Thailand, Day 21, 70 Kilo:

In a couple of hours I will be headed off to the airport. Time has past far faster than I thought possible. Right now I am writing between stomach cramps and semi-frequent trips to the rest room. Last week I was sidelined with a slight bout of the flu. I overcame that in a day and a half. Now I am battling the third world water curse. I think I will be able to pass this in a couple of days. However it has made the conclusion of my trip a lot more fun.
Training was difficult, especially at the end of the week after 6 to 10 sessions. My kicks have increased dramatically in power and speed. My elbows have increased both in diversity and technical skill. Overall my Muay Thai is stronger than when I arrived. MMA training was also extremely worthwhile.
It’s really hard to write when you are not in the mood. I thought it would be good to put a final entry into my blog before I head out. I need a haircut.
Tonight is the grand opening for the Forest Bungalows Country Restaurant. Mama Lai, I don’t think the Mama part is Thai, has made a killing off of Tiger Muay Thai. Forest Bungalow, my digs for the last three weeks, consists of a restaurant, internet café, motorbike/bicycle rentals, and laundry service. Since I have been here they have completed a massive addition to the restaurant and several new bungalows. Everyone staying here is training at Tiger. This evening in true Asian fashion there will be karaoke. I will be interested to know if the Brits have more interest in this than the Americans.
Now it is time to finish packing and head out to the party (and the free food). Next time I write it will be from Shanghai.

Shanghai

So it appears that I can check my email but I dont seem to be able to send them out. I am in Shanghai, everything worked out just fine. When I determine what the email delay is all of you will be getting emails from me. For now know that I can read what you send and I will mail you back when I get the chance.

Last Day

Thailand, Day 21, 70 Kilo:
In a couple of hours I will be headed off to the airport. Time has past far faster than I thought possible. Right now I am writing between stomach cramps and semi-frequent trips to the rest room. Last week I was sidelined with a slight bout of the flu. I overcame that in a day and a half. Now I am battling the third world water curse. I think I will be able to pass this in a couple of days. However it has made the conclusion of my trip a lot more fun.
Training was difficult, especially at the end of the week after 6 to 10 sessions. My kicks have increased dramatically in power and speed. My elbows have increased both in diversity and technical skill. Overall my Muay Thai is stronger than when I arrived. MMA training was also extremely worthwhile.
It’s really hard to write when you are not in the mood. I thought it would be good to put a final entry into my blog before I head out. I need a haircut.
Tonight is the grand opening for the Forest Bungalows Country Restaurant. Mama Lai, I don’t think the Mama part is Thai, has made a killing off of Tiger Muay Thai. Forest Bungalow, my digs for the last three weeks, consists of a restaurant, internet café, motorbike/bicycle rentals, and laundry service. Since I have been here they have completed a massive addition to the restaurant and several new bungalows. Everyone staying here is training at Tiger. This evening in true Asian fashion there will be karaoke. I will be interested to know if the Brits have more interest in this than the Americans.
Now it is time to finish packing and head out to the party (and the free food). Next time I write it will be from Shanghai.

Fun with cops

Thailand, Day 17, Wednesday:
Recently I have started doing private lessons with one of the trainers here at camp. Robert has been one of the trainers that I have gotten along with the best. The first day at the advanced camp he came by and said something I couldn’t understand. “Na owlfool.” Made no sense to me either. He repeated himself several times until I realized he was saying “Not awful.” He was talking about my push kick. Most encouraging. After a couple of days working the bags and focus pads I decided to do a few privates with Robert before I leave. So far I have done two and will do one more with him on Friday. Only four more training sessions left. Which is good because the injuries, while minor, are mounting up. My middle knuckle on my left is, for lack of a better word, fucked. I have no clue what is wrong with it other than it hurts to hit things with it. Bruises are appearing in the oddest places. Muscles are starting to show fatigue. Thailand has been a ton of fun, but now I think I am ready to head to the next step of the journey.
Training in Thailand is an intense experience. Three or four weeks is a good amount of time to stay. Longer than that and it seems that most people begin to get side tracked. Nightlife in Patong, days at the beach, visa runs, and other events start to take precedence. If I get the chance to come back I think I would like to stay for 6 weeks and take a fight. The people at Tiger appear to do their best to get fair match-ups. However, there is rumor that a lot of the local fights are fixed. For the Thai’s Muay Thai is more than a martial art. It is a career. A way to provide for the family. At the same time the fights do not pay that much. Part of the reason why Thai’s have fight records in the hundreds. At each fight betting is more than allowed; it almost feels encouraged. Taking a fight against a Farang (foreigner) and losing can pay far better than winning. A win gets you something like 3,500 baht. High-level fights can pull in a lot more, along the lines of 40,000 baht ($1100) to 60,000 ($1,700). However, the fighter has to put up half the cash and if you lose, well, sucks to be you. A fight would not be for the money, but rather for the novelty. Maybe sometime in the future I will return to Thailand, after a year of teaching in China perhaps.
Today, however, was a beautiful day. The rain finally cleared and so I thought I would head to the beach. I rented a motorbike for a few hours and headed out for Kata Beach. At Chalong circle there was my first view of the local Thai police action. I had heard that every now and then they would sit in the traffic circles and write out tickets. I wasn’t wearing my helmet and so I was flagged down.
“Do you have a license?”
“No.”
“Do you have a passport?’
“No, it is at my hotel. In the safe.”
“Where are you come from?”
“Forest Bungalows, Tiger Muay Thai.”
“No, I from Thailand, where are you from?”
“Oh, sorry. I am from the USA.”
“Oh USA, very good. I am sorry, I am just doing my job.”
Everything was off to a great start. He continued to ask me several questions and then apologized, several times. After a couple of minutes I was told that I needed to go to the local police station, about 200 meters north. I walked in to the fee office and stood in line with about a half dozen other foreigners. After 15 minutes and 500 baht (about $15) I was back on my way to Kata. On my way out I passed Bruno, one of the fellow students from Tiger. He was waiting to pay his fine. On my way back to my motorbike, I passed by several other foreigners. All with a smile and a nod on their way to the Fee Office. Once you show your fine receipt to the officer at the scene, he gives your keys back and you’re on your way. All told about a 30-minute delay.
The beach was spectacular. An hour of body surfing and reading in the sun was just what the body needed. A good meal, an ice cream sundae, and it was back to camp.
One more thing to update. A new set of highs, 97 degrees and 93% humidity. That was a fun day.

Sparring

Sparring here has, for the most part, been encouraging. I have sparred with a variety of people and walked away in one piece. Ash, the boxer, has had a series of injuries which has precluded us from being able to spar. Or more likely for me to act as a mobile punching bag. I have only had one hard MMA sparring session. I went with Craig, a Brit who has about 20 kilos on me. But speed kills. According to the judges, everyone ringside, I was the victor. Muay Thai sparring in general is at about 10 to 20% power so its not that bad. On the grappling side I have been worked over by a variety of people. It is amazing what a difference a few concentrated years can do for your skill level. Hopefully I will be able to find a grappling style to complement my striking.

Thailand, Day 13, Saturday: The Rain Begins

Three days ago the rains started to fall. It has not stopped. The first ten days were beautiful. Occasionally there would be a shower at night but each day was sunshine, clear skies, and relatively low humidity. The last three days have had more hours of precipitation than not. As I sit right now typing at my computer, watching Cliffhanger on TV, it is 86% humidity. Down from 92% earlier today. Despite the fact that there are no leaks in my bungalow the floor has wet patches. However, today was not all bad. I decided regardless of the rain I would still go out and enjoy some of the local countryside. Somehow I hit the only four-hour precipitation free window of the day.
Visible from almost the entire island is a large Buddha. A 45-meter tall scaffold encoded Buddha along with dozens of other various Buddha statues. Located at one of the highest points on the island there are stunning vistas of the entire southern island. The views are beautiful. But the motorbike ride to the top is almost as much fun as the destination. After a short ride from the main road the path begins to climb up the mountain. The road is steep but at least it is paved. Asphalt gives way to concrete. Concrete eventually gives way to a gravel road with short patches of concrete on the switchbacks to control the erosion. The higher you go the less gravel and more mud overtakes the trail. Several construction crews are replacing the concrete on the switchbacks. Since construction crews don’t believe in signs, cones, or any other precautions driving the steep blind corners squeezed into one lane is… interesting. Finally you reach the top. The trees clear and view of Chalong bay is unobstructed.

Thailand Day 13, Friday:

Tonight I went to the fights in Patong, Bangla Stadium. The place is cramped, hot, and poorly ventilated. Ideal for Thailand. There were 8 fights on the night ranging from what appeared to be 8 year olds all the way up to serious pros. Included in the card was Mo Sul and Pates. Mo Sul is an Iranian who now lives in Norway and Pates is one of the trainers at Tiger Muay Thai. Mo Sul was able to pull out a fourth round victory. It was a little unclear what happened. The two of them went down and when they came back to their feet the opponent was unable to continue. Pates lost the fight in decision. It is truly amazing to see the little kids out fighting for glory. They are also fighting for money. The true pros have fight totals in the hundreds accumulating from the time they are tiny.
Training over the last couple of days:
Tuesday was painful. It wasn’t the training but I finally got sick. I thought it was bound to happen at some point, especially because I accidentally rinsed my toothbrush in the sink. Rather than anything fun I got the flu. Trained for a couple hours Tuesday morning and then I was done. I spent the whole day in bed sleeping. When I finally went to get dinner I was wearing a jacket. That was a real sign that something was wrong. In a country where the temperature doesn’t drop below 80 degrees wearing a heavy jacket just doesn’t feel right. After dinner it was right back to bed. That night I woke up drenched in sweat. There was so much water that I had to change blankets and get a towel to dry myself off. Despite an odd night the next morning I felt great.
Wednesday was a day off. After a hard day of feeling like crap on Tuesday one more day off seemed wise to make sure I had overcome everything. Thursday was back to training in earnest. MMA in the morning and Muay Thai in the afternoon. Friday was another hard with the fights tonight was well. Its been a long day and I’m off to bed. One more week of training to go. Then it’s a move to China.

Thailand Day 8, 8/13/07, The Queen’s Birthday:

Today is the Queen’s birthday, a national holiday. Camp is closed. From what I can tell it is the only thing closed. Construction on everything in this country commenced as usual at 8am, including the buildings to the east (15m away), north (20m away), and west (10m away). There is no need for an alarm. After I got up I finally decided to break down and rent a motorbike for a week.
A revision to a previous statement is once again needed. Crossing the street is not the most dangerous thing you can here, driving a motorbike is. It is also incredibly fun. There are no traffic laws here. Red lights are optional, traffic circle yielding is an afterthought, and staying on your side of the road is a formality in a very informal country. There were times when I had to ask myself if I was still on the correct side of the road (the left here) as motorbikes often go both ways in the shoulder. Let me correct that, the shoulder is simply another lane. The great thing about the shoulder-lane is you can go either direction for it seems as far as you want. When the shoulder ends you just keep going staying as far over as you can. Passing another fun event on Thai roads.
Passing is encouraged in almost all places. Except the high mountain roads that seem to pull a little more respect than anywhere else. Gangs of motorbikes fly past you, they’re small its ok. Cars pass you; they’re fast its ok. Trucks pass each other in oncoming lanes; you shit yourself for a second before you realize that everything is going to be ok. Generally on the main roads there are two or three lanes depending on whether or not there is a shoulder. It’s the one-lane in either direction roads that become fun when trucks pass each other. There were several times when I thought I was going to have to swerve off the road to avoid becoming the largest bug on the Mac trucks windshield. All in all though if you take it slow driving isn’t that bad and I think it’s a blast.
Regardless of your feelings on driving, there infinite sights you can reach on the bike that just aren’t in walking range. Today, I went on a southern tour of the island. Saw several beaches and made a nice scenic hike. Going up a mountain pass there is a sign for Nui Beach. Off the road is small dirt path that resembles a mountain bike trail. The motorbike makes it pretty well up the trail for about a kilometer. Then I just don’t have the balls to keep going, so I pull over and continue on foot. Another kilometer or so and you enter a ghost resort. At first I wasn’t sure what I was looking at. Some of the buildings are up and standing looking ready to be used others have toppled over or had the roofs cave in. The water line is littered with trash, water bottles, Styrofoam, and disturbingly shoes. Flip-flops scattered everywhere. The buildings and walkways are in disrepair but seem to be in good shape. Another oddity was that everything seemed like it was still there. Beach chairs were stalked in huts around the beach. The main lodge still had a TV, stereo, and speakers, the bar had menu’s scattered about and blenders on the shelves. It was odd. But after all the work I put in to get there I was about to simply turn around and leave. So I grabbed a beach chair, pulled it into the shade, and read for a little while. I never really did feel comfortable though and keep looking up expecting something from a horror film to descend upon me. As Augi always said if the hair on the back of your neck stands up, trust your instincts. So after a brief exploration and a few pictures I headed out. The place seemed like it could be a perfect little resort. Nestled on its own private cove. Terraced into the hills above it were bungalows, bars, and a nice sized lodge. Other than the treacherous road in it would be perfect. Then again that might be why it went out of business? I hope that is what happened. There are tsunami-warning signs everywhere and it is possible that the resort was wiped out two years ago. But the condition of the buildings makes me think otherwise. I plan on asking around and maybe I will be able to pull some information from the locals.

Thailand Day 6, 8/11/07:

Since I have arrived I have gone on walks to reconnoiter the area and get a feel for where I am. I know that I am on a small island and the beach should be within walking distance. Apparently it isn’t. Today for the first time after 3 walks and 5 hours of searching I hit water. I wouldn’t swim in it, but I found the edge of the island. From there I could see plenty of nice beaches. However, after 2 hours of walking wasn’t going to try and walk all the way to the nice beaches a few more kilometers away.
Now there are taxis that could take me around instead of walking. In New York, Boston, even Denver you have to work for a cab. Keep your eyes open and run out into the street to stop the damn things before they blow by you. Here they track you down. Every minute a horn goes off and a man on a motorbike in a red vest (denotes a taxi) is offering you a ride. Sometimes it seems they are going to run you down. Then they can say, “Now your legs don’t work, you want taxi?” You get used to turning them down pretty quick. Far less often someone would pull up in a car or pickup and offer you a ride. Damn taxis just won’t quit.
After three hours of walking today I was dead tired. The heat and the humidity had won. I was ready to take a taxi back to my hotel. A man pulls up in his car, young kid on the front seat and offers me a ride. I jumped in and he took me the three kilometers to the store near my hotel. After a minute or two I realized that he wasn’t a taxi at all. He was just a nice person. Apparently all those people in cars who had pulled up to offer me a ride were also nice people simply offering me a ride. Now I realize that you have to be careful but damn it would have been nice to catch a ride a few of those times that I had been out walking. It will be nice to know in the future if I want to hitch a ride I don’t even have to put out my thumb. I only have to keep walking and wait for someone kind to pull over and offering me a ride.

Thailand, Day 5, 8/10/07

I have to amend something I said earlier. There is more than just Fox News for American programming. Thankfully they also have Jerry Springer. Now I know that they have a complete representation of American culture.
Training:
Conditions today, 96 degrees at 86% humidity. Wonderful weather. Blue skies. Not a cloud to be seen. Humidity is god-awful. I have been amazed by the speed at which the body can transition to the heat. It is possible to spot the new people to camp by how much they sweat. You can ask anyone that I have trained with; I sweat a lot. More than most. But now after 5 days I have already started to sweat less when I am walking around and I stop sweating faster after I stop working out. I still drip buckets when I am working the bags but it is getting better.
Day one I was moved from the beginner’s camp to the intermediate ring after jumping rope for 20 minutes. Today I was moved up again to the advanced ring. It is a good feeling. Now I am training with average guys like myself, all the way to pros training for fights out here in Thailand. The trainers in the advanced camp are a little more honest. I have been informed that my right roundhouse is pretty good, however my left is for lack of a better word, crap. I knew this before, now its simply being recognized and told to me by the trainers.
I feel good. Training has been going well. Technique is getting better, cardio and conditioning is going through the roof, and it can only get better. However, as I sit in my room watching BBC News there is a depressing interview in front of me. A BBC News correspondent is interviewing the ex-president of Balco. The company implicated in the doping scandal with Barry Bonds and dozens of other professional and Olympic athletes. Basically, he is saying that 90% of the athletes you see at the highest levels are using performance-enhancing drugs. I know in MMA and Kickboxing here in Thailand doping is rampant. Even at the amateur level in Colorado I know that it was common among athletes. I don’t really know where I am going with this. I would like to think that the playing field actually is fair for everyone. For people like me who are not planning on taking growth hormones or steroids, it would be nice to think that we actually have a chance. But that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Thailand, Day 4, 8/9/07:

Training is going well. Maybe to well. Today Ash asked me to spar with him tomorrow. He has a boxing match coming up and he noticed that I have some boxing experience. Since Muay Thai guards and boxing guards are different he wants someone with actual boxing experience to spar with before his fight. So I agreed. Then I started asking around to see what I have gotten myself into. Apparently he is a very good boxer with good hand speed but does not have a streak for hurting people like the Dutch guy (don’t know his name). So I may be embarrassed but not broken. Needless to say, I’m really looking forward to tomorrow (I still have not figured out how to convey sarcasm while I’m typing).
A quick note on how to pack lighter. 1) Try to pack light. I was never good at that, but heading here I thought I did a good job. So far I have used most of the things I have packed and the rest are items for cold weather. 2) Break the things that you take with you and throw them away. The first time I tried to cut my hair the trimmer sparked, smoked, a little snap crackle pop but that was it. I guess I will grow my hair out for a little while before I head to China. 3) Sell what you’ve got that you really don’t need. I was having some real trouble debating which packs to bring. Now I realize I can do without the big black daypack. Now to get rid of it. Hopefully I can sell it at Patong Beach.
This Monday is the Queen’s birthday. That makes it a National holiday, however, it also makes it Mother’s Day. Now every time the queen is replaced Mother’s day changes. I think that means that Father’s day is the King’s birthday. Way cooler than a Hallmark holiday.

Training, Day 3, 70.5 kilo, 8/8/07:

My body is starting to feel everything. Quads are tight, neck is sore, and my triceps, I don’t want to talk about my triceps. I have been training MMA in the mornings and Muay Thai at night. Some rest is needed to help the body adjust. I have been pissing brown for the first time and if I remember correctly that is not a good thing something about dehydration.
The one factor that I was concerned about was my weight. Stories I have heard so far have made it clear that you have to be careful that you are not losing too much water weight and maintaining your protein. Some people have lost something like a kilo a day up to 20 kilos. So far I have only dropped a kilo or so, but we will see what the next couple of weeks bring.

General Thoughts:
As I flip through the channels on the TV here (55 channels) there is an eclectic mix of Thai, Chinese, Korean, and Australian channels. There is one American station. Fox News. This begins to explain to me some of the problems with America’s image abroad. There is nothing wrong with Fox News as long as you don’t have to watch it. However, when that is the only American channel, a news channel no less, presenting a fair and balanced opinion it cant but help to present a skewed image of the country. It would be better there be no American channel at all than only Fox News. The Australian news networks do a fairly good job covering the US news.

Training, Day 1. 8/6/07

Only a half day, the afternoon session. After going to bed early last night I woke up early at 6 am. That would have been enough time to make the morning session but I thought I would easy myself into it. Several walks show me that there really isn’t much around the camp area. I hear there is a pharmacy nearby that has everything from cortisone and morphine shots to Valium, no prescriptions needed. Maybe after my second week. I also learn the Master Toddy is here at the camp. There was a show in the US called Fight Girls on Oxygen. Several women compete and the winners travel to train and fight in Thailand. Apparently they travel to Tiger Muay Thai to train. So I guess I picked a decent place to train.
Training. Today’s session went for 3 and a half hours. Outside, 95 degrees, 65% humidity. Thankfully we are in the shade. 30 minutes of jump rope. There are three training areas. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced. I start in the beginner section. After jumping rope for 20 minutes one of the Thai trainers comes up to me and asks how long I have been training. I am modest and find myself moved up to the intermediate section. That makes me feel pretty good. When I walked into the gym in California one the first things the trainer said to me is “You look like a fighter.” After all this time I must be doing something right. After my first practice that notion was quickly wiped from my head. Some things are simply different in Muay Thai from MMA. Many things I simply do wrong.
I’m going to bed. I look forward to seeing how I feel in the morning. I am here training my body, but the reality is I am training my mind. Learning, forcing my self mentally to will myself physically to complete the task at hand. One small goal at a time. Now the goal is to get up tomorrow morning. I think everything will work out, if I don’t go broke buying bottled water.

Traveling Days

Now I sit in KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport). 24 hours ago I was watching television in South Pasadena, now I am about 8 hours from my final destination in Thailand. So far things have been interesting.

Arrival at LAX Bradley Terminal sent me straight into line 1. Line one allowed passengers a place to wait before they would be ushered over in small groups to line 2. Line 2 was nice, now everyone could see that they were really waiting for line 3, where things got more interesting. After two and a half hours I moved with my friend that I had met in line to line 3. We were 50 feet from the main door we walked in 2.5 hours ago. In line 3 we would get our boarding passes and move on to security. After that things have been relatively uneventful. Four hours of waiting and everyone finally gets on the plane and we are off.

The plane lands in Taipei. As we are getting ready to disembark two Chinese girls across the row smile and I realize they have been staring at me. When everyone stands up they ask if they can have their picture taken with me. Sure. I really wish my Chinese was better. We get off the plane go through security again, walk in a circle and get back on the plane. On to Kuala Lumpur. Where I sit now waiting for another 3 hours and 50 minutes to board my short hop to Thailand and to bed or the beach.

Friday at 10

46 hours until I depart and I haven’t felt anxious until right now. Thought I might write something really good. But I’m watching the Colbert Report and I really can’t focus.
Final note, my cell phone is going to turned off Friday before I go to dinner. So if you want to talk to me call me before then.

The Song Of Wandering Aengus

I first heard this in Equilibrium and really liked it. Although it was only last night I learned that there is more to the poem than I knew.

Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
--Yeats

Tiger MMA

Now its three and half days until I head out, 84 hours. The last week my friend Susan came out to visit. I was worried that this close to my departure it would complicate things and take up to much time. The reality was it was exactly what I needed. Time flew by and my mind was free of the thoughts that were keeping me up at night. There isnt that much that I need to do before I headed out. So now everything is taken care off. I am not worried about the upcoming travel. Like the moment before my fight I am not worried any more, just looking forward to my travels. And those travels will first take me to Tiger Muay Thai and MMA,

7/6 Moo 5 Soi Tad-ied, Ao Chalong, Muang, Phuket, Thailand. 83100.

What have I done this last week.
Three days two night on Catalina Island with my mother and Susan. It was a real good time. Snorkeling, kayaking, and mountain biking.
Then the night before Susan headed out we went to see the Guru Jazzmataz show at the El Rey Theatre. The show was awesome. Hour and a forty-five minute set after a pretty good hour by the DJ. Show was definetly worth it.
Tonight I am off to the Hollywood Bowl. Classical music and rich people. Should be tons of fun. But I will do what I can to enjoy it. It will be an experience, that I cant deny.

336

Sunday night.
I find myself lying in bed unable to sleep, again. So I try to rationalize why. That usually helps me to fall asleep. Some quick math. 14 days till I move to Asia. 336 hours. Im not good enough at math to do the minutes (and I don’t really want to). Lying in bed with this sly little smile on my lips. I realize that it is the same smile that comes to face right before I do my walk out into the ring for my fights.
There is sort of a progression before I fight. Leading up, say a week or two I don’t really worry about it. Then starting around weigh-ins I start to think, “Why the fuck am I about to do this.” I know I don’t have to. Maybe I can back out now. I know I won’t. But the thought keeps coming up. Why am I going to step in the ring, how can I get out of this, what the fuck is did I get myself into. The next day some of those thoughts are there but not as strong. I get quiet. I sit by myself, don’t talk much and don’t really want to. Then my hands are wrapped. Its too late to back out now. The fights start. I have to watch the first couple of fights. I like getting things out of the way early but I don’t want to be first.
And then it happens. Right before I am supposed to walk out. Everything is ok. I become calm. More than calm, a little smile creeps up on me. I am not scared anymore just excited, little kid excited. I hear my name I walk out nice and calm, slow, enjoy the crowd, everything.
Right now lying in bed, thinking about why I cant sleep. That same smile comes over me. I know sometime in the next couple of days I am going to be scared again. Worried about the upcoming trip. Wondering why the hell I am moving to China. To teach English of all things, shit I barely speak English. An old saying comes to mind, those who cant do teach and those who cant teach, teach gym. After I think about what I am about to do, about being scared to move and leave everything I know behind, all my friends thousands of miles away. Everything that makes me comfortable out of reach. I realize I am lying here with that sly little smile pursing my lips. Everything is right on track, just where it should be.

PS; Little side note. I went to this benefit for the LA Free Clinic. There was a tarot card reader. She encouraged me to write. Never really have typed or written anything like this before. Feels kinda good to get it out. Helps get my thoughts together. We will see what the future brings, maybe there will be more late night entries. 335 hours.

California

The weather out here is incredible. Sun everyday but not to hot, I think I have only seen clouds three times since I arrived. Kickboxing and pool what more do you need. I have been working my ass off to get ready for Thailand, but I have this feeling that know matter what I do, I am not going to be ready for they do every day. Only two weeks until I head out. Somewhat surreal.

Travel Day

Shipping out to LA. Last stop in the US before heading overseas. 35 days at my mom's house, should be interesting.

Charlottesville, VA

Visiting the family. Hot and humid, Denver weather is a little wierd at times but overall really is the best. After a three day stint in NC visiting Mark, who was only there for 10 hours of the three day visit, I am now in VA. I am staying at my sisters house for my niece's (Zara) 2 year b-day along with Phil, Maryann, Jo, Wes, and Gaby.