The Man Stuff

Ok, enough of the lovey-dovey, wedding stuff. It’s time to talk about something near and dear to every man’s heart. The man’s #2: His motor vehicles.

But before I delve into that, I want to extol the virtues of a written form that makes more sense to put in use today than at any time in human history. The List.

Lists are back. Lists are back in a big way. I would argue this is due in large part to the emergence of the Internet as the best communication method for keeping acquaintances up to date on what’s going on. (Example: All blogs are made of lists.)

In fact, the Internet has allowed me to maintain acquaintance-style relationships better than I ever did before. I can readily keep a ton of people, in both business and social circles, informed on a number of subjects, just by posting a list or two on an email or website.

Lists are the only way to quickly, clearly communicate to any audience on a variety of subjects. We all know people have less time today than ever for effective communication, and no one wants to spend too much time keeping in touch with loose acquaintances. Not enough return on that investment of time. It is what it is, I’m not being harsh.

Lists deserve a new life. Words deserve to live in a list.

• Lists: A Better Way of Life for Words.
• Lists: Make Friends of Your Words.
• Lists: The Only Way to Organize.
• Lists: We’re Fuckin’ Awesome!
• Lists: Stoke Out Some Words.
• Make a List. Make Your Day.

So, there’s my spiel about lists. Now onto Vehicles.

I am close to trading in my current car and I can choose what to drive for the next few years. There are some changes in my life that make this an interesting decision:

• I don’t have to pull a boat any more, so I don’t NEED a truck for that
• I don’t have to drive in the snow any more, so I don’t NEED 4WD or AWD.
• Fuel for my vehicles costs more now.
• Motorcycles abound here, and I want one again.

So with that, I have to admit that I still want a real big pickup truck, possibly diesel, with a cap and some nice, big tires. This is what I want, it’s the ultimate Man’s vehicle. And so many dudes have them here, mostly white ones. There a ton of large, white, diesel pickups with big tires and dudes behind the wheel in Portland, Oregon.

I don’t need white, but I still want one to drive around in, look down on people from, put crap in the back of, get dirty in, jump in and out of, wash occasionally, and generally be admired behind the wheel of. I want one, but they’re expensive, inefficient, and my wife thinks they’re obnoxious. If I had a boat to pull behind it, a big pickup truck would make more sense and could be justified.

So what else could I drive around here in? Recently, the idea of having just a motorcycle came to mind. The complete opposite of a big, diesel truck, a motorcycle is just as desirable for me, albeit for different reasons:

• They’re cool.
• They’re easy to park.
• They’re fast and fun.
• They’re friggin’ awesome.
• They’re many styles and sizes to choose from.
• They’re cheaper to buy, maintain and keep fueled up.

The downsides of riding bikes exclusively are: weather protection, general danger from crappy drivers around you, lack of storage space. But I still want one. We drive many short-distance trips around here, and we already have a wagon to transport dogs and other large items.

So, somewhere in the middle lies every other vehicle in existence, any of which would solve my basic need for locomotion and travel. I could go cheap, used. I could lease a brand new car of some kind. (Probably Chevrolet, as-per family connections)

Maybe I’ll pick up a Black Chevy Monte Carlo. Completely different, fast, Nascar-style. Meghan would hate me, but she’d like the car after a ride. Or maybe the dreaded SUV, those things are HATED around here. I feel like all eyes are on SUV drivers around here, liberal livers that they are in Portland. Or maybe I’ll let Meghan pick out a new car and drive the VW Passat 4Motion we already have.

About the ONLY thing I truly need in my next car is Ipod connectivity. That, and reliability will do me just fine. I’ve had a CD player in my vehicle that does not accept Ipods and it’s changed my life for the worse. I have a sweet, new Ipod with tons of music on it, that only serves as a backup for my music. And the radio stations here are kinda beat.

Addendum: We’ve decided to look into VW Vanagons, Westfalias, Campers, Weekenders. Could be a nice, nice option.

Why Go to Fiji

After a brunch on Sunday, we flew from Vermont to Portland and had just over 24 hours to chill out, unpack, clean clothes, pack and get back to the airport to leave for our honeymoon. We had planned it months earlier, with little concern for cost, yet the utmost concern for relaxation, beaches and fun. I had no idea what to expect and that’s the best way to go into these things. That way, your expectations are always exceeded.

What we had planned was actually planned by a travel agency and a tour operator. We just sent over a credit card # and said, “Yea, that one.” The trip included a flight to Nadi airport in Fiji, 4 nights at the Outrigger Resort, a helicopter transfer to Castaway Island (no not the one from the movie, but it was within view) and a boat/ bus transfer back to Nadi and finally our flight home.

The best part was the helicopter ride, bottom line. And, there was a lot of really good shit going on during these 10 days, so you know helicopters are very cool. Coulter, I clearly respect them things way more, and would love to provide ballast on your whirlybird any time.

The second best part was spending so much time with Meegs doing just about nothing, but the best stuff ever. I will outline what a “typical day of nothing” included:

• 8:30-10 am: Wake up if you want to. Clean up a bit.
• 8:45-10:30: Eat a large meal, including a vast array of break-fasty items. Breakfast was my 6th favorite part.
• 9:30-Lunch: Either head back to the Bure for a nap, or stroll over to the pool lounges for a nap. Naps were my 7th favorite part. During this time was when Meghan indulged in the first of her many fruity, mixed drinks of the day.
• Lunch: Order from a stocked menu or have a fresh stir-fry wok’d up for you Mongolian-style. Lunch was like the 10th best thing. Meghan’s second tall frozen drink happened here.
• 1:00-5:30: Afternoon included what amounted to the only physical activity we’d have during the day. These activities included: winning a nearest to the pin contest, snorkelling in warm, deep, clear blue water over coral reefs with fish of all sizes/ colors and finally, reading. Snorkelling was my 3rd favorite part. It was amazing and I can’t explain it, so I’m just gonna save it. Meghan’s 3rd and 4th fruity, island drinks usually happened here. Oh, and our “Cave Tour” happened here too. Sweet native-style walking tour with a visit to a big cave where the last cannibals lived, killed people and ate them. This was my 4th favorite part of the trip.
• 5:30-Dinner: Evenings are nice in Fiji. Fiji-time kicks in, the tide starts rolling out and the sun dips. We got one sweet island sunset in Fiji. All of the others were missed due to us being face-down snorkelling over reefs, or napping. The sunset was my 5th favorite part.
• Dinner: The last big meal of the day, it was usually over-the-top good, complete with Champagne most nights. The dinners out under the stars, right on the beach at Castaway were my 8th favorite part of the trip. Crabs were scurrying around the sand in the dark, only visible when they passed under a light.
• Apres’: Usually stuffed to the gills with food and feeling dehydrated, I was ready to hit the sack after dinner. But before beddy-bye, many walks on the beach, talks on the beach, walks to our Bure and…”other stuff” went down. This “other stuff” made up the most memorable parts of the trip, but yet, I only have my 9th best thing about the trip left on the list, so I guess “other stuff” gets it. Seems kinda lame, right, when “other stuff” is what people expect the honeymoon to be all about!!?? Ah well, it still made the top ten, so I guess we’re doing something right…

So, to recap, if you have some dough and want to live in a postcard for a few days, with blue water, white sand, island living, nice people, good food, great drinks (Fiji Bitter is decent brew, although I became partial to the “Bounty” rum) and have the idyllic, warm-weather relaxing vacation, hit Fiji.

A few of the beat things about it:

• Service: Not stellar. Nice, and slow. Ask for stuff. Don’t bother tipping, they get confused.
• Airport: Blows. Staff there yelled at people and looked very, very dumb.
• Long flight: 10 hours from LA.
• Cockroaches: Seen some 3-4 inchers. Several dead in our room. May have crawled through my mouth? Oh well.
• Australians: We had some obnoxious, country-clubbers there. Smoking at meals, men wearing pink/rainbow banana-hammocks around, old women topless, generally laughing too much at other’s expense… No need. We also met some nice Aussies, David and Susan.
• Kava: I’ll probably have some voo-doo spell cast on me for this one, but Kava sucks. Looks and tastes like dirt-road-puddle-sludge. Supposedly it’s a ceremonial tradition to drink it with the chief of the village, but he seemed kinda baked when we met him and just kinda tipped over and napped when we left his place. Nice move though…

Ok, enough about Fiji. Images here:

Video may be forthcoming. I shot interviews of Meghan every day on our new Mini-DV, courtesy of Tom and Val. I also shot the Heli trip, but of course it’s shaky and could never convey the experience.

Go there.

OR

Just drink the water.

Why Get Married

I got married to Meghan Pruitt on August 26, 2006, just a couple of weeks ago. Since then, we flew to Fiji, spent 10 days in paradise, snorkelled for hours, came back and went back to work. We’re relaxed, refreshed, and came back to shitty fall Northwest weather.

Now that we’re back, the big question is: (No, not about kids…) “So do you feel any different?”

Our goals are not very different. In fact, not much is or feels different EXCEPT: Everything feels much more important. Much more official. Much more real-life style.

No longer do my decisions only affect to me. No longer can I spend money frivolously on boats and other motorized devices without first thinking about another person. No longer can I take risks in anything without thinking of the consequences on more than just me.

So my feelings now are not much different, but more validated and important. I’ve never felt so much in the right place as I do now. From Portland to Meghan to Instrument to Vinceland, things are the way I’d want them to be if I looked ahead from 2 years ago. Except I am not fishing enough, that’s for dang sure. And I am farther away from Vermont, family and friends. But other than that, all good.

How was the wedding? Perfect. Fast. Amazing. Overwhelming. Great. Fun. Other people had a great time, and I believe them when they tell us how good/ fun it was. I got to see and spend time with people and friends and family members all in one place, from many many walks of life. I wrote a speech that people liked. Maybe I’ll post some of it here.

Well, to answer the question in the title of this entry:

• Because you find a best friend that you find very attractive.
• Because you find it very easy to spend time with someone whom you find very attractive.
• Because your new best friend makes you laugh when you least expect it, and most need it.
• Because your friend makes your life better by inspiring you to act nicer, do better things, be healtier and work harder.
• Because you can sense in someone the honest, genuine desire to enjoy time with you, regardless of the “conditions”.
• Because it’s great, great, great to throw the biggest party of your life and invite as many of the important people in your life that a budget will handle.
• Because you believe that the inevitable compromises you will make are more than worth the benefits of living your life with someone who is beautiful, supportive, funny, interesting and successful.
• Because it’s time to grow up and commit to something you believe in, and something you believe is a good thing, even though it’s harder.
• Because there’s NO question.
• Because your friends and family love her/ him.
• Because it’s an experience that defines your life…makes it worth living.
• Because you consider your attractive best friend someone you would share the ups and downs of parenthood with.
• Because it’s fun to jump off a cliff, hand in hand, wearing nice clothes, with the right person.

So now we’ll go on. I’ll write about Fiji a bit. And for images I will direct you to: Flickr Vinceland and Meghan’s blog.
Feel free to add to this list. I’ve only been married about 3 weeks, so I am sure you all know more than me…

Ten Bands

I’ve always wanted to play the drums in a loud rock band. I frequently day dream about it and my friends know it’s the way I enjoy music with my hands pounding in the air.

Below is a short list of ten bands with which I wish I could/ could have played. Hit links and dig deeper for MP3’s, they are all over. You should know and listen to these bands.

• The Melvins: My ultimate dream activity.
• Chavez (RIP): The James Lo knew no equals. Former Skunk frontman from NJ.
• Fugazi: What it means to be a drummer in a good, loud rock band. Our band could be your life.
• Five Seconds Expired: Burlington hard rock heroes. RIP Slush.
• Ween: You get to play every kind of rock around, loudly. More NJ sorta-natives
• Butt Pie: For obvious reasons…
• Ted Leo and the Pharmacists: Ted writes great songs with serious punk energy. Nj native and SHP high school alum.
• Sunny Day Real Estate (RIP): The original indie emo band. Drummer went on to play for Foo Fighters, and band eventually became Fire Theft.
• Firehose (RIP): To play drums with Watt!!?? Yes please.
• Metallica.

PS: Here’s just an amazing picture of Lenhardt shot by Shem in Jet’s barn during the best bachelor party ever. More wedding posts to come, don’t worry baby.

Fiji=Amazing. Flying=Nogood.

We’re stuck in Fiji for a day after staff members from Pacific Air in Nadi could not organize much of anything. Not a bad place to be on an airline’s dime. Catching the next flight home today and hope to be back on familiar ground, with familiar voices tomorrow. Meghan misses the dogs. I miss laundry. And we miss all of you.

Far too many stories, memories, thoughts, pictures, video and more thoughts to relay here. We’ll get them out over time, so please do not expect to hear everything at once. Trips and times like this require time to digest and report. I’ve taken notes, pictures and video. We’ll see y’all soon, 30 seconds to logoff!