Thursday, July 31, 2008

Hedge Fund: Investing in a Different Perspective

It was overcast this morning...

Dickhead next door was off to work...

Dickhead Dad's car was nowhere to be seen...

So I grabbed the opportunity, went next door and asked the daughter if it was OK for me to go in their yard and trim the hedge that pokes over into their yard.

She said that her father had said he was going to "do something about it" and that she didn't know if it was OK or not. So I assured her that all I was going to do was trim MY hedge, that is sticking out into their yard, and that was all and would it be OK for me to set foot in their yard?. She said, "Wakarimashita" (which means "I understand".) Her response was about as Japanese as could be for it neither gave me permission, nor denied me access, but rather just signified that she "understood" what I wanted to do (this is the kind of language that allows people to weasel their way out of promises they make but cannot keep without having to lose face... because they actually do not have to commit to anything!)

Those of you who have been with us for some time now know that conditions between us and the neighbours has deteriorated dramatically from when we first moved in. We try to be nice, we try to engage in conversation, we try to keep the neighbourhood air... clear from any discomfort. But they just do not respond. When we moved here we were told they were strange, but we didn't let that affect us toward them. Well, things have changed in three years.

When at first I was told I could freely come in to trim the hedges and clean up fallen leaves, I found out last year that Dickhead Dad complained that I just came into their yard and trimmed the hedges and cleaned up the fallen leaves. He didn't complain to me, he complained to others in the neighbourhood. There have been other incidences.

We don't want to bother trying to talk with them anymore so it was a good opportunity for me to get over there, get the trimming done, and get out! So you can imagine my consternation when, as I was picking up the teeny leaves that sometimes fall to their gravel yard, that he drove home, and immediately came stomping over to where I was. I decided I needed to apply some Platinum Rule Tactics in order to prevent an argument. So the first thing I did was to breathe..... and know that I was working in "the gap", and that I was relaxed and at peace with the processes in my life.

My first tactic was to apologize for not getting it done sooner but that I had been ill for over three weeks and unable to get out into the sun. We got to talking about this and I explained what the illness was (he didn't know), and why I was unable to come and trim the hedge. This helped to deflect his anger at us because I have been sick but moreso because I was truly apologetic for inconveniencing him in my illness.

My second tactic was to let him know that if he ever wants it trimmed, all he has to do is let me know and I am more than happy to come over and cut the branches that stick into his yard, but that since I do not visit his yard regularly, I cannot tell if anything is sticking over. I need his cooperation for this but am glad to do so. This helped him to see that I am really not an adversary, but want to work with him, rather than be a thorn in his side.

My third tactic was to comment on how this year the insects did not eat all of the leaves off of this hedge for the first time since we arrived, and also that finally, the bushes were starting to fill back in again after the really heavy snowfall of two years ago broke off huge portions of the hedge, leaving gaping... gaps in the hedge (which Mayu hates because when she sits outside, he can stare through ("nozoku" in Japanese) at her). This helped to take his mind away from the fact that I was in his yard without HIS permission, cutting back the branches that were causing him great distress, and creating (in his mind) much garbage that was falling in his yard.

You can see in the picture how closely back to the fence I trimmed today. Well, it seems it was not enough for Dickhead Dad because our land ends on THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CONCRETE WALL and that he really wants the hedge trimmed back so absolutely nothing sticks above the wall, because the leaves that fall are extremely bothersome and make his yard feel really messy! (OK, I understand...)

I then employed my fourth tactic, which was to gently, but firmly explain to him that due to the damage of the hedge in the past, if we cut back entirely to my side of his fence, then that will cut away ALL of the green leaves on his side, leaving him with dead, bald, grey branches to look at all of the time. I suggested that we leave it as it is so at least there is some sense of greenery for him to see. His response? "A ho ka..." which is local dialect for "Ah, sou desu ka?" or "Is that so.....?" (Aho also means "idiot" or "moron" in slang so I always laugh when people over here use that instead of "ah sou".) This helped him to see things a bit differently, and show him that I was offering a suggestion that was in his best interest, but still willing to meet his needs if he really felt it necessary.

I employed my fifth tactic of telling him how great his hedge (different bush) on the other side of his house looked in spite of the fact that two years ago everyone else in the neighbourhood lost theirs because they went on a "trimming frenzy" (see someone trim, must get out and trim too) and cut it all too short, effectively destroying it. This allowed him to feel a sense of pride for his hard work, diffusing his anger at seeing me there.

He then walked away.

I swept up and collected as much of the fallen leaves as possible, then took all the clippings and dropped them in the "clipping pile" in our yard (it's under the caterpillar dust of death tree and I have no intentions on getting anywhere NEAR that stuff this year, so Mayu can take care of it all!!)

So, why am I telling you this? Certainly it is not to rant. Not at all.

What I want to show you is that there is a way to diffuse conflict in negotiation situations such that neither party has to feel the need to let ego come raging into the foreground in an attempt to defend through a destructive offence.

What I feel I was able to do, was to calmly approach the situation with his needs, his wants in mind, and allow him to PERCEIVE a potentially explosive situation in a different manner. By genuinely apologizing for our bushes being a problem to him and gently explaining why I was unable to come sooner, by appealing to his ego and recognizing his hard work at keeping a tidy and healthy yard, and by engaging him in non-threatening dialogue he was able to freely CHOOSE TO SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY (on his terms).

Had I been aggressive, snarky, sarcastic, bitchy, defensive, expressed "my needs" or be angry in any way, this incident would have gone in the opposite direction. But I was able to think, and act in "the Gap" with my advance knowledge of his reaction to our existence and divert potential conflict.

This does not mean that we are now buddies, or that he will suddenly greet me when we meet. I don't expect that. But I must admit that it really was nice to know that I was able to achieve MY goals without causing him undue distress, and also to finish the work calm, relaxed and at peace with the processes in my life.

This was a win-win situation for us both and a perfect example (in my mind) why it is so very important to focus your attentions OUTWARD on others' needs, rather than try to have your needs met first. Following the "Golden Rule" in this case would not have worked, because giving him the same things I expect to receive makes absolutely no sense when we are two different individuals with completely different needs.

This is also why I believe that the "Golden Rule" is flawed: it bases your actions on what YOU would want done to yourself, ASSUMING that others would want the same things, rather than by basing your actions on what the other person might really prefer have done for them.

This is what I call the "Platinum Rule":

"Do unto others as they would have you do unto them".

The Platinum Rule employs MINDFULNESS towards others. It is much more respectful of others than the "Golden Rule", I believe, because it takes into consideration their true wants and needs rather than your own. This is not always easy to do, of course, because in many cases you may not know what they really want. But you can always ask, right?

I know it works for me and those around me so I have chosen to re-educate myself based upon my real life experiences, and see things differently from the way I was raised. And, in most cases, the results speak for themselves.

I love you!

Cam

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

From Misfortune Comes Happiness *

Today I had a burning desire to get out in the sun and sweat. So I split up my hostas in the back against the house, that are growing like weeds from ... another galaxy, and moved them to where the normal weeds grow like crazy: in the middle of the sandy area. I found that where the hostas grow, there are no weeds. And I thought that if I could transfer them to the area that gets all weedy, this might decrease my work load for weeding. So I did. And it felt good to finally move again after being sick for the past two weeks...

The past two weeks have been an adventure that I do not recommend anyone else take, if they can avoid it! The problem is, there is no way of avoiding shingles when it hits, and the only thing the doctors know is that it is brought on by either a weakened immune system, or "stress".

Mine started with what I thought was yet another "caterpillar dust from hell rash" and it proceeded to get worse throughout the week. Finally at Day 6 I went to the hospital and was diagnosed with shingles. They say that the pain can be reduced if caught in the first day or so, but that didn't happen.

I have NEVER experienced pain like I did in my head, shooting through the nerve networks, totally uncontrollable. Nothing reduced the pain, not even potent anti-VIRAL medicine. I am on three more weeks of medicine to try to heal the damage done to the nerves in my head from the shingles. I still have slight headaches all day, and especially in the morning after my cranium has been resting (pressure) on the pillow all night.

Thank you ALL for caring for me, loving me and worry about me during these past two weeks. I absolutely adore you and am so grateful to each and every one of you!

The purpose of this blog is NOT to talk about the pain, or give you a running commentary (you can see that on flickr). Instead, I want to tell you about my awakening that I had from this experience...

As most of you know I have been doing a lot of meditation and breathing exercises since January. I have also been reading and studying a lot of "spiritual" things. I have gotten to a point where I can be PRESENT in the NOW moment and very AWARE of my existence in many cases. I know I have a lot of work ahead of me, but it does feel good to experience an internal peace I have never before known in my life.

But...

During these past two weeks of my illness, I was completely unable to be in a single "now" moment! I was unable to "breathe"; I was unable to be "present"; I was completely incapable of listening to a single meditation for a week; and I was, what I would call, very very UN-AWARE (of anything but the pain).

When the pain abated enough for me to move around a little, I started to think deeply on this, meditate for as long as I could before my head would begin the pain, and attempt to pull out a lesson for myself, to find some sort of positive education that I might gain from this ordeal...

I believe that from now on I will be better able to understand people who are unable to be present for whatever reason. I know now what it feels like to be physically unable to be there. I hope that from this ordeal I will be better-equipped to be much more patient, loving, caring, understanding and present for people as they work with the concepts of "awareness", "presence" and "being" (and health). I hope that now I can just BE there with them until they are able to have that "aha moment" on their own terms, loving unconditionally.

I have grown from this experience in a way that I never expected.

Hosta... la vista, Baby!

I love you!

Cam

* The Japanese phrase 不幸中の幸い (fukouchuu no saiwai) means "from misfortune comes happiness".

This is Keiko




Keiko is a female name. When the cat first came around, Mayu just thought it was a girl (you know how feline = feminine...) Anyway, Keiko is much better than HE was when I was in Texas, and he only comes by for food these days...

I just thought I would give you a little better idea of what Keiko is like, than the Keiko you saw struggling to get out of the laundry net a few weeks ago...

I love you!

Cam

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Quantum Twins

Because atomic behaviour is so unlike ordinary experience, it is very difficult to get used to, and it appears peculiar and mysterious to everyone ... we shall tackle immediately the basic element of the mysterious behaviour in its most strange form. We choose to examine a phenomenon which is impossible, absolutely impossible to explain in any classical way, and which has in it the heart of quantum mechanics. In reality it contains the only mystery. We cannot make the mystery go away by 'explaining' how it works. We will just tell you how it works. - Dr. Richard Feynman, Nobel Prize Laureate for Physics *

This book I am reading, "Quantum Physics and Theology, an unexpected kinship", by John Polkinghorne (a former physicist and current Anglican priest) is an interesting book insomuch as the relationship between religion and quantum physics made mention to in "What the Bleep do we Know?" has hooked my mind into a positive environment so that I have come to want to see things in a different way from that which I have lived the past 43 years of my life.

The writing is neither particularly compelling (to me), nor by any means an easy read (for me), and I predict this will be one of those little books (only 110pgs the size of a paperback) that take a very long time to read little by little, page by page.

There are definite ways that science develops, and rules that are followed with regards to creating theories, experimentation, developing thoughts, and accepting, or rejecting them in the community. The author also shows that this is very true of theology - that there are definite ways it has developed and rules followed (except for conducting experiments), and is comparing how these two seemingly clashing aspects of looking at the world are in fact more similar than most people surmise.

The interesting thing for me will be to learn how theology also has similar rules and regulations that affect the outcomes we have come to known as the Bible, and how it is seen in the various Christian religions of the day. I have never studied the bible, nor have I ever gone into theology (which is different than bible study altogether), so I admit to having absolutely no knowledge of theology, or the "formal study of religion". Some may understand this through their history with their church, and their studies as they grow, but I think that many who "go to church and study the bible" may not be entirely aware (nor want to be aware), that the actual field of the study of religion, is much more than just reading passages out of the King James Bible, and believing that they are the "word of God", simply because that's what their religious leader tells them. I do understand that the ministers and priests who take up those roles must be just as educated in this field as any physicist or chemist or literature university professor in their specific field, but in truth, I have never bothered to ponder it on a deeper level. Until now.

Polkinghorne makes no mistake in saying that just as in religion (e.g. "God is unknowable"), there are inexplicable things we simply have to accept in science because although they can be proven with repeatable experimentation, they cannot be explained.

I find this aspect very interesting indeed and look forward to slogging my way through this little book, and sharing any new vocabulary I come upon (already several!) as well as concepts, with you.

Yesterday, right at the end of the first chapter, the author was talking about, in science, how all arguments must be verified through experimentation, even if the HOW is not particularly well-understood. He used a quantum physics effect called the EPR Effect (Einstein Podolski Rosen) to illustrate this while then going on to show a theological example as well. This EPR Effect can be verified by all physicists, and every single one accepts it as a truth, even though they are unable to explain it. It is a known effect that is essential in the further understanding of the deeper study of quantum physics.

Since most are more knowledgeable in studies of the Bible, let me share with you the theological example first...

"The Christian God is the crucified God, the One who is not just a compassionate spectator of the suffering of creatures, but a fellow-sharer in the travails of creation. The concept of a suffering God affords theology some help as it wrestles with its most difficult problem, the evil and suffering present in the world."

Although it is understood throughout the theological channels that this concept cannot be explained fully, and must be accepted even though it is only partially-understood, as in "how can God be both an observer AND a participant?", it is still fundamentally accepted and critical to the further studies and beliefs.

All of this is fine and dandy and although I do find it interesting... it's not really something that I would consider blogworthy... for me.

That is until I came to the paragraph which describes the EPR Effect. That is when my world took a monstrous shift to the left, and I paradigmed and sashayed to the right.

Stefnee has commented on how it is amazing and sometimes eerie on how her twins just KNOW what is going on between the two. Jenny has mentioned it. Michelle has mentioned it as well just very recently. Not coming from "twin stock" and not knowing two twins except for Burp and Barf, the girls across the street who used to babysit us, I really haven't had an opportunity to study it. But of course parents, and siblings, and probably psychologists do.

The other day Stefnee and I had a good discussion about this, and about the connection. We were having our usual NewAge Wackhead wonderfully deep discussion on breathing, on "NOWing", on "presencing", on twinning and on the connecting through the Red Thread that I have talked about in the past. At that time she brought up the wonderment of how her twins "just know" and seem to move in total harmony with one another.

Of course that intrigued me because I love those litttle guys like they were my own (they aren't, I swear!), and to actually meet them, see their similarities, and difference for a week and then to discuss them (not like lab rats, thankyouverymuch), is a growing interest in me as my desire to move into a more spiritual realm of study is increasing at a phenomenal rate. Stefnee also expressed her wonderment at looking at her two individual sons who were, at one point in time, one single entity. Please keep this point in mind when you read further.

Here is one of many scientific effects that have been experimentally verified, and subsequent predictions made based upon the existence of this effect without a complete understanding. Now I have gone through the internet and read some of the stuff out there, and my brain hurts. I don't plan on reading more on the mathematics of this effect, because it really doesn't interest me on that level. I also saw some papers talking about how the effect was explained and so forth. I like how science always progresses. Nothing is ever really wrong in physics, but it just changes because our perceptions, our growth and understanding of the models change.

"The EPR Effect is a counterintuitive togetherness-in-separation that implies that two quantum entities that have interacted with each other remain mutually entangled, however far they may subsequently separate in space. Effectively, they remain a single system, for acting on the one "here" will produce an immediate effect on its distant partner."

The quote with which I led into my discussion was made by the Nobel Physics Laureate Dr. Richard Feynman (late) who was trying to explain to his students at a lecture the incomprehensible concept that, according to quantum physics, electrons are in a continual state of existing "here", and "there" at the very same time. And in our world of definites, it would seem absolutely impossible to be sitting here in my house writing this, while eating oreo cookie flurries with Stefnee and Scooter at the McDonald's in Stefnee, Kansas at the same time. But, apparently, according to quantum mechanics, it is possible; as long as you don't consider it and try to catch me both here and there. In that case, I will only be either here, or there when you decide to measure it. Electrons can always be measured quantifiably (that means they must be "here" when we are measuring them otherwise we wouldn't see them), which brings up the question, "what happens if we are measuring when they are 'there', and not 'here' at the time of the experiment?" Scientists have to live with this brain imploding concept it seems.... "God is Unknowable"

A question above and beyond the concept of physical twins arises in my drive to study more of the spiritual realms... if there are physical twins, can there be spiritual ones? And could this perhaps be a possible "scientific understanding" of the mysterious NewAge Wackhead Mumbo Jumbo Spiritual concept that people have when they talk about past, present, future lives, or lives intertwined with one another throughout the ages? A sort of ... twinning of souls?

I love you.

Cam

* R. Feynman, 'The Feynman Lectures on Physics', vol. 3, Addison-Wesley, 1965, p.7

Other quotes upon request.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

T1 & T2s 8th Bday




Happy Birthday to Stefnee & Scooter's twins, Simon and Silas, who turn eight!

I love you!

Cam

Friday, July 18, 2008

Gifting, Japanese-style

Today Masaki and his mom came by to visit and see how I was doing, on their way to another town an hour away. They brought me some of my favourite foods: a pack of 10 hotspring eggs, a jar of homemade pickled "rakkyo", and a nice big chunk of specially-cooked pork. They left with 12 beef that we had received as a summer gift ourselves, and some sesame paste that Mayu buys for herself, but loves to give away.

Then later, our good neighbour Matsuda-san came by. She has been in Nagoya for two weeks during her younger daughter's first child's (their first grandchild) birth. It was a long two weeks. Since she was away, she came over to tell us how the birth went, and she brought us an olive oil bar of soap that she bought for us as a gift, from Nagoya. She left with six little pairs of corn-lactopolymer based biodegradable baby socks, and a six pack of beer that came from the same source noted above. Of course she said with a smile, a laugh, and gratitude when she left, "I came to give you a gift, but instead I received one so I don't know what the real reason for my coming has become!"

In this country of Japan, gift giving is one of the traditions that pretty much must be adhered to in order to maintain good relationships at work, in family, neighbourhood. Of course with the collapse of society going on around us here in Japan, and all the murders, bizarre slayings, and other nasties, this lovely custom may have come to an end among the youth. But for those who really appreciate traditions in Japan, giving gifts when you visit someone, come back from a trip overseas, or just pop over to a friend's place to say hi, is important. It shows you care.

The giver gives something they choose. Sometimes it may be fruit, some packaged coffees, sweets, and other things. It doesn't need to be expensive, but when giving to the office, it needs to be wrapped such that everyone can have a piece of the action in a sense. With a gift to friends, enough so that the entire family ma enjoy is appropriate. 

As is sometimes the case, many recipients cannot or do not use the gift for whatever reason that may be (that's up to them to decide, not us the giver). This is irrelevant to the condition of giving the gift. The true importance here in Japan is the fact that the guest gave something, and the host received something. The thought in giving and receiving, and the gratitude and appreciation are the key points. What the gift actually is, really is not the important thing.

Now let's say that one receives a gift that one doesn't use... say coffee when you do not drink coffee (gasp!). It doesn't really matter either way. What was important was that one person thought of another and gave them something out of mindfulness. The recipient can gracefully and with genuine gratitude receive this gift in this case, and both parties needs are met.

So what happens to the coffee, you may ask? Well, most likely the recipient will know someone who does drink coffee, and would enjoy getting some coffee as a gift themselves. This is known as "osusowake" or sharing a received gift with someone else. By telling the third party that you are giving them an osusowake, they understand that you are passing something along, and that you did not go out and purchase it yourself. And in that case, they are not required to return anything.

Ah. I forgot to mention this.... If you bring a gift to an individual, be prepared to gracefully accept something from their fridge, or cupboard (like fruits, or cakes, or coffees, or beer, or soft drinks, or juice or something) in return. Do Not Refuse. Remember to accept with gratitude as this return custom is important. Even if you take someone a pie that you baked for them, in most cases you will go home with something else. This is the way it is, and really it is a smooth way to do things. It works well.

So, what you effectively are doing when you give a gift that is again given away is that you allow the recipient to gift to someone else and make that other person happy.

This spreads appreciation and gratitude and good feeling even further because you have not only made one person grateful for receiving your thoughtfulness, but you have allowed that person to make someone else happy as well! Your love has been forwarded in love and happiness.

And this is, in my understanding after living here for 20 years, a very nice way to look at giving and receiving gifts because this way you can NEVER EVER be disappointed with what you get, and you never need to be disappointed if the recipient cannot use it. They will always appreciate YOU for giving. (This doesn't work with children, of course who are still heavily investing in "take take take".).

Another interesting thing to note is that the Japanese recipient will rarely, if ever open the gifts in front of the giver. Foreigners who give gifts here often have to ask Japanese to open them because they feel uncomfortable when the Japanese person receives it with gratitude, puts it aside, and continues on with the conversation. I admit that it does take getting used to, but with practice and a focus on the gratitude and the meaning of the giving, rather on the object itself, it becomes second nature. If you do ask the Japanese person to "go ahead, open it", they are often very embarrassed. Of course friends may be accustomed to this if you give and receive regularly.

In my N.A. culture we tend to give "special" gifts to people and say, "I bought something special for you." In Japan we downplay the object itself and say, "Tsumaranai mono, desu ga..." (it is an uninteresting thing, but I give it to you). We may ask, "Why give something not interesting?" But this is not the meaning. It is important in Japan to play down your actions and be humble, rather than play up your deeds and look for praise. This too is critical in understanding the true essence of Japanese gift giving.

What I have learned or come to feel is natural after living here for nearly 20 years is that the importance of the gift is not really the critical point; but rather the thought of thinking of that person, and caring about them enough to give a gift is what makes it special. And at the same time, the gratitude in receiving a gift (any gift) is the special "take home" not the actual ability to appreciate the object itself.

I love you!

Cam

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Large File Transfer Help

Does anyone know of any reliable (pop up free, etc.) safe online services that allow people to transfer files to email addresses via sending links to uploaded files?

I have large files that exceed the limit of all of the web-based e-mail programs for sending or receiving. I used box.net for a while (thanks to Adrian) but they have a maximum of 10MB per file unless I upgrade to paid services.

Multiply only allows 20MB file attachments to a blog so that is no good.

My fileden account was, for some mysterious reason, deleted. They are a pretty scary site anyway as any mis-click and you can end up sending your data off to spammers every time you log in. Sending the attachment via email to someone's post box also fails, because limitations are set on the receiving end.

Mayu uses a good system that allows up to 100MB of transfer per file. It sends an automated email to the recipient with a link for download after a file is uploaded to a server on that site. That file is kept for a time-limit (3 days), and if the recipient does not receive the file, it is deleted from the servers. I have just tried this system, and it allows me to choose "english" when I am sending a message. It seemed to work, but the entire site is Japanese so anyone else outside Japan who doesn't understand the language won't be able to use this. Following through on the emai that arrived, I am taken to a page full of Japanese where you have to accept or decline the user agreement (just accept if I ever send you files, OK?) Then you will go to a page that has the file you can download. This site is called www.datadelivery.net.

Has anyone been reliably using any system like this on the internet that allows for such a file-transfer via a link that is added to a standard email and sent to a recipient?

If you have anything that you use, that is reliable, trustworth and not riddled with junk, pop ups, etc. etc. please do let me know.

I love you!

Cam

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Me & Hajime

Mayu went to pick up Tama-chan and her son, Hajime at the airport today. They had dinner, and got home about 8 this evening. They unloaded their stuff, and had a bath while I cooked my dinner and ate. It's bedtime now, but Hajime doesn't want to go to bed so he's upstairs in Paula's room with his mom, screaming, "NO! NO! NO! NO!" He's only one year old (oh, we have to say 12 months at this age, right?) but he's a chatty little fellow. Apparently at the restaurant, as soon as his tummy was full he was trying to pick up all the waitresses. He doesn't care about guys anymore, so his mom said; he just tries to get the women to pick him up.

Anywhoo... he wanted to sit on my lap and have me flip through (endlessly) my desk calendar with pictures of moving vehicles like trains, buses, taxis, bicycles and boats. So we did.

Then Mayu and Tama-chan needed to go out to the car to get something. And while the two of us were alone, I pointed out Mirrome, Kansas, which just.... happened ... to be sitting right next to the digital camera... and well, somehow the button got pressed!

Even though I have never wanted to have my own children, nor do know anything about raising or educating them... something about me seems to draw them in.... time and again. Maybe I smell good.... I dunno.

I love you!

Cam

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Stefnee, Camsas (Memories in Still Motion)


Here we had coffee with Dad

I took a journey.
And what a journey it was.
My life will never be the same....

Stephanie and I did not take one single photo of the two of us... we just didn't even THINK of it! I KNOW! DUH! GAH! Can you believe it?

So... now, I am going through all of the videos we made, and doing screen captures of points in the videos that I feel show the love we have for each other, and the friendship that will always be there, guaranteed... just as your reflection is guaranteed in the mirror.

All you have to do is look...

and there you are!

I love you!

P.S. I have a LOT of video to go through so I will be adding more as I get to them. It takes time to load the video, then go through it and search for the "moments". But oh so worth it, believe me!

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Leaving its Mark

There's a funny feeling in one of my molars... it feels like I've been biting on a sliver of aluminum or something for two days. It comes at semi-regular intervals. Yesterday I thought I would go to the dentist and just get it checked out, but they were closed by the time I had strolled over there. So I lived with it... I haven't had tooth pain for .... a couple of decades I think... Maybe it's about time? My teeth really are quite tight together so it is entirely possible.

On the way back today from making an appointment (they were too busy to take me as a drop in...) I visited the post office, mailed some coins off to a woman on the blogs, and then came home.

I noted that the tree above Mayu's car was getting a little out of hand so I grabbed the scissors and reached up, then trimmed away what I could. The leaves are thick, waxy and a bit sharp and serrated around the edges.

Well, one of the branches fell and just lightly brushed against my face. And now... several hours later, it feels like.... like I have those tiny little cactus thorns, you know those kind that feel like peach fuzz... the kind that embeds itself into your upper lip when you bite into an unpeeled peach.... all stuck along my nose.

I tried washing it, soaping it up, even rubbing Lansinoh on it to see if the teeny little scratch and the ensuing itch or "fuzzies" would go away. But nothing happened.

So... I happened to be telling Stefnee about this and she told me that her Grandma used to use tape over the cacti thorns, or other things that got stuck in body parts to rip them out. I thought to myself, "this is a wonderful idea!"

So...

I gave it a try.

A few hours later it still feels like I have cacti peach fuzz in my nose... bleh...

I love you!

Cam

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Cracking Themselves Up

One day while I was sitting alone outside on the porch with Shasta after she had returned from the pool we were chatting about something... I forget what exactly. And for some strange reason Monty Python came up in the discussion.

Shasta turned this sly eye on me with a half grin that I have seen her mother do in the exact same way and she said to me...

"My mom and dad are so funny. They often go into this own little world of their own and start spouting back and forth conversations from various Monty Python skits, especially "The Holy Grail". They get into the accent, and everything else, and then they end up cracking themselves up and laughing over their own jokes. It's funny to watch."

I can concur with this because the evening we had the curry, most likely as there was not enough meat in the dish we were hungry later in the evening (there were carrots, potatoes and such that we ate which compounds hunger later as these are carby vegetables). So, the three adults headed out to McDonalds for an evening feast on protein.

We purchased eight (8) quarter pounders for the three of us (four for me, two for Scott, two for Stephanie), took them home and devoured them at the kitchen table. On the way to McD's those two sitting in the front seat started singing, "Kam, Kam, Kam Kam.... " just like one of those Monty Python "Spam" songs. It was pretty funny watching them crack themselves up. They pulled out the bastardized version of that Monty Python accent and everything and just went on and on.

They must have been protein deficient at the time (as was I) because they weren't able to stop, nor control themselves as they spun out of control and got louder, more boisterous and funnier the nearer we approached the McDonald's drive through window.

Finally, as we sat enjoying the meat in their kitchen at one in the morning, they came down from their protein deprivation high, and started acting less like crazed python junkies and more like the civilized carnivores I know and love. The meat with the sauces tasted great and we only ate a fraction of the buns. That's the way to enjoy Rancid Ronny's when you need a quick meat fix and don't want all the bloating that usually goes along with the overall experience.

(The iced coffee was waaaay too sweet for all of us, and they blew it on the diet coke order, or so Scott and Stefnee think. I didn't have any so I can neither confirm, nor deny their claim; they are the diet coke pros, not I.)

This was just one more of many wonderful memories of my trip to Stefnee, Kansas. When my brain deems it appropriate to release some of these memories back into my conscious, I promise I shall share them with you.

You have to love Shasta for her sly sense of humour and her enjoyment she gets from sitting back and watching her own parents go a little bonkers. I love that girl!

In the meantime, enjoy some good protein and watch out for that cute little bunny over there!

I love you!

Cam Cam Cam Cam.....

Smothering Prince(ss) Charming

When I was young, I went for a nature walk with a friend and his dad. We walked for a long way on wooden trails through the marsh. It was a wonderful walk to take. I suddenly remembered it very clearly tonight.

During the walk I found a little frog sitting on a rock. I caught it and wanted to bring it home, so I brought it back to the car in my cupped hands, careful not to squash it.

When I arrived at the car I looked in my hands and the poor little frog was dead.

I killed it with my desire to keep it too near.

Do you remember that old "hippie" saying, "If you love something set it free. If it comes back to you, it's yours." ? There is truth to that.

Hanging onto posessions or relationships with an iron grip for fear of losing them can often do more harm than good; you may smother what you cherish.

This was just a silly little random memory applied to my personal life lessons for the day. Now it is time to get out of this 90F house and relax supine on the deck in the cooler night (after I get rid of the piece of broccoli that went up into my nose instead of down my throat...)

I love you!

Cam

Friday, July 4, 2008

V-Log: Stefnee, Camsas... The Epic Series

My week with Stefnee & Co., in Stefnee, Kansas will be with me for an eternity..

If you care to peek through the looking glass and enjoy a sliver of the joy we experienced during our time together, then please do! Here are 15 (yes, fifteen) videos that were taken over the course of the week I visited Stefnee, in Kansas.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

 

And the Special Bonus Track: Love, Tornado-Style

Globalized Love Rules! I intend to carry on the tradition of meeting those I can in this multiverse, when I can.

Maybe next time, it will be YOU!

I love you!

Cam

Thursday, July 3, 2008

The Cat's Out of the Bag




A stray cat found Mayu and laid claim upon her. Now Mayu must clean the cat up and take it to the vet. Watch how we collect the cat and take it to the vet for healing.