tgcgel . net^blog

We bought Kayaks last night! We live right next to the Concord River, so we will be sure to get some good use out of them =)

Hey, its been quite some time since i last wrote/posted anything. there really has been too much going on to write even a 5th of whats happening, or what has happened. all that really matters is that in less than a week i'll be married, and then we are moving to boston! im excited, nervous, tired, stressed out, and in love! =)

i found a girl that never ceases to amaze me, who makes me happy, and makes me a better person...so i asked her to marry me. we're happy :)

exactly one month from today i turn 24

On thursday a group of friends and i went to auditorium shores here in austin to see spoon perform as part of SxSW. it was good times. they played a good mix of their classics as well as some of their new works. Fitted Shirt, Small Stakes, I Turn My Camera On, and many others were played in addition to You Got Yer Cherry Bomb and The Underdog. All in all it was a great evening. The weather was amazing, nice and cool with a good breeze and watching a local group play with the skyline of beautiful austin just in the distance made it all the more amazing!

i am coming home. im mid-flight between boston and chicago. its been an interesting and very stressful stay in boston, which is unfortunate. the city and secenery were not to blame, and i leave boston feeling very impressed and excited to relocate there. beautiful rivers and lakes grace the hilly terrain that is literally packed with those sterotypical decidious trees which give new england its impressive and famous colored fall. boston proper is old and charming, very clean and energetic. to me it seems a surprising cross of austin and new york city. it has the health concious, environmental friendly aspects of austin combined with the class and culture and historical treasures that only an east coast city can offer. driving through the harvard and mit campuses and around downtown left me feeling almost giddy with excitement to begin my boston experience in a few months. lets not forget either the incredible wealth of historical and recreational activities that the area also boasts. boston tea party? paul revere's house? the old north church of "one if by land, two if by sea" fame? lexington and concord? the very birth of the american revoliution? boston is truly a city not rivaled by many others. i found myself thoroughly enjoying the drives in the area and surrounding parts. i went and checked out the cisco campus in boxborough and the towns of hudson, marlborough, lowell, concord, chelmsford, acton, and billerica, to name a few. i know i'll be really happy in the area!

so why the stress? why the negativeness? of late i dont know what exactly is 'wrong' with me. i know that i've not been myself for the past few days and its becoming both a hinderance and an annoyance to me. it all started on sunday for some reason, and i dont know quite how it began. its no ones fault but my own. what is to be done? ive been pouring over it in my mind, and i normally wouldnt share things that are this personal to me, but i want to have accountability. if i set personal goals and standards and i fall short to no one but myself that is one thing, when all my friends and loved ones are privy to the "fight" within i think perhaps it might lend me the extra boost i need to nail this sucker. lets just say i feel like im close to an important breakthrough, a personal epiphany, one that i feel strongly is about to revolutionize my life. strong words i know, and certainly a high hope for myself. for those of you who think i tend to exaggerate, let me fill you in on something; this is not embellishment. this is not a pipe dream or a soon to die experiment. this is for real.

what ive been thinking about and realized is that a true balance in my life is missing. by true balance i mean one that encompasses all aspects of my life, the physical, the emotional, the spiritual, the educational, the social, etc. its not like ive been doing everything backwards or wrong, there are just minor adjustments that are needed.

ive written a lot in my journal the last 4 days. A LOT. ive written a lot about what im going through and feeling and seeing and experiencing. upon review of these musings and with much thought into this whole situation ive realized a few things that ive been too prideful and stubborn to admit to myself, or even admit to others who were kind and thoughtful enough to try and help show them to me. 1) its not good to constantly talk about problems, stress, etc as they arise. im the kind of person that loves to talk about whats on my mind, but its detrimental in that it strains my friends and it keeps me focused on the negative. not good. 2) i cant let my situation dictate my mood and actions. 3) i'm too prideful and judgemental.

ok, if you've endured thus far you are probably asking yourself how these things relate to balance in my life. its easy! i tend to slip on those 4 things when my balance is all screwed up! there are a lot of things that are important to me and help me de-stress and stay positive. when those things suffer, i suffer. its like im not taking my vitamins! so what are those things? i wont list them, but its really the small and simple things that have gotten a little trampled, but not all of them. just a few. to those around me, to my friends, to my wonderful girlfriend, to my family, to my peers, let me express deep regret for those times i know ive taken my frustrations and stress out on you. you have all been there for me and been a huge support to me. im normally a happy, fun, outgoing person, i guess ive just been losing sight of what is really important to me. i think its good that we all step back every now and then and see where we are going, and see if its where we want to be headed. take a look at your life and what your priorities are. is everything there that should be? i hope so. if anything is amiss, do what i did, take some time to reflect and evaluate and take action! ive been trying recently to be much better about taking action and make some personal changes. the progress so far is satisfying, and this is the next step. im really excited for what my future holds, and for the continued progress im certain i will be making. if anyone has any criticisms for me, or wants to let me know things ive done that have upseted them please tell me!

i hope this post has been at least interesting. its the longest post ive ever made, and its also the most personal thing ive ever shared with just "everyone." i know its rant-ish, and really weird. but trust me, for me, its good. i already feel like ive made a huge leap, a parsec sized leap. its helped me to share it, and write it. we're about to land in chicago, and then its on to hosuton, and tomorrow austin. i cant wait to be home!

<3 bryant

greetings from 33k feet devoted blog followers! Having recently left O'Hare and now making my way towards boston i find myself with a wonderful opportunity to write.

I thought most people knew i was boston-bound for spring break, but apparently most people didnt know, as i discovered yesterday. I am headed there for 2 reasons: 1, to check out the place i will be working, the Cisco Campus in Boxborough, and 2, to begin my apartment search. I wont sign a lease or anything like that now, but i will start considering which little town outside of boston will become my new home. we'll goto complex's and view floor plans and talk pricing i'm sure, but this trip is primarily investigative. My return is slated for the 12th of march for houston, and the 13th for austin. By the time i arrive today, pick up the rental car, drive to the hotel, and settle in there it will be time for dinner and sleep, so nothing on the agenda will be accomplished today. tomorrow will be filled with church and a general acquainting of the area, and monday tuesday will be reserved for the bulk purpose of this visit.

exciting, i know

in other news, im sad to report i have no news. successfully completed the week before spring break without any major hassles or collapse. i had 2 tests, a lab, and a paper all due last week, and somehow i managed to get it all done with time to spare. i felt like i would either be on fire for the tests or find myself woefully unprepared, and luckily enough i was able to breeze through both with relative ease.

oh, guess what? on the flight from IAH to ORD i managed to SLEEP on an airplane. for those of you how know me and my relationship with airplanes and airports that is no small feat. i feel pretty awesome right now

who's house? thats right

check back soon for more news and views from boston!

i think the title says it all...

things have been really interesting in the past week or so...really interesting. the mix of stress and excitement and fun was just right, so ive been able to survive it all without too much trouble. tonight i took two tests...two, and i feel like i did relatively well on both of them. one of the tests was for a class called "operating systems." the text for that is a white book that is covered with, believe it or not, dinosaurs. it always elicits an amazed response from those who see me carrying it around to my classes; "COOL! what class is that book for! there are dinosaurs on that book!", and then when they discover its for a lame comptuer science class the interest quickly wanes. no matter. im a prisoner of the requisite system. this class is required for me to obtain my diploma, and so i take it, and i deal with it.

in other news tomorrow marks the 6 month anniversary of me and my girlfriend. 6 months is a long time when i stop to think about it. its been a fun ride with her, and im really grateful for those 6 months we've been together. i wouldnt trade them for anything :)

next week is the spring break. on saturday i am flying out to boston to check out the Cisco campus and to scour the area for a suitable apartment. im not sure exactly where i will live right now, but the concord area seems to be the best fit for what i am looking for.

this could be the most boring post ive ever posted. its late, im running on no sleep....and i'm exhausted. forgive my ramblings and bask in the updated goodness ive decided worthy of your viewing, texas style.

• walking the length of the on campus strech of speedway in the cool, breezy march early afternoon listening to the UT bell chime and sing away
• morning runs down shoal creek, spotting my turtle friends perched out on rocks and logs awaiting the warming rays of the morning sun.
• buying and surprising that special someone with flowers
• writing letters from the heart
• the song of the violin
• candlelight occasions and soft music
• mixing flour, eggs, salt, water, oil, kneading the firm mass and forcing it through the pasta maker. mixing tomatoes, celery, carrots, beef, perspiration, energy, and time into a stew of italian goodness.
• L'italiano, sia la persona che la lingua. parlarlo, parlargli, caminando da fiesole a firenze, salutando i paesani, le colline di arezzo, a fattoria con gli animali e le case di fattoria, fatto di legno e amore, ogni pezzo meso con un occhio per la qualita'
• grandpa's farm, the red dirt, the georgian sun, walking down to the creek looking for arrowheads.
• an answered prayer
• a friend's hand wiping away your tears
• that simple gesture of kindness that makes all the bad melt away
• the swiss alps glistening white in the morning sun
• the tuscan hills
• the french countryside
• the everlasting affection of one heart for another