Updated NM Bucket List. Updated 5/21/13

Alright, So I'm moving to Chicago in 269 days. I had posted my NM Bucket List a few months ago, but as things have changed the list had to be updated. I put the ones I've finished in red. Some of these require trips to accomplish, so if you wanna join me for those let me know and we'll start planning!

1. Cook dinner with my dad at their home in Santa Fe
2. Take a cooking class at Annapurna
3. Old Town Ghost Tour
4. Hike/Camp in Chaco Canyon
5. See The NRAO Very Large Array
6. Warm springs in Jemez at night
7. Camp in the Jemez 
8. Carlsbad Caverns, see the bats leave at night
9. White Sands
10. Bandelier National Monument
11. Roswell Alien Museum 
12. Spend some time in Taos and eat at Guadalajara Grill
13. Have lunch and a "Lava-Lamp" on the patio at the Coyote Cafe
14. Ride the Tram
15. Hike the entire La Luz Trail
16. Drive through Madrid at Christmas Time
17. Go to the Balloon Fiesta, try to be on a chase crew.
18. Haunted Corn Maze
19. Zozobra
20. See an HN-88 show. 
21. Hang out with my High School friends. 
22. Visit Capital High School, mostly the Brian Fant Theatre.
23. Spend several evenings at the river with people I love.-Started
24. Spend several evenings at the Golf course with people I love -Started
25. Go to service at Christ Lutheran Church in Santa Fe- Started
26. Find a perfect place for stargazing/Stargaze often -Started
27. Find a perfect place to see the sunsets/Make many trips to see the sunsets -Started
28. Eat green chile as often as possible and in as many different ways available. -Started 
29. Ski Santa Fe in autumn with my Parents -No Ski Lift this year... Failed
30. Compete in the Alibi’s Scavenger Hunt. -Didn't check the date... Missed it. Failed.

Decisions Made, Action Taken.

Chicago, my future home. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared shitless about moving to a new city where I really have very few connections, but it's time, and this is the right place. I've always loved Chicago. The atmosphere, the people, it's all exactly what I need in a big city! Add into that my sister living out there and it's hard to think of anywhere else I should be living. As of right now I have no clue what I'll be doing out there for work, or where I'll be living, but that'll come with time.

It'll be good to leave behind Albuquerque. I need to be able to live my life fully, and for the past 2 months I haven't felt able to. So many of the people I love in this town are busy with activities I can't partake of, or they've already moved away themselves. Recently I've had a lot of time on my own, which tends to be dangerous, but I'm keeping my eyes on the future! I'm ready for a clean slate, ready to make new friends, ready to see what places outside of New Mexico can offer.

I've made the decision to not do any more theatre in 2012. I think this is a necessary break for several reasons. I'm not going to make a big deal about it like I have in the past, but I started P90X this week. Third time's the charm, right? So if you talk to me in the next 3 months, ask if I've done my workout for the day yet. Keep me motivated! haha. Additionally, I'm taking the time to focus on trying to get a cabaret together. So far it's been slow moving, but I'm finding new songs that fit what I'm going for. Hopefully I'll get it off it's feet before I leave.

As I keep saying, I'm doing alright. I'm not fantastic, and each day carries it's own struggles, but I'm alright. I want to thank the amazing people who have really been there for me over the past 2 months. Joe, Christy, Amanda, Antoinette, Dea and John, you guys have meant so much to me. Even if it seems like you haven't done much, being reminded of my friends who still care about me has been huge. I hope I can one day return the favor when you're in need.

More blogs to come, I will keep on top of this blog thing if it kills me!

Proven Wrong

I'm not a very confident person. I don't think I'm all that attractive, I know I come off as a jerk when people first meet me, and I know I suck at small talk making it difficult for new people to begin to enjoy my company... Every once in a blue moon though (perfect use of this saying), something happens that forces me to forget all of that.

 This weekend was one of those times. I started off feeling very alone, it was my first time traveling being newly single.  I had to drive several hours on my own, was left alone for the majority of the first day to explore some of Denver on my own, and went to the lottery for Book of Mormon on my own. Was pretty rough... I had some great times with some folks I haven't seen in a while, but afterwards I was left alone again.

Then I landed in Boulder. Dea and I had sadly grown apart over the past few years, which is something that happens when friends move apart. More significantly however, this is something that can happen when one friend loses sight of his priorities, and how important it is to hold onto the important friendships that made him who he is. I'm sorry for that. But amazingly enough, things fell right back into place!!!! It was so amazing to hang out with Dea and Ryan again! 

The second night I was in Boulder, my hosts had to work a drag show taking place at the theatre they worked for, being that I had nothing else to do in Boulder I went along to watch the show. This quickly turned into the best decision I could have made shortly after a break up.

We showed up several hours early as they had to set up before the show. I sat with my Nook on one of the couches in the lobby. Pretty soon the volunteers for the organization producing the show began to show up... and ERMAGERD there were some lookers in the bunch! I didn't move at first and one of the cute volunteers sat down next to me, thinking I was a volunteer as well. I told him I wasn't and that I should move to let them have the couches. This led to us chatting for a while until it was clear I needed to let the volunteers get briefed on what they'd be doing. 

I moved to a different area of the lobby and ended up having a really nice conversation with Ryan which proved to me that I wasn't alone in feeling like I had no clue what I was going to do with my BA in theatre, made me feel much better for that! Every time I'd look back to where the volunteers were sitting I'd either catch eyes with the guy who I had talked to, or I'd catch a pair of really cute guys looking at me and talking to one another. 

The night carried on in basically the same way the entire night. I met several guys, flirted like crazy, and all in all had a night that made me feel spectacular about myself. I rarely feel attractive, but being in a new crowd of gay people (and looking pretty slick I must admit) made me feel like I was a catch!

I kept talking to that first guy throughout the night. When the night was coming to an end he came up to me, said goodnight, that it was nice to meet me, and left. Dea, who was with me, said she was disappointed because she thought for sure he'd have tried to at least go out for drinks with us afterwards. I agreed with her, but ultimately wasn't too upset. I lived far away so there wouldn't be anything serious between us anyways. I was just so thrilled to have spent the entire night knowing that guys find me attractive!

A few minutes later he came back in, walked right up to me, and asked for my number. A few hours after that a date was planned and I had officially been proven wrong. I am attractive, I can come off as a really sweet but timid guy, and when needed I can make small talk that makes people enjoy being around me and want to get to know more. I'm happy being me, and this all couldn't have come at a better time!