The Actual Beach

   I don't get to go to the beach very often, but when I do, I fully enjoy myself. I love to be in the water, however cold it is (prefer it warm though), and the feeling of sand between my toes. Today, the second day of my "on a whim" vacation I got to go.

So Blue

   The sky had been on-again off-again cloudy for most of the day before we left and I was slightly worried that it would rain before we could get in the water. My fears were for naught though, when we got there the sun was bright and hot and so was the sand. Silly me, I forgot my sandals back at home and brought only my sneakers. In order not to get them full of sand I took them off, hence the problem with the scorching sand.

The Hot Stuff

   We chose a spot near the water and quickly slimed up (put on our sunscreen). After waiting for it to soak in, we took off down to the water. It. Was. Cold. Surprisingly so. But after a while of wading around, dodging waves and generally putting off the inevitable I took the plunge. Again, a shock, but it was so good to be in the ocean I got over myself.

The Cold Stuff

   Me, my sister and one of our cousins played about in the waves for 40 minutes or so. We drifted, body surfed, talked and just enjoyed each others company. We took a break and tossed a ball around, then got back in the water after our toes began to burn in the blistering sand. In the end, we all just sat around and watched my sister try to catch some final waves. It was just so relaxing to sit and have nothing else to do.

Games

   I had fun and hope to continue to do so for the rest of my time here.

Parting Shot

Russian Tea Cookies

   If you know me personally then you know I love to eat. I'm no glutton but that doesn't stop me from fully enjoying many a dish. While sweets aren't at the top of my must have list I do enjoy them. One such sweet is the Russian tea cookie which I stumbled upon somewhere on the web. Trust me, theses are EXTREMELY moreish, they only usually last a day.
   I would include my own pictures, but they are usually gone before I think to take them. The directions call for 1 inch balls, but I usually make them smaller so I can have more.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1- 1/4 cups sifted flour
• 1/4 cup nuts, finely chopped
• I also substitute the nuts with chocolate chips on occasion.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Soften butter. In microwave works for me.
2. Mix together butter, sugar and vanilla. Mix in flour and nuts.

Form into small 1″ balls, and place on an un-greased cookie sheet.

1. Bake at 375 F for 12 minutes.
2. While still warm roll in powdered sugar (this first roll might seem a bit damp and gooey, which helps the second roll to stick on)
3. After they cool, roll again in powdered sugar.
4. Serve and enjoy! 

*Edit: I made some more and here is my own: They are missing the actual powdered sugar coat because its 12 am and I don't feel like going to the store again. They do have a ghetto powdered-in-the-blender coat. Not quite as good as the real deal, but still delicious.

A pile of goodness!

Non-Trivial Trivia

   Its interesting how the most trivial of knowledge can be used for winning monetary reward. I don't know if any of you partake in a trivia like game with any sort of regularity, but I do. I go each Tuesday to a local Mellow Mushroom with some friends and we try our hand at knowing otherwise useless facts. Questions can range from state capitals to sports questions.
   We have won on occasion, but we tend to loose to other teams comprised of more "mature" elements. I mean to say old people. They have had entire lifetimes to gather useless knowledge and have now come to reap the rewards. Ah well, our day will come, in 20 to 30 years.

There is a Beach

Here is one of several word journeys I have written. A word journey is where I use just words to take a person to someplace else. A relaxation tool of some sort.

There is a beach, somewhere in the world,

where the sky is always clear,

            the sun is always bright,

and the temperature is just right.

You are now on this beach.

The shade of a canvas umbrella is cast over you,

while you relax in a lounge chair.

The scent of salt and palm oil drifts to your nose,

            on a pleasant breeze.

Taking a sip of your favorite drink,

you decide to go for a swim.

Standing up, you grab your snorkel and mask.

You walk unhurriedly across the beach,

made of the whitest sand.

You gaze out to the horizon,

 the water is aqua-marine as far as the eye can see.

You slowly wade into the gentle surf,

which is warm, but not too warm.

Comforting, like an embrace from a loved one.

Pulling your mask over your head,

you get it just right.

Taking a deep breath,

you dive beneath the surface.

The ocean is as clear as glass.

Bright coral fills your vision.

Fish of all colors swirl around you,

while barracuda gaze on, mouths agape.

Sea grass tickles your feet.

The beauty of the sea fills you,

            as your heart drinks it all in.

Your lungs begin to ache

and you swim for the sun.

Breaking the surface,

you fill your chest with sweet, warm air.

Turning to float on your back,

you stare at the few wisps of cloud in the deep blue sky.

"This is contentment." you realize with a happy sigh

and drift in the slow current lazily for the rest of the afternoon.

Should have been first.

Who am I, what am I? As I've been sworn to secrecy by the government, I'll just give you the rough approximation.

   I am the son of two loving parents, who also were missionaries to Africa. I, along with my younger sister, spent our formative years in Kenya and Botswana. It was probably the best six and a half years that could happen to a person so young. It taught me to see other people, to understand I was not the center of things, and neither was my home nation.

   We unfortunately were forced to come back home because of health issues (malaria is really horrible, just so you know). And in the ten years since I have had to seriously readjust to the life style of the home nation, Its been hard, but I think it has made me a stronger person.

   Now, I am in University and trying to decide what to do with my life. I have, for many years, been aiming to become an Architect, but as of late have become unsure. I am no longer confidant if that is what I want to pursue as a life. But I have faith God will point out a direction I should take.

  As to what I am, I am a male of the specie homo sapiens sapiens. I am a romantic, a geek, a reader, a writer, an extremely amateurish photographer and a dreamer.
   Lets see where this takes us, shall we?

The Last

I am almost always the, literal, last person to do anything or get into something. So here I am, with a blog. Now, what to do with it? Abuse my new-found interweb power? Or use it for good? I guess I'll just make it up as I go along.                                                                                                                                                                 

The first of most likely many images of me eating something.

 Also, I cant decide on a background so it is subject to change, probably frequently so.