Reflections on a New Year's Eve

I wanted to get one more post in before we call an end to 2008, looks like I made it by an hour and a half (we're six hours ahead of Vermont). It has been one amazing year! For me 2008 will go down as the year when everything changed. When it began, if memory serves me correctly, I was toasting in the new year at a party in Brattleboro Vermont with my buddy Doug. That seems so long ago. Tonight, I'm in Augsburg Germany with my sweetheart. We just shot off some fireworks in the street between the apartment buildings. They sell fireworks in all the grocery beginning on the 29th, and allow you to shoot them off pretty much anywhere you want on the 31st. It's crazy! Marietta told her elderly downstairs neighbor to look out her window to see the show, and the two of us proceeded out into the street, champagne glasses in hand, and fired off a really nice display into the cold Augsburg sky. It was lovely. A couple of "Happy New Year" wishes and a long kiss, and we're back inside to get ready for the party upstairs. It's too cold to venture into town and it'll be nice for us to just be here. At midnight, most of the streets in most of the neighborhoods here fill up with New Years revelers firing off their grocery store pyrotechnics (which are really hight quality, by the way). I'm told it's quite a spectacle.

So, what does 2009 have in store? I have a few wishes (in no particular order). Here goes... I hope we can make our way successfully through all the red tape required for me to remain here in Germany with Marietta. I'm hoping our relationship continues to grow even stronger the more we get to know each other. I hope the economy gets better, both here and in Amerika (that's how it's spelled in German, yeah I know, it's weird). I hope people don't expect too much too soon from the new American President. It was a miracle that he was actually elected, and he deserves an unimpeded chance to fix the mess they're in over there. I hope my family back home experiences happiness and trouble free good health (Hi Eliza!), and that they don't hold it against me for being here and for following my dreams. I hope I never lose touch with all the friends that have sustained me back home and all along my route. I hope Carla keeps up her blog. I hope Doug finds a girlfriend half as good as the one I found (not that he doesn't deserve one "just" as good...anyway). I hope anyone that I may have left feeling hurt can find forgiveness and understanding. I hope I can do the same. I hope I can keep off the 25 or so pounds I lost on my bike ride (between you and me, I kinda already put ten of them back on). I hope I can continue to evolve, always going forward, able to resist that old tug to return to what's familiar and safe. I hope for universal health care for all. I hope for kindness. I hope for peace. I hope 2009 brings happiness to all. 

For me, as I sit here and reflect on 2008, my new favorite year, I realize happiness is exactly what I found. I'd say the new year has really big boots to fill.

With champagne glass in hand, I say... Cheers!

Happy New Year!

~B

Guess Who's Got a Blog?

Remember the Mythical Siren of Yarmouth? 

That's right! It's Carla, and it's great! 

I've been so wrapped up in life here, worrying about what comes next (sometimes forgetting about how lucky I am to be where I am), that I've been lax in keeping up with her thoughts. She's a terrific writer and photographer, and a truly good friend. I hope you enjoy her blog as much as I have, especially her post about some guy who rode to Nova Scotia on his bicycle from Vermont of all places, and... well you can read it for yourself...Click HERE.

Cheers,

~B

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

Is There a Santa Claus? was the title of an editorial appearing in the September 21, 1897 edition of the New York Sun. The editorial, which included the famous reply "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus", has become an indelible part of popular Christmas lore in the United States.   -Reprinted from Wikipedia.

Gather your family and friends around the warm glow of the computer monitor and share this little gem. I can't think of a better way to share some warmth and good holiday cheer. Click HERE.

Frohe Weihnachten (that's Merry Christmas), and as always...

Cheers!

~B

Photo: Angel Figurine, Friedberg Christmas Market - bob viens

One Hundred and Thirty Twoooooooo.......

The other day, I mentioned that one should always keep an eye on the rearview mirror when driving on the Autobahn. What I failed to mention was that this advise also applies when your own car is traveling at 132 miles per hour. This is the land of Porsche, after all.  Even at 132, you're still in danger of being passed! Vroommmmmm.....

When in Rome... ~B

P.S. Marietta made me do it.

The View from the Kitchen Window

In Germany it's customary to open your windows in the morning to bring in fresh air. It starts with the bedroom as soon as you're awake. The covers get folded back, the outside blinds are pulled up to let in the morning light, providing your first glimpse of the day that awaits, and finally the windows are swung open. Fresh air seems to be a prerequisite in German homes.

On a cold winter days, when the snow covered car outside needs to be cleaned off and the windshield scraped, you are even reminded of the importance of clean fresh air outside. It's a law here that you must refrain from starting your car simply to warm it up. You get ticketed if you leave your car idling for any prolonged period of time. I've never seen the Polizei enforcing any such regulation, but there seems to be a national conscience about things like this. Germany is a land of rules. I haven't yet mentioned my impressions of the Autobahn, the storied system of highways interconnecting Germany that in many areas allow drivers to travel at whatever speed the traffic conditions will allow. On my regular travels with Marietta on the A8, we generally move along at 75-95 miles per hour (120-150 kph) with the occasional Euro sedans buffeting the car as they fly past of speeds well in excess of ours. The point is, because Germans are raised with a mentality geared toward following rules, things here, like the Autobahn, just work. The Autobahn rules are as follows: you drive in the right-most lane possible, passing is only allowed on the left, if you get behind someone slower, you simply need to signal with your left blinker until allowed to pass, and above all WATCH YOUR REARVIEW MIRROR! As I mentioned, I've seen very little law enforcement, even on the highways where you'd think they would be ready and waiting for leadfoots ignoring the reduced speed areas. In almost two months here, I've seen a Polizei car on the side of the Autobahn only once, and we've seen only one accident and that was minor and the result of icy conditions.

So back to the windows. As I write this it occurs to me that I'm still divided on what comes next. I've made the decision to get back to work. It's not as easy at it might sound though. From what I see of the economy back in New England, things are pretty bleak, or so I'm told. Barack Obama's plan to put America back to work may end up heralding a new era, but won't be happening any time soon enough for this particular quest (not that I'm particularly good at rebuilding bridges anyway). I think the most sensible thing for me at this moment is to find an internet based phone job that will travel with me. A vagabond friend of mine had such a gig and it funded, and continues to fund, his travels across Canada and New Zealand. The world has gotten to be such a small place when it comes to communications. I'm typing on my keyboard in Augsburg Germany and it's populating a webpage that's sitting on a computer somewhere in California. I can pick up the phone here and talk to my Mom on the other side of the ocean just as easily and clearly as I did when I was in Brattleboro Vermont, only 25 miles away. And it's only about a penny a minute. I think it costs more to actually call her from Bratt. Anyway...

I know I'm rambling, but I'm at a loss for anything better than this at the moment. My journey has brought me to this spot, at this moment, and it's my job to make sense of it. I've so often felt the pull to return to something safe and familiar, to head back to Turners Falls or Brattleboro and resume whatever it was I had going for me at the time, this time committed to doing it even better, but it also occurs to me that this is what I should be doing at this point in my life, this is exactly where I'm supposed to be and I just need to have the guts to stick it out. I need to be willing to expose myself to uncertainty until I'm able to see the path clearly enough before me once again. Life in a foreign land apart from family and friends and familiar surroundings, especially without a clear and pressing purpose, as with those serving in the military, can be confusing at times. The decision to stay here or go there seems less tangible, and for me anyway, far less immediate. The future benefit of life here with someone I love, on the other hand, even separated from that familiarity and easy comfort of home, is likely more than I am able to imagine. Only time will tell.

For now, I'm committed to gaining some mastery of the German language, as long as I'm here, it would be nice to be able to communicate with people on their terms and not always on mine. I'm going to find the right company that will allow me again be part of something larger than myself, with a mission that I can believe in, and in return, hopefully benefit from a good income. And lastly, I'm going to enjoy the fresh air and maybe even bake more muffins. Another benefit of German windows: big window sills. That's all I got for now.

Muffin anyone? ~B

*Please forgive my edits. It sometimes takes me awhile for the thoughts to settle in my head before I actually get them right.

Making Photographs

I've had some time to work on some photography. The Augsburg region has so many opportunities for interesting photographs. The historic and often profound landscape, combined with the bustling movement of a tightly packed population, makes for some pretty cool images, if you're open to seeing and capturing them. It's all about taking the time. ~B

Enjoying Augsburg

So what can I say? I've never been much of a dog person.

Having a great time in Augsburg. Got a big surprise the other day when I discovered this camel in the local marketplace. They were raising money for the local zoo, I think, and they had a few exotic animals on display. I always feel bad for captive animals out of their natural habitat, but this one appeared to be well cared for and didn't seem to mind, then again I don't consider myself to be attuned to the inner thoughts of even domestic animals, let alone a camel. Have you ever seen a camel up close? They are so weird, really. All I could think about was StarWars. This creature looked like a characters from the alien cantina on Tatooine. What a strange beast!

Anyway, Augsburg is lovely. It's a very clean and safe city with a wonderful public transit system. Everywhere you turn, you're greeted with impressive historic architecture, statuary, and tradition. We've been to the famous Christmas Market here a couple of times, and in fact I'll be there today again. I need to mail a letter in town and would like to get a few daytime photos of the market in action. Hopefully it won't be too crowded. There's a traditional drink at the market called Gluvine. It's a hot spiced wine and everyone is standing around with a special Gluvine cup in their hands, at once trying to keep warm and enjoy a good conversation with friends. Unfortunately, I'm at a loss when it comes to participating in conversation since most of the population speak only German, with all to few being only semi-proficient in English. Marietta is easily in the 99th percentile when it comes to English-as-a-second-language speakers (I constantly forget that it's not her mother tongue). I have a basic phrase book and some words but I haven't yet acquired the skill to string anything into even the most basic of conversations. I need to work on that, if only for the knowledge that I gave it an honest effort. But, I should mention that German is REALLY difficult!

Anyway, off to the market...

Cheers!

~B

Gobble Gobble

It's a beautiful day in Augsburg today and we're heading out now for a day trip up to Stuttgart. I guess we'll have to save the turkey dinner for another day. It already feels weird to be away from home on Thanksgiving. I'll be thinking of you all gathered around the dinner table trying to come up with things to hang on Heather's thankful tree. I'm mostly thankful for all my good friends and close family who have helped and encouraged me along the way over the past year. I miss you all very much and will be thinking of you on this very special day. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all...

Cheers! 

~B

Weekend in the Allgäu

Amazing weekend touring the Allgäu Region of Southern Germany. Here's a link to the photo album.

Photos...Finally!

Click here for a very small album of selected photos.

Internet is still a problem here, but I'll hopefully be fully wired within the week.

Cheers!

~B

Germany Is Different

Life in Germany is interesting. There are a lot of similarities with the States or with Nova Scotia, like the fact that people move from place to place largely inside of automobiles propelled along over roads, and both places have water and electricity, and chairs and windows, and air to breathe and birds that make chirping sounds. Both places also have people going about their days, shopping or commuting, usually not talking to each other unless they’re traveling in packs. Other than the basic human stuff, Germany really is different. If you sit quietly in your dwelling and don’t interact with the outside world, you might not catch it, though you’d have to sit very still and in one place and not look around very much. The breathable air and the inclusion of solid interlocking construction materials to make walls and floors seems universal, and heated air lends a nice reminiscence of home, but as soon as you start looking around, the differences abound. Let’s start inside: the electrical outlets are of the 220-volt European variety featuring two round prongs instead of the two flat prongs we have back home which, when combined with electrical things brought from the States, immediately creates the need for a means of translation, so to speak. This sounds really simple, “hey, just pick up an adapter” - easier said than done. A few years ago North American plug-in stuff underwent a slight design modification that has kept me from the simple solution of just picking up an adapter. I’ll give you a clue: they do have adapters her, but they don’t fit. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? That’s right! A few years ago we changed our plugs to include one oversized prong so you can only plug things in one way, I think this was to prevent us from plugging in our nightlights upside down. It probably has something to do with homeland security (wink). Anyway, all of the commercially available adapters here are for the olds style same-sized-prong plugs. You would think that OBI, Germany’s equivalent to Home Depot, would have the latest version, but no. Since most electronics, in this case a laptop and a camera, are designed to run on anywhere from 100 to 250 volts, there is no problem just changing the plug end, which I did on my laptop which already had a compromised electrical cord from an earlier repair, but I didn’t want to hack up a perfectly good camera cable, just because I couldn’t locate the correct adapter. Long story short, I ended up going to a specialty electronics shop where the gentleman behind the counter listened intently to our story of the incompatible electrical standards and the new North American plug design until he reached under the counter and produced a small black plastic European adaptor and plugged it onto my North American plug. Voila! "Ein euro funfzig, bitte", that's like "Two bucks, please (with currency conversion)". So simple, yet it took me two weeks, several different stores, and a specialty electronics shop to come up with an adapter that should have been available at the OBI. North American travelers beware!

Another immediately noticeable difference is the windows. I don’t have any experience outside of Germany, but the windows here rock! Back home the windows are mostly of the two frame variety, one over the other with counter balances built into the window casings to hold the particular window frame from crashing down under the effects of gravity. When you want a little air you would usually lift the bottom frame a little, or possibly lower the top frame although this practice is not employed with any regularity, usually only when the smoke alarm is going off in the kitchen, but usually the bottom frame is raised, and when you want a lot of air the lower frame is raised fully to provide a large opening through which air might flow. You also have a shade or blind that is used inside of the window to darken the room and usually a screen outside of everything to keep the bugs outside. In Germany the windows are quite different. There is one large single frame window that has a two way handle the when turned to the up position allows the entire window to be tipped in from the top giving a ventilation opening of about six inches - just right, when the handle is turned horizontally, the entire window opens like a door giving you the entire opening of the window for ventilation, the window locks when the handle is in the down position. This one simple design distinction makes for a wonderful open window experience. It’s the kind of window that Marilyn Monroe was leaning out of in that famous photo of her waving (I should find out where that was taken, I seem to recall it was France or England). And that’s not even my favorite part; every window here has a rolling metal blind that is built into the top of the casing, with a pull-able flat cord inside that is used to unfurl the outside shade. Once it’s down, you have the option of rolling all the way down for completely dark (and I mean completely), or if you back it off just an inch or two, you get mostly dark since backing it off reveals light slits between the interlocking metal louvers. It’s such a great design, and they seem to be on most of the buildings here. Of course the historic houses aren’t fortunate enough to have the rolling blinds, since they weren’t around when the Romans or the Renaissance builders were making houses, and as with most places, there are restriction here on modifying historic structures. But other than on the old homes, these windows are pretty much ubiquitous.

Did I mention the bathrooms? German bathrooms are awesome too. They possess such a simplicity of design. My one favorite feature is the toilet. Favorite design element number one: it’s suspended from the wall and does not touch the floor! Hello! My least favorite part about cleaning a bathroom is cleaning the base of the toilet and the floor around where it’s sitting. In Germany, they’ve eliminated this problem entirely. My second favorite design innovation: on every flush you get to select how much water gets used depending on what it is you need to flush. It’s so simple, it’s brilliant. This eliminates the “if it yellow, let it mellow” approach to water conservation that I’ve seen so often in use back home. OK, enough with the bathrooms, let’s get outdoors, actually I’ll do that in a later post, this is just part one of what I call: Germany is Different.

We’re heading down to the Allgauer Region in the Alps to go castle hunting this weekend. My camera battery is now fully charged, thanks to the new adapter, so I’ll have some photos to share when we return. BTW, Internet access is still a big issue, so I’m not posting as often as I’d like.

That’s all for now.

Cheers!

~B

I'm having a beer at 7AM Eastern

OK, so it's like one o'clock here. I'm sitting in my favorite (so far at least) coffee and beer cafe in downtown Augsburg. It's a funky out of the way establishment that could easily be located in downtown Brattleboro. It's like McNeill's Brew Pub in Bratt, if it weren't for being able to hear the languages being spoken, you wouldn't know where in the world you might be. The music is even universal, some jazz-funk number at the moment. Aside from the German being spoken at the two other occupied tables nearby, the only giveaway is the five hundred year old chapel outside my window. The weather here has been mild, I'm told it's usually quite foggy, damp and cold here in November. It would appear that I brought the nice weather with me from New England. I'm out on my own for the first time since arriving here eleven days ago. My German is coming along slowly, but I've got "Ich hätte gerne ein Bier bitte" which is "I'd like a beer please". That expression is good for coffee too. Coffee's easy, it's "Kaffee". I like it when it works that way.

Augsburg is really quite remarkable. It was originally founded by the Romans, of all people, in 15 B.C. Yeah, B.C! There's sooo much preserved history here and such a profound character to this place. It's pretty significant tourist destination, yet it doesn't seem to have a bunch of tourists. Maybe it just seems that way because even the tourists are speaking some language that I don't understand. Also, there's a distinct difference in the humans here so the "tourists" may not be standing out to me like they might otherwise do in more familiar surroundings.

We went up to Cologne this past weekend and saw, among other things, the Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom). Experiencing the "Dom" is akin to walking up to the edge of the Grand Canyon for the first time. Your eyes and your brain simply aren't used to experiencing things on such a gigantic scale. It actually hurts to look at it the first time you see it. Oh, and you can't swing a dead cat without hitting an old church over here. And most of them seem to be founded to honor someone who was horribly killed by the Romans. At least that's the case again with the one we saw yesterday here in Augsburg. They even had the skull of the young woman that was burned at the stake for refusing to renounce her religion before her Roman captors back in 304 A.D. The ground here in Europe is soaked with a lot of innocent blood. OK, well...enough of that!

My beer is good. Mmmm...Bier...

~B

I'm in Germany!

Just a quick note. I'm in Augsburg Germany and all is well. Augsburg is lovely. More later.... ~B

Bikes On A Plane

Emails with Singapore Air...

Hello, I'm booked on flight #SQ0025 from JFK to FRA on October 25th. I have a bicycle to ship and am am in need of clarification on your bicycle checking policy. I was told by your agent that I should pack the bicycle in as small a box as possible, which I'm doing. The resulting dimension of that box will be approximately 50x30x15. I was also told this box would count as one of my two bags. My question is: What is the size that I'm allowed for my remaining bag? Thank you, Robert Viens
_______________________

Dear Mr Viens, Thank you for your email. With regards to your query, please be advised that passengers traveling on Singapore Airlines in economy class from New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA) are permitted to check-in two bags, 50lbs (23 Kg) each. However, the sum of the three dimensions (length + width + height) of first piece must not exceed 62 inches (158 cm), and the second piece must not exceed 45inchec (155 cm) with the total dimensions of both pieces must not exceed 107 inches (273 cm). Each passenger can have one carry-on bag at 15lbs (7kg)/45 inches (115 cm).

The Bicycle will be considered as a piece of luggage, and will be charged as such if the passenger exceeds his/her free baggage allowance. The bicycle shall be properly packed for transportation, with handle bars fixed sideways and pedals removed. For further clarifications, please feel free to contact our reservations desk at the number provided below. Thank you for choosing Singapore Airlines for your travel needs Regards SIA USA Violet

For further information or clarification, please call our Reservations Center directly. If you are located within USA, please call +1 800 7423333 (24-hour service, operated 7 days a week).
_______________________

Dear Voilet, Thank you for your response. Unfortunately, you didn't answer my original question. If the dimension of the bicycle box are approximately 50x30x15, what is the size that I'm allowed for my remaining bag? And if I go over that size, how will I be charged? Thank you, ~Bob
_______________________

Violet, I just spoke with your Reservation Center and would like to confirm the following information on your checked bag policy on bicycles? I was told that bicycles, which are disassembled and properly packed in a bicycle box (mine actually measures 53x30x8), are considered as the second checked bag and are exempt from the107" combined measurement allowance for both bags. I was also told that I would still be entitled to the 62 inches, allowed for "first" checked bags, for my remaining bag. Is this correct? Thank you, ~Bob
_______________________

Dear Mr Viens, Thank you for your email. With regards to your query, please be advised that the bicycle is considered as 1piece and as per our baggage policy you are allowed to carry 2pieces as check-in the total dimensions of both pieces must not exceed 107 inches and one carryon 15lbs( 45in) Thank you for choosing Singapore Airlines for your travel needs. Regards SIA USA Violet

For further information or clarification, please call our Reservations Center directly. If you are located within USA, please call +1 800 7423333 (24-hour service, operated 7 days a week).
_______________________

Dear Violet, I was told that the bicycle counted simply as package #2 and is exempt
from the 107 inch rule. Is this correct? I was told this by two separate employees at your Reservation Center
and would just like to confirm it in writing before I arrive at the
airport. I'm getting two different versions here. Please clarify this for me. Thanks You, ~B
_______________________

Dear Mr Viens, Thank you for your email. With regards to your query ,please be advised him that bicycle is considered as 01piece, however "bicycle" is not under this category. Thank you for choosing Singapore Airlines. Regards, SIA USA Violet

For further information or clarification, please call our Reservations Center directly. If you are located within USA, please call +1 800 7423333 (24-hour service, operated 7 days a week).
___________________

Violet, Please have a supervisor tell me what this means. Thank you, ~Robert

I hope they fly better than they answer questions... ~B

Rusted Strut Mounts

I'm working on my Mom's Escort this afternoon. Actually, it belongs to both of my parents, but I still call it my Mom's, just like I refer to their house as "Mom's". Oh, well. I replaced the right rear strut mount last week after the shock broke through from being rusted out. Since I'm leaving town, I figured I should take care of the other side since I suspected it was suffering from the same degree of rot that the first one had. A strut is really just a combination of a big spring and a regular old shock absorber. They used to be two separate components on cars until some smart guy figured out that you could put the shock absorber inside the spring and save space and improve the handling of the automobile in the process. So the very top of the strut rusted through and broke, leaving the shock unattached to the car at the top and making a hellatious (sp?) rattle when I wend over bumps. That top part of the strut is called the strut mount since it's where the strut actually mounts to the frame of the car. The bottom of the strut attaches to the wheel assembly thus making for a wheel that bounces gently over the uneven surface of the road.

I love working on cars and fixing things. I get a great sense of satisfaction out of taking something apart that's broken and making it new again. When I pulled out the first strut and replaced the broken mount last week, it was such a neat feeling to get in the car, after it was all put back together, and drive down the road, no noise, just a properly working car instead of the rattling jalopy that I'd just been driving only a short time prior. It's a nice feeling. Mostly what one needs to do such a repair is a few good tools, possibly a repair manual to give you an idea about what you're getting yourself in for, and an adequate supply of intestinal fortitude to consider it even possible to attempt such an undertaking without the appropriate amount of prior automotive repair experience. I didn't have the manual, but I borrowed the tools from my oldest son, who lives only a couple of miles from my folks house, and I seem to have the guts. I guess I've done enough repair stuff to know that I can somehow pull it off, and really, it's not all that difficult, mostly it just takes time and lots of patience. Normally, I never thought of myself as a patient person, but I may have just disproved that belief.

Anyway, I'm changing the oil now. I'll try not to make a mess.

Cheers!

~B

My Apologies

I have been a very very bad blogger. I had some maintenance to do and just pulled the blog offline instead of taking the time to deal with it and keep it available. A friend suggested I keep writing even if it's in the private journal, so I'm taking her advise. Thanks for your patience. As for the comments option, that will remain moderated to prevent certain individuals from having a personal forum for their hostility on my dime. OK, that's all for now. Cheers! ~B

Deutschland Awaits

I'll be flying on Singapore Air flight number SQ0025 from JFK to Frankfurt this Saturday evening.

It's my first time off the continent. I can't wait!

~B

Quiet Time Now

OK, I need to get a handle on a few things; I'll write as soon as the fog clears.

You know, I really don't consider myself to be quite the drama queen that I seem to be portraying. I'm just shooting for "peaceful" and "happy", and when I don't get that, I get a little passionate, I admit it. I am certain though that "passionate" is more of an attribute than a flaw, at least when it's managed properly. Everybody's life has drama, hopefully most have passion as well, but only a small portion have blogs. What makes my drama different from everyone else's drama is mostly the format. I've chosen to continue posting my thoughts and feelings and experiences on this blog for as long as it feels right, but for now, I feel the need to refrain. It's just me needing calm.

So, that's my new mantra: peaceful/happy. Say it with me: peaceful/happy, peaceful/happy, repeat as indicated....

Peaceful/happy, peaceful/happy........

Cheers!

~B

Please Remain Calm

All is well. More later...

Button Up Shirts and Wristwatches

My feet are freezing! I've thought about getting up and finding a towel to put under my feet, but I'm still sitting here, no towel and still with cold feet. My hands are cold too, in fact I'm just generally cold. I just checked, and my right hand is significantly colder than my left one, no idea why, but if I put a blanket over my shoulders, I might at least be able to chase away the chill that I feel in my sides and on my neck; that would help. I don't think that will do anything for my right hand or my feet though. I just looked over my right shoulder and there's a blanket on the rocking chair about four feet from me. I'm going to reach over and grab it as soon as I finish writing about being cold. It's hard to write about being cold when you have a blanket draped over you. It's like writing about being hungry while holding a hotdog. Yeah, the hotdog might not be sufficient to quench the hunger, but the illusion, at least, that you have food is unavoidable. If I rub my head fast enough, I can make heat, but then I end up with fallen hairs from my head on the keyboard. Then what? I have a momentarily warm head and a keyboard with hair on it and fewer hairs on my head. So...

My right hand is still cold.

There's a red pen sitting on the desk in front of the computer. It's actually a cranberry color with a matte finish, but no name identifying the maker, you know, like Bic or PaperMate. It just says Franklin Medical Center 800-377-HEALTH baystatehealth.com/fmc. I likethe shape of it. It's not one of those goofy fat pens with extra gripsand lots of contours. It's sleek and has a satisfying clicker and one of those clasps that you use when you put it in your shirt pocket. I wonder about the design decision to include the pocket clasp on pens with so many fewer people opting for shirts with pockets. You know,the classic button up with the collar, maybe in plaid or with stripes? I haven't worn a classic button up with plaids or with stripes in five months. I had one in a bag in my hand just yesterday afternoon, actually the bag contained several. But I set it down, with a bunch of other stuff and drove away. Calmly, no screeching tires, I just drove away. I was angry and hurt and broken and certain that I couldn't do it anymore. I set the bag with the button up shirts on the curb next to the backpack and the filled water bottles, and the books, and the curry chicken leftovers and closed the hatch, then the passenger door, and sat down in the drivers seat, closing the door just hard enough to make sure the latch caught, and drove away. Around one car in front ofthe cottage rental office then looked both ways and pulled out onto route one, with the ocean out the left window of the car. The passenger seat was still leaning forward from where the back seat had been accessed to gather belongings. Once I got a little ways down the road, I reached over and pulled the lever to return to seat to it's normal position. No radio, no cars, no road, no talking, no scenery,no smells, no sounds, no button up shirts, no nothin'. Just driving...just driving....just dr.....

So people used to wear wristwatches. Like everyone used to wear a wristwatch. Once pocket watches fell out of favor, everyone wore a wristwatch. OK, pop quiz...when's the last time you saw a Timex commercial? I know, when you say "pop quiz", you're supposed to actually have a question where there's only one right answer, like"what's the capital of Alaska?". You say "Ankorage", and I say"right!" or ring a bell (ding, ding, ding) or something. That's a popquiz. Sure. But, really, when's the last time you saw a Timex commercial? I'd say like 15 years ago for me. I've seen Timex magazine ads, but the last time I can remember seeing a Timex ad on TV was like in the 1980's during Wide World of Sports, where the guy goes over theski jump sideways and they show it every week? Same guy - same ski jump - every week. I wonder if he feels like Bill Buckner. People say"Bill Buckner" and you think of that soft grounder hit to first base to end the game, and it rolls through Bill's fingers. I wonder if theski guy feels like, OK enough already, we've seen it enough. I wonderif he gets paid every time they show him being slapped over the end ofthe ski jump by a vengeful gravity god. At least if he was getting paid, he might feel OK with having his entire career encapsulated in that one moment. "Oh hey, you're the guy that..." I wonder if he feels bad about it. I wonder if he feels like burning all of the footage of everything he's ever done on the slopes and off, and throwing out all his button up shirts and all his crap in storage that he pays $73 amonth to store for nothin'. I wonder if he's miserable over his wipe-out royalty checks not covering the negative balance on his checking account because of two checks he wrote to pay for a stupid passport when he didn't have the money in his account, hoping another royalty check would clear, then his bank whacks him for $105 for three overdrafts, because he spent twenty dollars on gas and before that used the card for a sandwich on the way to pick up his fiancee who'd been traveling and miscommunicating sometimes by email, then not at all by phone. Then the online bank statement says that the $135 check came in BEFORE the $20 and the sandwich, when you know fucking well that it didn't. The twenty bucks and the sandwich were BEFORE the $135, NOT AFTER! BEFORE! I wonder if he thinks about that. If it makes him crazy that he doesn't know what to do next, or that since looking into her face and yelling at her in Portsmouth then later driving away from her and the bag with the button up shirt in Rye, he hasn't looked another person in the eyes, and doesn't now even know how to start. I wonder if he feels like an idiot. No reason, just an idiot. Like he can't get anything right. Like all anybody cares about is that he's the guy that went over the ski jump sideways and "hey, Johnny! Let me buy you a beer!" I bet he hates that.

Pop Quiz:Why did people stop buying wristwatches? I'll give you a hint: Cell Phones.

Musik

I'm going to be sore in the morning...

Just got in from a really satisfying ride from Turners Falls to Northampton and back again. 49 miles and averaged right around 20mph - not bad! I'm riding my 1986 Miyata Seven-Ten. I bought it new over 20 years ago, and it still fits me like glove! I always loved the smooth "whir" sound it makes when I'm flying along at a good cadence. I've intentionally not ridden a new road/racing bike simply because I don't want to spoil the love affair I have with this particular bicycle. It's the first "real" bike I ever had. Actually, Joe at the bike shop validated my appreciation of the 710 by pointing out the advantages of a retro cro-moly frame; cro-mo represents a great combination of strength, weight, and flex and a lot of cyclists are opting for the older frames and fitting them with new components. The more I ride my Miyata now, the more I like it just the way it is.

Maybe a slightly easier ride tomorrow. We'll see...

Cheers!

~B

Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

On October 25th we fly from New York to Germany. While we're deciding on the perfect place to live, we'll be staying in M's adopted city of Augsburg. I'm just starting to learn the language. Right now all I can do is order some kind of pastry from Linz. It's delicious!

Ever After...

It took me exactly three weeks to begin my journey after some setbacks in May, three weeks to ride my bicycle to Nova Scotia, three weeks to get back on the road after falling down in Amherst, twice three weeks before I decided to say goodbye to Yarmouth, three days of knowing Marietta before I knew this was something very special, and three weeks to fall in love before I finally knew.

On September 13th, I asked Marietta to marry me. She said "Yes"!

We're holding off on New Zealand for the time being in favor of settling in one place and building a solid base for life together and for our future travels and adventures -location to be announced. It's a wonderful world out there and we both feel strongly about discovering as much of it together as possible.

I never dreamed, when I set out on my adventure, that I'd ever find...well, exactly what I went looking for. I've learned so much about myself, my friends and family, the kindness of others, and the wonder and vastness of the world - even from my tiny secluded vantage point, and of course, I found Marietta. I still have a lot to digest and glean from what has already occurred, and I'm committed to doing just that in the coming months. As for now, it's time to take care of some business, including work, home, community, and a new Family.

Back on May 22nd, I set out on the road to find myself. I had no idea I'd discover so much more than I ever imagined.

Happily,

~B

Another Sunny Day

We're still in Cape May NJ and the weather's fine. Unfortunately the Cape May Public Library doesn't allow photo uploads and limits non-members to minutes of Internet time. Other than those restrictions, Cape May is wonderful. We've camped on the beach for the last four nights and will likely be doing the same at another location tonight. I have new journal pages and photos ready to go once we hit the right library. Maybe tomorrow. If not, we'll be back in Turners Falls?Brattleboro on Wednesday. I'm getting work right away while M continues her travels around New England. She is on vacation, after all. Cheers! ~B

I Hear New Zealand's Nice...

Quick Update: We're heading Down Under at the end of November for three months! Today, we're off on another ten days of holiday before I get some work to settle business here and to help fund the trip. While we're searching for the elusive New Zealand Kākā, I'll be hammering away at the keyboard. I have a lot of writing to catch up on. Cheers! ~B

A Visit Home

We're in Turners Falls, M and I that is. The whole family is coming to my Sister's house to greet the Prodigal Son and to meet M for the first time. We're heading out for another week and a half of vacation before getting back to work to settle accounts and save for the next big adventure...coming soon! I'm sure this one will be nothing like the last one, but that's OK. One Lucky Adventure is enough for a lifetime. Cheers! ~B

Photo: Mom and Dad's in Turners Falls. We moved to this house when I was 4 years old.

Honeymoon In Mexico

:-)

All is well in Bangor. We've been with Susan in her lovely Victorian home, within view of Stephen King's house (lots of his fan's taking pictures in from of his Gothic looking front gate). Anyway, we picked up a rental car yesterday and are heading to Moosehead lake or the White Mountains today. There are a few hurricanes coming up the coast , so the weather might be a little rough. We'll see. Everything's great! Just a quick hello! Cheers! ~B

A New Day

I've had the window open and the curtains pulled back for some time now. I guess in a way I've viewed my own life to be somewhat of a side show, "hey, look what Bob's up to now". Aside from friends participating in the fun, it's been mostly about me and the things I've experienced. It's been about me, and that's been OK for me up to now, but it's changed. M and I are together. I feel completely connected to her. Even in our difficult moments, I now have a good sense of where to find the ends, if that connection fails.

There's no getting around it, I'm writing for two. It's been great fun, and an amazing exersise in self discovery, showing you my insides and letting you peer through the open window, but it's different now. I'll still continue the travel portion of this journal, because I want to chronicle this time together, but the soul searching and soap opera are over.

We're grabbing a bus today and heading to Bangor, then up to Moosehead Lake, I won't be posting for a week or so. I hope you've enjoyed reading along as much as I've enjoyed writing.

This photo was taken yesterday at Thunder Hole, Acadia National Park. Well worth the visit.

Cheers, and Thanks!

~B

BTW, I'm keeping my man card.

A Lovely Bar Harbor Evening

I'm in the dining room at the Bar Harbor Hostel with M, Alex from Germany, and Egle from Lithuania. They've been talking while I put away the dishes from some burritos I made for the two of us. There was enough stuff to make a couple more for tomorrow. We're riding the bus in the morning to Bangor to get the rental car that M reserved and to couch surf with Susan. She sounded delightful when I spoke with her to coordinate tomorrow's arrival. She's picking us up at the bus terminal.

Today's visit to Acadia marked a huge breakthrough in our relationship. The drama that we experienced yesterday all came into focus and perspective. Sometimes when I write, it takes me a few days for the words and thoughts to settle in and to acquire the clarity for me to view them clearly. Today, I saw M clearly.

Yesterday I was wondering if "it was me", and today I figured out that it's actually both of us. That's the way it is in any relationship. Two travelers, moving along separately, completely accustomed to their own individual routines, come together. A small spark ignites a powder keg of passion and the skies light up. I've been lucky enough to have experienced this more than a few times in my life. It's a wonderful consuming feeling. The difficulty occurs when the ash tumbles form the sky and the bright colorful lights overhead slowly fade, and you're left staring at each other having to virtually start over. The light of day reveals so much more than high colored bursts of light ever could. Getting to know each other and actually measure the fit, determines your longevity together. Often times the fit is awkward, sometimes it's OK, rarely it's perfect, but it always requires effort. Today we put in the effort to get a better understanding of each other. It's working. M is truly wonderful. I'm done guessing.

Give us a little privacy, will ya?

~B

Photo: M, Alex, and Egle.

A Popover With Blueberry Jam

M and I just had a nice walk around downtown Bar Harbor and had coffee and a lite breakfast before heading to the market for lunch fixins. All is well, it's going to be a good day. Getting all this off my chest is so important to understanding myself and feeling heard. It's probably a little weird that I'm being heard by several hundred onlookers, but it works for me. Somehow it just works.

We're packing up at the hostel now and will be hopping on a bus to see the park. The bike is gone, Yarmouth is behind me, today is sunny, and Acadia awaits. I do dream of being on the road again, actually on the bike I have in storage in Massachusetts. I have no doubt that I'll be back on the road before long (BTW, I actually like where I am right now).

I hope I'm not boring you in the meantime...

Cheers!

~B

From the Cat to the Cafe

I was laughing right in her face! I couldn't help myself, it just seemed so incredibly ironic. All I could do was laugh. It was one of those full body laughs that comes up from the middle of you that youcan't help doing; when you try to not laugh, but the laugh sprays outmid-word and overtakes an otherwise serious conversation. I was almost choking. She's crying, I'm laughing, she's looking at me horrified that I could be acting so completely different than I had only the day before. Before she threw a tantrum over a pillow that wouldn't stay inflated, before she was blurted out that my sandwich in Yarmouth was more important than remembering to bring her Muesli, before she reminded me again about the weight of jar of jam, or again how I miscalculated the distance from the Cat to the Cafe (I know I'm leaving something out). And then the coup de grâce when she dumped me for taking too long on the computer to write my blog! "I'm leaving you and I'm not coming back. I'm going to see the national park, that's what I came here for". Um...OK. And she was gone. She took her stuff, paid her portion of the tab and she was gone. And there I was...exactly where I'm supposed to be. I could feel the laugh percolate it's first bubble deep down inside. She was gone. Exactly where I'm supposed to be. Backpack, paid the bill, out the door, gone. Exactly where I'm supposed to be. Another bubble...

The guy at the coffee bar seemed to know the area pretty well and I sat on the stool next to him to get directions to...I wasn't sure where I needed directions to, it just seemed like the thing to do; get off a boat in a distant town, get dumped, get directions. I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. He had met her, and had a little insight into what had happened. He'd seen her pay the bill and leave as did everyone in the front of the cafe. Bubble Bubble. Then ten minutes after making her grand exit, she reappeared in the front door, backpack and all, asking me if I'm ready, exactly where I'm supposed to be. Bubble, Bubble, Glub...

When we came back inside after talking for an hour on the bench outside, I told the woman behind the counter that we were having kind of a bad day, and asked if it was OK if we camped out at the table in the corner while we figured it out. She said "we're open 'til 11:00pm"; it was noon.

Is it me? Do I bring this on myself? Well, sure the answer is a resounding yes, with minor caveats, to both questions. The main caveat being, I don't think it's me! I really don't. So here I am, sitting in a really cool hostel in Bar Harbor, with a really cool bunch of really cool people, thinking about my really stupid predicament. I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. What put me here is what I need to examine in myself. My impetuous and impulsive nature that seems so drawn to the shiny object in the grass. So firmly rooted one minute, then so completely upside down and tossed into the air the next. I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.

Bar Harbor's nice though. M and I are going to see the park today. Exactly where I'm supposed to be.

By the way, I'm Bob, and I have a BLOG.

Bubble...

~B

Huh????

Interesting twist today.

Boy, is this going to make a good book.

Whatever,

~B

Carla's Crappy Bike

When I arrived in Yarmouth on Thursday July 17th, I could have never imagined the course of wonderful, magical, and sometimes painful events that lay ahead for me. So often in my life I've been in situations where I've acted primarily with my heart, and not always with my head; my intentions, I believe are always good, but at a glance from the outside, it's not uncommon for the observer's eyebrows to tend to head north. Crazy-Impulsive-Impetuous-Bob. That's me!

Here's the deal...one of the principal reasons I began this odyssey was for Love. I felt that "she", whoever she was, was not in Brattleboro. I admit to being a hopeless romantic, that's one of my downfalls (or redeeming qualities, however you look at it). As much as I've tried to find the right fit for me in a life partner, I've managed to end up alone. I have wonderful friends, a great family, plenty in life that gives me pleasure, but still there's this hole in my gut that yearns to be filled. I'm certain that this yearning is what kept me hanging around Yarmouth for so long. I thought I caught sight of "her" the day I arrived, then once or twice after realizing that first glimpse was not meant to be. Then along came, let's just call her M. She was one of Carla's Couch Surfers, and I was charged with the task of acting as surrogate host while Carla was surfing in the States, not a problem - glad to do it. M is from Germany. It's actually Dr. L, if truth be told, extremely well educated, a lively (sometimes childlike) spirit, hauntingly beautiful, and often painfully direct. Somehow the combination captivated me.

If I had this last week to do over, I wouldn't really change much, except possibly the timing. The explosion that marked the beginning of my relationship with Marietta was the force that propelled me from life in Yarmouth five days ahead of schedule. My decision to leave was already well known, this just pushed the date up and made the departure more of an exodus than a fond farewell. Leaving my friends there in that way was a mistake, even for the prospect of finally discovering that love I'd been seeking. There was a better way, but that "Bob" that I described earlier was unable to see it. All he felt was hurt and confusions, and all he could focus on was what he saw ahead, not what he was leaving in his wake. That Bob, and this one, is truly sorry for that.

So, now to the happy resolution. Fast forward to Tuesday morning. The "Last Campsite" photo was in the camera, the was bike loaded for the road, and I headed west to the Cat. We "sailed" at 4pm. The ride out of Nova Scotia was as difficult as the ride into Nova Scotia was easy. I battled a constant headwind from the start, but still managed to average 20kph. When I stopped by to gather up some of Marietta's belongings, Carla was there to greet me at the door. I hadn't checked email in two days and missed the part where tensions between us had softened, I was still hurt and confused. When something happens that puts a rift in a relationship (a couple such incidents have occurred for me on this journey), it's impossible to heal the hurt unless you're talking. Well, we talked. Finally, we talked. It's OK now. I think we understand each other better as a result of having everything thrown up into the air for a time. When the pieces finally come back down, it's more real if you have a better understanding of where most of those pieces belong. I think we both do now.

As I mentioned, the ride back to Yarmouth was hard, the ride out of Yarmouth was hard. The ride in between those two important days, was hard too. I'm tired, it occurred to me especially on the ride back, I'm just tired. I said it before, one day "Forrest just stopped running". Well, as I rode in to Yarmouth and the mile marker's on the 103 counted down from 58 to 1, then to the end of the 103, I knew this was the day that "Bob just stopped riding". I wasn't sure how, I just had the sense that this was the day, the mile (actually kilometer) markers foretold it. After Carla and I worked through our difficulties, I told her of my plans to hitchhike from Bar Harbor to Bangor where Marietta had reserved a rental car, and Carla said "hey, why don't I just buy your bike".

Every day that Carla and I set our alarms early to get on our bikes, each day a different route so I'd get to know more of Yarmouth, I insisted that Carla ride my bike and I take the crappy one. Don't ask me how much she paid, but I will tell you she got a GREAT deal! She even paid me in American dollars, not that funny Canadian money you guys use up north (big wink). I'm using the money to pay for the Cat ride and for food.

When I think about Yarmouth, I'll think about Carly rolling out of bed, putting on the goofy helmet with the big visor, and heading out on my lucky adventure bicycle, number two. I'll imagine her riding the Chebogue Loop, and smile.

From Bar Harbor, here in the States...

Cheers!

~B

Standing Tall

The Last Campsite in Nova Scotia

I'm a day few days behind. it's been quite a ride! Give me time to catch up.
I've got a new post that will publish today. ~B

The Turning Point

So much has happened...

A week ago Friday, I made the decision to leave the wonderful comfort I'd found in Yarmouth and to continue on with my journey. The friendships I'd forged and the lives I'd touched, and have touched me, would remain behind, at least for now, while I continued to search for whatever it is that set me on this path in the first place. That voice that's urged me along from the beginning, still remained and I decided it was time to listen again.

I can not begin to express my gratitude to everyone who welcomed me into their hearts and their lives while I searched for meaning in my own. I will always be especially grateful to Carla. She was the first in Yarmouth to embrace me and to accept me for who I am. In her care and her presence, I felt truly special. Yarmouth, and especially the house on Cliff Street, will always signify a magical turning point in my life.

In writing my online journal, I've made every attempt to be as forthcoming as possible, often sharing many intimate details of my thoughts and emotions as I've experienced life on the road. As my most critical reader, I expect nothing less, and as the author, I feel an obligation to continue sharing openly and accurately as I have from the beginning, however difficult that may be for some of those looking on. So, here goes...

On Tuesday, I'll be riding the Cat from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia across to Bar Harbor, Maine.

Last night I awoke to the sound of raccoons chattering in the woods not far from the tent. M was sleeping soundly, bundled up in her sleeping bag next to me. Thoughts about what had happened, and what was to come, were flooding my head and I needed to get it down on paper, or at least try. My decision to leave Nova Scotia and to draw my Canada experience to a conclusion, was fueled largely by my experiences with her. We met only eight days ago, but have formed a very tight bond and friendship. She'd already planned to take the Cat and tour New England and, in addition to wanting to continue on with her, the offer to ride along was too tempting to pass up. We're now travelling back to Yarmouth from Liverpool, she's hitchhiking as she's done since arriving in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, and I'm cycling as usual. We're meeting at Carter's Beach as soon as I get away from this computer and back on the road. She got a ride in Liverpool about thirty seconds after we said goodbye.

Act Three is hopefully setting up a wonderful conclusion to this saga.

Only time will tell...

Cheers

~B

I'm in Liverpool...

...and there's not a single Beatle in sight! Well, I am still in Nova Scotia afterall.

It's a beautiful sunny day and I'll be pausing in the area for a few days to take stock and decide in which direction my compass points. I've learned so much on this adventure and have met so many wonderful people. My journey has always been more about the journey than it ever was about the destination. At some point Forrest stopped running and just went on with his life. Am I there yet? A little more time will tell.

A special thanks to Jan and Conrad for their wonderful hospitality and friendship. Here's a link to a small album of my brief stay with them.

Cheers! ~B

Act Three

Click the photo to enlarge

The Saint Christopher medal is a thoughtful gift from a very dear friend.

First Camp - On the Outskirts of Yarmouth









Second Camp - An East Pubnico Cemetary

The Three Questions

My friend Sarah loaned me her copy of The Three Questions by Jon J. Muth. It's an illustrated book based on a short story by Leo Tolstoy. The story goes...

"There was once a boy named Nikolai who sometimes felt uncertain about the right way to act." He wanted to be a good person, but was unsure how to accomplish his goal. Nikolai had three important questions...

- When is the best time to do things?

- Who is the most important one?

- What is the right thing to do?

"If only I could find the answers to my three questions, then I would always know what to do." Nikolai, asked his three best friends, Sonya the Heron, Gogol the Monkey,and Pushkin the Dog, the three questions. Unfortunately he got conflicting and confusing advice from his friends. Recognizing their limitations in advising him, Nikolai sought out the advise of the wise old turtle Leo. "He has lived a very long time. Surely he will know the answers I am looking for". The turtle never answers him directly, but when a storm comes up and two Panda bears are in danger, Nikolai dashes to their aid without a thought for himself. In his action to help the bears, he finds answers. This is a gentle tale, told well. Muth's illustrations are graceful and elegant, and beautifully enhance the many moods of the story. Based on a short story by Leo Tolstoy, who is probably best-known for War and Peace and Anna Karenina, The Three Questions succeeds in getting children to think of being in of service to others, and to realize that, contrary to what advertisers would have us believe, life isn't about getting; it's about doing.*

In pondering the three questions, Nicolai became transfixed on finding meaning based on what seemed most relevant to him. In doing so, he became focused on himself. When Leo, the old turtle, became tired working on his garden, Nicolai offered to take over, sparing the old turtle the burden of digging with the heavy shovel, and when the Panda's were found to be in danger, Nicolai sprung into action to rescue the bears. In doing all this, he found great satisfaction and tranquility within himself. The three questions, on which he'd been previously transfixed, disappeared into the mist of his contentment. In helping others, the questions about himself no longer mattered.

It's a wonderful book. I was just chatting with my sister Amy and she told me that she has it for her girls. Here's Amy (she's going to kill me for this!).

The moments and periods of my life when I've felt the most alive and connected to my rightful place in the universe have been when I've offered myself in service to others. When I'm making breakfast for Carla or her couch surfers, when I'm teaching photography to my students in Vermont, when I'm babysitting my nieces, and especially many years ago when I was nurturing and caring for my own children. The act of service is so central to the core of my identity. When I'm connected to others through service, I excel. The times when I've felt that my service was being squandered and not contributing to improving the condition of the planet, I've felt "out of sync". A good example of this is when I worked in the automobile business. If I did a good job, the owner of the dealership might be able to acquire a nicer collection of snowmobiles - not my idea of contributing to the greater good. In finding the right place to serve, where I'm needed most, I will have found my home. Of this I am certain.

Anyway, that's it. Great book, great lesson.

Cheers!

~B

*Partially excerpted from various Amazon reviews

Torn

Can anyone recommend a good genetics lab? I need five copies of myself to leave behind with various people. I will of course need to keep the original so I can make additional copies as the need arises. ~B

More Photos!!!

Click here for The Great Frog Safari Photo Album

Click here for the Nova Scotia Misc Photo Album

It's Go Time...

On Sunday, August 31st at 10am, I roll - Act Three begins.

I'm updating my CouchSurfing profile as we speak so I'll be meeting people along the way instead of being the solitary cyclist. The most likely scenario, at this moment, is that I'll head out along the South Shore, then up through Halifax and on into Cape Breton and points unknown! Well, actually it's all on the map and I guess the people who live there know about it ;-)

That's the plan anyway. Stay tuned....

~B

Good Coffee and a Muffin

I'm sitting here in Carla's kitchen enjoying a cup of freshly brewed Tim Hortons fine ground coffee (in the red can). I brewed up a pot to go with Gina's freshly baked blueberry muffins, as soon as I got back from the downtown where I had an appointment with Diane; she's advising me on Nova Scotia's immigration process. I'm still on the fence about this, but I do want to keep in touch with her if I ever decide to start the process. Time will tell.

I just got off the phone with Carla. She was on a train headed for Boston when I called. She's hosted close to a dozen CouchSurfers and has decided to experience surfing from the other side of the couch for a few days. She's coming back on the Cat on Sunday. It's weird having her there, while I'm up here. It's just feels backwards. I probably would have gone with her if I'd had the cash at my disposal, but I'm also needed here, what with helping out at the market and with projects that need to be done around the house, not to mention my other social obligations with the girls here in Yarmouth. Life would be so much easier if there was more than one of me. Oh, well.

I got a comment on yesterday's post from my friend Taryn suggesting that I had "set forth the premise to a great story, then left out the story part". She's right, I have been dancing around certain real life issues in my posts. If I were writing my thought in a journal for my own use, I'd be telling a much more specific and cohesive story of my life on the road. When it's just me that I'm writing about, I have only to ask myself where the boundaries lie with respect to what I'm willing to share, and what I choose to keep hidden. When I'm narrating my experiences with other people, I can only suppose where those boundaries might exist for them. The thoughts flow, along with the willingness to share, but often times I'm cut short by my need to respect the privacy of the one's who've entrusted me with their secrets. In dancing around this obstacle, I sometimes find even myself confused and my message convoluted. It only really makes sense if I disclose that .........(fill in the blank). You see my dilemma? Often times in business, two sets of books are kept, one for the taxman and one that more accurately reflects the true state of affairs. I need to start keeping a second set of books. One where I can continue to share my thoughts with anyone interested in looking on, and the other to chronicle the keys that will unlock the true meaning behind some of my ramblings. I have decided to be more forthcoming when writing the shared portion of my experiences. So often I find myself wanting to spin a certain thought or event in such a way so as not to reflect poorly on myself, however that may be. I catch myself thinking "don't got there, you're going to look like a fruit loop". That's often how I conduct the "live" portion of my life, so careful and concerned about how other's might perceive me, that I overly regulate myself and just end up feeling generally uncomfortable, often worried about things that are not actually occurring, but just might be. The therapist of an old friend once referred to me as being "tightly wrapped", she was right. On the other hand, being here in Nova Scotia has instilled in me a strong sense of being loved and accepted in a way that I can't say I've ever experienced before. I do know that I'm loved and accepted by my friends and family, that's a given, but the feeling of self worth that I've gained here, just being Bob, has resulted in a feeling of empowerment and value. Here I feel special, at so many other times in my life I've felt "special" too, but the quotes are the key - they make all the difference. There is a simplicity to life up here that seems to recognize the value in and of a person, that is independent of title or prestige or worldly possessions. I haven't quite nailed it down, but it exists. It also occurs to me that my experience here may be somehow artificial because of the notoriety I've received as a result of this trip and what happened to me in Amherst. I have to wonder when I'm having a conversation with a young woman, for example, who knows my story and has read my thoughts here on the blog, when she's staring at me with an adoring look in her eyes. Is she's turned on by the notoriety, or is it the thoughts and ideas that I've expressed on the blog that give her that look? Or maybe she just thinks I'm hot. I don't actually think it matters, but it would be nice to know, eh? (See how I said I was going to be more frank? BTW, those of you looking for a simple happy travel blog, should just look away). The other aspect of all this that my be "not real" is that I've been living here in Yarmouth without all of the usual "life stuff" that people have to face. I guess in a way, I do have had some real life stuff, since I have been "volunteering" at a local market and doing a bunch of work around the house. I generally conduct a fairly simple life anyway, even when I'm on my own, so maybe that's not such a big issue for me, afterall. I still think about it though.

So what's the point? More honesty, keep another journal for myself in case I ever decide to squeeze a book out of my lucky adventure, and have another cup of coffee. It's still hot.

Cheers!

~B

An Old Adage

OK, so I woke up this morning and did a brain dump onto the blog. I must admit that, upon reading my thoughts, it appears that I may have been a bit scattered. I've taken the liberty to repair the damage. It ain't perfect, but so what? As I just told my sister Amy, "sometimes I write things just for myself. Just because you get to peer over my shoulder, doesn't mean it's intended to make sense to everyone". Or maybe that's my convenient excuse to cover bad writing, you decide. Anyway, here goes...

There is an old adage that suggests that absence makes one's heart grow fonder. Is this based on an observation of the reality that the lack of something simply increases the desire for it, or is there actually a physically transformative effect that happens to ones internal organs when a particular loved one is away. The Roman poet Sextus Propertius gave us the earliest form of this saying "Always toward absent lovers love's tide stronger flows". The contemporary version appears first as the title of an anonymous English poem in 1602. It wasn't until the 19th century that the phrase began to be used more widely, with Thomas Haynes Bayly's song Isle of Beauty, published posthumously in 1850: "Absence makes the heart grow fonder, Isle of Beauty, Fare thee well!" I also like the more humorous version: "Absinthe makes the fart grow stronger".

It occurred to me this morning that "out of sight, out of mind" is an equally astute, but possibly conflicting, observation. They both reflect an actual physical process that occurs within humans, but when combined and applied to our own situations, they may also tell us something about ourselves and our relationships. What does it say about us when one expression rings more true than the other. Does the "absence" crowd have more of a firm footing in the romantic world where they believe so strongly that love will prevail and that whatever event or relationship they're rooting for is meant to be? Conversely, do the "sight" believers all suffer from some form of relationship ADD, unable to pay attention and remain focussed on their loved ones long enough and intently enough to avoid being sidelined by distraction? A pretty girl walks by and the head naturally turns, but instill the focus that a tested and truly committed relationship brings and viola - stationary head. I guess it largely depends on one's commitment to the object of one's desire. The absence crowd subscribe to the concept of destiny, believing with all their heart that this is meant to be. I fall quite a bit in this camp, the one that believes in fate and destiny and romantic stories. I usually opt for the love stories at the video store. I like a good tale, a happy ending, and a good cry. I usually get that from any displays of tenderness, especially when it's expressed across generations, fathers and sons, great grandmothers and little girls. But the romantic stories, the really good ones done with solid acting, get me every time. I also like long walks on the beach, but I still feel strongly about out of sight, out of mind. I thinks it's quite possible to exist in both worlds. Living for romance, yet protective and demanding of a certain minimum standard of treatment. "Yes, I'm willing to die for true love, but... not if it has to hurt this much".

In absence, there is no difficulty except for what's felt from being apart, there is no bad behavior, no harsh words, no boring moments, no discomfort at a loved one's behavior, it's just absence. It's like getting a free pass: "wait here and think fondly of me while I'm away and all of the difficulties fade, and you're left wanting and missing me". What is the absence for in the first place? I was in a relationships where I've felt completely absent from that person in the same room. Where I felt like I was off on my own, out of the way and all within the distance of a short drive and a phone call. Yes, absence does have the effect of making us feel like we're missing out, I sometimes get that way over chocolate, but absence is, I think, the larger issue, not the fondness of one's heart, but the absence. People spend so much of our lives working long hours and running frantically between errands, often for things that they really don't need - their lives are just constructed in such a way that these things have become default necessities. In running and working, we loose sight of the necessity of being present to the ones we love. That's when out of sight comes into play. I sometimes go for days between thoughts of home. I'm so engrossed with all that's happening here. I haven't called loved ones as often as I should simply because I'm distracted by life. I need to work on that. It is possible, however, to spend too much time and energy letting our hearts grow fonder. There is a point at which we stand up and demand an end to absence and go forward towards a life of presence. Where we get to live our lives actually in the days we've dreamed rather than always having them exist in the future.

I like old adages. They tell us something about ourselves and of the wisdom of generations.

It's a beautiful day in Yarmouth. I'm going for a bike ride.

Cheers!

~B

Un Tres Petit Déjeuner Aujourd'hui

A little lite breakfast today anyone?

For an appetizer, we'll be serving shark. Here's a link to Carla's Shark Scramble Article and Photo Essay. I unfortunately missed it while I was working on a website, but it looked like a very interesting event. Yarmouth and the surrounding area hosts a lot of activities that makes life here more enjoyable. Check it out.

For our main course you're sure to enjoy some delicious scenery and a wonderful boat ride from Yarmouth to Pubnico. Steve and Joan brought their boat down for the Shark Scramble and we hitched a ride for the return to her home port. On the way we stopped at Deep Cove Island, one of the prettiest place I've ever been, and Harris Island, both are active lobstering villages. Bon Appetite!

And finally, for dessert, we're having Donair, a traditional Nova Scotia dish. Actually it's a SUPER DONAIR. We had these for dinner last night. Carla got take out from Jake's and when she got back to the house she handed me a sandwich the size of a small baby. Get in my belly! It was wrapped in foil and was some kinda delicious. Donairs are only available in Nova Scotia. In fact, as part of a campaign to promote the province, the Nova Scotia tourism folks have placed signs in Toronto that read simply "Donairs" and pointing east.

Uhmm, you've got some sauce on the corner of your mouth. Napkin? ~B