sometimes i leave the state to wander

smart: doing laundry before a trip.
not so smart: doing laundry that can't be dried in the dryer the day you board the airplane.

smart: blocking social media sites on your computer to prevent yourself from getting distracted.
TOO smart: picking up your phone and logging onto said social media sites to distract yourself from using your computer in productive ways.

smart: getting glasses before the trip so you don't have to wear contacts while you drive home across the country

not smart: not getting them in time for the "drive across the country" part

smart: finding an online glasses company who will ship glasses to your brother whom you will visit on the trip

not smart: losing the glasses you already own (which go over your contacts to assist you with things like, oh, driving across the country....) the DAY YOU BOARD THE PLANE

smart: transferring money from your savings to checking account in preparation to travel

not smart: forgetting your debit card at home and realizing it on the way to the airport

smart: getting to the airport early

too smart: early enough to find out that your 11:25pm flight has been delayed til 1am. 

also smart: calling back your ride and going to iceberg drive in and eating a lot of food to lull you into a food coma to sleep the plane (at least that's the hope).

...this was also smart because there was literally NO line at security. and it was actually a pretty fun experience. 

so it begins....

#ledgelockwanders

va, pensiero

i just realized that i need to tell you something.

in a week from today, i'll be on a flight to rome!

Source: thisperspective.tumblr.com via Kristin on Pinterest

i'm headed to meet my brother there and then we're headed for a two-week backpacking adventure through italy and france.

we're planning on going to rome, then up through tuscany to see those lovely towns, and then headed to the cinque terre (!!!!), then over to venice. from venice we'll head to paris and end up there.

this was a trip that we planned when i was 16, but we never did it. but now's the time. we're gonna make it happen.

i'm suuuuper excited, even though that's a lot to pack in to two weeks. i know that i can't see everything, but if you have advice for sights/experiences in those places, please leave a comment! or just europe advice in general. or advice on how to pack light?! orrr just life advice. whatever you'd like. i was so appreciative when i got all of your NY advice and i loved hearing everyone's experiences.

in one week.
seven days.
perhaps i should think about packing?

train of consciousness

car --> moving sidewalk --> plane --> air train --> real train --> {subway} --> car

.....

sunday, 6 march, 2011, 5:04 pm

i'm writing on the subway right now. 72nd st, to be exact.

above me are my old summer stomping grounds!

we just passed 66th--the lincoln center. ah! it's all coming back to me.

interestingly, i'm not finding/feeling the same rush of excitement about everything as i did the first time...makes sense,

{77th street; the train is more crowded now}

because the first time i was discovering everything with new eyes. but -- i have this odd ability to make an absolute adventure out of everything in my head (as well as my camera and sketchbook and blog). so, i could have felt the same

{86th street}

or similar on this trip as i did the first time...but i'm glad i'm not.

i'm glad i'm not because the first trip was practically nearly perfect. it was everything i wanted and needed, and it was just right for me. i wouldn't even want to try to replicate it because this trip would change things and make them different than the last time 

{96th and it is SUPER packed in this train}

so this can be a different kind of adventure. different is okay. i'm pretty relieved it's feeling all so familiar to me, but not because of my previous fears (will i get lost? how will i get around? will i get robbed? will i be okay?) -- but because of that fear of accidentally trying to replicate the past (or unintentionally doing so)

{103rd}

and having it not live up to my expectations.

{110th street}

ok...just passed 110th...agh! maybe i spoke too soon -- i tend to long for the past at times. 110th...isn't that jen's stop? maybe not...but oh, memories! she has a great little apartment. desert night and games and ooh -- 

{116 now}

this is the stop before my old stop -- the one leading to the reed's adorable little family. remembering when i sang the baby to sleep during that hard, hard night-- and the trust that she held in her eyes between her tears as she looked up at me---

{125th}

oh!! oh -- i can see the outside. now...now. this is poignant to me. i see the projects on one side -- and the corner of my old apartment building on the other! aaaagghhh...now it's settling in. how i love the 125th stop-- the train goes above ground here. i returned off of this stop every day for a month and a half...

{137th street}

and now we're passing the next stop...the only time i traveled this far was that beach day -- natasha's birthday. the one where everything went wrong and wonderful beth moved in and the mover man bled all over our floor and the train was broken so we had to go up a stop before we went down to far rockaway...and how grateful i was for that detour and for the conversation i had with dear natasha and jodi, and how much our friendship grew that day...

and now. now is where i'm off to the unknown. adventure time? yesss. i believe so. 

{145th, 5:22 pm}

231, here i come! 

passing dyckmann and 207th, the train goes above ground once more and i see a whole new scene. somewhat intimidating--there is graffiti everywhere and it doesn't feel familiar anymore. but i know that there is a diana and a jonny and a little baby waiting for me, so here i come....

.....

addendum -- above is quite literally the stream of conscious thought that i recorded on the ride here. below is the picture to prove it. i edited very little (though added some things) and as i read it through here now, i'm realizing that there's a lot more than a transportation log that has been recorded here.

post-addendum? can you do that? sure you can. here's mine.

i'm now sitting comfortably in diana's charming little apartment, with the rain pounding on the windows, the howling wind rustling the trees (are there trees in the bronx?? it's too dark to tell) and listening to sirens in the distance. 

perhaps, to an extent, i am still in awe of this place.

someday

it's interesting: i don't think even some of my closest friends realize the extent of my 'hopeless romanticism', for lack of better term. not even with just dating-type-stuff, but just my general life perspective. but it's not like i'm gonna tell them...

EF - Live The Language - Paris from Albin Holmqvist on Vimeo.

well, unless they see my blog, i guess....

i gushed over this video for lots of reasons.

{thanks, simini, for showing me this!}

trains.

it was day 4 of NY (tuesday), but really, the last verse here tells more about it than anything. 

it was the first day on the job with brett.

my first day riding the metro all alone.

i was...kind of nervous. 

...

shelley was a sweetheart and mapped everything out for me, and we discussed how to get to and from where i needed to be. i was confident that i could do it, but obviously a bit hesitant about what to expect. 

on the way to the metro, i talked to big brother alan, who helped me feel better.

then i was on my own.

...

got to station. waited for subway.

it came. let it go. wasn't sure if that was the right one.

got a tad jittery, shook that off.

one woman asked me if i knew what train just passed, and i told her it was the b-train. she thanked me and sat down. 

i hesitated, then asked her to clarify what train i should be waiting for. 

she gladly explained all she knew and we continued to have a good conversation about the day, how we wish there was an extra half-day's worth of time on mondays and other such things.

i bid her farewell.

she got on the next train.

...

got on next train with little worries.

except for the small wonder of "how do i know when to get off?"

looked around.

dude on right? 

no.

girl across isle? 

nope. 

lady to the left? 

...yeah. try her. 'excuse me, i have a question....'

she spent about ten minutes pouring over the small subway map with me and going through all my various options. super helpful. by this point, i felt good enough to even venture different routes to my locations. 

thanked her. 

she got off.

i had some time, so i opened a book and started to read to relax a bit. 

then i saw 4 clean-cut kids get on, around my age. i could easily see them going to my university. 

this helped a bit. 

another stop.

i stayed on and others got off, allowing these kids to sit. 

i glanced up, since they already held a bit of my interest, to see where they sat, and saw a girl next to them and right across from me, reading the book of mormon. 

this made me so relieved and happy, i almost laughed out loud.

tender mercies have an interesting way of presenting themselves.

i opened my travel journal and wrote, "suddenly, home doesn't seem so far away."

i knew i'd be fine today.

... 

got off at the correct location.

walked across platform.

waited for next train.

and waited.

kept waiting.

there were others waiting, too, and i noticed a short black lady with super curly hair (so awesome), and clean gray converse shoes (so awesome). she made some comment about the train taking forever, and i asked if it was the only f-train that came this way. she said yes and inquired what direction i was trying to head. turns out we were headed in the same area.

the train finally came, and we sat together (though didn't talk much).

the train was far more nice than the poor old c-train, and at one point, sun lit up the dull windows as the train sped upward above ground and sped over the brooklyn bridge. 

the lady and i got off at our stop and walked out of the metro together (she made sure to point out where i'd go on the way back).

we walked a block or two, got one more direction from her, then parted ways.

she went right. 

i kept walking straight. 

...

got to brett's. safe and sound.

something inside me (i know what it was, too) told me who i could and could not trust today. that was an extra special gift i hadn't even asked for, and found all too perfect for what i needed.

...

{additional note}

on the train home, i wrote in my travel journal, "i walked with a lot more confidence than i felt i should have had, but took stock of myself and realized i did know the way-there was no need to panic or feel nervous until a problem presented itself. i made sure not to be cocky--i was only a survivor of one train ride by myself--but i was confident enough not to be scared. it felt good. 

 i sat and out the window across from me, saw a train riding a track parallel to ours. both gained speed at the same time, and though ours sped up a bit more, so it was an odd sensation--i felt the immense speed my train was going but studied the other as it ran. its windows went by slower but not too slowly; it had gained proper train speed. eventually, the track it was on dipped down and sunk below ours so the faces and windows that framed them disappeared. it reminded me of the old black and white film reels as they flip through. i wonder if anyone else noticed this odd and oddly enjoyable sensation. 

i looked around; no one seemed to notice. i reveled quietly to myself."

above: the actual entry and quick sketches i drew to remember...i'll post real pictures later.

Encounters With Potential

I have tons to do, but I need to write because I've been inspired yet again. I love the recent close proximities of my encounters with potential...mmmmm life.

I just got out of my artistic anatomy class. It's taught by Niki Covington, who just returned from a year of study at the Florence Academy of the Arts in Italy (which, in and of itself, recognizes a dream of mine: world travel, especially to Italy). He teaches us of anatomy, and how important each "lump, bump, and curve", as he so often puts it, is important to our study of the body and our consequential drawings.

Today, we talked only about the pelvis. I never realized what a useful and complex structure it is! It's a pivotal point (literally) on which so much anatomical information hinges. I was soaking everything he said in, and it was like drinking from a fire hydrant (as Bro. Bott would put it). It applied to so many functions, from where our legs articulate to the rest of our bodies to childbirth. Wow, the range of possibilities is seemingly endless.

Last class I was struggling with proportions and he told me that the next class period, he'd show me how he started a drawing. So today, he took my pencil, sharpened it, and went to work. It was fascinating! There is SO much to be learned! In this class alone, we talk about the different parts of each layer of the body (we're just on bones right now), how they articulate with each other, their form and function, how they relate to other parts and other layers, and on top of that, we learn how to draw it all! When Niki took my pencil today, he made just a few lines on my paper, but he explained that those few lines held more accurate and telling information than those of anyone else in the class, because they were so accurate and simple. He spends a lot of time on this stage, then moves more and more specific. He said that this information he's putting on the paper is subject to change any time, and any mark that is newly placed should contribute to the accuracy of the information already there.

Whew.

So I walked out of class feeling as though my brain were a jug of water with a sponge at the very bottom, soaking it all in, while simultaneously threatening to spill over the top and be lost.

Then...I walked past an amazingly inspiring photography exhibit in the hall of the HFac. The photographer, Kelli Saunders, had taken portraits all in black and white, her subjects being the children of the Hands of Mercy Orphanage in Ghana. I read her artist statement and almost got emotional. Suddenly, I realized how much art can be a way of communication and how it really can benefit people, because as I read her statement, I was the beneficiary rather than the artist. I want to go help underprivileged people...I have so many resources at my fingertips, but what will I use them for? I feel so selfish using my talents solely for my own pleasure, when so many have so little in their lives. I thought of my friend Amy, who's going to Ghana on a research semester next summer, and ideas started coming to my head about going with her, doing some type of research that would help someone. This was, mind you, before I realized that Kelli's photos were actually taken in Ghana. Which was cool.

THEN, I looked up her site on the net and realized that the name Kelli Saunders sounded familiar because she was on the Kaiizen trip! Kaiizen is an organization that goes to other countries and help orphanages....I went this summer to Mexico and the blog will soon be posted (still getting the pictures up). I know this girl, and her work is so inspiring!

As I walked out of the HFac, I started noticing things in different ways. There is SO much to learn, so much to accomplish in this life, so why on earth am I EVER lazy?!!

Mmmmm. There is much to be done.

I would really like everyone to go see the exhibit on the 4th floor of the HFac for yourselves, but if you don't want to make the journey, click here.

Adventures In a Mexican Orphanage: Day 1

On Sunday, I returned from one of the greatest trips ever. I was a volunteer with the Kaiizen Organization. It's completely volunteer run, and they take trips to Mexico to help orphanages. It was a great, though very short, experience. We drove down the first day, served for two days, and drove back the fourth day. So here's the first of the travel (b)log:

Day 1: Thursday, June 26
Wal-Mart, 4:47am

We all assembled. From the Utah chapter, there were a fair amount of us. Adam McBride and his car, Pikachu, were my traveling buddies. We met the two other gals who would be riding with us: two sisters Chelsea and Katey Jones. We came, we got free t-shirts and drivers packets, and we departed. Our car conversation throughout the entire trip was fabulous: ranging from topics of family, goals, school, life, super powers....

After we got past the border, the pivotal turnoff that our group needed to take was completely closed off. We lost two cars in traffic, both inexperienced in the ways of Kaiizen, so we wandered around for a WHILE...but the scenery was great! I got a migraine, but Katey, Chelsea and Adam were super nice and very patient with me. I got over the worst of it right before the infamous Taco Stand visit! SO tasty.

Adventures in A Mexican Orphanage: Day 2

Day 2: Friday, June 27
The Beach, 7:15am

So...I woke up to the sounds of the waves crashing against the rocks. Probably one of the best sounds EVER to wake up to. I think I grew to appreciate and enjoy the ocean more this trip than any other, and I think that's why. Anyhow, we got up and went straight to the school we'd be working on. I climbed a fence and kinda...well...didn't make it over as gracefully as I'd hoped. Got a pretty good scratch on my leg. Adam felt bad because he'd persuaded me to do it, but I thought that it was pretty comical (after the initial sting of impact had died down). We had a fabulous and oh-so-healthy breakfast of all sorts of bulk sugared cereal and warm soy milk. Then, it was down to business. We got birthday presents for the kids ready and painted the various school buildings all morning. One accomplishment was the hierarchy of cleaning rollers that Scarlet Ortiz, Adam and I invented. With limited water (one working sink) and tons of filthy brushes, there were only so many hands that could help. For future reference for anyone reading who will someday clean paint brushes and rollers simultaneously with others: Cleaner ones on top, then dirtier, then filthy. That way, water is conserved and the cleaner water flows to the dirtier ones. Brilliance, I tell you. Around lunchtime, we headed for the orphanage, which was just down the street. We came a bit late because of the brush-cleaning process. Anyhow, everyone had started to eat by the time we got there. It was my first visit to the orphanage, and what a sight to see...TONS of adorable orphans, and volunteers as well. Adam and I wanted to sit by some of the kiddos, but couldn't find a place amidst the volunteers. I was just itching to discover which little orphan would steal my heart. However, I didn't have to wait for long. When the shout was heard, "Vamos a jugar!" ("Let's go play!") all the kids screamed and ran out the door. However, one little girl was startled by the commotion and started to cry. She cried and cried, so I picked her up and asked her what was wrong. For some reason, my limited Spanish came easier when I spoke with the little'uns. I found out her name was Dana. I couldn't get her to smile for the longest time, but she clung to me so I kept holding her. Finally, after some poking and my repeated asking of "Donde esta tu sonrisa?" ("Where is your smile?") she started to smile a bit. It got to the point where she'd lead me around by holding a couple of my fingers, but wouldn't let me go for anything. It was the best feeling ever. Eventually I had go let her go so I could go swimming with the other kids and the rest of the group. She was reluctant, but went with one of the gals who worked there back to the nursery. Swimming was an adventure. The pool was like a little paradise. I'm not so much of a swimming fan, but really enjoyed playing with the kids this time. They loved splashing each other, and us, and being splashed by us. There was one little gal in particular, who was sniping me behind her shield of her inter tube. I grabbed a squirt gun and got her back. We continued our little war across the way for quite some time, and eventually were close enough to speak. I asked her name, Eva, and told her mine. It was awesome, because then we just smiled at each other, then promptly resumed squirting. Eventually I pulled her and her friend around on their inter tubes around the pool, spuratically spinning them around changing directions. They giggled and squealed. I also pulled another little guy around, which was fun. These kids rarely get a chance to go to the pool, so it was a fun opportunity to take them and see something so common to me be such a foreign adventure to them. After the pool, the birthday party started. The kids don't get a chance to celebrate their birthdays individually, so we threw them the biggest, bestest fiesta they'd ever seen (hopefully). It was superhero themed, making it pretty much the coolest thing ever. The kids were each provided with masks, capes, and other superhero-esque things. We ate homemade pizza (mmmmmm tasty) and ate two huge birthday cakes, followed by two pinatas. Then came my favorite part of the night: the presents. Adam, a new friend named Will, and I donned our supersuits, becoming the "Trio Alto", or the Tall Three. Joined by Amanda with her Batgirl attire and Kellie with her super awesomeness, we were invincible. Basically, the Justice League of Kaiizen. Between Will's purple fluorescent leggings, my hot pink shiny gloves, and Adam's blue underpants...worn over his pants..., we couldn't be stopped from having a good time. Now we were properly equipped. The volunteers formed a presents tunnel, holding our hands out to each other so the kids could run through. We yelled out each child's name, then they'd come through the line to claim their gifts. After they all received their birthday presents, we watched them unwrap the gifts. I LOVED seeing their happy faces (through the eyes of my superhero mask, of course) as they discovered their new prizes. Somehow, seeing that made all the sweat and sacrifice worth it.

After, we watched a slideshow of the pictures of the day, taken by Kelli Saunders (who also took this one of me and Will in our superhero-y glory). Bedtime came, and this time we camped outside of the orphanage, whose rocky dirt was far less accommodating than the sand of the beach. In the morning, I suggested to the girls in my tent that we make a Facebook group called "Mexican Dogs Keep Me Awake At Night". Indeed, there were a few dogs who were just going at it, conversing several hundred feet apart, with our unfortunate tent caught helplessly in the middle. Around 5 am, I'm guessing, a very outspoken rooster decided to join the conversation, perhaps feeling left out. Though sleep was scarce, I'm glad that at least some animals had a productive night with what sounded like a good discussion.

Adventures in a Mexican Orphanage: Day 3

Day 3: Saturday, June 27
between a hard rock and a broken tent zipper letting in a draft, ridiculously early

I stayed in the tent til I could no longer stand the rooster. It was around 7:15am. Breakfast was ultra fabulous...life can't get much better then chocolate chip pancakes in Mexico. We played with the kids for a bit, then headed out to the school. We had invited the community to a "sports day", where we would teach play together. I'm sure this occurred,everyone the rules of the games, and however, I was occupied elsewhere. Marianne Burton, who is actually in my home stake, was in charge of all the painting, and put me in charge of painting a mural on the side of one of the buildings. Adam, a gal named Christine, and I organized some ideas, and then I sketched it out on the wall. We wanted some kind of fantastical scene with elements that would resemble fun things, but that would prompt imaginative thinking on the kids part.

After scavenging for paint, some old cans were found. Between Adam and his pocketknife threatening the paint cans, the lids were finally pried off. The painting began. Through our morning of work, the sun eventually peered upon our work, making the process a very bright, hot, and sticky job. Eventually, though, we reached an acceptable stopping point in the mural. I put the finishing touch on it: the signature of "Kaiizen", which filled me with great satisfaction.













By the time we were done, everyone at the orphanage had finished their tamales. It was my first tamale ever, and was delicious. When we finished, the kids were outside making ice cream. I got there around the tail end of that, but was asked to get the sprinkles and chocolate, which I did. Upon bringing it out, I was promptly mobbed by about 8 kids, all wanting the goods. One little guy came back for more...three times. I think that there was more chocolate than ice cream in his little bag. Which was perfectly fine.Eventually, the time came to say good-bye to the kids. I was excited to see Dana again, and got my wish. I played with her for a good while, and also with another girl. I stayed mostly with the little'uns and it was so great to see all these sweet children running around playing with the volunteers. This is Cammie Brimhall, with whom I went to high school. Her little friend was kind of shy and really adorable! It was fun to see them interact. Melisa: this little gal was adorable! She was sitting with Dana the first time I met the kids the day before. She has an amazing smile. This is Robert Dixon, and I don't know the little dude's name. It was funny; when Cammie was playing with her little gal, this kid got a big kick out of it and would giggle.
This is Robert's brother Dave, who was face-smooshing. He would pretend like he was sleeping, and his face would smoosh on her head, and she'd giggle and "wake him up". His comment on this picture on facebook was, "I. Loved. This." :)
Then I saw Chelsea holding a sweet little baby when we were getting ready to leave (we basically had to pry the little one away from her so she wouldn't end up taking her home with us). The baby was sobbing uncontrollably, and eventually Chelsea said to me, "She's looking at you!" So I picked up the baby girl and rocked her, humming in her ear. She eventually quieted, but as I put her back down, started to cry again. We told a gal who worked there, who gave the baby a blanket and bottle, and she quieted. I said one last good-bye to Dana, and with a beso and a "Te amo!" left.



We went to Ensenada for a bit, and I got some trinkets for some friends and family. I also experienced another two tacos, and a strawberry-filled churro which was oh-so-tasty.



I liked the feel of a busy little town, packed with vendors on every corner and shops in every possible space. Chelsea, Adam, Katey and I discovered many little stores. Adam bought a hammock from a vendor, and Katey introduced us to the world of tiny little bobble heads of various animals that she collects.

Before we left Ensenada, a little girl with a slew of bracelets and necklaces stopped me, asking for my business. I was suckered into it, asked how much they were, and was rewarded by a funny sight: without missing a beat, she rambled off the prices of each of the different kinds of jewelry: "4 dollars, 2 dollars, 3 dollars, 2 dollars, 4 dollars, 5 dollars..." apparently she knew her stuff. I bought a cool magnetic bracelet/necklace and felt privileged to do business with such an experienced little person.

After Ensenada came the beach. I'm generally not much of a water person, but for some reason, I LOVED the beach in Mexico! Whitney Kluber had one request for my adventures in Mexico: "Stand in ocean, where the water hits about mid-calf, raise your arms in the air, and shout, 'I love Mexico!!!' at the top of your lungs! If you can rope Adam into doing it too, that would be even better". I would never ignore a request such as that, and so it was done. And documented!



I stood for a while, feeling the sand shift under my feet, enjoying the setting sun and sounds of the ocean. After a bit, I decided that I wanted to grab a guitar and play. However, my attempts at getting the guitar were thwarted...by an unexpected visitor.

As I was getting the guitar out of the trailer, which was on the beach, a short man with chipped teeth approached me. He was selling hammocks, and tried his darndest to sell me one. Although Adam had bought a hammock in Ensenada, I had chosen to spend my money differently. Thus, I told the man sorry, and that I had no more spending money left...which was true, or so I thought. Besides, $40 was too expensive for my taste anyway. However, I found out the way that a good hammock salesman could get you to stay right where he wants you.

Wisdom from Mexico: How to retain potential hammock customers
They'll get you to hold one end of the hammock. That way, not only can you appreciate the fine handmade quality thereof, but you're also trapped: Who are you to drop their fine piece of quality handmade work in the sand?

Anyway, he did so, and pestered me for about 10 minutes, repeating his favorite English mantra: "Almost free today! Almost free!" I thought it rather funny, but after a while, I was wondering how I would get out of this one. I shot a couple of glances in Adam's direction, hoping that he'd see me and come to the rescue, but it was to no avail. Finally, I decided I needed to go...for real this time...and gently placed my end of the hammock on the sand and, smiling, still "no, gracias"-ing, backed away, guitar in hand, and walked over to the rest of the group.

To my amusement, I watched the man go over to Adam, and they started to talk. I kept my eye on them, curious to see how this would play out, seeing that Adam had bought a hammock not an hour earlier. Surprisingly, they talked for about 20 minutes. I finally walked back over to put my guitar back, and the man jumped on the opportunity. I said that I only had $20 left, and beside me, Adam muttered, "Careful. He's selling them for $10." I laughed. The man, Santiago, as Adam found out, now offered me two hammocks for a reduced price. As my will to not spend more broke down, I said, "Okay, fine...but I'd only need one IF I did buy one!"

Bottom line?

I now own a handmade Mexican hammock from Santiago himself. Turns out that Adam and Santiago had become bosom buddies over those twenty minutes. Apparently Santiago had drunk too much, and was leaving soon. He had to sell these last hammocks before he left, and also he was going to see a fighting match (??) later. Just throwing that out there.

Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures with the great Santiago. I did, however, get some other fun ones:

We left shortly after our Santiago experience, but not before a fresh mango and beautiful sunset bidding us farewell.

We returned to "our beach"--the one we'd slept on the first night there. The firey sunset was...well...words don't quite come close to describe what it was. It was beautiful, though. The sun was a bright pink, and the closer it got to the horizon, the more unreal it looked. After dark, we had a campfire on the beach and mingled. I talked to Will McAllister and found out he was a movie maker...and once again renewed my dream to be a voice-over in a movie.

That night, we all slept once more on the beach.

Adventures in a Mexican Orphanage: Day 4

Day 4: Sunday, June 29
on the beach for the last time, pretty early in the morning

The next morning, we headed out.

Here's a picture of me and the gals, and another of me and Dave, as disheartened artists because we never did manage to correctly tune the tiny guitars we gave to the orphans.

One of my favorite parts of driving back was as we were driving around a very bendy road. Trees and little homes were silhouetted against the mucky morning gray sky. As we were rounding a bend, all the sudden, it was like a light in the sky just flipped on, along with the hidden beauty of the morning sky. The sun emerged with as much radiance as it could muster on that tired, Sunday morning and it was beautiful.

We only got lost once on the way back, but found an "Adam's Street" which, we felt, made it worth it.

All in all, Kaiizen rocks. Mexico Rocks. So do orphans. And when you take Pikachu to Mexico in the spirit of super heroism and service, who knows what will happen.