If you've read one blog this last year, I hope it was mine!

So it's been a whole year, to the day, since I first created this blog and made my first post. And what an incredible year it has been, and how fast it has flown by.

I've been halfway around the world, and back again, at least 3 times.

I've driven around pretty much the entire state of Wisconsin.

I've been in a Hollywood movie, and several British TV shows.

I've shared my first proper apartment, and embarked upon a real job.

I created a blog, and maintained it for a year, with 146 posts (an average of 2.8 posts a week!). And people actually read it!

I've had an incredible year; I've been to lots of cool new places, and met tons of great new people. And yet, I'm not really any further along career wise than last year. In fact in some ways, I'm further behind. I'm not in the US where I should be, I don't have a visa yet. Heck, I don't really have a job lined up.

And I don't suppose it helps that at 22 years old, a college graduate, I don't really know what I want to do. People keep telling me I can do anything. Point me to the job and I'll take it. But still, I don't have a game plan, no real future in sight.

Despite my academic success and the degree I earned, I'm gravitating more and more towards pursuing an M.F.A in Acting and perhaps Screenwriting. I've never been able to shake it from my heart, from being four years old, and it may be time to embrace it fully.

If I can afford it that is.

And get in.

In the meantime, I'll keep blogging, keep writing, keep sending out resumes/CVs and cover letters, and see what happens. I'll always have friends and family, across the world, no matter what. I just have to make sure I keep myself busy!

Riding High On Waves; Crashing Down Into Them

That's what Jet-Skiing (or Wave-Running) is all about. And boy is it fun! I have seriously never had so much fun, while cursing so much at the same time. It's intensely thrilling, surprisingly physically demanding, and rather expensive, but it is totally worth it.

Almost every time I have been on a family holiday to the US, my Granddad and I have opted to go jet-skiing. As I said, it isn't cheap, and each time it has required some thinking about with regards to the cost. Its usually about $80 an hour.

But each and every time we've done it, it has been totally worth it. It began with me on the back of my Granddad's ski, clinging on for dear life as he bounced over the waves. One time, he thought he would copy the guide, and do donuts in the bay in Sarasota. Needless to say, it didn't work, and he somehow managed to flip the jet ski, throwing us both into the ocean.

Then there was time he fell off the back of the jet ski, but made it look like a really cool dismount. There was time we took my friend, and accidentally left him behind because he couldn't see without his glasses.

There was the time Nicole and I took a dolphin tour on Jet Skis, and got incredibly close to some bottlenoses in the Atlantic.

I have some incredible memories from these experiences, and I wouldn't/couldn't have done it without my Gdad. So thanks Gdad!

This last holiday, we almost didn't go. The costs just seemed to be too much, not enough time, just not worth it. We agonized about it for a little, and the decided, it may be the last chance. So we went for it. 5 minutes in, I was sold.

A nice smooth cruise out of the inlet at 65mph, and then you hit the waves in the ocean. Boom. And sometimes it really is like that. Boom. Or crack. The force at which you crash into some of the waves is just incredible. There is no where to go, except into the wave. And bang, it's like hitting a brick wall, except you get a face full of ocean spray too!

Then there's the times you hit the waves just perfectly, and off you fly. You go pretty high, for a fair amount of time, when you hit the crest at 60+mph! It's worse if you hit it at an angle, as I did numerous times... then you come down at an angle, and you're inches away from being thrown off, gripping the handles until your knuckles are white. But the thrill of that weightless flight is indescribable.

Then there's time when you're leaning down to see how fast you're going, and you fail to see the wave coming. Then you hit your own lip on the handle bars! I did that. Not once, but twice. Smart huh?

My muscles may have ached the following day, but it was totally totally worth it. If you have never tried it, I heartily recommend it- you're really never too old for it!

You know you're back in England, when everyone is talking about the weather!

Or, when you're turning lights on at midday because its dark.

Or, when you're shivering in September.

As any good Brit, I do love a good complaint about the weather. Today is no exception.

Having returned from 95 degree weather in the US, to 45 degree weather at home, things were never going to go well. But when you wake up to find extremely blustery conditions outside, along with torrential rain, flood warnings across the North West, roads closed and trains delayed, it really hits home. Home sucks.

I went from running along the beach on the Atlantic coast before 9am (because it got too hot after that), barefoot, dipping my toes in the warm ocean, to timing my run in between downpours of rain, and jogging fast enough to make sure I kept my muscles warm, it was that cold outside. I'm told the rain and wind outside today were worse than when Hurricane Irene skirted the Myrtle Beach coast..no, seriously. The rain was worse.

I was never really a huge fan of going to the seaside; the sand everywhere, and salty water. But beach.. I miss you now.



 

 

 

 

 

 

Mayer Mondays

Mr. Soul Man Mayer Hawthorne is giving away a freebie every Monday leading up to his new album release.

Today's is an awesome DJ set he did yesterday at Do Over in LA. It makes you move, no doubt. Check it out here.

The Time Packing and Jet Lag Pays Off!

So I hate packing; no matter how much I do it, it never gets any easier. It doesn't matter what case I use, whether I use the rolling technique, or whether I actively cut out clothing I want to take, it's still frustrating.

Granted, it doesn't help that I have a ton of clothes, scattered across the globe in multiple locations. Nor does it help that wherever I go I have favourite clothes I want to wear, or that I must have a nice selection of clothes to choose from (such a girl). My case is always heavy, usually bordering around the 49 pound mark. The limit is 50. But whatever, guys clothes are heavier than girls!

That's just the case I check too. I'm that annoying guy that wheels a small suitcase with him, as well as carrying a backpack! In my defense, it's the only way to carry all the electronics for my laptop, and camera etc. etc. And reading material too. Can't go anywhere without books.

So because of that, I try and make sure I'm sat at the back of the plane, just so I can get on first and have overhead space for my bag. I'm not greedy though- my backpack always goes under the seat. I just love limiting my legroom even further you see.

So I'm usually Zone 3 boarding, about halfway down the scale. I don't do what the woman coming to Manchester did...board with Zone 1 when my ticket says Zone 6! What's more frustrating is that US Airways let her get away with it! argh!

Well while I still need to worry about packing, and jet lag, I know longer need to worry about finding space on the plane and avoiding zone 5! Why? Well because all my frequent flying has paid off, tipped over the edge by a little side trip to Memphis!

I am now a Silver Preferred Dividend Miles Member! Ok, so it might not sound exciting to you, but to me its awesome! It means that I get a priority booking number, priority check in, priority security lane (that's right, I get to wave to everyone waiting in the long line!) and can check two bags for free any time I travel. Zone 2 boarding on all flights!

Unless......unless I get upgraded to First Class! Because on any flight within the US/Canada/Mexico, if there is an empty seat in first class 2 days before the flight, I get it! For free! Oh yehhhhh!

And that's how I found out about my Silver Status. Free upgrade. Unfortunately, it was only on a short flight, but still! Bigger seat, more leg room, better service! :) I just got to make sure I keep travelling to make full use of this perk!

Mind you, I'm not really sure if I belong in First Class. As soon as I sat down, the woman next to me said "So how did you get in first class then, you must fly a lot!"... Apparently I don't look like first class material!! Better work on my act.