An Sionnach

Just took this very quick and easy test to see what side of the political gamut I fell on. I have to say it’s pretty close to what longer tests have brought me to, and may be a ’small’ groundwork to gaining a bit of an understanding to your own political compass.

It’s hard to believe I have been on this earth for 41 years. Even more interesting is the memories and highlights I have (In no specific order):

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Knowing how something is done, is not the same as knowing how to do something. It takes action to develop a skill, not just knowledge. – Unknown Source

So how is it that people that KNOW, make less than the people that know?

You’d think with this much experience it would warrant a degree…No?

This is no way a complete list, but is evolving.  While to today’s society, being so diverse is not the norm, nor accepted, I am rather quite proud of my experiences.  While I do greatly miss some specific things, I would not trade my experiences for the world.

OCCUPATIONS (No specific order):

Raphan Carpet: Sales, Warehouse
Friendly’s: Waiter/Dishwasher
HESS: Attendant
Sears: Sales (paint)
Lemforders: Line person
Bavarian Inn: Dishwasher
Radio Shack: Ass’t Manager/Sales
Centereach Fire Department: Volunteer FF
Brewer Fire Department: On Call FF, Ladder Truck Driver
Orono Fire Department: On Call FF, Hazmat
Capital Ambulance: EMT/Driver
Front Row Video: Sales
Weathervane Seafood: First Cook/Line Cook/Dishwasher
Bronson Productions: Rigger/Spot Op/Stage Crew/Security
Toys ‘R Us: Sales/Bike Assembly/Stock
Bangor House of Pizza: Cook/ Delivery
Not Just Hair: Stylist
Picasso Hair Salon: Stylist/Colorist
Anthony D’Franco Hair Salon: Chemical/Colorist Apprentice
Town & Country Limousine: Driver/Mechanic
Eckerd Youth Alternatives: Senior Counselor/Teacher
DEC/Digital/Citicorp: Logistics/Migration Engineer/Onsite Helpdesk
Computer Surgeon: Computer Technician
DataPath: Network Technician
Ocean Rock: Lead Climbing Instructor
Road to Emmaus: Web Design/Sales
Charter Communications: Cable Technician
Shiloh House: Treatment Counselor

EXPERIENCES:

USMC
2.5 years living in the woods
Hiked 2167 miles on the Appalachian Trail, Georgia to Maine
Franciscan Friar: 6 years
Mission Trip to Honduras
Started and ran “Loaves & Fishes” Street Food Ministry in NYC and Philadelphia
Chrysalis: Lay Director

PLACES LIVED:

Boston, MA
Long Island, NY
Bangor, ME
Philadelphia, PA
Asheville, NC
Los Angeles, CA
Denver, CO

RELIGIONS ACTIVELY STUDIED:

Christianity (Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Episcopal, United Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran)
Taoism
Buddhism (Zen, Theravada, Mahayana)
Islam ( Sunni, Sufi)
Earth-based Religions and Mystical Arts

I always love these little things where they take your site stats and put a value on it. Considering I pulled up Raphaels domain, and it was twice the value I am a bit skeptical, I would think his to be at least 10x more.

A little over a week ago I was give a recommendation to read this book, as I prepared for an interview. In normal circumstances this would be a generally easy read for most people. I think a nice addition for us kinesthetic/visual types would be to have so interactive samples on the CD that came with it. Overall the concepts are pretty easy to pick up, as the book goes through the step by step process of developing and understanding the world of database design, as well as some of it’s history. It covers many of the do’s and don’ts the go into building a complete relational database.

So if you work with databases at all and are looking for a better understanding of how they are built or many of the potential problems that go into DB design; I highly recommend this book.

I mentioned in a previous post about some scams I got in the LA area regarding housing. I just wanted to post them hopefully so people will become more aware that these are most likely scams.

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Well the journey west has begun. For all my life I have lived along the East coast. I was born in the great city of Boston, to shortly thereafter at the age of 5 move to New York, where I spent 25 years of my life. I had the opportunity to live in my Moms and Grandfathers hometown, Bangor Maine. It was then on to Philadelphia. Shortly after 9/11 I took a job working with adjudicated youth and lived in a tent for 2 years on a mountain just outside of Hendersonville, NC. The mountains grabbed me so much I decided to stick around and moved up to the city of Asheville, and spent almost 6 years driving through the mountainside. Never in my life has a place impacted me so much as the mountains of Western NC. Anyone who knows me has always said I am most at home when in the woods and mountains. Maybe it’s my the earthy element of my Celtic heritage. I knew these mountains, I even walked them from end to end in 1999.

But today I am leaving these mountains and taking another 2000 mile journey to Los Angeles. When I hiked the Appalachian Trail and reached the end I wondered where to now. As I looked past the terminus sign I saw blazes that led along the knifes edge, those blazes led down the mountain, to the yellow and white blazes of the highway. The Appalachian Trail never ends, because no matter where you look there are more white blazes leading along life’s trail. So while those mountains will sorely be missed I now journey West to another milestone in my life, marriage. Everything I have experienced and learned in my life in the East I am now going to share with my wonderful wife in the west. This seems to be the theme of my life. When it came to studying my faith it was a combination of East and West. Matter of fact it was something that Huw and I had named our combined blog.

This seems to be the theme of my life, it seems that life finds it’s balances. It’s Yin and Yang. When I have spent most of my time in the city it brings me to the woods, when in the woods to the city. Life in the East brings me to life in the West. The first half of my life was spent single or celibate as a Franciscan, the second half marriage. Is not God amazing?

So here I am 1/3rd of the way there. The past few weeks have been exhausting as I have finished up work, continued with classes, as have managed to eliminate so many things so as to get what I can could into my pickup. My 1st day on the road was short, very short. It was mostly to just get going. I stopped along the AT to see if I might run into any of the thru hikers for the year, the next day I drove 800 miles to a small hotel just on the border of Oklahoma. I thought about going another leg, but I saw the 36.95 sign with wireless and a bed called me. I was a little sketchy. I remember many of the 36 dollar hotels on the AT. But Interstate Motel had clean rooms and bathroom, cable TV, WiFi, and breakfast. The pillows could have had a bit more pillow to them. Combine the two, fold em, worked ok. But I advise bringing your own. The front wall is just single pane glass, so as the trucks roll by it sounds like the window is open. But for this tired kitsu, sleep was not a problem.

Well… Westward!!

Most of you who have been around my blog, or any of the sites I have designed, have seen some of my graphical work.  For years I have been toying around with graphics.  Outside of any formal art classes from back in high school, everything I have learned has been self taught, as well a being a gift from my creator.  For years my mom, dad, and aunt have hassled me about wasting this God given talent that I have.  Friends have pointed out my natural gift and have always asked for assistance when working on designs themselves.  And it wasn’t until recently that I realized that I am completely wasting this gift, and settling for something far less that only gets me by.  So after thorough examination of myself, my gifts and what I want in life; as well as some encouragement from some people close to me I have decided to enroll myself into college for a degree in Graphic Design.  It is an online course, fully accredited.  The first year focuses on the graphical aspects of the course, which will give me a diploma, as well as the skills to begin work as a graphical artist.  Once I have the diploma I can then pursue my Associates and Bachelors degree in one of two fields.  Graphic Design or Interactive Graphical Media allowing me to progress further into the field.  Classes start on Oct 1st, so InshAllah (God Willing) my Federal Loans with pull through in enough time to purchase books, supplies, and possibly a Mac.  I could stick with the PC, which I will stick with if I need to, but most graphical artists use a Mac and are usually looking for someone with Mac experience.  If I purchase one later then I will have to repurchase most of the software again for the Mac OS.  So hopefully things will work out.  The other tough part will be working, and taking courses at the same time.  Fortunately with online courses you can work on your own schedule, as long as you meet the necessary requirements set by the school.  I have to say I am pretty excited, and looking for this yet another challenge in my life.