Q-Blog

I’ve written a lot. I’ve done a lot and tried to communicate most of it—however, there might be way too much content to be viewed in just one sitting. I guess that because it’s taken me a while to try to edit and put it all together. Please pace yourself…If it gets boring, just make your way to the comment section and tell me…

I read Donald Miller’s book “Blue Like Jazz” over the holiday. His writing style is very contagious and I think it influenced me a little…I tried to include a lot more pictures because everyone likes pictures and they describe more than the little list of adjectives I use…

Life is far from normal…If anything it is just about to get real exciting. If last year was so dynamic, this year has just as much potential. Work is back to its hectic pace, I’m getting more involved my church and the community there, and then the great outdoors…

I rarely spend time in my flat in front a television these days. I’m playing outside more than I did in elementary school…and no one tells me to come in because its getting dark (dinner’s not usually ready either unless I cook)…I’m very blessed to live in a part of the world that is conducive to outdoor living.

Yes, the great outdoors. I have in my sites this year the great Trans Bavians as well as a host of other mountain bike races (Knysna Oyster Festival Race, Karoo to Coast)…In a couple of weeks I will be participating in a road race in Port Elizabeth called the Harold…I will also be riding the Cape Argus…I’ve put together a new bike which is better than anything ol’ Gary Fisher could imagine. The winds of change are blowin’…the most recent acquisition…Yes Stephanie…

I bought a surfboard.

Few people have the opportunity of celebrating the New Year in the middle of the ocean. My sister did as she flew from Phoenix, Arizona to meet me in South Africa. What a great way to welcome 2006. She arrived January 1, and as if I hadn’t had enough adventure…

It was a genuine and good time we spent together. I don’t think my sister and I have ever spent two weeks together and I had a great time. My goal was to get her so traveled, tired, to introduce her to so many peoples, and places that the only way she could verify if it was all real would be to come back and visit again. I think it worked…

Our first week was a little uneventful. Knysna weather is usually predictably pleasant—a rainy day is typical but we had this mist that stuck for 3 days…It didn’t detour us from some events, it just was a little soggy. We walked beaches, hiked to view points, drove everywhere, and rode some ostriches…Yep, you got that right, she’s has to come and see if it was really that crazy…The fun stuff: Zip Line Tours through native forest, a horseback ride through a game reserve (seeing a lion want to eat your horse), ostrich riding, hiking Robbe Berg Island…and the list goes on…

My sister is officially a best friend. She is a great lady with a unique sense of humor and solid character. It was good to have her approval on my community, my church, my job, my friends, and my driving. Okay, she didn’t approve of my driving…

Our trip ended in Stellenbosch with a tour of some of the best wineries South Africa has to offer. We also had the chance to view Cape Town from Table Mountain in some unprecedented calm weather. Every place we went seemed to be coordinated behind the scenes so that we had the fullest experience possible…Even Green Market Street Square (the shopping adventure) seemed to be scripted...

I’m proud to say that my life is more exciting than television…that’s a big step in the right direction for me.

My sister left and I still miss her. I’m planning and picking out places to show her the next time she’s here. She’s coming back in six months....