Silent All These Years

Guess who's back!? Back again! Colin's back! Tell a friend!

I have no excuse for being silent for over 3 years, other than the fact I’ve been listening instead of sharing. Experiencing instead of writing. I even let this website go defunct, hidden from the world and locked into a cyber vault, Hundreds of days went by without very many freshly documented words on my behalf. It wasn’t a conscious effort – it just happened. And whatever words were written in the last three and a half years have yet to be shared.

“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did so. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

- Mark Twain (supposedly)

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Although, a lot HAS happened. Nothing super tragic or even earthquaking. But I have continued to learn, independently support myself, follow current events, spend time laughing with my soul mates, travel, create, volunteer and have filled my spare time with live shows and concerts. I'm pretty fucking happy and content.

However, I have yet to learn the piano, visit Easter Island, learn any amount of Spanish, be published, lose weight, make any money off of a hobby or successfully continue this blog. Looks like I have some writing to do as I reflect on the last few years.

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 I’m still in Portland, Oregon… and I’m 30 now! And my half-birthday is in 2 weeks. My half birthday is when I feel most fulfilled and energized. I’ve always considered my real birthday to be my New Year, rather than the January’s new calendar year. What is time anyway? My new year started when I entered this life form, and will remain April 27 until I leave this Earth.

#AlwaysWiserNeverOlder

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Last winter, I started working on a song and I finished it this past Spring. Finishing a song is quite an accomplishment for me. I usually just end up with non-Grammy-nomination-worthy snippets of verses and choruses scribbled in my journals and saved as voice memos with basic guitar chords strumming up the melody.

At its own pace, this one, however, “Pirates,” nearly wrote itself. My friend, Pope, knew that I was obsessing over the sea/pirate/ship theme at the time and sail-mailed me this little ship pin. Oh my, what a touchstone that item became.

I haven’t shared the song much at all but here is a sneak peak of a portion. Someday, I’ll be a one-man-band, and I'll have Twitter's verification checkmark next to my name.

Pirates

Spending all my days along the shore

I can recognize the calm before the storm

But I won’t worry, I won’t worry, I won’t worry anymore

Cause the pirates don’t come round my ship no more

Cruising through the choppy seas

Keeping course courageously

Suddenly the ship hit the tide

Lost control relentlessly

Placing blame accordingly

Distracting me from treasures to find

Red sky in the morn

Now the crew has all been warned…

"Hold My Legs"

       On May 31, 2000, I stood at the stove in my parent's house cooking stir fry with one eye on the television, peaking at vibrant blue Malaysian waters off the coast of Borneo Island. It was the season premiere of Survivor. Outwit. Outlast. Outplay. The adventure intrigued me. By the season finale, when Susan Hawk rips both Richard Hatch and Kelly Wigglesworth new assholes, we were hooked. My parents and I have watched ever since, routing for the more-family-oriented contestants. When I officially moved to Portland three and a half years ago, I started taking notes as I watched each episode to email to my Mom. That way, we can still bond over the show. This season, Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers, I will be sharing my thoughts.

+ Survivor time!

+ Lets see what these fools are up to this week. Let’s start weedin’ ‘em out!

+ HAHAHA! The guys trying on Simone’s pink clothes cracks me up!

+ Bellhop: “Finally, Simone is showing her worth in some capacity.”

+ Nothing like washing your pits out with sand.

+ Why is it such a big deal that Patrick only trusts “most” of these people. You SHOULDN’T trust all of them at this point. His phrase is a non-issue.

+ Patrick makes me laugh. He’s just an idiot.

+ Not surprised Alan can’t crack the coconuts. He’s like a fish outta water on this island. Can’t wait til he goes off the deep end again.

+ At least he brought sweat pants. The only sensible clothing I’ve seen on this season so far.

+ Cowboy: “JP walks around here like he doesn’t know what going on.”

+ Cut to JP walking around camp site.

+ Cut to JP bringing fish home. Now who doesn’t know what’s going on?

+ Sherry must be hungry, she busting out from behind that tree the minute someone said fish.

+ That little thing isn’t enough to feed them all though.

+ Uh oh, I see Alan’s crazy eyes again. He knows Blondie has been talking about JP in her interviews.

+ All these girls are getting boy crazy. I smell power couples. Or lover’s quarrels.

+ So much drama in this episode I love it.

+ I also don’t think its a big deal for Patrick to go off and look for the idol. Why isn’t everyone else getting up off their ass to look for it!?

+ Joe’s idol has to get flushed! Throwing food away. Fuck this guy.

+ Cole spanned the beans about Joe’s Idol. I hope he can trust whoever this “Roark” girl is.

+ Wow! Those Heroes FLEW over that net wall! Alan’s jump was awesome!

+ Oh Jesus Patrick, just switch out already!

+ Fisherwoman: “Pat, you ready to switch….. You wanna switch….. Can I take a turn…. Patrick, can we swap?”
+ Patty just sealed his deal.

+ Damn those stacks are tall! Cheerleaders on top.

+ Blondie: “HOLD MY LEGS!” haha! She must have been a cheerleader in a past life to be able to climb up on her team.

+ They won eggs! Don’t drop em!

+ Good Tribal. Great ideas about teamwork thrown around. + It's a TEAM game right now and Patrick really fucked up. Bring him back next year, he’s cute. Hopefully he’ll grow up a bit in the meantime.

+ I’m glad Lauren stays.

+ Bye Patrick! What a big baby. Calling them “awful” and “liars” on the way out?! It's a GAME!

"Sad Birthday Party"

       On May 31, 2000, I stood at the stove in my parent's house cooking stir fry with one eye on the television, peaking at vibrant blue Malaysian waters off the coast of Borneo Island. It was the season premiere of Survivor. Outwit. Outlast. Outplay. The adventure intrigued me. By the season finale, when Susan Hawk rips both Richard Hatch and Kelly Wigglesworth new assholes, we were hooked. My parents and I have watched ever since, routing for the more-family-oriented contestants. When I officially moved to Portland three and a half years ago, I started taking notes as I watched each episode to email to my Mom. That way, we can still bond over the show. This season, Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers, I will be sharing my thoughts.

+ Survivor!

+ Oh, it’s Chrissy, not Sherri. lol. She’s sneaky! Kinda like her.

+ Still don’t like Alan. Tell us you “don’t wanna go back to Tribal” one more time. I heard you the first 3. No one wants to go to Tribal, moron.

+ Ben “This crew is like old paint. Cracked everywhere.” The Core 4 is no More! I’m so glad they see-through Alan’s BS.

+ I love these Fijian beaches! Love the word “Fijian” too!

+ This Simone girl is interesting, to say the least. From being afraid of a bug, to gutting a fish all in one scene!

+ I was gonna call her “weird” then that guy beat me to it! haha

+ This Joe guy is Idol obsessed! Finding it is one thing. Using it correctly is another story. I don’t trust him with it. Seems like Cole does though.

+ Ahaha! The dykey woman chasing the red head with the crab is hilarious! He screams like a girl. As she wipes his spit off her face! Haha!

+ I love that the puzzle is made up of all the places Survivor has filmed! (note: I said this before Jeff pointed it out)

+ Too many sakes!

+ I can’t put my finger on Simone. On the beach, she’s an idiot. In her interviews, she seems pretty smart.

+ Why has there never been a British person on the show?

+ I hope Patrick (red head) stays and Simone goes. It would be stupid to get rid of Patrick.

+ Wow. Skinny guy just said it best before the walk to Tribal. Gotta give him more credit.

+ Oh Jesus. He just lost me with the “birthday party” metaphor bullshit.

+ I’m on Lauren’s (Fisherman) side. “More like a funeral.”

+ Patrick: “Sad birthday party.” haha!

+ Simone is way weirder than Patrick.

+ Patrick’s teeth are amazing.

+ We’re deff gonna see the skinny guy on another challenge.

+ If Simone says “like” one more time… she’s out. And she talks so much nonsense you can hear the choppy editing in between her sentences.

+ Oh THANK GAGA!!! Bye Simone! She was fucking obnoxious.
+ Simone: “I’m sad but I’m living with it.” haha! They edited her to be a weirdo!

Outwit. Outlast. Outplay.

       On May 31, 2000, I stood at the stove in my parent's house cooking stir fry with one eye on the television, peaking at vibrant blue Malaysian waters off the coast of Borneo Island. It was the season premiere of Survivor. Outwit. Outlast. Outplay. The adventure intrigued me. By the season finale, when Susan Hawk rips both Richard Hatch and Kelly Wigglesworth new assholes, we were hooked. My parents and I have watched ever since, routing for the more-family-oriented contestants. When I officially moved to Portland three and a half years ago, I started taking notes as I watched each episode to email to my Mom. That way, we can still bond over the show. This season, Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers, I will be sharing my thoughts.

+ Survivor season 35: Heroes, Healers, & Hustlers! Let's go!

+ Are we in Fiji again?
+ Can’t complain about Fiji!
+ I can only imagine the rush these folks must feel on this boat! “Look at the mast! Look at the cameras! Jeff is talking to me! What’s my story line? Look at my buff!” Must be a trip!

+ One day, I will own a buff. Preferably purchased on line.
+ Military man. Thank you for your service.
+ The girl with the curly hair seems feisty. She must need patience to be somebody's personal assistant, but patience goes out the door on this island!
+ Oh gosh, this nerdy guy is gonna glide right to the top 5, isn’t he?
+ Game on! Now grab those melons, that flint, and get your asses to shore!
+ The water is so blue!
+ No plans. All pandemonium.
+ Jeff: “He’s launching fruit like a quarterback… with no receiver.” lol
+ Told ya. Nerdy guy found his first advantage. I bet you’ll he’ll find more. Though I really hope they get spread out this season. The last TWO seasons, all the same people got the advantages. The best one in the last 2: Officer Sarah, when she found the one Michaela missed.
+ There is so much fucking fruit floating in the water! What a waste.

+ Ahaha! Red head just threw that pineapple so far, nobody will be able to get it!
+ And Jeff is already ashore. He didn’t even have to get wet getting onto his boat! It’s good to be the King, huh?
+ Jeff: “The hustlers are still trying to figure out what show they are on!”
+ Whale!
+ Look at that bon fire! But ummm… Healer’s beach looks like it’s gonna wash away. Fire or not, I hope that tide don’t rise!
+ This girl is drooling over the new “Tarzan”
+ I’ll never understand the cute bras on this show. Get a fucking sports bra and tank top!
+ Ohhh! NFL player!!! What team was he on?!
+ “Core Four!” I love that phrase. Had my own at work.
+ LOL “Mom Squad” Talk about agism. I don’t like this dude.
+ I wanna hear more from this dykey woman. I like her!
+ Who’s this guy with the crab in his pants and why did he put the crab in his pocket?!
+ Nerdy with the advantage: “For the first time, someones trying to get into my pants!” Ahaha!
+ SUPER IMMUNITY IDOL!? Have to use it at the first Tribal?! Talk about a major target on your back.
+ Who is this Joe guy? Fuck you. Pull your pants up. Who are you to call someone out so early for having an advantage they don’t have. Talk about paranoia.
+ EW RATS!
+ This NFL player is also paranoid. He a fool. I don’t think he’s crafty as he thinks.
+ OMG! He just made this guy take his pants down?!?!? PSYCHO!!!! Get this guy OUT OF HERE! That was so weird and uncomfortable. He put his face down there and gave him a ball tap all in the name of immunity???!! WEIRDO!
+ These people are idol/advantage hungry. Get over yourselves and JUST PLAY THE GAME!

+ Immunity challenge time!
+ LMFAO Like Splash Mountain on that little roller coaster!

+ That looked fun at first until y’all got sawdust in your faces.
+ Dr Mike wins the maze!!! I think I like Dr Mike!
+ So close! Nail bitter!
+ Way to go Hustlers!! - At least I THINK thats who won.
+ Wait… who’s going to Tribal? lol
+ Oh, Heroes. Poor Heroes. They GAVE IT THEIR ALL!!! Poor sicky. I hope that doesn’t make her a target.
+ WOW! Those fish, and especially the whale footage is AWESOME this season!
+ Alan, the NFL player HAS TO GO. He is SO non-discrete.
+ YES! The Immunity SUPER IDOL has been GIFTED!
+ The Super Idol is so PRETTY!!!! Is that Quan Yin?!
+ This Mom with the idol has to get Alan outta here!
+ You know I love a good tribal set design, but nothing will beat that shipwreck Tribal set design from last year!
+ I’m on the edge of my seat.
+ I’m heated. Alan is totally stereo typing these two! They aint no power couple!
+ This Alan NEEDS TO GO. I can’t stand him. I know part of it is the editing but his game play is awful.
Get over yourself, Alan!
+ He has crazy eyes.
+ Oh poor Katrina! BUMMER! She had potential. She’s a normal person.
+ But the one with the Super Immunity Idol did what was best for her. Both women had a target on their backs. Get rid of the one who ain't you and try to stir shit up moving forward. Even though she puked, I think she’s on to something.
+ LMFAO The first commercial once the show ended was a Victoria Secret SPORTS BRA commercial! At least someone is listening to me.
+ Katrina is an Olympian?! I love that she slipped that in, in her final interview. You have to get your story out there however you can.
+ Now I need to google her tomorrow morning at work. Can’t wait to learn more about 1988 Olympian Swimmer Katrina.