Living the Life

So, I wanted to write this like a story, but for some reason my brain just hurts too much. HA! So, here is the unrefined, un-literary version of my flight to Asia....

I have taken six flights in six days. I've had no problem with security whatsoever. My last flight was from Hong Kong to Bangkok... and guess where I ran into problems? Yep, that's right. Hong Kong. The xray machine was alerted to the fact that I have mace I totally forgot about in my purse. I normally don't carry that stuff, but my father who loves to be a dad gave it to me "just in case". After they confiscated the goods, they measured and photographed the bottle. I wasn't exactly sure what was going on until they told me that they were calling the police because it is against the law in Hong Kong to carry mace.

"The police have the option to prosecute you or arrest you," the ever so kind airport attendents huddled around told me.

So I waited for 45 minutes to find out if I was going to Hong Kong jail over the mace that was supposed to "protect" me. All the while I wondered, how did I go through San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles twice, and Denver (which was rated #1 most secure airport in the nation) twice, without getting stopped. Are we allowed to carry mace on planes and not nail clippers??? Of all the absurdities in the world..... if I go to Hong Kong jail over mace....

Don't worry, I am not posting this from the Hong Kong Jail. After a series of a dozen or so questions by three HK police officers, they decided to give me an official write up. So, if I ever go to Hong Kong again, I guess I won't be able to get off of any criminal activities with a mere warning. Funny thing is, if you really know me, you probably already know that I LOVE that this happened to me. I'm always up for a saga to break up the monotany! But... I guess I am glad not to be living in the place pictured above.... :)

I held it truth, with him who sings,
To one clear harp in divers tones,
That men may rise on stepping-stones
Of their dead selves to higher things.
-Alfred lord Tennyson, In Memoriam

I've been here and there and here again over the past 10 or so days. It's been ridiculous. I've seen a lot of cool people in a very short amount of time. Among the people seen: The Fam of course, Vivien, Amy and David and the new addition to the family Haley, or as me and Vivien dubbed her Smiley Sachs, BJ in KC, J, Austin, Lesley, The Lawyer Boy, Ian, Holly and Ryan and their new lil' guy, Paxton, Ben and Chara, and last but most definitely not least, my favourite OCD, Red Sox Luvin', Boston turned SoCal, no pani puri eating, pink hat wearing, country music listening, most competitive brutha EVER, Anand. As proof to my fellow friends who know the kid, he actually DOES do something at work besides make fantasy sports trades. And whatever that stuff about vitamin K and DNA is, it sure sounded impressive to the non-science loving girl that I am. BUT he still acts like a kid to his co-workers and tries to beat them at everything, throws things at them and plays tricks on them all the time. I miss our random endeavors already.

The greatest danger to Christianity is, I contend, not heresies, heterodoxies, not athiests, not profane secularism - no, but the kind of orthodoxy which is cordial drivel, mediocrity served up sweet. There is nothing that so insidiously displaces the majestic as cordiality. Perpetually polite, so small, so nice, tampering and meddling and tampering some more - the result is that the majesty is completely defrauded - of course, on a little bit. And right here is the danger, for the infinite is more disposed to a violent attack than to becoming a little bit degraded - amid smiling, Christian politeness. And yet, this politeness is what our Christianity amounts to. But the very essences of Christianity is utterly opposed to this mediocrity, in which it does not so much die as dwindle away. -SK

If you have ever been to Colorado you know that it can be sunny as all heck one minute and a blizzard the next. Today, my darling, Vivien from Tejas is in Colorado with me. The two of us decided to go visit a boy first name Jay last name Rhodes who is a fellow Baylor Alumni/Colorado native. Being that Jay manages a ski/board rental shop, he loaned us a few pair of snowshoes. I laughed and told Jay there wasn't even any snow but we took the shoes anyway and headed up to Nederland, just a few miles west of Boulder. To our surprise, we found ourselves gloveless, without "real" jackets, and me sockless in the middle of a big snow fall!!! Craziness, I tell you. But despite the very unprepared nature of our expedition we still had a blast.

How's that snow, Vivien?

Lately I have been thinking about how being in Asia I have missed out on so many people's lives and just missed the friendships that I have around the US. In a way it has made me really sad and long to live closer to these people. But today my darling Sewa in Nepal sent me some new snaps of my boys and I remembered why I live the way that I do. No matter where I live... I guess I am destined to miss something, huh? Maya timiharu!

This is Liz. Liz and I go way back. We were youth leaders at Highland together all through college but since then we have only seen each other in random asian countries. It was lovely seeing my South Asian loving friend stateside... but definitely not at fun at when we get to suck in auto rickshaw fumes in the middle of of a cow-jam with our humidity krayzie hair! I love you Liz, but next time let's have an Asian rendevous. Austin is eclectic but it can't even hold a torch to our Bollywood adventures.

Aside from meeting up with old friends, it is good to meet new ones as well. Thanks to the Henry's for hanging out at the best place for pancakes in my favourite Texas city. I'm encouraged by the vision you have for living lives of love. Oh, and thanks for enduring the ear-fetished, syrup-filled Mr. Krayzie Restless. I love my little godson. He's a trip, isn't he? :)
Oh and thanks to my pal Kyle who endured the whole 14 hour expedition with us and drove us all around. You are great!

When I said I was going to stop blogging so regularly I should've said I was going to be light on words. These days are pretty much filled with shout outs to good friends. This is my surrogate sister, Ivory Hampton, and her son (my godson), Michael aka Trey. I love these two like my own flesh and blood. We've lived through a lot of hard times and definitely through a lot of laughs.... I love you, girl.

I don't normally talk about celebrities but Brad Pitt's Sketchbook was just too much. The main things I would ask Brad after reading his 15 things everyone should know are:

1. Considering the dirty business of drug production and the massive amounts of addiction that surrounds it at the site of the crops (ie Colombia, Burma etc) as well as the point of actual profitable consumption in the developed world, is there any way to prove that doing drugs doesn't harmfully hurt others?

2. Do you actually think people should listen to you about our overconsumption problem when your own family obviously makes no strides towards reducing personal consumption?

Just wondering.

In Asia, I love train trips and overnight bus trips. In the US I love driving on the open road. But even moreso, I love driving with a good friend I haven't seen in ages and really talking. I mean really talking. I've briefly mentioned my old friend, Stevie before but every time I really see or really talk to Stevie my life is encouraged. He's one of those kids I just get. His heart is not only burdened with the realities of this world, but at his old 19 he's lived a lifetime all the while holding onto a childlike faith in Christ. Stevie has risen above circumstance unlike anyone else we know and he is not stopping. From a neighborhood where the number of black males going to jail probably more than quadruples those obtaining any form of post-high school education, Stevie is a sophomore with junior hours at a four year university, is involved in more extracurricular activities/awards/projecs than I can imagine, has plans of law school, and still remains grounded in who he is in Christ. It's been a long time since I've been blown away by someone's life but yesterday I was motivated by the peseverance of an old friend.... I love ya, Stevie. Keep on. Oh, and isn't my godson just the cutest lil' thing ever? I love you too, Trey!

To my three favourite unpretentious Dallas transplants - may God lead you elsewhere QUICK :) ... But in the meantime, I'm glad to hang out with the faithful blasts from the college past no matter how audacious the conversations!!!

Dheri dheri dhanyabhad as they say in Nepal, khap kuhn ka in Thailand or as is most universal, THANKS A MILLION to Mr. Tyler for making a new header for my kids' blog. So snazzy :) Oh and by the way, I am livin' it up in Dallas, Tejas with at the moment so the blogging might be lacking the next week or so.

Ever wondered what abstract holiday fell on your birthday? I learned here that my birthday is also World Sauntering Day. Not quite sure if that means we should saunter around the globe or if the whole world is to celebrate the act of sauntering. I'll pretend like it is the former though because that makes me happy. What bizarre holiday were you born on?

So, that's me opposite Senator Obama. Yeah, not exactly the best pic, but hey.... at least it's something :)