How Life Moves On...

So, it's been a while. A LONG ass'd while. I've been meaning to add another blog to let you know how things are, what's been going on, how life has progressed since... well... March 2008. Yes, it's almost been a year. A lot has happened this past year, a lot of good things, things that have made my life so much better and fulfilling being with the right person.

Looking back through my previous entries, I've noticed that I was a giant bitter, depressed person with nothing really to look forward to and really had no future as to where things were headed, where I was headed really. I can honestly say that things weren't good then. I had stagnated, I was in a place where I thought I knew where I was headed and going but just not getting there. I used to enjoy doing "nothing," and just sitting at home watching TV, going out the odd time to my buddies for a fire in his back yard for a beer and a bit of food. Wendy's had consumed my diet for most of my single life, as had the odd beer or two. Sitting in front of my computer talking to like minded people, people that were in the same frame of mind, same place in their life and really had nothing to look forward to (in my case, a new porn video to download and some more Internet dating on Plenty of Fish or eHarmony).

It took a while for me to get out of that place, doing something for me finally, getting out of a rut, getting into some debt for me, to make me feel better. I bought my truck, 2000 Ford Ranger, then myself a queen bed to help me sleep better. I had felt a lot better, then... my Erin came along. I had cursed her for a few days telling her that I had finally started feeling better about myself, about who I was and a new passion to get out of what I was doing and help me get out of my stagnated rut. But little did I know then, that she would help me more than I ever thought.

So, what's my outlook on life now??? A lot better. So much better in that, Erin and I are know engaged to get married in Aug 7, 2010. An evening wedding down on her dad's doc at sunset. I've got my big screen TV now, something I've wanted for a while. We're going on a trip to Mexico for a week with Erin's friend and her husband for a much needed vacation. When we get back, we're going to hopefully put an offer on a house. I bought myself a new car to commute from Olds to Red Deer everyday (mind you, I still profess that I miss my Ranger...lol Erin just rolls her eyes at that). Erin and I have made plans for our future, something that I've longed for but never was able to complete or see it completing. I've got a new career, a new job with some future in it... just need to kick my ass a bit more to get it going further (ie school... try and get my job to help me out with that). I'm going to get my little 1966 Chevy II from my dad and start working on it to make it a nice little hot rod cruiser and take it on road trips on weekends to various car shows, events or heck... just a road trip. Most of the stuff I'll do on my own, the house we're looking at has a huge shop so I'll be able to complete most of my tasks in that shop.

I really can't complain, and nor am I, except this once...lol There are a few people who don't relish in my new found happiness stating in a conversation "How's your puppy? Are you still with that girl??" Well, um... Yes, and we're quite happy if you haven't figured that out already. Most of these conversations had taken place through Facebook so I'm sure that had there been a change... they would have known about it, or not if they just didn't care at all. Plus the fact that they would even ask about the dog before they'd even ask how Erin was (she does have a name). They miss the old Chris, the bitter, depressed, the lonely Chris with nothing to do on a Friday night and wouldn't have anything better to do than be lonely or miserable with someone over vid cam. I can tell you, I don't miss those days, and for a long time now, I don't miss those people either.

I love my new career, I love my new job. I'm enjoying making new acquaintances and people through work that can help me help them. I really have nothing more to complain about, nor feel sorry for. I love my fiancee, my future wife, I love my dog I love where things are heading and can't wait to see what comes for us next.

As my buddy Bob would say.... "Life's Good."

Changes Among Us... Me perhaps???

Hey Y'all...

So yea.... here I sit checkin' out my blog and figuring out that I haven't updated this much... only to fair reason because of the changes that have happened in the past 5 months. For most of you, a girl friend, a new car, a new job within the company, and now moving to Olds and commuting back and forth to Calgary.

I want to say something, I want to have an opinion about something but it would just seem like I'm whining.... Something no one wants to read. It's one thing to hear it and ignore it, but it's another to read it. I'm moving to Olds... everything is mostly packed... it's stressful I tell ya because it's been a 2 week transition. It's one thing to do it at once, but another to prolong it over 3 to 4 weeks...lol I can't wait to make the full move 'cause then I'll be normal again.

Change is enevitable, like last weekend for instance. Erin and I went out looking for a new couch for us, to do something for both of us, a new mark in both of our lives, and new step... well... you get the b/s I'm puttin' out...lol It occured to me the other day that... wow... this shit is actually happening... Erin and I were sitting outside a furniture shop discussing when we should pay, what we wanted to do and how to do it. Like a ring in a bell.... BAM!!! Ok... that was a gunshot sound but you get the idea....lol It took me a few hours to comprehend what was going on, what was happening with me, with us... changes. Wow.

Things are ok... things are going good... I'm not gonna complain at all. I'm having fun... can't wait to start a new point in my life....

~Chris

MAN... if only I could have done that... EITHER of it...lol I think it's awesome.... and amazing to!!

~Chris

Oh man... check this out!!

This looks like bad porn!!! Man, this feels more than 15 years ago....

~Chris

Adventures with Ranger Pt.1

Ok, so here I am writing this in correlation to my first attempt to customize my truck. I'm not impressed... at all. I had a thought/dream last night that they were riveted on. Well, they weren't... BUT they did have location holes in the sides of the quarter panels to locate the placard. I didn't even think of that. Oh well... Too late now.

It never even entered my mind that something like that would be there. A little advice, do some research or be properly prepared to do stuff like that...lol If I wanted to keep it like that, I'd need to weld up the holes and repaint both quarters... *sigh* Damn, was looking forward to it to... ah well... Check out the pics... hopefully you'll get to see them...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51829&l=25e0a&id=676600373

Next week... brakes!!

~Chris

Moving on and leaving some things behind...

As I sit here, doing some thinking about where I've come from (more recently then "at the beginning of time" b/s) to now and wondering what has been left behind, what did I have that I no longer posses much, if not ANY interest for anymore. I was talking to my best friend last night and usually when we chat, we chat for about an hour on usual, we chat about stuff really. Just anything, but mostly cars, bikes, women, dating, family. He's like the brother I've never had and I can pretty much talk about anything and he with I.

We started talking about moving on and up. We chatted about our bike building and how our interest has wained on the subject for both of us for some months, if not years. It's true what they say, that the older you get... your toys get bigger and more expensive. Well, it's come to pass that each of us have made that progression. I don't like saying this but us and the bikes were just stepping stones in what we really wanted to do... cars. Yea, I know... it's a passion for most guys and for some, deeper (and with deeper pockets to) than others. Nathan is the type of guy who likes to get into the bare nuts and bolts of a vehicle and rebuild it so to speak. Him and his... um... old Volvo 240DL and me with my Ford Ranger. Both of our projects widely differ and differ with our skill levels to. My truck is pretty good from the get go where his Volvo needs a lot of TLC and will get it. Most of my upgrades will be bolt on parts, his will be welded on parts of metal and working on fenders and repainting.

I finally came to the conclusion this evening when I was driving around after I fueled up. I really enjoy cruising the cityscape. Nothing brought me more satisfaction and relaxation than just driving without purpose. To see the people pass by me and for me to pass by people. It's hard for me to explain but... I find it relaxing. I'm not much of a picture person, but since this truck is a new, somewhat kinda sorta, extension of me... I want to document as much of it as I can by picture. I'll be posting a majority of my photos on Facebook (I'll try and figure out how to make them public, but I'll post the good ones here), where they'll contain the major repairs to the most minor custom items. What will this be called??? Adventure with Ranger. I'll cross post with my blog entries and my Notes in Facebook. Mind you, this blog will contain more of an online diary than anything else but still, out there for all to see.

So, yea... that's where I've come from and now where I'm going. Hopefully you'll see more than just repair and customization pic's of me and my Ranger and more adventures, either city cruises or just... the truck in general...lol But for now, I'm sleepy and off to bed. I'll keep you updated, for sure.

~Chris

Posting for no good reason but to post...

I'm posting a blog tonight because I want to. I have no idea why, but I am. I think it's part of this having a renewed self image where I feel more confident in who I am... not necessarily where I want to go but who I am more importantly. I say that because I'm feeling a sense of accomplishment within me and this feeling came from out of the blue. I'm starting to want to get more organized and tidy where as normally I'll mention that that's what I want but rarely do anything about it. And it would get to a point where I couldn't stand it... clean like a mofo and scattered all over the place knowing I got something done but showing no signs of it, take a break to watch TV and never finish what I started constantly living in a world of clutter and disorganization.

I've started taking small amounts of time for myself around 8:30-9:00pm at night and do a small tidy. The crap part of it is that it's something I've been told countless times by my friends and family that "It only really requires 30 min a day, it makes a difference!!" It's true, that I've only really started this evening, just getting a minor thing done today made me feel a tonne better that I got that job out of the way. I'm planning on getting to work on my dining room and just getting that cleaned out. I have a bunch of stuff to give away again and I'm starting to unload a bunch of stuff that I just haven't used in SO long...

Thinking about it... I think the truck has something to do with it. I'm actually trying to keep it up and trying to keep it looking good. It's a black truck so I have my work cut out for me but I just feel more willing to keep it in shape than any of my other vehicles. I think having the truck and keeping it up has given me inspiration to do the same to my apartment. I dunno, we'll see.

~Chris