About to Leave Omaha.

and everybody's scramblin' to get their bags packed, just before 11, local time.

I woke up, reluctantly, to the measly continental breakfast at the first hotel we've stayed at. I went back to bed, kinda.

Put on Death Cab shuffle in my headphones, as the sun turned into California.

We're in Wyoming now. A nice change in scenery on the drive. I didn't think I'd like it much, but apparently it gets worse through Cheyenne. I've a couple new cities to add to the list of those I'm not too fond of. I've watched movies for a while these past days. Enough, enough, time for pictures. I'd write more, but I've been journaling like a madman. so much, in fact, I'll need a new Moleskine come friday.

I've been in Washington for a good, healthy week. It's nice to be able to explore the cities I've heard about, and be in the silence of the forest. Yesterday was spent on Anderson Island, off the Puget Sound near Tacoma. After a relaxing evening, the owner of the cabin took Ivan, Travis and I out for some island initiation. To be honest, I had no idea what this might consist of, but I did remember committing to something of a ghost hunt earlier in the night.

We began the tour at the smaller than small elementary school, where Heather, our tour guide, attended her first years of education. After a bout with a tire swing, we were headed to our next location, the old Anderson house. Its dilapidated path had been recently replaced by a gravel road, but I don't believe that deterred from the irksome feeling the house has always instilled. We went a little further down the road to a haunted horse ranch, but decided to go further still, a little up the road to a barn whose second floor had caved in. All the while listening to ghostly stories from our other tour guide and photographer, Scot. The house, not far from the barn, was much more eerie than the first, and after the trek through the fields, we were ready to go back.

My brevity can hardly explain all of the feelings experienced on this trip, but I can assure you, there were some weird feelings. We capped off the night with a swim in one of the Island's small lakes, a couple jumps off the dock, and a sandy return to Heather's car. As we prepared for bed, Heather made some Top Ramen, in a style reminiscent of her Grandmother, to whom the cabin once belonged.





And now to step back and view my past few days as a whole. While we're still in Washington, the idea of tour has been a very good one. The van has already become a comfort place of sorts, containing what little food we brought, and all our clothes for the coming month and some change.

Reasons to be stoked on life at the moment:

Just stuff to share with you. I love life, and man, is it interesting.

Well...

Tonight I was calling people, trying to see if anything was going on, when I realized I had almost come to the turnoff for my house. I pulled off, quite inconveniently, to a local elementary school, where I sat in the parking lot with my radio and interior lights on. I pulled my sketchbook from my bag and began to draw. Being that I am not very good with drawing still-life objects, and the visible objects in my car did not appeal to me, I sort of scribbled around, finally deciding I was going to, once again, write the lyrics of the song I was listening to. It's difficult to explain what I feel during these times. Prior to this, I was feeling just a little bit let down, frustrated and definitely out of place. The remedy is not in sight, at least not that I can see.

"Just don't become perpetually cynical."

Is it weird that I don't want to sing unless I believe the words? I don't think so, but the people looking at me might.

I'm happiest with an instrument in my hands, my mouth singing words I do believe and understand. I'm happiest with one eye shut, peering through glass into God knows what. I'm happiest with my legs moving fast, not forward you see, up, up down and around at last. I'm happiest with the ball beneath my feet, the words out of my pen, and my friends around me.

I'm back.

Why do I find myself saying that more and more often. I'm back to what? Enough.

Something that has become really bothersome to me in the past while has been the level of ignorance, myself included, when concerning the current political and social reforms taking place in our country. We don't know what's going on, and some of us care more about unfounded inference than sometimes positive fact. I'm astounded at the lies that man of us believe, not only about those running our country, but also about the way we should lead our lives.

Why are we all still consumed with ourselves? Stop your buying. Start your giving.

Well, I'm back at 'home' from a year away at school in Portland, Oregon, and I must say, the 1,000 miles has really allowed for an induced culture shock upon returning to the place of my childhood. I'm regrettably focused more and more on the shortcomings of others, and my return to a town where I feel comfortable. I have not been doing much here, which could contribute to my teetering towards boredom and frustration.

I've attended church a handful of times since my arrival here, and I must say, I'm not impressed. These days, it takes a bit to impress me. It seems the only thing that can allow me to feel close to G*d at all is worship through music.

Allow me to be frank. I was just told these very words, over the internet mind you:
I'm sorry Cole. How unfortunate that you do not understand enough about history/politics that this has gone on through many administrations. Be a person, not a party.

Well now, I guess I'm just not educated enough to make a decision to vote against a presidential candidate who plans to (and I quote) "legally enforce doctors and tax payers to abort babies."

Fullerton, you are the home to people I love, but your lack of forward motion causes me to be very sad. I fear I don't have much more to say.

in seattle

I'm in Seattle for the long weekend. i ate taco bell on the way up; my first fast food in a long while. going on a long, exploratory ride tomorrow, followed by Dave Bazan. more to come, pictures and whatnot, hopefully. I'll consult my experts on enclosing photos in my posts.