http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzRH3iTQPrk

well, i found myself between a rock and a hard place regarding my move to new living quarters last fri. i made the move in a single day and will add that day to my list of memorable experiences. I really like my new place, it's the first place i've had that has real character. It has angled ceilings and a brick chimney thru the middle of the space (it's only a studio apt) which create a myriad of interesting angles and spaces. Plus, a knockout view to the west which incorporates the space needle. I think many natives dislike that landmark or take it for grnted but i find it charming, it's quite novel to look out from my bed and see it standing naked on the near horizon. There was a price to pay for the new pleasures and i questioned my fortitude as i began the dreaded clean-up of my previous unit at 11pm, 11 hours after the ordeal had begun. during those first portion of those 11 hours i had packed and loaded all of my belongings plus a fairly large amount of my girlfriends stuff that she had been storing there. I parket the U-Haul truck, which had been rented before those 11 hours commenced, and decided that i was in over my head and enlisted the help of my brother. Now, my girlfriend, Jackie, and i had an arrangement - i would help her move her things with the U-Haul in return for services previously rendered by her. So up until this point, i had performed the entirety of the work myself and would also perform the unloading of my stuff as well. However, by this time, she realized that i had landed both of us in dire straits and so she joined the battle of will versus time and strength. The three of us muscled all of my belongings up the narrow staircase of the 100 yr. old house, which proved a formidable opponent to the mattress, in a timely fashion. My brother realized that he was not able to help with the next phase due to time constraints and prior obligations, so, Jackie and i were left on our own to move here stuff into her place. She barely survived moving her stuff and my pace quickly surpassed her's to a great degree, mainly due to my own understanding that if i slowed down i would not make it. I simply had to keep up my pace or risk it all. We finished loading her stuff and for the first time since she leased her unit, maybe 3 months before, she had all of her belongings. We drove to my old unit to finish the job and i began the last phase, cleaning. as i scrubbed the stove I had to struggle to keep my spirits at par with the requirements of the task at hand. each section of the kitchen seemed to take hours. then it was on to the bathroom, the final, and most ferocious beast. as i bent over the tub and scrubbed the tile walls my body quivered and my muscles ached. i thoughts were focused and of narrow perspective and i could barely communicate to jackie. grunts and slurrs comprised my vocal expressions. Jackie slept after her phone battery died from game play, however, thankfully she arose after more that an hour, uncomfortable on the bare rug, and vacumed, the final phase of cleaning. i finished the bathroom and relief consumed me, a bit too soon unfortunately. there were still a couple lingering items that needed to be dragged down to the garbage, the struggle was never ending it seemed. finally, near 1:30 am, i stuffed my old computer chair in some bushes, i simply didn't have the strength to deal with the idea of dragging it to the dump, and climbed into the U-Haul for the return trip. i felt like a king, beaten' bloodied and bruised, but standing, standing above the slayen beast that harbored my previous tenancy and the victor of a beautiful new living space. I dropped the truck off, climbed into Jackies car, and we drove to a restaurant a few blocks from my new place. we stuffed ourselves, sighed sweet relief, laughed at my folly, and sat dazed, mezmerized by the ordeal that we had been through. we stumbled into my new apt i drank a beer on my new balcony, taking in the stars above. I climbed into bed and for a few moments could not get comfortable due to the screaming muscles in my back. after a short period they calmed down we fell asleep, though it was not a restful sleep. I guess i was so exausted and my body so traumatized that it was in a state of shock, unable to physically respond to mental impulses yet unable to attain a state of rest. we spent most of the weekend recovering, our muscles getting sorer with each passing day. today, monday, my legs are still extremely sore but i don't mind much as it reminds me of that extrordinary experience, just a couple days ago, that i will remember for a long while, and, hopefully not repeat for a much longer period.

We had some beautiful weather this weekend and i made full use of it. My girl and i got out to the beach and got a quick bite amongst the rest of the west seattleite's enjoying the sunshine. I even treated myself to a new toy(well, a much needed piece of equipment), a sleak new bluetooth keyboard at the apple store, I'm a recent Mac convert, but, i'm quickly becoming enamored with their uncompromising attention to detail and their products' unsurpassed elegance. I was even in the mood to mosy around the quaint, albeit superficial, outdoor mall in U village, a contemporary little shopping center near the University of Washington. they even make umbrella's available for patron's use, something i'd not yet seen, although, as i understand, is not uncommon. A very welcome day of casual recreation! I even wished I had not worn the long johns that have become a second skin over the last 6 months :)

...that little display :)

i enjoyed myself in OKC again and, most importantly, learned some new stuff. my second flight was delayed an hour and i didn't get in 'til about 2am my body's time, so, i'm wrecked today.

p.s. aaaahhhh screen real estate!

I Got my MMA fix last night, a repeat i hadn't seen yet. Scrawny guys can fight too!