Nomad.

You can take the Nomad away from traveling, but you can't ever take the travel bug out of the nomad.

I decided today that I miss my old life. While I do not miss Korea, teaching, or being far away from familiar things, I miss trips, culture, traveling, airplanes, photos, etc.

My friend Ivania teaches in Turkey and is currently traveling in Egypt. My friend Laura teaches in Germany and is spending Christmas in Egypt. My friend Jennifer lives in American Samoa and is probably off to New Zealand. Other friends are living in China, Japan, Costa Rica, Austria, and Vietnam. I just have this itch to live abroad again, travel again, be free... again.

Decompress.

In order to simplify my life, there are many steps I need to take.

Step 1: Cut up my credit cards

I will start there.

October.awesome.ness.

October has been a great month full of good food, concerts, volunteering, film festivals, trips, boyfriend, and more.

We go to San Fran next Saturday.

I.can't.freaking.wait.

le sigh:

I've recently self diagnosed myself with insomnia. I want sleep. hmm.

Yesteryear:

We all find time during the course of the day to actually breathe, relax, forget about work, and do something to treat ourselves. Typically, I reach my "peaceful" moment right before bed. There is nothing better to me then bringing a book or some magazines to bed with me along with some tea. I turn on a dim light, I fluff the pillows, and I read and sip my tea. Lately I've been reading National Geographic Traveler, because quite frankly, I am desperately yearning for a trip. I miss the days of packing my back pack for Thailand, climbing temples in Cambodia, and frolicking in the streets of Paris. Now, my life is comprised of bills, work, and stress. The thought of an exiting getaway is less than realistic at the present time. What happened to that simple life that I use to love so much? Unfortunately, every night before I go to bed, this is the time that I dream a little too big.

I've been thinking a lot lately about who I am, where I came from, and how much I've changed over the past few years. I've always been an advocate that "change" is good and sometimes even necessary. Although I'm constantly working toward reaching my happy place, I still don't think I'm actually there. Living abroad for three years definitely helped me make progress, but I want more. I need more time out of my comfort zone.

I continuously think about what I want long term: a house, a companion, a dog, a family. It's during my peaceful moment before bed that I wish I had someone to look over at, to kiss good night, and to wake up next to. As cliche as it all sounds, maybe my peaceful place is just a reminder of where I am right now in my life.

However, I also continuously think about where I want to be right now: in a hammock on the beach in Fiji, on a safari in Africa, hiking in South America. I think about quitting my job, maxing out my credit cards, and just traveling for a year or more. I know that I lived abroad for 3 years, and I was able to travel extensively, but I feel like I only saw a fraction of what is out there. Once you start traveling it is so hard to stop. Once you discover that there is so much more out there then the town you grew up in, it's difficult to not want to see those places. I have never been a small town boy, and I always knew that I wouldn't stay where I grew up. Even though I've had the chance to see places that most people only read about, I still have a list a mile along of places I want to go.. things I want to see..

Maybe I need to embrace change even more. Take advantage of my new surroundings and live here in Seattle. In the meantime, I'm still yearning for so much.

Not so long ago...

It is crazy to think how fast the last five months have just flown by. It wasn't even that long ago that I was packing up, saying goodbyes, and making to-do lists in my final days of being a resident of Seoul, South Korea. I have lived in Seattle now for 5 months, and each day I learn something new either about my job or about life in Washington.

It is also equally crazy that my three years in Seoul still seem like a long lost memory. They went by so fast (at times) and now when I think about Korea, it always seems so long ago. It is exciting though, that as part of my job, I train new teachers who are on their way to Korea- so I always get to share my memories and thoughts with them.

I've stopped telling stories about my time there, my travels throughout Asia, and my daily life routine while working there because my friends and family are just not interested. For a long time I thought that living abroad and traveling the world was something that most people would be interested to talk about, but it seems when it comes up, that most people just don't want to hear it.

I guess what I chalk the experience up as is something that everyone has to experience for themselves. I guess if you've lived in the same house your whole life and never left the state you were born, then you probably wouldn't understand my perspective on the world anyways.

All I know is that the old blog posts, pictures, and stories need to be updated with new stories and pictures. I yearn for travel, simplicity, and culture. Now my biggest job is to figure out how to make these thoughts happen. I did it once, I can do it again, right?

On Being an Adult...

I really never realized how much I took growing up under my parents roof for granted until it was time to put a roof over my own head. College, while it may give us the knowledge to succeed in a career, definitely did not prepare me for all the bills that come after college. Heck, why did life have to get so hard?

When you're a student, you're most likely living in the residence halls, eating cafeteria meals, and working part time to pay for outings to the mall or for beer for a Friday night party. You didn't have to worry about student loans, insurance, or a mortgage. When it came time for Spring Break, you booked your tickets to Florida and Mexico using your credit card or left over loan money and you thought "have fun now and pay later." Well, let me tell you, it's no fun to pay later. When you decide to "pay later" then that trip to Mexico your senior year of college is probably the last trip you'll see for a long time. Five years later, you're still probably paying it off :)

Because of the recent recession coupled with the fact that almost all markets suck right now, interest rates are higher than ever, APR's on credit cards are at a freeze, etc. It's becoming even more difficult to pay back the loans and debt that you created while having "fun" in college. And do not forget that the job market, while improving, probably has not provided that full time job making six figures a year. Even though you may have paid 40,000 dollar a year for your private education, you definitely didn't get the big shot job that you thought you would. Instead, you're working hard to pay the bills month to month and you're lucky to budget enough to order take out once a week.

I wish I could go back to the days where I had it good. I didn't have to pay an electric bill, cable and Internet were free, and the fridge and pantry were always stuffed with delicious food. I never had to write a monthly check for rent or a mortgage, and my dad would throw me a $20 every now and again for a movie or dinner with friends.

Even though I've been on my own since 2002, and I never ask my parents for money, sometimes I do wish that I could just move back "home" and reap the benefits of the "good life." ha!

Travel Lusting:

Although my time abroad has come to an end, and I've adjusted to life back in the U.S. I can't help but constantly wonder "where next?"

Even though I am very ready to settle down, buy a condo, find my soul mate, and have a cute dog, I know that there are other adventures in my future. As great as "settling" down sounds, I know that given the opportunity I'd pack my bag and head out on the first place to "anywhere...."

Today I was thinking about the things I still want to do. I know that I have a lifetime to do them, but I like to live my life day to day. I've yet to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Pichu, to ride a camel in Cairo and watch the sunset over the pyramids, to wear a safari hat and snap photos in Kenya, or to sail past a glacier in New Zealand.

Maybe it's hard to settle down when my friends are still on new adventures. Today, one of my great friends Jen, embarked on a year in American Samoa as a Worldteach volunteer. In a few weeks, Ivania, heads to Istanbul to teach kindergarten for a year. I remember the excitement that moving somewhere new engrosses you with. I am ready to feel that excitement again. I guess you can call me the wanderer.

Portland!

Aside from being known as the "meth" lab of the U.S., Portland is known to be a city full of hippies, liberals, and avid bike riders. This upcoming weekend, I'm going to revisit my inner hippie/liberal side and partake in Beerfest! My cousin and his wife are visiting Portland from Chicago, and have given me a reason to make the 2.5 drive down from Seattle. I'm starting to love the Pacific Northwest summers, now if only I could make a good group of friends!

I'm going to be a BIG brother!

Three months ago I interviewed for a volunteer position with Big Brothers/Big Sisters. This is an organization that I have always been fond of, and now that I have the extra time there wasn't anything keeping me from getting involved. After my interview, I was told that they would get in contact with me after they found me a match. I guess they really are cautious and considerate of everything that goes into the process, because three months later, they finally found a match for me!

Next Friday, July 16th, I get to meet my new little Brother. He's 8 years old and he seems pretty great. Katie, the match coordinator, told me that he's a bit shy at the get-go, but once he gets to know you he will talk to your ear off. I giggled and told her that I am the same way, and she told me that it'll be fun to see us fight for the stage. HA! He wears glasses and one of his wishes is that he could have windshield wipers on his glasses. Ahh! So creative!

Either way, I'm very excited to meet him and I will definitely blog about him, too!

Happy Friday!

Things Change.

Almost 5 years ago, on my 21st birthday, my parents mailed me a case of bud light to the house I was living at in Decatur while a University student. Then, I thought that Bud Light was the single, greatest beer that ever existed. It was my beer of choice at all social gatherings, events, etc.

After I graduated and started working, I discovered my love for blue moon, wheat ales, and any type of micro brew out there. I guess I became a beer snob, and Bud Light became a beer of "my" past. I didn't even give it a second thought when I would run to the store after work to buy a six pack or when I'd ordered a beer to go with my tacos at Mi Pueb. Bud Light just didn't do it for me anymore.

Last night, in an attempt to have a drink but not leave my house, I cracked open a Bud Light that was left over from my dad's visit in April. My first impression after taking a large gulp a few years later, YUCK! How did I ever drink this stuff? That probably sounds ridiculous, but I didn't even finish the can and half of it went down the sink.

It's weird how beer can taste so different. While it has the same effect on you, wouldn't you rather drink something that tastes delicious?

I think I'll be sticking to Blue Moon and Micro brews from now on, but it was nice to dip my toes into the past just a little bit.

Every Second Counts...

So much to look forward to!

Kayla visits Seattle- May 27th-May 31st

Lennie visits Seattle- June 10th- June 13th

My sister visits!!! June 18th-26th

Lots of fun stuff coming up!

I Didn't Forget About You....

I've just been very busy trying to make my life here in Seattle work out. Lots of updates to come soon!

Wallace Falls:

The weekend before I moved to Seattle from Seoul, I was roaming the local used book store and came across a book called, "Beyond Mt. Si: The Best Hikes within 85 miles of Seattle." The book definitely was a little outdated, and I wiped away the dust on the cover and read through the first few pages. I thought it was odd that there was an early 1990's hiking book at a small local bookstore in Seoul (but then again, I knew that it was a sign- this book was meant for me!) Either way, I bought the book and told myself that I would try to get through as many of these hikes as I could.

I've been living in Seattle since March (so not that long, but long enough that I've had plenty of weekends to crack open the book and get going on the hiking.) I woke up today, saw that the sky was pristine blue, and decided to head to Wallace Falls. I packed my backup, grabbed some water, and started on my way. My GPS led me toward the Cascade Mountains and onto highway 2 to get to Wallace Falls. When I got to Highway 2, it was blocked off by officers and cop cars. I guess there was a huge accident just up the road. Hmm. Since I'm fairly new to town, I still do not know my way around at all. I had to stop and get directions that would get me around the accident and blocked off road and somehow back onto highway 2. It all worked out, and 30 minutes later than I anticipated, I made it to Wallace Falls.

I've always thought hiking would be more fun in a group. Boy, was I so wrong. After having now done it in a group and on my own, it is most certainly a great activity on your own. I felt relaxed, was able to go my own pace, took time to reflect and think at certain points along the trail. All in all it was a perfect day. The weather was great, the view of the Falls was amazing, and I drove home feeling happy, sweaty, and accomplished. My new goal is to go on one hike a week- it'll be a great mind and body tool.

Some of my favorite shots from the day:

Seattle Slump..

Just like the Seattle Mariners, I find myself in a slump. While the Mariners lose game after game at Safeco Field, I waste weekend by weekend in lovely Kirkland, WA. Maybe it's because we've yet to see Spring here in the state of Washington, but I definitely have to do something other than go to Target and sit in my apartment on the computer all day.

I have a list a mile long of things I want to do and see here this summer. Of course, I have some lovely visitors coming in the upcoming weeks (so maybe I'm secretly waiting for them to come to get my ass in gear!) I want to go to the mountains, to the beach, on numerous hikes to waterfalls, to the San Juan islands, I want to take the Ferry Across the Pugent Sound (however, all of these activities are WEATHER permitting!) It's still snowing in the mountains and raining here on land. Who wants to be outside when it's 48 and raining?! Welcome to Seattle, right?!

Now that my apartment is the way I want it, and I finally have things how they need to be, it's time to find friends, to socialize, to network. I am determined to get myself out there (or at least I am today, we'll see if I feel the same way next week!)

Have you moved to a new city before? What advice do you have to offer to help me meet new people? It's different to move to a new city compared to moving away for college, or summer camp, or graduate school, or even Korea (where there were hundreds of people who also needed to make friends.) Moving to Seattle and living in the suburbs does not equate to "immediate friends and fun!" Who would have thought?!

All in all, things will get better. They have to get better, right?!

Watch out! Spill on Aisle 5.

Regardless of where we work, live, and what we do with our lives, we all have to eat. In order to eat, we all must go to the supermarket, yes? If you have ever been to the supermarket, you no doubt know how to do the Supermarket Shuffle.

First, depending on when you go, you have to find a parking spot, which can be, in short, a pain in the ass. You circle the parking lot 3 times, and have to wait for slow people to move the heck out of your way. Dear people, there is such a thing as walking toward the LEFT or the RIGHT of the aisle – I do need to maneuver my car through here, and I can’t do that if you and your 15 kids are walking in the middle of the aisle. Thanks.

Once you find your parking spot, 100 miles away from the store, it’s time to truck up to the store in 100 degree heat, which feels much hotter on asphalt. By the time you get to the store front, you have huge pit stains, the soles of your shoes have melted off, and your hair is immediately in an uproar.

You get a cart, but it has a broken wheel. You grab another one – but that one has sticky residue on the handle. You grab a third one, but it has a used Kleenex in it. You go back and grab the first one, but some big breasted bimbo in stilettos grabs it and gives you a smug smile. Bite me.

Once you have your cart, whatever may be wrong with it, it’s time to maneuver the store. Now, I am a planner, so I make my shopping list according to where things are in the store. It is very difficult for me to continue my shopping if YOU MOVE THINGS IN THE STORE. Let’s just say, in a perfect world, you don’t move things – do you know how much easier that would be for the planners of the world? I would love to get in and out quickly. Thanks.

Once you are going up and down the aisles, you find that they are clogged with people. And by clogged, I mean not even a small amount of Liquid Plumber could penetrate it. You have the elderly gentleman trying to get through with his cart; but he can’t do so because jock strap to his right is trying to figure out what his wife wrote on the list she gave him, and bimbo that stole your cart is on his right gabbering on the phone. On top of it all, you have Michelle Dugger and her 19 kids running up and down the aisle screaming “I want THIS!”. People? PEOPLE! First, please let this poor gentleman in the scooter out, and please move your ass so I can grab ONE can of black beans, which is conveniently located in the middle of the aisle. Maybe I’ll just forgo the black beans this week.

Not only are the aisles crowded, everyone looks PISSED. No one likes the Supermarket Shuffle. Let’s all stop being so mad, shall we? Sure, everyone in the aisle over turns me into a raging lunatic, but in the end, let’s at least throw out a smile or two. We’re all shuffling, after all.

Finally, FINALLY, you make it to the checkout counter. Although there are 150 checkout counters, there are only 4 open. On a Saturday Afternoon. Are we serious? You find a line, behind 4 people with large carts, and once you are finally up next, the person in front of you needs something special that only a manager can do (override a code, ring up something, etc). The checker flips the little switch to blink their freaking light, and we wait 10 minutes. You look at all of the other lines and notice that if you had chosen one of them, you would have been out of their 20 minutes ago. Once you are finally up, the checker talks your ear off – not just little conversation, but unable to ring you up and talk at the same time. It’s another 20 minutes before you are out the door.

You get back out to the parking lot, your soles melt a little more, and you finally get to your car – and you notice that there are NO cart corrals around. This causes you to go searching for the nearest one, because you hate it when lazy people just leave them out. You finally try to back out of your spot, only to be waited on by 3 different cars who all insist that they were there first, and want your spot. Once you have pulled out, you hear normal people yelling at each other and throwing the bird.

And that, my friends, is the Supermarket Shuffle. And it’s a huge pain in the ass. It would just be so much easier if everyone just got out of my way, everyone just throw each other a smile, and go about your day.

I’m going to go make a meal with those black beans that I worked so hard for.

LOL funny, right?!

Life in the Pacific Northwest.

My new life, through the lens of my Nikon.

Canon Beach, Oregon

The Space Needle- Seattle, Washington

View of the Pugent Sound- Seattle, Washington

Snoqualmie Falls, WA

View down the river at Snoqualmie Falls

Canon Beach, Oregon

Seaside Beach, Oregon

Canon Beach, Oregon

Who Says I Can't...

The past month has flown by. I can't believe that I've been back in the U.S. for over 4 weeks now. Things have really started to come together, and I'm making progress on projects I've started. All in all, I thought it was time for a full update.

On Adjusting....
When you move to a new country, you are most likely to experience some sort of "culture shock." This happens because you are immersed in a culture that you have never experienced. The food you eat, the people you meet, and the language you hear are all different from what you are used to. At times this can be exciting, but it can lead to a huge headache and frustration.

However, they say when you move back to your country of origin you will experience "reserve culture shock." Part of me was expecting to experience some culture shock coming back to the U.S. but in general I think this has passed. I am usually pretty good at adjusting to new surroundings. The past 5 years or so I had moved a lot and lived in a few different places, so maybe things are not as 'surprising' to me as some. Some of the things I've noticed that stand out to me are very simple: larger selections of foods in the grocery store, larger people in general, and less noise on the streets. Even though I'm living and working in a city, it's not nearly as big, dirty, or crowded as Seoul. I almost had forgotten what "fresh" air was like to breathe, and how nice it is to shower without the entire bathroom getting soaked with water. I definitely missed everyday conveniences that many wouldn't even think about until they didn't have them available- ovens, dryers, a car. Believe me, these are definitely things we take for granted, but I'm happy to have them again!

To get myself out there a bit, I've decided to start volunteering. I chose Big Brothers Big Sisters and I am excited for the opportunity to get a little brother who I can mentor for the next year. I go tomorrow to meet with the lady and finish up the process. I look forward to being able to have a positive effect on someones life. I'm starting to miss teaching and I miss the great feelings that sharing knowledge with kids gave me.

On Working too much and too hard...
Work is definitely.... work. Starting a new office is never easy and the first couple of weeks took time, patience, and a positive attitude. My company just relocated to Seattle and on day 1 we had a very empty office building. Furniture, computers, and desks slowly trickled in before the start of business on April 1st. I was excited to start work, as the office here is much nicer than the 15 story building I was working from in Seoul. The atmosphere is calm and soothing as the office sits directly on Lake Bellevue. I have views of the lake and on nice days we open the doors and get a breeze. It's refreshing and makes work seem just a tad bit more enjoyable. I'm still plugging away at my reading strategies project that was started back in February. As it is now the project should be finished and ready to go to the printers by June 18th. It'll be nice to finish it and see the final project in print. We have also conducted two teacher trainings here in the Seattle office which were both successful. It's comforting to be able to teach others what I already know and love about teaching. It's nice to share my experiences that I had in Seoul, while being able to serve as a mentor before they head out to start the process that I started 3 years ago. All in all, it seems like this job is going to work out just fine, but I'm excited to see where the future will take me.

On living in a new city...
Seattle and the Pacific Northwest are absolutely beautiful. This is definitely a haven for those who love nature, natural beauty, and the earth. Seattle has a little bit of everything: a city life, (for those who consider themselves "city boys") live music and local coffee shops, (for those who have held on to their hippie/urban retro years) mountains, oceans, lakes, and rivers, (for those who aren't afraid to get a little wet and dirty) and a business environment too. (for those who live, eat, and shit "work") There are plenty of day trips to take in and out of the city, plenty of hikes, and a chance to really take some amazing photographs.

Other observations are that the roads here REALLY need to be prepared. Their interstates (which are referred to as freeways) are in bad shape in places. They are rough on the tires and as bumpy as my face was pre-puberty. ha! Sometimes I feel like the freeway signs are misleading/backwards, and you can always expect traffic. In general, the weather here has been gray and misty at times, but let me put the rumor to rest- It does not rain every day here. I've actually seen the sun quite a bit the past month.

My apartment is coming together nicely, too. While my dad was here I was able to get almost everything I needed minus a few bigger purchases. A few weeks back I did get a dresser, and this weekend I will finally purchase a sofa. I'm planning to get some art and photography up on the walls. Once everything is a little more together I'll post some pictures of my new digs for everyone to see. I am very happy in my new place, but I do wish there was more storage. I really want to buy a bike (to get in better shape and just to be more active) however, there is no where to put it. Having a bike in the middle of your kitchen or living room would definitely be an eye sore. I doubt Martha Stewart Living or Pottery Barn Magazine would be too impressed with those tactics.

On adventures and things to look forward to...
Two weekends ago my friend Bruce and I took a quick car trip to Snoqulamie Falls. The waterfalls are higher than those at Niagara Falls, but not as wide. The view was absolutely beautiful. We hiked down to the bottom of the Falls and we were able to get some great pictures. It was also a beautiful day to be outside. I'm looking forward to doing some more outside activities with him this summer. I'll definitely continue to post pics as I take them.

Last weekend I drove 3 hours south to a town called Astoria, Oregon. My friend Susan (who I met while in Cambodia, became great friends with while living in Seoul, and traveled through Europe with) lives in Oregon. It's a quick trip down and I was quite excited to see her. Despite some rain on Saturday, we went for a hike and she took me to the coast. Oregon is quite lush and green and is definitely a place I'd like to explore more in the future. Thankfully the sun came out on Sunday, and we enjoyed a nice lunch and some more beach time before I headed back to Seattle on Sunday afternoon.

In May, I have a three day weekend and my adventurous side is really itching for a trip. After living abroad and traveling for three years, it's hard to just stay in one place for a long amount of time. Even though I just arrived and there is plenty to do and see here, I'm itching to see more. I've only ever been to the San Francisco airport (I believe on 3 different occasions) so I'm planning to take a trip to San Fran for Memorial Day. I might rent a car and drive up to the Redwood forest as well. Then again, this is all tentative, and I should wait to see how money plays out in the next few weeks.

In June, my sister is coming to visit for an entire week! I've been planning the things we're going to do. (but I want to keep them a secret) I have a bunch of neat stuff up my sleeves, but I want to surprise her when she gets here! It'll be nice to have her here and show her around. I also plan to show her around the University of Washington campus, and convince her to come here for University. We'll see how successful I am in my efforts.

Overall, I am excited to be where I am and I am looking forward to making some new friends and exploring all that Washington has to offer- from the vineyards, forests, food, music, ocean, etc. I want to see and do it all. I am hoping to start reconnecting with some of my friends that I lost touch with while I lived abroad, and I am looking forward to visitors here in Seattle.

Did I Really Live There!?

I've been living back in the U.S. now for almost three weeks. When I think about how I was in Korea 3 weeks ago, and my life was much different, it all just seems like a blur to me. The time I spent living in Korea seems like just a faint memory. I thought I would miss the thrill of being abroad, but I honestly haven't. While I enjoyed my time in Korea, I definitely think it was time to come "home." I still feel very lucky for my time there, but I'm happy to be in Seattle. I'm ready to write the next chapter in my life story.

Adjusting back to life here was exciting and easier than I imagined. I was excited to get an apartment where I could cook and do laundry. Also, where I could have a separate bedroom. I was excited to take a real shower, as opposed to my shower in Seoul where my entire bathroom floor would get soaked by water. I was excited to get in a car and go, and not rely solely on public transportation. In Seoul it always took 30-90 minutes to get where I wanted to go. Now, I can just hop in my car and be to Seattle in 15 minutes or to my work in 10 minutes. It's a great feeling.

It was nice having my dad here the first week that I lived here. I don't think I would have been able to adjust as easily. I will admit, since he left, it's been pretty lonely here. I am usually pretty proactive about making friends, but it's been difficult. I'm living in a suburb of Seattle, and it's very family oriented. I didn't know anyone prior to moving here, and I'm worried that I'm not going to make a group of friends. I know what you're thinking, "get out there and make some friends!" But let's be realistic, it's easier said than done. I'm sure as time goes by, and as I get more comfortable with my surroundings, I'll make friends easily.

I guess life is good if my only complaint is that I need more friends.

iPad, whatev.

It always amuses me when people line up outside a store to get the newest, hightec toy that is being sold. These people pay the premium price to be the first ones to try out the toy. What never seems to surprise me is how these people BITCH about the glitches of their new product CONTINUOUSLY.

Newsflash bitches, you should know that when you buy a first generation product that there is going to be a chance that it may not function 100 percent properly. While I know that you spent $499+ dollars on your toy, it's not going to be perfect.

My rant stems from the newest apple product the iPad. Honestly, I'd love to spend $500 dollars on an iPad, but I already have a Macbook, a new iPod, and an iPhone. Do I really need the iPad? Probably not. I am happy with my products that I have, but I also didn't rush out to be the first ones to own them. I waited until the price lowered, a second generation came about, and the hype was gone.

I signed onto cnn.com to read some news, but of course the only news they have is "iPad has Wi-Fi problems!" People are writing comment after comment about how they should get a refund, etc. etc. For starters, why not try to troubleshoot on your own? Also, why not just deal with the realization that you shouldn't spend $500 dollars on a pilot product, because guess what, that is what this is!

Sigh, what's next? An iCar? I better pitch the idea to apple before someone else does.