA,’ I did that for you to have an easier time recognizing me.

#4 Manhattan

04 January 2017 // Manhattan, New York

People. Adventure. Generosity. These are the three big components of the life I’ve been trying to build.

You can live well in nearly any scenario as long as you have the right people around you. There are times where I miss the closeness of sharing dilapidated houses with almost a dozen friends, right next door to a dozen other friends who were doing the same thing. I don’t think community needs to look like that exactly, but I do long for more game nights, dinner parties, and heartfelt conversations.

Pursuits are important, too, and I often struggle to put into words why ambition and adventure matter to me. Think of any life you admire, and most likely, there’s been some pursuit behind that admiration. When I shared this idea with a friend who understood what I was talking about, it felt so validating.

The best pursuits, of course, are the ones that help and create opportunity for other people, and there’s so many different ways for that to look. Being a listener. Being a fundraiser. Climbing a corporate ladder but with the goal of changing its culture and giving away your earnings. The more I hear about my older family members’ spirit of generosity, the more resolved I feel to have that be a part of my own raison d’etre.

People. A pursuit. An opportunity to help others. These are pretty much the three things I want to have in my life at all times, and the three things I’ll be taking heavily into consideration as this year likely brings about a new job, a new city, and a whole lot of change.

#5 Fly Newark

05 January 2017 // Newark, New Jersey

One of my favorite feelings is when you’re on the plane en route to whatever next adventure. I put a lot of thought into setting the mood just right. Some playlists that can flow right into my ears those moments before takeoff, a book I look forward to making a lot of progress on, and- if I’m flying out of PDX, a massive banh mi sandwich, because that’s the only airport where I can get that many calories for just a bit over five bucks.

I have only the vaguest sense of what life might look like by December, but I know there are adventures to be had. And I’m glad I’ve got a few miles saved up to make them happen.

#6 Eugene Snow

06 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

We kept comparing the weather on our trip to the weather in Oregon. We were going to Chicago and New York, after all, so we expected COLD.

Almost every day of the trip, Oregon was colder than wherever we were. Chicago was at 20º below the week before we left, and it rose to 40º while we were there. New York only made me put on a single leather jacket. I kept thinking that “wow, bet this is going to be the warmest day of the trip” and it just kept getting warmer.

Now, I’ve come home to snow everywhere. And apparently NYC is getting it too. Weather be weird man.

#7 Beignet Reunification

07 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

The surprise on her face when we got back from our trip and she realized we weren’t dead. Plus, there was snow all over, so it was a great day for Beignet.

Also, she had a stomach ache again… separation anxiety.

#8 Portrait of Beignet as a Young Pup

08 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

Beignet is so spoiled.

In college, the first one to pass out is the one who gets drawn all over. Instead, Beignet gets painted in watercolor.

#9 Late Start

09 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

Came back home from New York with sleep I wanted to catch up on, a stack of books I was lost in, and snow all over the place.

Plus Deanna was off. It was the perfect recipe for a few nap filled days.

Now, two weeks into it, it feels like the year is actually starting. Finally sitting down to handle to logistics of things like time and money makes it feel all the more real.

And actually, I like having these things to chip away at. We’re officially in the part of my year where I have no idea what happens next.

Side note: I’ve been drinking so much water. It wasn’t even a resolution, I just wanted to wash out a very mild cold, but I’m feeling very proud of myself for it.

#10 Playlist Making

10 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

Any other obsessive playlist makers out there? I spent the better part of the day sorting out my favorite songs from the past several years into several different playlists.

One set of songs for the morning, one for the gym, some for dinner parties and road trips and everything else you could do.

The perks of being between jobs. Every single thing in my life gets organized.

#11 Commonwealth

11 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

“It was about the inestimable burden of their lives: the work, the houses, the friendships, the marriages, the children, as if all the things they’d wanted and worked for had cemented the impossibility of any sort of happiness.”

–Ann Patchett

It’s gonna be a good year for reading, I can tell.

Ann Patchett’s latest was a good one, though she’s been such a reliable author I’d be surprised if it wasn’t.

This novel chases two sets of half-siblings back and forth between the moment their family branched to their own fallout as adults.

I do often get bored with novels that are about discontented domestic 40-somethings moping about their existence and there are times when Commonwealth bordered on that. But the true-feeling characters and creative approach to storytelling kept the whole thing afloat.

#12 Brail’s

12 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

It’s a bit late, I know, but it’s here! What is it? It’s my list of favorites from the year of 2016– movies, books, albums, TV shows, podcasts, speeches, sports things, all mashed up into one list. By popular demand!

Okay, no one was actually demanding this out of me, but I love making lists, and it was a fun use of a snow day when I got trapped in the house with no power or wi-fi.

2016 was actually a pretty good year if you’re a lover of linguistics-focused science fiction, socially woke bunnies, and dudes that can sing a cool falsetto.

#13 The Kitchen Wall

13 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

I don’t know when it’ll happen exactly, or where it’ll be, but I’m really looking forward to knowing where we’ll be living next. It’s been a really long time since I’ve been able to live somewhere without seeing an end to it not so far off and there have been quite a few things that I’d love to finally be able to do with a more permanent home base.

1) Being able to start building up a community around a regular ritual is something I’ve been hoping to do for a while. A dinner party, game night, movie night, anything like that. I’d love to be able to gather people together.

2) I’d also like to start mentoring somebody- and to be mentored. It’s hard to get that going when you might just leave soon enough. To get the most out of these ties, it takes a long-term investment of time. Soon enough!

3) I have two ideas for side projects I’d love to have- one nonprofit and one business service. Again, it’s tough to start these things in a place if you’re planning to uproot. I’ve been working on these ideas as much as possible and I feel like I’ve gotten as far as I can so far without a permanent base.

#14 Deserved Donut

14 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

In an age of misinformation, chaos, a refusal to accept the facts, and blatant deceit– don’t ever forget what’s true.

You deserve a donut.

#15 Born a Crime

15 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

“In any society built on institutionalized racism, race mixing doesn’t merely challenge the system as unjust, it reveals the system as unsustainable and incoherent. Race mixing proves that races can mix, and in a lot of cases want to mix. Because a mixed person embodies that rebuke to the logic of the system, race mixing becomes a crime worse than treason.”

–Trevor Noah

I was probably in the minority when I found out Trevor Noah would be the successor to Jon Stewart. I had kept tabs on Noah’s standup and mostly liked his multicultural stuff. When he was named to the Daily Show gig, I figured it would be a nice change to get the perspective of an outsider to the U.S. who is also wildly familiar with things like apartheid and racial tension. As it turns out, that hunch ended up coming true.

Noah’s autobiography was even better than I expected it to be. It’s deeply personal and also features some brilliant essays and commentary on growing up in the time of apartheid and throughout it’s collapse. It examines the poverty he grew up in, his relationship with his comically religious mom, and the last chapter of this book… it was completely unexpected and something else. I enjoyed it totally.

#16 Pisgah on MLK

16 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

Nine times out of ten, you’ll notice that whenever something controversial happens that divides people in sides, I default to reminding everyone to try and get along. To avoid trying to take sides, and to find some sort of common goal. Most of the time, I like this approach and I like that I have some sort of built-in avoidance for wanting to take sides.

That said, this isn’t always the right approach.

In an instance where people are being oppressed, when one set of ideas contributes to people being harmed, being put at risk, being separated from family, being vulnerable to hate crimes, being talked about as if they were not entitled to the same treatment as any other human, or being excluded, it is impossible not to choose sides.

To choose to do nothing, to say nothing, or to act like it isn’t happening contributes to the status quo. It allows the oppression to last a little longer, for that many more lives to be ruined. There is no real neutrality in oppression. Yeah, speaking up may result in a few difficult conversations, but there is no improvement without sacrifice.

I think there are ways to do this that are respectful of people while still challenging harmful ideas. And it’s difficult to get it exactly right. But one sure-fire way to not get it right is to let my non-confrontational nature to be an excuse for not showing my Muslim friends, my black friends, my LGBT friends, and all others in my life that I care.

#17 Morning Mugs

17 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

I believe that most people want what’s best for their families, their neighbors, their communities, and each other. I believe that in divisive times, attacking each other only makes the division worse. I believe that we must not lose sight of kindness and civility.

But also…

I believe to do nothing during times of oppression is to contribute to it. I believe there are times that we’re called to speak truth against hate, that history is full of examples of the beautiful things that happen when people are bold in standing up for right and the awful things that happen when people ignore problems.

How do both these beliefs coexist these days?

Love people. Evaluate and critique and investigate ideas. Love people. Know that most of the time, our ideas require nuance, but there still is truth. Love people. Attack ideas that do harm to people. Love people. Even the ones who hold espouse those ideas. Love people, and remember that hate harms both its target and the one who hates. Love people to bring freedom to both.

#18 Tsunami Books

18 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

As of the end of January, I’ve completely finished four books and have three others that I’m within pages of finishing. As I’ve suspected, the end of grad school is leading to what will probably be my most well-read year so far.

Here are a few hopes for what I’d like to read this year.

1) Some graphic novels. I’ve never been a big graphic novel guy but there have been enough I’ve heard good things about. I’ve already got Boxers & Saints on its way and I’m hoping to read John Lewis’ graphic memoirs soon.

2) Some of the books on racial justice that have been on my radar forever. The New Jim Crow, Between the World and Me, and Just Mercy. I want to be better educated on some of the things many of my friends have to deal with that I’m unfortunately not aware of like I should be. And for that matter, Hillbilly Elegy and The Righteous Mind have come highly recommended as titles to understand differences in political thought from a sociological standpoint.

3) Thomas Merton. I think this is the year I finally read The Seven Storey Mountain, instead of just taking screenshots of quotes from it.

#19 Thai Tea Donuts

19 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

The mission: Try to create homemade donuts that remind me of the taste of creamy thai iced tea.

The results: Yes! So the texture wasn’t quite what I was hoping for. I ended up unwittingly creating some old-fashioned donuts with a crispy exterior and a crumbly inside, when I was going for a little bit more of a puffy brioche dough. When it comes to the icing, though, I think I nailed that thai iced tea taste.

#20 What To Do Now

20 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

I can’t recall a time in my life that’s been as filled with tension, anger, and outrage as the past several weeks. Political drama trickles down and it’s made so many people quite unpleasant. A lot of the anger has been righteous anger- there really is a lot to be upset about. It often feels like that part of the movie where one thing after another has gone wrong, and it seems like the heroes are screwed.

But this is no movie. What do you do when this is the world around you? Can it still be one tension building scene in a great movie?

It’s a season like this one that makes me look all the more forward to having a job with an organization doing work that makes life better for people and to know where my long term home will be so I can begin pouring heavy into that community. I want to channel all of that uncertainty into action- even if it’s just trying to make sure I can do for 20 people what I wish I could do for the world.

In the meantime, it’s a bit of a waiting game. It hasn’t been a passive waiting game, though. I’ve been discovering in random moments a strange sense of calm that doesn’t make much sense.

I think it’s faith. It’s faith that the next chapter will begin exactly when it’s supposed to. It’s a faith that it’s coming, that I’ll have a role to play in taking care of other people, and that I’ll be ready and willing.

#21 Women’s March of Eugene

21 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

I’m the product of being Loved well and having strong, positive, encouraging influences in my life, and when I think of who those faces actually are, they are overwhelmingly female! Like… by a long shot!

There’s Deanna, who has to fight every day to have some of the things most of us take for granted, but she doesn’t just settle there. She gives hers to lift kids out of some really dark places.

There’s my mom, who managed to totally put everything she had into raising me after losing my dad and her dad almost within a year of each other without ever using that as an excuse for giving me anything less than the best she could.

Then there are my Aunts, Ella and Fely. Auntie Ella hopped on a plane in the fifties to be one of the first in the family to move to the US and practice medicine. She then basically turned into Mother Teresa, using most of her earnings to support the rest of her siblings and donating her skills on medical missions. These two helped me get a car and a college education and are the most generous people you could ever meet.

Oh, and my Lola, who passed last year. She had the original heart for orphans, the love of hooking people up with a good meal, and the willingness to cross borders for loved ones.

If you think people who treat women like objects are fit to lead, you need to change that. If your vision for the future, the country, the planet, or the Kingdom of Heaven in any way inhibits women from full and equal opportunity, I want nothing to do with it because it’ll always be weaker than it could be with women empowered.

#22 Eugene Canal

22 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

Most of the time it doesn't feel real, but it's sometimes sinking in that I don't likely have much time left in Eugene. For the most part, the time feels right, but moving on is always a tough task!

That said, it's time to do that thing I do best and make some lists.

There are lists to be made about the future, the logistics of actually moving. What to keep, what to leave.

More so, there are lists about the present. Things we absolutely need to savor while we're still here. Favorite restaurants. Hiking trails. Dog parks. Friends to see.

All that will ultimately translate into a list representative of the last two years, the dates we went on, the people we met. What we'll remember about this city.

It's a good thing I really like lists.

#23 Jesus, My Father, The CIA, and Me

23 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

“Love always stoops."

–Ian Morgan Cron

Book No. 03 of 2017

This book has been sitting on my to-read list for years. I remember when I first heard about Ian Morgan Cron– people had largely good things to say about his spiritual memoir, and since that’s the genre I write, I went in expecting big things.

At first, I thought the book was missing something… maybe direction. I couldn’t see a central story or pursuit that strung together its different memories and recollections. I guess I have this weakness when I write, so it stood out to me.

Then I realized I was looking at the book wrong. It was a portrait of a long life and a spiritual formation, and when I started reading some of the middle chapters, where some of the roughest points of Ian’s life began to enter something resembling redemption, it took a turn for the beautiful. I began to appreciate the beauty of staring at life with a big picture lens.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#24 Country Bread

24 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

Mission 01: Bake a simple but satisfying country bread loaf.

The Results: I think I nailed this one. I'd been on a cold streak of not getting my bread to rise the way I want, but I finally got this right. It's a late start to this year's set of cooking project but I've played catch up before.

#25 Dangerous Things

25 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

It’s a wild thing to be going from one week to the next not knowing if by the weekend life will drastically change for me and my family, or if it’ll be another passage into more waiting and wondering.

It’s gotten me to pray a whole lot more. That’s for sure. And while some people pray with beads, I use my dog’s leash and have the best moments when I get walking.

The past few weeks have been full of small urges, no doubt, as a result. I’ll find myself surprised by what I suddenly feel like I’m supposed to do. Message a friend. Send this email. Call a certain person. Head up to Portland. Even clean the house. I’d be lying if I said it all tied together in a super obvious way, but I also know that there will be more to this story before it’s all over. For now, I’m loving the pursuit.

#26 City of Gold Cocktail

26 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

Mission 03: Make a cocktail that reminds me of the City of Johannesburg worthy of the name City of Gold. Do it to commemorate my return this time last year.

The results: Unfortunately I had to choose between working with Amarula Cream or ginger beer- the two drinks that remind me most of South Africa. They don't mix well due to curdling reasons.

I went with the ginger beer and added some lime. Then cognac- which seemed fittingly cosmopolitan but with an edge. I guess that's almost a Moscow Mule. If I had the means, some rooibos bitters would've been the perfect accent. Then I garnished with a maraschino cherry, lime slice, and candied ginger.

I thought it was pretty yummy. Surprisingly smooth.

#27 Job Hunt Grind

27 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

The people who say looking for a job can be a full time job in and of itself are right. I've been at it pretty diligently this month and I feel good going into February.

The biggest challenge of looking for a job, in my opinion, is that suddenly life becomes all about what you don't have. You know, the lack of job. And that's especially true in my scenario where I'm probably gonna relocate. Cause then it gets harder to find non-work things to get involved with since you can't make a long commitment.

But I totally dislike the idea of defining life by what you don't have. I have a lot of great people in my life, an adventurous spirit, and a few secret projects up my sleeve I haven't announced yet. I decided earlier this week that I would try to be the 'Best Unemployed Person' out there. How you even define that, I'm not sure, and the competition's steep with Barack Obama and Chase Utley also on the job market.

I figured one way to start would be to not use up all my time tweaking my resume, but to also use portions of the day to do things I don't get to really do when working. I gave the house a good cleaning to make Deanna happy. I sent a letter getting in touch with South Africa. I've also made it my most well read year so far- January and I've read five and a half books. If these are the cards I'm dealt, I'll wanna be sure to play all of them.

#28 Vino & Vango

28 January 2017 // Springfield, Oregon

Deanna really wanted to do those wine and painting classes for a long time. Here's proof that not everything on our adventures list was totally my idea.

A good date night has the other person in mind, though, so we went out this weekend. I think I scored some husband points. Not just for being one of two guys in a class of thirty women, but also for resisting the urge to paint my tango dancers in the shape of Coneheads.

#29 Hardesty Mountain

29 January 2017 // Dexter, Oregon

Good people can have bad ideas.

'I know good people who voted for both candidates.' 'I know good people who support Proposal X and good people who oppose it.' I've said these things in the past and still believe them to be true.

But good people can also support ideas that harm other people. After all, every year there's a philosophy professor somewhere asking his students how millions of -good German citizens- once allowed Hitler's rise.

When you find a person you want to believe the best about, who supports ideas that harm other people, remember these things:

1) Remember that they weren't created for bad ideas but for good actions. Consider the potential that they could bring if their talents and personalities were used for good. It'll help you to speak in love.

2) Remember that a bad idea also harms the one who holds it. You have nothing to gain from hatred or from fear. When you free someone from hatred or narrow-mindedness, you free both them and the people they harm. It'll help you to speak the truth.

Speaking the truth in love can be one of the hardest but most necessary things.

#30 Yearbook 2016

30 January 2017 // Eugene, Oregon

Instagram is like my journal. And I curate my Facebook albums. And my 365 project goes back seven years on Flickr. But what'll this mean to me in 30 years?

Some people have shoeboxes of photos in attics that get taken out on holidays, or maybe only once every couple years. But looking them over can be kind of magical, and scrolling through my 2011 archives on social media just isn't the same, IMO.

Last year I turned my 365 project, plus other favorite photos into a yearbook. (I used Artifact Uprising - a bit pricier but great quality). Deanna and I spent tonight flipping pages and being thankful. Lots of Beignet, weekend trips, and food pics.

Here's hoping to do this every year- and when the finances allow it, I'd also love to work my way backwards to 2010.

#31 Microprotesting

31 January 2017 // Portland, Oregon

Thankful for Jesse and his activist spirit. Our two man protest last week at PDX may have been very, very, very small, but it was mighty-ish.

Also, I am proud to say it was a peaceful protest. Not one arrest was made.

5CEES

HILLBROW IS ONE OF AFRICA'S ROUGHEST NEIGHBORHOODS

Hillbrow was once the Central Business District of Johannesburg. A complicated string of events after the fall of apartheid, however, led to it becoming saturated with violent crime and gang activity. While the neighborhood has seen some episodes of improvement, it remains a hot spot for violence and a notoriously unsafe area. Regularly, children as young as four fall victim to some of the most brutal acts in the area. Desperation caused by poverty and inequality feeds the spread of illegal activity in the area, which makes things worse for a population of children born at the peak of the AIDS crisis.

IN 2013, I WENT TO LIVE IN 5CEES- A CARE CENTER FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN

Because of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, South Africa has one of the highest rates of orphanhood in the world. Many children who have surviving parents are unable to receive proper childcare because of family illness and poverty, which is the need 5Cees responds to. Christ Church Christian Care Center began as a ministry of Rev. Mike Sunker, and has now grown to accommodate over 60 children. At the time, I came to teach, to mentor, and to provide whatever technical support I could.

AT FIRST I WASN'T SURE I WAS HELPING, THEN I LEARNED WHAT IT MEANS TO HELP

My unsafe surroundings left me mostly confined to the center, where I wasn't sure I was connecting and making the impact I hoped to. But then I started to pay more attention to the lives the kids at 5Cees were living, especially within the context of HIllbrow. I realized the ubiquity of negative influences that regularly surrounded them, and it occurred to me that without positive influences to counter them that were just as present and consistent in their lives, they were really up against unlikely odds. That helped me see the irreplaceable importance of being present, a key value that continues to influence all the work I do.

VIDEO

WRITING

LIBERTY IN NORTH KOREA

North Koreans live in one of the most difficult places on Earth 

Every day, the people of North Korea face obstacles like famine, political oppression, and a broken system of government that allows little freedom. North Koreans are forbidden from speaking out, from gathering, from traveling, from accessing information from the outside world, or from many freedoms that are necessary to pursue a better life. North Koreans who violate these restrictions are subject to extremely harsh punishment, including imprisonment in concentration camps where they face torture and abuse. For these reasons, many North Koreans seek to escape the country, but the journey is extremely risky. North Koreans are frequently caught up in forced labor or sex trafficking, and at any point in the journey through China, they risk getting caught and sent back- where execution is very likely.

Liberty in North Korea is a movement changing the story of North Korea

Liberty in North Korea is an organization that believes nobody should have to live the way many North Koreans are forced to. When North Koreans escape, LiNK seeks to help get them out of China and into a new safe country to be resettled. Ultimately, North Korean refugees become a key player in the country's eventual freedom. Their connections back inside North Korea provide a rare opportunity to communicate and exchange ideas beyond its borders.

Many people outside North Korea primarily associate the country with nuclear weapons and dictator personalities. By changing the narrative to focus on the stories of ordinary North Koreans, the organization pursues a future for the country where its people are not forgotten and are empowered to create a new reality with a better future.

In late 2012, I lived out of a van to raise awareness

To help raise awareness and funds for the organization, I spent weeks living out of a van with two teammates. We traveled up and down the Heartland, from Colorado to Minnesota to Ohio to Texas, speaking at high schools, churches, universities, coffee shops, retirement homes, and for anyone who would listen. We encouraged people to sign up to support the cause monthly, and to keep their focus on the North Korean people. The tour was a success in that it helped raise $75,000 for LiNK's refugee work while expanding the movement's profile. I gained a life-transforming experience, as LiNK is an organization that is all about people. I learned a lot about how to live for others, whether that means those living in persecution in North Korea, or the many, many connections I made at LiNK who would turn into lifelong friends I remain close to.

VIDEO

WRITING

2017

VIDEOS

VIDEO YEARBOOKS

THE CLASSICS

GOOD THINGS ACCORDING TO PHILIPPE

Like Oprah's Favorite Things, but cheaper!

FALL 2017

DECEMBER 2016

#336 Grad School: One Week

01 December 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Just a little over a week left to go… you can put up with almost anything for a week! Though this week is going to really put that idea to the test.

Two major projects are running full throttle right now. Simultaneously, I have twenty pages of research to write and one exam to get ready for, all within the next nine days.

Grad school really wants to make sure that I don’t miss it too much, I guess.

#337 Grad Finale

02 December 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Grad school: where if you keep responding to enough emails, eventually somebody gives you a degree. This time next week, I’ll be looking at an empty inbox.

In the meantime, I get to enjoy a weekend with my favorites. We were gonna go visit Santa at PetSmart, but then somebody found a very muddy dog park, and you can’t show up to Santa lookin’ like that.

#338 Amazon View

03 December 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

“I find students today much smarter and more competent than in my time, I also find them far more pessimistic. Occassionally they ask in dismay: Where is the U.S. going? Where is the world going? Or: Where are the new entrepreneurs? Or: Are we doomed as a society to a worse future for our children?

I tell them about the devastated Japan I saw in 1962. I tell them about the rubble and ruins that somehow gave birth to wise men… I tell them about the untapped resources, natural and human, that the world has at its disposal, the abundant ways and means to solve its many crises. All we have to do, I tell the sthudents, is work and study, study and work, hard as we can.

Put another way: we must all be professors of the jungle.”

–Phil Knight

#339 Welcome Mathis

04 December 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Got to meet my friends’ baby for the first time. His snores were adorable.

Welcome to the world, Mathis. I hope you like it.

#340 Grad School: Final Week

05 December 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Eugene’s looking a little Scandinavian today. A couple more tomorrows and we’re done.

One essay, the last two finals I plan to ever take, and grading exams for fifty students.

Alright, let’s do this.

#341 Whole Foods Eugene

06 December 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Whole Foods is a dangerous place when your food budget gets tight. Especially that hot food bar. But here’s a game you can play next time you’re in.

Challenge a friend to get as close to one pound of food without measuring as possible. If you go over, you lose. Closest one to one pound flat wins and the loser pays for the meal.

This is on the opposite end of the spectrum from the Costco challenge.

#342 DWNTWN EUG

07 December 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

If finishing my Masters programs this week wasn’t tiring enough, we just saw three straight nights of Christmas parties. They were a blast, and they saved us a ton on groceries, but man, I am gonna go into my first week of post-student life ready for a bit of hibernation.

Here are some things making me happy this week.

Okay, so the obvious. Grad school done. Yay!

I also saw Arrival over the weekend and it was an amazing, clever, meaningful film. It’s a puzzle film in a lot of ways but it also had tons of heart and hope. It’s a great work of art.

And Deanna and I also picked up our first Christmas tree. I love living where these grow without effort.

#343 Grad School: Done!

08 December 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

I just took a two hour final. It’s rainy. Miserably cold and most people get to stay home today because of the snow. Not me.

But that doesn’t matter.

Because.

I
Am
Done
With
Grad School.

(Assuming I didn’t overconfidently just bomb that exam. But ya know.)

PTL.

#344 Christmas Party-thon

09 December 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Tonight we’re going to our third Christmas party in as many days.

Mid December. What it do.

#345 Christmas Tree Farm

10 December 2016 // Veneta, Oregon

Did you grow up in a real tree or fake tree fam? I was raised with a plastic thing that hid in our garage for eleven months.

I always looked forward to the future when our Christmas tree would be a real one that I went to the woods to chop down. Didn’t quite chop this one down myself, but it is an actual tree, so that’ll be a good place to start. .

This Doug is totally dead on one side, so we had that face the wall and saved ourselves at least 40 bucks.

“The Christmas tree…where did that tradition come from? It sounds like the behavior of a drunk man. I can picture it now: ‘honey, why is there a…pine tree in our living room?’ ‘I like it…tomorrow…we’re gonna…we’re gonna decorate it…for Jesus…’”

–Jim Gaffigan

#346 Christmas Deck’d

11 December 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Oh bargain tree, oh bargain tree.

Your diseases saved us money.

It’s our first Christmas tree since getting married, and now our house is now all properly decked out for Christmas. I like this look. Even our Baymax and Ron Swanson prints look so festive.

#347 Norwegian Potato Porridge

12 December 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

When I was planning out what meals to make over the course of the year, I mostly thought about seasons and what sort of foods go well as the weather changes. For the most part I did a good job. Then I realize I’ve gone really heavy into Scandinavian type foods the past few weeks. I must’ve gotten the severity of Oregon’s winters mixed up with Norway.

While I’m glad we don’t have as much winter harshness as the Nordic states, I’ll gladly welcome in some of their cuisine, as I did with this potato porridge. Came out a bit on the thick side, but when it’s chilly out, nobody complains.

I did do something right by adding bacon. Sometimes a starchy potato based meal just asks to be matched with a salty pork of some kind.

#348 Going Somewhere

13 December 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

“That morning, we might have learned a boring lesson about foresight and preparation. We did not learn such a lesson. We did not learn so much anything, actually. But we did remember, both of us having long ago imagined the best thing about growing up would be getting to eat candy whenever we wanted. And now, we agreed, we’d been so, so right.”

–Brian Benson

Picked up this book at the PDX Powell’s while I was going somewhere. (Little Rock, I think) I will read most any given book about people challenging themselves to some sort of unconventional journey. Biking the perimeter of Africa. Walking the Appalachian Trail. In this case, biking from Wisconsin to Oregon.

As you might imagine, the Northern Plains offer large stretches of nothing, and this book was pretty tightly focused on the two characters’ journey. Minimal flashbacks, spiritual themes, or side encounters with characters possessing crazy life stories. In most cases I’d like more of those.

To Benson’s credit, his writing is skilled enough to still keep me engaged and empathetic throughout the story. The agonizing Montana winds felt very real, as did the evolution his romantic relationship took on the road.

#349 Attack of the Frost Giants

14 December 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

They say that many Native American tribes have hundreds of words for different kinds of snow. And I understand why. Not all snow is the same. There is the nice powdery, fluffy kind that is on the ground in Portland right now, and there is this ice-everywhere attrocity that we’ve got in Eugene.

All through the night branches kept cracking and crashing down. A tree completely toppled onto the parking spot next to mine. Beignet wouldn’t stop barking with all the other dogs in the neighborhood.

The power went out, and the Wi-fi was out for the next fifteen hours. The lights shut off just as a character in the book I’m reading died.

When I woke up this morning I went on a little walk to see how bad it was and whose cars were spared. That Civic was completely landed on. A tree landed perpendicularly across six parking spots that I usually take. It looked like some ice apocalypse.

It was also a little pretty. But not too pretty.

#350 Loving

15 December 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Thanks to all the ice and snow, Deanna and I got to enjoy a day at home and at the movies. Loving definitely makes my short list for favorite movies from this year.

Speaking of, here’s that list.

Arrival – It’s the linguistics-nerd, sci-fi puzzle film we never knew we needed. It’s Spielberg’s whimsy, Christopher Nolan’s inventiveness, and Terrence Malick’s visuals all tied into one story.

Loving – How perfect is it that the couple whose case ended up setting the Supreme Court’s ultimate ruling in favor of interracial marriage had the last name Loving? Obvious answer, it’s too, too perfect.

Zootopia – A second animated feature… but some of my favorite movies in recent years have been Disney/Pixar movies, so maybe that shouldn’t be so surprising. Those were some socially-conscious cartoon rabbits.

#351 5th Street Christmas

16 December 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

I’ve been paying more attention to the difference between Christmas music and Advent music lately. The latter focuses on waiting and a somber sort of hope. It’s why when I’ve heard sugary versions of Holly Jolly and Sleigh Ride (or Twisted Sister’s 12 Days) a few too many times, O Come, O Come Emmanuel really hits the spot.

That song, like many African American Gospel songs or East Asian and African standards, uses the pentatonic scale- one that creates a feeling of tension, unrest, and having not arrived. It’s like melodies speak on behalf of cultures or something.

Advent will never make complete sense to someone who hasn’t seen oppression or injustice in some way. The oppressed were its original audience.

The Book of Common Prayer led me to reading the well known “to us a child is born, to us a son is given” part of Scripture. “And the government will be on his shoulders.” What stood out to me, though, was the part that came right before.

“You have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.”

That is most definitely music our world really needs to hear this year.

#352 Hamilton-ish

17 December 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

This weekend, we treated ourselves to a showing of Hamilton! But since we’re really on a budget, it was a high school performance of Hamilton. And since the school didn’t quite have the rights to Hamilton, it was actually about 70% of the musical plus random other songs from Waitress, Rent, and Chicago.

About a year ago I fell in love with this musical. I wasn’t expecting everyone else to fall in love similarly, otherwise we would’ve been set to see it in Chicago or New York. But thankfully it’s massive success means that high schools are giving it a go. NPR Pop Culture Happy Hour mused that there would be some pretty awful high school performances of the show. This wasn’t one of them. The kids were pretty good. Of course, Oregon doesn’t have the diversity of Hamilton, but the show was a great time.

#353 Kahlua

18 December 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Celebratory mood, anyone?

My second-to-last cooking challenge item for the year was none other than a batch of homemade kahlua. It turns out that this treat is way easier to make than it appears- just don’t skimp on the vodka because that’ll do most of the work.

I’m really glad I made this batch. Not just cause it was fun, but also cause I drink kahlua so rarely that the amount I made could stretch five years.

#354 Rack of Lamb & Garlic Mashed Potatoes

19 December 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

At the very end of 2015, I decided that my cooking skills could use some improvement. I liked to cook, and to eat of course, but there was so much I hadn’t made before. I wanted to know the exact impact an adjusted ratio would have on bread, what one more minute at whatever temperature would do to meat, and all that.

After Christmas I made a list of 52 different things to cook over the next year. Most were chosen so I could learn specific skills. I picked some just cause of the time of the year, or cause I really wanted to try making them.

Last week, I got to end the year off with a bang, making a rack of lamb using Julia Child’s marinade and topping it off with a wine reduction. I was thrilled when I cut into the center to find the exact shade of pinkish-red I wanted.

Here’s to challenging yourself and getting it done. Now to figure out something for 2017 in these next few days.

#355 Christmas Carons

20 December 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Hey family, spoiler alert. Stop reading here and erase the image you just saw from your mind.

(Psh, I know some of ya didn’t 😏)

Man… I keep posting about my low budget lifestyle lately, but that is our truth. When your family is large on both sides but your Christmas budget is small… homemade gifts are a lifesaver.

Thankfully I taught myself how to make macarons earlier this year. They go for about $1.50 a piece at our patisserie, so a single 5 piece box would be worth $7.50. If I was more motivated, this could turn quite a profit. The knowledge paid off this Christmas though. Less than $50 for ingredients gives me gifts for 25ish people… and even more if I didn’t screw up a batch or two.

This was also my first time making macaron flavors other than dulce de leche and chocolate. I improvised and experimented with coffee ganache, red wine and chocolate, and mango… and I surprised myself with how well they turned out.

#356 Chicagobound

21 December 2016 // Portland, Oregon

Yesterday was quite the day of transit for us.

We got up before five so we could drop Beignet off at the sitter. Then we took off to Portland early enough for some errands. We got to get lunch with @jessedmorris and @sunshinebucket at this adorable place, Mothers, in downtown Portland. Then it was off to PDX.

I tried to stay knocked out for as much of the first flight as possible to SFO so I could stay up for the second flight and get some writing done. We arrived in Chicago at 1:30 for a very chatty Uber driver to take us to our hotel.

At around 2:30 AM, we arrived, but realized we’d only had one meal all day. I ran out onto Michigan Ave. in hunt of a grocery store open 24 hours. Half an hour later we were splitting a 3 AM hoagie surprised that it was just that morning we dropped off Beignet.

#357 White City

22 December 2016 // Chicago, Illinois

Some of my favorite times are when it’s the two of us, doing some exploring. Sometimes it’s a new city. Sometimes it’s a familiar place. Sometimes it’s somewhere that’s familiar to one of us, new to the other one, and every landmark is also a personal landmark full of stories from before we knew each other. Some of these landmarks are buildings and statues, and others are sandwich shops and relatives houses.

Then we love meeting up with friends wherever we go. We’re cursed to always be far away from the majority of our friends, but blessed to be near a few friends wherever we wind up.

In other words, the past few weeks have been amazing.

#358 University of Chicago

23 December 2016 // Chicago, Illinois

In high school, I always thought I would end up in Chicago. I was in constant contact with Northwestern and University of Chicago and took a trip out my sophomore year to visit both those schools. I even had this elaborate fantasy image of leaving some cool Chicago coffee shop and looking back to see all my cool Chicago friends in the window.

Then when senior year came around, I just didn’t apply. For whatever reason. It’s like I forgot the school existed during the six months that mattered.

But, I ended up going to school in Santa Barbara and having the time of my life over there. And I even made some cool friends in coffee shops, including my wife.

We wandered around the University of Chicago’s Hogwarts-esque campus for a while, amused at the idea of how it was like staring into an alternate reality of the past.

#359 Christmas Eve 16

24 December 2016 // Moline, Illinois

Took it nice and slow this morning getting out of Aurora. Loaded up the car and set off for an extremely easy two hour drive.

Got to the Quad Cities early enough to hang out and eat the whole rest of the day.

Also, Codewords is a real fun game. Would recommend.

#360 Christmas 16

25 December 2016 // Moline, Illinois

Another Christmas in the bags, and a good one at that. I haven't had one in the Midwest since, I dunno, the early nineties.

For once, we actually got our number one pick at the White Elephant and held onto it up until the end.

You should know that the Oregon Trail card game is a good one, even though snakes will probably kill you just before the end.

#361 Baella

26 December 2016 // Moline, Illinois

Got to see this kiddo for her first Christmas ever.

#362 Chicago: A Novel

27 December 2016 // Chicago, Illinois

"A roaring city, gunfire and applause and thunder. Gleaming but made of bone and stone. Bitter cold and melting hot and clotheslines hung... an American city, with all the violence and humor and grace and greed of this particular powerful adolescent country.

Perhaps THE American city— no other city in the nation is as big and central and grown up from the very soil.... it is itself, all brawn and greed and song, brilliant and venal, almost a small nation, sprawling and vulgar and fowl and beautiful, cold and cruel."

–Brian Doyle

One last read to close out the year, set appropriately in Chicago itself.

This novel was simple and sweet, more of a love letter to the city than anything else. At times it was hard for me to get the groove, as the thrust of the plot was kept pretty subtle.

Instead, this is more about the unnamed character's coming of age in the city, the people he meets, and the way he stretches his independence to discover more and more. And while I never experienced such a thing in Chicago, specifically, I do know what that's like.

This book is quirky and romantic and fun, and made for a great travel companion.

#363 Flatiron Fun

28 December 2016 // Manhattan, New York

I’ve always thought that living fully, humoring your curiosity, saying yes to adventure, and taking along a sense of joy weren’t just good ways to have fun, but that there was something spiritual to the process of coming fully alive.

Enthusiasm has a fun meaning. ‘En’– that means within, and ‘Theos’– that’s God. God Within equals enthusiasm.

I love that, and I know I’m biased because I’m quite an enthusiast. (If you’re an Enneagram nerd, I’m very much a 7.) I have an appetite and energy for life that I need to channel well, but that I don’t want to suppress, because I love loving stuff.

Go where the Love is, and you won’t be lost.

#364 Connecticutted

29 December 2016 // Washington Depot, Connecticut

Two of the states that I hadn’t been to yet were Connecticut and Rhode Island. They’re so small and tucked away behind some much larger cities and frequent destinations, that I never took I-95 East of New York.

I wanted that to be something I did on this trip to put me closer to my fifty states goal, so we did just that, stopping by some Connecticut small towns en route to dinner in Providence. We found some lovely spots and good bites.

Also– Dakotas, Wyoming, West Virginia, Delaware, and Alaska… I’m coming for ya.

#365 Brooklyn Bridge

30 December 2016 // Brooklyn, New York

“It seems that the more places I see and experience, the bigger I realize the world to be. The more I become aware of, the more I realize how relatively little I know of it, how many places I have yet to get, how much more there is to learn. Maybe that’s enlightenment enough - to know that there is no final resting place of the mind, no moment of smug clarity. Perhaps wisdom, at least for me, means realizing how small I am, and unwise, and far I have to go."

–Anthony Bourdain

#366 New Year, New York

31 December 2016 // Manhattan, New York

The past is weird. I mean, does it really exist ? It feels like it exists, but where is it ? And if it did exists, but doesn’t now, then where did it go ?

–Ruth Ozeki

Welcome to the future everybody! So far, it's a pretty good time. 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽

2016

NOVEMBER 2016

#306 Grad School: Five Weeks

01 November 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

During my undergraduate college days, I signed up for the most eccentric classes I could. Middle Eastern Cooking. Japanese Horror Movies. Leadership and Team Building. Thanks to that I got a bunch of pretty neat experiences and learned some fun things.

Grad school makes it harder to go off the beaten path, but not impossible, and during my two years going for a Masters’ I’ve still wound up studying and gaining some knowledge in some things I never would’ve expected.

When I started, I was surprised to find I’d have to learn another language. I speak about five to some degree, but because I haven’t learned many of them in a classroom setting, I don’t have them on my transcripts. So, on a whim, I signed up to learn Hindi/Urdu. I can’t say I speak very good Hindi, or much at all, but I learned a bit about how to read the script and can utter some really basic phrases.

I’ve also learned a ton about local governance, especially when it comes to public finance and budgets. That’s thanks to my nonprofit classes being taught closely alongside public management classes. If it sounds dry, it kind of is, but I actually feel like I understand local government and things like tax considerations way better. I can also empathize with different opinions way better, and that’s always a good thing.

Also, by teaching a course on Africa twice, I’ve gotten quite familiar with some of the topics we’ve covered. One of these includes life in Mali. As a country, it doesn’t get many visitors, and I don’t envision myself being able to make it there any time soon. Glad I could learn a little bit through the process of teaching.

#307 Cubs Win

02 November 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

So… that… just… happened. Not only did the Cubs break their 108 year old curse, but they also put on the most dramatic game I’ve seen. And I watch a lot of baseball.

I guess this means the apocalypse starts tomorrow, but that game was so much fun, it’ll have been worth it.

Deanna and I don’t have live TV so we went to go and watch at a nearby sports bar, and my what a great decision. I got to befriend several old-guy-pub-dwellers, one of whom called David Ross’ home run a second before it happened. (Not to be outdone, I called the camera panning to Bill Murray a second before that happened). The girls next to me had the best Jason Kipnis specific trash talk. And they’re right… he probably does smell like Axe body spray! We all came as strangers, and left as friends who all never got around to exchanging names.

The Phillies will always be my team, but like any good racism-hating, loveable-loser-lovin’ American, I wanted this year to be the Cubs’ year. (Especially since the Phils’ had a sliver of a percent chance of being any decent). Baseball will feel kinda weird without a mindblowingly win-deprived team, but I’m sure the Cubs fans don’t mind.

#308 Gorgonzola Ravioli

03 November 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Never has developing a recipe given me as much of a difficult time as this ravioli. What you’re looking at is my third attempt.

This item of my cooking challenge was scheduled for last week when all the ravioli burst while boiling and I settled for frying up an odd mix of squash and cheese and noodles. Then earlier today, the filling soaked through the noodle sheets making them too sticky to shape.

I had to restart a third time and was pretty late to an afternoon class, but finally, I got something I could be pleased with. And Deanna was really pleased and said it was one of her favorites from this year’s challenge.

Sometimes I can get pretty stubborn about working on something until it comes out right. But I did learn a valuable lesson: use flour liberally.

#309 Oakshire

04 November 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Let’s talk about something a little more pleasant for most people- beer!

I’m in a MBA class on startup planning (Random, I know. Long story.) Our project right now revolves around beer deliveries and we need to do a little market research.

I’m hoping to conduct some interviews so if you’re a beer consumer- I’d love to hit you up with a few questions! No need to be the biggest hop head, but if you are, great! Message or comment or something and I’ll get in touch.

Also, I’m pretty sure Oakshire is taking over as my favorite brewer in town. We’ve got a lot of good ones but their seasonal stuff gets so creative!

#310 McKenzie Beer Festival

05 November 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

I had a chance to go to the McKenzie Craft Beer and Cider Festival. If you saw my post about my startup project… market research! And that meant I got to do a lot of tasting.

After a pretty fun night, here were my favorite three beers/ciders.

Old Craig Ale by Ordnance Brewing –  This beer definitely had an old vintage- tobacco-and-leather sort of quality, but in a good way! (I guess those typically don’t sound like good beverage flavors) Lots of spices and brown sugar left this tasting a lot like winter candy.

Nut Crusher Peanut Butter Porter by Wild Ride Brewing – If you like the taste of roast peanuts or peanut butter, this would be a great beer. They come on STRONG. But in a good way. And the brewery rep gave me a little garnish of a Reese’s cup to go with it.

Doc Fields Banana Mango Cider – I was suspicious over this this cider, I thought it might be a little too much like a fermented Jamba Juice. Turns out it was a pretty good cider and I’d love another taste.

#311 Finnish Salmon Pie

06 November 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

One of my big dreams is to regularly have dinners where people from totally different backgrounds can get together. I want a big table, good conversations, and of course the food needs to be up for the occasion.

Here’s one thing I’ll have to bring to the table- a new puff pastry technique. Most recipes call for folding butter into the dough over and over. A freezer and cheese grater can end up saving so much time.

I put the new puff pastry to the test and looked to Finland for some inspiration. This pie was filled with chunks of cooked salmon, capers, onion, and sauce. It may be one of my favorites from this past year.

#312 Grad School: Four Weeks

07 November 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Another week in the bags and another step closer to the finish line. Just some paperwork and a couple assignments left to go. Then what? We’ll find out soon.

No surprise, this has been a terse week around campus. Some are quick to say that today’s student lives in a cocoon of hyper sensitivity- and at times I get why people would think that. But lots of students feel unsafe- and for good reason. We’ve had random people and even a professor (?!) around in blackface. Ugh! That’s really not okay.

I’m often impatient with the end of grad school but this week I’ll thankful for my role as a TA that has allowed me to speak and share some things I’ve seen and experienced that I find helpful in an unpredictable and tense world. And I love reminding anyone that a lot of times the best thing they can do is focus on what changes there are to be made right in front of them, and to give it everything.

#313 Election 2016

08 November 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

I screwed up my mail-in ballot… I left every single chad hanging (and it was a bubble sheet)! So I swung by the community center to set things right.

If you ask me, a lot of these decisions felt pretty obvious to me. But not everyone else feels the same way, so that’s why we have elections.

Voting is important. It’s very important. It’s one of those things that you totally take for granted if you’ve never experienced what happens in places without free and fair elections. It’s also a privilege that was hard earned.

So yeah, hooray for voting. I’m glad I cast my ballot today. It’s a big decision!

That said, it’s also one of millions of decisions you’ll make that shape the world we live in.

All of the people who have influenced me the most didn’t do it with their voting record. Who is in need of care and attention today that you have a chance to help? Who needs a well timed word of encouragement? Which friend is fundraising for something noble that you should perhaps pay attention to? Some of those decisions will have a much bigger impact than anything you or I bubbled in today, and I think these things are worthy of at least as much deliberation and energy.

#314 It’s Quiet Uptown

09 November 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Perhaps the reason why the election results were so surprising to a lot of people was that we forgot how much of a bubble most of us live in. No matter what results you were hoping for, roughly half the country feels differently.

The type of setting we grow up in, the sort of people we’re around, and all that have a huge impact on what lens through which we see the world. That’s not to say I don’t believe there’s usually a better choice and a worse choice at the end of the day. But it’s another thing to turn my conviction into an assumption that the country falls neatly into two halves of good guys and bad guys.

See, some of the best people I’ve ever met voted for things and people that make absolutely no sense to me. People who taught me everything I know about generosity voted for things I think contribute to inequality. People who taught me how to respect other people voted for candidates with a reputation for crudeness. And if you know enough people, you’ll know someone that this applies to. If not? Well, then that bubble is probably in effect.

One of the best interactions I’ve seen on Facebook was just that. Dad voted red. Daughter voted blue. Daughter was sad, and Dad acknowledged that this was okay. They grew up seeing different things in different times in different places– it was simple, but beautiful.

You don’t have to agree with everything I believe in. I don’t agree with all of your opinions. I’ll probably disagree with a few of them strongly. But I won’t assume the worst of you. I won’t defriend you. We’ll still have a lot to learn from each other.

It’s eerily quiet outside my window. I’m in a young urban area in a very blue state, so of course there’s an atmosphere of disappointment. But it’s also a gorgeous, crisp sunny day in November… and we don’t get too many of those. Disappointing day? Beautiful day? Perhaps both? There’s more than one way to see things and blessed are the eyes that can find both.

#315 Chestnut Bisque

10 November 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Man, chestnuts are the worst! They taste great and can lend themselves to all sorts of recipes in a way that no other nut can. But they are an absolute pain to get out of their shells to work with. Almost at the end of my yearlong cooking challenge and I managed to score my first injury by scoring a fingertip.

Because of that, I will think long and hard about working with chestnuts in the future, but I will say that they made for a pretty unique bisque.

The flavor of this soup was spot on. Rich and creamy and earthy like a good nut-based soup should be. The texture wasn’t as excellent, with the results coming out a little chunkier than I would’ve liked. Still, it made for a good enough and hard earned winter meal.

#316 Anacortes Ferry

11 November 2016 // Anacortes, Washington

Seemed like a good weekend for some perspective on how meager human accomplishments look next to creation, so I hopped on a ferry headed for one place I’ve always wanted to go.

Orcas Island is just a little off the Puget Sound, accessible only by ferry or personal jet, and boasts all of the natural beauty you might expect from a northwestern island. It’s got a pretty tight community of island dwellers too.

Looking forward to getting cozy on this floating patch of dirt that whales seem to love. I feel like I’ll have a good understanding of why after this weekend.

#317 Orcas Island

12 November 2016 // Orcas Island, Washington

“And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should… with all its sham, drudgergy and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.”

–Max Ehrmann, Disiderata

There’s a lot of stuff to be upset about, and I recognize how legitimate those things are. But I think the sort of rebellion we need is a counterintuitive one. In a contentious, divided world, joy and peace are rebellious. Beauty is subversive when put up next to brutality. I think it’s a better time than ever to be anchored in a joy that can’t be taken, a community of infectious acceptance, and a stubborn memory of the people we were meant to be.

These are crazy days, my friends. But they’re still extremely beautiful ones. To paraphrase Calvin and Hobbes, if we got out to look at the stars more often, we wouldn’t argue about half the stuff that we get worked up over.

#318 Outlook Inn

13 November 2016 // Orcas Island, Washington

While spending the weekend at Orcas, we got in a night at this sweet little inn. It felt like we weren’t in the inn itself for very long but that’s cause we got some real good sleep that night we were there.

The room itself was only a small part of what I really liked about this place. They had a fenced lawn across the street with such an excellent view of the islands.

And their restaurant. Awesome French onion soup and blue marlin carpaccio. Best of all they have some shared tables where they’ll sit you down at a table alongside strangers, and you’ll be able to leave with new friends- or at least some memorable encounters. We enjoyed the company of a couple older seniors out on a date. They shared stories of his late wife and her ex-husband. At times sad but also moving to see two hopeful people not willing to throw in the towel just yet.

#319 The Holy or The Broken

24 November 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

“I say all the perfect and broken hallelujahs have an equal value. It’s a desire to affirm my faith in life, not in some formal religious way, but with enthusiasm, with emotion.”

–Leonard Cohen

Big thanks to my friend Hamaila for gifting me this book after hearing I was fascinated by Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History podcast episode on the rise of ‘Hallelujah.’ That song has a story unlike any other modern anthem. I don’t read much music writing, but Alan Light kept its exploration fascinating.

And speaking of unlikely works of art, Leonard Cohen was such an artistic anomaly. I love that a huge part of his story was how late into his career he was when he hit his stride. Sad that we lost him next week.

Oh and for the record, Hallelujah isn’t even my favorite Leonard song. Dance Me To The End Of Love will always hold that honor.

#320 Pancit Molo

25 November 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

When we went to the Philippines a couple years ago, there was one dish that Deanna especially fell in love with– pancit molo.

It’s a regional favorite where my family’s from, and it’s a pretty simple wonton soup in a pork or chicken broth with basic sauteed vegetables. And if you do it just right, it’s one amazing piece of Filipino comfort food.

I timed this particular item of my cooking challenge just right for the winter months. Not too shabby for my first time taking a stab at this dish and I know where to go from here for even better results.

#321 Grad School: Three Weeks

26 November 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

The thing I’m looking forward to the most about being done with my program isn’t the absence of school, it’ll be the opportunity to build something.

The ability to commit to something for a long time without my schedule changing itself every few months is something that’s eluded me the past few years. Now I’m looking forward to dinners that become traditions, becoming a part of things around whatever community we end up in, and forming some more bonds.

Now seems like a good and important time to be building community up and getting connected. I’m ready to dig in.

#322 Blood, Bones, and Butter

27 November 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

“It’s promising and seductive, that huge Italian family, sitting around the dinner table, surrounded by olive trees. But it’s not my family and I am not their family, and no amount of birthing sons, and cooking dinner and raking leaves or planting the gardens or paying for the plane tickets is going to change that. If I don’t come back in eleven months, I will not be missed, and no one will write me or call me to acknowledge my absence. Which is not an accusation, just a small truth about clan and bloodline.”

–Gabrielle Hamilton

After so many of my favorite food podcasts mentioned this book as one of their favorite books on the subject, I was convinced to give it a try.

This book isn’t just about food, but about a career in food, dining, and the paths life takes you down, sometimes without exactly intending to. I read a lot of books by people who were driven by a very concrete goal so it was refreshing to hear from someone who took a more common path- a mix of following passions, doing one thing until it leads somewhere else, and unlikely encounters.

Plus there are moments where she describes her grad school experience and it sounds so similar to my own. Started out as a perfect fit that was slowly outgrew, leading her to discovering other passions.

#323 Making Kahlua

28 November 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Weekend at home project- making some Kahlua.

Looks okay so far, so now we wait a few weeks for our results.

#324 Foodspotting No. 1 & 39 – Adobo & Lumpia

29 November 2016 // Springfield, Oregon

Holla at ya 🇵🇭. Food week continues with some more Foodspotting.

Adobo and lumpia were two of the easiest items in the Foodspotting Field Guide to find. Well, especially if you’re me. I wasn’t sure if making my own adobo earlier this year would count so I decided it wouldn’t so we’d have an excuse to visit Maynila for dinner.

#325 Tillamook Mac & Cheese

20 November 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

So this is the thing with mac and cheese- I’ve had some really fancy mac and cheese from so many different high end places, and yet it never quite lives up to the gooey, salty, creamy goodness of that instant boxed stuff I used to eat after school.

Let’s face it, I love any melts cheesy product, and sometimes the fake stuff is just better.

But I believe real cheese can still make for a good mac and cheese and so I went with packs of Tillamook being added to a bechamel like sauce to get it all creamy and such. Turned out pretty good, but that might also be because I added a whole head of garlic.

#326 Grad School: Two Weeks

21 November 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

So close to the end! And to make things even better, this week barely counts since I’ll be in California staring Tuesday night.

So that’s one thing making me happy. What else?

That Ducks win versus Utah was so, so satisfying. Nobody saw it coming, even after it already came. Our season has been a ship that has been long sunk, but getting the win against a pretty good Utah team was just perfect. Our loss to them last year, in my mind, was the start of dark days for Ducks fans.

Oh, and a couple of my good friends gave birth to their son tonight. Welcome to the world, Mathis! See you when I get back.

#327 Gateway to Cali

22 November 2016 // Medford, Oregon

Passing through the In N Out in Medford means one surefire thing… we’re going to (or coming from) Cali.

Thankful that this pit stop is right off the freeway.

#328 Road to Thanksgiving

23 November 2016 // Kettleman City, California

We can act like we didn’t spend most of the drive taking selfies with Beignet. Or we can own it.

Thankful this one is a road tripper.

#329 Thanksgiving 16

24 November 2016 // Bakersfield, California

Hope your day was as fun and tasty as ours.

Here’s to a much needed weekend of hanging out with family and not doing much else. The next two weeks are gonna be such a power sprint that some time off like this is exactly the right thing.

#330 Noriega’s

25 November 2016 // Bakersfield, California

There’s a first time for everything.

This is my first time eating at a restaurant with both a B safety rating and a James Beard award.

#331 California 99

26 November 2016 // Delhi, California

“The future is built with the present moment and how we take care of it. If you are fearful, the future will be fearful. If you are uncooperative, the future will be divisive. This is very important.

The future is not something that will come to us; the future is built by us, by how we speak and what we do in the present moment.

Community practice is crucial at this time. It’s crucial not to be alone in front of the computer, reading media. That makes the world dark for you. Find flesh. There are still wonderful things happening.”

–Phap Dung

#332 Passing Shasta

27 November 2016 // Lake Shasta, California

“Scratch the surface of any cynic, and you will find a wounded idealist underneath. Because of previous pain or disappointment, cynics make their conclusions about life before the questions have even been asked. This means that beyond just seeing what is wrong with the world, cynics lack the courage to do something about it. The dynamic beneath cynicism is a fear of accepting responsibility.”

–John Ortberg

Be responsible to your convictions. They won’t always win debates. They won’t always pay the bills. They won’t always prevail in times of conflict. But if they’re convictions worth keeping, make sure they don’t lose you. Hope is a conviction. Joy is a conviction. Don’t give them up.

#333 Shoe Dog

28 November 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

“I thought if that phrase, it’s just business. It’s never just business. It never will be. If it becomes just business, that will mean that business is very bad.”

–Phil Knight

Thanks to the UO business school, I got a signed copy of Shoe Dog. I was told to study up on it, so I took to reading and found I enjoyed this book a whole heck of a lot more than I expected to.

This book had a lot of heart, and that’s something I really wasn’t expecting. After all, Nike is pretty much your archetype of a mega-corporation and I didn’t know a whole lot about Phil Knight other than the fact that his name is all over Eugene.

Hearing the stories of their early years, testing out models on the UO track team, having to take on legal challenges from the US government and Japan, and figuring out how to build a team that works kept this on the side of being a good story.

In the end it’s a book about following a Crazy Idea- watch it reveal itself as a calling and pursuing it through disappointment and fatigue.

#334 Office Hours

29 November 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

This week has been utterly ridiculous- in the past 48 hours I’ve had to present the City of Albany with a proposed budget, pitch a startup business idea, and knock out a 15 page paper.

Thankfully, I get a weekend to turn things down a notch before one last week of this finish line sprint. My first true day out of grad school is gonna be such a napfest.

#335 Bolognese

30 November 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Important beliefs I have about bolognese:

• It should be creamy. Use milk.

• It seems intuitive to add red wine, but go with white.

• Grating your carrots makes for a better texture than dicing.

• A little bit of ground sausage and diced bacon goes a long way.

Seems like an oddly late point in the year to have bolognese be an item on my cooking challenge. I’ve already made lasagna with bolognese as part of the challenge, and I’ve made bolognese a lot in general this year. Oh well. It’s been my busiest stretch of grad school, so it doesn’t hurt to have something I can prep from muscle memory.

OCTOBER 2016

#275 tIhde the Knot

01 October 2016 // Marble Falls, Texas

Congrats to Meghan & Brendan! Deanna and I had such a blast celebrating in Marble Falls- that was definitely a unique wedding experience.

Between your wedding and ours, every time we’ve seen you two together it’s been a really, really fun day.

#276 Rad Mother Clucker

02 October 2016 // Austin, Texas

Doughnut lovers, I’m having cravings. What are your picks for best doughnut shops in the country? I’ll give you my top three.

Pip’s Original Doughnuts (Portland) – Going the route of keeping it simple but executing well. I’m a fan.

Gourdough’s (Austin) – Going the opposite direction with Big. Fat. Donuts. piled high with everything from fried chicken cuts to jalapeño jelly. I’m a fan as well and make it a point to come by whenever I’m in Austin.

Blue Star Doughnuts (Portland) – French brioche dough makes all of their doughnuts good to the breadcrumb. They won me over by tossing a vile of rum on to a caramel brulêe doughnut.

Yup, Portland takes two of three. Although I say this not having tried Daily Dozen in Seattle, which I’ve heard such good things about.

#277 Your Money Or Your Life

03 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

“Who you are is far greater than what you do for money, and your true work is far greater than your paid employment. Our focus on money and materialism may have robbed us of the pride we can and should feel in who we are as people and the many ways we contribute to the well being of others.”

-Vicki Robin

A bit of a break from what I usually read, a book about money use turns out to be far more practical, far less romantic, and just as purposeful as anything else I’ve read this year.

I didn’t follow all nine steps for financial independence to the tee. At least I haven’t yet, and while that must make Vicki Robin shake her head, I did start to do a few things. Measuring my income and expenditures in life energy, not just dollars. Figuring out what a “just right” level of income looks like for my family so I know when doing more work stops being worth it. Keeping track of all spending.

Perhaps I’ll take on the rest of the exercises when I have time. Or whenever I have graph paper handy, which is like never.

#278 Grad School: Nine Weeks

04 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Today I submitted my forms to graduate and be done with everything in nine weeks.

While my motivation going into this quarter is mostly propelled by the finish line I’m looking at, I’ve found a helpful way to think about work that provides an extra boost.

Imagine, for a second, what the best possible outcome could be of you showing up and doing your job well? A lot of people can easily drum up the worst case scenario, but what’s the best case scenario. My wife’s a therapist, so in her field it looks like saving a life, preventing suicide, and breaking up abusive cycles in a family. That’s a pretty serious contribution to the world. Do you accept a so-so job because of the healthy pay? Maybe the money you donate to charities, treat friends with, or support your family with are also in the life-saving business. Are you a barista? Maybe your pleasantness and warmth have actually made somebody’s day or turned it around… I can credit a phone rep for Virgin Airlines doing that for me once.

As a teacher of African studies, hmm… who knows? Maybe I strike the curiosity of a kid who one day discovers an efficient way to get antiretrovirals or malaria meds to the people who need them most.

Are these pretty out there possibilities? Yup. Unlikely? Probably. But here’s the crazy thing… if these things end up happening, a lot of times we’ll have had no idea. So we might as well act as if they just might, and by doing so, we’ll really increase our odds of doing meaningful work.

#279 Sunlit Halls

05 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Here’s a fun fact- some studies show that businesses that use totally made up words or names are often more successful than those that use descriptive, already existing words. Airbnb? Much better than ShareYourHouse. Instagram? Beats out Mobile PicShare. Ghostbusters? Better than its Chinese translation, Super Power Dare Die Team.

Here’s the part of that I find interesting… there’s a good part of us that can so easily be convinced we’re looking at something new just by the way it’s presented. Both traditional media and social media have gotten really, really skilled at that. The way to keep you glued is to run up storylines that seem like they’ve never happened before.

Corrupt politicians? That’s actually about as old of a news story as we have. Leaders with dictatorial tendencies? They go pretty far back throughout history. People unable to live peacefully with each other because of race, gender, or a bunch of other qualities? Yeah, unfortunately, that dynamic is much older than we are.

What to make of this? I’m all for staying informed, but also remember, there’s nothing really new under the sun and there’s a good and bad side to that. Unfortunately, progress happens very, very slowly, and many of the world’s big issues will probably outlive us. But the good news is that the world is crazy resilient. There’s still a lot of good that persists along with the bad.

At the end of the day, don’t just respond to the big bold headlines. Listen to what your life has taught you, to the lessons learned from the dirt underneath your fingernails. Don’t let panic take control of your creativity, it was meant to add good into the world, starting with what’s in front of you.

#280 13th to Campus

06 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

There are so many things in life that don’t work out, even though they made total sense on paper. I’ve seen couples break up that seemed like a great fit to me. I’ve had friends not get jobs that they seemed made for. I’ve known people who have started projects that for some reason never got the attention they were worthy of.

What’s the deal? I wish I knew. Unfortunately life is full of these little injustices that don’t seem to have a good explanation.

It’s good to know that this happens, and it happens quite a bit. It’s good to be prepared for this. Hard work is indispensable, but sometimes, it’s not enough. You can make all necessary efforts, all the right choices, and it still doesn’t work out.

It’s probably a healthy thing for everyone to experience this at least once in their lifetime. So many people in rough situations are there through no fault of their own. It’s important to have empathy for that. Not blame, and not a rescuer mentality. Just a deep sense of understanding and compassion.

#281 Chicken Katsu

07 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Katsuuuuuuu!

Chicken katsu is pretty much my go to dish at any Hawaiian restaurant. I’ll venture into other dishes but I always come back home. My lightly fried, breaded, crispy home.

I made some the other night and that was surprisingly simple and easy- with a big lightly fried, breaded, crispy payoff.

#282 Our Guests

08 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Hosting visitors is one of mine and Deanna’s favorite things to do.

Over the weekend we got to have Bre and Raquel and Jesse over for soul food, Ticket to Ride, and more food. Loved it.

We’ve now passed the amount of out-of-town friends we hoped to be able to host in Eugene for our marriage goals, but we have no plans of stopping! We love having people over.

#283 Deanna’s 27

09 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Happy, happy birthday to my sweet and beautiful Deanna! It’s been a good day of church, eating, friends, and hygge.

Life with you is so sweet, simple, fun, and I couldn’t be more thankful for it. I love getting to spend every day with you, taking Beignet out on little weekend adventures, watching our shows, trying to squeeze out every last minute of conversation before we go to sleep, cherishing the friendships we’ve managed to build around town, and dreaming of all kinds of things we hope to do together.

It’s a great life and I love that I get to share it with you.

#284 Current

10 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Wind and rain have this river feeling pretty good about itself.

Here are a few things making me happy this week.

So first, there was the bit of good news we got last week that I mentioned in my last post.

I’m also really loving Johnnyswim’s Georgica Pond album. So much soul and so many songs off the new album sounded great live.

And before the show, I finally got to eat at Tasty and Sons, which was on my places to eat in Portland list for a good while. Get the Asian Bloody Mary.

#285 Lasagna

11 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Lasagna is a birthday tradition in Deanna’s family, and that’s a tradition that I wouldn’t wanna mess with.

I didn’t get to make her some on her actual birthday but that’s cause we kept eating all day. So, Tuesday night, I got busy.

Lasagna is a tricky dish once you’ve been to Bologna. You realize how different the American interpretation of it is, but figuring out how they get their ragú that savory and creamy is a puzzle in and of itself.

My go to methods? A slow cooker. Add some milk. And white wine to break everything down. Sometimes a red wine gets too fruity. Toss in a bit of pancetta fat. And grate or process the veggies. That way you get a smoother filling.

Oh and homemade noodles. Those are a must.

#286 Grad School: Eight Weeks

12 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Know what’s a really, really good feeling? It’s when you don’t know exactly why something happened or didn’t happen to you but still feel really, really at peace with it.

I got hit by that while driving through Texas Hill Country a week or so ago. Suddenly convinced that the end of this year would make for a very important time for me to be learning things.

Last summer, I came pretty close to getting a job that looked like such a right fit on paper. I would’ve loved the work I’d be doing. I would’ve accepted without hesitation.

I realize now that if I did that, there would be no way I’d be able to tie up all the loose ends of my Masters programs like I thought. There’s a bit too much left to do, and I would’ve likely had to pay to do that too if I wasn’t teaching at the same time. I also did some math and figured out the “just right” amount of income for Deanna and I. This would’ve been a bit too far below, and sometimes I tend to underrate income for more idealistic trade offs.

Some stretches of life can feel so slow, with a purpose that’s hazier than mid October mornings. Surrendering what you don’t have control over frees you to unleash your best stuff.

#287 UO East Campus

13 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

With the end of grad school approaching, I often think of all the reasons why I’m looking forward to being done- and there are plenty. Being more financially able to support a family is a big one. So is the urge to contribute towards helping other people.

For the sake of getting the most out of the remaining weeks, though, here are a few things I know I’ll miss once it’s all done.

I’ll miss having so much control over my schedule. If I need to run an errand in the middle of the day, or run home to take care of something, I can do that really easily. It’s rare to find a job with as many moveable parts as mine right now.

I’ll miss the way I’ve acquired a deep and unexpected knowledge on so many random things on the way to getting degrees. World Heritage Sites in Mali. The Public Budgeting process in Oregon versus California. Andrew Carnegie’s writings. One day, when I’m on Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, at least a couple of my life flashbacks will have to be to grad school.

I’ll miss the student ticket rates for Ducks games… granted the Ducks aren’t making me miss that so much right now, but one day I will.

#288 Family Selfy

14 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Not gonna name any names, but one member of this family makes taking selfies a lot more difficult.

We’re thrilled, though!

Deanna went to see a doctor for a checkup. When she got really sick last February, her breathing scores dropped from a typical range in the mid-high 70s down to 22. We had a doctor tell us that a lot of people don’t get back to their old numbers after a drop that drastic.

Well since then, I knew she was doing better since we’ve visited lots of places, snorkeled in Hawaii, and ran a half marathon. But how much better?

When she went to get tested at her doctors, I walked Beignet around while praying for a good number. We got it… 80! This sort of comeback is really, really rare.

I’m a believer in never taking what you have for granted, in realizing there are things so much bigger than the usual things we freak out about on a daily basis, and in God working an old school miracle every now and again.

#289 Johnnyswim in PDX

15 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Deanna and I absolutely love Johnnyswim. We got engaged to our friends playing a cover of Paris in June and left our wedding reception to the tune of Diamonds.

We were absolutely not going to miss our shot to see them play in Portland.

Man this was an amazing show. So much charisma and stage chemistry- I’m loving the sound of the new album already.

#290 Rains Come

16 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Ah the rain has returned in full force after taking a little summer break. My opinion will probably change when February rolls around but right now I love this so much.

Also glad we were able to make it to and from Portland twice while having to basically drive through a lake with all the flooding. On Friday night we ended up backing up on a one way road just to get out from all the water.

#291 Street Life Under a Roof

17 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

“For as with Point Place, it is possible for youth to come together to create culturally expressive forms of social life not only for the privileged few, but for anyone who is looking for shelter and, along with it a sense of belonging under a shared roof.”

-Emily Margaretten

Frequently asked question… do books that I have to read for work or school count towards my personal reading goals? I say that they do if I like the book enough.

This was an assigned book for the class I’m teaching, and I’ll get to do two lectures on South Africa and street life next week which should be fun. Reading this ethnography of a researcher who lived in a youth shelter totally took me back to Jozi, even though it’s set in Durban.

#292 City Human Rights Commission

18 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Last night, I got to attend our local human rights commission meeting. I didn’t even know we had one but here’s what I saw.

A representative from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs shared a nasty courtroom experience directed at her while trying to speak on behalf of land belonging to her tribe. Everybody listened empathically.

A member of the ACLU talked about methods of police surveillance that may raise some privacy concerns and a rep from the police department acknowledged the concerns and mentioned some potential benefits of the technology in stopping child predators or kidnappings.

I know a lot of people are so over political discourse, and I get why. But I was also encouraged by what I saw. Local governance offers so many opportunities for regular people to be a part of the process that not many people take. And in a local setting, you can oftentimes have a huge influence.

When you get tired of being a political spectator, maybe try participating every now and then.

#293 Grad School: Seven Weeks

19 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

On paper, this was supposed to be a really challenging Fall for me. I had to request special permission from the University to take twenty credits (twelve is my normal) all while keeping up my freelance projects, my job hunt, and several weekends of travel for family reasons. Plus it’s also the time of year when the sun disappears and everything drops fifty degrees and it’s way harder to feel motivated for anything.

The funny thing is that we’re close to halfway through this quarter and I am loving it. So far it’s all gone by smoothly and I’m surprised often at how efficiently I’ve been able to get things done.

Here are a few things that have been real helpful this term.

Going one day at a time. It’s easy to rush it when you’re close to the finish line, but just making sure each day’s challenges are given appropriate attention.

Before most items on my to do list I ask myself who do I really have a chance to serve with this task. The answer isn’t always obvious but it makes otherwise unmotivating tasks much more fulfilling.

So far I haven’t worked a Sunday, I’ve mostly been able to slow down my Saturdays, and often finish everything by 5 or 6 pm. All that time to enjoy life and not just work through it has finally become a good habit after years of working on it.

#294 College Hill

20 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

This summer, I came really, really close to getting what I thought could have been my dream job. I would’ve worked as a director with a really cool organization doing international work, it would’ve been work I’d enjoy doing every day, and it would’ve been in a city where I used to live that I miss a lot.

Part of me was surprised I didn’t get it because it seemed like such a great fit on paper, but another part of me just had a feeling that it wouldn’t work out. And while there was a bit of disappointment, there have been so many times this past fall where I’m glad it didn’t go through. If I got it, Deanna and I would be back living in California right now, and almost on a daily basis, I’ve been thinking, I’m glad I’m still here.

So in honor of understanding and appreciating things better in retrospect, here are a few reasons why I’m glad I’m still here.

Fall in the PNW is gorgeous. The first weather cycle, with the unending rain and grey skies can be a bit overwhelming. The next time around? I’ve fallen in love with it. Grey skies, bright orange leaves, and hygge weather… I’ve been liking this so much. I’ve also grown to appreciate having different seasons, and I’m thankful for this one.

Moving a couple weeks ago would’ve been a huge hassle, logistically. Not just with getting all our stuff and dog to California. We would’ve had to find a place to live. I would’ve had to figure out how to finish grad school remotely- which I now realize wouldn’t be easy at all while working full time. And there are some financial reasons too.

Ultimately, we really aren’t ready to leave where we are right now. Maybe we will be. Maybe soon. But I think we needed this last round to take it all in and to enjoy this stuff.

#295 One In N Out

21 October 2016 // Medford, Oregon

Living in a state with one In N Out > Living in a stat with zero In N Out.

Also, order #32’s number was just called and a family of six stood up and started clapping. Heartwarming moment of the day. There truly is good in thew world.

#296 Congrats Justin & CC!

22 October 2016 // San Francisco, California

This weekend was about as good as it gets.

Deanna and I went down to San Francisco to help our friend Justin propose to his now fiancé, Caytlin. There were tears and corgis and food trucks and beaches involved, and we got to see a bunch of our good friends again.

Congrats Justin and Caytlin- we are so, so happy for you two and we’re looking forward to you two being married!

#297 Friend Brunch

23 October 2016 // Sacramento, California

I hang out with a good looking bunch.

And we eat brunch.

#298 Grad School: Six Weeks

24 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

It’s crazy to think about how close life is to radically changing all over again. I’m both looking forward to it and ready for things in my life to last a little longer.

When I started grad school, I had a whole lot of energy to get things off the ground. I wanted to launch projects, new organizations, groups of people and have them all spring into action. I was ready to hit the ground running. The past few years before that had been so dynamic and full of big changes it seemed like there was only one direction to go.

It turns out that most of the things I attempted to start didn’t work out. There were a lot of false starts and midway through it started to feel like I’d been spending my year doing nothing. Life went from this dynamic journey to being surprisingly still.

I had a friend talk to me about how sometimes we hit these seasons in life where God just wants us to chill for a bit, without much going on. That gets really challenging for my personality and my inclination to want to go everywhere and do everything. But these stretches, slow and frustrating as they might be can be really important and underrated.

Some recipes have steps where dough needs to rise for hours, or flavors need to meld for a day, just so it can come out right. Some pieces of pottery need to chill for a week so they don’t shatter when used. Some songs need to rest after a big note before going on to the next movement so the listener can take it all in.

I don’t think God’s one to waste time. And when we can trust that there’s a point to these.

#299 Boeuf Borgignon

25 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Now that we’ve hit that fall-winter part of my cooking challenge, I’ve been having lots of fun with these heavier, heartier meals- this week’s being no exception.

I gave making bouef borgignon a shot, or as Julia Child calls it, bouef b£•∞¶£on. Speaking of Julia, I essentially used her recipe, but without a dutch oven, I had to adapt and improvise to work with our slow cooker.

I got to come home to a great meal and a great smelling house. Not much I would’ve changed about how it turned out, except that I wish I made even more.

#300 The Birth of Korean Cool

26 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

“So how does Korea manage the work ethic and maniacal drive to be number one? The underlying national psychology that motivates the country is not a salutary one. I remain convinced that ‘han’, that culturally specific, millennia-old rage against fate, is a huge motivating force in Koreans’ stamina and persistence.”

-Euny Hong

This was a fun little read about why Koreans are so darn cool. And it was very clearly written in late 2012 when Psy was at optimum Gangnam style.

Actually I learned quite a bit about how the ROK government has invested in its own entertainment industry in such a methodical way to get Halyu to take over the world.

#301 Week of Lectures

27 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Throwing back to my days as a substitute teacher by being a guest lecturer.

It’s so much easier when you have the chance to lecture about something that you could talk about forever and ever. In this case, street life in South Africa, concepts of masculinity, ghost stories, and township life. And a whole bunch of personal anecdotes from my own experiences.

#302 Great Fall

28 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Duuuuude the days have been stunning lately.

A couple weeks ago in Portland, Johnnyswim shared the inspiration for their song Drunks. Apparently there’s this bar in Nashville where all the hardcore soccer fans go. And during a match, things can get pretty nasty. One side yelling up a storm at the other. But there are these Irish folk songs that kick in after the game, and once they start, everyone sings. No matter who you were cheering for a minute ago.

Living in the USA right now feels like the country needs an Irish drinking song. This isn’t the first time of wild contentiousness, nor will it be the last, but a good time out would do wonders.

I used to think having the right facts could solve a lot of our problems. But if I doubted it before, this year has confirmed that people will gravitate towards “facts” that confirm what they already think is true and find ways to dismiss anything else. The right facts won’t change the world.

There’s something about beauty, though, that can still stop people in a single moment. For a new parent holding a tiny life in a maternity ward, the election is so far on the back burner it’s just white noise. For someone in the middle of this year’s most gorgeous weekend, next week need not come.

Our hearts were made to worship, and wonder still gets us where information fails us. Small fragments of starlight that can spell out true north.

#303 Mazed

29 October 2016 // Junction City, Oregon

This weekend was a great one for corn mazes and mud.

#304 The Pint Pot

30 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Gray mornings call for a classic Irish Pub. Thank goodness for The Pint Pot. An Irish coffee and a full Irish breakfast are exactly in order.

Here are a couple other things making me pretty happy this week.

I discovered that Terrence Malick’s film To The Wonder was streaming for free on Prime, and I loved it even though it wasn’t the most accessible of movies. In typical Malick fashion, it was full of amazing visuals, cryptic layers of meaning hiding beneath simple-but-poetic dialogue, and Javier Bardem being a priest. The film itself was so beautifully shot, despite being set in mostly sterile, suburban environments… but I kinda think that was supposed to be the point.

And on the other end of the spectrum, there’s that YouTube video of a dog’s favorite Gumby chew toy being brought to life by it’s owner in a Gumby costume. I’ve lost track of the amount of times I’ve watched it, I love it so.

And then there’s freaking baseball. What a game.

#305 Chill Halloween

31 October 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Happy Halloween my friends. We had a laid back dinner with friends kinda night, but I had some good reads to help me keep the day all spooky and such.

Also, we had zero trick or treaters! What’s going on, modern day children? I even heard some kids trick or treat at the door right across from us, never to come by.

Now I’m stuck with the dangerous prospect of endless fun size candies around the house.

SEPTEMBER 2016

#245 Ceviche

01 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

I am a huge fan of ceviche. In between the fresh flavor of uncooked fish and the meatiness of cooked fish is cured fish.

The citrus was a bit strong on this one and I would’ve loved to add a bit more jalapeño heat. The fish texture came out great, though. I’m glad the guys at Newman’s recommended going with the snapper.

This also paired up pretty well with my leftover tortillas from yesterday, though some corn tortillas would’ve been nice too.

#246 Eugene Emeralds

02 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Congrats and good luck to the Eugene Emeralds on their playoff run, and a really good season after all. I’m glad we got to make it to a few games this year.

One of our marriage goals was to make it to four different Emeralds games, and we closed out the season with our fourth one. If I had to pick a favorite, I’d go with puppy night against Hillsboro a couple weeks ago.

#247 NEEDTOBREATHE

03 September 2016 // Bend, Oregon

On the unofficial last night of summer, we got to hang out at the park by the river with what felt like the entire city of Bend and watch a few really great bands put on a really great show.

There wasn’t a bad act in the lineup, but NEEDTOBREATHE was the headliner and so they brought some serious oomph with them on stage. I’ve heard from lots of people that they’re good live performers, and those people were right. Lately, I’ve been all about the song Happiness… the lyrics of that chorus telling me I wasn’t made for the simple life… that resonates the way a meaningful song does.

It’s all for you, in my pursuit of happiness.

#248 Sisters

04 September 2016 // Sisters, Oregon

So glad we were able to spend one of our last weekends of the summer in Sisters.

Food plus hikes and mountains plus campfires with roasted s’mores and garlic. Yes.

#249 Labor Day Weekend

05 September 2016 // Sisters, Oregon

Lets talk about this past Labor Day Weekend. Was it the best one of my life? I can’t really remember a past Labor Day off the top of my head, so probably!

We spent it sitting on this patio for hours and sipping chardonnay with coconut custard pie. Also, visiting Bend, camping at Sisters, listening to good music, roasting garlic by campfire, discovering amazing poke at Safeway of all places, and hiking to lakes.

This was a memorable summer. Lots of good. Lots of hard stuff. Lots of learning. It’s been a while since I’ve learned this much about myself. I’m glad we got to give this season a proper sendoff.

#250 Liberty Update

06 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Time to update our friends on one major bucket list item of ours… funding the rescue of a North Korean refugee.

One of our marriage goals is to raise $3,000 to fund the rescue of a refugee from North Korea to get safely out of China and into resettlement in the U.S. or in South Korea. We wanted to do this within our first 1,000 days of being married and we decided to make the year of 2016 our phase one. Raising the first half, or $1,500.

I’m happy to announce that this phase is complete and successful… and it’s all thanks to a ton of our friends and family who have helped contribute to our donation page or attend our various fundraising events that we’ve done. Here are some of the ways we’ve gotten to the amount so far: Everybody who pitched in $15 at our murder mystery party last Halloween, all those who helped give when we ran our half-marathon in May, everyone who paid at our charitable carbo-load the night before, lots of birthday gift donations on my birthday, and setting aside small portions of our paychecks.

Hats off to you! Now it’s time for phase two.

We’re about to launch a new fundraising page for the year ahead and you can see that it’s basically the same goal as last year. $1,500, or the second half of the rescue! We’d love it if you could give us a nice little boost to kick things off, and we’ll be brainstorming some other fun fundraising things we could put together soon.

#251 Beautiful Ruins

07 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

“The smaller the space between your desire and what is right, the happier you will be.”

–Jess Walter

Man, I loved this book. It doesn’t end with a pretty bow and leaves room for life to be unexpected and difficult, but it does end with optimism, hope, and redemption, which I wish I could say was true of more books I read. Beautiful is in its title and the book lives up to the adjective.

The storyline jumps… a lot. From Italy to LA to the Pacific Northwest and London. From the sixties to World War 2 to a year or two ago or a script that exists outside of time. The characters are well defined and mostly likable. You wonder how a story can give so much of itself away so early, but still have more places to go as you read on. This book and Homegoing were my two favorite summer reads.

#252 Glenwood with GCF

08 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Maybe it’s the place, maybe it’s the stage of life, but when we first moved up to Eugene, Deanna and I had a much harder time finding community than we expected. There was a lot of meeting people, “we should hang out” exchanging, with nothing ever really happening.

A few years later, we really value the friends we’ve made here and the bonds we’ve formed. We are far more thankful for the community we’ve managed to grow into over time. There are times in life where you meet people right and left and times where that happens way more slowly. Either way, though, you’ll always need people.

#253 Chicken Inasal

09 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Chicken adobo isn’t the only Filipino chicken dish worth knowing. Chicken Inasal is the regional dish of Iloilo, and for a roast chicken recipe, good execution makes all the difference. The meal itself is kind of simple… chargrilled chicken marinated in a blend of spices. The marinade blend is what sets it all apart, though.

The end product should be a flavorful anatto and lemongrass chargrilled chicken. Neither of those two ingredients are very beginner friendly, but their flavors are amazing when used well.

After I plated this, I decided to amp up the chargrilled feature by throwing it under the broiler for a bit. It charred the skin and improved the texture, but the first version was the more photogenic dish.

#254 Hellgate

10 September 2016 // Grants Pass, Oregon

One of the most fun things I’ve done since living in Oregon was going on the Hellgate jetboat ride. I’ve heard so many people who’ve done it talk it up. Rightfully so.

The jet boat goes thirty-six miles down the Rogue River and into Hellgate Canyon. It’s a lovely and scenic ride with the wind in your face and waving hi to all the fishermen.

After reaching Hellgate Canyon, we spun around to a boat-in only restaurant where we got bottomless mimosas, and a pretty full breakfast. Because what better way to wrap up a nice boat ride than with brunch?

Then then Hellgates open. Unfortunately for anyone who overindulged at brunch, the jet boat ride back is a bit more of a thrill ride. The captain steers the boat over as many choppy waters and into as many spins as they can manage. Everyone gets wet. Especially the guy in the first row who was celebrating his 75th birthday.

So much fun.

#255 Inasal Tacos

11 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Sunday afternoons are for no-rules. Alright, there’s one rule. Nothing that feels like work, and just spend time with people or doing inspiring things that birth new ideas and energy.

Today’s inspiration came in the form of Emiril’s Amazon show and looking through the pictures and words in what might be my new favorite cookbook. Oh and a nice can of passionfruit juice.

Feeling pretty inspired after that, I put together my leftover chicken inasal with some spicy papaya salad to make yet another Filipino style taco.

#256 Summerbier

12 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

With summer coming to a close a little too fast, I went to go buy up some of my favorite limited release summer beers before they went away and became impossible to find. Here are my top three from this year, all available in cans.

Oakshire Cucumber Belgian Ale – Not so much of a sour that it turns into a pickle beer, but a perfect mix of everything that’s in its name. It’s a summer afternoon beer, and I prefer not to have it with food, since it’s got an interesting taste of its own.

Anchor Brewing Meyer Lemon Lager – Much like the Cucumber Belgian, this is also a beer that hits the spot after a long day. It’s a mellow lager, which means it can kind of act as an afternoon session. The amount of lemon is just right.

Mazama Brewing Mosaic IPA – Hey, something from Corvalis that I like! And an IPA that I like! This is all kinds of unlikely. The hops that go into this beer are actually pretty flavorful and not bitterly repugnant. This isn’t an exclusive summer release, per se, but that’s when I think it goes best.

#257 Candied Jalapeño Cornbread

13 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

I seem to have a little knack for cornbread. I never made it prior to this year, but I’ve gotten some pretty happy feedback each time.

If that’s the case, I thought I should step my game up with candied jalapeño cornbread. Jalapeños plus sugar plus patience.

It was a success! And Deanna made some chili so it was a double win.

#258 Garden City

14 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

“We need to learn to embrace our potential and our limitations. Because both of them are signposts, pointing us forward into God’s calling on our life.”

–John Mark Comer

This was a good book to read as I look to re-enter the job market. Job hunting, to be honest, is one of my least favorite things to do.

Garden City offers a broader perspective on the role of work, the role of rest, and the bigger idea of working towards the reinvention of the world. I appreciated so much of this outlook on how as different as one person’s responsibilities might look from another person’s, all are part of the world being restored.

What I appreciated was how this book affirms how all jobs can be potentially significant when it comes to this task. It isn’t just the humanitarian, the political leader, or the child surgeon who gets the privilege of being part of changing the world, but really, almost all jobs and roles play a necessary role.

I’m also challenged by some of this book because I definitely have jack-of-all-trades tendencies, and Garden City explains very well why it’s important to do something well and to be dedicated to it. I’m definitely wired to be an experiencer, but deep down I agree it’s important to hone a skill to develop.

#259 Trivial

15 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Another pretty good trivia night in the bags.

I’m calling shenanigans on the trivia master’s use of Wikipedia for info, though.

#260 That Kinda Day

16 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

I know that based on my social media posts, one could easily believe I live a problem free life, driving fancy sports cars and sharing mimosas with my famous rapper friends without a worry or care. It’s a good life, no doubt, but here’s a humble reminder that it isn’t all gold flakes and tiramisu.

I spent most of today trying to put out a fire, helping a client get his urgent email back up and running after some web work got a little out of hand. I was in the office all day until I needed to go pick Deanna up from work and it felt like one thing after another. Unfortunately, this also meant Beignet had to wait on the patio for me to get home for an unusually long time. I took her to the dog park and when I got back I was ready to do absolutely nothing.

It was a long day with lots of surprises I wouldn’t have wanted, but somebody wise once said that once you realize the sets of problems other people face you would gladly accept your own. I think it might’ve been Lil’ Wayne. Sorry I couldn’t take your calls today, pal.

#261 Thor’s Well

17 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

This summer went by fast and slow. I saw some really difficult moments within my family but fell in Love with simple weekends with Deanna more and more. I seemed to go somewhere every weekend and yet I felt like I stayed home the entire year. This was the summer that contradicted itself entirely.

It’s over now, and it’ll take a while to get my head around everything that happened in the past few months. I do know that I’ve learned quite a bit about myself. These things will help me make better choices in the upcoming year when life gets a total makeover and when I’ll probably have to make more than one tough decision.

1 – I learned that I place an extremely high value on experiences. It’s really hard for me to be just satisfied with dissecting an idea with textbooks and theories, I need to actually try stuff out and do things. That means I have to find out what endeavors are right for me by trying out a variety of things and discovering what doesn’t work. Knowing that helps me be more patient with myself when it comes to figuring out what I want to do and more gracious with myself when things don’t go right.

2 – Related to that, I have an unusually high amount of energy for doing things and for variety. Doing the same thing all the time sounds like a death trap to me, and it takes zero effort for me to start planning my next idea. It’s been really important for me to learn this so I can be careful not to wear out other people around me, since few people are built with a similar energy. Knowing this has helped me be more compassionate to those closest to me, and has made me conscious that I need outlets for that energy.

3 – I thrive when I’m connected to a cause, when I can use my energy to get other people fired up for something that I sincerely believe matters. Times in my life where I’ve done really well have been when I’ve had a cause pretty centrally positioned in my life– North Korea, kids in South Africa, working at an autism center. I’ve put an incredible amount of effort this decade towards trying to find a role that fits me well that allows me to pour that energy into. That project still isn’t complete, but learning this has helped.

#262 The Fix Up

18 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

I’ve come to love cutting back on the things I own. Taking old clothes to be donated. Giving old books away to friends or selling them at Powell’s. I swear to you I didn’t just find out I’m dying. It’s just better in so many ways to own just enough… not more and not less.

I’m sure I’ll always have a few things I’ll accumulate quickly. The bookshelves will replenish themselves soon and it’s hard to say no to a useful kitchen gadget. I’ve spent most of my adulthood so far pretty low-budget, so I turned into an excellent scavenger. Hopefully I can keep up these new habits though for the benefit of other scavengers.

I got to spend a good amount of time today tidying up and I’m quite pleased with the look of our living room.

I don’t know when this change happened but I’ve come to love the look of my space when it’s all cleaned up and neat. Growing up, I was kind of a messy kid. Now, having a house with everything squared away feels weirdly energizing.

#263 Last Week Off

19 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

I have this week off, more or less. Some errands and odd jobs and freelance projects to tinker with, but mostly a week off.

Stopping myself from doing too much work this week. I can do this so easily when I start to get spare time. I like to take on a bunch of projects, and sometimes having nothing to do for a week gives my brain too much space to start taking on even more projects.

My goal right now is to not let that happen. Weeks like this don’t come by very often.

#264 GCF Welcome

20 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Spent some time welcoming new grad students onto campus. Here’s some of the things this week making me happy.

I’m loving the show Galavant. I don’t think I’ve laughed that hard at a TV show in a long time.

I love Rover. The Airbnb of pet sitting. We needed to find someone for Beignet this weekend while we’re in Austin. I hope to get myself listed there as a dog walker soon enough!

I loved watching the Marlins play for the first time on Monday since Jose Fernandez’s death. By now a bunch of people have seen headlines and replays of Dee Gordon hitting a home run on the first at bat any one of his teammates took after the tragedy, but watching it in real time was unbelievable. By far the most emotional oomph and heart I’ve ever seen out of a game, personally, and I’m glad I gave this a watch on Monday night. We all could do with some reminders of how human we are.

#265 Jeremy Visits Eugene

21 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

A visit from Jeremy wouldn’t be complete without taking him to get his shots.

#266 Andrew Pham

22 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Heads up, Eugene! If any of you are looking for a piano teacher or if you need somebody to play for you or accompany you at some event, Andrew Pham is your guy!

He and I got to take some headshots together to update his site and they are coming together.

#267 A Tale For The Time Being

23 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

“Life is fleeting. Don’t waste a single moment of your precious life. Wake up now! And now! And now!”

–Ruth Ozeki

This book. I’ve been mesmerized by it since reading it. I’m completely fascinated by the amount of invention in the idea of this book and the amount of vividness in the way it was executed.

Ruth Ozeki essentially wrote herself as a character, interacting with another character she invented. Oftentimes, this book hardly feels like a work or fiction and you genuinely feel like you’re with Ruth, reading the discovered diary of Naoko in Japan. It feels like all this is happening just off of Vancouver Island in real time, as you read, which is quite a feat. There are more magical elements like disappearing pages, alternate futures, ghosts and superpowers, and yet it still feels realer than some biographies I’ve read.

The character voices in this book were so vivid and likeable. There are some horrific moments, but also coming to terms. This book straddles between timelines, fiction and nonfiction, magical realism and naturalism, darkness and light so quickly. Overcoming duality seems to be at the center of these stories and they accomplish their goal. There are some heavy themes in here, but if you like fiction that provokes some thought, I can’t recommend this enough.

#268 Oregon Ducks

24 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

I’ve had the perk of getting Deanna and I into games for fifteen bucks the past couple years, but this will be our last season to take advantage of that.

Unfortunately our five game sample size gives us a losing record.

W vs. Colorado, 2014
W vs. Georgia State, 2015
L vs. Utah, 2015
L vs. Washington State, 2015
L vs. Colorado, 2016

Always leave things better than you found them. I love this idea. Sadly this won’t be the case with Ducks football. We came in during their best season ever.

Anytime Marcus Mariota wants to take a gap year from the NFL for grad school is fine by me.

#269 Joy Worship

25 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Over two years ago, Deanna started telling me that she wanted to get involved with a worship music team. She’d never really done it before, except for a little stint with a college gospel choir. She just felt real strongly that it was something she was being pulled towards. When she told me this we just moved to Eugene and hadn’t even found a church up here yet.

On Sunday she supplied our church’s music team with some female vocals. It was basically Sister Act.

Sometimes, you know that you’re called to do something but then you have to wait a while. Don’t rush, don’t quit. Just stay ready

#270 Grad School: Last Round

26 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Today, I started my very last quarter of grad school. Ever feel restless with your current life? I do.

I wish I could say that I was a little more excited for the term. To be honest, though, I’m feeling pretty ready to be finished with school and ready to be working full time.

I look forward to have a job that involves helping people more directly- not to say you can’t through academics, but that’s so not the way I’m built. Lately, I’ve felt a bit like a bench warmer when hearing people describe their jobs- especially ones where they get to work directly with people. Even when I hear about their really stressful situations, I remember how restless I get with theories and theses and I get a pretty bad case of put-me-in-coach!

At the end of summer, I came super close to ending early to take a job I would have loved and given my all. And it didn’t quite work out, so now I’ve got an anticlimactic feeling going into the term. But I know the reminder I need.

The way to get to where you wanna be starts with giving the present your very best.

I have ten weeks to do as good of a job with my current work as I can possibly do. And even if it’s not an apparent high stakes situation, I’ll have students to help learn about the world… and who knows what any of them might do with that knowledge. These ten weeks are ones I’ll never get back once they’re finished, so I’d better make them count.

Contentment can be a challenge for me, but it’s important to learn. But if I can learn some things about it over the next ten weeks, then it’ll be time unwasted.

#271 Beef Tenderloin with Garlic Horseradish

27 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

This week’s challenge dinner was a little bit labor intensive. Prep took a bit longer than usual. I sacrificed a pepper grinder in the process. And it was all worth it.

These two items paired together beautifully. I don’t know which component I liked better, the tenderloin or the garlic horseradish. Considering that one’s a meat and the other’s a sauce, I guess that says a lot about how well slow roasted garlic and horseradish meld… not that this is any surprise to me. Those are two of my favorite tastes.

I didn’t really nail this dish. I slightly overcooked the tenderloin and reducing the cream for the sauce got really messy. But it was still so satisfying in spite of all its flaws, meaning it’ll be really worthwhile to gain some mastery of it.

#272 Short Haired Dee

28 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Deanna bet on the Ducks this weekend and had to cut her hair all off.

Kidding.

She did cut off about a foot though to donate. Stylish and charitable!

Deanna now looks the way she did when we started dating, and that’s the circle of life pretty much.

#273 Texas Sized Pregame

29 September 2016 // Eugene, Oregon

Leave the dog at the sitter– check.

Pack up more books than you have days on this trip– check.

Phils cap to take care of morning hair– check.

Coffee, coffee, coffee– check.

Just had a fully loaded Thursday and still found some time to pack up the Osprey.

Onwards to Texas, amigos. Got a 2 AM start to the day’s journey

#274 Marble Falls

30 September 2016 // Marble Falls, Texas

“That scene still haunts me. The explosion and then five minutes. If only I… If only I… and then the capsule hits the water, it’s all over. Then you realize it’s all the same– five minutes, five days, 50 years. It’s all the same, for it’s over before we realize…. It may be the last time… stop, appreciate the blessings you have. ‘If only I could’- you still can, you’ve got today.”

–Rabbi Berger

The New York Times ran a really interesting piece on Rabbi Kenneth Berger this week. The Rabbi gave a Yom Kippur sermon the year of the Challenger Explosion that contained the above quote, reflecting what it would be like to stare at death from five minutes away. Only a few years later, in 1989, the Rabbi and his wife experienced exactly what he preached about, being killed in a plane crash over the Midwest.

Time is a crazy thing. This year I’ve had to say goodbye to two family members who’ve lived very long and full lives, and yet they felt too short. I’ve had to wait and countdown the weeks until grad school is finished, and that feels like forever. And all while this is going on, I’ve got no idea how much time I’ve got left.

Something about life’s brevity and uncertainty gives it so much value, and it gives today so much value. There are nights where it’s tempting to want to go from one errand to the next, connecting the dots into the next day. You’ve only got so much time to do that before you don’t get to anymore. Not with the people around you right now. Not in the place you’re in right now.