Andre Cabrales

Had a really fun time last week. Young Life was off the hook, Tuesday was a Reno day (didn’t really like it all too much), Wednesday I didn’t leave the Lodge at all, Thursday went Ice Skating, Friday had a group get in, Saturday went to Reno again (much better this time around... The HUB was very enjoyable), Sunday I said goodbye to my friends from Fresno.



Hoping to do this every week.

A couple of things have changed since we last spoke.

It was getting pretty hard being here by myself ALL the time. It really just felt like I was just living here in the mountains in a HUGE house all by myself. Town’s not too far away, but far enough to make it inconvenient driving in often. There are great people in that town that I really enjoy... but not always fun to drive 15 miles just for coffee. Definitely have to pick and choose when to go.

Having our first group changed all of that. It really put a new energy in me to see kids having fun and enjoying this God given facility. What’s more exciting is that I might see how Christ has changed these young men and women years from now.

Also, having Larry Brassea (a Young Life guy from San Fran) is ALWAYS a pleasure to have. To see this man’s heart break for these kids and see how much he loves them is inspiring. He’s a pretty damn funny man too. He has a lot of respect from me.

My trip back home (see other post) really made me re-think a lot about what I want in a career/life. Not to belittle the great things going on in Truckee/Soda Springs... but PHX is definitely where my heart’s at. AND it’s also where my comfort is at... I am very much out of my comfort zone here... and LOVING it.

It’s crazy to think you know yourself and then your ignorance shown to you in such a subtle way. I’m growing/learning about myself everyday here... would have never had the opportunity to be stretched, challenged, learn if I was still home.

It has lead me to believe that anything can happen... and if the good Man upstairs says go... best believe I’m going. I could possibly never move back to AZ. But for me and my faith... it’s put up or shut up. How can I love the Lord and live like a coward? Not gonna happen. Life’s more exciting this way anyways... I was really about to “get a job” and buy a house when I moved back! Why?!

I’m on a journey now... I’ve been set in motion... don’t know when I’ll ever “settle down” now... wow.

Had a pretty hard time picking a track for this post (I’ve been listening to some really weird stuff lately... I’ll spare you from that). Here’s some less weird stuff: Sufjan Stevens- Futile Devices

Took me a bit to get this edited and what not... Had an AWESOME time at home.

I’m willing to bet I’ll get real tired of shoveling snow for an hour and a half plus every time it dumps... but it’s really is beautiful here.



I’m not so down with the cold though... It drops below 30 degrees every night. What the heck!

Tried this spot called ‘Burger Me!’




Pretty decent... The place was on the show ‘Diners, Dives and Drive Thrus’. Good meal... Not really dying to go back though.

Diablo Burger in Flagstaff, AZ is still king in my book.


Andre’s Challenge:

Here’s a song...


This track was used as a sample in a very popular song (think Old School Hip Hop). If you can tell me the name of that song... you win coffee with me!

I usually never look forward to winter camp... It’s short, everything seems so compact, you don’t get a whole lot of time to just chill.

But when you get there... it’s always a different story. It’s always fun.

Just outside the Gameroom



Apparently there’s a trail called the “Overgrowth Trail”. A little longer than we anticipated.



Twilight at Woodleaf

Landscape shot



Truckee kids in club

These kids are pretty fun... Really glad I’m here with this group.

For the musica... RxBandits- Drink Myself To Sleep (live) This band live is phenomenal... Love the groove in this




ONE LOVE

Looking forward to a lot of snow... got the first of it today.



Craziness!

Had to put on the Carhartts and strap on the waterproof boots (wasn’t about to get my feet wet and cold).

Living at the Lodge is interesting... I don’t necessarily leave a lot (mostly because driving up and down a mountain isn’t exactly cheap... even in a civic). Been getting a LOT of stuff done... the weather definitely put a halt on some outdoor projects though.

I’ve been a HUGE fan of planning.... both financially and for my to-do list. I’m gonna plug this app called THINGS... It’s excellent and has helped a ton in planning and scheduling to-dos.

Excel and this other app called iBank have been good for my finances. I’ve never really put what I spend on paper... it’s crazy how stupid I am with my money. I am now announcing the DEATH of my bad financial habits. There’s also a great book called “Your Money: The Missing Manual”. A very easy read. Once I can figure out some financial stuff... definitely gonna be utilizing some saving accounts.

If I take anything away from this new episode in life... this should be it. Lot less stressful doing stuff this way.

NOW... for the best cover of all time of any song... Johnny Cash-Hurt



PS... If you blog... you will LOVE MacJournal. Super easy to add pics, videos, and music (i have a MobileMe account... music is stored on that account)

Take it easy!

For the past 8 years of my life i’ve been involved (In many different ways) with this youth ministry called Young Life. It’s been a good ride...

Started going when I was about 15... A couple of my older cousins had gone to camp (Woodleaf) and I started noticing this dude Anthony (definitely not of high school age).

SIDENOTE:
This is how awesome this ministry is...

Anthony used to come on campus with a back and when students asked him what he was doing... he would tell them “I never finished high school so I’m here taking classes”. This was genius because some people actually believed that and would talk about it... he created a sort of rumor about himself and piqued some interest. He would just show up... wherever kids were he was down to go.

I also remember him telling me that “It’s a party bro! Come check it out!” when I asked what Young Life was.... And then I was hooked. Me and my homies went every week... we loved it. Even though we were doing stupid things and making bad/wrong decisions... we still loved going.

I remember this going to Woodleaf for summer camp and giving my heart and my life to Jesus Christ... and I was never the same... neither was my life.

I’ve been sent on a journey and it’s taken me to crazy, fun places and I’m doing things I never would have ever thought of doing. I left my family and some of the best friends a person could ever have... for HIM.

I’m definitely out of my comfort zone... but I’m loving it!

here are some pics from Young Life in Truckee...








Still loving this stuff... 8 years later.


Been bumpin this for the past couple of days... RJD2-The Perfect Occasion

There’s this place called Wild Cherries in Truckee... pretty cool spot. Large drip coffee... 2 bones.... yes please.



Not the “coolest” place I’ve ever been. But decent food, good drinks... I’m ‘bout it.



That’s Jen over then on the left in the blue shirt. Truckee YL leader... and also concierge. She’s been great helping me get plugged in to the area.

This is usually where I come to hang out to get out of the lodge. I was itching to get out today!

This is also an excellent place to come meet some interesting people. Yesterday I came in around noon. It was packed out! I was just hanging out reading articles with my headphones in and this woman named Linda decides to start talking to me... while my headphones are in. I engaged her and then we talked about what we were doing in Truckee... She was stopping here to visit a friend (Rick... who was a cool older dude) on her way to see her sick sister in Sacramento.

I told her about how I was doing ministry and she got super excited about Christ... always a cool thing when people do that! She proceeded to tell me she was a prophetess. Which sounds crazy... but I really can’t disprove that. It was an interesting encounter.

IN OTHER NEWS...

Touched a snowblower for the first time today....


These things are freakin heavy! I will appreciate this contraption more when it snows.

Snapped this pic real quick today....





It was a good, productive day. Set down mouse traps, washed some bed covers, installed a motion sensor light, learned how to use a snowblower, organized the tool bench a bit.... I’m kinda proud of myself.

I bid you adieu.... here’s a little tune from Margot and the Nuclear So So’s- Broad Ripple is Burning.

Okay... I’m so down with this blogging stuff. Gonna try to keep it up to date as much as possible...

Dropneck polo-Brainwash Project (old pigeon john stuff)




TO BUSINESS....

Woke up this morning about 6:45am to go to Sacramento with Ryan Hunter (Area Director for Young Life in Truckee, CA.). Walked out of the door and low and behold....




If you can’t make it out... that’s freakin’ snow on my windshield (mostly on the wipers). I’m not ready for this crap!

Anyways... went to Sacramento for this Wednesday get together/biblestudy thing that the Northern California YL people do. It was pretty good. Had it at this church...




A lot of hard questions were posed. One nugget I left with: Are kids learning from you?

Dang... are they?

What about you? Food for thought!

SOOOO! I freakin' live in Northern California now!

It's a trip. Never thought I would move to this state. Now that I'm here, I know that this is really the only part of the state I would ever be in.

I'm living in a little spot named Soda Springs. Population 92... seriously... that's what the sign says. BUT I'm 15 minutes away from Truckee, Ca... Population... more than 92.




I live on the summit of the mountain range very close to Donner Lake. This is a 3 minute drive down the road....

This is a memorial statue of the infamous Donner Party. The base of the statue (15 feet high!) is the depth of the snow when they were stuck in the area.

Donner Lake... about 10 minute drive.

I was able to hang out with some Bay Area Young Life people. They rented a pontoon boat and a ridiculous house boat for one of the days.


This passed weekend I got the opportunity to do sound at Woodleaf for the Bay area's leadership weekend.... It was freaking stressful.

I'm glad to be where I'm at. It's an awesome place with awesome people. I'm looking forward to what's in store for the next few years. Let's see what happens! I'll be updating this thing more frequently... stay tuned!

It's 12 days after the other interns at Lost Canyon have left... 12! Feels a lot longer than that. Miss them all

This summer was all about letting go... and letting GOD. I didn't realize how controlling I was... I'm naturally a fixer. Once I give up control... God does his thing... his will is done... adventures happen.

Now I'm headed to do things I would have never imagined... I'm moving to Tahoe... where it snows... a lot. I bought boots (seriously?... not really my jam).

I'm still enjoying my time here at Lost Canyon. Got to do some cool hiking the past few weeks.

Went to the highest point in AZ... Humphrey's!
The next week we hike the entire west fork trail... about 12-14 miles... pretty much walked from Flag to Sedona.

Still trying to enjoy my time at the LC. Be home on the first!

How long has it been? anyways....

Been doing the intern thing since the beginning of May. This is completely different from last year. Last year it was all about just doing the internship... this year it was to figure out if I wanted to come on staff.

The position that opened up at Woodleaf (which I did not get) was the catalyst for figuring out if I was really down to do staff. It took me about a month to wrestle with the idea. It's not so easy for me to just get up and go. I mean... it is... BUT.... it isn't.

I wholeheartedly love where I'm at. My fam is awesome, my friends are more than I could wish for, the spiritual community I have is phenomenal; there's a lot that is keeping me in Phoenix. Love that city.

On the other hand, I really have nothing keeping there. No babies, no future baby mama, no house.

I just got done interviewing at Mountain Lodge; some cabin at Lake Tahoe (freakin Lake Tahoe!). It's gorgeous there. If I get the job: I'd be there from November to May, I'd get a ski pass, and a stipend every month. Pretty legit.

But the situation is a total catch 22. If I take the job, my heart will be broken because I'm leaving the place I love. If I don't take the job, my heart will be broken because I'm not taking the opportunity to possibly love my job.

Also, my fam just came to see me here at Lost Canyon. It was tough to see them leave. Very tough.

So... If I'm offered this position... I will have to give it up to the big man.

It feels like I'm growing up

So... the new bill is very controversial... But here's the kicker... everyone is acting like this is a NEW type of law.

Laws like this have been around for over a hundred years... talking about anti-MEXICAN laws.

Here's what I have against these these pieces of legislation being passed.

The sentiments that are geared towards Mexicans and Mexican-Americans are vastly negative. The conservative correspondence (who are PAYED to ENTERTAIN) have a duty to excite and rally certain ideals... and a lot of these ideals are grounded in false accusations.

I have seen NO evidence of illegal immigrants able to take advantage of social security, medicare and other SOCIAL services... they CANNOT take advantage of such things. They do however contribute greatly to such services because they attain social security numbers to work (they don't even claim returns!).

The fallacy of criminal activity being greater in areas populated by illegal immigrants (how do they document these things first off?...no idea) is true... BUT statistically... so are ALL lower income areas. Illegal immigration does NOT raise crime rate (cum hoc fallacy). I could also assume that being from a lower income area means you're a criminal? I cannot... and will not.

The beaners are taking your jobs!? Well... you simply have the choice of not employing or refusing to give your money to companies that employ illegal aliens. If there was not a need for cheap labor, people wouldn't hire them. This has been the case for a hundred years... need for cheap labor will by satisfied by those who are willing to work for those wages. The western US was BUILT by mexican and chinese muscle... not good ol apple pie Americans. If you want more jobs in the US... spend your money on companies and products that produce in the US... force companies to bring production back the US! Anyone who bleeds red white and blue should stop shopping at walmart and buy local and/or US made products. Then and only then will companies be forced to move production back on US soil. It seems as though US citizens have become victims of circumstances we have created for ourselves.

I hate it when there is someone who says "Well... THEY're still Illegal"
This type of rhetoric leads me to believe that the person using this type of language is doing more than generalizing a group. Language like using THEY is separating one group from yourself... like pointing a finger... is almost always trying to belittle or dehumanize. The US was founded by people who are not indigenous to this CONTINENT and the ones who are indigenous are illegal?
It is also assuming that the land we live in was always ours... most of America was STOLEN. Mexico was forced to sign the Treaty of Hidalgo... which has been agreed upon over and over again to be and unconstitutional treaty.

SO... I fail to recognize the severity of Illegal Immigration. I do however agree that illegal immigrants who commit crimes should be deported and/or dealt with like any other criminal. Of course the drug trade has a lot to do with the BROWN SCARE... so here's an idea... stop the supply of drugs to the US by not DOING drugs. Seems like we're angry over something we are creating for ourselves... there wouldn't be a supply if there weren't a demand.

Things I believe should be enacted are great ideas such as the Dream Act (Give an incentive to children of illegal aliens to become OUTSTANDING citizens... higher education and the military... two things this country seems to be very fond of). Immigration reform... as citizens, workers can help raise minimum wage and make wages more competitive for EVERYONE... undocumented workers do not usually have any voice to fight for wages for fear of being turned in.

I believe that corporations are more to blame for lack of jobs than the Illegal population... I believe that Illegal immigrants have every right and should be given every chance to become citizens... I believe that anti-mexican laws make the US look selfish... I believe that anti-mexican laws turns the US against ALL hispanics. Most arguments in deep favor of SB1070 I read are from Americans who don't understand the gravity of or know the history of racism/alienation of hispanics in the US... Never had to deal with racism or discrimination.... IT IS REAL... IT DOES EXIST... THESE LAWS NOT ONLY ADD TO THE TURMOIL BUT ALSO ENABLE AND PERPETUATE IT.

Since Feb 1.... Life has been interesting....

A tale of love, lost time and iPads...

Just kidding.

Hanging out with people and getting into adventures is by far what I want my life to be about.

Here's what's happened since I've left you...

Dinner with Serena at El Barrio Cafe (delicious!)

Pigeon John show... met my hip hop buddy Ernie. Short story: we both showed up by ourselves and now go to hip hop shows together... simple.

2mex show with Ernie... interesting night.

Super sick road trip from PHX to LA to Vegas... ridiculous. Tiring though. (see gallery.me.com/ohndray for my pics)

The next weekend got to spend my day shooting some pics for my friends from Apple... JD and Kate. (see same website for pics)

The iPad came out last night too... pretty impressive honestly. I will be getting one.

All kinds of working in between... like... a lot. Luckily... I like my job.

In other news... the Lord is great.

I've been reading through My Utmost for His Highest every morning... man... talk about challenging.

My relationship with Christ is going in a direction I never realized. Exciting stuff... too much to write.

All I have to say is that following Christ is by far the hardest thing in the world for me to do... but I couldn't imagine my life without Him there.

It's such a fascinating thing to me to think about my past... especially what used to be my passions. I feel as though one passion is being taken off of my heart and I am becoming ready to move on to something else.

Think about it... what were you passionate about in High School? When you graduated? A year ago? A month ago? One constant passion (although it varies in intensity often) is my relationship with Christ.

I really enjoy doing ministry... a lot. But I feel like I've fallen out of community where I'm at. This has made ministry feel like HUGE obligation and not something I have a passion for. Not only do I feel like I can go away without anyone being affected (maybe a few)... I feel I can go away without being affected (A few people I know I will miss).

I really feel like I need to ready myself for a change. This may include a move, another commitment, something... I don't know what it is. If you'd asked me a year ago if I would be willing to leave, my answer would have been a definite NO. Now... I cannot say the same.

It really is exciting... I'm ready to move on.

So... El Paso was great. Got to chill with my good friends Ryan Guzman.

Day 1

Chilled out with Ryan an his moms then went to work with him... played ping pong, wii, and card games with middle schoolers... awesome.

OH... and that's Antwan there. And I quote... "I was the one who shot biggie smalls!"


that kid is ridiculous.
But not as ridiculous as Barry Diamond...

I can't even explain this guy. The opener, Mark Riccadonna was good too.

It was a good day.

DAY 2

Pretty chill day... wound up in the desert with Ryan and a few of his Young Life Guys.




Day 3

Another late start... met up with Jessica and had some lunch.


Are you freakin kidding me! The burrito's were stupid big... didn't finish it.


Went to the UTEP game and got took part in some of the halftime entertainment.




got a 25 dollar gift certificate out of it.

Good trip. It was good to hang out with good friends.

So... just to catch you guys up a bit

Cool dive bar by my boy Joey... darts... cheap beer... good times... DIZZY'S

This pic is from my friend Steph's birthday party. It was a Wes Anderson themed party (directed some random movies). There were some "canvases" in the back and Brett completed a masterpiece


After that night... went to go see some good friends... the Kozimor's... Ryan and Tyler. Now... these guys are great and I'm lucky to have them as friends. This is a pic at their house with the trophy we won at the Soccer Locker... CHAMPS!


Now this pic... Shane and Adam at Roman's Oasis for Adam's 21st. Shane kept putting napkins on Adam's shoulders and taking pictures... It was a good night.



Went to see the Cards play the Vikes... It was a good one! From right to left... Angel, Eric, Me, Pops. I had a lot of fun. Got home just in time to submit some homework before midnight.


Few days after Christmas, I decided I wanted a new stereo. My old one just didn't work well at all... bought this Alpine and installed it myself. Sounds excellent.


This pic is from Dave and Busters. We were there celebrating Christina's 21st. That place was actually kind of whack and I won't be going there anytime soon. BUT... It was celebrating with Christina and hanging out with Eric was great. Eric and I eventually ended up at this bar called the Lost Leaf downtown... highly recommended. (It may seem like I go to a lot of bars... I don't this is just a mash up of the last 2 months)



TUESDAY NIGHT DINNER CLUB!

I LOVE this group... we go out every Tuesday to new places. This was at the Parlor... pretty gosh darn good. Good atmosphere too.

I really enjoy the company of these people... and finding new places to go out is cool too.


That's all for now! Hope to be doing a lot more this year... watch out!

Hey guys... this is the first ever beat I completed.

I'm really just adding it on here to learn how post music.

Sound's experimental so just bear with me here...