23.3.07

I Guess It Must Be Wanderlust

Another plane ride
Bouncing through the Singapore
This time to Europe.

Leaving in the morn
But unlike John Denver sang
My bags are not packed.

I like to travel
It's a blessing and a curse
I've learned to accept.

Lots of things to do
Before I hop on the bus
Thus I end this post.

Currently listening to: People In Planes -

20.3.07

I Can't Get No Sleep

I think I am becoming nocturnal. For more than a week, I have been getting very little sleep at night, and just a little more during the day. I am not sure why exactly, but I am hoping that at least it might help me adjust to the European time zone I'll be landing in this weekend.

Tonight during my sleeplessness, I have cleaned my entire bathroom. This would be a bigger task if it were not the size of many bathrooms found on recreational vehicles. I also created a new set of photos on my Flickr pages.

I figure this would be a good time to give you a few fun links I have come across lately. I bet you all missed the Swiss invasion of Lichtenstein. As I'll be in the area soon, if anyone would like to join me for a follow up invasion, email me!

Speaking of flying. I think I have discovered a way to get bumped to first class. Too bad you do not get to enjoy all the perks.

Here is a funny video for Red Nose Day/Comic relief.

Need a new search engine? How about searching with Meat Loaf?

Hamlet once said, "To sleep, perchance to dream..." I guess I will give it a shot.

Currently listening to:

16.3.07

Just Like A Friday Afternoon

The perfect haiku
Was created in my head
But I forgot it.

Joke from days gone by
Used to close out an email
Made me laugh hard.

Seventy four cents
Made from online commissions
In the last two weeks.

X-files marathon
Trying to watch them all
This could take a while.

He was annoying
Always watching what you wrote
But now he is dead.

Currently listening to: Sprites -

Warm It Up

This week's theme at PhotoFriday is "heat." Here is a photo from our frozen adventure to the lake this January.



Currently watching:

13.3.07

Ice Ice Baby

From time to time I find stuff online about friends of mine. And being the guy I am, I like to pass it on to the rest of you. This morning, I saw a link to the World Ice Art Championships. As I clicked it, I remembered how years ago at Miracle Camp, I worked with a guy named Jeff Stahl, who was an amazing ice carver and chef. So after a couple clicks, I discovered that he and his team finished second place this year. This joins their 4th place in 2006, 3rd in 2005, and 4th in 2004. He and his team even got a nice write up in the Chicago Tribune, complete with a video.

I'm telling you, it is pretty stinkin' cool what those guys can do with a whole lot of ice and some chainsaws. Be sure to check out their work.

Currently watching:

9.3.07

Pass The Dull Weekend

Their laugh was too loud
As I entered the subway
Must be the mustache.

A wreck out my door
I want to go check it out
But must finish this

Two weeks 'til spring break
I'm attending a conference
In the Black Forest.

It must be true love
Carrying your girlfriend home
Passed out on your back.

A killer offer
Might have set my summer plans
Road trip anyone?

Currently watching:

Call It My Addiction

It has been a while since I've posted a photo for PhotoFriday. This week's theme is "addiction." The Turkish pistachio is one of mine.

By the way, my supply is out if someone wants to hook me up.

Currently watching:

7.3.07

Rickshaw All Around The Town

It has been over ten days since I returned from India, and I have been pretty quiet on this page. I think part of the silence is because it took me longer to process all my photos and videos. Plus, it has been a crazy week or so of just trying to get back into the routines of life with twenty-nine students.

But I am back and ready to share. So grab your blankets and milk, cause it is story time. While you gather around, I'll share a couple of my favorite photos.
If you remember from last year's trip, I enjoy riding in rickshaws. I think my enjoyment comes from the fact that every time I get in one an adventure is just waiting to happen. This year it was no different. Our first full day in Bangalore we loaded up into five rickshaws to head to a main shopping area. Somehow it was my rickshaw that managed to get lost on the way.
A week later some students and I were riding in another rickshaw, heading to the same shopping area, when it broke down. And per my experience, it broke down in the middle of a busy intersection. I jumped out with the driver and proceeded to help push it out of harms way. We then sat for a few minutes while the driver opened up the back hatch and went to work on the engine. Soon we were back on our way, with yet another rickshaw story.
The best rickshaw story also happened the first full day in Bangalore. Keep in mind Bangalore is a city of over six million people and a crazy layout of roads and streets. It started after we finished dinner at a restaurant, which coincidentally I ate at shortly before getting lost last year. All the female students were going to ride back to our lodging with our local contacts. This left only the leaders and one male student to ride in rickshaws. So we split up into two different ones. Both drivers were given specific instructions on where to go.

Well, minutes later my rickshaw passed the fire pump station we were to turn at. The driver turned, but then got confused. We ended up circling around a little and then stopping in front of a store in an area that did not look familiar. I gave the driver the number for our contact and he walked off in search for a phone. While we sat there in the dark, we noticed another rickshaw approaching from the other direction with some foreigners in it. They were our foreigners, the other leaders. Somehow we all managed to get lost, but find each other in this crazy city.

Our driver came back and started driving slowly, with the other rickshaw in close pursuit. After a few blocks, I actually recognized a building and got my bearings. These came in handy when the driver came to stop and started looking around. I began to point to the left and was able to direct the rickshaws to where we were heading. For the second time in about a year, I was helping a lost rickshaw driver find his way around a city I barely know. What a great feeling.
I have the feeling I need to stop talking. Be sure to check out the photos and videos from the trip.

Currently listening to: Jackson Waters -

2.3.07

Friday Night And We're All Bored

Dressed up like lions
They wore their masks all day long
Some even all week.

I am stupider
After watching some movies
On the long plane ride.

The rickshaw broke down
There in the intersection
I had to help push.

Odd time with driver
When I'm giving directions
In his home city.

Passport sent away
To get new pages added
What a great feeling.

Currently listening to: Jackson Waters -

1.3.07

I Could Solve Some Mysteries Too

It started as a joke. While riding around in Bangalore, I had noticed mustaches on many billboards and posters, as well as in real life. So I turned to one of the other leaders and said we should name March the Mustache Month. We would encourage all to join us in growing them. It would be a celebration. And I am pretty sure I wasn't serious about the concept.

But then we came across what could be one of the coolest 'staches I have personally seen.
The momentum of that mustache was monstrous, and the joke became a reality. Thus, we have declared March Mustache Celebration Month. So if you can grow it, show it! I was shocked and comforted to find out that we were not alone.

I leave you with a photo of three cool guys sporting mustaches for inspiration for your own. So join us in the celebration!


Currently listening to: Hall & Oates -