The T.E. Times

It's been a good month so far. I've gotten to chillax with family and friends during this rather long shore leave (I go back to work on my next assignment the 15th). I'm truly a blessed guy. It's always good to embrace the good times while you can. :)

The only thing to gripe about is that I'm broke now, my bills have zapped me. Being at home is expensive. And since NCL don't pay me when I'm on shore leave I don't earn nada. That's frustrated me, especially because it'll be an expensive year. I have the honor of being the best man to my good friend Adriano's wedding coming up in April and I need to save for that (it's in Florida). And also I'm leaving to China for a holiday at the end of the year! I'm excited and things look on the upswing.

I've also been back at work doing some new arts. It's been a hassle because I have Illustrator on my old PC (i have a shiny new PC now) and I switch back and forth lol.

Well, being at home this whole time's been good, like I said above. Although I have gotten restless. And me being restless isn't good. It makes me question things, life, etc etc. So much! I'm the type of guy who likes to be on the go doing stuff and then chillaxing. Blame it on ADHD the adult version ha! It also must be a product of growing older it seems. But I've gotten to catch up with peeps here at home so it's been good in it's own right.

This will be my last year working for the cruise industry. It's time to get back to boring old real-life eventually. I need to settle down eventually as well, I think it'll ground me out. But it's been a good 3 years for me. So many memories. It's almost time to begin the next chapter in my life.

Hope you all are having a good 2009 so far!

Current Location: Chillaxing at home
Current Mood: jamming to music
Current Music: Katie Melua, Frank Sinatra, The Bird and the Bee

I need Adobe Illustrator guys.....I need it, otherwise I can't do any art....anyone?

Current Mood: chillaxing
Current Music: Sarah Brightman

Just came back from my contract in South America 10 days ago and been relaxing with family and friends. Although one of them is acting shady as of late. Gonna have to try and fix that. I hope you all have been well.

Well, 2008 was good to me. I've traveled more of the world this year then any other and also did some soul-searching for the future. From Brazil to the Caribbean, from Spain to Italy and from Chile to Argentina and back, I'm blessed to have done so much. And to all the friends I've made and the memories I've built, it was good to me. :) Let's hope it shall be great in 2009 as well.

Happy New Year to you all! See ya in 2009. What's everyone have for their plans eh?!

I should start commenting on friend's journals here more, but can't be bothered I hardly check this anyways. ;) I'll leave you feedback if you leave me mine. :) I like dat. :D

Current Location: Back home in New Mexico
Current Mood: blessed
Current Music: Frank Sinatra, Lady GaGa, Lily Allen, The Cat Returns OST, etc etc

Current Mood: lazy

This is the question I ask myself, why, why must people, who are such great human beings, have one misfortune after another? I'm talking about almost constantly, like they can't seem to get a break. That life has dealt them a card that they can't return, a card of ill omen that they don't deserve.

For example, there's two friends of mine, good friends, best friends. I love them so much with every fiber of my being. They're my homies through thick and thin. Both of them have had some bad things in their personal lives of late. It's such a web of complicated tradgedy and drama that they have to deal with on top of work and children and whatever else. I won't go into details because it's between me and them. But, after hearing their stories, it makes my heart break. After hearing them, I feel that no matter how hard we try as individuals to please others and work things out, the other individual won't hear of it. Or that they confuse the one who tries to reach out, making them miserable in turn.

They don't deserve such turmoils and heartbreak. I know I can't offer much other then words of support or agreement. That's how it is, I feel like I wanna do so much more. But I know I musn't interfere as much.

Why can't those who try to be good and fair can never get a break? Why? Why must they deal with heartbreak and sorrow almost all the time? And why, when things do look up, does someone or some other thing cause them to plummet down to an abyss? Life is a cruel mistress. I know for a fact. But these two friends of mine are some of the most kindest, greatest people I know. They're both cool, smart, laid-back kind of peeps. They don't deserve the pain they were inflicted with.

I'm at a loss for words on this.

These two are amazing and I really care for both of them. I guess all I can do is pray for them. God Bless them both. I hope that the light can break the darkness around.

Current Location: Back in the U.S. now, just returned from Europe days ago
Current Mood: sad
Current Music: Coldplay-Viva La Vida

For those who don't already know about this "orphaned works" business, please read and inform others...this can be serious for all artists in all medias!

http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=Columns&article_no=3605&

Current Mood: really shocked
Current Music: Goldfrapp, Toni Basil, The Doors

Hey all! Sorry for the inactviity around here lately. But that's because I've been busy working my fifth contract aboard the Norwegian Spirit. I left a week after I got home from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I just got home last night so now I'm just relaxing and preparing for my next contract......

IN EUROPE!!!!!!!!!!!

That's right! Europe! I just got the confirmation e-mail from shoreside in Miami and now I'll be based out of Barcelona, Spain from May 4th to approximately August 18th!! I'll be visiting France, Italy and Malta in addition to Spain so I'm thankful, blessed and very excited to have this opportunity. I hear this part of Europe is expensive so hopefully I won't be too broke throughout my contract.

Well, my contract on the Spirit was good. Not the best but definitely not the worst. I got the chance to see Guatemala for the first time during this contract. It's a Third World country for sure I think. But it's got it's beauty and I'm glad I got to experience it. The other ports (Hondruas, Belize and Mexico) I've already been too dozens of times before so those lost their appeal. The crew were nice so I can't complain about that, that's what makes a great contract. It was quiet though because nobody really went out to the crew bar that much lol. I also didn't get to spend as much time in New Orleans as I thought I was going to but that's okay I guess.

Current Mood: thankful
Current Music: Goldfrapp, Huey Lewis and the News, U2, Garth Brooks

Okay everyone! Hey there!

Well, I've been back from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil since Saturday and I already miss it terribly! I had good times there, lots of them! I saw so much and did something that I had always wanted to try, hang gliding! It was all that and a bag of chips!

I could go on and on about Rio. It's quite a city of contrast. You see favelas (shantytowns) almost everywhere even near the rich neighborhoods. I got the privelege, among SO many other things I did, to go to Rocinha, Latin America and Brazil's biggest favela! It was a whole other world alright, a city within a city!

It's hard to believe it was only a week ago I was there and now back in America. Home can be so tedious. Nothing goes on here compared to the places I've been. I'm greatful for the town I live in though. It's always good to come back. I miss Rio so much though.

I'd write more but for some reason I'm pretty drained today. You can view some pics here at my new DA page:

http://the-e-is-4-electric.deviantart.com

Paz y amor!

Current Location: Back Home *yawns*
Current Mood: drained
Current Music: Random Brazilian music

I leave for Rio in 2 days! Leave this Thursday! The day I've been waiting for since September is almost here! Say a prayer for me everyone and wish me luck! :) The weather looks fine for this week so far and I hope it stays that way when I leave. I don't want no flight delays or cancels. I hate that at airports. Thanks all! I'll be posting lots of pics on my Myspace/Facebook when I get back. I'm so happy and excited!

Current Mood: excited
Current Music: Hilary Duff

...life will always be full of let downs. Whether's is from best friends, your own family, so-called friends or what not. It's something you can't hide from and it's life. I was let down tonight from someone who I was planning a trip with. He did choose what's important to him and it'll be for his best in the future, but I dunno. I'm disappointed. No denying it. He'll never have my trust again.

However, I refuse to be bitter about this. Because on the 31st of this month I'll be off to Brazil! :) This is something I've been counting down for a while now. I thank God that I'm given all these oppurtunities and I'm taking advantadge of it. I'll be there for Carnaval and can't wait! I'm supposed to be meeting a Brazilian friend of mine from the ships. And on top of that, the Brazilian visa I've been waiting SO LONG FOR to process FINALLY PROCESSED TODAY! It's on it's way now through FedEx.

Things happen for a reason. Always.

I've always been the type who makes my own dreams come true. I've always worked hard for what I want and it feels good. :)

As for this friend, let's just say once you screw with my trust you lose it, possibly forever. There's things he could've done to ease his load at college and still had time for this trip but he didn't. And the thing that gets me is that he wanted to try for later in February and I'm like nope. I got my own priorities once I come back it's not all about you. So that was that. He's not cut out of my life unless he fucks up royally. Which for some reason if he DOES do that then I won't be wishing him well, let's just say. For now, I'll be shunning him so I can reflect on his faults and my fault for thinking he could go. But that doesn't matter anyways because I'm going and that's all the counts, yes? Maybe one less person to share the experience with but that's never stopped me before!

You know something, considered how angry and stressed I was at work today and the agency for not delivering quick enough, they DID PROCESS IT and SENT IT TO ME so it's not like it's a loss. (that would suck if it was since it's a passport O_O lol) Now I feel guilty about the rage I felt this morning but it's gone now.

I wish you all a good night. And to you, dear friend who reads this, you chose the right path and I'm happy for you ^_^ but hear what I say, don't worry, bitterness won't last forever. Nothing lasts forever.

Current Mood: relieved with a mix of annoyed
Current Music: Katie Melua