OurDayBreak

a thought...from jamie...

2011-10-28T10:05:00.000-04:00

"When I was five years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down, 'happy'. They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life."

-John Lennon

Boards, Boards and Boards

2011-06-10T11:03:00.005-04:00

Island Beast

2011-05-26T13:16:00.007-04:00

Participated in 'The Island Beast'. I ran, wakeboarded, biked and skateboarded my share of the 70 mile round trip journey around Pablo Island. We completed it in less than twelve hours as a team.

The Same Water

2011-01-11T12:54:00.006-05:00

The edges of my board whisper to me, "Remember style, stay loose, and keep control." I listen and lean into my first few turns. Big carves, a light slide, and feeling the snow beneath my feet. I carry into a drift moving down a steep hill, the first commitment. I start to pick up speed, my edges are smooth and my body is relaxed. I stand tall and hug the tree line, the closer the better. Getting lost in the woods is where my soul finds its home. The same light snow that dusted my car earlier appears to have covered this mountain too. Another big drop, I let loose, trust my board and myself. I break into some powder and it happens, I feel weightless. Just for a second. I know it’s special, the kind of feeling that only nature provides. Pure bliss.

It's early, but not to early. 7:30am to be exact. I look out the window from bed and see a very still sky with stagnant clouds with the kind of blue a quiet morning brings. A choice has to be made. Stay in bed or get up and head to the mountains where I'm not exactly sure of what conditions to expect. I am a snowboarder, well a surfer from Florida, but a snowboarder here in Pennsylvania. It hasn't snowed in a week, but the conditions have been perfect for making snow.

I make the effort to get up and make my way downstairs, the dogs stir and follow. I ready my gear and hope I have time for some breakfast. The mountains are calling and tell me to hurry up. I step outside and get my first breathe of air, it’s cold, refreshing and unwarranted at the same time. My car has a light dusting of powder from a recent snowfall. That has to be a good sign. I shuffle into the car, make my way down the freeway, through the winding roads, mountains, and fast drivers.

I pick up a morning pass and the lady at the counter gives me an extra hour for free, kindness. I've been to this mountain a few years in a row and like it over others. It's close, quiet and reasonable. As I make my way up the lift I bundle up for shelter from the 15 degree temperatures. The sun is breaking through, not too cloudy, almost like a fog surrounding a bank on the river back home. I make a few runs down some packed powder slopes. Not too hard, but not soft and fast.

Out of the corner of my eye I spot a little run in between the two main lifts, slightly off the beaten path. I take little pictures in my head on the way up. Creating a blue print of how I want to descend. There is one person on the slope hand grooming the ramps. I make my way over to say hello and ask if it’s ready. He gives me the okay and tells me to enjoy.

I look around and find myself alone. The morning air is still hanging around, like a close comfortable friend. I review the run I planned on the lift, decide if it’s right and start my descent. No wrong can be done and worry doesn’t exist. Just a surfer from Florida left searching for a moment.

Great words...

2010-12-10T09:28:00.000-05:00

Pimco's Bill Gross:

"This phrase of a “level playing field” opens up endless possibilities. If, in fact, the solution to how we can reclaim the vision of Ronald Reagan’s “shining hill” and the Allentown of decades past is to “level the playing field”, there are obviously a number of ways to do it. The constructive way is to stop making paper and start making things. Replace subprimes, and yes, Treasury bonds with American cars, steel, iPads, airplanes, corn – whatever the world wants that we can make better and/or cheaper. Learn how to compete again. Investments in infrastructure and 21st century education and research, as opposed to 20th century education are mandatory, as is a withdrawal from resource-draining foreign wars. It will be a tough way back, but it can be done with sacrifice and appropriate public policies that encourage innovation, education and national reconstruction, as opposed to Wall Street finance and Main Street consumption."

Intracoastal - Take One

2010-11-22T12:40:00.003-05:00

Alright, I'm being lazy. Here is a no edit clip of Jamie and I last Saturday. Hope you enjoy.

Always Buttery

2010-11-17T11:47:00.005-05:00

We have officially put over 75 hours on the boat this Summer/Fall. Going out every chance we get. Boat is finally running well and can move on to other projects. Still a lot to be done, but thats a constant. Here's a few pictures from a recent session. Hope to get a new website started.

Time To Wake Up

2010-09-15T15:34:00.005-04:00

What's In A Boat?...

I have been eating, drinking, and living in our boat the last eight weeks. Man am I ready to get on the water. We are so close. Getting ready for another water test this weekend. I have yet to successfully take her for a spin. I hope we can cruise the dock this weekend.

I can't wait to be wakeboarding in St. Augustine. I still need a name for our boat.

It's Alive...

2010-08-27T08:58:00.004-04:00

After some great advice from the experts at www.correctcraftfan.com I was able to get the boat running. I changed the fuel pump, the fuel/water separater, and added some fresh gas. We had a little problem with fuel leaking at the carb, but that was fixed with a new o-ring. With a freshly charged battery and 12.5+v going directly to the coil, the boat(who is still unnamed), lurched forward and came back to life. It was beautiful, hearing the engine run for the first time. I couldn't wait to get the it on the water.

Moving Along

2010-08-12T10:04:00.002-04:00

...As a wise man once told me, "Haste Makes Waste". I would say it takes time to develop a true appreciation and understanding of the phrase. I try to take it with me wherever I go...

So the good news is we have "spark" from the plugs. Bought a new set of points for the distributor and new spark plugs.

We have moved on to figure out our fuel system. The plan is to replace the water seperator and fuel pump. In these old Ford engines they use a mechanical fuel pump, meaning the operation is driven by the cam shaft eccentric. I wasn't sure what this meant until I read this:

Read the article, it has pictures.

Our Nautique Project

2010-07-26T10:28:00.008-04:00

Our Nautique Project - So I have a long road ahead of me, but I will do my best to document my project as it progresses.

"The three things an engine needs to run are spark, fuel, and air."

We are starting with Spark....

Sunny Road

2010-07-17T20:16:00.006-04:00

Well, Jamie and I finished our paver project just a little while ago. It was a great learning experience and the new paver deck came out great. Here are a few photos to highlight our craftsmanship. When times got tough we just thought WWFD? (What would Frank (Stanish) do?)

A Hard Days Night

2010-05-31T18:02:00.007-04:00

Jamie and I have been planning on re-doing our bathroom for a while now. Yesterday, we finally got around to starting and finishing the project. It took a total of 13 hours and we worked furiously into the night, had a great time and good team work as always.

CFP Exam Results 2010

2010-05-13T16:25:00.006-04:00

They posted the statistics on the CFP site today for the March 2010 exam. 52% pass rate. I took off an hour early to rush home hoping my results were in the mail. A big white envelope with the CFP logo was in my mail box. I grabbed it and went outside and sat down to open it. CONGRATULATIONS...I had to double check before I celebrated. What a wonderful experience and feeling of relief. Good luck to those still waiting.

Starting A Garden

2010-03-24T14:15:00.007-04:00

The necessities - love, care, and atttention.

www.jjgrowingtogether.com

seeds of a wedding

2010-02-22T14:21:00.017-05:00

why is there always this feeling of love in the

city that surrounds us?

photography by - Jenna Stanish

a winter waiting

2010-02-05T09:47:00.018-05:00

Growing up in the water has given me an appreciation of nature and an understanding of how lucky we are to be a part of it. This Winter, even with 50 degree water and cold arctic air we still find time to enjoy the beauty of the intracoastal water.

A Poem I wrote and edited by my love.

Warm rubber and tight nostalgia surround.
Water sprays droplets at bare cheeks.
Muscles and bones remember, anticipate
a slight mist, a clear mind,
"slow down, take your time, do it."
Confidence sticks the landing.

photos by kdawg

Our Proposal - Halloween 2009

2009-11-05T09:30:00.020-05:00

A few pictures from our Halloween. It was our five year anniversary and I asked Jamie to marry me. She said, 'Yes!' We drove up to Matanzas inlet for a nice afternoon car ride and had the place all to ourselves.

Fall 2009 - The Springs

2009-10-07T08:44:00.006-04:00

Fall is a wonderful time of year in Florida, probably my favorite 'season.' Took a quick trip to out west to float down the Icheuckee. We had a great time and it was out of season so it was definitely not crowded. We were the first ones there!

Jamie and I took a trip to Pennsylvania in the Spring earlier this year. We ate a lot of pizza, went to her cabin, hunted some turkeys, and enjoyed the mountains.

Back at home in present time, Jamie and Jenna were cruising around on my skateboard. We all need to get better.

Having a good Fall, all we need now is a good North Swell. More to follow.

Hurricane Bill

2009-09-24T11:49:00.010-04:00

We had good waves from Hurricane Bill - 2009. Here are a few pictures from the morning. I surfed St. Augustine in the evening and caught some really nice waves.

Traveling Solo

2009-05-11T17:27:00.004-04:00

James Galley, Jamie Stanish, Kimble and others...

Christmas Times

2009-04-30T09:23:00.006-04:00

Christmas in PA 2008. Had a nice time. Missed Miami Christmas, but will be there this year.

Exploring NEPA

2009-04-29T08:36:00.011-04:00

As a beginner and student of snowboarding I enjoy the environment snowboarding creates. There are different lines to explore, movements to feel, and experiences to create. This is a short video of some friends and family learning the basics.

Explaining North Florida

2009-04-27T09:21:00.002-04:00

April 2009 - We bought a waterproof digital camera that has been a companion on my excursions the last year or so. I decided to keep a video log of some of the things I spend my time doing. Feel free to comment. ourdaybreak@gmail.com

This video is entitled "Florida Things"... Hope you enjoy.