Well I told my students today that I am leaving next month, and that was probably one of the hardest thigns I have done.  What is even more frustrating is that a lot kids were gone this morning, so I may have to do that again.  Oh well, I just want to tell all my students that I have been so lucky to be a part of each of your lives, and that you guys are all so awesome.  I will miss you all, and I hope that you all keep in touch as I travel.

Also I wanted to say thanks to everyone that has already been so supportive about this trip, I can’t believe how lucky I am to have so many people want the best for me, I really am blessed.  So thank you to everyone that has helped us so far, you know who you are.  Also I wanted to say thanks to the Breakup and Revolution Church for raising us some funds from that concert last weekend.  We are actually in the black when it comes to fundraising for thist trip, so we are really excited about that.

Also, I just wanted to remind everyone that we will be having a going away BBQ at Parkcrest Lakewood on March 22nd, from 3pm -6pm.  Come hang out and say good bye.  I will post more information on that in the near future.

Where to begin? The past month has been extremely intense and now we are down to 37 days till we depart for our adventure.

About a month ago my mom was rushed into the Emergency Room by Paramedics for extreme abdominal pain. I was at work so I rushed over to the hospital. Turned out my mom had Kidney Stones(something I hope I never have!). She then had complications from them and was in the hospital for a solid week. She is now home but still hasn’t fully recovered. I think I have been doing a good job helping her get what she needs.

Two weeks ago I found out my Job (internship) was going to end last week, leaving me very little time to figure out what I was going to do for work. I had an interview scheduled with AppleOne, a temp agency however they called me and told me they had no jobs for me…..great. So I have fallen back onto my medical experience and am back on an Ambulance serving the citizens of Los Angeles County.

I was a little sad to leave the Port of Long Beach. I really liked the group of guys I worked with there. Hopefully I will be able to stay in contact with them. Thank God for the modern invention of Facebook, makes it a lot easier. Anyways, I learned a ton of stuff at the Port that I wont forget anytime soon, so hopefully I will be able to use that knowledge somewhere down the line.

I will be starting my regular shifts on an ambulance this next coming Tuesday. I did my training shifts in East Los Angeles in the middle of this storm that just passed which made for some long wet days. Suprisingly though we didn’t have that many calls. A couple of Shortness of Breaths and a Psych. No big deal.

To top off everything that has already happened, I found out that last weekend a good friend of mine that I worked with for years at Long Beach Memorial passed away from a heart attack. So Virgil, I will miss you, you were always there to get my back when I needed you, thanks.

I can’t wait for Nathanael and my adventure to begin in just over a month. To all that are supporting us thank you so much. We will do our best to keep everyone updated.
Ryan

Hey guys we had some t-shirts made for our trip so that all of our friends can help support us financially since half the money for each shirt goes directly to our trip, and by wearing our shirts you help spread the word about what we are doing.  And yes Brad Pitt already bought one, what can I say he is a fan.  If you would like to be cool like Brad Pitt, you could buy a shirt from us for $20.  We are in the process of setting up an online store, but for now, if you would like one just send us an email at usamotorcycletrip@gmail.com, with your size, and we will arrange to get one to you.

If you come to the concert tomorrow night at Revolution Church, the shirts will be on sale for $15.  We figure since the price of admission is $5, and the proceeds are already going to our trip, we would go ahead and take that $5 off the cost of the shirt.

Here are some pictures of what the shirt looks like:

Well I am a little reluctant to admit to this, but over the weekend I found myself watching “The Notebook”. I know what your thinking, what is such a masculine guy doing watching The Notebook? Well, there was nothing else on, I swear. Anyways in watching it, I realized that the love that Noah and Allie share is amazing and that there is only one thing in my life that I share that feeling with, my motorcycle. I would do anything for my motorcycle: run synthetic oil, wash it, lube the chain, polish the body. That is true love.

Ryan

Hey so Devin from Revolution Church is throwing an Anti Valentines Day Party next Saturday. It is a concert featuring our friends The Breakup, and two other bands, Screaming in Braile, and Revex.  Here is the cool thing, the proceeds are going to our trip!  Yea, isnt that cool.  So if you are not doing anything Saturday night, come check it out.  Here are the fliers for the show: