A Boat Update

Hello, few people who read this blog. How are you? I hope all is well. I thought I'd give you and update on my boat progress. Or boats, I should say as at this point I have two pending. One is at my Dad's shop. It's red and was the one I was given by my Uncle Cruz. The other, given to me by a neighbor of my Uncle David, is in Los Ranchos I believe and that neighbor is looking for the paperwork for it. It is pretty much ready to sail and all it needs is it's papers. It is green. I'm am very thankful for both of them.

I have recently began to sand my boat which is currently tucked safely away at Noble Automotive. We'll call her "Red" for now. I have a name in mind to give her when she is finished. As soon as I can get the pictures off my phone, I shall be sure to share them with you. I am doing the sanding with 120 grit sandpaper by hand as was recommended by the man who owns the auto body shop across the street from my Dad. As soon as I can find his card, I will put it up because he has been very kind to me and my family so far and does wonderful work where the cosmetics of cars are concerned.

The first step, which I am sorry to say is only partway done right now, is to sand the entire hull. I'm not sure to what extent I should sand her down to, so I'm waiting to see what my Dad's friend has to say. I think some point soon I should look into procuring or building a trailer from scratch. Most likely it will be the latter. I am somewhat experienced with building things from scratch and though the trailer might not come out pretty, I'm confident that it could come out to be street legal and safe.

I'm excited to get one of my boats out on the water. I'm confident that it will happen before this summer is out.

In other news, I have finished the first draft of one of my backlogged essays and I am beginning to edit it. I am also close to finishing the source material for the final one. I do not intend to let my academic probation go on for too long. In fact, I am hoping to finish everything needed before my financial deadlines.

I'm really enjoying the source material for the last one. It's a great read. I highly recommend Leo Africanus by Amin Maalouf. An excellent story of adventure! I really identify with the main character and it's just so much fun.

This passing week was a difficult one to manage, but in the end is a victory. I learned much and I am excited about the prospects of the weeks to come.

Much love,
Nathan

PS Uploaded the pictures. Here's my work:

The Challenge

I feel deeply inspired today. Yesterday I read this: http://findinglogos.blogspot.com/2011/06/practice-and-passion-are-all-youll-ever.html?spref=fb and it made me start thinking about what I would like to excel in. It made me think about what I'm willing to do to achieve it. Today I watched this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir3m6y7JXF0&feature=share which was also posted by the same person. This video helped me get over the inertia I had in regards to taking action

As optimistic a person I am, I have a tendency to really put a lot of stuff in my way in regards to achieving my goals. I tend to find really good reasons NOT to do something. So when I read Camilo's blog discussing the idea that all I need to do is practice until I can reach a certain threshold of hours, I thought, "Excellent! How inspiring! Too bad I can't do this." I knew that it made sense from all of my metaphysical, pseudo-religious truth that I have discovered in my life time, but I had serious doubts in my ability to do it. I have tons of good ideas and plenty of good intentions, but I often think that I just don't have the right stuff to push me through at the end of the day. For a person who wants to be brave and courageous, I often give into my anxieties.

However, I know (in my knowledge of truth) that I do not need to be ready to take on the journey. If adventures were only open to those who were already totally prepared then there would be no need of adventure because there would be nothing to teach.

So I am setting myself a challenge. To track the hours that I decide to train in my pursuits. There are a few things that stand out that I really want to become proficient in and so I think that I will fix those as goals for myself. Goals may change as the journey unfolds.

Today I'm calling my Tio David about the boat that his friend and neighbor is trying to get rid of. Once I obtain a boat capable of sailing I will start logging the hours I spend on training in that discipline. I'm very excited about the way I have attracted this into my life and I'm confident that this will work out well.

One of the other disciplines I hope to train in is writing. I have the capacity to tell great stories, write philosophical essays, and expose my poetic heart. For the longest time my excuse for not engaging in writing anymore is that I'm not good enough at it. So then the answer is that I must practice and this challenge is a perfect opportunity.

I have another goal. It feels silly to think about it because I have doubts in my lack of physical skill. Despite this, I would like to become a better swordsman. I would like to learn cutlass and broadsword and spear and all sorts of hand to hand weaponry. I am attracted to it for some reason though I often feel awkward in the endeavor. So I'm debating putting this up as a goal, but nonetheless I think I should track it.

I really liked the video's talk about leaps of faith. I know deep down that what I need will be provided or inspired in me; that a way will be made out of no way if I only begin. I want to hold onto that feeling I had while watching it. The feeling of motivation that pushed me to even write this post.

Time to go leap.

So it’s birthday time again. Every year I like to try and look back at where I was and what I was doing then.

And every year I draw a blank.

Though, now that I think about it, I can recall it. Of course, having something like a knee surgery on April 1^st sorta helps. I think that on April 6^th 2010, I was really fired up to go to a Vietnamese restaurant that my friends the Amici* family showed me. Of course I’m still all wrapped up in the Velcro-Elastic straps to keep my knee in the brace and I’m also still doped up on a sufficient amount of pain meds, but I’d be damned if I didn’t get some of that Pho!

And of course, my doctor had said that I was not to bear any weight on that knee at all. I had opted for a walker instead of crutches on the count that usually when I use crutches that my under-arms are tenderized to rawness. So I thought that a one-legged hobble in a walker would be easier. My sore arms eventually taught me better.

(Plus Side: My arms got BUFF!)

I’m surprised at myself. I usually can’t remember anything worth a darn. It’s like on New Year’s Eve how I can’t ever remember what I was doing last New Year’s Eve, wondering why it’s so hard to remember what you did 364 days ago.

The alcohol most likely has something to do with it, I’d recon.

In any case, I’m surprised that this year, I didn’t get the one question that infamously seems to follow my birthdays:

I always wonder how to answer that. I never seem to be able to come up with anything witty.

It's a weird question to begin with.

You see, in my opinion your age-ness doesn’t really kick in until you’re at least mid-way through your new age.

Or at least until you can remember the new year you’ve added on a consistent basis.

One day I might even figure out what year it is.

(A note: You may have noticed a fair ammount of variation in the drawings on the blog. It is because I'm still trying things out while also trying not to steal outright the style of Clara of Clara-fication. Reading her blog inspired me to try my hand at one myself. Give it a read HERE!)

Hold on to thy Butts

Hi! I'm Nathan. This is a blog that will encapsulate my thoughts, feelings, and chronicle my escapades, hijinks, and adventures.

I can't promise good writing all the time...or even entertainment.

...but I can at least promise you a waste of time and that's gotta be worth something? Right?

I'll at least try to spell things right, but don't hold your breath. It is what it is.