The adventure will just have to wait a day. It’s surely the best thing. A little sad, but it will allow for some last minuite items to come together. Just updating to let everyone know.
Thanks for the couple of people who bought a tank of gas. I wasn’t sure anyone would, but it means alot that people have.
Well if it’s 11:35pm and I am awake and writing this blog post. You guessed it, I won’t be leaving on time. I have been going back and forth on this decision for some time. I am just now coming in from the garage after spending most of the day finalizing many loose ends. There is much more planning going into a trip like this then one can imagine. For instance, something as simple as a kick stand height can make or break the safety of the trip.
Tonight I was blessed to spend some great time with my dad (Gary Oakes) and a friend (Matthew Tomlin). Together the 3 of us were able to iron out all of the loose ends relating to the safety of the PKMUL and some of the comfort issues as well. Dad was even able to modify a kickstand for me, to accommodate my manly stature. Ok, I just wanted to write it, I know I’m short. Many of the issues I have had with the bike have been related to my height by the way. Something that most folks won’t even think about. I am also waiting for a replacement windshield. I did have another one I could use in a pinch, but… due to a UPS screw up it didn’t arrive. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise? The Lord watches over all of us, in ways we surely don’t understand at the time.
The plan is to leave on Sunday morning. This was the consensus of everyone, we figured it would be best from this point. This will also give me a day to do some riding to make sure everything does stay connected and not fall off.
I won’t be as far as I would like as quickly as I would like but it does allow for an additional sense of security before I embark on this new adventure.
Reflecting of the events of this coming weekend has put things in perspective. The task at hand really began to weigh upon my thoughts. This coming Saturday I leave for a 5 week or less adventure. For some reason I want to ride from Texas, to Deadhorse, Alaska. Then turn around and go from Deadhorse, Alsaka to Key West, Florida and then back to Texas. Total trip will be about 13,100 miles.
Why would I want to do this? Believe me I have been asking myself this more and more as the days come closer. Why would I be willing to leave Brandi and Ollie for so long? Well consider it a voyage of discovery. When I first planned the trip and came up with the idea, I was very unhappy at my job and many other aspects of what my life has become.
Relationships with some friendships have dissolved, people have moved on. Real friends have been found. Do I have to prove something? At the time, I think the intention was I felt like I had something I needed to prove. However that is no longer the case. Fortunately through the loving grace of God, the individuals have been exposed for who they are, so what is there to prove? Nothing.
So why are you still going? Well, the more and more I look at the overall idea of the trip, it’s an amazing opportunity to see the wonderful world that God has graced us with, and a time away to be immersed in the beauty that abounds. Can’t you just go to Big Bend or Yellowstone to see that? True, however there is something about a man and his modern day steed that harkens back to the days of discovery, the days where as far as the eye can see there is undiscovered land and place to explore.
In the modern world, with all the technology so many miracles are explained away. My journey is a voyage of self-discovery. The voyage will be a discovery of the natural world around me, discovery of the friendly faces that I will see along the path, and a discovery to see if I have the heart to tackle such a daunting task.
What happens if something happens? No idea, but I do know that in this type of riding, you need to be willing to take it day by day and just roll with it as ya go.
My plan is to document the trip using a camera and a video camera on the bike. I would like to do a daily diary and maybe post it with comments. It really depends on internet access, and other connectivity issues. However I don’t want to spend the whole trip on the computer, I want to just immerse and relax. My goal is to be in Anchorage, Alaska for the Fourth of July celebrations. Daylight and time zone are on my side. I will be going wherever the road takes me, and wherever the Lord guides. I do hope for a few wrong turns.
It’s Sunday morning, and I should be at church. Yesterday I took the PKMUL out for a spin, about 200 miles. Nothing fell off, so that’s always good but there seemed to be lots of little things I need to now resolve. I have a wind problem and a vibration issue.
Oh then some computers broke, so why does it always seem to come down to the last min. Probably some issues on my part, but I think it’s another opportunity for satan to attack a weary heart. Of course, I am concerned about the trip, so that weighs on my heart, but all in all its Jesus that will help bring me back safely.
Just some thoughts for a Sunday morning.
To be able to serve, you must understand; to understand, you learn; before learning, you must be able to trust; to trust, you must both accept others and feel acceptance; and finally, to accept others and be accepted by others, you must first be open.
I got the official word. It’s time for a change, and a great one at that. Can’t ya tell, I AM EXCITED!!!!?
Ater just under 12 years doing the same thing on 2 different teams, I know have a new oppurtunity to build new relationships and start fresh. I got me a new job!
Happy Dance! Happy Dance! April 12th is my start date!
many years ago, a 10-year-old boy walked up to the counter of a soda shop and climbed onto a stool. he caught the eye of the waitress and asked, “how much is an ice cream sundae?”
“fifty cents,” the waitress replied. the boy reached into his pockets, pulled out a handful of change, and began counting. the waitress frowned impatiently. after all, she had other customers to wait on.
the boy squinted up at the waitress. “how much is a dish of plain ice cream?” he asked. the waitress sighed and rolled her eyes. “thirty-five cents,” she said with a note of irritation.
again, the boy counted his coins. at last, he said, “i’ll have the plain ice cream, please.” he put a quarter and two nickels on the counter. the waitress took the coins, brought the ice cream, and walked away.
about ten minutes later, she returned and found the ice cream dish empty. the boy was gone. she picked up the empty dish—then swallowed hard.
there on the counter, next to the wet spot where the dish had been, were two nickels and five pennies. the boy had had enough for a sundae, but he had ordered plain ice cream so he could leave her a tip.
- source: mr. little john’s secrets to a lifetime of success
in a world that tells us to “get all we can,” every so often it’s good to be reminded to “give something away.”
As I end the day I wanted to reflect on an opportunity I had to cross paths with an old friend, or maybe a foe. It all depends on what side you were on in the situation way back when. It was my youth pastor when I was in high school. The long and short of it was a situation arose where I left the church home that I had grown up in and moved on. I then moved on, literally. This was my kick to the curb, my moment of emptiness, my moment of desertion. As I moved on and moved to another state I held a great deal of resentment and anger toward this individual. Some deserved, mostly not. It has taken a chance encounter and a tremendous amount of prayer to begin the healing process in my own life. As I grew older and away from the situation my heart began to heal and the door to the memory’s had begun to seal shut. Finally I forgave my youth pastor and chalked the situation up to youthful ignorance on his part not mine.
Tonight at dinner I had the Mushu Pork, it was quite a show to watch Dennis our waiter give it his all. He is and blessed man, and I prayed for him tonight at and during dinner. I hoped that he see the forgiveness in our tones and would gleam a bit of peace when he was overhearing our conversation. It was 16 years since I had seen my Youth Pastor. He hasn’t changed. A bit older, alot wiser but still the same youthful spirit. While talking about old times, he mentioned that he was reflecting and recalling his time as my youth pastor, he didn’t remember the specifics, but he did remember that there was an issue and then I just disappeared. He didn’t remember the reason or even understand them, but he said God had placed a burden on his heart that he needed to apologize for anything he might have done. Not quite what I was expecting, but something I will take and run with. My youth pastor might not realize or understand the impact that he had made in my life both in a positive and negative way, but one thing I have come to understand is that God provide peace and comfort, but only in his time. I forgive my youth pastor and I asked for his forgiveness as well for projecting some of my situational anger toward him and others.
As you grow in life, perspective is key. Once you begin to move away from the situation you gain wisdom and depth. As I was leaving the dinner, I was thanking God for the opportunity to allow our paths to cross. My youth pastor is a good man of God. I see that now. I am now able to example multi-dimensional relationships and investigate them with conviction. I am happy and content with how things have turned out.
I look forward to a future meeting and an opportunity to once again fellowship with my youth pastor. When you reach this, thank you for once again touching my heart. Thank you for brining emotions to the surface that I am finally able to address. Thank you for being available and willing to examine what you might have done to cause the situation to happen, and most of all, thank you for saying you are sorry. You have truly touched my heart.
Today, will hopefully be the start of a new day and new oppurtunity. For the past 11+ years I have been an SP/SE/SEE/EE in the Windows Platforms Team working in the network specility. Being specilized in 1 area for so long is good and bad at the same time. Good in the sense that it allows you to become really good at what you do, however it’s bad because it also limits your exposure to other things.
Today I had an interview for a new position within MSFT. I think I did ok. Time will tell. I will know more in a few weeks. Brandi and I have alot of things planned for the next 2 years and right now we are not sure how it will all play out. Only God knows the final outcome.
I ask for Your wisdom during the oppurtunities of the day. If it is Your will, I ask that it be done.