updated bucket list

1. Become a registered nurse and use my skills in different countries
2. Run a marathon
3. Rock climb.. outside
4. Learn to speak another language
5. Climb a mountain
6. Watch the Olympics live
7. Cross country ski
8. Become a confident sewer
9. Learn how to make dad's BBQ
10. Own all Disney movies
11. Go wine tasting with my friends
12. Go to a Sasquatch
13. Own a horse and ride consistently.. again
14. Have a pen pal
15. Go on a road trip across the US
16. Learn how to play a song on the piano (preferable white houses)
17. Have a garden
18. Learn about every religion
19. Kiss someone I love during fireworks
20. Have a library
21. Still hold hands when I'm old
22. Find a four leaf clover
23. When I can afford it: eat only "happy meat" and organic
24. Go on a picnic somewhere hidden
25. Own a legit camera and know how to use it
26. Go to Mardi Gras
27. Be a foodie for 3 months
28. Make the Portland book
29. Donate blood
30. Open a hostel/ manage one
31. Go to a semi-big horse race and wear a big hat/ fascinator
32. Go to a TED talks
33. Have a get away home, probably in the mountains
34. Continue to add to my volunteering experience

Travel Bucketlist.. in order
1. South America
2. Antartica
3. New Zealand
4. Africa
5. South Africa
6. China
7. Asia
8. Russia
9. Europe

Accomplished:
-skydiving (March 2008)

-White water rafting (January 2009)

-living in another country (2009-2010)

-Jump off a cliff into deep water (2010)

-learned to drive a manual (Spring 2010)

-Watch the sunset and sunrise in one day (summer 2010)
Sunrise: Delicate arch, UT
Sunset: middle of no where Utah and I have to give some credit to the person who remembered this was on my bucket list and made it happen.

-Crater lake (August 2010)

-Snowboard Whistler (March 2011)

Whistler: check off the bucket list

Bucket list #11.. snowboard whistler

My best friend miss Rena Murray decided some adventure was needed in her life and packed up her newly established life in Vancouver, BC and move it to Whistler for this year's season. Taking full advantage of this, I drove myself the 7 hours to be in the presence of solid friends, snow and an atmosphere full of freedom, a feeling that was nonexistent for me during this past term. Rena also lives with my other fabulous friend Cori, 2 other Canadians, an aussie and the token pro snowboarder so the week was social to say the least.

Why is was Whistler on my bucket list? 

I've been snowboarding for a long time and I'm quite a fan of it. Mountains make me feel small, alive, carefree, happy, at home and even contributes to my belief in God. It's one of the few things that lets me release and actually clears my wandering mind. Whistler is famous for a reason, epic terrain for all your snowy needs, so I had to experience that at some point in my life. My experience? It was more then I could ask for. I got to ride with my good friend Riley Merrell which was amazing in it's self. He showed me some of his favorite spots and got to catch up whilst taking the "peak to peak" gondola. Whistler gave me three blue bird days and for free thanks to Cori (yes I'm incredibly blessed). To give you an idea of the size.. It took four lifts to get to the top and when we decided to ride all the way back to the village it took a solid 45 minutes.. riding hard. Surreal. Mr. Rasman, Whistler local and who's job is to literally snowboard (must be nice minus all those damn emails) even said "I've been riding this mountain for 10 years and I still find things that I haven't ridden". YUP.

The village itself is awesome, people from all over the world with different ascents all coming together in the celebration of beautiful mountains :) No doubt will I be back.

Portland, Oregon AKA Home of the Hipsters

So when my house was looking for a new room mate in December we got this reply to our ad. I thought I'd share the hilarity of the essence of Portland hipster..

Hey there! So my name is Ben, I'm interested in the place. I live in SW currently and want to move to the East side for many reasons, especially that most of the people I know and shops I visit are there. I work in Oldtown and at PSU, most of what I do is photography related math problems. Commuting is by bicycle only, and bicycle repair is by me only, and I love it that way (despite distance!). I recently purchased a big scooter for out of town trips. I'm very into ceramics, knitting, sewing, fixing things, photography, cold weather, and glaciated volcanoes (hence the scooter, there's just one glaciated volcanoe within bicycling distance). I cook for myself and want to learn new things in that arena. I'm lively but quiet about it, given a choice I'd rather play capture the flag in a park instead of drink beer. Or, both at the same time! Personally not so much into TV, sensationalism, consumerism, waste. Looking for a nice home where people share laughs and meals and other fun things, not on a schedule but rather just... you know... human.