Blonde is back!

So the trip across the US is complete - I spend a night over with my friend Marc in Steubenville, Ohio and got to catch up with my friend Jason - who will forever be "Farmer Rivers" to me.  I then spent a weekend with my friends Kevin and Sue, which was a total blast.  It's funny - I've only met Kevin and Sue 3 times (including this past weekend) and yet it feels like we've known each other for about 20 years.  We had a great time watching the Big 4, Godsmack, Led Zepplin and Family Guy!!  He he he - an entire weekend of rocking out and conversing and solving the world's problems!  Gotta love it.

I then spent a day walking around Gettysburg, looking at the battlefield and enjoying some of the American history around here.  Eh, I figure we're going to be seeing a ton of historical things in Europe, it would be good to take the opportunity to brush up on my American history before I go.  It's looking like Anna and I may be able to take a day in Washington, DC to take in the sights before we go. 

Have you ever sat and really thought about all the things that have shaped your personality and your philosophy on life?  The major influences that have shaped your very being?  Well let me share with you the biggest influence on my life - the Metallica song "Escape."  I'll put the lyrics to the song on here because the whole thing explains how I life my life and how I feel about things.  You see, I don't allow fear to rule me.  I was scared to go to Ohio for college, I was scared to move to Texas after college, I was scared to try to fit myself into an office job and I'm scared to leave my home country for something I've never known... but if I had listened to my fear. my life would have been very different... I'm not sure if it would have been bad, but I'm willing to bet I wouldn't be the me that I am now.

For the longest time, it's been me against the world - with occasional partners in crime (hehehe).  I'm glad that I'm not going to Europe alone, I'm very thankful that Anna decided to come with me, and I look on this as the adventure that it is - for the first time in forever, I'm not going to be reading about thee adventure that someone else has done, I'm going to live my own!

For your reading (if not your listening pleasure) - Escape by Metallica

Feel no pain. but my life ain't easy
I know I'm my best friend
No one cares, but I'm so much stronger
I'll fight until the end
To escape from the true false world
Undamaged destiny
Can't get caught in the endless circle
Ring of stupidity

Out for my own, out to be free
One with my mind, they just can't see
No need to hear things that they say
Life is for my own to live my own way

Rape my mind and destroy my feelings
Don't tell me what to do
I don't care now. because I'm on my side
And I can see through you
Feed my brain with your so called standards
Who says that I ain't right
Break away from your common fashion
See through your blurry sight

Out for my own, out to be free
One with my mind, they just can't see
No need to hear things that they say
Life is for my own to live my own way

See them try to bring the hammer down
No damn chains can hold me to the ground

Life is for my own to live my own way
(Repeat)

I'll pick up Anna tomorrow and then it's only five days until we fly out - Holy crap!!!