Still here

I'm still here. I wanted to see if this was still active. It is. Everything is good but I simply don't have time to think about blogging. Life is good and school is almost over. Everyone is fine, and I hope to fill you in on line as soon as I get the time to relax for a bit. I am at the condo with David tonight. We haven't had the opportunity to escape life's shredding talons for a while. This is our weekend.

With that said, I hope you are all well. I will be back.

A boring life in a whole nother direction

After what must have seemed like an eternity to Michael M (another Michael M) of Texas, I read and replied to his emails. Interestingly, though, not much had changed in my life in the month that passed. I thought it would be a good idea if I posted something here.

One of the things I said is that I haven't been posting much because my life, although it has taken off in a new direction, has become very much the routine. I'm loving it, though. I am enjoying working at the center. I have just over a semester to get everything I need to go full time.

I am being watched very closely. I was attempting to work with one student, who was struggling with his math lesson. I got very close to losing my temper with him. He felt compelled to go into his beat boxing routing, not giving any attention to what I was trying to teach him. He's a troubled teen in recovery. OK. Say it: BEEN THERE, DONE THAT! So instead of throwing him out of the conference room, I quietly got up and told him we could continue when he was ready. We continued about an hour later, and everything was fine. I did receive a comment saying that I handled that very well.

What I'm finding is this: I deal with so many of the issues with my heart, rather than what I have been taught in school. The pros and experts tell me to deal with certain issues by certain criteria, although I have to sort between the heart and head decisions. And as my friend Jeff has told me many times, sometimes you have to go with what you feel is right. That fine line is not always such a fine line. I did not make myself clear here.

Mom and I will be leaving for New Jersey on July 6 for 12 days. I'm looking forward to that. A little time away will be a welcome change.

So as you can see, I have been busy, but I am enjoying being busy. I am still a part-time server, and I will be working tonight. My biggest challenge right now is to get David to take a couple of days off.

Someone commented to me that my writing reflects exhaustion because there is no emotion in my writing. That may be true. I'll see if I can change that. Golly gee. Whoa. Look at the cock on that horse. Maybe that's why they call it a horse cock! I sound like Jamie on Mythbusters. I don't have a mustache but I need a shave. Sexy bitch!

I can't believe my nephew Yankee Doodle will be 3 years old on the 4th of July! He has brought me so much happiness. He got through the terrible 2's without incident, and now he's a real little human being. He's not a baby anymore; he's a little boy. He's the big brother. Where has the time gone?

And if you are a dad or will be celebrating Fathers Day tomorrow, enjoy a happy and safe day.

Crawling from under the rock...

I began typing this blog offline, and it has been awaiting further updates for a month. I decided to put the finishing touches on this blog before the weekend, and add that I did not spend the day as billions of the world's population did today.

I made a futile attempt to check my old Myspace account with no luck. I now know why Myspace has died on the vine. As I was creating a Facebook account, I realized that all the information they were culling from me was going to serve one purpose, and I didn't want to play their game. Some tell me I have an undue sense of online paranoia; others tell me I'm being smart. Whom shall I believe? For now, all I want to do is stay as low profile as I possibly can.

I had promised a friend that I would post a blog update before my birthday. I intended to live up to that promise, as I began this post on the 26th, but I ended up posting the prior blog post shortly before the bell struck 23. Your move, Jeff.

It felt good to me, sitting at the computer on a day off, or at least the afternoon off. The family treated me like King Shit for my birthday. I don't care much to be the center of attention, and having "Happy birthday" sung to me makes me blush. It was a nice day, and I was glad to share it with those closest to me.

In catching up on what is new...or not so new, let me first start out by saying that everything and everyone is fine. My absence from the net has not been due to any illness or bad news. Imagine it! No bad news, especially during this time of earthquake, tsunami, tornado, war and economic ruin. I'm working very hard to amass the credits to fulfill the requirements of my master's degree. I had hoped to cram everything into a one-year battle royal, but I've decided that both my brain and body would not be fit enough to show up at work after that. However, I'm loving the challenge.

I'm working at the rehab center three to five days a week. My hours are erratic, since I'm working around my school schedule, itself also erratic. I'm trying very hard to leave the problems of the Center back there, but I have found that I bring them home. I understand this to be a real problem, and it's one that I'm being trained to deal with. I'm enjoying the teaching aspect, as I work one-on-one, or group classes. I have developed an excellent rapport with the residents at the Center. They confide in me, and they ask me a lot of questions based on my experiences. It's great to share. There are days when I come home feeling like I accomplished something and made a difference in someone's life. Still, there are other days when I feel as though I fell into a hole and couldn't climb out. I'm learning to take each day as it comes.

My niece Amanda Christine was born on January 15, 2011. Ethan does not leave her side. He's so protective of her. She cries more than Ethan did. A few times when I picked her up she looked at me with a "WTF" expression. I find it very amusing. I get the same look from David...and my mother!

David is fine. He wants to plan a birthday getaway for me, but it will have to wait until after Mothers Day. We did escape for an impromptu evening and night at the condo last week. I looked like I had been through hell, so he took me away, where I could take a nice long shower, get comfortable, and allow him to pamper me. He loves doing that, and I never complain.

Today was a fine end of the week. I received compliments on my patience and diplomacy. I don't recall studying either in school, but I'll take the kudos graciously. I'm taking Mom out to dinner, and I hope to be able to sleep in tomorrow.

It's now time for a shower and a change of clothes. Tonight I get served; tomorrow I'm the server.

I lived up to my promise...with 4 minutes to spare.

There.

I have been typing a blog offline. I promised to post it before my birthday. My birthday will be at 7:45. It's 7:42.

I will post tomorrow. I'm enjoying a relaxed day.

Where's the cake?

Contrary to popular belief...

I am alive and well. My tendency or desires or whatever word you might insert there...to write in my blog have been shadowed by all of the many wonderful life-altering tasks at hand. I have begun a blog post that talks about life issues, such as my new niece, my brother's antique car, my nephew's growing up process, visits with my father, my sister's engagement...and the many challenges facing me as I continue my education and job training. I am still going to be focusing on "education", while at the same time working with rehabilitation. I've been told I'm a perfect match for such a job in the very rehab center that turned my life around, what seems to be a lifetime ago. I am off tonight. David is working. I am busy, believe it or not, doing my tax return. Help! I don't like to make promises I can't keep, but I will make a vow to complete that post and put it here. I might put something more here later today. I'm here...I'm alive...and life is great. Thanks for reading and thanks for your being the faithful reader(s) you have been.

Writing with a kid on my lap...

I wanted to write something before our Sunday dinner. Let's see how far I can get. The whole family is here. A little boy with loving eyes refuses to give me any alone time...and I love it.

I'm told that when your life is busy you lose all sense of time. Such is my life. I've had my six hands full for the past several months, and I'm enjoying everything I'm doing. I haven't been very good at posting in my blog, but as I have said several times in the past, I will do my best to remedy that.

I have been spending a lot of time working at the rehab center, where I will become a full-time intervention counselor when my schooling qualifications are met. I will be involved in teaching, too. While the center maintains strict standards for intervention and rehabilitation, it seems that there are loose guidelines at times, mostly because every person who enters the center is an individual. I am understandably excited about the time I'm spending there, and even more excited about the prospect of working there. It's payback time. I've grown fond of a volunteer, who happens to remind me of another volunteer who changed my life, and he says, "I hope to make a difference in one life...one hug at a time." Amen to that.

I'm also involved with a little light reading, such as "Suicidal Tendencies in Adolescents - Knowing the Signs" or other gut wrenching reading. Understandably, I've put this first in my life. I do have time for play, however.

I do get to work from time to time, but I have begun to cherish the weekends. David and I do enjoy our time together, and we recently spent a very cold week at the condo on the beach. He threw another log on the fire, and we snuggled. But there's no fireplace. :D

I spent a week at my father's home in Phoenix before Christmas. We had a very nice visit. His wife insisted on making sure I gained five pounds before I left. I think she achieved her goal.

Christmas was very nice. It was nice to be home for Christmas, as I recall prior years spent at Habitat for Humanity, and in Bali. I had a lot to think about, and I had a lot to be thankful for. Being with family during the Christmas season was a reminder of what Christmas is all about.

I had to deal with a minor eye infection in my right eye recently, which meant I had to wear my glasses. For once in my life I missed my contacts. How do people wear glasses, anyway? I always find myself pushing them up my nose like a geek. I sat behind a boy in sixth grade who spent half his waking hours pushing his glasses up his nose. His name was Artie, and I kept referring to myself as Artie. By the way, Artie is a 22-year-old millionaire now, drawing cartoons for various publications like children's books and advertising media. But I digress...I took eye drops, which I swore I could taste. I deal.

I'm about to become an uncle for the second time. The baby, a girl, is due on January 18. It's hard to think of Ethan as the big brother.

I need to stop writing this. Ethan is on my lap, and we need to go to the bathroom. I haven't forgotten to write. I will do my best to write as often as I can. Thank you for understanding. Is something warm running down my leg? Ethan?

I just went into Myspace, and I couldn't sort it all out. The new format has me completely baffled, so I will make an attempt to do something with my now dormant account soon. I'm not sure if anybody checks Myspace anymore, but I will keep it around.

My time has been taken up with so many things. For once in my life the things that are taking up all of my time are enjoyable ones. I'm happy about that. I will try to fill you in the best I can.

I can remember the attitude and the excuses. I also remember the feeling of helplessness, and how it affects your whole life. I'm talking, of course, about the teenagers in rehab. I can now say that I've seen it from both sides. It isn't easier for me, observing, than it was for me as a participant. My participation will be in the form of support and encouragement. I am so looking forward to the day when I can work with teenagers who are going through exactly what I went through. I walked the same grounds I did several years ago. I've had the opportunity to work with individuals who, like me, threw their lives into the wind, hoping to end up anywhere else but alive. It doesn't surprise me, either, that the majority of these teens are from upper-class income families. When people think about substance abuse rehabilitation, we think about the inner city. That is not the case here. These are the Hollywood brats. The stories they tell go from frightening to the sublime. Some of their stories have a painful familiarity. But I am the one who can look them in their eyes and tell them that I know exactly what they're going through. I believe that will help. I have also developed a rapport with several of the teenagers. I am so grateful for this opportunity to substantiate my belief that I can be useful in this field. The teaching part will be easy. The counseling part will be part bookwork and experience. I've been told to allow the experience to complement the bookwork, but it should never overrule it. I will keep that in mind.

I'll be back in school in January. I'm still sorting out the minor details, such as how many classes and how many hours per day. I will do what I can do.

I also work as much as I can. You might be wondering if I have any spare time at all. I do, but I have been doing a lot of preliminary studying, preparing for school and supplementing what I'm learning at the center. And don't think I never get out of bed not in the mood to deal with people who are angry at the world.

Other than all that, there's little to report. I'm still here. I'm busy, but everything is good. I'll do my best to post when I can. Thanks for reading.

There is a lot going on, and it's all good.

I've been too quiet for too long, and I thought it was time for me to address some things I would like to say.

While I have kept my political views to myself, I want to share my feelings about the election that just passed. My experience in the voting booth was not one envisioned by our founding fathers. My 2008 experience was, for me, a painstakingly carried out process. I carefully reviewed the sample ballot sent to me; I gathered as much information as I could about the individual candidates, and I voted accordingly. This year, however, I ran the axe through the ballot. The promises made became promises broken. I became incensed at how the campaign ads insulted my intelligence, twisting pieces of information, where only the person, who either had blinders on, or was of reduced mental capacity, would believe the rubbish being forced on us during dinner time. I have proudly declared myself an Independent, with a Moderate view. To vote along party lines, as so many of my friends and their families do, is pointless. A very smart and respected man once said to me, "Son, don't take our word for anything. Question what you read and what you're forced to believe. If someone makes a statement that is assumed to be fact, ask where he got the data and how he got it. Our government is made up of smoke and mirrors, and there's a liar and a thief behind every mirror."

My voting trend this year was mostly made with a "red" pen. This country voted for change in 2008, and now I'm a part of the change that never happened. I'm angry and I'm embarrassed. While I was in Bali, it was interesting to hear their take on the "American President, Mr. Obama". One of the most common comments was of his being weak. That idea scares me. For our President to be viewed as weak by other nations scares me. Many of my friends voted for him. If his election were up to them, he'll be a one-term President. But this isn't all about the President.

We all heard about candidate Christine O'Donnell, and her highly publicized stance against masturbation. The people spoke. There's the rub! There truly is a happy ending. Now she's on the Today Show, and she's spewing all over the airwaves. How do we allow this to happen to us in this country of ours? In the meantime, I'm happy to enjoy what is still legal every night, and I know for a fact that every one of my friends is safe...for now. Call it a stroke of luck. I'll sleep soundly beneath my rustling sheets tonight! Sorry to pull this on you. Fini.

Proposition 19 went up in smoke. As you know, in the past I did smoke marijuana. And yes, I did inhale. If I can quote a friend of mine: "How the fuck to you smoke pot without inhaling?" I don't know where the stuff was grown, and I didn't care. I didn't care whether or not there were any dangerous additives sprinkled on it. There are a lot of arguments for and against Prop 19. I, for one, am in favor of the legalization of marijuana. It's not a question of IF; it's a question of WHEN. It will happen in time, and when it does, it will be another bonanza of tax dollars, just like alcohol, cigarettes and gasoline. Go for home grown, and keep your pot dollars in the USA! Makes me glad I don't do it anymore.

Now it's time to blow away the smoke and break the mirrors, so we can deal with the thieves and liars that lurk within our government. Did we? Did we send a message? Or did we simply replace the wolf with a fox? Only time will tell.

Speaking of smoke...I saw a follow-up article about a two-year-old Indonesian boy who smoked up to four packs of cigarettes a day. I saw video on the news, and it didn't look to me as though he was fully inhaling the smoke, but it doesn't matter. I can attest to the youthful smoking in Indonesia. I saw uniformed pre-adolescent boys smoking on nearly a daily basis. I could never smoke that much, nor would I ever want to. Yes, I was introduced to nicotine at a very young age, and it's something I now regret, but I can't go back in time. These children do it because their friends do it, their families do it, and it is so widely romanticized by advertisements geared toward children. I sat on the beach in Bali, and a young boy came down and sat next to me. In the ten minutes he spent next to me, he smoked two cigarettes, drag after drag, as if he were trying to get as much smoke in his lungs as he possibly can. He was a cute boy, around twelve years old, although it's not always easy to tell. He smiled at me, and the conversation was severely limited, due to our lack of control over the other's language. I wondered, or perhaps I hoped that cigarettes were his only vice, as it would only be foolish to believe that marijuana isn't rampant among all Indonesians.

And speaking of Bali, my return to Bali will have to wait for now. But don't dismay. This is because I am going back to school in January. I am returning to UCLA, taking Adolescent Psychology courses. I have set my sights on education of rehabilitating teens, on both a one-to-one and class platform. I have been offered an internship at the very rehab center that turned my life around. I happened to meet one of the advisors, and I agreed to return for a visit. They asked if I would talk to some of the youth in treatment. I spoke in the same room where I attended group therapy sessions, and where I got involved in so many fights, I was threatened with expulsion. As I spoke, I could swear I heard a very familiar shuffling of feet coming down the hall. For all I know it could have been someone sliding a box across the floor, or possibly a broom, but that sound meant so much to me. Call it an epiphany. After several conversations via phone, email and in person, I was offered another opportunity of a lifetime. There was no thinking about it. I am excited about this, and it is the answer to thousands of prayers. I have spent several days observing. I should drop the flag of caution, as this is not cast in stone. I'm there, and they are watching me. I'm not being pessimistic, just cautiously optimistic.

My life lately has been non-stop, but everything that has me going at top speed is better than the last. I am working, but I'm not dragging. I find myself singing, and David has said that he has never seen me this upbeat, except for one certain evening when I first met him. My mother is certain I have lost my mind. "Oh my gosh, Michael, you made your bed! What's wrong, Sweetie?"

Sweetie?

Rob will be returning from Indonesia soon, if he hasn't returned already. He will have a lot to say about the effects of Merapi, the earthquake and the tsunami. His brief email to me said little more than "We sure could use you now!"

Besides doing a lot of work for my church, observing at the rehab center, working and making plans for the future, I'm still able to enjoy helping my brother in his restoration project of his 1953 Buick. Ethan is all over the place, talking and being the perfect little boy. We'll see how things change when his little sister is born.

I'm off today. I'm not going anywhere. David is off tonight, so we'll be able to spend some time together. I wonder what tomorrow's specials will be. Maybe I'll sing them to the customers.

This brings up my final topic, which has had me intrigued for nearly two weeks. Have you seen the video of "A Trip Down Market Street, 1906"? Here is a link to the best site (CBS) if you haven't seen it. Watch it now, and come back to what I have to say about it. I would enjoy reading your comments.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504803_162-20019755-10391709.html


This is by far the best quality and most intact of the videos I've seen. Morley Safer gives a good introduction. The music is hauntingly beautiful and fitting. The scene, with the people darting every which way, and the automobiles circling around the cable car, was staged. This video was intended to be a travel movie, showing the bustling city of San Francisco in the new century. Little did these people know, many of them would fall victim of the great earthquake and subsequent fire. I have been on that very street, and to see it at a time when my great-grandparents were small children, blows me away.

Ever since I saw THIS video I've been taken in. Wow! Imagine. 104 years ago, just like I'm there. I'm looking at the people, and I'm comparing my life today to how they lived. How many times have I wanted to go back in time, to a time long before I was born! I would probably get sick, as so many of our modern conveniences are not in existence yet, such as refrigeration and water purification. Many, if not most, cooked on wood or coal stoves. Their houses had no central heat, and there was no air conditioning. Life moved at a walking speed. If you needed to go far away, you could take the train, and in a few short days you could be as far as San Diego! But it's a totally different society.

Everyone was dressed up. Was that part of the show? Everyone wore a hat, even the newsboys. These dirty little street rats, hawking their newspapers, ran around the cable car with their dirty hands and dirty faces, with the biggest smiles the Twentieth Century ever knew. They all wore leather boots. They'd flip to see what I have on my feet. In the absence of cell phones, iPods, computers or TV, there were table games and sports. Radio was just coming into being. There were no cross-country telephone calls...if you had a telephone. In the absence of antibiotics and modern medical facilities, kids died of mumps, measles, chicken pox, flu, pneumonia and polio. A simpler time? In some ways, yes. But things are leaps and bounds more simple for us today. Everything is done for us. Everything is automatic. Simplicity through complexity and technology, perhaps. The sight of a novelty, such as a movie camera, might attract the same attention today, or would it?

We've encountered one particular boy most of the way. He's the one who keeps running ahead of us, his jacket a bit too short. He held on to the back of one of the automobiles, stood in front of the cable car, and then ran. It must be hard to run in those boots. As he and the cable car reach the Ferry Terminal, he turns around. There's a smile on his face, and a look of accomplishment, and that made me smile. His face has been recorded for far longer than he ever dreamed. Did you notice the man with the long beard in the background? And the kids, the newsies, steal the final scene. I couldn't help but smile at their reaction, but also feel a bit saddened, not only to know what lay ahead for them within a few days, but also the simple truth that they're all gone now. And even 104 years ago, kids were kids. And little did any of them know, that a century later, we'd be watching...from the other side of the looking glass.

I saw the doctor. I'm fine, but...

I know some of you were concerned that something is wrong, but I assure you everything is OK. I went to the doctor and got tested for everything from AIDS to Zinc. All results were good, except for some low readings on iron and potassium and other things that mean very little to me. I got large (about 2 1/2 inches long) waxy pills wrapped in foil. They are hard to swallow, so I chew them. Yuck!

Let's let that cook for a while.

I'm annoying my mother. My sister is ready to send me back into my mother's womb. I'm normal. But seriously, I have to take mega doses of supplements and put a cortisone solution on a suspicious rash on my right leg. The rash is gone. My blood pressure was low, along with my weight. I haven't weighed myself but my clothes fit better now. I return in three weeks for more blood work.

I didn't get a definitive diagnosis. It could have been the change in diet, or it could have been a reaction to a type of fish I ate, or anything else I was eating. Even the water could have done it. I can't imagine a place that is such a paradise could have anything that would make a person sick.

I asked the doctor about my return to Bali. He said he'd make that decision after I get the results of my blood work in three weeks.

The bottom line is that I was told to rest, eat right, don't work so much, and try to do things I enjoy doing. David and I will be off this weekend, and we are looking forward to a weekend at the condo. The days are pleasant and the nights are cool. It's perfect for some rest and relaxation. Doctor's orders!

I am also planning to visit my father before Thanksgiving.

I'm sorry for not posting sooner, and I'm sorry this isn't any longer, but dinner is ready. I have promised myself to sit down, gather my thoughts and post a better organized blog. In the meantime I will be doing my best to relax over the next three days. I can do this. :)

A personal thought...

While I haven't been blogging as much as I had been, I wanted to send a personal thought to the world.

I think the human body is beautiful. Even when I think a particular body is horribly abused and out of shape, somebody, even God, will love it. I know someone who has a nice body. I really care about this person. I discovered his pay webcam by accident. Yes, he has a great body. As much as I'd love to see that body in its entirety, I wouldn't pay for it. I have someone, but I still care about this person very much. It's OK with me if he does this. My only problem is that I hope he doesn't take it too seriously. Most of his clients will be men in their 40's, 50's... and they will all claim to own him while they're paying to watch him masturbate or do whatever he does. While I've broken away from this person, I'm still very much emotionally attached to him. If it weren't for David, and if I lived in another part of the country, I might have gotten closer to him. I don't want to see him get hurt. I'm protective of people like him. And there was a time when I gave my own private shows, but it led me deeper into the pit of substance abuse, and the outcome was nothing to brag about.

This person doesn't know I saw him, but someday I'd like to tell him. It might make me feel better having told him that I don't want him to get hurt. Besides, I don't think the pay is all that great.

Two months coming up / missing post

I want to make this quick blog post before I get moving this morning.

It has come to my attention that only two postings have been successfully posted in this blog since I arrived in Bali. Somehow a blog is missing, and I don't have it backed up anywhere. I will deal with that at a later time. Some of what I am about to write was in that post.

I am heading back to Los Angeles on Monday. I expected this due to a visa limitation as I near my two month mark. I will be home for one month, and at that time I will make the final decision as to whether or not I am returning. At the present time I am confident that I will be returning. I was given options for alternatives to returning to Los Angeles, but the month back home will be most welcome. My hair, which I finally cut short for the trip, is not so short anymore, and the haircut I got by a very beautiful local woman was not as beautiful as she is. I look a lot less like a sheepdog but more like a poodle. And as for any photos you might encounter online, I have sworn to disavow any knowledge of their existence.

For the most part I have been working with adults in Conversational English, but should I decide to return, I will be working with children. I have enjoyed my fellow volunteers, the teachers and the students. Pastor Rob is here, but he is leaving next week. I believe this is his fifth visit here, and he's looking forward to his sixth around the time I return. Rob and his church have made a lot of the arrangements for flights and guesthouse accommodations.

I hope to make another post before I go home. I don't want to lost another post, so I will see how this works.

Always in a rush...

MJM

A long-overdue update.

I'm sorry for the delay in posting in this blog. I have been experiencing a lot of problems getting to my email and to Blogger. I have attempted to reply to emails but I don't get any confirmation of email sent. I have been experiencing a very slow response time at best. I consider myself fortunate in that I was able to connect tonight, only through extreme patience and perseverance. I was able to read about half of my emails, but I have also kept them in my inbox to read again in the evening.

All is going well. My schedule is completely flexible, but I am enjoying doing what I can, and I have been able to stick to a routine, which is appreciated by the class. I am enjoying the teaching I've been doing, and the free time has been wonderful. I am enjoying the beach...still haven't taken the surfing lessons I have been promised, but I will do that before I leave.

David's last day is Thursday. I tried to enter a post stating that David would not be here for the entire four months, but I was unable to post it. His being here has made this paradise truly paradise. He has provided me with the support I needed when I was feeling down. I have had a few down days, but this is due to my being so far away from home. Fortunately, however, the down days are few and not long lasting.

I knew I had gotten into a routine the day David asked me if I was going to post in my blog, and I said that I had nothing new to report. That isn't quite true. We have done some fishing, and we got to meet some of the local fishermen. As you would imagine, fish is a staple here; so is rice. In other words, their fish is like our chicken. You can cook it so many ways, but I want to make this perfectly clear, folks. It doesn't taste like chicken.

I will need to look up a recipe for a salad we had. It was cold, and it had rice, some vegetables of varying color, and chunks of fish. It was almost like a seafood salad that we might buy at Ralph's, but I have not been able to find a Ralph's here. I heard a rumor that McDonald's serves Big Macs made out of fish. Um...no. I wonder what they serve at KFC!

There are a lot of Chinese, or what urbanites call "Asian" restaurants. Some of the local dishes are difficult to identify, but I had a grilled fish that was wrapped in banana leaves and had a salty seasoning on it. It was served with a fried rice side dish with lumps of fish in it. It was very good. Once back in LA I will see what I can find, but David has already sent recipes back to the restaurant for testing. Can't wait!

We found it interesting that Balinese restaurants that serve Balinese food are nearly non-existent. Ginger, sesame seed oil, pepper, cloves, onion, lemon and cumin are favorite flavorings that will surely please your discriminating palate and offer your senses a feel for the flavors of paradise. One bite and you can feel the warm tropical breezes of the beaches of Bali. Sound good? I might use that when I announce the Balinese Grilled Snapper special. I hope it works in Los Angeles! However...armed with recipes and cooking tips, you Angelinos will want to keep your eyes open for some new specials. I hate burping ginger.

I am still scheduled to leave in mid-November, date uncertain right now. I haven't gotten tired of the boring weather and scenery yet. But what I wouldn't do for some prime rib!

I mentioned to someone that our accommodations are small, about 12 X 20, not much bigger than an RV, but it is comfortable and quiet. It will be much quieter after Thursday, but I'm trying not to think about that.

Rob should be here next week. I wonder what kind of entrance he'll make. He won't be far from here, so I look forward to some of his stories and a few laughs. And as I've learned, it only gets better.

That's it for today. I want to be over at the classroom by 10:30 and my ride will be here shortly.

Peace!

First blog from Bali

Look at me! I'm that guy who got the world's greatest job, only I'm not in Australia, I'm on a beautiful tropical island called Bali.

I have internet capability. I am going to write as often as I can, and I will upload it as often as I can. I sent word home that I got here OK, and then the word spread that I made it. What did they expect...lol

We arrived a little reasonably on time. There were four other people on the flight who will be working on the same project. The lady who met us was a picture of grace. We were quickly taken on a long, bumpy ride to the residence where we will be staying. Our quarters are quite nice, although small. We have two twin beds, a sitting area and a small cooking area, although some meals will be provided. I understand that some of the other accommodations are a bit less deluxe.

Orientation has gone well. Thank goodness for interpreters. Understandably, I am still on Pacific time. I need to go not only on the proper time, but the proper date as well. Once I unscramble my brain I will get on and post what I am writing. I am currently writing all of this offline. I am told that I can connect right here, but I don't think there is a hook-up compatible with carrier pigeon.

From the window I see a deep cover of palm trees. We are about 1000 feet from the ocean, and the terrain gently slopes down toward the beach. I don't believe the tide changes much here. The temperature is quite comfortable, and there is a gentle breeze. I doesn't get any cooler at night. It's always in the low 80's. Maybe that's why they call this Paradise.

I don't do well typing on my bed. I want to get some more sleep as I adjust to the time difference. We were told to expect jet lag for several days. I feel OK, though. After all, it is 2:00 in the afternoon yesterday, isn't it?

More to come. I don't know when I will be able to connect to load this, so I will continue.

Saturday addition.

It is now Saturday night at 9:00 on 31 July. The classes go well. There are a lot of similar classes going on all over. Most of the volunteer teachers are here for no longer than two months. I will be here for four months. I will know more. I am only typing this now because by the time I post this everything will have changed.

I had wanted to send out personal emails to people to let you know I got here safely. I apologize for not doing that. I was in the situation where I had zero time to do things like that. I don't want anybody to feel neglected. Even before I left home I was being led around, told where to go and when to go there. Unbelievably, my life is in a more stable state right now than it has been in several months. I have developed a routine, which coincides with David's, and we are able to enjoy this place.

We are located just below the equator, which means that it is currently winter, although nobody talks about four seasons. The days are no longer or shorter than they were when I was here at Christmas. The seasonal changes are simply a matter of rainy season or dry season. I was here during the wet season at Christmas, and this is the dry season. There has been a gentle breeze blowing, but the amazing part is that you don't need air conditioning. We have found that the ceiling fans and open windows are great for sleeping. One of the big rules is that if you use air conditioning, turn it off if you're going out. The people are very conscious of resources, and recycling is only starting to take hold here.

I have been working on this post since I got here, and I am going to clean it up so I can post it. I am going to attempt a Skype connection to home at 10:00, which is about 40 minutes away.

While I wait I wanted to mention that my visit with my friends in New Jersey is now a long-away memory. It was so very fresh in my mind as I was flying here, but so much has happened that I had to stop and think. I had a wonderful time, and I am glad I had the opportunity to write about it. I only scratched the surface, but the important fact is that I was able to enjoy our time together, and I was able to get away and relax.

That's it for Saturday. I will try to post this. Thanks for reading. I will do my best to write as often as possible.

Tuesday

It is now Tuesday morning of 3 August. I am going to post this.

Is this OK with you if I do it like this?

One final short blog before I leave.

I have spent a nice day with a lot of people. I am packed for my trip. I am both nervous and excited. I will be met at the airport by the coordinator, and possibly members of the family with whom we will be staying. I'm told we will have our own space...small but private. In another twist of events, I've learned that Rob will be there for a short time while we're there. I don't know where or when, but that's normal for most things Rob plans...lol.

You can now post comments without approval.

I plan to get online when I can, and I have been told that I will have Internet access. We are both taking our laptops, so that will make getting online more familiar.

My head is spinning and my heart is racing. I'll have a lot of time to relax and do some thinking between here and Indonesia.

This is very important to me, and I an grateful for all of the support you've shown me.

On leaving NJ and heading for Bali...

As promised, I'm writing a little bit before I leave. I'm being watched, so I better be careful...lol. I plan for this to be my final blog posting until I'm in Bali. I leave for Bali on Thursday the 22nd. I don't know how much Internet connectivity I will have in the home where we will be saying, but I will make sure to get on. We will be met at the airport by the people who will be hosting us, as well as leaders from the organization.

I'm flying home tomorrow. I can't believe how quickly the time has passed. It seems like only yesterday we were being were picked up at the airport, greeted with the smiling, warm welcome from friends we love so much. Although the flight was late, there was never a word of complaint about flight schedules or traffic. When we finally got our luggage, I had hoped that our stay here hadn't begun on a downer. But this ended up being a truly positive experience in spite of the minor pitfalls, and we were home before we knew it.

I have been saying that this has been one of my top ten vacations of all time, and I can honestly say that it is near the top of the top ten. I've been rushing through a lot of things during the past few months, such as visiting my father, spending more time at my brother's, and of course, spending time with my friends. I won't be seeing any of them for four months, possibly longer. I've done all I can to tie up loose ends, and to deal with all that was important. I didn't have a lot of time to blog, but I know that you all understand, and I appreciate it.

I have done so much here. I am taking with me a lot of wonderful memories. This is such a fun place, and our friends make it that much more fun. Mom and I never needed a thing. It was always there. We don't do anything. Our task at hand was to relax and enjoy, but I was brought up to help out whenever possible.

I was so honored to be able to share in Jeff's 28th birthday. As hard as it has been for him to get used to my being 22, I'm getting used to his being 28. And Devin, my blood brother of the heart, is going to be 25 on Christmas Day. So you see, I am EVERYBODY'S little brother...:).

There's a certain relaxing effect just in listening to the constant activity that goes on in this town. We sat on the deck and I could hear the cars, the trolley bell, people, horns, and other sounds associated with a tourist beach community. I've heard them before, but there is something strangely different here. I was able to relax because I didn't jump every time the phone rang. I didn't jump when I heard a car horn outside the house. I turned my cell off as soon as I got here, and only turned it on in the evening to talk to a certain person who wanted to make sure I was having a good time.

As I had said, my friends are here with me right now. I get sad thinking about how much I'm going to miss them tomorrow, but there won't be any time to be sad. I'll reflect at some point over the Pacific at 38,000 feet. Goodness knows there will be plenty of time to reflect. I'll think of Mom, and how she'll be missing me, and of how I'll be missing her. There will only be a quick good-bye for Alex. I'll hold and kiss Ethan, and I'll remind him how much I love him. Four months can do a lot, and I'm hopeful that I won't have to reintroduce myself to my nephew. I am going to miss him more than anyone or anything else in the entire world! Christine has been too busy to worry about anything else, but that's another story for another blog time.

Two weeks went by very quickly. Four months will go by very quickly. I could be home for Thanksgiving. I definitely will be home for Christmas, and who knows what wonderful plans can come up between now and then?

In closing, I want you to know that I lived up to my philosophy of never passing up the opportunity to tell someone I love them. I love these people. I told them and I showed them. I love you, too. My number of blog readers has dropped almost out of sight, but I plan to continue writing. I might not have the chance to do it every day, as I might have a few years ago, but I will continue to write. I'm sure there will be a lot to tell over the next few months. I can't imagine that it will become a boring routine. There is a big unknown in the near future. It's like a gift that's wrapped in beautiful tropical paper. I can't wait to open it.

I'm going to spend the last few hours of my stay here enjoying everything that surrounds me. I'm not looking forward to leaving, but I am definitely looking forward to that unknown that awaits me.

Remembering all the good times in Wildwood, NJ

I should probably start this blog with something like "Greetings from New Jersey." It's that time of year again. Mom and I have made our annual trip east to visit our friends in Wildwood, New Jersey. I'll spare you the long story of how we have known each other all our lives, but you have probably heard about how we visited here every other summer.

It has been refreshing to leave Los Angeles and all that is going on back there, even for a couple of weeks. Although everything has gone well, I needed to get away. Visiting with my friends Devin and Jeff and their family is something I look forward to all year. I've told about how we young kids would ride The Bus, a ten-foot long surfboard owned by a teenage boy, who was less than half the size of the board at the time. We sit around reminiscing about the good times we all had years ago. Strange, isn't it, that our mothers do the same thing!

I was honored to be able to share in Jeff's 28th birthday on the 7th, which we celebrated on the 10th. Although he made it clear that he wanted no gifts from us, he must have been talking into my bad ear at the time. I accepted the scolding graciously.

Another thing I enjoy about being here is how I always seem to be laughing. We sit around and laugh. We laugh at ourselves. We laugh at each other. We point and giggle. How strange it is that we know exactly why we're laughing, and we all laugh. It's contagious, and it's wonderful. This has proven to be the most effective medicine for me, as I have been in what at least one person has referred to as meltdown.

We go to the world renowned Wildwood Boardwalk, with food, entertainment, rides and a water park. There's the famous tram car that tells you in an annoying woman's voice to "Watch the Tram Car, Please!" There are several places along the boardwalk that serve some of the best pizza I've ever had. I go there for the funnel cakes and the snow cones. There's the Boardwalk Mall that caters to tourists by selling souvenirs, t-shirts, the old fashioned photos of your family, plus many other items sure to empty your wallet. There are arcades where you can play video gambling games. You play for tokens, which, like any other tourist trap, can be turned in for useless junk. There's something special about a three-inch high stuffed duck that you "won" on the boardwalk...won for a mere $25 in quarters. But it's worth it. It's the same all over.

And as the three of us grease the chute to purgatory, we watch the people. There's something about the fudge shop that attracts people of excessive mass. Not ones to stereotype, but we can usually spot the ones who will go out to their cars in the handicapped spots to eat their special of the day purchase. The banner-towing airplanes make sure that everyone on the beach knows about this good deal.

I've amassed shot glasses from several years of visiting, purchased at the 99 cent store. I usually make it my business to buy one of every Wildwood shot glass offered. Jeff keeps threatening to ship the box to me...collect!

We'll spend several evenings at the boardwalk, just as we have since I was little. We'll spend a lot of money, too, but I notice that the sights, the sounds and the smells envelope my senses with a feeling of happiness. It's a Welcome Home kind of feeling. Mom grew up in New Jersey, and she spent her summers right here, and this is a significant part of her life, and it is, in a way, home to her. There are boardwalks in California. This one is different, and I'm glad.

If we're lucky we'll watch the sun rising over the Atlantic Ocean. There are several pictures, taken during all seasons of the year, of a big sun rising over the horizon. I'd love to be here for Christmas to watch the sun rise. I've always heard about walking along a snow-covered beach. One day I will. I've made myself promises to come back more than once a year.

I'll be here until the 20th of July. My trip back home will be a quick one. I'll have just enough time to see the people I love. And then I'll be boarding another long flight, but I won't be traveling alone. I'm so glad that David is going, too. How amazing is it that he would be wanting to do this. He said I talked him into it simply by telling him about my experiences at Christmas. Maybe I'm a good storyteller. Maybe I'm the luckiest guy in the world to have someone like David in my life. But my luck doesn't end there. I'm lucky to have loving friends who are always there for me. They are right here right now. I'm very happy.

I plan to write more before I leave New Jersey.

Graduation for one dedicated but stubborn son of a bitch!

I once asked Pastor Rob what he'd do differently if there were only two people present at the service. He said he wouldn't change a thing. If he can reach out and touch the life of one person on a Sunday, then he has done his work successfully.

I have never forgotten what Rob said, and although I don't have much of an audience anymore, I still want to post my thoughts. I can honestly say that I have often felt as though it wasn't worth the effort, but to those of you who have decided to follow me, and those of you who read me anonymously, I will continue. Thanks for reading.

I can't put my finger on what I'm feeling right now. My days of studying and cramming and stressing about school are over. I will receive a white piece of paper with a ribbon around it tomorrow. Some people call this a degree. I don't feel any different, but at the same time I feel exhilarated, or possibly exhausted. I have focused on my studies for four years, and in the end it has paid off. I have been advised to go on to get my Master's. Had I planned on a seamless continuation it would be a done deal, but my attention has been on what I'll be doing this summer. I've been assured that the door is open for me, so I will make that decision when I return to the United States.

If I were to get up and make a speech when I receive my diploma, I know what I would say. Yes, I'd deliver the motherhood and apple pie "Thanks Mom" message, but there is so much more and there are so many more people I can thank. Over the last four years I've come in contact with a lot of wonderful people. I'd love to mention names, but the names would be those of you who I know read this blog, and then some. I've lost contact with certain Myspace people like Kyle, who always was that voice of reason whispering in my good ear, and Ethan, whose innocence allowed me to feel a little bit better about myself and my situation. My older friends have given me so much knowledge based on their life experience, and perhaps in many ways I'm still sifting through it, sorting out what information I will need as I move forward in life. I think at one time I had five Michaels as friends, all but one were older than I. But life isn't all about Myspace, or any other social network for that matter. Life is about real people. I've been through some real life events that involved real people, and it was the real people on the other end of my network cable who gave me the encouragement to keep going. Granted, often I had to be reminded to put my nose to the grindstone, and to hit the books. There were times when I woke in the morning face down in one of my American Literature books, or perhaps some other light late-night reading assignment involving the origin of Ebonics or other localisms. It was not unusual for me to fall asleep while writing a paper on the computer, only to wake up in the morning and wonder who put the blanket over me and who turned out the light. But I was willing to stick it out. While I never went into much detail about how many hours I spent working, I spent far more than I ever admitted to working. I went to a respectable number of college parties, and I'm happy to say that I never fell off the wagon. I didn't have to get drunk to have fun and to laugh. I had fun and laughed at those who got drunk, wondering what they'll think of themselves in the morning. I was also stubborn. I went to class when, unknown to me, I had an abdominal virus. I learned a new word: "shart". But in my stubbornness and dedication, I at least made the effort to go the distance. Many are proud of me for this. I thank them for feeling so. And now it's time for me to put it behind me, if even for a little while. I've put up with a lot over the last four years...in school and out of school. As my dear friend Devin said to me, "Mikey, you are one dedicated but stubborn son of a bitch!"

And to Devin, who just received his Master's Degree, all I can say is..."It takes one to know one, and you're right!"

I will be leaving for New Jersey on July 6, returning on July 20. I leave for Bali on July 22, with a return date that is to be determined, although it is four months in duration. I will write more about this. David is still going, for which I am grateful beyond words. I'm sure he'll not only teach English, but American cuisine.

Thank you for hanging in there while I studied for my finals. This blog has been too quiet for too long. I never finished my "Class of 2006 through dilated pupils" series. Now it's time to write my "Class of 2010: from infinity and beyond" series! I don't know about infinity, but I'm curious to see what beyond holds.

Christmas 2009 in Bali

It has been over four months since Christmas, and I thought it was time for me to share a few memories of my experiences in Bali during Christmas vacation. I went with Pastor Rob and a church group to dedicate a new affiliate church in Bali. I was happy to be going with the same people with whom I spent my 2008 Christmas vacation in New Orleans, as part of Habitat for Humanity. These included my friend Sean, plus Christian, who has been staying with Rob. Our job was going to be to complete the final steps in making the church ready for its first service, Christmas Eve. The church paid all expenses, and the airfare from LAX to Bali was a reasonable $1000.

I was able to get some sleep on the plane, although the one man who snored on the flight sat across the aisle from me. I sat next to Sean, and Rob and Christian sat behind us for most of the flights. We'd change seats and walk around to pass the time. We read, talked and slept. When we finally landed in Denpasar International Airport I wanted to kiss the ground. We finally arrived at the Dhyna Pura, a beautifully located hotel surrounded by the lush Kutu, Bali tropical world. I was in heaven...or exhausted. I would be sharing a suite with Sean and Christian. We were all excited about the arrangements, as we were looking forward to sharing new memories, similar to those from Habitat for Humanity.

There would be no time to waste. The pews and pulpit needed to be anchored. Everything was ready for us. We had the workforce, and we were looking forward to finishing the job at hand, and then some rest and relaxation on the beautiful Bali beach. When Rob declared that we were a few short hours away from finishing the job, those of us who know Rob knew that this was his kiss of death.

Another bumpy drive under our belts, and we arrived at the beautiful new church building. It was surrounded by many of the local people, many of whom would be worshiping in the Christmas Eve service. We heard about one simple problem, or as Rob put it, "a little kink in our chain". The pews...weren't going to fit. We had a day and a half to get the job done, and we had to either replace or modify the pews. We came to the conclusion that either 1/2 inch needed to be trimmed from the edge that fit inside a slit in the floor, or the anchor slot in the floor had to be modified. We chose the latter. This microsurgery would be performed by a chain saw. It worked, and as the engine screamed and the smoke billowed, we jockeyed the pews into position, anchoring them securely. This became Sean's "Hoodathunk" experiment. Hoodathunk we'd be using a chainsaw on the pews of this new church. This is my story and I'm sticking to it! LOL

We befriended an 18 year old named Richie. His dad is an elder in the church, and Richie was right there with us. It became a race to see if the four of us could outwork the old people. We did the heavy lifting work while the old people did the thinking...and Rob walked around telling everyone what a super job they were doing. With the help of local craftsmen, we were well on our way to finishing the church.

Exhausted, we went back to the hotel. We decided to meet at 7:00 for dinner, which was yesterday afternoon Los Angeles time...if you can catch the time difference. We decided to throw on our bathing suits and check out the beach. We weren't discouraged by the overcast threatening sky. We went in the water. It was everything we had hoped for. After a brief, yet invigorating swim, we went back to our suite and showered. There were many people there, and after a bilingual blessing, dinner was served. It was a delicious mixture of delicately herbed fish and vegetables, and the staple of Bali, rice. Their diet and their cuisine is certainly a culture shock.

The time was drawing near. The church was now ready. It looked beautiful! Rob and the local minister were ready for the Christmas Eve service. Many children from the school and orphanage were there, all dressed alike. As we were filing into the church a little boy stood at the doorway. He looked at every person who entered, and he greeted them with a smile. As I passed I held out my hand. Instead of shaking it he took my hand and walked with me inside. Rob said, "He just chose you, Michael."

He led us to the pew at the front. He looked at me with the smile of an angel, his bright white teeth contrasted by his tanned skin. I gently touched the tip of his nose with my finger. His smile grew wider. If love could be seen in colors I would have been pouring out rainbows all over this angel. I ran my hand down the back of his head and put my arm around him, and then gave him a pat on the back. His big dark eyes glowed like the Christmas star over Bethlehem. I hadn't felt it before, but I suddenly felt the joy of Christmas in my heart.

The service was bilingual and beautiful. Rob made brief mention of Habitat for Humanity with three lads from Los Angeles, and he recounted the Christmas story, just as he did two years before. I know the three of us listened intently, and Richie and his dad understood why this meant so much to us. Rob has a way of drawing in an audience. He tells a story so eloquently. But he told the Christmas story with a modern twist, how this new church is born on the same night that Jesus was born, and those of us attending the service are the shepherds from the fields, the Wise Men, as well as Mary and Joseph. The angels were all around us. He pointed to the children. They were, after all, the angels of Christmas, 2009.

The sanctuary was illuminated by candles...dozens of them. There was a brief dedication ceremony. Then we sang "Silent Night" in English and in Balinese. The kids sang. It was beautiful. It drove home once again the purpose of our visit. I remember this feeling. I remember this feeling two years ago on Christmas Eve. Wow! We did it...again! I couldn't help but glance over at Sean and Christian. I knew what they were thinking. We've been here before. Not here, per se, but here, on Christmas Eve, with a purpose. I couldn't help but feel proud, maybe not of myself, but of the group and of the people we helped dedicate this beautiful new church of God. They'd be worshiping here in 2010, 2011, 2020, 2050, and so on. I'd love to return in 2059 for the fiftieth anniversary service, if they have one. I'll still challenge the old people to see who can work harder, only maybe then I'll be challenging the young people to see who can work harder. You know what? I think I know who the winners will be. Maybe I'll simply let them win. :)

For what seemed like hours, we talked about what a beautiful, inspiring service it was. We went over it several times, the six of us. This was just one of several new churches built all over Bali this year. We all agreed that we wished we could have been part of the dedication of all of them.

Rob connected to the Internet and launched Skype. I enjoyed a brief video chat with my mom, sister and brother. Sean chatted with his family, but he became emotional. I never asked him why, or if he was homesick, although I don't think he was. It was rewarding, although it made us miss our families and our homeland. But we decided to enjoy it while we were there.

I wish I could encapsulate all that we did and all that we saw. Bali is beautiful. The people are beautiful.

While we were there we learned about some of the customs. We learned about the Indonesian custom of Circumcision Day, which is traditionally January 1, but many of the boys choose to get circumcised at certain times of the year. December 24th was going to be two brothers' day of circumcision. They were 6 and 8 years of age. It's quite an honor, and it's not twisted by any American taboos. Rather, it's quite public. There's usually a celebration, and the boys receive gifts. Mostly observed by the Muslims, the custom is gaining popularity with Christians, although I'm not completely sure whether these children were Christian or Muslim. It didn't seem to matter to me at the time. I'll flash back to an experience I had, which explained a lot to me. I needed to relieve myself in one of the less Western-style bathrooms, and there was a young boy in there, urinating in the trough. I had great difficulty initiating a stream, as the boy's eyes were focused on what *I* was doing, rather than what he was doing...and there was nowhere for me to "hide". I glanced over at him, and he flashed me a happy smile. When he left I was then able to complete the task at hand. I realized why he smiled at me, being that he saw that I was among the elite circumcised. There was no shame or taboo. He only wanted to check to see if I "fit in", or my status. Before we would leave, it would become common knowledge that Sean, Christian and Richie were among the elite, too.

As we were admiring the church that was now complete, the boys made their new status known in the form of tented shorts, protecting their new manhood status from undue abrasion. The minor discomfort was overshadowed by the anticipation of a party and gifts. They were all smiles, and we couldn't help but share in their joy. Perhaps they knew that I was "one of them". This made me very happy.

In the Christian minority of Bali, many of the Western Christmas traditions are observed, such as a Christmas tree. The only Christmas trees I saw required assembly, but colorful painted ornaments, which I think were fruits or handcrafted out of wood, were plentiful. I do not remember a lavish show of Christmas in the area, although the hotel did have some decorations for Christians.

In the short time we had left we used it to our advantage. Surfing is big in Bali, although I did not. I expressed a sincere interest in the four-month Conversational English program through the church and the hotel, and the big selling point is that many of the programs include surfing lessons. Volunteers get to teach Conversational English, and they get surfing lessons. They receive lodging, usually a private home, plus food. That is certainly something I would enjoy, and although I'm not a big surfing enthusiast, I am in no way a stranger to a surfboard.

I would have enjoyed spending a few extra days in Bali, but before we left I knew I'd be back. I am now in the belief that this has become my calling. Perhaps I won't die a millionaire, but I do plan to make my mark on humanity, a little bit at a time. I have many years ahead of me, so I'll take it slowly. America has shot itself in the foot with regulations and restrictions, but there are places in this world where someone who wants to help his fellow man is received with welcoming opened arms.

It was sad leaving these beautiful people, but all of us shared memories...our own memories of that special moment that made the trip worthwhile. Mine was that little boy who took my hand and walked us into the church. And if I learned one thing about spirituality, it's that if you want to see God, just look into the eyes of a child. And as our plane roared through the clouds, I uttered our governor's immortal words: "I'll be back!"

I had planned on going more into detail about the culture and more of the customs, but I decided to keep it closer to home. Maybe someday when I write my world-travel memoirs I'll go into greater detail. There is so much I don't know. I have so many questions about the people and their customs. It is my hope that my questions will begin to be answered this July, when I return.

This blog has been long in coming, mostly because I haven't had the time or the ambition to sit down and try to remember everything that happened. I can't. I don't. Much has slipped by, but I hope I gave you a glimpse of what we all experienced. We accomplished what we set out to do, and we managed to enjoy ourselves. We met some wonderful, beautiful people, and we made new friends. What more could I ask for?

And one more thing. My motto, as it has been for the past few years, has been to never pass up the opportunity to say I love you. I said it in sign language. They said it in Balinese, but it was the hand gesture that we passed among ourselves so frequently, a gesture that transcends any language barrier. A little hand would go up, make the sign, and it was usually followed by hugs, smiles and giggles. I can honestly say that I did NOT pass up the opportunity to say I love you. And the more I gave, the more I got. What more could anyone want for Christmas? May God bless us, everyone!

We are no match against the powers of nature.

Local news was featuring the expected "Where were you when the quake hit?" stories. Without doubt, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake just over the Mexican border will be felt quite strongly here in Southern California.

We were all at Alex's house, following the Easter worship service. We had gathered for our annual family Easter dinner. The day had been enjoyable. Ethan was the picture of a little child at Easter...chocolate all over his hands and face, and everyone took turns cleaning him up. And everywhere he went, and everything he touched, he deposited chocolaty fingerprints. His light blue suit was spotted with Easter bunny residue. We expected to enjoy the leg of lamb dinner that Alex's wife was preparing. We would be eating between 4:00 and 5:00. I was just crossing the threshold between the family room to the pool patio when the earth beneath me began to move. I have described a high-frequency noise that, frankly, is difficult to describe. The rumbling in the ground, as well as the house, is unforgettable. I thought it would never stop. We all went outside, and the pool water lapped over the edges. I briefly looked down at my feet, which were moving back and forth, and I rode out the quake as if riding a skateboard. Alex sighed and said, "Shit! This was a big one!"

The sounds of car alarms and sirens always follow such an event. My first instinct was to go home to see if the house is OK, but I had no idea where the epicenter was, or if overpasses would be collapsed. The power stayed on. We turned on the TV, and bulletins soon went out about the quake, which was centered in Baha California, Mexico. Those who are more experienced with earthquakes know to expect the aftershocks.

It's very unnerving to try to eat dinner with the knowledge that the house is going to shake again. But we did eat dinner. We had leg of lamb with all the trimmings. It was cooked perfectly, but the entire meal was clouded by the concern of aftershocks, and the desire to find out as much as we could about the quake. The aftershocks came and there will be more, but we go about our lives.

There was little evidence of an earthquake at home, other than a few small items on the floor. Oscar hid under the blanket. We never lost power and the roads were clear. David was working, and other than rattled nerves and dishes, everybody came through it unharmed.

But there have been other quakes this year. It makes me wonder if we're gearing up for the one that everyone fears will strike, and is overdue.

The eruptions of the volcano in Iceland make me realize how helpless we are against nature. I won't try to spell the name of the volcano; I'll call it "E". I am reminded that this planet, although 4.5 billion years old, is still evolving. And it will continue to do so long after my human remains exist as atomic particles now part of other substances on the planet. While this volcano has erupted three times in recorded history, it has always been followed by the eruption of a much larger volcano, Katla, which will erupt with a force one hundred times that of the present "E" volcano. We've waited nearly 190 years for another eruption, and I wonder what the effects will be.

Just as I felt when the solid earth moved beneath my feet, people look at the two Icelandic volcanoes and feel the same sense of powerlessness. I wonder what the dinosaurs thought when [enter personal theory here] was happening, which drove them to extinction. In spite of all we control, we are powerless against the forces of nature. I will continue to do all that I can do, to be all that I can be, and let somebody else worry about the mortality of our species.

* * *

I wanted to include a word about my spring vacation. I enjoyed several days with my friends Devin and Jeff in Pensacola, Florida. We did a lot of time talking and laughing. Devin and I spent a lot of time being tourists, and there is a lot to see. We even went to Panama City Beach and had lunch at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. If I had anything bothering me before spring break, it didn't follow me. The food was first rate and the company superb. I'm happy that Devin has decided to visit me in June. He believes that we should get together as often as we can, because we might not have the chance to do it tomorrow..

When I got home I went with David to the condo, where we enjoyed a few days together. It rounded out an already perfect vacation from all that surrounds me. My head is clearer and my mood is greatly improved. I don't know where I would be without these people who have blessed my life.

I now want to focus on a post about Bali. I began writing when I was in Florida, but things like fun and good company got in the way of my being able to finish it. It seems like years behind me now, but reading what I have written brings it all back.

I'm looking forward to spring break.

I'm going to break one of the first rules of blogging. I'm posting a blog to let you know that I'm going to post a blog. I've been working on a blog about Bali, but as expected, there are very many details that have slipped into the recesses of my mind. I do plan on posting it soon.

School has gone well. I've been studying for exams, which I am taking all this week. I have been experiencing a lot of tension headaches lately...the ones that go around the back of the base of my skull. If I close my eyes and relax for a minute, they go away fairly quickly. I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that I've been burning the candle at both ends with school, work and play. You're right. Fortunately, though, my priorities have been in order, and I feel confident about my exams.

I will be spending a few days in Pensacola to visit with my friends Devin and Jeff during spring break. I am leaving next Saturday, coming back on Wednesday, when I will be whisked away to parts unknown for some serious rest and relaxation with David. I am so looking forward to Friday afternoon when exams are over, and I can think about putting stress aside for a short while.

My Camry has not gotten away from me yet. I thought I'd mention that. I learned how to shift into neutral the first day. :D

And Jerry, you're right. I can find the snooze button in the dark, eyes closed, half asleep from 3 feet away, yet unable to find the keys I know are in my pocket! Now I'll go measure my thumb. Second thought, maybe I better not!

I'll close with a question. What in the world is an egg cream?