Life’s a Journey

The blog is hungry. The blog will not be ignored. It is an insatiable little beast, a creature still unclassified by science — hairy, warty, slobbering, with its own fiendish agenda. I often fantasize about killing the blog, but I worry that it will respond just like the crazed computer in ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’: It will try to kill me first.

-Joel Achenbach, The Washington Post

Blogfood for thought: In keeping with my 9/11 theme for this week, here is a timeline showing exactly what took place on United Flight 93 before it crashed in Pennsylvania. What an extraordinary team of passengers!

Blogsnack: I’ve updated my family album with some light-hearted testimonials.

Blogdessert: My mom coined a perfect word.. she calls my Friendster blog the "blogster"

Matt’s JAG colleagues, Michael and Tony, and I went to Cambridge last night for dinner, live jazz, and dancing at a trendy night club called Soul Tree. It was a joyful relief to be among American English speakers, who didn’t look at me funny for saying WHAT instead of WOT, and TEA instead of TYEE.

Being the coffee lover that I am, I naturally ordered a cappucino during the main course; but I soon learned that Brits always have their coffee after dinner, which is just wrong.

I also got to meet my first female fighter pilot (there are only 46 of them in the AF) and she actually said she wants to hang out with me!

By the way, Jeff - thanks for convincing me to get out of the house and interact with real people. It was worth it, even though I’m out 60 bucks! Entertainment’s not cheap over here, that’s for sure.

Yep, I have finally come to resemble a most ferocious and feared species. You knew it would happen sooner or later.

Not to worry - I am well aware that I’ve got way too much time and technology at my disposal. (Note to unabashedly neurotic side of self: The only thing more pathetic than taking a picture of yourself looking at a picture of yourself is having to do it about 20 times to get it right)

And for all the other infinite web addicts out there, be very afraid.

It’s been a week since I arrived in the UK, and I have to say that despite being thousands of miles away from family and friends, I’m feeling quite connected to everyone (though I realize this means you have to endure an increasing number of frivolous blog posts). For me it has also been a week marked by Hurricane Katrina’s surreal presence through BBC streaming video and the 24-hour blogosphere. I’m saddened and frustrated by all that’s happened in New Orleans, and I wish that our society could be more cooperative and fair.

Back in law school I had a German friend named Anna who would often criticize American federalism as being archaic and inefficient; only now do I get her point. When I saw images of the Air Force C-130 single-handedly picking up thousands of stranded victims on the fifth or sixth day of the disaster, I thought, (1) what an awesome capability, and (2) what took them so long? (besides bureaucracy, the other big problem was federalism…)

p.s. thanks for your visit and hope it wasn’t a complete waste of time

Here is a picture of my famous sweet potato fries! Actually, they have not achieved any fame whatsoever.  I used the following recipe from About.com’s low-fat cooking website (try not to overboil the potatoes so they stay crispy):

   4 medium sweet potatoes
   2 tablespoons vegetable oil
   2 tablespoons butter
   2 tablespoons sugar
   dash cinnamon, optional

Boil sweet potatoes in skins until tender; slice about 1/4-inch thick. Heat oil and 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat and brown sliced sweet potatoes quickly. Sprinkle with sugar, along with cinnamon, to taste.  Bon Appetit!

having been involved in a hurricane evacuation and relief effort while serving in the U.S. Air Force a few years ago, i can somewhat relate to the problems facing the local officials in New Orleans today. it is extremely difficult to be competent and proactive at your job while also struggling to survive the catastrophe yourself. there exists a tendency to throw your hands up and say it’s not within my power to do anything, or i don’t have the resources to do what needs to be done, or i can’t do anything without the help of those who do have the power and resources. natural disasters seem to test our morality, humanity and threshhold for self-sacrifice. are we going to just save ourselves and our family and watch as others around us perish, or are we going to give everything we have in order to rescue the least among us?

He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ (Matthew 25:45)

After a couple of days getting adjusted to life in England, I’m beginning to feel comfortable with no TV set and bizarre water pressure, though I do miss my family and little meowy meowkins.  Today I went to the farmer’s market and bought two sweet potatoes for 68 pences (about $1.25). I also shopped at a store where everything cost £1 (about 2 dollars), which for Americans would not be a steal, unless we’re talking about a gallon of gasoline these days!    While walking home, I saw two white butterflies fluttering about while closely entertwined… It was the first time I noticed how playful butterflies are!  I guess cats do know best (or maybe they really don’t know anything).

Ok, I’ve landed two feet on the ground in a little town called Bury St. Edmunds, about 23 miles east of Cambridge and 100 miles northeast of London.  It took 2 hours to get through customs at Heathrow and another 2 hours to drive home from the airport. I’m exhausted, and Matt will be deploying to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar tomorrow! So while I say my farewells and catch up on my jet lag, maybe you can do some sightseeing for me…

This year’s been a year of globetrotting for me.  I finally arrived in Saigon last night after a 5-year hiatus from the motherland.  While filling out the customs form on the plane, I spotted a rather interesting clerical error that read "prohibited imports include … social order and security."  I don’t know about social order, but there seems to be sufficient security in the form of helpful hotel attendants who are worried about my apparent naivete.  The real irony is that the broadband access here is mega times faster than at home in dial-up city.  (Ok, the REAL irony is that my seat number on my last layover was "56K.")  And have you ever wondered why some people travel in their finest business attire and others wear the next thing up from pajamas?

Going for a long run is my favorite way to feel really healthy in a jiffy.

Though I must confess: my eating habits leave much to be desired.

I can run a couple miles a day, no problem,

but I can’t get myself to eat a bowl of oatmeal or a stick of celery!

Dr. Phil, I need help!!