crazy day

What a crazy day! I found it both amazing and disconcerting that so many American voters were so emotionally moved on Election Day. It's wonderful to know that people care to vote and take the time to invest in the candidate of their choice. I wish I were a little less cynical, but, put in perspective, this energetic day will, in the end, be a memory; and likely lead to "just another president of the United States."

Obama was exactly right in his speech when he said not everyone would agree with the decisions he makes all of the time. He will, undoubtedly be the next target for the news media attacks that examine his every move and word. But, he is the next leader of our country and as citizens, we are required to respect his leadership; not every particular issue he takes on, but who he is. I appreciated what he said to those who did not vote for him: "I'll be your president, too."

My night was a lot of fun. I drove to Seattle and met up with my sister, Sara. I found my way on the guest list of an "intimate acoustic performance" with Brett Dennen by being one of 150 people to e-mail in last week. So, the two of us took the bus to the W Hotel in Seattle. We found seats by a table with a couple glasses of wine. The event included hors d'eouvres (which was great since I missed lunch) and a champagne toast when the results were announced. Brett played a little, and then we would watch the coverage, play a little more, and then listen to Obama's speech. What a great way for a musician to spend an evening celebrating our freedom and right to vote!

After the evening came to an end, Sara encouraged me to get my picture with Brett, so I took my turn. She snapped this shot right after I told him I had listened to his music in Antarctica. Yes, a dorky attempt to make a connection with someone, but it did yield this interesting photo of the short dialogue.

Sara and I were walking back toward the bus stop to catch a ride back to her place when we heard a lot of people and saw a number of police cars up ahead. It turns out that a large number of people (nearly entirely between the ages of 18 and 35) were rallying up Pike Street. A couple blocks up the street, we realized the bus would not likely make it along the normal route, so we followed the crowd and snapped a number of photos.

The crowd stopped at Pike and Broadway and filled the streets. News helicopters were flying overhead, police blocked off the intersection, flags were being waved, champagne bottles tumbled down the sidewalk, and the energy from this group was absolutely electric. From this point we realized we were going to have to walk all the way back since no buses would make it through that mess. We left the rally before people could potentially turn the it into a less civil party and finished what turned out to be a 2 mile walk. Now, I can tell my children that I remember when I had to walk two miles uphill, in heals, at night because the transportation system in Seattle was compromised on the night Obama was voted president.

flaming accusations

I have remained undecided on my vote for the Presidency. While I am leaning one way, I have decided not to let on who I will vote for because I know people on both sides of the ticket who would argue wildly with my decision. I dislike discussing politics. I don't want to argue. I don't want to get e-mails from anyone trying to swing my vote. There.

On a separate note, directed to my Christian friends: I have to say that I am disappointed to be a Christian in light of some of the comments coming from my more stereotypically white, conservative, Christian friends. I detest the fact that people can think to call Obama the anti-christ, or a Muslim, or someone who will only hurt the country, or bring destruction. What provokes you? He has proclaimed that he is a Christian man. I disagree with some of his political positions (particularly as a pro-life advocate), but that absolutely does not give me right to judge his Christian faith.

In a perfect Christian world, we would be able to confront him personally with our concerns and challenge his beliefs. That is what I intend to do in this blog: Challenge your judgemental attitudes.

I am embarrassed because, as a Christian community, we are to show love to everyone. Instead what I see coming out of some people's mouths are words of distaste, libel, and hate towards Obama that do not render good will or any sort of grace that we should generously give to all God's people.

I challenge you to use the same words, the same confrontational tactics, face-to-face to any sinning member of your church community (there are a lot of folks to use this on; since we all fall short). Tell them, to their face, that they are the anti-christ, call them a Muslim, or Buddhist, Jew, or Baha'i, because of the way they look, walk, or talk; even after they've told you they are a Christian. Or, tell them that their efforts to improve their workplace, their community, or their country will be condemnable because you disagree with how they understand an issue or have sought to solve a problem.

If Barack Obama is the leader our country elects, it's by God's grace that he will be in office. We are called to respect those in power; whether it be Bill (or Hillary) Clinton, George Bush, John McCain, or Barack Obama. We are fortunate, as Christians, to have two Christ-seeking candidates running for our nations highest office. They are asking God for direction as any Christian would. Each candidate's motivations are his best effort at understanding what God wants for his life and this country. We can criticize viewpoints and question tactics, but do not personally attack men who are Christ followers.

Obama has made it clear that he is a Christian. His family prays together. They attend church regularly. If elected, it does not mean that power won't go to his head. It doesn't mean he will make the perfect decisions, or has the ideal perspective. I guarantee John McCain will fall short in these areas, as well, if he is elected. Both candidates are fallen. We see that in their attack ads and their messy debates. Each of us is fallen, too.

and the problem is this:
we were bought with a kiss
but the cheek still turned even when it wasn't hit
and I don't know what to do with a love like that

when all the love in the world is right here among us;
and hatred too
so we must choose what our hands will do

and the problem it seems is with you and me
not the Love who came to repair everything

where there is pain, let there be grace
where there is suffering, bring serenity
for those afraid, help them be brave
where there is misery, bring expectancy
and surely we can change something...

...the whole world's about to change.
-- surely we can change, david crowder band --

Use your vote. Be careful in your judgement. Do not gossip, or give false impressions about your brothers and sisters in Christ. Seek to build them up; however humble and fallen they may be.

I'm getting off my soap box now.

o regresso

My return to the United States was mostly uneventful. My flights were alright. I probably slept more on my Sao Paulo to Dallas trip than I ever have before. Customs and immigration went smoother than silk. I had a short amount of time for a layover, but I picked up a bite to eat and some coffee.

I noted I was back in The States by the crabby unhelpful Americans. I find it quite sad, but smile to hope their day might improve by it.

On my flight from Dallas to Seattle, I joined a number of US Armed Forces flying home from Afghanistan and Iraq. That was a prideful American moment when, at the end of the flight, they were recognized and allowed to disembark the aircraft first to cheers from everyone else. There are certainly a number of stories I heard from these men as they looked forward to spending time with their families and friends!

I was also on the right side of the plane to have a spectacular view of Mount Rainier flying into Washington. We flew to the East and North of the mountain on a stunning day in the Pacific Northwest.

Sara picked me up from the airport and we had a nice soup lunch together before she went to work. Then I stopped in Seattle to see Matt for coffee since he was in town to finish his fish research from the summer and a high school reunion. Finally, I stopped to see Dave and Chelsea in the same neighborhood before driving north back to Bellingham. For a trip up I-5, I couldn't ask for a nicer, more beautiful evening.

I am glad to be back in a land where I can understand people and they understand me, but really sad to leave the adventure, the rest, and the trip behind! I had a fantastic time exploring, learning, seeing, and participating in life in Brazil; likely one of the best vacations ever.

I've returned.

warm washington weather

On Tuesday, I dropped of my Kiwi friends at Seattle's underground tour and took off across the lake to an interview. For lunch I was able to spend some time with my youngest sister, Sara, in Renton for Indian food. She and her boyfriend recently moved across country from Michigan to relocate in their "home" state. It will be great to have a sister around here and I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch date with her. After spending so much time with Laura in Denver, I am glad I also had some time to catch up with Sara again, too!

I headed back to Seattle in the late afternoon and the five of us had a lovely Greek supper out together before calling it an evening and heading to bed.

Wednesday brought another glorious day of sunshine and warm temperatures to Washington. The Olympic Mountain Range was out and the Cascades and the Emerald City shone brilliantly! For starters, Dave and I ran off to Cafe Racer for some morning coffee and then Kirrin, Jeremy, and I took off for a canoe ride at the University of Washington. I forget the school rents out boats for a decent price and the ride through the Arboretum is beautiful on a nice day!

We saw quite a bit of wildlife as well; ducks, dragonflies, a couple fish, turtles, and a heron. The lily pads were in bloom and the waters were quite calm as we paddled along. The water ways for canoes become tangled in the pylons for the 520 floating bridge where we were and we ducked in and out of the cement structures for part of our ride. It was somewhere along this ride that I received a call about another two jobs I am interested in. I'm sure the lovely HR woman wrote down "canoe woman" next to my name on her short list. Hopefully that makes me a memorable candidate!

We paddled for an hour, or so and cleaned up a bit at the house before catching the bus downtown for a Mariner's game. Kirrin and Jeremy wanted to take in some real American baseball, and although the Mariner's lost, we had a nice (albeit, hot) time in watching the game, eating stadium food, and such. This was my first time at Safeco field. Not all that surprising, was my iced latte from one of the vendors.

After a long and very hot bus ride back to Dave and Chelsea's house, we had a small bite to eat and settled in for the evening. At 4:30am this morning we were at SeaTac Airport and I was wishing them well on their next step of the journey; they are off to Denver and New Mexico this week. I had a fantastic time showing these two around the Pacific Northwest and will miss having them around. We'll see each other again someday. I will likely travel back to New Zealand at some point in life!

I stopped back at Sara's place for breakfast after my airport run. We chatted for a bit and I was on my way back to Bellingham. I decided to get Starbucks off my old exit at Canyon Park on the way home, and ran into my Jr. High volleyball coach, Patrice. We had a great time chatting for a few minutes while we got our coffee. It's a small world after all!

(Thanks Jeremy & Kirrin for the two pictures with all three of us in it)!

either side of the 49th

From Bellingham, I drove Kirrin and Jeremy to Vancouver on Thursday.

First, we made New Zealand pikelets (like little pancakes), and chocolate chip biscuits (a crunchy version of the cookie). I should disclaimer the "we" by saying that Kirrin did most of the baking.

Again, we had a couple of options for the day. Given that the clouds were coating the mountains, we stayed down near sea level and wound our way through Lynden, Washington; the lovely little Dutch town where I spent some formative years. We drove by Mountain View; the church and neighborhood I grew up in. Then we headed toward downtown Lynden with it's Holland flair. We took a number of creative photos, but also had to have a classic windmill picture. It was rather strange being a tourist in my "hometown."

Since we all enjoy berries, I thought another good Pacific Northwest activity for the day would be raspberry picking. We headed out to a farm on the Pole Road, got our buckets and started picking on row 50. Kirrin and I both picked about a pound each, but Jeremy only managed to bring in 1/2 pound. The woman selling the berries figured he must have eaten the other 1/2 pound! They were very sweet and juicy and a great snack for the rest of the day in the car.

After doing a loop around the greater Lynden area, we headed off toward the 49th parallel; better known as the United States-Canadian border. The Peace Arch is a great tourist crossing given it's grand "arch" of an icon symbolizing North American peace and good will. We stayed long enough to take some pictures and short enough to evade most of the rain that infiltrated both countries for the rest of the afternoon.

And, we also snapped a photo of the three of us standing on the "fence" between countries. For two folks from the island-country of New Zealand, it was the first time they crossed over into a new place by car. For a dual-citizen who has hopped over the border and back on a number of occasions, this was the first time I had to park at the border and walk into the building so the Kiwis could get their passport stamped (and let me tell you, the Canadian entry stamp at this crossing is better than any of the Canadian ones I have in my passport)!

The rest of the afternoon was spent getting lost in Surrey, getting a map, and finding the hospitality of Kirrin's relatives in Port Moody. I spent suppertime with them before heading back to Bellingham for the weekend. Don't worry, I'll be picking up another section of their story next week, though, when we head back to Seattle!

my fourth

Scrapes, bumps, bruises, punctures, sore muscles, high altitude, shortness of breath, lose rock, snow-covered trails, mud, blood, headaches, sunburn, and a looming thunderstorm; nothing like a bike ride in the mountains at 11,500 feet, on a single track that was really meant for hikers!

Spectacular scenery, sweet-smelling air, good exercise, great people; I had a wonderful time celebrating Independence Day this weekend.

I went up into the mountains with Laura, two of her co-workers, and some of their friends and family. We drove up late, but in time to see about three town's fireworks shows as we drove through the mountains. Since we arrived late to the town of Salida, half of our 6 person group grabbed some carpet on some acquaintance's hotel room floor and woke up for the main event the next morning; a 35 mile mountain bike trail off of Monarch Pass.

Our group of six (Chris, Laura, myself, Jenny, Doug, and Dave) shuttled each other up to the Pass, our starting point for this endeavour. I started off great until I had a tire literally explode on me within one mile of our starting point. I like to call it my own Fourth of July firework! Unfortunately I was too far between anyone else for them to hear the excitement.

Back on the trail a few minutes later with a new tube, I was soon winded and exhausted, wheezing my way up the first 500 feet of ascent. The ride was 3000 feet net descent, but we encountered quite a bit uphill. There were a couple of snow fields that we pitch our bikes down and then slide down after. That was probably the most fun on the trail! We outran a thunderstorm and wandered along ridges and mountainsides. The views were spectacular, though the biking was hard.

At mile 10.9, there was a "bail out" point. Jenny and I took that. Laura and Doug bailed at 18 miles, while Dave and Chris finished the loop. Even at our bail out point, I still ended up with 30 miles under my belt. Once we left the group we had 18 miles of downhill riding on an old forest road. Wheee!

I slept well in the tent last night. My body aches a bit this morning, but we made it back down to Denver after a great time away for the holiday!