Eat. Fish. Sleep.

I've been fishing every day this past week, and I'm not complaining. I finally caught some this weekend: two Largemouth bass and a sunny. Next step is catching something edible -- but I'll have to leave central NJ for that.

This upcoming week will be full of rain, Netflix, new Tosh.0, and making preparations for new puppy's arrival. I'll be driving up to New Hampshire on Saturday to visit with the breeder and pick up my new girl. I'm trying to maintain my composure, but this really is the culmination of a childhood dream. Finally, I'm getting my first Siberian Husky!

Many, many pictures to come. And probably more huskies.

Strength In My Bones Put the Words In My Head

Time ticks on. In the past month, I attempted to attend three Met games (only successfully made it to two), went to Medieval Times, saw one of my favorite bands perform (Bayside), got my hair cut (first time in years), had backyard barbecues, planted my garden outside, bought a huge TV (55 inches!), hiked, fished, ate, and drank. It feels like summer has come early. If this is being a grown-up, I'm not complaining.




Speaking of growing up, yesterday I turned 24. I was sitting in Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia as the clock struck 12:00 AM, in the best seats I've ever had at a baseball game. It took another hour for the Mets to finally beat the Phillies, after fourteen innings. Thank Godzilla they did.

Back-track a few hours: my Facebook feed is blowing up with news of Obama giving an unexpected speech, followed by the reported death of Osama Bin Laden. The stadium broke out in "USA" chants -- it was kind of surreal. It's only the death of one man, but I hope it brings closure to those who lost loved ones on 9-11. A lot of people have been quoting Martin Luther King in regards to current events:

I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.

Usually, I'd agree, but not really in this situation. And apparently, this isn't really a quote by King, anyway. The world is not perfect and people will always be killing one another. It's nature, survival of the fittest, on a more intellectual level. Or is it? We like to think so.

Anyway... onto cheerier topics.

This upcoming weekend, we'll be celebrating my 24th in Atlantic City. Somewhat out of character for me, but I'm determined to try new things this year -- and, well, every year. Why not?

All weekends to follow: hike, camp, fish. Until the cold comes again.

We're Only In This For The Ride

The past week has been a taste of what the rest of spring, summer, and fall have in store. I've been drinking frequently, but not enough to get sick. I've been eating lots of delicious food all over the place. I've been with friends every chance I can get.

I've been buying camping gear with abandon. Sunday was the first real hike of the season, in Harriman State Park up in NY. I hit Watchung a few times before that, but they were shrimpy two or three mile hikes. We did around six in Harriman, with lots of uphill and downhill climbs. I feel more at home in woods I've never been to before, than I do in most places.

I want every weekend to be roofless, from now until December.

Four Days 'til Spring

My garden is eager to go outside. So am I.

"I get by with a little help from my friends."

I am pretty easy-going. I get along with most people. But I have a lot of unusual interests and hobbies -- so often, I find myself alone. It's not really a problem, I like doing things by myself. But it would be nice to find someone who shares all my ridiculous fascinations. Does this person exist? I doubt it.

• You love animals, especially dogs and cats. And I don't mean "Oh, sure, I had a dog growing up." I mean, can't picture life without a cat in your lap and a dog at your feet.
• You like hiking, biking, camping, horse-back riding... AKA dirty outdoor stuff. If you need to shower and do your hair everysingleday, this won't work.
• Gross and dark humor are a must. If you take everything I say literally, you'll probably think I'm a horrible person.
• You better fart and burp.
• Did I mention I like animals? If you're allergic... well, you better get over it.
• You think gardening is fun. I hope to one day grow more vegetables than I purchase.
• How do you feel about chickens? Because I want a small flock. Fresh eggs are the best, I promise.
• In case you couldn't tell, I like forests and countryside versus pavement and buildings.
• Sometimes I like to drink and dance. But mostly, I don't. You need to be OK with this.
• You enjoy being photographed. That sounds weird. But I take lots of pictures.
• You should like Jackass, Jim Carrey, Louis C.K., Anthony Bourdain, and Jurassic Park. And no, these have nothing in common with one another.
• You should have a job. Preferably, one you enjoy, and don't frequently complain about.
• Creativity is important. It doesn't matter how you express it, but it's important that you do.
• You like to think about the big picture. The universe, life, death, and your existence in between. 
• You must believe in evolution. And respect that I am an atheist.
• You know how to cook, and like to share the responsibility.
• You think dog sledding is cool and exciting, not lame or weird.
• Vacations can be anything from a trip to Disney World, backpacking through Europe, or a weekend down the good ol' Jersey shore.
• You're modest. And open-minded.
• Your eggs are not all in one basket. So to speak.
• You don't really care about sports, but you like the Mets and Jets. At least, you say so in my household.
• There's going to be animal hair on EVERYTHING you own. You're OK with this.
• You can talk in length about the joys of bread-making.
• I'm going to change my hair color a lot. You like it, no matter how bad it looks.
• You support gay marriage, although the concept of marriage scares you in general.
• You will play Pokemon with me.
• You get dressed up on Halloween. No matter how old you are.
• You observe the "if it's yellow, let it mellow" rule.
• No slobs. Get off your ass and clean up.
• Flea markets and thrift stores are the shit. You agree.

There are lots of other random things that are unusually important to me. I could go on and on.

My group of friends, collectively, meet this criteria. And so, like a completed puzzle or sewn-together quilt, I can get along.