Lightning in the Face!

Last night was a most amazing evening.

It was roughly 11:30pm, the housemates had all tucked themselves away into bed and I, being a facebook addict, was up a bit later than anyone else. Well the hour rolled around and I left for the long treck to bed.

First stop, the always important teeth brushing exercise in the 2nd floor bathroom. This is where the night gets interesting...

So there I am brushing away, to the left of the mirror is a window pointing towards the SouthWest. Out of my peripheral vision I see the fattiest lightning bolt blast through the sky! Being a physics major I quickly open the window and count the seconds until I hear the thunder. HMMM roughly 6 miles away, not bad I say. I shoot a quick text message out to a friend and return to the window. This time my head fully extruding into the bitter outdoor weather.

Suddenly
white flash
bang
shaking
fire

I literally witnessed, that is to say I freaking SAW a lightning bolt blast a tree across our alley. No more than 25 feet away from my current location. Needless to say this scared the beejeszess out of me! I started hyperventalating and started screaming into the house! All my housemates flew out of their rooms, half naked, thinking I had been shot!

What followed was a two minute period in which we decided whether or not the tree was on fire. As there was a fiery glow protruding from the middle of the tree. Not to mention embers floating into the air!

We decided it was and I called 911 and reported this awesome event! While on the phone - this is the bizzarre part which I assume many in Seattle can confirm - it started hailing and raining extremely hard! The windows blew up and us, being half naked, caught quite off guard.

All-in-all the firetruck came, I showed them the tree, which at this point was no longer glowing. But better safe then sorry. Spectacular night, mother nature flexing her muscles, or (mother with muscles - not sure I like that metaphor) you get the idea.

Glad my head wasn't the tree. That is for sure. AMAZING, love life.

China - Third Time is a Charm. Give my regards to Hell week

It is approximately 12:43am on a Sunday night. There are two rockstars and a pizza pocket next to me.

Its been hell week. Our company is launching our brand new 1080p camera and this means its needs to be S*&# tested out of it. Hey who tests stuff here? Oh wait me. It started with Friday. 32 hours of testing later I find myself sitting in the office on this magical evening.

I've got a good 5 more hours left to punch out. Luckily it will be roughly 6am at that point. So I can head home and sleep. For like 5 minutes before I grab my bags and drive to the airport. Thats right ladies and gentlemen, I am flying out in around eight hours to China. This will be my much anticipated third trip to the wonderfully quaint city of ShenZhen. If you know the city, you know the words wonderful and quaint DO NOT describe it. Shame

I'll be overseas for a week kicking some Chinese tail (not raciest) into building and testing this puppy correctly.

Here is to a evening of no sleep and six hour layover in Vancouver BC.

Catch you in a week.

The occasional regular, but not explicityly expected update

The following is a subtle and short list of recent happens, events, scenarios, and experiences that I have had the great pleasure in acquainting recently;

Spent a week in California with extended Family
Half Ironman race is one week away
Just discovered Mousse for my hair
Received a raise for being a manny (male nanny)
Improved on my swimming - Feeling more and more comfortable in water
Realized Jordan Sparks sings that song love being a battlefield
Learned how to make a quick and simple yet surprisingly good fruit crisp
Was reminded that I STILL don't understand what a pun is
Dressed up for work on a Friday
Spent 10+ minutes shopping for a wedding present - most I have ever done
Left store with cheap artistic solution
Now have less than a day to complete it
Finally finished buying birthday presents for brothers ( July 30th and August 27th)
Ran in the rain!
Took my shirt off
Showed off my hair chest to other runners
Realized my heart rate monitor strap looks like a bra from behind
Was hit in the eye by a water balloon thrown by roommate in second floor.
Balloon did not pop
Eye still hurts
Was so bored at work that I spent an entire morning watching movie trailers and youtube videos
Morning ended with a redundant and transparent attempt to share life by listing recent events
on blog page.


Thanks for reading!

Sunset Hike on Mt. Si

I decided halfway through the day that I wanted to see the sunset from Mount Si. As being in my nature I still decided to go when nobody wanted to come with.

I thought I would post some of the photos from the hike. They are quite wonderful

Dissapearing

My little cousin Mikayla was in town yesterday. It was absolutely without a doubt a beautiful day. We went to greenlake and walked around a bit, sat on a bench and just chatted for a couple hours.

She asked me a interesting question during that time, "would you rather be able to fly or become invisible?"

I quickly replied that I would want to fly - without a second thought I passed the conversation off as another reason why I love her.

I was thinking about that question last night, as I layed on my bed getting ready for sleep. Above my bed is a world map, its filled with tacks, each one marking a place I want...will visit next year.

What's it look like to disappear? Try leaving to travel the world for a few years. Am I discontent with my life? Am I trying to escape something? Am I skipping out on responsibility, and I tucking tail and running. Am I being a terrible friend/son/brother? These questions ran through my head last night, and in deed today.

No

Sometimes you have to leave to gain perspective. I intend to leave with the intention of coming back, that must say something.

I try to disappear. Yes. But I do it for the sake of what my family, my friends, my life needs - an adventure to invigorate my soul, my faith, my belief that the Lord has so much more for me. Life abundant.

After all if you can't see me, that's when you dream, you imagine, you pray, you believe in the same adventure.

The Next Year of My Life

Its Tuesday morning. I woke up at six this morning and ran eight miles. First time in my life I ran that much. Funny thing is, yesterday I swam a mile then ran four. Hmm kind of funny behavior.

Well! Sunday my most excellent roommate Brian Bauer competed in the Coure d'alaine Ironman! And well the bug kind of bit me. So I'm currently signed up for next years race! I really don't think the reality of this commitment has hit me. Which is a good thing, because I don't think I would have made the decision to do it, if it had. I am really excited though. Now I have a reason to get into shape, and tap that inner strength. I mean what better time than your 20's right? Well the whole thing cost around 600$ so I better pony up and do this right.

In the meantime I just signed up for an Olympic Race at the end of July! So that is on my plate right now (hence I ran eight miles this morning). Kind of a big decision in life, and I know it will be a great one!

Here's to a year of swimming, biking and running!

Family - An expression of Jesus

Our house just threw a Barbecue for all of our families. In all there was roughly 40-50 people in our house. It was absolutely wonderful. The event gave me an opportunity to edit together a video which I've posted on my facebook. Feel free to partake in some viewing. All-in-all it was a splendid day and I found myself in my room listening to Mr. Heath relaxing after the party.

In walks Philip Herron and we sit for a few minutes, both having the same thing on our mind. The silence (or lack there of, of our verbal speech) was broken by a simple yet profound "that was amazing"

We both felt a deep joy for the day and what it meant. So much more than an opportunity to eat well cooked food, but one to impart back into the people who raised and loved us, who continue to love us! The reality was all too clear that our families were very appreciative of the event and were thrilled at how great sons they had. I ventured to ask how many other sons in their mid-twenties may have done the same thing. The answer was all too fast "not too many".

I couldn't help but think of the joy we had brought to our parents how proud they were of us. Luckily Phil was there to correct me.

That day, the planning, the mere idea of sharing what we do and have with our parents would not have come to fruition in the manner it did, without the presence of Christ in our lives.

What I take away from that day is a testament to how great a Savior I have, that he laid upon my heart the things that truely matter.

Porch Family BBQ - 2009 from Alec Cattarin on Vimeo.