Wanderlust

Road Trip Moments: Misha and The Juice

2011-07-18T12:53:00.000-07:00

I recently took a road trip across America visiting friends and family members along the way. I saw too many things and visited too many places to only write one blog entry about it, so I've decided to write down some of my favorite moments along the journey and share them here as I can. I'm pretty busy packing for my move to Japan, so it may take awhile to share them all, but I'll do my best.

Somewhere in South Carolina

'Can you say Jeff?' I ask the two-year-old standing in front of me, currently taking a brief pause from his task of running around the house. As his tiny little eyes stare up at mine, 'Juice' tumbles out of his mouth. 'Jeff?' I ask again. 'Juice' he confirms. Glad to have fulfilled my request, he smiles and wanders off again, his mother trying to catch him and prepare him for bed. I can't help but grin at his attempt to say my name and his earlier try at pronouncing my wife's name. In the mouth of a 2-year-old, 'Misty' sounds like 'Misha' and 'Jeff' becomes 'Juice'. 'Misha and The Juice,' I ponder, 'We sound like a morning radio talk show.'

Enjoying this game, I decide to give him one last challenge before he is pulled into the bedroom. 'Can you say Batman?' I ask hopefully. He pauses briefly, trying to form the name of one of the world's greatest heroes in his small mouth. 'JUICE!' he shouts triumphantly before scurrying off into the bedroom for the night. Juice? But that's my name, I ponder. Does he think that I'm the Dark Knight of Gotham? The room erupts with laughter as they realize the implications as well. Can he sense my deep love of comics and justice? Does he know what a great compliment that was to compare me to Batman, or was he was just really thirsty? I decide to take it as a compliment.

Over the last 2 years I've visited my wife's nephew three or four times and every visit he's developed a new talent like talking or walking or chewing. I will miss these little windows into his life and the life of his family. As the night grows longer, I think of the many chances I will have along this road trip to peer into the lives of our loved ones. I'm filled with eager anticipation for the talents and stories they will have to share as we stop for a few days and peek into their lives.

Culinary Adventures in Maine

2011-05-23T16:59:00.000-07:00

Last week, I accomplished another goal on my bucket list with gusto: Eating Lobster in Maine.

I love seafood (who doesn't?) and lobster is my second favorite crustacean just behind crawfish. So when my wife's parents came to visit us from the desert state of Arizona and wanted to explore New England, I couldn't wait to finaly visit the rocky shores of Maine and gorge myself on some fresh lobster.

Lobsters in a tank at a local seafood market in Maine

I expected there to be a lot of lobster in Maine, but I was still surprised at how many different ways and places lobster was served. It seemed like everywhere we went, they had lobster of some kind on the menu.

My favorite lobster of the trip from Poor Boys in Bar Harbor

I heard that McDonald's serves lobster rolls in Maine. (lobster rolls are a type of sandwich very popular in New England) So when we stopped for lunch next to a McDonalds, I had to see if it was true. I didn't see any lobster on the menu at Mickey Ds, but I had much better luck at the Arby's next door!

The lobster roll at Arby's only cost seven dollars and was about what I expected from fast food lobster. It's half the price of a fresh lobster roll and a fourth as delicious. I wouldn't recommend this as your very first lobster roll experience. But if you're curious and in the mood for something a little wacky, it's worth a try.

The lobster from Arby's was unique, but it wasn't the strangest lobster dish I had while in Maine. That honor goes to the only lobster dessert I've seen, lobster ice cream.

If you can imagine what it would taste like if you cooked up a lobster, dipped it in some butter and then chopped it up and folded it into a batch of icecream, then you've got a pretty good idea what this tasted like. I'm not a fan of cold lobster and I like my desserts with a little more sweetness and a little less seafood. So I only ended up trying the sample and not ordering a whole cone, but I did get a scoop of the KGB ice cream (made with Kahlua, Grand Marnier, and Bailey's Irish Cream liquors) and it was fantastic.

I had tasted some amazing fresh boiled lobster in Maine and several wacky lobster dishes. But I was beginning to wonder if there was any way to eat REALLY good lobster other than just boiling it and dipping it in some drawn butter. Lobster likes to be the star and doesn't always play well in an ensamble dish. But it CAN work well with other ingredients to produce a fantastically delicious meal and these lobster nachos proved it.

These nachos weren't from Maine but rather The Red Parrot in Newport, Rhode Island. Thankfully, they didn't just throw together some run-of-the-mill nachos and drop some lobster on top. They must have tried dozens of cheeses, because the one they picked for these nachos perfectly complimented the lobster. In fact the cheese sauce itself had been infused with lobster flavor and a few other spices before being poured over the nachos and topped with lobster meat. I could eat these all the time.

The same restaurant also served up some equally delicious lobster pizza. During our five day trip to New England, I ate boiled lobster, lobster nachos, lobster pizza, lobster ice cream, a lobster roll from Arby's, lobster bisque and several seafood dishes covered in lobster sauce. From a culinary standpoint, I think it may have been one of the best vacation's I've had. If you ever end up in Maine, I reccomend you try as many lobster dishes as you can. You will be certain to have a delicious and memorable vacation.

My Third Favorite Holiday: Free Comic Book Day

2011-05-07T15:41:00.000-07:00

Today, all across America, Comic Book Stores gave away thousands of free comic books. They've been doing this on the First Saturday of every May for ten years!

Celebrating Free Comic Book Day 2011

Yes, that is a Delorean in the Background

I was the manager of a comic book store when I lived in Tucson, so this day always brings me joy and fond memories. I love watching the smiles that free stories of adventure and triumph bring, seeing children hug Darth Vader and Storm Troopers pose for photos, and having a chance to share something I am so passionate about with so many people. Not every store will have people in costume, but many have partnered with their local 501st Legion, a group of people who make & wear professional quality Star Wars costumes in order to raise money for charity. If you have a chance, please find your local comic book store and enjoy some free stories either this year or next.

This year I stopped by my local store to find a Delorean (which had a flux capacitor inside!), Batman, Green Lantern, and R2-D2 excitedly greeting people outside. Once inside, I found a table full of free comics, toys and posters and helped myself to a dozen or so books which I read over lunch. It was a wonderful way to celebrate something that has been so influential and life affirming to me, the stories that have inspired and challenged me through the medium of comics.

All photos Copyright Jeff Howick 2011

My New Blog: Into the Ring of Fire

2011-05-06T15:47:00.000-07:00

Why start a new blog? I guess it just feels right. I'm starting a new chapter in my life by moving to Japan, so starting a new blog seemed appropriate. But also, I feel like my new blog has a different direction and purpose than this one. My first blog, Wanderlust, was a place for me to practice writing regularly and collect my thoughts and pictures from random adventures. I think I'll keep blogging on Wanderlust. It seems to have become a collection of my bucket list ideas and adventures, so I'll probably keep those kind of entries here, but my new blog will focus on Japan.

I hope this new blog will be about how Japan changes me. I'm calling it 'Into the Ring of Fire' because that is where, literally and metaphorically, I will be traveling. In the literal sense, Japan is located within a horseshoe shaped zone called the Ring of Fire, which is home to 90% of the world's earthquakes. The island of Japan, like most islands, was itself created by volcanic fire and molten lava. In the metaphorical sense, I hope to be re-forged by the fires of Japan, like metal forged into a sword by a fiery hearth and lots of work. Moving to another country is a big risk and will forever change who I am, hopefully for the better.

What changes do I expect to find in Japan? What dreams and goals do I hope to accomplish in the ring of fire? The short answer is that I don't know, but I love Japan and I believe we have to pursue and explore the things we love. I don't really know where this journey will lead me, but there are a few things I hope to accomplish along the way. I've already talked about why I love Japan and how the Japanese language was the spark of this love affair. So I hope to become fluent while in Japan. I also hope to see the world from another culture's perspective and as a minority. I believe this will make me wiser, more compassionate and understanding. And lastly, I hope to enjoy the thrill of exploration. Ever since my Dad first introduced me to Star Trek as a child, I've always wanted to set off on an adventure and follow in Captain Kirk's footsteps to, "...explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations.." Those words from the opening credits of Star Trek have always stuck with me and I feel they are a big reason why I'm taking this leap into the unknown. I'm ready to boldly go, to explore new worlds and talk about it on my new Captain's (b)log. (sorry for the bad joke, but I couldn't resist) Perhaps Japan will be the first stop of many new places abroad where we will live and explore, or maybe it will captivate us so much that we'll never want to leave, or perhaps we'll realize how much we miss home and we'll return to America with a greater appreciation of our birth nation.

This journey comes with many risks and sacrifices, but life is all about finding the right risks to take. One of my favorite country musicians, Garth Brooks, once sang,"Cause it's not enough to just stand outside.... Life is not tried, it is merely survived if you're standing outside the fire." I know life looks dangerous inside the ring of fire, but nobody every got anything spectacular by playing it safe. When it comes to dreams and matters of the heart, there is only one way to get what you desire, and that is by going into the ring of fire. So here I go.

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Bucket List Accomplishment: Eating food from a Ninja

2011-05-04T10:26:00.000-07:00

It was a wonderfully magic day full of ice skating and ninjas and family. Last week my wife's niece visited NYC and sang at Carnegie Hall with her school choir, so of course my wife and I went into the city to visit her.

My niece has a deep passion for flags and was overjoyed when we visited Rockefeller plaza, surrounded by the flags of every nation. And I was surprised to discover that the ice skating rink was still operating in late April. I've always wanted to go skating in Rockefeller Plaza and when I saw there was no line, I jumped at this opportunity. There were children playing, grown-ups performing and as I drifted in slow circles to the music if felt like the giant buildings were dancing. There were also flags and people from many nations (and the Greek Sun God Apollo) watching me enjoy life as I floated across the ice. It was a wonderful and surreal experience and if you're ever in New York City when it's not summer, please find a park somewhere to go skating. You won't forget it.

30 Rock from the Ice Rink

The World's Most Famous Ice Skating Rink?

My Wife, My Niece, and Apollo, God of the Sun

Falling into the Camera

Our next stop was to check something else off my bucket list: Eating at a NINJA restaurant. Before we could even get to our dinning room in the ninja castle, we were already encountering adventures. The first ninja we encountered offered us the option of taking an easy path or a dangerous path to our food. So, like most of my life, I opted to take the dangerous path. With ninja speed our host pushed on the wall and a door slid open to reveal a dark and narrow secret passageway. There may or may not have been a ninja who jumped from the shadows at the end of the passageway that DEFINITELY did not make me yelp in surprise, no matter what my wife may tell you.

Traversing the Secret Passageway

After we were seated, we were treated to a wonderful display of culinary theater. It was pretty much what you'd expect from a Ninja restaurant: Our menus were on ancient scrolls, our food was set on fire and we had to solve a riddle just to open our drinks. Many of the dishes included an element of theater or excitement, there are dishes that explode with fire, float on mist, and even one that comes with something called 'cinibacon'. At one point I ate sushi covered with pop rocks and had to karate chop a wall of hard cheese before I could eat my salad. And of course everything was delicious.

Floating Sashimi

Fire Ninja

Ninja Magic Show

Ninja Star Chocolate Mousse Dessert

At the end of the evening, our ninja offered to give us the meal for free if I could defeat him in physical combat. His kung-fu was much greater than mine, which is too bad because it was a rather expensive meal though well worth it. Our server was really a very interesting guy. He was from Texas and told us he was a ninja/cowboy hybrid who actually broke several ribs trying to ride a bull in California and once went all the way to South Korea for a modeling job that he never got paid for. I will definitely return to the 'Ninja Restaurant' because our server told us there are three locations, one in New York City and two in Japan! I can't wait to go again either in Kyoto or Tokyo.

Battling for a Free Dinner

The Face of Defeat

We ended our evening with a quick trip to Washington Square Park, which is always beautiful. Although I do like it better during the day than the night.

All Photos Copyright Jeff Howick 2011

This Week's Bucket List Additions 15

2011-04-29T13:50:00.000-07:00

-Eat Fish and Chips at a Pub in the United Kingdom. Difficulty Rating 6 out of 10:
I LOVE FOOD. I love all kinds of food and I don't understand how others can live in this world, so full of incredible flavor combinations and spices and textures and not become at least a little obsessed with glorious food. I've talked about my interest in eating food from the places where it was created or perfected before and this is no different. I want to eventually eat my way around the world, so expect to see more entries like eating Pizza in Napples, Borscht in Russia and curry in India.

Despite establishing the largest empire the world has ever seen, colonizing America, and spreading their language and culture far and wide, British cuisine seems to be virtually non-existent here in the States. I have never encountered a restaurant that serves 'English Food'. I'm guessing because most of their food is quite terrible, but I don't know I've never tasted any. If most of it is terrible, perhaps it's because they spent all of their time perfecting one nearly flawless dish: Fish and Chips. After perfecting Fish and Chips, perhaps they simply had no need to create anything else. Whatever the case may be, I can't wait to visit the UK and try some Fish and Chips and also some tea.

Homemade Fish and Chips I Cooked

-Catch a Wave on a Surfboard. Difficulty Rating 5 out of 10:
I love the idea of a thrill ride powered by something as simple as the ocean and the moon. And surfing seems like a wonderful way to enjoy a day; surrounded by the ocean, learning a new skill and enjoying the simple thrills of life. Surfing seems easy enough to learn since I've learned how to skate on solid ground an wake-board behind a boat and I can't wait to feel the ocean push me so fast that I get that feeling of butterflies in my stomach.

Entrance to the Beach

-See the Olympics in Person. Difficulty Rating 7 out of 10:
Who doesn't love the Olympics? People from every nation putting aside their worries to play and compete at all kinds of games, what a fantastic idea. Although I wish they were broadcast in a more balanced way, it seems like all I ever get to see are American teams when I watch them from my TV. I love the home team as much as anyone I suppose, but I also love the rest of the world so much too that I want to see what they're up to and hear their stories of triumph and effort.

I can't wait to see the Olympics with my own eyes, to feel the excitement in the air. I want to be surrounded by fans of every nation, cheer for the underdogs and marvel at the incredible feats of human accomplishment achieved by peoples from every nation. I'm almost certain I won't make it to London in 2012, but perhaps I'll make it to Russia in 2014 or Brazil in 2016.

This Week's Bucket List Additions 14

2011-04-22T20:12:00.000-07:00

I'm still flying pretty high about the news I got last Friday and clearly Japan has been on my mind a lot. So I thought I'd present another edition of bucket list items that I want to accomplish while in Japan.

-Watch the Sunrise from Japan's largest Mountain. Difficulty Rating 5 out of 10:
Mt. Fuji is a majestic sight. It's not only Japan's largest mountain, but also it's most beautiful mountain. Last year I bought my wife a Japanese hiking guide for her birthday and it has wonderful things to say about hiking Fuji-sama, the ceiling of Japan. Many people hike up the mountain during the night so they can see the sun rise from the peak. Just thinking about it sends a shiver of awe down my spine.

From Wikipedia.org

But once you've hiked to the top and watched the sun begin it's journey, the fun isn't over. Apparently theres a route down the mountain that feels like moon walking. I guess the combination of soft cushy gravel and downward pull of gravity allow you to make giant leaps through moon like terrain without injuring yourself. I can't wait to hike this beautiful mountain, slurp some noodles at a checkpoint along the way, see the sun rise from the ocean and then bounce back down the mountain.

-See Monumental Sculptures at the Sapporo Snow Festival. Difficulty Rating 4 out of 10:
Once a year in Hokkaido (the Alaska of Japan) a grand festival celebrating snow and ice is held. Sculptors representing many different countries, companies and styles use snow as their medium to create massive towering displays.

From Jetwit.com

We've all tried to turn snow into art, whether it was a snow person or a snow fort or a snow angel. But I never had the kind of success these artists do. I don't know why temporary art captivates me so, but I just LOVE it. Tell me there's a chalk art festival or sand castle competition and I will be there. Perhaps that is why I am so fascinated by the change of seasons; nature quickly erases the beauty of one season to temporarily replace it with another. All I can say is that the Snow Festival in Sapporo fills me with excitement.

-Attempt the 'Ninja Warrior' obstacle course. Difficulty Rating 9 out of 10:
In Japan there's a TV program called 'Sasuke' where contestants from all walks of life try to complete a four stage obstacle course. It must be pretty hard, because of the 2,600 people how have attempted the course, only three people have actually finished. It's aired on G4 here in the states as 'Ninja Warrior' and I've always wanted to put my ninja skills to the test by facing the course.

I have no idea how to apply for the show, but I will do everything I can to learn how. How hard can it be? There use to be a replica of the course at a theme park in Tokyo called Muscle Park, which I was planning to visit. But while writing this blog I discovered that the park closed down last year and I had to adjust the difficulty rating for this entry...

Bucket List Accomplishment: Ohanami

2011-04-20T16:22:00.000-07:00

Friday was one of the best days I've ever had. I spent the morning with my wife cooking in the kitchen. I love cooking with someone else, it's like a wonderful dance that ends in a delicious meal. This time we tried out two new creations that were both very successful, wasabi deviled eggs and beef gyros. I grew up in the south, so deviled eggs always bring me back to my childhood. And of course the wasabi gave my comfort food a spicy punch.

Wasabi Deviled Eggs

Beef Gyros

After our morning of culinary jazz we packed up our food and headed off on a picnic. We drove to a park and sat below some gorgeous blooming cherry blossom trees next to a river. We filled our afternoon by devouring our food, reading poems to each other and watching the world drift by. Somewhere between my fifth and sixth deviled egg, my wife read to me my favorite new Shel Silverstein poem:

Listen to the MUSTN'TS, child,
Listen to the DON'TS
Listen to the SHOULDN'TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON'TS
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me--
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.

After I finished consuming food and poetry, I watched so many people wander around the park. It was wonderful to see so many people out with their loved ones taking pictures. I especially loved watching them take photos, because people stop to capture a picture are saying, 'this moment is so beautiful or wonderful that I want to return to it again and again every time I look at this photo.' They are so in love with the moment that they want to hold on to it as long as they can and share it with others.

Reading my favorite poet: Anne Morrow Lindbergh

After our picnic, I walked through the park and eventually ended up exploring the nation's fifth largest Cathedral. The Cathedral was breathtaking and beautiful, but it was a completely opposite sort of beauty than the simplicity of fresh spring flowers.

After we returned home I checked my e-mail to discover news that I've been waiting much of my life to hear: I had been accepted into the JET Program to teach English in Japan! I can't describe my excitement other than to say it was too much to feel all at once. It was a bit like graduating high school and a bit like winning the lottery. (or I imagine it's like that, I've never actually won the lottery) I've been working towards this goal for a long time, and now that it's finally here I'm relieved, shocked, excited, nervous but mostly full of joy. It was about as close to perfect as a day can get.

This Week's Bucket List Additions 13

2011-04-17T18:24:00.000-07:00

I usually post new bucket list additions on Friday, so I'm sorry this is two days late. But I received some unexpectedly great news Friday night and then spent several hours calling all my family and sharing my excitement with them. The good news? I am officially a shortlist candidate to teach English in Japan through the JET Program!!

-Find and Explore 'Wall Drug'. Difficulty Rating ??? out of 10
I've recently been issued a challenge via postcard. (Postcards are now one of my top 3 favorite ways to issue a challenge, along with slap to the face using an empty glove and shouting while holding a fencing sword.) My friend sent me the postcard below with the following message scrawled on the back: "I thought you two would enjoy the mystery postcard. Maybe you will find Wall Drug on your travels one day."

I've never heard of Wall Drug and my friend used a marker to black out all the identifying info on the postcard. He left only one sentence: "Wall Drug is the Gateway to the Badlands National Park ...where you learn 'How the West Was Fun!'". What IS Wall Drug? Where are the Badlands? Why are they called Badlands and how did they make the west fun? Was it with frogs and puppies? These are questions I must answer and so my search for Wall Drug begins.

My adventure already has a great beginning: a hilariously odd postcard with a challenge to find a mysterious location. To make sure it has a good middle, I've decided to search for Wall Drug the old fashioned way, with no internet help. I'm sure I could type Wall Drug into Google and read all about it on Wikipedia in a matter of seconds. But this time the journey is more important that the destination. I love random adventures and this sounds like a fun one.

-Find a good home for my books. Difficulty Rating 4 out of 10:
I'm moving to Japan. I'm gonna say that again because it feels so good. I AM MOVING TO JAPAN! As a result I have to condense my personal possessions down to a few boxes. My wife and I recently bought a Kindle so we can read English books in Japan. So there's no reason to spend hundreds of dollars shipping big, heavy boxes full of books to Japan. I've been weening myself off physical books for years now and using the library for all my reading needs. (Did you know that your library will get you any book you want, you just have to ask!? If you want to read some obscure comic book, they'll find one at a library in the middle of Kansas and ship it to New Jersey!) So I'm giving away the majority of my book collection. Most of these books have brought me great joy and wisdom and I'd like to find a good home for them. I'm not sure how to do that yet, but I know I'll figure something out.

-Eat dinner served by a ninja. Difficulty Rating 3 out of 10:
In New York City there is a restaurant know simply as NINJA. Hidden somewhere in Manhattan, Ninjas use their mastery of the martial arts to create culinary masterpieces. The restaurant is decorated like an ancient castle, everyone dresses like ninjas and the dishes have swords that must be removed before you can eat them. THAT is my kind of restaurant. I've wanted to visit this restaurant for awhile and getting accepted into the JET program sounds like the perfect excuse to celebrate with a meal here, I can't wait.

A Lego ninja hides quietly in a cherry blossom tree, ready to attack

Date Night: Art and Guacamole

2011-04-13T17:15:00.000-07:00

Date night is my attempt to create a joyful habit, to make an effort to spend a night with my wife with the sole purpose of seeking the simple pleasures of life. Habits have a great deal of power over our lives. Once we meet our needs for the day (food, sleep, money for the bills) it is our habits that often take control. So I do my best to try and establish healthy habits, like taking walks along our beach, asking my wife about her highs and lows each day, and flossing my teeth. Date night is my latest attempt at a new healthy habit.

There are a few rules I try to follow for our date nights:

1- No Movies: There's nothing wrong with movies. But date night isn't about entertainment, it's about pleasure. On date night, I don't want to sit quietly for a few hours while my mind is transported to another world. I want to be as present as I can be in this one. I want to taste decadent foods, make something with my hands or find new adventure.

2- Food should somehow be involved: Sharing a meal with someone creates such opportunities for closeness and sharing. I think a lot of problems could be solved if people spent more time eating together and listening to each others lives. And food is one of my most basic joys, so having a date night without food just seems silly.

3- We should try at least one new thing: Maybe this is as simple as trying a new dish at our favorite restaurant. Maybe we visit a town we've never been to before. Date night must have an element of exploration to keep life fresh, to help us appreciate the moment and not let it become a predictable event that doesn't require our full focus.

For our first date night we decided to make some art! There's a wonderful shop (called 'A Time to Kiln' how cute is that?) in a nearby town that has dozens of clay and/or ceramic objects to decorate. After looking over all the possibilities, my wife and I both decided to paint tea cups. Since we love to drink tea our art will have both form and function.

After carefully picking out six colors each from the wall of colors and browsing joyfully through their selection of stencils and stamps, we got down to the business of imprinting our personalities onto our our new tea cups and saucers.

I love the way my cup came out. Every time I go for a drink, I'm reminded that the goal of all my actions should be to help me find my bliss. Also, I love to guess how many sips it will take me to go from 3/4 a cup to 1/2 a cup. Oh yes, and the saucer says, 'Howick's Drink' in Japanese because of course I love Japan and felt I had to have a connection to it somehow in my creation.

After finishing our creations, which left us both excited and a little tired, we tried out a local Mexican food joint. We both went to college in southern Arizona and have been sincerely missing the Mexican food that can be found with such ease and high quality there. The atmosphere was lively and the guacamole was fantastic, although I don't believe I've ever had bad guacamole.

I think our first date night was a wonderful success. Many pleasurable moments were had and I'll have a fantastic tea cup to remind me of that night for many years to come.

This Week's Bucket List Additions 12

2011-04-08T19:41:00.000-07:00

Spring is here and rebirth is in the air. Spring always makes me think of joyful celebrations. This week, I'm adding things to my bucket list that fill me with a sense of childlike joy.

-Have an Ohanami. Difficulty Rating 2 out of 10:

In Japan, they have a springtime tradition know as 'ohanami' or 'flower viewing party'. When the world starts to bloom, everyone gathers together with friends and family beneath the beautiful Sakura trees for a picnic and they celebrate life. During ancient times, I hear they would also have poetry contests. Ohanami picnic parties are so popular that the news in Japan reports the cherry blossom forecast every night until the cherry blossom front sweeps through the whole country.

I love picnics and spring. I think this is a wonderful tradition from a culture I already love, so it should be no surprise that I want to make this one of my own families' traditions. I've already made plans to have my first ohanami next week and I hope to continue the tradition every spring. For the Japanese, the Sakura blossoms are a metaphor for live: beautiful and fleeting and a reminder to make the most with the short time we all have here.

-Visit Harry Potter World. Difficulty Rating 6 out of 10:
I remember the first time I read Harry Potter. I was at the beach during a family vacation and I borrowed my sister's copy to see what all the fuss was about. I'm pretty sure I didn't do anything other than read day and night until I had finished that book. I love the magical joy of the Harry Potter series. But perhaps even more than the story, I love how excited people got about reading. Anytime people get dressed up for a midnight release party celebrating a book, my heart fills with joy.

My Book Nook

When I heard that Universal Orlando was opening a theme park zone dedicated to Harry Potter, I knew that I would have to make a journey there to pay homage to a series that revealed the joys of reading to so many people and to live in Harry's magical world one more time.

-Kiss my wife in a hot air balloon. Difficulty Rating 4 out of 10:
Who doesn't want to make out in a hot air ballon? Drifting slowly over beautiful landscapes, held aloft by heat and passion. If I could only travel by bike and hot air ballon for the rest of my life, I think I'd be pretty happy. Hot air ballons are pure romance and I love seeking romance and finding it with my wife.

The Chronicles of Our Beach

2011-04-07T13:54:00.000-07:00

Living in a small, simple town by the shore has forever changed my relationship with the beach. Before living here, the beach was always a busy, crowded place that tried to burn my skin, put salt in my mouth and leave sand in my pants. But living at the beach, I've been able to see that the beach has many different moods. The beach, like all things famous, gets stereotyped. And there is certainly a bit of truth to most people's expectations of my beach, but like most stereotypes, there is also so much more.

Welcome to my Beach

The beach, like everywhere, changes drastically with each season. In the summer, great crowds of frolickers come to play in the sand and sun and sea. They bring their umbrellas and their beach towels and they decorate the beach with their excitement and joy. The people find so many things to do on the beach: swim, surf, read, build castles, search for buried treasure, play sports, take naps, I even saw someone film a TV show. It seems everyone loves to do something different at the beach. Quite solitude is very hard to come by during the summer. But it can be found, especially after the sun goes down when, like most of the world, the beach gets much quieter.

The Beach decorated with People

Filming something for HBO

Children Playing

Searching for Treasure

In the fall and spring, the crowds mostly leave and the fishermen come out to play. They are most present during the twilight hours, I think because that's when the fish are hungriest. Some of them have great big poles the size of two men. They throw their lines out beyond the waves, shove their poles into the sand and wait for animals of the sea to bite. Others have simple fishing poles and stand on the edges of piers and jetties dodging waves and searching for fish.

People fishing at daybreak

Giant Poles

Exciting Discovery

Winter is certainly the quietest time at the beach, but people still try to surf in stormy waves or plunge into the freezing water for charity. But mostly people seem to take peaceful walks along the beach during winter, especially with their dogs. Dogs aren't allowed on the beach during summer, I guess because tourists and dog poo don't mix very well. If you want to be alone with the beach, winter is the best time to do it.

Solitude at the Beach

I've seen the beach change more than just moods while I've been here as well. It seems the constant assault of waves is carrying the sand from our beach away to some unknown adventure. To keep the beach from washing away, the government trucks in several tons of sand. But instead of dumping the sand evenly all over the beach, they built a 10 foot mountain of sand. Perhaps it was to help shield the town during the stormy season, but it also makes a great new vista point. I love walking along this new mini-mountain range and soaking in the beautiful view.

Erosion of our Beach

It seems there is always something new at the beach. Nothing ever stays the same, even somewhere as simple and enduring as the beach. I'm so grateful for the chance we were given to spend a year living on this beach. I have learned a lot about the place I once disliked and I have come to love the beach. I never know what I'll see or find next at the beach, which is all I really want from life anyway.

New York City as seen from our Beach

Some Locals at the Beach

My Wife's Footprints

Strange Object Found at the Beach

Two Pieces of Wisdom

2011-04-04T17:55:00.000-07:00

Last week I went to a prayer group that my wife organized and for one of the activities we had to draw pictures of whatever images flashed through our minds. The first picture that I drew was actually the second image to whisper through my mind, me and my imaginary future family. I'm not sure why I drew a family, I'm not even certain I want children. I may never be completely certain. But I guess family has been on my mind a lot recently and I felt guilty drawing a future with no kids, so this is what I drew:

I'm pretty sure Misty and I can't conceive black haired Asian, black haired African or blonde haired Caucasian kids, so it looks like we adopted in this imaginary future. I don't think I'd be comfortable choosing a child to adopt (or making any decision) based solely on skin color in the real world*, but when you draw a pretend family on paper you've got to pick. Every crayon is a conscience choice and I'm almost always in favor of more diversity rather than less. Areas where I think diversity is most important: food you try, weather, ideas you listen to, hobbies, who you give love to and the cultures you try to understand.

Would I like to pass my genetic code on to the next generation? Sure, I think most people have a biological and emotional desire to do that, and it's entirely possible that I will do that one day. But I also have a desire not to over-burden our already-low-on-resources world. I think adoption is a wonderful way to help children in need while also passing my wisdom on to the next generation. Currently, I think the two most important pieces of wisdom I've acquired are 1. Love everyone equally (regardless of their religion or what their eye/skin/hair color is... and even if they hate 'Star Trek'.) and 2. Find and then Follow your Bliss/Dreams/Passion. And from my experience if you want your kids to learn something, you have to show it and live it. You can't just talk about it, kids will follow your actions not your words. Which is why my bathroom is so messy? Anyway, what better way to show my children that all people are equally deserving of love than to grow up in a loving household surrounded by brothers and sisters of different ethnicities?

My second picture is much simpler I think. It is the Japanese flag with my heart at the center. This was the first image to flicker through my mind and the second one I drew because I don't want it to look like I've only got one track in my mind, thinking of Japan 24/7.

I recently had a long-time friend ask me about the spark that ignited my love of Japan. Where did it all begin? As long as I can remember, I've been interested in Japan. As a kid I remember watching anime and the Nagano Winter Olympics and wanting to know more about the culture and the place. I think Japan is the first culture I encountered meaningfully other than my own. But my love of Japan really began in college. I had just lost a girl I was madly in love with and I had no idea what I wanted to do with my future. Because of these two things my grades were floundering and I was in a general state of depression. But a new semester was starting regardless of my feelings, so I signed up for Japanese 101 to meet a language requirement.

Studying Japanese carried me far away from my problems to another place, another culture where the language was beautiful and I didn't even know the word for heartbreak, literally. I was a happier Jeff in Japanese class. Japanese gave me a feeling of joy. Maybe it was because I was getting closer to my dreams; dreams that weren't even a thought yet, they were only a feeling. Don't all dreams start with a feeling of joy? There's a song from the movie, 'The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian' called 'The Call' that I feel captures my love of and journey to Japan. In it, Regina Spektor sings, "It started out as a feeling, which then grew into a hope, which then turned into a quiet thought, which then turned into a quiet word. And then that word grew louder and louder, until it was a battle cry!" You should really just listen to it below, it's better that way. Why do we really love the things we love? I don't know, but Japan has always and will always hold a very strong and very special place in my heart. So it's no wonder this image burst into my mind.

The Call by Regina Spektor

Other lyrics I like from this song: "Just because everything's changing doesn't mean it's never been this way before." and "Just because they can't feel it too, doesn't mean that you have to forget. Let your memories grow stronger and stronger until they're before your eyes." Although I wish she would replace 'memories' with 'dreams'.

I think it's interesting that my two pictures relate to the two greatest pieces of wisdom I currently believe to have found, love everyone and follow your heart/dreams/bliss. I didn't even realize this until I finished writing this blog. Until now I had no idea what the title of this post should be, but it seems clear now. If you had to draw a picture of whatever was on your mind, what would you draw right now?

*Is it possible to adopt a child without discussing race? Can you just ask, "Dear Adoption Agency, please send me 1 child between the ages of 0-7 that is most in need of a loving family." or do they show you pictures and profiles and you pick someone that looks like a good fit? And how do you decide on an adoption agency in the first place? Do you pick one from a country where the children are most at risk of turmoil? Do you look at your finances and find one in your budget range? The act of offering a child stability and love seems so life affirming, but the process itself seems very bizarre.

This Week's Bucket List Additions 11

2011-04-01T21:05:00.000-07:00

The last three years, which I've spent living on the East Coast of America, have been very exciting. I've been whale watching off the coast of New England, seen nine Broadway plays, danced on stage during Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and rafted down the Delaware river. But there are still several adventures that I'd like to have before we leave the East Coast. This week's bucket list additions are all things I want to do before we leave New Jersey in June.

-Visit Niagara Falls. Difficulty Rating 5 out of 10:
I've been to the Niagara Falls of Pennsylvania, but I have yet to see the real thing. I love waterfalls, the dance of water and the chaos of sounds they make soothes me. I hear that at Niagara, there's a boat which takes you so close, you have to wear a rain coat. Also, along the way to Niagara I want to visit Buffalo, NY birthplace of buffalo wings and taste some at the restaurant where they were created.

From a journey to Bushkill Falls, PA for one of our anniversaries

-See New York City from above. Difficulty Rating 3 out of 10:
I've had pretty much all of the classic New York City experiences since we came to New Jersey in 2008. I've been lost on the subways, visited the Statue of Liberty, purchased a fake designer handbag from a locked basement in Chinatown, had a picnic in Central Park, woke up at the crack of dawn to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, and ice skated with my wife at a park. But I've never been to the top of the Empire State Building or any other observation deck. NYC is a city full of beautiful buildings and beautiful parks. It has a great skyline and I'd love to see the city from the top of the Empire State Building or another equally high place, like Top of the Rock.

The Skyline of New York City

-Eat Lobster in Maine. Difficulty Rating 5 out of 10:
We took a trip to New England last year for our third anniversary, but we never made it to Maine because the timing belt in our car broke. We were stranded in Provincetown at the tip of cape cod for a few days, which is not a bad place to be stuck, and we ended up having a very relaxing vacation. But I never got to visit the beautiful coasts of Maine or see if they really do serve lobster rolls at McDonalds in Maine like the rumors I have heard. I hope that I'll have a chance to visit this quiet, pristine state before we depart.

A lobster roll I had in Cape Cod

-Walk along the Boardwalk in Atlantic City. Difficulty Rating 2 out of 10:
If you've ever played monopoly, then you're familiar with Atlantic City's Boardwalk. It's literally a walk made of boards that winds along the beach with a row of shops and fun alongside. Like Park Place, Marvin Gardens and every other property in Monopoly, it's a real place in Atlantic City. Although I do think a handful of the Monopoly places have been demolished over the years to make way for new malls or casinos. I want to stroll along the wooden planks in Atlantic City surrounded by happy people with the beach on one side and salt water taffy vendors on the other and soak up the feeling of summer before I leave the beaches of New Jersey that have been my home for the last year.

This Week's Bucket List Additions 10

2011-03-25T19:06:00.000-07:00

More stuff I want to do in my life:

-Make really good sushi. Difficulty rating 5 out of 10:
I love cooking. I love sushi. I think sushi is my favorite food ever. It makes me sad that sushi intimidates a lot of people. (not all sushi is raw, in fact MOST American sushi is cooked) Making sushi is more art than it is science. But like almost anything, if you just practice you can get pretty good at it. I need to practice making sushi more often. I guess I should through more sushi parties. Seems like a win/win to me.

Tonight's Dinner

-Own a sword. Difficulty rating 2 out of 10:
I hate real violence, but I can never read enough stories about superheroes or animals with ninja powers. I want to hold a sword and imagine doing impossible feats with it. More importantly I want to cut watermelons and open mail in the most outlandish ways possible. And owning a sword also gives you the perfect excuse to have a sword naming ceremony. Objects of power, like swords, must always have an appropriately awesome name and what better way to celebrate coming up with an awesome name than by having an elaborate naming ceremony and party? My sword of choice? A Katana. Someday I'll have an awesome sword, and I'll never use another knife to cut large fruit again. But until then, I'll have to b content with my plastic sword named Acetaminophen.

-Go bobsledding. Difficulty rating 6 out of 10:
Doesn't bobsledding sound like great fun? There's just something about speeding through a long tube of frozen water at dangerous speeds that I can't imagine it would be boring. I don't think I want to actually compete in any sort of contest with a bobsled, but there are tons of places around the world where you can go bobsledding for fun and I plan to feel that cool bobsledding air flow through my hair sometime in the future.

Learning About New Cultures: North Dakota

2011-03-22T13:58:00.000-07:00

Every time I open my mailbox it feels kinda like a mini Christmas morning. I never know what exciting presents and adventures await me. A lot of days I get the equivalent of Christmas socks and underwear*. Yes I'm happy to continue receiving health care, but I can't get overly enthused about letters telling me that. Sometimes I get more exciting things, like offers for enough free flight miles to get my wife a free ticket to Japan just by signing up for a credit card.

But today, I found a completely awesome present waiting for me from my friends from North Dakota. If you've never heard of North Dakota it's technically an American state and it is cold. I don't know much more about North Dakota, but my friends live there and they sent me a present full of items that represent the culture of North Dakota and it's people. The didn't explain any of the items, so I've had to use a little deductive reasoning to understand the meaning of the gifts.

I did a little research about North Dakota and discovered that North Dakota is 90% farm land and has an average of 9 people and 25 cows per square mile**. I didn't find any articles about North Dakota's culture or what kind of currency they use, but based on the three gifts my friends sent me I've learned some other very important things about North Dakota.

North Dakota's National Snack

1. One of the most popular snacks in North Dakota seems to be Hello Panda chocolate filled cookies. I know what you're thinking, I had the same question. How do they fill the cookies with chocolate creme, but still keep them crispy!? I have no idea, but apparently these crafty North Dakotans have discovered the secret and are keeping it all to themselves. No wonder those South Dakotans are so jealous.

A Typical North Dakota Farm Animal

2. Cows there are green. I'm not sure if all cows in North Dakota are green or just certain breeds. But if the stuffed animal my friends sent me is any indication, cows in North Dakota are mostly green and don't have tails. I wonder if they eat a special kind of grass that makes them green or if they just had some kind of strange mutation. Although apparently the hair on their head is immune to whatever causes the rest of their hair to turn green.

Trendy North Dakota Facial Hair

3. Apparently most people/farmers in North Dakota have or want green mustaches. I assume they sent me these mustaches so that when we visit later this summer, we can wear them and look like locals. Are people's mustaches in North Dakota green for the same reason their cows are green? Or do the farmers just paint them green in honor of their great cows? Hopefully I can find some answers to these questions on my journey to the great white north.

North Dakota sounds like an incredibly fascinating culture, full of ancient traditions and delicious foods like Hello Panda cookies and green facial hair. I hope that I can learn more of their traditions and meet lots of kind people and green cows on my road trip there this summer. I can't wait to meet you North Dakota.

P.S. If you're reading this and are my language partner from Japan, this blog is a joke. If you are anyone else, everything I said is absolutely true.

*Even if someone you know has a lot of holes in their underwear/socks, don't get them new ones for Christmas or their Birthday. There is a time and place for boring, utilitarian presents; it's called April Fool's Day.

**This is actually true.

This Week's Bucket List Additions 9

2011-03-18T13:55:00.000-07:00

It's Friday again, so here are some more additions to my bucket list.

-Go scuba diving. Difficulty Rating 5 out of 10:
It's often difficult for me to find inner calm. I have a very busy mind and I'm easily distracted. But sometime during my childhood I discovered that sinking to the bottom of a pool seals off the outside world and forces my mind into a state of calm appreciation. I didn't have regular access to a pool until high school, so I would often replicate this effect by sinking to the bottom of my bathtub. I can't be alone in this, perhaps floating in water reminds us of the comfort of the womb. For whatever reason, I love the peace and calm that being underwater brings me. One of my fondest vacation memories is snorkeling off the coast of Jamaica years ago. Surrounded not only by the peaceful embrace of water but also by breathtaking scenes of ocean wildlife and strange underwater landscapes has left me longing for more.

I'd love to be able to stay underwater for longer periods without being forced to return to the surface for air, and scuba diving seems like the perfect way to do this. I look forward to the day that I can dive into the sea, pretend to be Captain Nemo's son and head into the ocean depths in search of peace and adventure.

Ready for action at an Arizona wave pool

-Take a trip on a motorcycle. Difficulty Rating 6 out of 10:
Why are motorcycles so appealing and romantic? Maybe it's the chance to speed through this world unprotected by a cage of steel and glass. Maybe enough rebels and outlaws have been seen on them that we imagine some of their reputation will rub off if we ride one. Whatever it is, I too feel the call of the open road and want to travel it with a bike beneath me. Although I might feel safer on a three wheeled bike like the can-am, and I'll probably start with a weekend trip.

-Take pictures of my wife in her wedding dress. Difficulty Rating 5 out of 10:
Two things I love, taking pictures and my wife all dressed up. She looked amazing in her wedding dress, but I didn't ever get to take any pictures, I was too busy getting married and having fun with loved ones to take any pictures that day. And I think it's ashame that a piece of clothing that makes my wife look so beautiful is destined to spend the rest of it's life imprisoned in a box somewhere. So I'd love to get it out and take some pictures of her on the beach in that dress, or riding a horse or a hot air balloon. There are all kinds of great photo opportunities where her wedding dress could really make the photos pop. Although I probably need to start small, like getting my wife to do a photo shoot in a normal dress first.

Murder at Mardi Gras (A murder mystery party with friends)

2011-03-16T13:28:00.000-07:00

Conversation I recently had with one of my language partners from Japan:

Onnasan: What changed for you this week?
Jeff: hmm, well I had a party. For Mardi Gras. That's an American Holiday.
Onnasan: I see, is it a Christian Holiday?
Jeff: Umm, well it started out that way, but it's not anymore.
Onnasan: Yes, ok. So what did you do at the party?
Jeff: *pause* We solved a, uhhh, a murder.
Onnasan: A murder!? *pause* That does not sound fun, it seems very serious.
Jeff: No, it was fun. We got to dress up and everybody had clues and secrets, and we all had to guess who the killer was... (to myself: I guess it does sound a bit grim)
Onnasan: Ah... Well, Japanese people are very serious. I do not think we would enjoy a party about Murder.
Jeff: Haha, yes but it really is better than it sounds.

Trying to explain a murder mystery party in another language is not easy. And now that I think about it, it does seem like a strange way to spend an evening. But Americans love solving mysteries, why else do we watch so much 'Scooby-Doo' and 'Law and Order'. And who doesn't love to dress up? I pretended to be a Cajun gator wrestler/aspiring lawyer and my wife was a classic French maid. To get into character my wife scoured youtube for videos on how to fake a French accent. It was terribly fun. And I was very proud of my friends, as they all did a great job dressing up and acting like their characters. The story was full of outrageous plot twists and greatly added to the evenings silliness. In fact, our murder mystery party was about as far away from serious as one can get.

Bonjour!

Magnolia Beauty Queen / young heiress who my character was engaged to

An occult novelist who lives next door

A gold-digging wife from Vegas and Jazz Musician

The family cook who was secretly dating the French maid!

Mardi Gras Tie

My catchphrase for the night: (in a cajun accent) I gaur-ON-TEE, it was not ME

Happy Mardi Gras!

Since the party and mystery were both Mardi Gras themed, we cooked up some amazing Mardi Gras food. Cooking in the kitchen surrounded by friends also working on culinary creations is itself great fun. I've never been in a band, but I imagine this is what it feels like. Working in the same space with others, everybody doing their own thing but all working towards the same goal, a delicious meal.

Jazz Musician Chad takes time away from music to work in another medium, Flavor.

French Maid Misty helps prepare dinner for the guests

Finished Product: jambalaya, collard greens and bourbon mashed sweet potatoes

We also cooked Cajun food the night before

Crawfish, fried okra and taters

I spent my summers growing up in Baton Rouge, so talking with a cajun accent and eating crawfish and jambalaya was a comforting reminder of home. I had a fantastic time and I can't wait to solve another murder mystery soon. Maybe I'll even write my own one day, that sounds fun. And in case your were interested *Spoiler Alert* it was the victim's best friend/lawyer who did it.

Lunch with the Birds

2011-03-14T16:17:00.000-07:00

The other day, while walking along the beach, I came across a group of birds during lunch time. The birds at my beach (which I think are seagulls, but all I really know is they're not penguins) don't usually like getting too close to strangers and seem mildly uncomfortable when I try to take their picture. In those two ways, they are like my wife. But on this particular day, the birds were mostly too busy with the work of catching their lunch and gulping it down to pay too much attention to me. So I got to play and take their pictures while they feasted and it was one of the best things I did all week.

Hunting for food

Seagulls eat Clams

Seagulls eat Muscles

Seagulls eat Starfish

I had no idea seagulls ate so many different kinds of food! I think I also saw one eating a crab, but I didn't get a picture of that. So apparently seagulls eat pretty much anything that moves and is smaller than they are on the beach. (Clams and muscles technically do move right?) I had so much fun watching the birds eat and play that I almost felt like one myself.

This Week's Bucket List Additions 8

2011-03-11T13:55:00.000-08:00

Wow, I guess this makes two months of bucket list additions. Dreaming and planning is so important that I think everyone should take some time to dream about their future at least once a week, whether it's adding to your bucket list or thinking about your career aspirations or planning for your family. And now some more of my dreams for the future:

-Throw a Treasure Map into the Sea. Difficulty Rating 4 out of 10:
As a child, I once found a bottle in a lake that held a treasure map inside. I followed the map and ultimately discovered a box with a beautiful gem inside buried right where the map said I would find it. I'm pretty sure my parents set up the whole thing, but it was a magical adventure and remains a fond memory. I love sharing adventures with others and spreading joy beyond just my circle of friends. So before I leave our home here on the beach, I plan to bury some treasure and toss a treasure map into the sea. I haven't decided what the treasure should be yet, but I think it should reflect my values.

People still search for buried treasure.

-Hike into the Grand Canyon. Difficulty Rating 7 out of 10:
I spent close to a decade living in Arizona and although I have visited the Grand Canyon, I've never hiked it. If you've never been, the Grand Canyon is a beautiful, humbling place. I've stood at the edge and been awed and now I want to explore beyond the edges. I want to see it from the bottom, the the top and crawl along its cliffs. I want to walk away with a sense of accomplishment, knowing that I have encountered one of nature's great masterpieces and been changed.

-Taste a Philly Cheesesteak from the place that invented them. Difficulty Rating 3 out of 10:
The origin story of so many iconic foods has been lost to history. So when I find somewhere that claims to have invented a famous dish, I'm always drawn to taste their creations. Pat's King of Steaks in Philadelphia is widely credited for creating the Philly Cheesesteak in the 30's and still serves them up hot and fresh today. There's almost always a line to get one, but I think that's part of the experience. Lines give us an opportunity and excuse to talk to strangers. Every step of my visit to taste the 'original' cheesesteak' sounds exciting to me.

This Week's Bucket List Additions 7

2011-03-04T18:03:00.000-08:00

Last week I had an interview in New York for a job teaching English in Japan. I won't find out if I got the job until early April, so I'll be doing a lot of wishing and waiting this month. My future in Japan has been running through my mind a lot lately, so I thought I'd add some things I want to do while living in Japan to my bucket list this week.

Take a Pilgrimage. Difficulty Rating 8 out of 10:
There are many pilgrimages in Japan. It is a country full of mountaintop temples and ancient journeys through nature. But the most famous of all Japanese Pilgrimages is the '88 sacred temples of Shikoku'. Along the edge of Shikoku, Japan's fourth largest island, 88 temples are scattered, each reputed to have been built or connected to a famous Buddhist monk, Kukai. Kukai was a monk who believed, unlike others of his day, that we could achieve enlightenment during our time here on earth. For thousands of years people have taken the pilgrimage searching for a piece of that enlightenment. The temples form a great circle and it is truly a journey with no destination.

One of my short journeys along our beach.

I've taken many journeys for many reasons in my life: for fun, for education, for love and for jobs. But I have never taken a journey for the soul. These days, most people take the journey by bus, stopping at each temple for only a few minutes and completing the journey in a matter of days. My wife and I would love to walk the entire path, like the original pilgrims from ancient times. But it takes about 40 days to take the pilgrimage by foot, and it will be very difficult to find a month and a half to dedicate to this journey. It may take us years before we can do this pilgrimage, but I can't wait to see what I'll discover on the way.

Become Fluent in Japanese. Difficulty Rating 7 out of 10:
I don't know why Japanese calls to me, but it has for a long while now. In college I minored in Japanese. I've continued to study it since then and I speak once a week with a language partner via Skype. Learning any language is difficult, but having a chance to practice it daily makes it easier. I can't wait to live in a place surrounded by people who speak a language that sounds like poetry to me, and I can't wait to be able to speak it back.

Swim with Monkeys. Difficulty Rating 4 out of 10:
One of my earliest memories of Japan is watching the winter Olympics in Nagano. They did a special on the snow monkey who swam in the hot springs during winter, and that has always stayed with me. I've always wanted to visit those springs, soak up their warmth and play with the monkeys.

I'll probably do a lot more photographing than swimming around the monkeys when I get there, but it will be just as much fun. I don't know why certain things inspire us to dream, but visiting these snow monkeys will be a fulfillment of a dream I have long held in my heart.

Japan is full of adventures and journeys I have long dreamed of and planned for, and I could never hope to put them all down in just one blog. I'm sure I'll have plenty more additions to my bucket list that include Japan or Japanese culture. In some ways, waiting to go to Japan is an almost painful ordeal. But at the same time, this period of anticipation and excitement is intoxicating and wonderful. Isn't that half the point of making a bucket list, to taste the excitement and anticipation that you get as you begin a great journey and dream of the future?

Bucket List Accomplishment: M&M Pretzels

2011-03-01T12:03:00.000-08:00

Awhile back, I added 'trying the new pretzel M&Ms' to my bucket list, because I just love trying out new candy flavors. In some small way, it's a return to my childhood. There is something special about the simple, pure joy of discovery, excitement and sugar all mixed together in one fun experience. My love of trying new candy is yet another reason why I'm so excited to move to Japan in a few months. Japan has completely embraced the excitement of new and silly foods like green, mint Pepsi or sushi pizza. And there are literally dozens of Kit Kat flavors in Japan, including grilled corn, cantaloupe and soy sauce! If you want to know more, NPR did a taste test of several crazy Kit Kat flavors last year and there's a great blog dedicated to reviewing Japanese snacks.

But until I move to Japan and become overwhelmed by new foods and flavors, I am content to try new American candies like cotton candy pop-rocks and pretzel M&Ms.

new M&Ms and very old water

The first thing that I noticed about the new M&Ms is how huge they are, almost the size of marbles. If I had to, I think I could probably fit 60 or 70 standard M&Ms into my mouth at once, but I doubt that I could fit more than two dozen of these bad boys. I know I got the same amount of candy as if I'd bought dark chocolate M&MS (because they measure by weight), but I still felt slightly cheated because I got so many fewer M&MS. When it comes to M&Ms, bigger is not better in my book. I guess that's why I like chocolate chip cookies better than chocolate chunk.

On the taste front, there were no big surprises. I've had plenty of experience eating chocolate covered pretzels before, and they tasted like smaller, candy coated versions of those. The pretzel quality was much closer to pretzels from the delicious snack Combos than classic bag pretzels, which I enjoyed. Overall I'd say the new pretzel M&Ms are good, but not great. They don't bring anything new to my snacking needs and there are already many other M&M flavors I'd rather purchase. If you've had the new M&Ms, let me know what you thought in the comments.

This Week's Bucket List Additions 6

2011-02-25T14:44:00.000-08:00

The world is so big and full of beautiful people and places, how can anyone not want to see it all? The allure of comfort and the strength of fear keep us all from pursuing things on our bucket list. I just finished watching 'Eat. Love. Pray.' on a rainy day, and I was struck by one piece of wisdom, (actually I was struck by several, but this seems most relevant to my current ramblings). In the movie Julia Roberts begins a quest to find passion and balance in her life and although it's difficult she said, (I'm paraphrasing) 'I can't just stay the same because I'm afraid of being destroyed.' So this week, every thing I put on my bucket list is something that scares me.

-Go Skydiving. Difficulty Rating 6 out of 10:

I want to jump out of a plane, plummet like a rock for several minutes and then float gently and majestically down to earth. I want the adrenaline rush, I want the breathtaking view, and I want the bragging rights. I want to conquer my fear. But I really don't know if I want to do something where the negatives include horrible, painful death. I guess any activity has a chance of ending in death, but some are certainly much riskier than others. Maybe I'll go skydiving someday, maybe I won't. But I think maybe I will.

Going indoor skydiving with my wife a few years ago

-Pick Up a Hitch-hiker. Difficulty Rating 7 out of 10:
I want the world to be full of generosity. I want people to help each other every day in small, easy ways. And I want us all to be more trusting, but it's scary. I think it was Gandhi who said that we must, 'be the change that we want to see in the world.' So I want to pick up hitch-hikers. Once, when I was in college, my car broke down in the middle of nowhere. This was before I had a cell phone and I was in for a long hard walk until some kind strangers picked me up and drove me all the way to my parents house. I have always been grateful for their kindness and I hope one day to pass it on.

-Have a Kid. Difficulty Rating 9 out of 10:
Children seem like such a mixed bag. Who doesn't want to pass on their wisdom and love? How can you not want to mold the world's future in such a tangible way? Having a child is in many ways an excuse to return to your childhood and play with toys and see things with new wonder. But kids also mean less freedom, less sleep and less money. I think I'd have regrets at the end of my life if I never had a child, but they scare me so much.

A Simple Valentine's Day

2011-02-23T12:57:00.000-08:00

Last week my wife and I celebrated Valentine's Day, probably one of America's most controversial holidays just behind Columbus Day. It seems to make single people feel like they can't celebrate with everyone else and sometimes makes attached people feel like they must put on some big show to prove their feelings. Shouldn't we show our loved ones what they mean to us all year long? Do we really need a day to remind us to appreciate our loved ones? Maybe not, but are birthdays REALLY necessary? Do we need a day dedicated to talking like a pirate? We might not need them, but all these holidays give us an excuse to celebrate. Some times life gets busy, and it's nice to have yearly reminders to slow down or be silly or make an effort to be romantic.

Balloons I picked up at the dollar store.

My wife and I didn't celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14 this year. Like most holidays we treat Valentine's more like a season than just one day. I don't like how anti-climatic most holidays are, all that planning and build-up and then they only last for a few hours? That's why I love Christmas and Halloween, because you get to decorate and celebrate for weeks at a time. This year we had a nice simple date the day before and the day after Valentine's Day.

The day before, we took advantage of IHOP's all-you-can-eat shrimp promotion. We found a nice comfortable booth to play card games and get stuffed on a constant supply of shrimp. There's nothing like traveling through time to stop Lincoln's assassination all while eating unlimited shrimp next to the one you love. It was like a little preview of heaven and it took me back to the golden days of high school and college when I'd spend hours and hours playing games and snacking at cafes or coffee shops with my friends.

Chrononauts: a time traveling card game

The day after Valentine's my wife took me to the mall, where she got me exactly what I wanted: A GIANT COOKIE! I love cookies at LEAST as much as cookie monster, and giant cookies fill me with pure bliss. There's also a giant cookie incident in my past that has deeply affected me, maybe I'll blog about it someday. Anyway, a giant cookie is always a great gift in my mind and my wife came through big time this year. I feel so lucky to have someone in my life who understands me so well, so I guess Valentine's Day did it's job for me this year and helped give me another small reminder of how fortunate I am.

This Week's Bucket List Additions 5

2011-02-18T15:39:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't posted much this week. I picked up a bug my wife brought back from her trip to North Carolina and haven't had a lot of energy. But I've feeling better now, and I wouldn't want to miss a chance to add to my bucket list. I checked a few off recently, but I'll blog about that later. For now here are this week's additions to my bucket list:

-Watch the 'Godfather' movies. Difficulty Rating: 2 out of 10
They're on any critics' list of the top 100 movies of all time, I see references to them in other shows all the time, and they won a bunch of academy awards. I think we should all take more time to better understand our own culture and its influences and for that reason alone I feel like I should watch the Godfather movies. But I'm also fascinated by the Mafia. I think the Mafia are the ultimate cautionary tale of what people can become when they let making money become their primary motivation. When protecting our money becomes our top priority, it can lead us to some dark places.

-Spend a Week Without Modern Technology. Difficulty Rating: 5 out of 10
I think most modern technology is wonderful and enriches our lives in many ways that we often take for granted. Going Amish for a week will hopefully give me a fresh perspective on the ease with which I live my life. But I also think that modern technology also distracts us from many of the smaller joys in life. Without Facebook's constant calls to read about my friends' day, maybe I'll be able to reconnect with some of the simple pleasures I'm sure I'm missing. At the very least, it should fill my week with new adventures and variety and slow down life's pace for a little while. I'm sure there will be great temptation to make exceptions to my self imposed electronic exile. But if I don't give in, I'll have a great sense of accomplishment and hopefully I'll have seen the world from a new perspective.

At a Renaissance festival a few years ago

-Move to Japan. Difficulty Rating 6 out of 10:
This will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me, as I've been working toward this goal for awhile now. My wife and I both want to live abroad because we think experiencing other cultures is vitally important. I think everyone should travel, it's important to see that there are other ways to view the world just as valid as our own or that despite our differences, we still have much in common with people in other cultures. Why do I want to move to Japan in particular? A myriad of reasons, I guess. Japan is the first culture I remember being aware of outside my own. Since then, the more of Japan I encountered, the more I enjoyed it and the more I wanted to learn about Japan. I enjoy Japanese food, Japanese movies and anime, Japanese culture, and the Japanese language. In college I minored in Japanese and I talk once a week on Skype with a Japanese friend to help me practice. I hope to become completely fluent.

What will I do while I'm in Japan? Something I love. Two years ago, after volunteering as a tutor to help people learn English as a second language, I realized how much I enjoyed teaching ESL. Getting to meet people from around the world and helping them achieve their dreams and goals is so much fun and teaching English as a Second Language is an exciting rewarding job. So I went back to school and got certified to teach English. Last summer I taught English to high school kids from Europe who were here for an international English summer camp and recently I taught adult ESL classes in Manhattan.

So teaching English in Japan is kinda my dream job. Next week I have an interview to help teach school children in Japan through the JET Program and I'm very excited and almost as nervous. I've worked hard to get to this point, and I'm excited for the next step.

Mt. Fuji in Japan

From Wikipedia.org

This Week's Bucket List Additions 4

2011-02-11T15:35:00.000-08:00

-See Spiderman on Broadway. Difficulty Rating 4 out of 10:
I was hoping it would be good and lead to more superheroes on Broadway, but if the reviews are right, and they probably are, it's going to be awful. It might even be dangerous, based on the number or injuries their stunt-people have racked up. But how could I NOT support a union between two of my favorite kinds of entertainment: Superheroes and Broadway Musicals. This is a grand, risky production and I'd like to support those who take bold risks in the world. Even if it is bad, I think it's going to be so epically bad it'll still be entertaining and memorable. Hopefully I won't have to pay full price for tickets, but it might be awhile before the tickets show up at TKTS for half price. For now, at least, the theater seems to be full.

-Operate a bed and breakfast with my wife. Difficulty Rating 8 out of 10:
My wife has always dreamed of running a B&B. She likes helping people, and wants to create a place for them to get away from the world, perhaps gain a new perspective on their life. That's what initially led her to work at camp, where we met. I love meeting new people and hearing their stories. And I LOVE to plan new adventures and trips for people. My wife and I struggle sometimes trying to plan our lives in such a way that we can both pursue our dreams without the other person having to sacrifice theirs. But this is one dream that we both seem to share, an intersection of both our passions. I look forward one day to helping strangers find comfort and adventure alongside my wife.

-Own a house with a secret passageway. Difficulty Rating 6 out of 10

It's funny what sticks with you from your childhood, but I think we owe it to ourselves to pursue our earliest dreams. Some people pretend that they've outgrown their childhood dreams, but I think that's just another word for giving up. It's clear that our earliest experiences and dreams shape us and I've always wanted to live in a house with a secret passageway to a cool hideout. It shouldn't be that difficult to put a few hinges on a bookshelf or use a little drywall to build a false wall with a large hole hidden behind a picture. If you want a secret room in your house but don't have the time or carpentry skills, check out www.hiddenpassageway.com.

Surfing on a Snow Covered Beach

2011-02-07T19:33:00.000-08:00

As you probably know, my wife and I moved to the beach last July and it's been a wonderful experience. I've tried my best to take advantage of the beach and I've been boogie boarding, thrown starfish back into the sea, had picnics and watched the sunrise on the beach. Although I imagined that nothing would happen on the beach once winter arrived. While things have certainly slowed down, people still find reasons to dive into the ocean even when it's below freezing.

A few weeks ago my wife and I just happened to visit the beach when a group of people know as the 'Ancient Order of Hibernians' gathered over 400 people together and then they plunged into the 40 degree water. Apparently they raised over $100,000 dollars for charity, a pretty impressive feat.

Hundreds gathered for Sea Bright's annual Polar Bear swim

'I can't feel my feet.'

Lifeguards on hand, wearing space suits?

The other day, I also saw a pair of surfers ready to brave the winter weather in the search for fun and adventure. I admire these guys' passion and dedication. They must really love what they do, if they're willing to surf with snow on the beach. I think when you're truly following your bliss, no obstacle feels too large.

The beach is a great place in the summer, so full of energy and joyful people. But I also love the beach in the winter. I love how quiet and peaceful it almost always seems, when the summer crowds are gone. When I'm the only one on the beach, which happens often in cold weather, nature's voice seems much stronger. If you've only been to the beach when it's sunny and warm, I suggest you try taking a walk on the beach during the winter. It's a completely different and very worthwhile experience.

A different kind of beauty

This Week's Bucket List Additions 3

2011-02-04T12:32:00.000-08:00

-Become a Baron. Difficutly rating: 2 out of 10
Specifically, I want to become a baron of Sealand, described by some as the world's smallest nation. Sealand is a fascinating story, I think. Apparently, during World War II, England built several sea forts to defend themselves against German air raids. (Sea Forts!? This story is already awesome!) After the war had been won, England abandoned these forts, several of which sat in international waters outside of any nation's borders. In 1967 Major Paddy Roy Bates began living on one of the forts, broadcasting pirate radio and declared the fort his own nation, the Principality of Sealand. He created his own constitution, flag, anthem and even minted coins and stamps. The English courts eventually declared they had no jurisdiction over him after the navy tried to charge him for firing warning shots at them.

Sealand Coat of Arms

Years later, Sealand even fought a 'war'. While Major Paddy was away on vacation, a German 'businessman' and some of his Dutch henchmen invaded Sealand and took Prince Michael hostage. Major Paddy returned to Sealand, subdued and imprisoned the invaders, and even forced Germany to send a diplomat to negotiate for the release of the prisoners! To this day the German businessman claims to be the rightful king of Sealand in exile.

Picture of Sealand from Wikipedia.org

And how do I plan to become a Baron? Because Sealand is so small, it has very few citizens or businesses to tax. (Their only real business is a high-security internet hosting company that leases space on the fort.) Therefore Sealand sells nobility deeds online to help raise government funds. You can become a Lord, Lady, Baron or Baroness of Sealand for only £30! Maybe for my next birthday, I'll become a Baron!

-Sell a Photograph to Someone I Don't Know. Difficulty Rating: 5 out of 10
I think that all of us have an artist inside. We all try to express ourselves through song or dance or blog sometimes. Everyone tries to share something beautiful or true that they have seen on occasion. Certainly we all create, whether it's a story or a sweater or a picture. And with that, we all have some need to be recognized as talented or unique or entertaining. For some that means we want others to laugh at a joke we have crafted. Maybe others want people to wear their sweaters or marvel at the Magic: the gathering decks they've built. I want a stranger to see one of my pictures and find it valuable enough to buy. I've started asking local libraries and coffee shops if I can get some of my pictures on their walls, and hopefully this will lead me to my goal.

-Visit Every Continent. Difficulty Rating: 8 out of 10
I've always loved to learn, and what is travel if not learning about the world? I want to learn about other cultures and places and I want to do it firsthand. I want to experience the great diversity and beauty this world has to offer and share some of my culture with others around the world. I'm sure it will take awhile to visit every continent, but this is certainly one bucket list entry where the journey is more important than the goal. My ultimate goal is to learn about the world and share meaningful experiences with people far and near. Visiting every continent is just a convenient and catchy way to paraphrase this goal. Which is why I may also make an exception for visiting Antarctica.

The Price of Becoming a Bond Villain

2011-02-01T09:32:00.000-08:00

A few days ago I googled the word 'island' and stumbled across a website that sells private islands! So I obviously began thinking, how much would it cost to become a Bond Villain? Here are the fruits of my research:

Secret Lair: $499,000 - Every good villain needs a place to plan their evil plans, quietly lie in wait, and build dastardly contraptions. Sure you could probably use your mom's garage as a secret lair, but if you want to be a villain cool enough to make it into a James Bond movie, you're gonna need an awesome secret lair. That's where PrivateIslandsOnline.com can help. There are plenty of islands to choose from, some starting as low as $30,000. But I choose this island for several reasons. One, it comes with a house and a barbecue grill. Two, it's fairly close to civilization. Three, and most most importantly, the name of the island is LITERALLY 'Secret Island'. How cool is that?

Personal Submarine: $58,000 - Any good villain needs a way to return to his or her lair in secret. International Venture Craft Corp. has several models of personal submarines for sale including a one-person submarine that sells for only $32K. But I chose the 'SportSub III' model because it can carry up to three people, so aspiring villains can use it to easily transport robot body-parts, giant chests of pirate treasure or even a bodyguard and an incapacitated super-spy back to their secret base.

Henchmen (Private Bodyguard): $200 to $900 a day - I looked around for exact prices, and while most websites offering personal protection have lots of very impressive pictures of men dressed in black suits carrying weapons, none of them seemed to have upfront pricing. Luckily, whatitcosts.com gives price estimates for almost anything, including hiring bodyguards. You'll probably want to hire between 2 to 12 henchmen depending on what stage of your operation you're currently undertaking.

Deathtrap: starts at $1000 - What are you going to do when you eventually defeat your nemesis and reveal your secret plans to them? Why not feed them to your pet lion? Apparently for around a thousand dollars you can purchase a baby lion cub on the internet, and raise it to hunt super spies. I have no idea what an adult lion costs if you want to take shortcuts. (I in no way endorse actually purchasing a lion cub for any reason, I may or may not endorse hunting super spies.)

Evil Plan to Conquer the World: Priceless - I was unable to find any evil plans for sale via the internet, so I guess you'll have to handle this yourself. Although, destroying the world to start a new race of perfect humans on the moon is always a classic. If you still need help, I recommend watching a bunch of Bond movies.

Total Cost: Approximately $600,000 - I estimated about two weeks worth of henchmen and added an extra $30,000 for various expenses that may pop-up. This will probably only get you through your first month as a super villain, after that you'll have to kidnap a princess or invade Fort Knox to raise more funds. Now, $600,000 is certainly not chump change, but it's definitely within the realm of possibilities. I always thought that becoming a Bond Villain would be much more expensive.

Our New Toy, A Kindle

2011-01-31T10:51:00.000-08:00

Staples recently sent me a bunch of store credit, a hundred and fourteen dollars in store credit to be precise. They call it 'Staples Rewards' and I'm not exactly sure why they sent it to me, I guess we must have bought a lot of printer ink. At first I wasn't sure what I'd do, I don't need a hundred dollars worth of spiral notebooks and push pins, but then I realized that Staples sells the Kindle. So I spent my credit and an extra $25 to purchase my first electronic reading device.

Kindle surrounded by some of my treasures

It's an incredible piece of technology, the Kindle. It's very thin and even lighter than I thought it would be. I quickly downloaded H. G. Wells' 'The Time Machine' (for free) and started reading it to see how it felt on my eyes. In my opinion, reading on the Kindle is almost as nice as a real book. I wish the background were a bit whiter, it's currently light grey, but it's clear enough that I don't notice once I start reading. Downloading books is quick, easy and nearly all of the great classics in the public domain are available for free.

As nice as the Kindle is, we don't really need it, not yet anyway. I get all of my books from the library, so the fact that ebooks are usually cheaper than their tree killing counterparts doesn't matter much to me. And we don't do enough traveling to put Kindle's ability to carry thousands of books in its tiny package to real use. But later this year my wife and I are planning to move to Japan, where English books will be much harder to find. We bought the Kindle so that when we leave America, we won't have to sacrifice our ability to read any book we want whenever we want. Buying a Kindle brings us one step closer to Japan, and I'm starting to realize how very close we actually are.

This Week's Bucket List Additions 2

2011-01-28T16:10:00.000-08:00

Every week, I am inspired to try out new adventures and I've decided to keep track of new additions to my bucket list each Friday. You can see what I added to my list last week here and this weeks additions below.

-Spend a night at an ice hotel. Difficulty rating: 7 out of 10
When I saw the British super-agent James Bond visit an ice hotel in 'Die Another Day' I knew I HAD to visit one for myself someday. I think most kids dream of adventures in igloos and giant snow forts, I know I certainly did. So when I realized that people really do build massive hotels out of ice, I was filled with childish excitement. It seems that every December in Sweden they build the world's largest Ice Hotel from scratch, including a bar, a church, reception hall and enough rooms for 100 people. It's not cheap, simple accommodations for 2 in a snow room with sleeping bags runs about $500 a night, but what a truly unique experience! Plus there are all kinds of exciting things to do while you're there. You can watch the northern lights from horseback, go dog sledding, watch cultural performances and even go on something called a 'moose safari'. Moose Safari! I'd love to visit the world's largest and first ice hotel, but there are several others I'd be just as happy to visit, including one in Japan.

Hanging out in an ice tunnel I built with my wife after a recent blizzard

-Try the new pretzel M&Ms. Difficulty rating: 1 out of 10
I know I'm a little late to the bandwagon on this one, but I love it when new varieties of M&Ms are released. A new M&M flavor is a tiny reminder that humanity is still making progress in our slow forward march toward utopia. It's a very small step toward perfection, but it's exciting none the less. Here are my top 3 flavors of M&Ms: #1 Dark Chocolate. Dark chocolate is always a superior choice to milk chocolate in my book. #2 Mint. Usually these come out around Christmas, so I have a lot of warm memories associated with them. #3 Peanut Butter. This is the first 'new' variety of M&M introduced in my lifetime, and it blew my mind. I doubt the new pretzel M&M will make it into my top 3, but eating a new flavor of M&M is still worth a mini-celebration.

Hanging out in a previous Halloween costume

-Take dancing lessons with my wife. Difficulty rating 4 out of 10
After watching 'Billy Elliot' on Broadway, I was inspired to add more dancing to my life. So I decided to try and find a place to take dancing lessons with my wife. Ballroom dancing would probably be fun, but I think I'd prefer something more like swing dancing or salsa dancing. I guess we'll just see what options are available nearby.

Views From Bridges

2011-01-27T16:05:00.000-08:00

I kinda live on an island. I think it's technically a peninsula, but whenever I want to go somewhere I have to drive over a bridge. Which is fine with me because I LOVE bridges, especially when I'm on foot. Some of the best views in the world are from bridges.

View of my town in the Summer from a bridge

View of my town in the Winter from a bridge

Today when I was taking some pictures from one of our bridges, the whole world just seemed so peaceful. It bothers me when bridges don't have pedestrian walkways. There's a bridge we take every time we go into New York City that has a gorgeous view of the city's skyline. But I can't take a picture because there's no sidewalk on that bridge. At least the bridge has a pullover lane, so one of these days I'm going to fake a flat tire and take some pictures.

Some pictures from a recent trip to the Brooklyn Bridge

All Four Seasons in the Garden State

2011-01-26T16:09:00.000-08:00

Before moving to New Jersey I spent nearly a decade living in the deserts of Arizona. I went to high school in Phoenix, college in Tucson and encountered very little seasonal diversity during those times. Arizona is a beautiful and unique place, but all the seasons feel a lot like summer. It rarely snows there and the botany mostly consists of cacti and imported palm trees. Before I left the desert, I had vague memories of the four seasons from a childhood spent in Oklahoma and Tennessee, but I was not prepared for the strength and vibrancy of each season. After moving to the garden state, I was completely captivated by the beauty and spectacle of the four seasons; I had to try and capture them on film (or SD card to be more accurate). I've posted links to most of these albums before, but now that the project is finished I felt they should all be together. Click the links below to watch my Flickr albums for each season.

Fall: Persephone departs and nature mourns

Winter: Persephone, Queen of the Underworld

Spring: Persephone returns and nature rejoices

Summer: Persephone, Goddess of Vegetation

I hope you enjoyed the change of the seasons as much as I did. I think I'd like to focus another series on the four seasons, this time concentrating on the less glamorous phases of each season like dead, brown leaves in fall, dirty snow in winter, sweltering heat in summer. Because I don't just want to capture beauty with my camera, ultimately what I'm looking to capture is truth.

Some Observations About Snow

2011-01-25T09:56:00.000-08:00

This morning I woke up to discover that it was snowing outside once more. They were giant, fluffy flakes that drifted from the sky so calmly it felt like the world was moving in slow motion. Snow always makes me feel calm and in some strange way connected to the past. A lot has changed in the few thousand years humankind has lived on this blue-green dot. Our culture has changed, the earth's animals have changed, the earth's plants have changed, even the great big ocean is always changing. But not snow, snow is one of the few constants in this world. Sure there are different kinds of snow, and once it lands it never just stays pristine. But this is how snow has always been. Since the very first person saw their very first snowflake, snow has always been cold and white and beautiful.

Some things I have observed about snow:

Snow is not as easy to tunnel through as I had imagined. Tunneling is never easy business, even when it's through snow. If someone ever says to you, "lets go make a snow tunnel!", be prepared to get cold, wet and tired. It's still a worthwhile experience, just don't expect it to be easy.

Snow makes it easier to see our dirt and harder to hide our trash. Sometimes I forget how dirty cars are and how much grime they spew out into the world. But snow will not let me forget this. As I drive around town and see how dirty and contaminated the snow is next to the road, I'm reminded what my drive around town is contributing to this world.

Snow makes it easier to stay on path and harder to wander off. Sometimes unlimited choice is a bad thing, like when I have to buy cereal. I hate picking out cereal, there are too many varieties. Do I get the healthy kind? The cheapest brand? The one with marshmallows that reminds me of my childhood? When it snows, there are fewer paths outside. Snow sometimes makes me feel like I'm in a maze, and I must choose my path wisely. This is a welcome change from summer, where I often choose to walk on the grass instead of the sidewalk and then usually get distracted. (I read somewhere that grass is healthier for your back.) I still wander off the path in winter too (Snow is so crunchy!) just less so.

Snow is such a simple and powerful presence during winter. It changes my world completely for a few months, and for that I am grateful.

A Blog about Billy Elliot and Dancing

2011-01-22T09:29:00.000-08:00

I'm a big fan of Broadway Musicals. I always leave the theater inspired to live more passionately (and sometimes outlandishly) and I always leave feeling lucky to live near NYC. Thursday night my wife and I saw 'Billy Elliot'.

my wife outside the theater for Billy Elliot

It was the kind of show that other Broadway shows all want to be. It's replaced the former champ 'Wicked' as my new favorite Broadway Musical. 'Billy Elliot' is about a kid who grows up in a small mining town and falls in love with ballet. Billy fights to get others to accept a boy who loves to dance ballet. Later his whole community fights to keep his dream of going to the Royal Ballet School alive when times are tough and the whole mining town is on strike. Like 'Wicked', 'Billy Elliot' is all about being yourself and following your dreams.

my wife dancing with Donald Duck at her brother's wedding in Disney World

Also, it's a show about dancing.....a lot. They talk about dancing, they sing about dancing, they DANCE about dancing. I've never been very good at shaking a leg, but watching such high-caliber, joy filled dancing has inspired me. It has inspired me to get in touch with my inner caveman, as Billy's ballet instructor would say, and search out some dance lessons that my wife and I can take together. It should be a fun adventure and I can't wait.

Some of my favorite lyrics from 'Billy Elliot':

"Everyone is different / It's the natural state / It's the facts, it's plain to see, / The world's grey enough without making it worse / What we need is in-div-id-ual-ity."

"What the hell is wrong with expressing yourself? / For trying to be free.

If you wanna be a dancer, dance
If you wanna be a miner, mine
If you want to dress like somebody else,
Fine, fine, fine."

"It doesn't matter if your life's a mess,

the whole process will coalesce,
just try to effervescent,
all you really have to do is shine."

"We walk proudly, and we walk strong
All together we will go as one
The ground is empty, and cold as hell
But we all go together when we go."

"Solidarity, Solidarity. Solidarity for ever."

I'd be happy if I could live my life in a way that others might say it was like a Broadway musical; sometimes life was good, sometimes life was tough. But through it all he sang and danced and tried his best to inspire.

This Week's Bucket List Additions 1

2011-01-21T08:16:00.000-08:00

I'm constantly discovering new places I want to visit or thing I want to do. I think it would be fun to keep track of new additions to my bucket list once a week here on my blog. Maybe it will even help me have better follow through pursuing some of my goals and dreams. So here are this week's additions:

-Fly around in a Zeppelin dressed in a suit and top hat: Difficulty rating 6 of 10

I can't imagine why Disney World doesn't have a fleet of Zeppelins to carry people between their parks and hotels. If you really want to focus on the journey rather than the destination, what better way to travel is there than by Airship? Airships have the romanticism of hot air balloons, the freedom of movement of helicopters, and the luxury of cruise ships. Unfortunately zeppelin travel is not cheap or plentiful. But at least it is possible, Zeppelin NT offers several flights over Europe and San Francisco. One day I'll be soaring through the skies in style with no hurry to land.

captured from a highway in Southern California, on our way to a friend's wedding

-Visit Every Town in America: Difficulty rating 9 of 10

When I was in high school, one of my teachers told me, "a lot of people say that America is a melting-pot where other cultures come and they all blend together. But I think it's more like a salad bowl; each piece of the salad keeps it's own flavor, but together they make something great." I hear a lot of people talk about 'American Culture' and 'The American Dream', and usually they mean 'my culture' and 'my dreams'. That's fine, but I think American is much less homogeneous than most people think. I want to see all of America's diversity and hear each town's story. America is such a huge, diverse place this goal will not be easy to accomplish. But even if I don't finish, I think the journey will be well worth it.

captured on a trip to Scranton, setting of the American TV show 'The Office'

- Display some of my photos at a library: Difficulty rating 5 of 10
I love to take pictures, and like most people I love to share my passions with others. I visit my local library once or twice a week and I always love seeing the new art exhibits. We all have the ability to make the world better through something we've created whether it's art or science or a child. One day I'll have my own exhibit in a library and share some of the beauty I've seen in this world with others.

taken on the beach in Sea Bright, NJ

Throwing Starfish into the Sea

2011-01-19T17:52:00.000-08:00

snapshot of our beach today

Today, I went for a walk along the beach with my wife. Since we moved to Sea Bright last July, we've walked along this beach many times and I've become very familiar with it. But today I found something I'd never seen at our beach before.

a starfish on our beach

I've scoured that beach a dozen times, and I'd never seen a starfish before. But today I found three of them trapped by the low tides in the ruins of an old dock. When I first found them, they were covered with dry sand and I thought them no longer alive. But after my wife had recovered one, she said it still felt squishy and asked if we should return it to the sea. I thought we should try, even if there was only small chance it would help. As soon as the first wave touched it, the starfish returned almost immediately back to life and my heart filled with joy for this tiny ocean creature.

dock ruins where I found three starfish imprisoned

We returned all three starfish back to the sea, and one clam that we found along the shore as well. Returning these starfish to the sea was a unique, life affirming experience. Of course I've heard the parable about the boy throwing starfish back into the sea that teaches us even a small gesture can make a big difference to those in need. But to live out that story in the real world was a beautiful gift. I think helping is always a gift for both parties. What a pleasant reminder these starfish gave to me; pay attention to the world and help where I can.

tossing a clam back into the embrace of the sea

Steampunk State of Mind

2011-01-17T20:54:00.000-08:00

I'm saving up money to purchase a top-hat and there are several British accents wandering around my head. Some of them even pop out when I'm asking my wife about her day. I constantly wonder what it's like to fly around in a zepplin. Yes, I'm reading 'The Affinity Bridge' a steampunk novel and I'm having a little difficulty separating my fantasy world from quotidian life. Does this happen to everyone? For those that don't know, steampunk is a fantasy genre set in an alternate universe where people usually dress and talk like they are from Victorian England, ride around in Hindenburg-esque airships, power everything with steam and make crazy clockwork gadgets.

Collection of common Steampunk goggles for sale at NY Comicon.

My wife and I love the romantic and quirky style of steampunk, and have already decided that our next matching costumes should be steampunk. (Our first costumes were Star Trek uniforms) I'm so glad I married someone who likes to get all dressed up and pretend to be someone else (or Cosplay as the kids are calling it). There's a parlor in New York City that won't let you in unless you're dressed in steampunk style that I can't wait to visit.

from the now defunct Nippon Airship Corporation (seriously, how cool is that name!?)

I also had grand plans for flying above Tokyo in a zeppelin airship dressed in a black suit and top hat once we moved to Japan. But sadly, I just discovered the company that gave tours of Tokyo in a dirigible, the Nippon Airship Corporation, has gone bankrupt. I guess not enough people wanted to pay twelve hundred dollars to slowly drift over Tokyo in style. But it looks like another company operates several airships in Europe and San Francisco, so perhaps we'll take a ride in one of those Zeppelins one day soon.

from the Etsy steampunk flickr pool

If, like me, you are looking for awesome steampunk accessories, Etsy.com is a great place to go. Do a search for 'Steam Team' or steampunk, and you'll be amazed at the level of quality you'll find. Now if I can just find a good top hat store. Honestly, if anyone has any recommendations where I can find a nice top hat, PLEASE let me know.

Well, I must head off to find out if detectives Newbury & Hobbes can solve the mystery of who sabotaged the crashed zeppelin and stop the zombie plague terrorizing the slums of London. If you want to learn more about steampunk, check these out:

http://thesteampunkhome.blogspot.com/

http://www.steampunktribune.com/

And a taste of steampunk culture from the TV show 'Castle':

My Wife's New Coat

2011-01-14T13:02:00.000-08:00

My wife is not usually a fashionable person. Beautiful, yes, but fashionable, no. Her wardrobe consists of several pairs of jeans, two dozen T-shirts, two dresses for special occasions, and a suit. My fashion is even worse. It's not that we don't like nice clothes, we just save our money for other priorities, things that we find more important, like tickets to Broadway shows or gas money for road trips. But recently, thanks to a few gift cards from our parents and some department store holiday sales, my wife has been upgrading her style.

My favorite new purchase is her white pea-coat. I find it completely enchanting, and each time she puts it on I feel like I'm married to a famous movie star. In my eyes, that pea-coat is the epitome of NYC fashion. When I see her in it, I'm reminded how lucky we are. As a kid I dreamed of living in New York City. Now I live on a beach with a view of the Empire State Building, work in Manhattan, and have a beautiful wife. I can understand how some people get addicted to the thrill of shopping or the pursuit of fashion. What we wear can transform us, which I learned from Batman.

"Fashion is only the attempt to realize art in living forms..." ~Sir Francis Bacon

Summer, a nice place to visit

2011-01-12T22:23:00.000-08:00

My wife and I recently went back to Tucson to visit with some family for the holidays. The Southwest has a unique, exotic beauty. The sky is never so open as it is in the desert. My wife finds a certain freedom and joy in such wide open skies and distance horizons. While I on the other hand find it somewhat...oppressive. At least during the day. The sunsets are certainly beautiful in the desert, and at night the stars are spectacular.

An Arizona sunset captured while on vacation

It felt really good to visit Arizona during the winter and get a taste of warmer weather. A blizzard had just hit the East Coast, and it was nice to have a quick escape. But it was even nicer to return to glorious winter after our brief vacation. My world just doesn't feel complete without four seasons. Enjoying warm weather during winter is like eating breakfast for dinner; it's a fun, exciting change on occasion, but I wouldn't want to do it all the time. I love summer, but if I get too much it loses it shine. I spent a decade or so living in Arizona and I grew very tired of summer and sunny days. Constant summer is like eating your favorite meal everyday, without variety things begin to taste bland and boring.

But I don't just love winter because it makes me appreciate warmer weather. Cold weather forces me to live in the moment, which is sometimes hard for me. The cold can make even an ordinary day an adventure or a battle. Winter tests us all and keeps us sharp and strong. And how could I go without the beauty of snow or the joy of sledding and snowball fights and building snow tunnels and snow men! Hot chocolate never tastes as good as it does in the winter. Yes, my soul needs winter. Although sometimes, like exercise, I don't realize how good it is for me until I have it.

Our beach shortly after returning home

I love winter as much as I love summer, spring and fall. And though I loved taking a brief vacation from winter, it feels so good to return to normal.

"If all the year were playing holidays, to sport would be as tedious as to work." -William Shakespeare King Henry IV Part I Act 1 scene 2

Ghost Towers

2010-09-14T11:56:00.000-07:00

I went out to my beach a few nights ago and was treated to a spectacular view of New York City. I think it's great that something so sad can be remembered with such quiet beauty. I don't have much wisdom to offer about September 11th other than don't generalize, don't take the easy way out, and forgive others if you truly want to move forward. This advice applies to most of life, but sometimes we can forget it during times of great fear or anger.

View from my beach on September 10th

Spider-man on Broadway

2010-08-15T18:27:00.000-07:00

I REALLY hope this show is good. But I'm a little worried. For one, it's already been cancelled and brought back from oblivion once. Also, there are a lot of big names attached: Bono from U2, Julie Taymor who directed the Lion King on Broadway and also the movie 'Across the Universe', and of course the web-slinger himself. Strong, brilliant personalities don't always work out like Rogers & Hammerstein or McCartney & Lennon, sometimes they crash and burn.

I hope this project (I've heard it's not really a musical, but there is a lot of music in it) does really well, not because I particularly love Spider-man (he's ok), but because I'd LOVE to see more superheroes and geek culture icons in Broadway shows.

Joss Whedon in particular seems to have some GREAT properties well suited for Broadway. Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is tailor made for Broadway, and Buffy's already proven it can work as a musical on TV. Do I think 'The Incredible Hulk' would work as some kind of mad, operatic Broadway Musical? Heck Yes I Do!

But perhaps the Broadway musical that would MOST excite me would be a 'Final Crisis' Musical. Imagine a chorus of Darkseid's minions chanting as they drag the Earth down into darkness, Batman's death song as he breaks his two most solemn oaths, never to use a gun and never to kill, and of COURSE the shows-stopping number when Superman literally sings the universe back into existence with a song. Final Crisis is everything a good musical should be: Epic, crazy, and colorful.

If Spider-man works on Broadway, maybe...just MAYBE there is hope for a 'Final Crisis' Broadway musical. And since watching that musical is on my bucket list, I sincerely hope 'Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark' is a spectacularly good show.

Do what you love in front of others

2010-08-13T08:32:00.000-07:00

"The thing I remember best about successful people I've met all through the years is their obvious delight in what they're doing... and it seems to have very little to do with worldly success. They just love what they're doing, and they love it in front of others." -Mr. Rogers

I think that might just be the best advice I've ever seen or heard: Love what you do, and Love it in front of others. I went into New York City yesterday, and I found people everywhere following this advice

Whether it was two people in love with each other and not afraid to kiss in a fountain.

Or a ninja and photographer capturing incredible feats of human movement, unafraid of being called silly or strange.

Or a man who loves to commune with nature, even in a big city where many people are too busy to notice or care about pesky pigeons.

Or a future entertainer, trying out his new show on the masses. Unafraid of poor reviews or a disinterested audience. (BTW it was a great puppet show.)

That's something I Love about New York City. There are so many people, and so much diversity, people can do almost anything they want and not seem out of place. When people regularly dress as Elmo or the naked cowboy and take pictures with tourists for money, everyone else can be less self conscious. Because compared to waking through times square almost naked and taking thousands of pictures with strangers, whatever you do seems pretty normal. I've heard camera makers use the same psychological tricks. They always produce a fantastically expensive top line model so that their 'mid-range' models seem more reasonable in comparison. Normal is whatever falls between the extreme highs and lows. And New York City is definitely a place of extremes, so you can feel normal doing whatever you want in public.

Too often we hide who we are from others, afraid of judgement or scorn or ridicule. But if you want to be truly happy, you must be strong and do what you Love in front of others. And don't just do it for yourself, doing what you love in public helps others be more comfortable with who they are.

And my last piece of advice is this: ALWAYS stop to watch a children's puppet show.

The World Needs More Art

2010-08-11T19:08:00.000-07:00

I don't care how much art there is in the world, there needs to be more. Everyone should create a piece of art at least once a week. Paint, write, photograph, braid, I don't care. But do it with an artful purpose. Come on world, let's make more art. It's good for the soul. You CAN'T get bored when you're making art. Making art is a growthful (<-- is making up words art? maybe.) experience. And looking at art makes life happier too.

The Beach: A new perspective

2010-08-10T19:03:00.000-07:00

I used to hate the beach. Salt water tastes terrible, the Sun gives you burns and cancer, sand traps itself in your pants, shoes and hair fighting any attempt to remove it, and I had a particularly bad experience with a jellyfish once.

But my wife loves the beach. And when you love someone deeply, you get a chance to see the world from a different perspective. I still don't like the sun, but the beach can be a beautiful place. Thanks to my wife, I can see that now.

The Lucky Seagull

2010-08-09T21:08:00.000-07:00

You never know when life is going to send you something strange. Here is a picture of the Empire State Building, a Carnival Cruise ship, and a seagull. I don't often smell roses, but I do see strange beauty nearly every day. I love the strange interconnectedness of these things. Pay attention to life, you never know when it will send you a gift or a sign. Click the picture for a better view:

I hope this seagull gets to go on a cruise someday. I'm sure it's already been to the Empire State Building.

Winter in NY & NY 2009

2010-04-08T16:52:00.000-07:00

Another season has come and gone, so here's another slide show of what I saw this year. A little taste of winter in the Garden State and the Empire State. Follow the link and please enjoy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffowick/sets/72157623683587443/show/.

I do love winter, but I am also glad to see it go. Spring is here and I am filled with joy and rebirth.

Photo Album of Fall in New Jersey (and New York) 2009

2009-12-06T20:54:00.000-08:00

Fall is over here and I've been super busy with work, my ESL classes in New York, and the Holidays. But here's a photo album of my tribute to Fall's beauty. You can watch it in the tiny window below or here's a link to the full screen version: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffowick/sets/72157622937739900/show/

Fall in Madison

2009-09-29T18:38:00.000-07:00

I love driving in Autumn. The roadways are alive with hundreds of dancing leaves. Each one twirling and jumping in the wind trails of cars that pass them by.
And in the fields, nature's great gusts send them surfing through the grass or sailing from the trees as they leap from their safe, lifelong confines and, in their final days, taste freedom for the first time. Floating and dancing in groups as they explore the world.
In a short while their vacation will be over and the trees will be dead and bare, awaiting next year's rebirth. But for now I am reminded, every time I drive, that nothing dies so beautiful as a tree.For whatever reason, I am always reminded of who I am during Autumn. It is for me a coming home. I love the way fall smells and looks and tastes. I am at peace, I am at home whenever fall is here.

My Wife's Summer Journey

2009-08-11T11:40:00.000-07:00

Last night, I slept on a stranger's air mattress in an apartment that is not mine, next to my wife while she waited for the hospital across the street to call and tell her that someone had died and their family needed her comforting presence. For the last 10 weeks, my wife has been interning as a hospital chaplain. Every few weeks she is on call during the night shift, offering anyone a listening ear or shoulder to cry on throughout the night and early morning. Since she must be able to respond quickly, the hospital provides an apartment to stay at while she waits. Last night that's where I was too, contemplating death and emotions.

Although I did not go with my wife on her summer journey our strong connection and understanding has giving me a wide window into her experiences. And I think she would tell you that what she has learned most about life this summer is that life is full of many steps, the last of which is natural and necessary. Death is natural and should be accepted not feared when the time is right. I guess too many people in our culture view death as a tragic event to be prevented at all costs. Most people who don't work at a hospital rarely, if ever, encounter deaths other than those of people they know or feel like they know (like celebrities). So most of our encounters with death are highly emotional and turbulent events. But when you see a stranger near the end of their life journey, it is easier to see that what matters most in life is quality not quantity.

One of my favorite pieces of advice comes from a Dylan Thomas poem, "Do not go gentle into that good night./ Rage, rage against the dying of the light." I think this is great advice for most of our journey on this earth. But as it is with all things, there is a time for rage and a time for peace. I think it might be best if we let life end in peace. Death is a difficult thing but we all must face it someday and I'd rather face it peacefully than full of fear and rage. It's been really hard listening to my wife struggle with the pain and suffering of others this summer, but I'm incredibly proud of her and very glad I could be near her on her journey. May all our lives end in peace.

Cheese-its Star Trek Uniform

2009-08-04T17:43:00.000-07:00

At long last the wait is over! For the past four months, everyday I have gone to the mailbox with excitement in my heart and growing anticipation each day. After all those weeks spent waiting, I was beginning to fear that my T-shirt had perhaps been sent to the wrong planet and some distant Klingon was using my T-shirt to dress his combat training practice dummy.But my fears were unfounded. Last week I finally received the beautiful Star Trek T-shirt I sent away for using a cheese-its box so long ago. I'm very impressed with the quality (I was worried that it might be cheaply manufactured) and when I put it on, I feel like a noble Starfleet officer ready to save the world. I'm sure everyone has that one piece of clothing that instantly boosts their confidence. Maybe it's a little black dress that highlights your curves in just the right way or a baseball hat you've had since highschool that's been stained with tons of memories. For me, this shirt brings out all of my best emotions and gives me the feeling that I can conquer anything. Today is a good day!

New Jersey Eats

2009-07-23T16:01:00.000-07:00

There is a curious culinary phenomenon in New Jersey and the east coast which people here call 'diners'. Diners seem to be defined by their small locations, late hours, and extremely eclectic menu. Although I'm sure there are some exceptions, these small, local restaurants have turned their nose up at the stereotypical restaurant model of drawing in customers with delicious food. Despite their inability to create delicious food, diners litter the landscape by the hundreds here. They remain so popular because people don't go to diners for the food, they go for the company.
When you're at a diner everyone there is your friend. The first diner I ever went to I felt immediately at home. A few minutes after we sat down I asked a woman who had just entered if she could take our picture. This sparked a conversation and soon the entire diner was involved. Later a gentleman came in and sat behind us with a couple already there. He had never met them, but he was instantly welcome at their booth as if he were an old family friend. I've never been anywhere as unconditionaly welcoming and friendly in my entire life.New Jersey is the diner capitol of the world. For it was here diners were born and there are still more diners in Jersey than any other state, not more diners per capita but more diners total. Fairly impressive when you realize that new Jersey is the fourth smallest state in the union. So if you're ever in New Jersey, do yourself a favor and stop into a diner. You'll be glad you did.

July 4th

2009-07-04T21:55:00.001-07:00

How do you celebrate a place as diverse as America? What do you do to celebrate a concept as big as "freedom"?? I guess that's what makes July 4th so special to us all, we can celebrate America's independence day any way we see fit. Fireworks are probably the most popular way and for good reason. Painting on the night sky with fire and light is a poetry unlike any other. This year I was lucky enough to see our nation's largest fireworks display explode above our nation's largest city. But I also celebrated in a much less traditional way.

Macy's Fireworks Spectacular

I'm concerned that our nation is becoming too polarized. It seems to be getting easier to isolate ourselves from any differing opinions and convince ourselves that we are always right and that the opposing factions are always wrong. If you're a conservative you can watch Fox News, listen to Rush Limbuagh, and talk with your conservative friends. Or if you're a liberal you can watch MSNBC, listen to NPR and chat with your liberal friends. And you never, ever have to hear that you might be wrong.But we're all wrong sometimes, we're only human. This nation was founded on diversity and we need others to challenge us and share with us their different points of view. Or else we shall become divided and fall. This July 4th I felt it was important to spend at least a little time around people with differing viewpoints. So in addition to fireworks, I also went to an independence day "teaparty", which was a conservative political rally. I don't agree with most of what was said at the rally, but I was filled with a sense of unity and pride in the freedom of expression this great nation affords us all. If America has just one lesson to teach us, it's that we should not shy away from diversity but rather embrace it, for diversity makes us all better. United we Stand, divided we fall. So we all better embrace diversity and learn to talk with (and even learn from) people we disagree with or there is great trouble ahead.

A New Birthday Tradition??

2009-07-02T19:20:00.000-07:00

Well tomorrow is my birthday and the day after is America's birthday. I'm not really getting any physical presents, but I'm still going to get some cool stuff. Tomorrow I'll be having a fun barbecue in the back yard and this fills me with joy. Also I'm asking my parents for money to help pay for the English as a second language certification course I'm taking in August. This is even more exciting than the barbecue because it moves me one step closer to Japan. As for myself, I've decided to make a video time capsule for the Jeff who will be around 5 years from now. Youtube must be having difficulties because after I uploaded my video I discovered the sound was out of sync. According to their "know problems" page they are currently aware of this problem and working to fix it. For now if you want to watch it, I guess you'll just have to deal with the 1970's kung fu movie feel of my time capsule.

So maybe I'll make a video time capsule every year on the eve of my birthday. I can't wait to watch this again in five years and see how differently I see myself or more accurately, my past self. Time is such a funny thing. We exist only for a moment and then change into somebody else. Our struggle is to constantly progress, to always keep changing into someone better, someone who you will make us proud and happy. Here's to the future!

Firefly (not the Joss Whedon one)

2009-06-19T20:48:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how quickly our childhood can come rushing back to us. With the right smell or touch or movie, we can feel the beautiful innocence and wonder of our childhood wash over us for a moment. Tonight while strolling with my wife I came upon a sight I have not seen for a very long time, Fireflies. It was a very emotional experience, for the firefly is a magical creature from the mists of my younger days.

Fireflies are not easy subjects to photograph, but there are 2 here if you can find them

Fireflies buzz around with tiny bolts of lightning strapped to their tales and it seems to me that they must be mythological creatures. I love the sight of fireflies because they remind me that the world is filled with mysteries and wonder. Nature is fascinating and strange, littered with plants that eat animals, bugs that look like stars, and lizards that can run across water. What a beautiful world we all inhabit. It's so full of wonder and beauty I can't wait to pass it on to my children one day.

My town is beautiful at night.

The Beach

2009-06-17T19:31:00.000-07:00

It's tough for me to admit when I'm wrong, but I do my best to be honest. So I'm just gonna say it: I went to the beach last weekend and had a great time. I know this seems like a simple admission, not deserving of the angst it has caused me. But I've been committed to disliking the beach for several years now, it's become part of my identity and enjoying the beach means changing who I am.I have plenty of reasons to dislike the beach. I'm pale and don't get along with Ultra Violet rays, I had an unfortunate incident involving a jellyfish stinger and my crotch, I drank some salt water once and threw up, and like everyone else when I visit the beach sand gets stuck everywhere. Despite my past misadventures at the beach, I had a great day Saturday. The combination of pleasures was nearly perfect: Friends, food, and childlike play surrounded by scenic beauty and joyful crowds. I went swimming, became one with nature when I buried myself in the sand, and had some amazing seafood from a nearby seafood festival. It opened a new chapter in my life; a new love affair has begun. I'm looking forward to my next trip to the Jersey shore where I'm sure to discover more joy.

making amends with the beach

Missing: Stolen Blog!

2009-06-15T19:41:00.000-07:00

I decided to steal Jeff's blog for the day. I was so inspired by what I experienced today I needed to share it.

Isn’t it awesome how you can be inspired by others? I was inspired by a couple of things today. I was inspired by a wonderful young woman who is turning her life around. She is going home to clean her house and help out her mother who threatened to kick her out less than a week ago. I was also inspired by the contestants on the Next Food Network Star television show. These people are trying as hard as they can to cook delicious recipes, be creative and spontaneous enough to capture the audience who may be watching a Food Network Show. I love food and so you would think that being inspired by these passionate people cooking food on television I would also be inspired tonight to cook a creative dish. No sir, no ma’am. I was inspired to work in the kitchen doing dishes.

I have been inspired by other television shows and movies. One such movie is Center Stage. This dance movie is packed full of dancers living out their dreams competing for spots in the American Ballet Company. Now, I don’t dance much due to inexperience and fear of embarrassment so I am thankful that I was not inspired to dance by watching this movie. Instead, this movie inspires me to clean or do other chores that I am not normally motivated to do.

I am constantly motivated by my wonderful husband who dreams of living in Japan, witnessing him follow his passion inspires me to follow mine. I am so blessed that today I was inspired multiple times. Perhaps I would be inspired more often if I kept my eyes and heart open to others who are so passionate. Perhaps if I thought about it I would also be inspired by my fellow hospital chaplains who try to comfort others, or the grocery store clerk who shares a part of who he is with a curious grocery shopper over lychee. There are people to be inspired by all over the place, people putting themselves at risk of making a fool of themselves or sharing something personal with someone else. I think it’s so worth it. I hope that I too can be an inspiration for others by doing what I am passionate about.

-Misty Howick

Cutting Back

2009-06-10T20:14:00.000-07:00

When I started this blog 77 days ago I made the decision to write a post every single day. I started a blog to help hold me accountable for taking pictures daily and to see if I would enjoy writing publicly. I no longer need this blog to help remind me to take pictures. I carry my camera with me everywhere and almost always find something picture worthy in my day.
I do enjoy writing this blog, but I've found with increasing frequency that there are sometimes other activities I must sacrifice or forgo in order to post an entry for a given day. So I've decided that I would be happier posting less frequently, probably once or twice a week. I hope this isn't too disappointing to my dozens of "fans", but as usual I must follow my heart. I've really enjoyed this experience/experiment but for now my heart and mind are asking me to focus on other activities like talking with my wife or writing Star Trek stories or volunteering. So if you're interested, check in next week and see if I've received my Star Trek uniform from Cheese-its yet.

Let's Go To the Mall

2009-06-09T19:21:00.000-07:00

I won a gift card to Ruby Tuesdays recently so my wife and I did something we haven't done in a LONG time, we went to a mall. After such a long absence, I saw the mall with new eyes. It actually felt like an exciting destination full of energy and young people.

free food tastes better

I can understand why so many people like to visit the mall regularly. Malls have movies, massage chairs, opportunities to people watch, stores for almost every taste, and a variety of foods. The mall we went to was full of adventure and we had a great time wandering around after our free meal. I won't be going back to the mall again this weekend, but I will be going back to the mall someday soon and looking forward to that day. Before I leave, for your viewing pleasure here's a great music video about malls:

Volunteering is the most American thing one can do

2009-06-08T19:47:00.000-07:00

Today I attended my third training class for the Literacy Volunteers of America. It's been a fun and enlightening experience, one I would recommend to others. During each class we learn a little about teaching methods for ESL and a little about our students and their lives.
We've heard stories how learning to speak, read and write English has helped people to vote for the first time, get a better job, talk to their children's teachers and doctors, and become citizens of the United States of America. ESL tutoring has all the ingredients a great volunteer program should have: cultural exchanges for both student and tutor, kind souls sharing their knowledge and time to help empower others, and the chance to fell good while improving local communities. Everyone should voluteer, because it's not just American or moral, it's healthy and joyful. Wherever you passions lie, there is a chance to volunteer. Whether you referee little league games or serve soup to the homeless, volunteering enriches the lives or everyone involved. So I implore you to find a place to give a few moments of your time and improve your life and the world.

H1N1 Swine Flu??

2009-06-07T18:09:00.001-07:00

This morning I woke up sick. I shouldn't have been surprised because last night I also went to bed sick. I dislike being sick because it feels terrible, but also because it tends to hamper my freedom and scuttle my plans. But even though I was pretty busy trying not to fall out of bed today, I also tried to keep some of my daily goals. I tried to learn something today, I studied Japanese, and here I am writing this post.
What was I able to learn in my weakened state? For one, I learned that I really should type up a few extra blog posts to have on hand in case I get sick or don't feel inspired or go somewhere without internet like rural Tanzania. I also learned that I have an amazingly supportive and loving wife. This is a lesson I learn over and over, and I never tire of discovering new ways to fall in love with my wife. And with that, I think I'll go collapse in bed.

New Jersey Jazzfest

2009-06-06T20:01:00.000-07:00

Some days you wake up and find a Jazz festival in your backyard. This was one of those days for me. How we respond to Jazz festivals in our back yard speaks volumes about how we approach life, so I had to explore this opportunity. When I tried to enter, the main guard informed me that I must first purchase a ticket.
Determined to enter the festival and hoping to avoid payment, I approached the ticket booth and informed the woman behind the table I lived here and wanted to see what was happening. Apparently reading my mind she decided to wave the standard fee and gave me a free wristband.
The music was heavenly and so too was the weather. It's been rainy for the past five or six days here in New Jersey. So I'm don't know if the Jazz brought out beautiful weather or the weather brought out beautiful Jazz, but it was certainly no coincidence. Today's lesson: pay attention to your back yard because sooner or later you'll find beautiful, heavenly Jazz.

highs and lows

2009-06-05T18:29:00.000-07:00

Communication is the key to maintaining any relationship. Whether it's your work, your wife, or your giant Wookiee first mate, if you want your relationships to be healthy you must communicate openly. But even if you speak the same language, communication can be difficult. It requires occasionally being wrong, listening to others speak without simultaneously formulating a counter-argument, and paying attention to details that don't involve Batman or Mr. Spock.

Life is blurry

My wife and I are constantly trying to improve our communication, sometimes it's easy and sometimes not. One of our main differences seems to be that she likes to talk about problems and I like to solve problems, both fairly typical responses for our genders. Being aware of this difference helps us understand what the other person wants out of a conversation.

Communication works like windshield wipers

My wife and I have several activities and games designed to help us communicate and stay connected, but my favorite is called "Highs and Lows". At the end of each day we like to share the best and the worst thing that happened to us during the day. It's a great way to get right down to the most interesting details and many times my wife's highs or lows have surprised me. No matter how well you know someone there's always more to discover, even about yourself. Communicate openly with those in your life and you will learn a lot.

Memories and Anticipation

2009-06-04T18:29:00.002-07:00

Yes, yes, I'm sure by now I've mentioned once or twice that I love adventure. But going to wacky festivals and strange new places is only half the fun. As much as I love "the moment", the before and after also fill me with joy. The buzz of anticipation and the warm glow of memories give me more pleasure than the adventurous activity itself, I think.

The Great Book of Fun

I can't resist ordering travel guides from near and far away places, checking out travel guides from the library, and wandering the internet in search of strange events and places. In fact planning and researching for future adventures has become an activity of its own.

box of free visitor's guides I've requested

The same is true of browsing through my old photos or posting them online, I gain a great deal of pleasure from my pre and post adventure rituals. It's deeply important to bridge and balance one's past, present, and future. My endless cycle of planning, experiencing, and processing adventures helps me feel like I am giving adequate focus to all periods of life.

The myriad of emotions felt while walking through the toy aisle at Target

2009-06-03T19:55:00.000-07:00

Man do I love ninjas. Their stealth, their swords, and their tremendous dedication to honor and violence fascinate me. I often find myself fending off make-believe ninjas throughout the day in order to keep my imagination healthy and active.Judging by this awesome display I ran into at Target, I'm not the only American who loves ninjas. I never would have believed that "cute" and "lethal killer" could be such a great combination until I discovered the Mighty Muggs line of toys. The people at Mighty Muggs have found a way to create super cute, bordering on cuddly, statues of our nation's most feared and lethal heroes and villains from Wolverine to Darth Vader. Something deep within me wants every single Mighty Mugg, but I feel like I should resist this impulse. Should I be concerned that most of my life's most difficult struggles seem to involve fighting the urge to buy all comic book and sci-fi related paraphernalia? I really should stop going to the toy aisle in Target, but I just can't help myself.

Apartment Puddle

2009-06-02T14:45:00.000-07:00

I stepped in a puddle walking barefoot through my apartment today and for a moment I thought my wife had flooded our place again. As it turns out, her camelback had merely fallen over and emptied most of it's contents onto the floor.It may sound funny, but our flooded apartment is one of the reasons I love my wife. She makes life unpredictable and hilarious, just the way I love it. If I can't come home to occasionally discover that my wife started to fill the sink for dishes and then accidentally locked herself out of our apartment with the water still pouring, then I don't want to come home. Life is suppose to be crazy, and in my experience things usually end well. In this case my wife ran to the campus police who let her back into the apartment just as water was starting to pour out from under the door, and after mopping up all that water we had a very clean floor! All I really want out of life is a little bit of craziness and some fun stories and my wife gives me both.

Summer is Here

2009-06-01T20:05:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhhh, it feels so good. Summer has arrived with the bounce of a trampoline and the swing of a hammock.Summer means freedom, the freedom to swim in the ocean and grill outdoors, the freedom to wear sandals or hike mountains. Yesterday it meant enjoying an entire afternoon playing games and eating food outside under the great summer sky. This is my first adult summer spent outside Arizona and summer in New Jersey is much different than in the 'Zona desert. It's not just because the temperature is below 120 degrees.Summer out here has a beginning and an end. I already miss winter, but not in the way that I miss my first cat. Unlike the eternal summer of the desert, I know this summer will eventually end and winter shall return. This finiteness makes me enjoy the freedom of summer much more than I ever have. Variety is my favorite spice in the meal of life. So bring on the summer fun, I'm ready to enjoy it while it lasts.

I miss pets

2009-05-31T20:30:00.000-07:00

I love my life and I am pleased with the decisions I have made which have lead me to where I am. But my life isn't perfect, as I strongly suspect no one's ever will be, and ever so occasionally I am reminded of the negative consequences I must accept as a result of my grand life desires. I love traveling, I must be free to take spontaneous trips, and in two years I'll be moving to Japan. Being free to travel and explore gives me much joy, but it also has plenty of negative side effects.
Owning a dog or a cat is a wonderful experience. But along with the great fun a pet can bring also comes responsibility. It's much more difficult to decide on a Friday that you're leaving town for the weekend if you have a living creature that relies on you for survival. Even if our apartment complex allowed us to own pets, I think it would be irresponsible to get a cat or dog knowing we'll have to place that responsibility on someone else in two years when we leave the country. I know I can't have a pet, but that doesn't make my desire any less powerful. What do you do when you want something you can't have? My wife seems to live vicariously through pet owners who post videos on Youtube and by petting every dog she ever sees. I've been trying to let go of my desire, but letting go is often a very difficult task indeed.

In Search of Waterfalls

2009-05-30T19:47:00.000-07:00

I went in search of waterfalls today. In celebration of ourselves, Tuesday was our two year anniversary, my wife and I decided to hike to a waterfall and have a picnic. My wife was responsible for the food and I was in charge of finding the waterfalls.We ended up exploring a place called Bushkill Falls in Pennsylvania. I was extremely impressed with their offering of waterfalls. After a brief hike down a small canyon wall on narrow wooden stairs, faintly reminiscent of an Ewok Village, we arrived at the bottom of "Pennsylvania's Niagara", a 300 ft. waterfall. Certainly a beautiful sight, but what seemed most impressive to me was the thundering noise that a small river could produce just by falling off a cliff. Water is usually so very quiet.
We trekked through long periods of quiet interrupted occasionally by the seven other waterfalls at various spots along the river. Before today, I thought that nature could be either quiet & peaceful or loud & destructive. But today I realized that peaceful doesn't have to mean quiet. Today was a day filled with beauty, nature, good food and great waterfalls.

Remembering my childhood

2009-05-29T19:18:00.000-07:00

Do you remember how much fun it was to stomp in the mud? I caught a glimpse of young boy playing in a mud puddle today, and memories of joy from my childhood came rushing back. For a brief moment I remembered what life was like when everything was simple and mud was fun. And then I remembered how, minutes earlier, I had taken extra special care to avoid stepping in a mud puddle as I exited my car, how funny.
I'm a strong advocate of staying in touch with your inner child, but it's also appropriate to approach some situations differently than you would have as a kid. It's ok to avoid getting your nice shoes muddy, but I do think we should all play in the mud occasionally. Not as an attempt to recreate the fun we had as kids, but as a chance to remember our old selves. Playing in the mud doesn't feel the same as an adult. As a child dancing in the mud felt like I was exploring the world and having fun. But as an adult I felt like I was exploring my past and reaching out for a sentimental connection with my childhood. Playing in the mud hasn't lost meaning, it has merely changed meaning.

Helping friends move

2009-05-28T19:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I helped a friend move most of her worldly possessions into storage for the summer. Perhaps it was the company, but I actually enjoyed the experience. This has not been the case when I've had to pack up and move my own stuff.Why is moving such a different experience when it is other people's stuff? I guess it's partly because I wasn't there for the entire experience of dismantling ever single knick knack in the house and sealing them away. But it was more than that. Yesterday when I was lifting heavy boxes and televisions up long flights of stairs, I was helping a friend, something I could feel good about. When I move my own stuff, I have to say goodbye to my former lifestyle and pack the things I love in boxes where I can't use them. There's nothing worse than physical labor with the aim of sealing up your prized possessions so they can't be enjoyed.But now I know that moving can be fun. I think next time I move, I'll try to approach it from an outside perspective. I think focusing on the end destination instead of the journey may be best in this instance. While helping my friend I was excited to imagine the new places and possibilities in her future, and it was fun to be a part of that process.

Life's simple pleasures

2009-05-27T17:25:00.000-07:00

Every so often I find a new reason to fall in love with my wife. Recently she has been filling the house with sounds of pure joy. Her new found source of laughter and joy? Videos of other people's cats. Yes, apparently thousands of people record their cats doing crazy, silly, cute activities for millions of people to marvel, laugh, and thrill to on Youtube.
She seems to have been captivated in particular by the adventures of a Japanese cat named Maru. My wife's love of life's most simple pleasures, like the silliness of cats, assures me that our life will never be boring. I adore my wife's childlike joy as she watches other people's cats. The world is FULL of beauty if we just look around us, especially at cats. I've attached a link to a video of Maru in case you want to join my wife in her fun.

2 Year Wedding Anniversary

2009-05-26T18:54:00.000-07:00

It seems that one of my personality quirks is a deep, unexplainable love for traditions. I love watching Christmas Vacation every Christmas, eating a bowl of chili on the first snow day of the year, and watching fireworks on the Fourth of July. Today happens to be the two year anniversary of my wedding. I've officially survived two years of marriage and here in the house of Howicks we have an anniversary tradition. Each year on May 26th my wife and I take a series of photo booth pictures in front of our door. Have a look.

Pick Me Up

2009-05-25T19:33:00.000-07:00

There are good days and there are bad days, such is life. What I find interesting is how people deal with life's setbacks and difficulties. Personally, I view most of my life as a sitcom. So most of the awkward, painful situations I run into seem humorous and enjoyable. I'm sure this doesn't work for everyone, but it makes my life quite fun.

The Enterprise and Uhura in waffle form

But there are some situations that even American sitcoms have to treat seriously. For these moments I try to find small moments of beauty to help lift me up as time works its magic and eventually heals all pain. Today, in need of such beauty, I turned to something I've been stockpiling for such an occasion, Star Trek waffles! They're a bit like the evil witch in Snow White, beautifully stunning on the outside, but completely inferior inside. But just this once, it only mattered that they were beautiful on the outside. The fun of eating Star Trek waffles greatly outweighed the waffles' below par taste. This is one of the greatest benefits of having a deep passion for something. When things get bad, you can turn to your passions for a dose of joy and distraction.

Kindness of Strangers

2009-05-24T18:14:00.000-07:00

Life can be surprising. Today I was surprised to see the town square filled with a massive "free market". What I initially thought was a flea market, had one very important difference. Rather than offering used items for sale, everything at the market was free. Free TVs, free rollerblades, free jumps in an inflatable castle.Even the pizza and snow cones were free. I love when people serve their community in fun, creative ways. Too many people lack creativity when it comes to community outreach. They just show up to a soup kitchen or habitat for humanity and follow orders. This world does need volunteers to feed the poor and build houses for the needy. But it also needs more people to get creative in their service.Creative acts, like acts of love, create a ripple effect as each act inspires others. Walking around the park watching others find much needed items for free and children play was a life affirming experience. Most acts of service help those in need as well as filling those who give with joy. But because this was a public activity even those not involved could be inspired. It was a great day for everyone.

Fleet Week in New York City

2009-05-23T18:42:00.000-07:00

This week a few thousand brave Navy men and women took a brief respite from defending our nation and descended upon the busy streets of New York City. Every year, Fleet Week not only allows sailors to explore the landmarks and people of New York, but in exchange the military gives the general public a chance to tour their boats and get a brief view of life as a navy sailor.

aboard the USS Iwo Jima

While aboard a Navy aircraft carrier which was much larger than I had expected, my wife felt like she was in a different world. The life of a Navy sailor is very different than the life we lead. Touring the navy ship felt like that brief moment when you forget yourself while reading a book or watching a movie and feel as if you're an elf or superhero in a strange world. St. Augustine believed that, "the world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page."
I agree with him, but I also believe there are many ways to travel. There is more to travel than physically exploring new places and seeing new sights. We can briefly travel to a new culture by eating its food. Or we can travel to space with a good sci-fi movie like Star Trek. Especially in this economy, we might not all be able to travel to foreign lands, but there are still ways to explore new places and people without leaving your city. This week I was lucky and the Navy came to me, giving me an opportunity to live just a moment as a sailor and explore the seven seas.

Two Cultures Unite

2009-05-22T22:01:00.001-07:00

It's 1 A.M. and I just got back from a wedding in New York City with a Chinese bride and a Texan groom. If you had told me my life would be this exciting a few years ago, I might have thought you were crazy. The marriage was a true union of cultures and lovers. Their hybrid wedding consisted of a mostly western ceremony with a mostly Chinese reception.
I ate over eight courses (I lost count after the duck) of authentic, non-westernized Chinese cuisine. It seems that cashew chicken, chop suey and fortune cookies are all American inventions rather than dishes imported from China. The experience was entirely enjoyable, although not completely delicious to my untrained palate.
I consumed steak, ham, duck, squid, sea cucumber, jellyfish, lobster, fried mayonnaise shrimp, and a few things I couldn't make out. Some of them were genuinely delicious and all of them were certainly interesting. I had an amazing evening exploring new dishes, dancing and most importantly watching two very diverse cultures unite in a glorious festival of love and commitment. I love weddings and this was definitely a great one.

What this world needs is more trophies

2009-05-21T19:04:00.000-07:00

Why don't people give out more trophies?? I think the world would be a much better place if trophies or at least blue ribbons were more common. I'm certainly not advocating more competition or contests. I'm talking about surprise trophies.
Surprise trophies given out by a secret government organization, now that's a brilliant idea. Life is fun and fun should be rewarded. We waste so much government money, why can't some of it be spent to establish a "talent recognition czar"? Everybody's talented and passionate about something, and the "ATR" or Agency for Talent Recognition could help encourage others to follow their dreams. Nothing says, "You can do what you want and be happy" like a trophy on the wall. I urge you to write your congressman in support of the ATR today.

Democracy in Action

2009-05-20T18:07:00.001-07:00

While visiting the largest state capitol in the country recently, I got a chance to see a session of the Louisiana senate. It was a powerful moment, an opportunity to see the gears that drive this great nation forward.

Democracy in Action

But as I sat there watching the senators listen half-heartedly while checking their facebook pages, I began to wonder. Will democracy continue to evolve? I think that this generation's technological advances should change how our country is run. Everything else has been transformed by our ability to communicate around the world faster than we can think, so why not the foundations of Democracy? I'm not just talking about changing the outdated rules that allow a presidential candidate who received the majority of votes to be declared the loser, like some sort of bizzaro election.

Bribery in Action?

I wonder, will there ever be a day when there are no congressmen, and each bill is voted on by every American from their living room? That would require us all to be well informed and educated, so that day may be far away. But perhaps the day when Senators are seen as interpreters isn't too far away. Imagine a world where our senators break down each bill into basic language and post them online with a list of pros and cons, or thinking points. And then his or her constituents advise their senator how to vote through an online poll. It seems to me like this would distribute the government's power even further among the people and fight corruption. It's a lot harder to bribe millions of people, asking them to listen to special interests. Who knows how technology will continue to change our world, but hopefully it will shed more light on how our government is run.

Why is the Old World more Romantic?

2009-05-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

I saw a beautiful forest the other day and I thought, if this were in Ireland I'd be struck dumb with beauty, but I wasn't. Because I was in New Jersey it was merely a beautiful surprise. What perceived mystique do foreign places hold?? Why does foreign beauty seem more potent than local beauty?After some thought, I realized that this land is not the land of my ancestors, mostly. I'm 1/16th native American, but the other 15/16ths of my great ancestors spent their lives and energies caring for far away places. There are no hills in America where my ancestors built a castle before the birth of christ. The ancient history of this land is not my history. It is the history of another people who were destroyed a few hundred years ago and replaced by immigrants. We have no Roman Colosseum or Egyptian pyramids, or Great Wall of China. We just have a trail of tears and Plymouth Rock.
I think that is what draws me to places like Europe and Asia. They have a strong, uninterrupted connection with the past. Citizens of the old world stand on the same dirt their ancestors plowed 8,000 years ago. They encounter ancient relics of great civilizations that used the same land and gave birth to their grandfathers. There, history runs deep. I can't wait to explore those places for myself.

washrag update

2009-05-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, I received a washrag with special instructions. I was told to use this everyday object in the service of others at a church service. A seemingly simple task, but it turned out to be harder than I thought. How was I going to use a single washrag in the service of someone else? Who could possible have their needs met by a washrag?
I had no idea how to use my washrag properly, so I decided to carry it with me in my pocket searching for inspiration. I've found that if you start looking for something, you will usually find it, although it might not be in the way you expected. I never did find a way to use the washrag directly, but keeping it in my pocket made me much more aware of those seeking help. Constantly searching for ways to help others using a washrag quickly became just searching for ways to help others. Ultimately the washrag helped me become a more thoughtful person, constantly reminding me of my search. I've joined two different charity groups since receiving that washrag, and I feel more productive and happier. But this doesn't mean I'll stop looking. The search for others in need is a great adventure and has opened me up to many possibilities and much growth.

Liberty Enlightening the World

2009-05-17T18:25:00.000-07:00

She is beautiful in more ways that I can describe. In fact, it would be folly to spend more than a few words trying to describe her beauty. Even pictures cannot capture the inspirational joy she gives all who visit her island.When I visited America's greatest symbol, I got a glimpse of how America must look to foreign eyes. I often forget that America is a far away land to most of the planet. But when I was surrounded by people from all over the world who came to behold the most powerful symbol of freedom ever made, I glimpsed America from their eyes. She is beautiful and full of hope, America. We owe it to Lady Liberty to keep her that way.
I think the Statue, a modern take on the Roman Goddess Libertas, is so moving because it connects us to the past in the same moment that it implores future action. It's not often that our past, present, and future converge in a single moment, but when they do it's a moment you'll never forget.