I’ve finally been able to set a wedding date for Kana and I: We’ll be getting married in Japan on August 23rd, so mark your calendars. For all my stateside readers, the wedding on this side of the pond will most likely be next spring, as Kana most likely won’t get to the states before winter of this year.

For all the latest info on our wedding, check out the newly registered RandyandKana.com. I’ve also included a link on the sidebar in case you forget the address.

Just a little update on what I’m up to now. I’m currently working 2 jobs - My first job is as a photographer (cameraman, live truck operator, video editor) at KJRH Channel 2 here in Tulsa (it’s the area’s NBC affiliate). In addition to that, I’m still working at the Apple Store in Woodland Hills Mall. I’ve cut back my hours to just one day a week, so if you come in looking for me I might be hard to find. Basically right now I’m just trying to make as much money in preparation for my return to Japan in August and Kana’s eventual one-way trip to OK later this year.

Sorry for the lack of updates. I’ll try harder in the future to stay on top of things.

So I finally found myself some full-time employment. As of May 15th I’ll start at KJRH Channel 2 as a photographer; basically that means I’ll be a cameraman, live truck operator and video editor. I’m really happy that I was able to find employment in the profession I love. Now the only challenge will be keeping up with their pace of work. Although I’ve worked in this kind of position before, the deadlines weren’t near as tight. We’ll see how things pan out. I’m going to continue working at Apple but I’ll have to cut back on my hours dramatically. It’s really hard to give that place up. It’s a really positive environment with a lot of like-minded people, and I already talk about Apple products half the day; Why not get paid for it?

I’m also excited about my new job because it means I can finally move on with the next stage of life: getting married. Soon I can negotiate a time to go back to Japan and get hitched to my wonderful bride-to-be, Kana. It’s funny how priorities in life change. Before her I was only worried about bettering myself, now my top priority is being the best husband possible.

Things are finally starting to look up on the long quest for employment. I’ve had some very promising interviews from more than a few news stations in town, and I’m now officially an Apple employee. I think I have one more day of “training” before the let me loose on the floor - converting the masses to Mac goodness.

Just as all things in life, as soon as I started fearing for my future, God stepped in and gave me some great opportunities. Gotta thank Him for that.

I’d like to weigh in on a political discussion for now even though I know that’s something I don’t typically do. This is an election year after all and I think I have the right to voice my opinion. Usually I don’t care much about politics unless it directly effects me, and since my bank account has significantly lowered since gas prices started climbing I’d say that’s an effect. Yes, alternative fuels are what the world needs to shift to for a long-term solution, but in the short-term we’ve got a real problem. Foreign dependancy on oil isn’t a smart idea considering most everyone in the middle east hates us. We have plenty of it in our own ANWR backyard, why not develop it? Last time I checked, the most prosperous nations in the world are the ones who influence real change. Why not let us become more independent while putting a good portion of the money we’re saving by not shipping oil overseas on alternative fuel research. Here’s a hint - ethanol ain’t gonna cut it. To raise gas prices and then say, “Well, we need to learn how to conserve, use mass transit, or buy hybrids,” just isn’t fair to working class Americans. Not many people I know can afford to buy hybrids, mass transit isn’t efficient or prevalent enough, and we ARE conserving - it’s just not enough to make any real difference. I drive 70+ miles a day in a car that gets around 20 mpg. If I had to spend $20k on a hybrid I’d put myself in debt. How fair is that? Let’s approve environmentally safe and efficient ways of drilling in ANWR as soon as possible.

Still no luck on the job-hunting front. I’ve been working freelance doing some video editing, but nothing permanent has popped up yet. I am interviewing on Thursday with the good folks at the Apple Store in Woodland Hills Mall, although they’re only offering me half as much as I make freelancing. The choice between good money and a guaranteed job is always a hard one. In addition, I’ve got applications in at all of the TV stations around Tulsa. Channel 6 (KOTV) called me back and said that they’ll call me for an interview in the near future. So far, that hasn’t happened. Another possible lead is working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs office. The guy working there now is a DINFOS (Defense Information School) trained killer like myself, so I might have an in there. Of course, I feel a little reluctant to go right back on the government payroll, but money is money.

I’m not completely sitting still. I’ve been taking a month-long English Comp II class at Tulsa Community College. I’m actually procrastinating right now; My final research project is due this Friday. Luckily my most recent employer is off enjoying NAB (National Association of Broadcasters Conference) in Las Vegas, so I have a lot of free time to work on it.

I’ve started running around the Tulsa River Parks lately. It’s actually a really nice course. According to my Nike+ iPod thingy, it’s around 2 and a half miles if I run between the two main bridges. I went out yesterday and ended going around twice. I think the nicest thing is the natural scenery mixed with the great view of the Tulsa skyline (what little we have). Also, there are a lot of other people out there being active - walking, running, walking dogs, pretending to be Lance Armstrong - so it’s good motivation for me. Up until now I’d been running a small course in Mannford all by my lonesome. It took six laps to equal the same distance. Considering that track is now underwater, I think I’ll continue running at the river.

I’ve found a good church home, which is good because that was a major concern of mine. You can check it out at thegatheringtulsa.com. It’s about the closest environment to the Lighthouse that I’ve found, which means I think Kana will also feel comfortable there.

Almost forgot! - My cousin had her baby yesterday! Little Sammie Jay Lane, the second of the great grand children on my dad’s side. Very exciting!

First I want to start out by telling you what brought about this post: I was doing a little casual browsing on iTunes and found out that one of my favorite bands that not many people know about have a new album. The band is called Braddigan, and you can check them out either by clicking that link, or typing it into an iTunes search.

I have a really fond spot in my heart for this band for a few reasons. I first heard of them when I was back in Japan for a short time between our summer and winter cruises in Sept. ‘06. I was utterly tired of the ship and always being gone and all I wanted to do was enjoy my friends and enjoy being back in Japan. Apparently they were playing at some sort of surfing conference in Yokohama and were staying at the Lighthouse (the outreach center I was very involved with) and playing a show at a park on base. I had never heard of them but got asked to give them a tour of the Kitty Hawk (being that was one of my several jobs). They were extremely nice and I especially clicked with a videographer they brought with them named Jonathan. That night I got the chance to hang out with them more at the Lighthouse and eventually hear their concert the next day.

Ok, so getting back to what I was talking about - they really touched me with their very chill music and positive lyrics. After being surrounded by so much negativity all summer long it was great to be amidst all that positive energy. Even though I remember being annoyed by not having a house and having to go back out to see less than a month later, I remember that as one of my best times in Yokosuka. The weather was beautiful the entire month and all of my friends meant so much to me.

I think it was easy for me to look unfavorably at the Navy while I was in, thinking only of my civilian freedom, but now that I’m out I really don’t bear any ill will. It was all an experience in my life, and I cherish it as helping make me what I am today. Actually, from the outside looking back in, I’m a little nostalgic. I did well at my profession, but knowing that I was eventually leaving let me focus more on what I wanted to be in the future. Most of all, it introduced me to several different cultures and people, most notably Japanese culture and people, and I now feel overwhelmed and grateful for that opportunity. Heck, if it weren’t for the Navy I wouldn’t have found my perfect soulmate - Kana.

So, the point of all this? I’m not angry about anything I’ve had to go through in life. If anything I’m happy and feel amazingly blessed. I thank God for my ability to grab hold of the good memories and forget the bad ones.

As far as an update for where I am right now: For the past couple weeks I’ve been working freelance doing video editing work. It’s not a full-time job, but the money and experience are all great. The guy I work for is a great mentor, being that he’s been doing video in Tulsa for 30 years. Besides that, I think I’ll be working at the Apple Store in Tulsa very soon. I’ve been through two interviews so far and I have another one sometime soon. Anyone who knows me well knows that I’m very passionate about Apple and everything they make, so I think it’ll be a good fit for me. If I do stay with Apple, my dream would be to move all over the world working for them to help gather up more amazing experiences with my beautiful future wife.

Sorry for not updating much lately. I’ve just been collecting my thoughts =)

So, after 3 1/2 fun-filled weeks, Kana went back to Japan and now I’m out looking for work again. I knew that the “real world” would rear it’s ugly head again, but I guess when you’re with a wonderful girl like Kana it’s easy to think that that day will never come.

We had a great time seeing Oklahoma City, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Tulsa, and St. Joseph, Missouri, just to name a few. I think I gave her a good whirlwind tour. Kana remarked that visiting Yokohama after her vacation was like reverse culture shock. Is this city-raised girl turning into a country girl? Only time will tell!

I’m trying to post as many pictures as possible on my Flickr site, so check back for more updates as they become available. I think I only have one more batch to get up and then I’ll be up to date.

As for the job hunt, I’ve actually already got a part-time/temp job editing video. Yes, I’m using my expertise in a job, but I’m going to have to continue the search for a full-time job that’ll allow me to support Kana and myself. If anyone out there in internet land is looking for a good cameraman/video editor, please feel free to drop me a line.

Happy leap year day, everyone. This often elusive little day sometimes gets overlooked, but it is worthwhile to note that if I were born a mere 3 days earlier, I’d only be celebrating my 6th birthday this year instead of my 24th.

I know I haven’t posted in awhile, but that’s mainly because someone amazed has crossed that great pond known as the Pacific Ocean and completely captured and monopolized my time. Yes, my beautiful finance Kana is finally over in the states! She arrived here a little less than two weeks ago and we’ve already been all around Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Dallas and Ft. Worth. I’ve taken some great pictures, so as always, look for those on Flickr.

Last weekend, my brother and I packed up the car and headed out for Lawrence, Kansas. Ken’s friend Kerry Alexander was going to play guitar and sing with reggae artist Joseph Israel at a local bar there. Apparently, Joseph got Kerry’s CD from a mutual contact, loved the CD, played a song from it in Warsaw, Poland, which wound up on Youtube, which Kerry’s wife happened to find. They got in contact with each other and next thing you know, we’re all going to Lawrence to hear them play it together.

This weekend was a big weekend as far as understanding my brother’s faith - Messianic - a little more. I’ll admit, at first glance I viewed it as a little over the top. Almost all Messianic people have long beards, cover their heads, wear tassels from the shirts (or belt loops, as I recently found out), and observe the Sabbath on Saturday. Almost Jewish you might think, but they believe in Jesus (although that’s not what they call him) so I really can’t quarrel with it.

When I first heard my brother was involved in this faith I kind of poo poo’ed the idea like a phase he was going through, or something he was doing just to be different. The more I get to know about it, the more guilty I feel for not being as faithful as these guys are. Everything they do can be completely backed up with the bible, so how do you argue with that? I think as modern-day contemporary Christians we make our faith a hobby. It’s something we do sometimes in addition to our daily routine, and for a big lot of us it’s something we only do weekly or less than that. These guys are visibly setting themselves apart all the time, making it a lifestyle of faith, which is what I think God had in mind. I don’t think I’m going to become Messianic, but it did open my eyes to the fact that I’ve been the God thing, whenever it’s convenient to me, instead asking Him when He’d like me to do the life thing.

On one major bit of news: Kana is coming to Oklahoma today! You can’t imagine how excited I am! I’ve been waiting for this day for SO long.

I’ve been looking for work for a couple weeks now. Not very intensely, because I don’t want to be working when Kana’s here, but I’m looking nonetheless. Still, I was getting a little frustrated earlier in the week that I hadn’t heard back from anyone. I thought there were a few different companies around town that I would be a perfect fit for, but I guess not. Still, it’s early, I still have a couple leads out there, and I didn’t really want to get a job until after Kana left anyway.

I started thinking, after the frustration, that I should really be enjoying this time. I’ll mostly likely be employed and busy for the rest of my life, and this time of transition is actually kind of nice. Aside from a little boredom, it’s a welcomed break from 5 years of being a government indentured servant.

This is my first attempt at writing a post completely on my iPhone. This device really is quite extraordinary. My phones in Japan were always more sophisticated, but all the features were buried in hard to find places that only a computer hacker could find. One of the reasons I’m such a Apple zealot is because they are able to make great user interfaces to bring technology to almost everyone. Just to make my point a little bit - I consider myself pretty techno-savy and I get pretty excited about this device, on the flip side, my Aunt, someone I don’t consider to techno-savy can use and enjoy her just as easily as I do.

This phone is also a bit of a curse as well. I’ve always felt the tug of the digital leash for a few years now - always caring a cell phone and stopping to check my mail a few times a day. Now with the ability to call, check email and surf the web all in one device I never feel like I’m unreachable. With the built in iPod it seems like I never have a silent moment with my own thoughts. I think that’s another problem with our society: people have cut out all necessary silence I’m their lives. Think about it.

About five years ago I read a book called “future shock” by Alvin Toffler. Although it was written back in the 70’s, he hits the nail on the head talking about human’s inability to cope with rapidly changing society.

oh yeah, hi Nan!