Summer

Friday night I was able to meet up with my Brazilian friend Oeslin for the first time since he has been back. After a very long day of work I was able to meet him at McKenzie Lanes before closing. We had a few beers and talked about our families and all the stuff we wanted to do this summer. We agreed that we have to go camping again and ride motorcycles together. In the midst of our conversation I realized I have a lot of things to look forward to this summer.

My Aunts on my dad's side are comming out for the family reunions. Some of my cousins are comming out here with there families. I know my cousin Monte wants to catch a Twins game. I can't wait to see all of them. It's been a while.

Then there is our canoeing trip down the Namekagon with just the guys. I am hoping everyone can come. Three days of canoeing, beer, fishing, beer, football on the sand bars, beer, camp food, beer and nothing but fun.

Also, my two best friends are getting married. Not to each other though. I believe Ryan is getting married at the end August and Stephan's wedding is at the beginning of September. I know Stephan wants to go sky diving sometime before he gets married so I am going to try for that.

Then there is the Tanzania trip. I'm not to sure when that is going to happen but I do really want to go.

So many things to look forward to. This is the first time in a long time that I have been this excited about summer.

Four Things

A friend of mine thought I should post this.

1. Four jobs that I have had in my life:

- Farm Hand
- Cabinet Maker
- Security Officer
- Truck Driver

2. Four Movies I would/have watch(ed) over and over:

- The Edge
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- Into The Wild
- Tommy Boy

3. Four places I have lived:

- Fontana, CA
- Centuria, WI
- Denali Park, AK
- Mammoth Lakes, CA

4. Four TV shows that I watch:

- Inside the NFL
- Real Time with Bill Maher
- MythBusters
- The Big Idea

5. Four places I have visited:

- Brazil
- Bahamas
- Denali National Park
- Desolation Wilderness

6. Four people who email me regularly:

- Darla
- Cathy
- Gnomo
- Camila

7. Four of my favorite foods:

- My Mother's Lasagna
- BBQ from Rio Grande do Sul
- Fettucini Alfredo
- Cocinha de galinha

8. Four places I would like to be right now:

- Vicosa, Minas Gerais
- Veranopolis, Rio Grande do Sul
- Denali Park
- Manassas

9. Four things I'm looking forward to this year:

- Family Reunions
- Getting to hold my new Niece or Nephew
- Going to Tanzania
- Going to school

10. Four people who should post 4 things:

Anyone who feels up to it.

Too busy and tired

I told myself that I would make an effort to blog as often as I could but I have been working a lot lately. Monday through friday I worked from 6:45am to 3:00pm. Friday night I worked from 3:30pm to 4:00am and then went home and was only able to sleep about five and a half hours. I am in one of those periods where I don't sleep all that well.
Anyway, I received my passport in the mail with my stamped tourist visa. There is nothing stopping me from going to Brazil now. I am really excited. Just over two weeks left!
In other news, Easter was good this year. I am not very religious but we had supper at my Aunt's house and it was nice. We spent the afternoon riding their four wheeler around and pulling my cousin on a sled. I rolled the four wheeler. It sucked. I'm fine and there wasn't really any damage to the quad but it still sucked. But other than that it was a good weekend.

Outrageous

Can you believe the cost of fuel? I was on my way home from Rice Lake, and at the Holiday in Cumberland I saw that Diesel fuel was $3.99 a gallon. Diesel? I thought diesel was a biproduct of gasoline. How do they expect drivers to make a living? Especially owner-operators? This is ridiculous. I hope the price goes down before June, otherwise we are going to be in a world of hurt.
Ok, I have vented. Thanks.

In other news, I have sent off my application for a tourist visa. Rita at Brazil Visa Services says it will take about five days so I won't be cutting it as short as I thought.
I was also going to get my International Drivers License and rent a car in Brazil but I changed my mind. I really wanted the driving experience in another country but the bus will be cheaper. I would end up lost anyway.

Tourist Visa

Today I got my passport photos for my new tourist visa. I went to Falls Photo. Very nice people. They remembered me from when I had my senior photos taken there almost eight years ago.
Anyway, I have been lazy about getting my visa, but now it is getting close to my departure. I have my picture and I just printed off a application form. Now all I need is to send my passport, a copy of my tickets, a $140 money order (they make it very clear that the consulate does not accept any other form of payment), $40 for the service fee, and a self-adressed, prepaid envelope with a tracking number.

I just realized I could have been doing the list thing for NaBloPoMo with all the listing I have been doing. I'm not sure I could post everyday.

I am almost ready for my long-awaited trip back to the land of the Green, Yellow and Blue.

Uncle Travis

Guess what? I am going to be a uncle again!!!! My baby sister Jenny is going to be bringing me a wonderful niece or nephew into this world. I am excited and extremely happy for her and her husband. They are going to make great parents.

On a different note, My sister and her husband are no longer going to Brazil with me. I thought I was finally going to be able to show someone why I love that country so much. Oh well, atleast now I have only me to worry about.

Another thing is my hopes of going to school this next fall. I haven't talked about it much to anyone for fear of things changing, but it is something I am going to do. I plan to go to a technical school and learn Aviation Maintenance and Avionics. The school I wish to attend provides enough hands on experience (according to the FAA) to begin working right after graduation. The FAA requires so many hours of experience to work on your own. In this course I will also obtain a Associates in Applied Science which will open the door for a possible Bachelors (depending on my interest in this field) in the future.

This gives me one more summer to button things up with our business and maybe make a little money before I move east.
I have a few things I need to do before I go:
* Buy a car
* Buy a computer
* Go sky diving with a friend
* Attend my two best friends weddings
* Go to Tanzania
* See my niece or nephew come into this world
* and some more stuff I can't think of right now

Lot's of things to look forward to.