Cyberstalking is Fun with Good ol' Mike

Ok, let's rubknock the rest of these out.

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member

About five years ago, I visited Europe by myself to see my friends Matt and Michelle, who were both living in Austria at the time. From Austria, the three of us made a short trip to Amsterdam.

While we were there, I requested we visit my great aunt. Tante Agnes! (The lady on the right, next to the chubby guy in orange.)



Though she barely speaks English, she's super fun and spunky. She had us over for dinner one night. We learned a little Dutch, talked about things to do in Holland and may or may not have had a bit too much wine. Tee hee.

Day 28 - A picture of something you’re afraid of

When I was about 10 years old, my dad and some friends spontaneously went to the beach one afternoon. While bodyboarding, I got caught in a rip current and almost drowned. For the next 5 or so years, I was deathly afraid of waves. Specifically, I was convinced a giant tidal wave was going to come and drown us.



I wouldn't say I'm afraid of that now, but I do have a healthy... awareness of the power of the ocean. The only real downside of that is it affects my surfing. I'll never be any good because I'm not willing to get out there in the big swells.

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile

Pictures of my cats always get me. I hate dealing with cat hair and kitty litter. And I wanted to get rid of all four of them when I realized they ruined my brand new couch, but I still love em.

Mark sent me this pic while I was in New Orleans. This is Elvis, sunning in the kitchen.



Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss

I'm going to cheat and mention two people. Two of my oldest and best friends, Matt and Michelle.



I met both of them around 1995, when I worked at Toys R Us. Matt was my friend from work, and he kept trying to get me to like his friend Michelle. We never got along until the night we realized that we both loved the Smashing Pumpkins. We've been music buds ever since.

I see both of them about once a year, but I miss just having them around and ready to hang out any given evening.

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book

I tried to find it to take a picture of it, but I think it's buried deep in my garage. My favorite book is definitely Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut.



It's a hoot. The story takes place a million years in the future, where people have evolved in to seal-like creatures. The story is so random and preposterous, I couldn't even tell you the main plot. I read it like 10 years ago; I should read it again soon.

Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change

I thought about posting a picture of the world, but that's a bit much. Let's try something smaller, like my living room.



Since I've moved here, I've wanted to redo the fireplace and paint the walls. I'd also like to replace the stereo cabinet and redo the wiring. I've just been too busy working (ok, and having fun).

Oh yeah, and there's that leak in the roof above the tv. Should probably have that one looked at. :)

Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget

In the late 80's, my family moved from a beautiful, old San Diego community called Tierra Santa to a terrible, newly built community called Rancho Penasquitos. I'm convinced that everything that is wrong with America can be found in that terrible armpit of a community.

The year we moved, I began 6th grade at Black Mountain Middle School.



(Note: This is what it looks like now. It looked totally different back then.)

My years there, 6th through 8th grade, were three of the worst years of my life. I was bullied, ignored, lonely and just plain awkward. High School was a little better, but it wasn't until after High School that my life really began.

I should note that I don't ever want to actually forget those years. They made me a stronger person and they built character. Sometimes I think about times like that and I think about now and realize that I must be on the right track.

Day 19 - A picture and a letter (either a letter of the alphabet, but you must explain; or a real letter)

"A letter?" I thought. Then something came to mind. A long time ago, when Mark and I first started living together, we would watch Nick at Nite at the end of the day. At the time, late-night programming on that channel included timeless classics like the Dick van Dyke Show, Bewitched (the black and white episodes) and the Mary Tyler Moore show. We both thought it was fun that Mary Tyler Moore had a giant red M on her wall.

So one day, one of us bought a wooden M from a craft store with the intention of painting it red. It was up on our wall for about a decade. When we moved, it was shoved in a cabinet in the kitchen where it snapped in half. But we still have it. I don't think I'll ever put it up again, but I don't think I'll throw it away, either.

Today is brought to you by the letter M.

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you

"This Precious Time" I just discovered today that this song is originally a Mama and the Papas song, but I know it as a Barry McGuire song.



I heard this song a few months ago and was totally inspired by it.

Well, I should be out seeking
Instead of hiding
Yeah, I should be out laughing
Instead of crying, crying, crying

When you no longer hear me
And your eyes can't see
What this precious time
Means to someone like me

Oh, I wanna start living
Life's for the taking
And I've gotta start living
If I wanna be tasting, tasting, tasting
This precious time

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life in the past year

I can't live without my iPhone!



Ok, I probably could, but life would suck. The iPhone has changed my life immensely, especially over the past year. I do almost all of my LiveJournalling, Facebooking, Tweeting and emailing from this badboy.

I've also started to get a little bit in to photography because of the included high res camera.

I'm a total Apple fanboy and proud of it!