Today at work I had a conversation with one of my coworkers that has totally been an asset to me for starting to think outside the box about Christianity.  My buddies name is Juan and he is originally from Peru, he’s been in the states for a few years with his wife.  Today I don’t even remember how we got on the topic, I think we were talking about philosophy or something and he made this statement to me “we live in a generation of celebrities, there are no more heroes”.  

We talked about it for a while and I realized that he was totally right.  We idolize celebrities, people who make a lot of money and party hard and do drugs.  Wow, I am very guilty of idolizing celebrities!  My “hero” is Dave Grohl, what has he done?  Write good songs, that’s about it.  He has not done anything for people except get paid by the money we spend at concerts and record sales.

What is a hero?  I think it is someone that regardless of self, still ventures to help another person.  Examples……this actually took me a while to come up with a small list……1.  Wesley Autrey.  Who?  This is the stud that jumped on top of a person who had a seizure in the subway station in New York and had fallen on the tracks!  He saved that persons life.  2.  Bono came to mind, he has done a lot for the world, and I guess his music is alright.  3.  Every Emergency Services Worker killed or injured in 9-11, for obvious reasons.  It took me way too long to come up with this list!  There just is not acts of heroism anymore.  

Anyone have heroes that should be recognized? 

Ryan

I am now getting to the point where I am jealous that Kozmo has a new motorcycle.  Thus, I have started to look around a little bit for my bike for our trip, the Suzuki V-Strom 650.  It’s a real solid bike that should do way more than I need from it on our trip.

On the other hand I am VERY sad to have to get rid of my current bike, the 599.  It has been an amazing motorcycle, never letting me down.  It will be a very sad day when I take my last ride on it.

Ryan

My biggest inspiration for doing this trip came from Ewan McGregor(Train Spotting,Star Wars) and his buddy Charley Boorman.  They went around the world in a little over 3 months going the Long Way Round.  Starting in London, England traveling across Europe and Russia, then crossing the bearing strait and going through Alaska and Canada they made their way to New York.  It is an AWESOME documentary.  I just found out a few weeks ago that they road another trip.  This time from the tip of Scotland all the way down to the Southern tip of Africa, hence the name “Long Way Down”.  They are going to be having a special modified viewing of the documentary at Edwards Theaters on July 31st(Thursday) at 7:30pm.  I will be there as well as Kozmo, and my Dad is even going.  It should be really awesome!  SO if you ride a bike or a car I suppose, you should totally meet us down there and watch this film with us!

Ryan

This week I have been listening to Phantom Planets latest album Raise the Dead.  It has blown my mind!  It is the best album I have heard in a LONG time.  Go get it!

Here are the videos from camp that I haven’t posted yet.  I must say Aaron and I look pretty manly.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3EKa6f-Rrg]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PrzjIrDodw]

In an effort to become more of a minimalist, and because it will be easier when I move out of this house in a couple months. I am selling pretty much all my stuff. I have for sale

My Truck, 1998 Chevy S10, 110000 miles, manual transmission - $3200

Two big single person couch chairs, one with an ottoman (is that spelled right?) $20 each

A fish tank with complete setup and 10 cichlid fish - $70

An ugly, white, 8 drawer dresser - $20

A bookshelf - $10

A TV - $30

A very nice 8′, 3 piece slate pool table - $1,000

Adobe Video Suite with after effects and Premiere - $150

Please buy my stuff, I am poor and don’t need it anymore.

Hello everyone!

In fear of Kozmo dominating our trip, I finally figured out how to post blogs!  For my first blog I thought I would write a little about how I almost got killed this week.  I was coming home from a ride with my buddy Ben on Pacific Coast Highway when we came to a red light.  No problem, we both split lanes flawlessly.  However a tool next to me in the right turn lane decided to gun it through the light and merge back into traffic, conveniently at the same spot Ben was at.  It was close but Ben was ok, accidents happen I forgive the bone head driver.  I then catch up to Ben to make sure he is good to go when the same driver once again is in a right turn lane and decides this isn’t where he needs to turn, only this time I right next to him.  I locked my brakes up and was pretty much sideways.  Thanks to my amazing riding skills I did not go down.  After I got my balance back I stopped next to him and exchanged some friendly words of violence which as a christian I probably should not have said……..but in the heat of the moment after nearly being killed I figure God will let it slide.  After that we got back to my house and the day went on.

In a way I am glad my near death experience happened.  I am reminded again that no matter how much I think I am immortal, I am still a mere mortal man who can be seriously injured or killed if I get to comfortable riding fast and recklessly.

Now changing gears I thought it would be fun if since I love music, playing it listening to it, writing it….etc… every time I write a blog I am going to put down what I am listening too.

This week I am listening to Weezer: The Red Album.  This just came out, it’s not getting great reviews but I really like it.

Ryan

Independence day is definitely my favorite holiday. It is my favorite because my friends and I have started a really sweet tradition, and this year was no different.  Tonight Ryan and I went riding around Lakewood on bicycles, and every time we saw a big group lighting fireworks we would scream “down with the red coats!” or “the British are coming!”  it was so much fun, and people loved it.  Later on people started yelling the same thing back to us as we rode back threw.  So awesome!  Honestly there is just no better way to celebrate the 4th than riding around watching people light off fireworks, its the best show in town, and it is totally free.  The bummer is it only happens once a year, and everyone tends to stop blowing stuff up around 10pm.