Phoenix

So I got a buddy pass to fly stand-by to Phoenix. I checked the internet before I got to the airport and both available flights were soldout. I didn't have anything to do, so I figured I'd show up anyway and give it a shot. I have pretty good luck, so why not, right?

So I get to the airport and I tell the checkin girl my plan and she laughed at me and told me there is no way that I'm getting on the flight, but she gave me a pass to get through security anyway. I show up at the gate and the guy looks at me like, 'Are you kidding?' But I joked around for a while with him about how I have nothing to do today and I've got my iPod and I'll just kick it all day and if I don't make either flight, I'll just go home and try tomorrow. He ended up changing my priority and hooking me up a little, but he told me that he still didn't think I'd make the flight.

Five minutes before the flight they still hadn't called anybody (no stand-by's, no missing people from the flight) and then the announcer came on, "Passenger Ciccotelli please report for boarding." What?!! I ran up there and he laughed and said I'm the luckiest person ever. I ran down the tarmac tunnel to the end but the girl shut the door before I got there and the sign said "Departed." I banged on the door but she couldn't hear me and they moved the ramp away from the plane. Luckily, another employee was in the tunnel with me and she unlocked the door and let me out. I ran to the plane, stopping them from putting up the stairs, and I ran onto the plane. "Do you have an extra seat?" All the way in the back, one open seat. I hadn't even gotten to my seat before they closed the door and the plane started moving about 2 minutes later.

Whew.

So now I'm in Phoenix.

I know, it's been a while

So, a few things have happened in the last two months. Here's a list:

1. I'm no longer in Aruba. I finished my contract with Del Sol and I came back to America. I'm currently in Utah, but only for one more week. To see the constantly updated plans, go to perfectlittleplanet.com/plans. In the next two months, I'll be in 5 states and 4 countries.

2. I'm addicted to YouTube. I now have two channels, both of which you can get to from the links at the top of PerfectLittlePlanet.com. The first (youtube.com/perfectlittleplanet) contains videos I make while out on my adventures. The second (youtube.com/perfectlittlelife) has all the videos I make while just hanging out with family and friends. This will also have my vlogs whenever I start doing those.

3. I'm no longer using my pc. I bought a mac and I LOVE IT!! It comes in especially handy while making my videos and putting up pictures on the website. Everything is so streamlined... iTunes, iMovie, iPhoto, and everything else works together so well it makes editing so easy.

4. PerfectLittlePlanet is now widescreen- and mac-friendly. Woohoo.

5. Lots of new pictures have been posted to the Aruba slideshow.

6. I shrunk all the original photographs used for my slideshows to stop people from downloading them. I'm in the process of changing the site over to a business. The slideshows still look the same, but now if you want a size suitable for your desktop wallpaper or something, you need to email me and ask for one. They're still free for now, but we're heading away from that direction.

7. The book is on the front burner and I'm just about half way done. I'll be in London at the end of October to put the finishing touches on it.

8. I finally got an iPod (it came with the new computer). I've reached a whole new level of happiness that I didn't think possible. Seriously, you guys have no idea how long I've wanted an iPod, but I could never justify spending the money to buy one.

9. Now that I'm back in the states, I don't use MySpace that often. Everyone I know is on Facebook though, so I have an account there and I go on every day or so, but I don't really understand it (all the applications and stuff).

10. I'm currently designing a logo and a theme song for PerfectLittlePlanet. I'm excited about both of those and I'll keep you posted as they progress.

That's all for now. Hope you're all having a wonderful day.

Love, Brian

New Stuff!!

Hello!

I added two new pictures to the Aruba slide show, including one of my new all-time favorite pictures. It's a sunset picture taken at Moomba Beach. Besides the colors being incredibly vibrant, I love the couple holding hands on the bottom left of the picture (you have to really look for them, it's subtle, but fantastic). I think they make the picture that much more romantic.

Also, I added a new video entitled "Lost Keys". It's a combination of the three part series I posted a few weeks ago. I just made it nicer and added some music (now that I know how to do that). :) So check it out because it's fun. (2011 update: Oof, not my best work. It's amazing how far I've come with editing and video making skills.)

I'm also going to add another video about the abandoned plane I explored today. It was very cool, and I thank Grant and Janae for pointing it out to me (although it sits just 20 feet from a road I travel at least twice a week, I had never seen it in 6 months of driving past it).

And if you haven't seen the Transformers movie yet, go right now. Turn off the computer and go. It's awesome.

YouTube, My Book, Aruba, and Friends

Hey, I've been busy. Here are some reasons why I haven't blogged in sooo long:

I've been making lots of cool videos. If you haven't checked it out recently, go over and check out my youtube account (www.youtube.com/perfectlittleplanet) and watch all the latest videos, especially this one (Aruba Hi-Winds 2007) because I'm so proud of it.

I'm writing my book. Remember, I want to finish it (if not completely then at least the majority of it) before I leave Aruba. If you have no idea what book I'm talking about, email me at brian@perfectlittleplanet.com and ask me about it.

I only have 6 weeks left in Aruba, so I'm trying to do so much because I know time is running out. :(

Lots of friends have been coming to visit. They know I'm only going to be here a few more weeks so they're all coming now before it gets too late.

But above all, I'm just lazy. :)

Much love, Brian

Perfect Little Planet Adventures

I created a new section on Perfect Little Planet which contains pictures and videos of adventures I have while out taking pictures or just having a good time. I just posted the first story which happened less than a week ago on the south point of the island. It is called Sunset Waves Attack. I am extremely happy that I am still alive to tell the story.

More adventures will be posted as I have more time in the future.

Brian

Millions of Fish

I have gone snorkeling at least once a week for the past 11 months, sometimes as many as 4 or 5 times a week. I can't get enough of it. This past week, in one day I saw more fish than every other dive combined. I saw two schools of fish with seemingly countless fish. To give you an idea, here's a video of the first school I swam into:





I took one of my new favorite pictures ever this day. You can check it out on the Aruba Slideshow. It's the first picture in the show.

I also had an interesting experience at this same location two days before this dive. You can read about it in my MySpace blog. Just click the link on the right entitled, "New Snorkeling Adventure."

Also, I've updated PerfectLittlePlanet.com with a few new maps to make it easier to navigate. Go check it out.

Brian