Monday October 24, 2005, 2:08 PST..a late Sunday Night

Happy Birthday, ole fella. Be thankful I got sick in the bar, and not in you. Keep on truckin'

Move Over, Alf

I'm thinking about becoming Republican!

Mack in Swaziland

Every once in awhile an email pops into my inbox
from a crazy Canadian from Ottawa. Mack, thanks so much for making me jealous about all your trials and tribulations in Swaziland..and for reminding me of the little cell I slave away in everyday;)

Keep Ridin' the Wave:)

Scenes De Venice

Venice Beach is the craziest beach in LA. Lovin' It! I just couldn't stop laughing.

Blessed RDO.

I'm the sub-total of my ancestors...

While some were breaking fast on the Jewish day of Atonement, others remained resolute in their Ramadan duties. I myself gathered around a bunch of drunks in Los Angeles to watch turtles race. It's a special, magical place..this place I call home. I'm still interested to see the "Chicken Game" in Belize. Apparently this one involves shaking a chicken and seeing which number it decides to "plop" on. Like roulette, but smellier. On that note it's going to be 90F today and I have the day off. I'm headed to the beach. Booyakasha!

Arkansas Reproductive Strategies

Back in 10th grade biology, I learned that most humans are "k" selected, not "r". Most, but not all. Yikes.

Shilo, When I was Young..

I used to call your name. When no one else would come. Shilo, you always came.
Classic.
Seth busting out, Jason passed out. Tondar rocking out, Sackett preaching out.
Tres all listened out.

'Fiddich + Filet-O'= Trouble

I love scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly...

Russians Don't Smile

Not even for their weddings! Ha! Well, actually these two newlyweds are Romanians (close enough;) and da da da the one -scu on the left worked with (for) me in Istanbul. Ah, Adriana, aka "Legs", used to give me a heart attack every morning as we strolled through Eminonu on our way to the Chamber of Commerce. Little Ms. Bucharest insisted on wearing the shortest mini skirts known to man, and it always attracted friendly (and some not so friendly) attention from the kirolar. Another fine moment, besides East Europe coming to Eminonu, was her insistance to dance at all times! At any given hour. I still remember her leading everyone on the bus through Cappadocia. I digress. Legs, congratulations to you and your husband. May the skirts be short, the palinka be flowing, and times be grand as you start your new life in Madrid.

Things Are Gonna Change, I Can Feel It..

While the writing on the walls of MSU may read, "if life gives you lemons, add vodka", China's would be more along the lines "suck the [bone marrow] juice outta life"...and Sheila, Tee, Digs, and I did! Quite literally! Beijing was chaotic times, as anyone might expect, but it did seem a bit more organized than such cities as Delhi. No cows on the streets. Boo. Boring. I still got sick. And as those of you know, those are trips you really remember. Like a vivid dream you can't forget when you wake up in the morning, this one left me in a cold sweat.

I read this article shortly upon returning back to the States and it really showcases one of the main reasons why I travel. Change. It's great to travel to a place and catch a glimpse of the city/country in a mere second of time. I had never been to Beijing before, so I can confess that I really can't grasp the amount and speed of change that has occurred there. It is however comforting to know that while nothing ever stays the same, the memories (albiet altered by alcohol as they may be) and laughs you share with friends in that brief moment are etched in the stony past. It going to be interesting seeing some of these places in 30 years (when we're Digs' age), and tripping back to our wild, youthful days. That I truly look forward to.

Last weekend someone asked me if I continued all my flying around. "Are you still doing the whole travel thing?" "Yeup" "Haven't gotten that out of your system yet?" "Nope." It's like an illness I can't shake. Some think I'll outgrow it. Who knows. At least since having moved out of Michigan I am no longer associated with "bringing the bad weather". Ever since I have moved to Killer Kali (thanks Hud) I arrive only to be greeted by perfectly clear blue sunny skies.

Wish I would have had this advice last weekend...

All, as we approach the up-coming three day weekend, this is a reminder to accomplish one on one safety briefings . Incorporate some personal risk management like: planning travels well, not over extending ourselves, and assess potential risks such as unfamiliar roads, adverse weather, heavy traffic and fatigue. Additionally, let's all be actively involved in mishap prevention and risk mitigation.

Strange as it is, this stuff actually gets sent out to us at work. Maybe Big Brother knows us a little too well...

Puke And Rally Five

My fifth attendance of East Lansing's semi-annual UM/MSU Football Pukefest Classic left me cheering a UM victory (expected), nursing one of the worst hangovers of my life (expected), and leaving the land of Green and White a little nogastalic (not expected). I never went to school there, but it's def. home. Beautiful girls chugging $1.50 beers and bragging about their 4th "Puke and Rally" of the night, old men dancing on tables (LouHas) to Journey's "Don't stop believing", free food, free alcohol, meeting up with friends you haven't seen in years..having them only greet you with a shot and the words, "Gun it..no shut up and and gun it" [sic].

We brought someone out from Cali who had never been to the Midwest before and was quite surprised to see the absolute chaos that reigned all weekend in East Lansing. The difference being when police try to control a crowd versus when they simply try to contain a crowd. "Is this how the rest of the country drinks?" I don't know, but it's certainly how Michigan gets down. I was out of shape. It's safe to say that Michigan State is one of the "wettest" places on earth on football Saturday.

Townieness ensued from fights to stolen cars, to public nudity, to being thrown out of bars, it was a typical weekend at MSU. I guess that was almost the strange part of it. It's all too normal, and it's no wonder we all turned out the way we did. I sat there Saturday night..leaving the bar just before 2am...and watched the city erupt with sirens at 2am. The old cat and mouse game was on. The only thing happening at that hour in the whole state of Michigan. Flashing lights, loud music, and hooking up in the middle of nowhere. You make your own fun here. Drunks, starting the new school year, were busy wrestling or fighting in the streets, much like the great whitetail deer in the spring in upper Michigan...their arms locked like antlers.

My phone charger broke (no phone), My digiCam was lost (I got it back miraculously from the Landshark a day later), it wasn't until Sunday I changed out of my clothes that I was wearing in Thursday in LA, and the only shower I received was when everyone decided to pour their drinks on me after Michigan won in overtime..to which I kindly returned the favor and because of which we were unkindly escorted from Harper's Downtown...tossed out at 3:00EST (12PST). Getting thrown out at a bar before 4pm, now that's townie;)

Ah, the Midwest. Ah, Michigan. It's a special place and although I couldn't live there now, I'm glad my roots are there and that I spent those "forming years" growing up in the land corn, potatos, and busch lite beer. Strange how sometimes you have to leave a place to really understand it.

I guess it's true, freedom does cost a buck-oh-five.