the boxes have left...

Well this morning the shippers came and picked up all of my boxes. 16 boxes containing all of my worldly possessions. OK plus what I can fit into the luggage that is going on the plane. Michelle (my room mate) a frequent traveller for business, helped me do the test run to see what I can carry or check on the plane and what had to be shipped. It was a great help and a sane perspective I was having trouble obtaining by myself. So for the next 2 months I live out of 3 suitcase and a saxophone case. Which means no more shopping! Darn....

On a new topic I need those of you that can to do me a favor..... I have purchased several Internet domain names (web addresses) and am trying to sell them. While waiting for them to be auctioned off, I have "parked" these names. What this means is if you type in one of my domains you'll get a generic information page that redirects you to a page close to what you were looking for. Every time some one types in one of these names I get a few pennies. It will also help me sell the names for higher prices because a company, Domain Sponsor, tracks how many hits each name has gotten. The more hits the more valuable the domain name. So if you could, at your leisure, go to one of the following sites it'll help me on my way to retirement. Several are adult names so be aware of what you might get. What ever you want to do is greatly appreciated! For some reason the top 2 are bringing in more $ at the moment. I don't fully understand it myself.

http://www.shopcheaperhere.com/
http://www.koistores.com/
http://www.voyagemondial.com/
http://www.firemencock.com/
http://www.firemancock.com/
http://www.senoirs4sex.com/
http://www.mymanhole.com/
http://www.malebondages.com/


3rd subject... What I've been doing lately.....
Besides running errands to make sure all my bills are paid up, I have my medical records, filled out my absentee voters form, and visiting as many friends as possible. I spent last weekend at the Oregon coast. This time at Phyllis and Eric's family beach house just south of Lincoln City.
Luke and Chelsea Olson came along too and with Phoenix Olson and Ava Hanson (both 2 1/2 years old) running around it was a fun weekend. One day I took a 5 hour walk along the beach. I explored some tidal pools, found some interesting creatures and took a short nap on the rocks.

I also played my sax on the beach, one last time, at sunset. I let my feet be wade in the ocean. Which for Oregon is a brave brave thing to do. Even in summer the water is only about 55 degrees at best, taking about 2 minutes before you're numb and have lost all feeling. Luke took some awesome pictures and I jammed out while Phoenix wondered where the noise was coming from.

Photos from Crater Lake

Friends,

When Ed saw my blog update today, the comment guilted him into sending me some of the 300 photos we took during our 4 days in southern Oregon. If this isn't making sense, then look at my blog post entitled "Away I go" and that should bring you up to speed.

Crater Lake & Wizard Island about 6pm from the northwest corner of the park.

I really like this shot. It was taken at the same time as the photo above. Just off to the left. I really love playing the sax in beautiful places like this!

The 2 photos, above, are a little hazy because of wild fire burning in California. probably 400 miles away near Los Angeles.

OK one more of me playing the sax. Look at the reflection of everything in the lake. Even the clouds are the in detail! This picture doesn't do justice to how beautiful it is there! It was taken mid day on the east side of the lake. Wizard Island of on the left side of the photo.

Another one of me sitting on one of the waterfall hikes we did. You walk all the way up to be just beside the base of the falls on the right side. As shown below.

I have to say DAMN Ed can really take some beautiful photos. Thanks so much Ed!

Away I go!

Well it's really official now! Last Wednesday July 2nd, I got the email that my visa was approved, 5 minutes before leaving for the holiday weekend. What a surprised that was. It happened in just 1 week. When I was expecting it to take 4 to 6 weeks. I have to wonder if all the nasty emails I send to GW Bush helped expedite my departure in some way. haha... Little does he know he'll still get them from down under!

After the initial shock and flurry of calls to family and friends Wednesday evening. I tried to put the big move out of my mind and went camping at Crater Lake in Southern Oregon for 4 days, like I had planned. The trip was AWESOME! Ed and I found a nice camp site at Whitehorse campground, just outside of the community of Diamond Lake. The area only had 5 tent sites. It was very relaxing and the mosquito population was at a tolerable level. The plan was to hike Wizard Island. (the island in the middle of Crater Lake) But once again, on my 4th attempt, it was not to be. The national park officials had postponed the start of boat trips 1 more week at the last minute. We made lemonade out of our lemons and ended up taking in some short waterfall hikes and the Umpqua hot springs that were close by. These hot springs are great! Set high on a bluff over looking a river with 6 or 7 sulfur formed pools down the side of a very steep hillside. All of the pools were around 95 to 103 degrees. I managed to not get sunburned very badly and was able to release all the tension from my body. I highly recommend the natural hot springs to anyone that has a chance. They're so much better than the commercialized ones around the Portland area. We did spend a day hiking around Crater Lake. I crossed several snow fields to get up to the Garfield Point. Which starts out at 7000' (the crater rim) and goes up to 8100' and has some magnificent views! Of course I played my saxophone at 2 different spots on the crater's rim. The echo off the lake was exhilarating! Crater Lake was an incredible sight 16 years ago when I came to Oregon and once again it did not disappoint! It should be on every one's must do list! On our way home we took a different route and went to McCredie Hot springs too. This was much different than Umpqua. It consisted of 4 pools along the Salt Creek. Each a different temperature. Ranging from about 103 to maybe 75 and without the sulfur formations. Still a recommended spot because this was just off highway 58 and a 2 minute walk from the trail head. Not so lucky here and manage to get sunburned on my chest and face pretty good. I'm waiting to get some more pictures from Ed of the trip and once I do I'll make another posting.

Upon my return home and to work. I started to work out the finer points of my departure. Just this morning I purchased my airline ticket to Melbourne. My last day at URS Portland will be August 8th and my flight takes off at 5pm on Monday August 11th. 22+ hours later I will arrive in Australia. On a direct 15 hour and 15 minute non stop flight from LAX to Melbourne. The local time will be 7:55am Wednesday August 13th. The company will put me up in a furnished apartment for a few weeks until I can find my own place. I found a gay apartment share website and plan to use it to find me a room mate that can show me around the city a little. I do actually sort of know someone in Melbourne too. My coworker, Luke Olson's wife Chelsea is Australian and her sister, Melanie, lives in Melbourne. I owe a lot to these people already! Luke is the one that showed me the job posting more than a year ago and while that has put him on several people's shit list here at work. I really appreciated it! Chelsea and Melanie have been so nice answering all my questions about the little things in life that this naive American will have to figure out on the fly. Wish me luck!