I just finished an excellent burrito to end an excellent fall term. Have you ever had mexican grey squash? Not bad. And you can't forget the Breyer's vanilla that i forgot about in the freezer. Ja! for icecream. It is very cold here in Eugene. And it gets light in the morning around 7:30 and gets dark around noon. I'm exagerrating but not by much. My friend Tyler, from NC, and I agree: it's a downer having so much darkness. But we also agree that the greeness of the area and positive happy feelings coming from people make up for the cold and dark. Plus, you get to eat dinner earlier.

For anyone I haven't told yet...I'm get to go home to georgia! I'll be there from the 10th to the 14th. Dan, put on your walking shoes!

My post-breakfast bowl of cereal (the one after I eat my real breakfast) is called Curves! What?!?! I bought it because it is the only $1.50 cereal out there. Not to shabby though.

Now, I am homesick. Woof.

After a long phone conversation I feel very good,at ease, warm, renewed and nostalgic for sure, also sad, happy, and a little older actually.

My ride back to Eugene was good. 8 hrs on the dotskie. I was accompanied by Ray (a girl) and Amir (an Israeli tourist). Both were very cool individuals. I'm happy to be back in Eugene.

We been playin on da compooter

Safely to the Bay

Well I've made it! I'm in San Franciskie at cousin Brandon and Amanda's apartment. My trip down was made very nice/interesting by 3 ridesharers: Rick, Jamie, and Ko. Rick and Jamie are a couple from Martha's Vineyard Island of the coast of Massachusetts. Ko is a landscaper who lives in Berkeley but went to the U of O for a couple of years. Ko was by far the coolest of us all. I came in last. Rick and Jamie are true hippies fully equipped with braided beard and soaked tofu slices that they shared with Ko and me. Rick and Jamie actually spent the night on Kathy's futon in Eugene. Poor train scheduling made it so...so we picked up Ko at 9 am from the Wandering Goat and made our way. There was much talk about Amma an Indian spiritual master who Rick and Jamie were going to see here in San Ramon. For more information visit amma.org She has hugged over 25,000,000 people. What?!?!?!?! Anyhow, Ko had spent a year in India and had heard of her as well. I was unaware that she probably will win the nobel peace prize sooner or later. A good trip down. Mt. Shasta was to die for also.

Ko made a great comment about some rolling hills that we saw on the way over on 80. He said that they looked like people laying down under sheets. And indeed they did! An interesting charater this Ko. A very cool dude.

When Rick and Jamie spent the night i made steel cut oats this morning for all of us and some great Jittery Joe's coffee that Ben and Katie blessed me with. Tonight, Amanda made a delectible chicken/gnocchi dish with salad and onions...mmmmm. Tomorrow be thanksgiving!! And in the Bay is a good place to be right now. Sunshine predicted with cool temps. Not to cool, though.

I need a kayak to get out of our apartment complex to the sidewalk.

Everything is nice when you are healthy. I had/have tendonitis in both of my wrists but it hasn't acted up in a while. Maybe i'm not practicing enough? NOT! I doubt it. Tomorrow evening is the Opera Theatre concert. I'm pretty indifferent about it. I'm just pumped about playing in the nice hall on the nice piano. And what a nice piano it is. It's like a Lamborghini of pianos. It's a nice instrument. $135,000. Would I ever spend that much money on a piano? You ask? No, i would not. But i would play on one.

This coming week i'm off to SFO to see cousin Brandon. Let's hope Maw Maw's dressing turns out okay. If not, no problem. There is speak of visiting some vineyards. I have two riders that are coming with me on the way down. It will be nice to have some company and folks to help out with ga$. Bagels from the humble bagel never cease to amaze. It's nice and wet here.

May the new year bring much rain and happiness!

I come to the Northwest and the only brave armpit-hair wearing folks i've found thus far are a trio of asian swimmers today. They infiltrated my lane but i willingly moved over one lane in honor of their hairy pits!

I went to buy deodorant and toothpaste today...More and more i realize (slowly) how important balance is. And just relaxing and having fun.

Hello All,

I had an utmost blog-a-licious day. Week for that matter. Lots going on. This morning i went to the EWEB child development center where i had a working interview. I am applying to be the kids music appreciation teacher. I entered into the toddler room with my guitar. (i had to take off my shoes first). Then sat down and asked how everyone was and got a number of different answers: crying, people turning their heads the other way, and even big googly eyes. I figured i knew just what they needed. My first song was "Little Surfer Girl" by the Beach Boys. It went over well. I moved on to some Wilco, Johnny Cash and then Mazzy Star. I even played one of my songs. They dug it. I was happy to be there. Alex, one of the kids, motioned that he wanted to play some. So he strummed some chords to tickle his fancy. Then I moved on to the Kindergarten room where i tried to play some rhythm games. They questioned a lot. I survived. Barely.


Then, I went over to the Catholic Services food pantry off Van Buren and 7th where have begun to volunteer and give out food to the folks who need it. They sure an energetic bunch of people. Not to mention the workers. I also got to speak a bit of spanish which was nice. Many-a-family from México and some from Guatemala. I asked if they like Eugene. Most of them just shook their head no. Something about the weather not being similar to México's. Got me. I also heard from some belovéd relatives too!

Todo bien por acá. Todo traquilo. Tuve una semana loquísima. Tenía que recuperar todo porque falté mucho el finde pasado con la visita de mi mamá. Pero igual. Todo bien. Está muy nublado en estos dias. Lloviendo mucho. Me gusta. Pero ahora estoy cansado...muy cansado. I'm tired. Mañana es otro dia. Tomorrow is another day!

My hands get puffy when i practice alot. But i can sure move my little digits like white lighting. My hernia is getting bigger by the minute. Luckily I am now gainfully employed!!! I got the job at Springfield Lutheran Church. O and I shaved my beard in case anyone was wondering.

I'm going to San Francicsco for Thanksgiving. Counting the days. And! A favorite band of mine is playing right down the street from my cousin, whom i will be staying with. They are called Band of Horses. We must go see them. I got $20 bucks tonight for sightreading for 30 minutes. That twenty bucks quickly translated into 2 ice creams and some beer. But there is still some leftover. Don't you go thinking that i spent it all.

Momma came to visit!!!!!

Not that this is new news or anything, but...I'm very lucky to have the family and friends that I do.