Last you all heard about me, I was leaving Chiang Mai, Thailand and headed back for the states. I was hanging out with my friend Darren, enjoying the food, fighting off a random illness, and taking Muay Thai classes. I feel like this is the part where I say “It feels so long ago,” but really it still feels like it was just yesterday despite the fact that a lot really has gone on since then.
To get you all up to speed, I flew home from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, Bangkok to Manila, Manila to LA, and then LA to Chicago. There were plane issues in Manila which caused everyone flying to have to stay in the country for an extra day. By that time, I was just ready to be home. But instead, they drove us to a somewhat nearby hotel and then woke us up in the morning to try again. I had to book another flight from LA and then get home at 11PM the next day. All in all, it wasn’t terrible, but my flights, and the flying process, were exhausting me by the end of the trip. I was incredibly relieved to finally land in Chicago, get picked up by Bethany, and just chat and eat Taco Bell with her. Unlike the last trip where I still had the urge to see more of the world as soon as I landed, I finally felt at ease. I felt like I was home, and I couldn’t be happier.
Since being back I got to see all my friends and a good portion of my family, pick up some more freelance work from home, start a boxing class, and settle into life at Champaign, Illinois, the city Bethany has a contract to work in for the next two years. Things have been moving fast on paper, but my days can feel a little slow.
It’s a weird adjustment going from seeing a new famous city every week to being somewhat stuck in the same one. “Stuck” is a bit dramatic considering I go back home a couple times a month, but it’s just different from the life I left to go on my trip. It’s safe to say that the trip started a new chapter to my life. A chapter that feels like it’s for the better, I might add. But it’s a chapter that I haven’t quite gotten a grasp on yet.
I’m a bit of a house(trophy) husband these days and trying to change some things for the better. For starters, I’m looking for a part or full-time job. After all, Bethany and I are saving up for a wedding. You probably have questions about that, but let’s just leave it for now. I’d like to have 30-40 hours a week at something I don’t necessarily love, but like quite a bit. It’s time to face facts, if I’m not going to give up on writing, I at least have to make some concessions while I get that first book out there. It would also be nice to get that oh-so-fleeting sense of purpose that a job gives you. As much as I love doing dishes, laundry, and general tidying, it doesn’t give me that greater-purpose thing that I get from a job right before I start to hate it.
I’m also loving the boxing class. It’s of the best workouts I’ve ever had and it’s easier to put more into it because there’s a skill at the end of all the sweat. I do that Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and hope to keep training for as long as I can. Speaking of skills, I’ll just be honest: my writing and drawing have really taken a back seat lately. Which is dumb because this is the perfect time for both of those things. I’m just bad at getting back into the flow of those skills. Should I figure draw again? Should I draw from imagination? I’ve been at it for about three years now, and getting back into the rhythm of drawing is proving difficult. That’s probably the biggest change I need to make. An hour of drawing and an hour of writing should be on the docket every. single. day. It’s just a matter of doing it and sticking with it.
Well, at least I’m writing now, right? I hope to make a post here at least once a week. Cross your fingers for me.
One of the big upsides to moving out to Champaign is that Bethany has made some great friends. We’re actually going to be seeing a lot of them tonight for a semi-regular dinner get-together thing. Nothing like board games to close out an evening. Although, I suppose it really depends on what you’re playing. Monopoly before bed sounds horrible without the right group of people. The reason this is so great isn’t just because I’ll take most chances to meet someone new but rather Bethany hasn’t always had a strong core friend group. I’m kind of the opposite of that. So being in a place where she knew everybody first has been pretty awesome in that regard. You haven’t seen your true significant other until you’ve seen them around a close group of friends. That might not be true for everyone, but it’s something I can’t help but paying attention to.
I’ve got plenty more to say, but I’m a couple minutes away from a load of laundry being done. We’ll have to save the rest for next time. Just know that somewhere in Champaign I’m folding laundry for two. Oh how far I’ve come from my Huayna Picchu climbing days! Until next time.
-Vagrant Flynn
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