"One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things." – Henry Miller

I've been traveling quite a bit lately - and totally enjoying it. Although ending up semi-exhausted at the end of each, traveling is well worth it. Mr. Miller has it right: It always ends up as a learning experience; Seeing things in a new light, whether you're visiting far away lands or just going to visit old friends. I love the expansion of mind and soul that follows a good trip. And the bad ones too... when it comes down to it.The last few weeks have been a string of travels for me.

The last month has included Washington, Oregon, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, and a brief drive through New Hampshire to get to Maine. A second trip to Albuquerque and a second trip to Seattle are coming in the next 2 weeks, and then back to the East Coast (New York and Virginia) for 2 weeks around Christmas/New Years. ... Call if I'm in the area!

The latest trip was to Seattle, WA/Portland, OR, which allowed me the chance to visit with a good friend that moved away and deep fry a turkey for his family and friends --- My first attempt at such a thing, and it turned out exceptionally well, I must say! (I didn't burn, scorch, or otherwise mutilate the turkey or anything else - quite a feat for me, and I suspect those of you that know me well would agree). :) I hope to have pictures from my cooking extravaganza posted soon.

It was fantastic to spend the Thanksgiving holiday having fun cooking and playing (read: losing) Trivial Pursuit with a group of happy, laughing, people. I also drove down to Portland, primarily for a concert, though Powell's Bookstore, the largest bookstore ever, did manage to snag me for a while. I love the smell of bookstores. The musty, dry, papery smell soaks me up. I will wander for hours in bookstores, if allowed. But I digress...

The concert I went to was Ozomatli, and honestly, one of the best concerts to which I've ever been. The opening act was downright poor - they couldn't get the sound right, they weren't energetic or in touch with the crowd... But when Ozo came on, they were alive! Jumping around, obviously enjoying themselves on stage, and thus, the crowd was in love. Ozo is a band too difficult to explain with a simple sentence. They encompass everything from big band, to salsa, to hip hop, to a reggae island sound, complete with bongos, steel drums, a trombone, trumpet, maracas, a tambourine, and rapping. They hopped off the stage at the end and played songs in the middle of the crowd, which was amazing. The ability to have a large room full of people packed in jump together, crouch on the ground together, and yell together is an incredible thing to be a part of and see. Its amazing to me that people can garner that much influence over a group. Ozo then formed a train, and, all the while playing, wove themselves in and out of the crowd with the floor threatening to fall open to below from the incessant crashing of the jumping fans.

I haven't been to a better concert in a long while. If you have the chance to see this band, DO IT!

I'm going again this week in San Francisco, possibly to Santa Cruz the following weekend as well... They're too good to pass up, and still relatively inexpensive to see. Anyone that wants to join is definitely welcome!

A few thoughts on changes, being affected, and kidneys.

Getting it out on paper... or written, anyhow. Just some running thoughts....

1. I like Ricky's blog
Would you donate your kidney to me? Would I donate mine to you? Hmmm...

2. As I've been away from California (arguably, home) for the majority of the past few weeks, I'm realizing some differences to *me* versus who I have been in certain periods of the last few years. Its said that hind sight is 20/20. I think its closer to 20/40. Either way, it's an interesting emotional process to look back at who you have been and who you are today and actually be able to pick out differences that are so significant, you almost wonder if you're the same person at all.

The reason I bring this up is because this past week I've felt more like the person from 3 years ago than I remember feeling in all of the past 2 years combined. I miss this person.

3. A question: Why on earth do we (ok, I) subject ourselves to things that we know will hurt us? And I'm not talking about anything big, just the small stuff. I'm talking about knowing a certain movie, song, etc. will throw you back somewhere - and literally, it does feel like someone's up and thrown you against a wall - and yet, you can't somehow tear yourself away. What is that?! Is this some quirk that I have; forcing myself to re-live this? Am I dousing myself in this, hoping and waiting for it to not affect me anymore? Or is it wanting to wallow, or thinking I deserve to re-live the awfulness over and over, or something else?

Seriously! What is that about?!