Well, it is officially June 1st. in 10 days, I'll be trippin on down to Bermuda to jump on that boat and get outta here.
Rock out to that...I wasn't born when this video was made. What a shame, because these guys would've been my heroes. One guy is wearing a suit jacket, and glasses to see into the future, the other guy has a mullet and a jail stripe shirt (you can he likes to party), and the other dude looks like he's about to go chop down an entire forest....80's....do you hear me??? I miss you.
It's good, It's good.
So, this is my last week of good, honest, 9 to 5 work. And I have ALOT of packing to do. I have to basically pack up everything I own at the Sloan's house and somehow fit it all in or on Steven (My Isuzu Rodie-whoa!). And you know my Dad will be overjoyed when we have to unpack it all and shove it in his storage shed...
On another note, since I haven't been to the doctor or dentist in a very long time, I scheduled appointments with both the beginning of next week. Why not?
In other news...
Earlier last week, I had put an ad on Craigslist rideshare, to see if I could find somebody to help me out with gas. So this dude emailed saying he needed a ride to Raleigh from Asheville. I said I'd pick him up and immediately went to my car to find the most strategical location for my 7-inch blade.
*Side note - when strategically placing a knife in your car, just in case the man, woman, or animal in your passenger seat turns out to be a psycho, there are many things you must take into consideration, such as: 1) You don't want the passenger to be able to see the knife, therefore giving you the element of surprise, 2) You want it in a place where, if you go to grab it, it isn't very obvious, 3) You want to put it where the stabbing or slicing motion will be as quick as possible...there are a few others, but I think you get the point.
So the location I chose was in between the drivers seat and the armrest...hidden from sight, but easily accessible.
Anyways, so I picked John up at his house, he was a little squirrely, and smaller than me, so I knew right off the bat I could take him, which immediately relaxed me a bit. We left his house and started chatting, and he turned out to be a super duper dude. He was an accomplished carpenter, and then decided to do something he'd always wanted to do, become a website developer. So he went back to school (NC State) and is about to graduate and start his own website business. Pretty cool eh?
So Craigslist rideshare = potentially sketchy, but totally worth it. I got $25 out of the deal.... Don't forget the knife.
Hope that was fun. I'll let you know how the packing goes...
AND...Kyle stepped on my freaking sunglasses over the weekend and broke them. My beautiful Costa Del Mar sunnys. I just bought a new pair though, for 40% off plus a little thing I like to call a gift certificate. A big thanks to the Sears!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Another Day...Another Destiny
Well, 1 more week until I am unemployed. That's a bit nuts, and scary really. I always get stressed about money, more than I should...and I just decided to quit my job...Just gotta stop thinking about that.
This morning, I looked online for an hour trying to find 1)Ray Ban Wayfarers and 2) a sailing cap with a string (It attaches to your shirt so if your hat gets blown off, you don't lose it). I didn't find any that I actually wanted to buy, since for some reason Ray Ban Wayfarers are still $200, and they stopped making sailing caps in the early 90's....speaking of the early 90's...
I watched the movie "Wind" last night.
Talk about an awesome movie. Made in 1992 but based in 1987. It's about this dude who is a sailor and races yachts. Well, he basically loses this huge race, one that America has won the past 100 or so years, to Australia. The US and Australia are like Duke and UNC at Chapel Hill, but for sailing. They hate each other. So it's all about how he and this dudes make this sweet new boat design and win the cup back. Did I mention it has Jennifer Grey in it?
This morning, I looked online for an hour trying to find 1)Ray Ban Wayfarers and 2) a sailing cap with a string (It attaches to your shirt so if your hat gets blown off, you don't lose it). I didn't find any that I actually wanted to buy, since for some reason Ray Ban Wayfarers are still $200, and they stopped making sailing caps in the early 90's....speaking of the early 90's...
I watched the movie "Wind" last night.
Talk about an awesome movie. Made in 1992 but based in 1987. It's about this dude who is a sailor and races yachts. Well, he basically loses this huge race, one that America has won the past 100 or so years, to Australia. The US and Australia are like Duke and UNC at Chapel Hill, but for sailing. They hate each other. So it's all about how he and this dudes make this sweet new boat design and win the cup back. Did I mention it has Jennifer Grey in it?
Yea...She fine. Here's something funny about Ben Johnson...He loves poofy 80's/90's hair, and when girls wear jeans (acid wash) up to their belly buttons, and grandma sweaters. Seriously...I will take Jennifer Grey in Ferris Buellers Day Off, Dirty Dancing, and Wind...or Elizabeth Shue in Cocktail and Back to the Future, over any girl EVER. I love it.
Gotta stop.
So, the date is slowly approaching for me to take off. I get more and more excited everyday. I'm finding every video on Youtube that has to do with sailing, looking up websites, all that mess. I really am becoming obsessed. I hope it lives up to my expectations.
AND>>>>>Margarita is a follower on my blog!!! There is no greater honor.
AND>>>>I'm going to Goldsboro (aka Eden) tonight. Nick and Angela's engagement party tomorrow. Pretty pumped about that.
AND>>Rock out to some "Southern Cross" from Crosby Stills & Nash. 1) Great Song 2) Gets me fired up to sail man.
Crap...AND>>> I forgot about this. There's a transmitter on the boat that sends an email with our location twice a day. My dad will be getting the email, so if you want to keep track of the voyage, send me your email address and I'll put you on the list!
Ben...Out
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Ben Johnson...The Sailor?!?!
If you don't want to read the glorious story below because it's too long...Read This! It has pictures!
So, I leave June 10th from my parents home in Lynchburg to fly to Bermuda...which looks like this...
Amazing...I will be in Bermuda for 5 days, learning about the boat, an Alden 44' (pictures of boat will come from Bermuda) and going on day sails, etc.
So, the 15th of June, 1 day after my 23rd birthday, I will hop aboard this sea going vessel and begin the voyage across the ocean...which apparently looks like this...
Awesome sunset, I hope I see a few.
"Hey, whats that in the distance??? Oh..it's just more freaking ocean..." ( I think I'll say that, with heaps of sarcasm piled on, one time)
And then, after 2-6 weeks, depending on the wind (1850 miles, 50 to 100 miles a day), I will arrive at Horta, Faial, which is in the Azores off the coast of Portugal. They look like this.
This is the Horta, where we will land in Faial. You can see the harbor if you look really close.
This is the view of Mount Pico, on the neighboring Island of Pico, from Horta.
If you can look really close, you can see all of the paintings on the walls of the harbor. An old harbor legend is that if you paint the name of your boat on the walls, you will have good luck sailing...Just another reason to sail...legends.
Well, that's all I'm going to write right this second. I'll catch ya'll up later!
War Child...The Sailor?!?
Welcome back,
Take a seat, stay awhile. Let me tell you a story.
Once upon a time, there was a boy. Not just any boy, this boy was a man. Not just any man, but kinda just like any man.
This man, whom we shall call War Child, worked at a 9-5, where every day, he sat at a desk in an office without windows and typed things into his computer. What things you ask? That's classified. Everyday, he would wake up, shower, eat, go to the office, enter into a coma for 8 hours, drive home.
Now home was a different story. He lived with a family, and not just any family...no no no...it was a magical family, like you would find in Narnia. Home was a life of warm fires, glorious food, wonderful friends, and the Wiggles!
Now, War Child was not unhappy by any means, he had a job, which in the wise words of Matthew McConaughey from Dazed and Confused, "Put money in his pocket." Wow...that's insightful. He had friends, and he had a great home life. He was blessed, truly.
But one day, he woke up in dire need of adventure. He called friends, and nothing was to come. There was nobody that could break away, at least right now, to go adventuring...sorry War Child.
Well, the next day, He woke in a somber mood, to say the least. He was sad that there was no adventuring to be had. Alas, he went to work. He took his lunch break. But then...what is this???
An Email!!!!!
Not just any email...no, the kind of email that is found in such tales as "You've Got Mail." aka "life changing"
It was a man, not just any man, a sailor man, like Popeye with smaller arms. He wanted me...ahem...I mean War Child to crew aboard his 44 foot Galleon (sailboat) and sail across the Atlantic Ocean!
War Child was overwhelmed, and super ultra excited, at the possibility of doing something so adventurous! He went about preparing the way for this to become a reality.
Well first, he told those closest to him to see what they thought. He told his father, the magical man he lived with, and a few close friends. Contrary to what War Child thought this reaction would look like (Are you an IDIOT!?!? You can't quit your JOB?!?! Helloooo...economic depression), He was overjoyed with the support and shared excitement that those closest showed him.
Next, he had to make sure he wanted to do this, that he WOULD do this. He made up his mind...He would do it.
Then, he bought the plane ticket, which could have been the scariest moment of the whole process. It was on the computer screen...he had looked at the same ticket 3 or 4 times...and this was the third day of doing so. All he had to do was press "confirm this ticket". It was as if he had 2 more feet to a house in the middle of the desert, and he was dying of thirst...he just had to stop thinking and do it. SO HE DID!! He clicked. He bought. HE WAS GOING!
For the first time in this whole process...he actually felt scared...What was he DOING!?!?!
Anyways, War Child took the next step, and politely gave work his two weeks notice...oh crap...nervous...He was doing it for sure now. Deep breath, clear head, and plunge on into the unknown.
That was two days ago, and War Child is trying to enjoy his last week in Narnia before taking off across the ocean. He will miss you. He will be updating his blog. Join him in his adventure.
(PS War Child...that's me)
Take a seat, stay awhile. Let me tell you a story.
Once upon a time, there was a boy. Not just any boy, this boy was a man. Not just any man, but kinda just like any man.
This man, whom we shall call War Child, worked at a 9-5, where every day, he sat at a desk in an office without windows and typed things into his computer. What things you ask? That's classified. Everyday, he would wake up, shower, eat, go to the office, enter into a coma for 8 hours, drive home.
Now home was a different story. He lived with a family, and not just any family...no no no...it was a magical family, like you would find in Narnia. Home was a life of warm fires, glorious food, wonderful friends, and the Wiggles!
Now, War Child was not unhappy by any means, he had a job, which in the wise words of Matthew McConaughey from Dazed and Confused, "Put money in his pocket." Wow...that's insightful. He had friends, and he had a great home life. He was blessed, truly.
But one day, he woke up in dire need of adventure. He called friends, and nothing was to come. There was nobody that could break away, at least right now, to go adventuring...sorry War Child.
Well, the next day, He woke in a somber mood, to say the least. He was sad that there was no adventuring to be had. Alas, he went to work. He took his lunch break. But then...what is this???
An Email!!!!!
Not just any email...no, the kind of email that is found in such tales as "You've Got Mail." aka "life changing"
It was a man, not just any man, a sailor man, like Popeye with smaller arms. He wanted me...ahem...I mean War Child to crew aboard his 44 foot Galleon (sailboat) and sail across the Atlantic Ocean!
War Child was overwhelmed, and super ultra excited, at the possibility of doing something so adventurous! He went about preparing the way for this to become a reality.
Well first, he told those closest to him to see what they thought. He told his father, the magical man he lived with, and a few close friends. Contrary to what War Child thought this reaction would look like (Are you an IDIOT!?!? You can't quit your JOB?!?! Helloooo...economic depression), He was overjoyed with the support and shared excitement that those closest showed him.
Next, he had to make sure he wanted to do this, that he WOULD do this. He made up his mind...He would do it.
Then, he bought the plane ticket, which could have been the scariest moment of the whole process. It was on the computer screen...he had looked at the same ticket 3 or 4 times...and this was the third day of doing so. All he had to do was press "confirm this ticket". It was as if he had 2 more feet to a house in the middle of the desert, and he was dying of thirst...he just had to stop thinking and do it. SO HE DID!! He clicked. He bought. HE WAS GOING!
For the first time in this whole process...he actually felt scared...What was he DOING!?!?!
Anyways, War Child took the next step, and politely gave work his two weeks notice...oh crap...nervous...He was doing it for sure now. Deep breath, clear head, and plunge on into the unknown.
That was two days ago, and War Child is trying to enjoy his last week in Narnia before taking off across the ocean. He will miss you. He will be updating his blog. Join him in his adventure.
(PS War Child...that's me)
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Bye Bye Sloans
Well,
I had to say goodbye...half-asleep...to the Sloan's this morning at 6 am. It will be the last time I see them for awhile, since when they come back, I will be gone.
It has been a very abrupt change, from living with a family of four, to all of a sudden living by myself, and then moving out in a week. It's safe to say, I will miss this place.
When I look around it's scuffed walls (only to about 4 feet high), complete with intercom system from the early to late seventies, I can't help but reminisce...
...Of times when Sloan and I took out that annoying wall, requiring only minor electrician skill and a crowbar, and installed a step...
...Or when Hannah had a baby on the new wood floor...
...Or when a tree demolished the drive way, and those crazy dudes helped us cut it up...and then stole the chainsaw blade...
...Or when we played guitar hero for about 90 hours total in one month...
...Or when, at 7 am some days, Asher would wake up, come over and stand next to my bed, and yell into my ear "WAKE UP BEN!!!", just like the effin Wiggles...
(Speaking of Wiggles, the new yellow dude freaks me out)
...Max has goobies...
...Really funny arguments about...oh I don't know...Squats...
...Watching t.v. shows I would never watch in my own time, such as:
-Biggest Loser
-Amazing Race
-Biggest Loser
...Learning what it's really like to be married with children...
...Sloan falling down the stairs...
There's so much more...I can't possibly go on.
Anyways, Thanks to the Sloans for two wonderful years...Holy #@!* (crap)...it's been two years.
Love you guys...*single tear*...pulled a Sloan.
I had to say goodbye...half-asleep...to the Sloan's this morning at 6 am. It will be the last time I see them for awhile, since when they come back, I will be gone.
It has been a very abrupt change, from living with a family of four, to all of a sudden living by myself, and then moving out in a week. It's safe to say, I will miss this place.
When I look around it's scuffed walls (only to about 4 feet high), complete with intercom system from the early to late seventies, I can't help but reminisce...
...Of times when Sloan and I took out that annoying wall, requiring only minor electrician skill and a crowbar, and installed a step...
...Or when Hannah had a baby on the new wood floor...
...Or when a tree demolished the drive way, and those crazy dudes helped us cut it up...and then stole the chainsaw blade...
...Or when we played guitar hero for about 90 hours total in one month...
...Or when, at 7 am some days, Asher would wake up, come over and stand next to my bed, and yell into my ear "WAKE UP BEN!!!", just like the effin Wiggles...
(Speaking of Wiggles, the new yellow dude freaks me out)
...Max has goobies...
...Really funny arguments about...oh I don't know...Squats...
...Watching t.v. shows I would never watch in my own time, such as:
-Biggest Loser
-Amazing Race
-Biggest Loser
...Learning what it's really like to be married with children...
...Sloan falling down the stairs...
There's so much more...I can't possibly go on.
Anyways, Thanks to the Sloans for two wonderful years...Holy #@!* (crap)...it's been two years.
Love you guys...*single tear*...pulled a Sloan.
Monday, May 25, 2009
I read a book
So, last night, I went over to Betsy's, sat in a hammock for 2.5 hours, and read an entire book...250 pages.
It was awesome.
There's something so good about shutting off all the "noisemakers" and just sitting and reading. I don't know why I don't do it more often.
Anyways, the book I was reading is called "Three Signs to a Miserable Job." It's basically a story of how this dude, Brian Bailey, formulated this method of becoming a better manager in order to improve job performance, improve company performance, but most importantly of all, how to get employees to like their job. And the most interesting part of it all is that it doesn't matter whether you're working at a fast food restaurant washing dishes or if you're a professional athlete, it doesn't matter whether you make $6 an hour or $50 million a year, and it doesn't matter if you're young, old, pretty, ugly, big, small...blah blah blah....the truths in this book are awesome.
The three signs are:
Anonymity: Employees feel anonymous when their manager has little interest in them as people with unique lives, aspirations, and interests.
Irrelevance: This condition occurs when workers cannot see how their job makes a difference. "Every employee needs to know that the work they do impacts someones life -- a customer, a coworker, even a supervisor -- in one way or another."
Immeasurement: This term describes the inability of employees to assess for themselves their contributions or success. As a result they often rely on the opinions of others -- usually the manager -- to measure their success.
(http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-three_signs_of_a_miserable_job-277)
So simple, but overlooked all the time. It's funny to me that these are things I desire, not only at work...but in every area of my life. I want to be known, I want to know that I'm making a difference in somebodies life, and I want to know that I'm doing a good job.
Anyways, I think it's a great thing, and very true. Pick up the book, especially if you are interested in, or are presently, managing people.
Aside from that...I just bought a plane ticket to Bermuda, where I will then jump on a sailboat, and sail across the Atlantic Ocean...and no, I have never sailed before. I leave June 10th. How's that for a footnote?
It was awesome.
There's something so good about shutting off all the "noisemakers" and just sitting and reading. I don't know why I don't do it more often.
Anyways, the book I was reading is called "Three Signs to a Miserable Job." It's basically a story of how this dude, Brian Bailey, formulated this method of becoming a better manager in order to improve job performance, improve company performance, but most importantly of all, how to get employees to like their job. And the most interesting part of it all is that it doesn't matter whether you're working at a fast food restaurant washing dishes or if you're a professional athlete, it doesn't matter whether you make $6 an hour or $50 million a year, and it doesn't matter if you're young, old, pretty, ugly, big, small...blah blah blah....the truths in this book are awesome.
The three signs are:
Anonymity: Employees feel anonymous when their manager has little interest in them as people with unique lives, aspirations, and interests.
Irrelevance: This condition occurs when workers cannot see how their job makes a difference. "Every employee needs to know that the work they do impacts someones life -- a customer, a coworker, even a supervisor -- in one way or another."
Immeasurement: This term describes the inability of employees to assess for themselves their contributions or success. As a result they often rely on the opinions of others -- usually the manager -- to measure their success.
(http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-three_signs_of_a_miserable_job-277)
So simple, but overlooked all the time. It's funny to me that these are things I desire, not only at work...but in every area of my life. I want to be known, I want to know that I'm making a difference in somebodies life, and I want to know that I'm doing a good job.
Anyways, I think it's a great thing, and very true. Pick up the book, especially if you are interested in, or are presently, managing people.
Aside from that...I just bought a plane ticket to Bermuda, where I will then jump on a sailboat, and sail across the Atlantic Ocean...and no, I have never sailed before. I leave June 10th. How's that for a footnote?
Sunday, May 24, 2009
I am calling today, the first day of summer.
Today is the first day of summer...
I woke up at 10 am and walked into the living room to find Ferg watching Dazed and Confused...I can't think of a better way to start the summer that girls in full denim outfits and Matthew McCohfnsufnwksahey in pink jeans...I love the 70's.
And I love the 2000's, especially 2009, more specifically the first day of summer, 2009, aka May 24th, 2009, visa vie...today.
It is now 11:15, I am still in my jammies, and surfing the movie channels...
First day of summer...check
this post sponsored by the spirit animal: cowcheetah in space.
*Spirit animal idea stolen from JDwight...just wanted to see how it felt...and it feels gooooooooooooooooooooood.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Remodelin and Arguin
Until I get a camera, you guys won't really understand, to the fullest extent, anything that I'm talking about. Like how we (Sloan, Turd, Mas, and me) just dominated that kitchen remodel in a totally impromptu thrashing of wood, drywall, and linoleum (which sucks...stop putting linoleum in your kitchens, idiots). Or how, to break the cabinets down into small enough pieces to fit into the dumpster, Turd, Mas (kinda) and I threw them(the cabinets) against a tree...after which they splintered into a million pieces...which we immediately regretted because then we had to pick them up.
But I will tell you about some very ridiculous arguments that have erupted between these four men (and by four, I mean three)...past, present...and I'm not a future teller.
Argument #1) What sport/athletes is/are the most athletically challenging?
Ben - Gymnastics
Sloan - Decathlon
Turd - Football...
Gymnastics wins...I don't care what you have to say...those dudes are jacked, have hand/eye coordination, and are all around beasts. I don't care if they are 5 feet tall. Iron Cross...can you do that???...I rest my case.
Argument #2) Is the statement "Lebron is better because Kobe is a douche bag" valid??
Ben - No
Sloan - No answer
Turd - Yes
Not valid...because comparatively, Kobe and Lebron are both douche bags....I say that respectively.
Argument #3) Not really an argument...Sloan was just being a baby about playing Guitar Hero and wouldn't say please. (You're the man Sloan, thanks for letting me live with you for the past two years...it's awesome and so are you ;)
And that, my friends, is the only "emoticon" I will ever post.
I love my mom.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Numero Uno
Hello,
I am at work right now, so i can't blog right this second.
See ya.
The Johnson
I am at work right now, so i can't blog right this second.
See ya.
The Johnson
Let this fire you up.
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