There is so much going on in my life right now, I haven't stopped for a single moment since I got off the ship. So let me catch you up on the important parts. First, I've been living my life every day with this feeling inside that something amazing is on the horizon, that a big change is about to happen in my life and I'm just not sure what it is yet. My mood has been better than ever, I feel great, look great, I've got my finances in check and I've even started a new business - more on that in a bit.
So first off let me tell you about skydiving over the North Shore! A few weeks ago, several of my friends asked me if I wanted to go sky diving at North Shore, Oahu. This has been on my "bucket list" for years ever since I saw my sister do it and every time someone has asked me I've said "No, thanks", but this last time, I manned up and did it. It was incredible!
A small 12 seater plane crammed all of us in as we climbed to 14,000 feet and launched ourselves over the side.
I had about a minute and a half of free fall before the parachute engaged. It was sick (part of it literally). I flew through a cloud and then slowly decended down over Oahu again. I have never experienced such an adrenaline rush. After, we went for some breakfast - an Acai bowl and some granola - yum!
The next big event in my life is my new Videography business "Videography by RJ", let me explain... almost 3 years ago I bought a video camera and started making movies - I made a documentary, a horror movie and did a lot of filming when friends and family would visit. Well 2 months ago I was asked to be the Videographer for a good friend's wedding. I was excited because this was something I had never done before - an actual event. Well, the wedding was absolutely beautiful and the wedding video came out so good I was nearly crying in parts of it as I put it together with the music and editing. So word of mouth spread that I was doing this and I got asked to do another wedding already. So I put together a pamphlet (with the help of my sister) and now I have "Videography by RJ" - filming any event that you need, birthdays, luaus, weddings, celebrations, etc. And hey, there is a huge market for this here in Hawaii and many companies on the mainland charge big bucks. I start at 500. and go up to 2,000. for an event. That's good cash! As you can see, it was a big event to cover. And I did this inaugural one for free as my wedding gift to the bride and groom. I interviewed each of the members of the bridal party and groomsmen in separate locations around Hawaii, in addition to the bride and groom, then put together a love story of how they came to be. Then I shot it all in High Definition and I'm burning it onto a Blu-Ray disc for them!
That picture below is of me, then next to me are friends Kevin and David, then all the way on the other side is our favorite Hawaiian Billy and the person next to him is Aaron, his new, or old, or ex....anyway, movin on, next subject... Seriously though, we are on good terms and actually met for dinner and have been talking to one another on a casual basis. I am very happy for him and I wish them all the happiness in the world. But every once in a while, after a few drinks, we both look at each other with that look that says a 1000 words..."I miss you, what I wouldn't give for just once more night, one more kiss,..." But this entry is about change, good change.
The picture below is of the wedding party and then the bride and groom during the garter grab. It was hysterical because without the bride's knowledge, they staged a box behind her chair and as he dug deep under her dress he started pulling out random objects, a wine glass, a pineapple, some hair gel...it was funny. The groom is kind of a ham like me.
The week before the wedding we all dressed up in Rasta tank tops and went and sang Karaoke. It was awesome! Victor - be prepared, when you come here over Halloween, you're singing Karaoke!!!
Below pictured are Eli and I (bottom row), and then Sam, Joe and Eneko (top row).
So the wedding was a success and now I have a new business, but the fun part of my videography is making movies. I'm currently shooting my second horror movie, and this one is bigger than ever! For those of you who have seen "Halloween: The Oahu Massacre", I have to say this one is bigger and way better already. I have a local newscaster helping me with news announcements to incorporate into the film, I have make up, special effects, new costumes for the killer, new scores of music and volumes of sound effects. My friend Jack, owner of a local bar, wants to submit it to the Rainbow Film Festival and have a red carpet movie premiere party on the big screen of his club. It's all very "Entourage" for me (if you watch that Sunday night show on HBO). I am way excited. ALL of my friends are in this one, and since many of you have asked - as Billy was one of the sole survivors of the last movie, does he survive this one too? Answer: No! He gets brutally murdered and stabbed 20 times in the first scene!!!! :) But I'm not bitter....
Let's see, what else. Oh, that's right - sadly we said goodbye to my best female friend on the island. Jacintha Brown moved to Spain with her new boyfriend of one year - Eneko. Jacintha has been the light of my life here in Hawaii and while I was very sad to see her go, I know that like me, bigger and brighter things lie ahead of her off this Alcatraz, I mean, off this beautiful island of Aloha. Best Wishes Jacintha - I love you! Pictures are of a going away party me and two of her other friends threw for her. If you're wondering why there are Halloween decorations out (and the party was in August), it's because I used the party as an opportunity to shoot some movie footage too...The following day, we took Jacintha out to the Kaneohe Sand Bar on one of our friend's boats for some drinking, dancing and fun! As you can see it was a flawless day - Kelly, Mike and Victor - this awaits you...
Below: RJ, Jacintha and Josh
Below: Kylie and Josh
Below: Josh, Rocco, Eneko, Jacintha, Eli
Below: Eneko, Jacintha and RJ
So when everyone left 2 weeks ago, there has been some down time for me to plan my next move. Seatle still hangs overhead, but they want me to start ASAP, and as I'm still committed to my military obligation, it makes it hard. BUT I spoke to my detailer (the one who does my orders) and he said I may be able to separtate from the military DEC 1. This would make me a more marketable candidate. But my program of choice I think is still UCSF and in a week I'll go there to meet the staff, Program Director and doctors in the Family Medicine Residency program. While this is not a "formal interview" by any means, its the next best thing, and my hope is that they'll like me so much, they'll offer me something or give me some advanced credit for my time already (allowing me not to start from scratch but as a 2nd year Resident). I'm also going to San Fran for another reason...and no his name isn't Mike (sorry bro - although we're still friends). My friend Eli asked me if I'd like to go to San Fran for a "festival" called Folsom Street Fair. Now granted, I've never done anything like this before and it was another thing on my bucket list. I'll likely be much more of a spectator than a participant, except for maybe a dance party here and there, but I heard this is just something you have got to see...
http://folsomstreetfair.org
I guess you could sum up the party in the following words: costumes, leather, bears, fetish, public mobscene, um...yeah, not my thing, but hey, I'll try anything once. And if you thought the pics from Puerto Vallarta were risque, um, just wait....
Ok, so other minor updates:
My apartment is infested with roaches and they won't go away, despite an exterminator and more Raid than you can imagine!
I bought the new 16 gig 3G I-phone. It rocks!
I grew out my chest hair (for Folsom to try to fit in better)
I'm voting for Barrack Obama (duh)
I miss my family (mom, Kelly, Mike, Kiera and Ryan)
I had a mid life (quarter life?) crisis this week, got drunk on a Thursday night and considered quitting medicine to do videography full time. But a chance encounter with a good friend convinced me otherwise.
Two nights ago my Marines had a promotion ceremony for me - being promoted to Lieutenant Commander. It was a lot of fun. I can't wait to "open up the closet door" to everyone in another 2 months.
I released Crossroads Disc 22 this past week - Anthony in Germany - if you're reading this I need your address to send you a copy.
That's it. Jan I miss hearing from you. We have to catch up.
PS My blog is unlocked again. Screw it.
:)
Aloha
