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A friend posted a picture on Facebook on Saturday, and it perfectly captured my "favoritest" place in the world, Laan Tau Mountain Camp. 

It looks like it was taken from the last part of the trail, and you can see the caretaker's hut on the left, the Mess Hall in the middle and Cathedral Rock in the distance. It's perfect! So, I was searching for more pics of Cathedral Rock on Laan Tau, and found something I wrote on the HKIS Dragontrain a long time ago. (How weird is that?)

Someone had asked “Where is ‘home’?” which led to a LOT of great memories. Most of the people on the Dragontrain newsgroup graduated earlier than I did, but we had a lot in common. Here is what I wrote way back then:

It sounds like we have a lot of Laan Tau memories in common! Of course most of mine came later, when the Chinese amahs quit cooking at the mess hall and the Laan Tau Mountain Camp association started hiring teenagers and moms that were planning to be there anyway to work in the kitchen on a week to week basis during the season. I'm proud to say that I was one of the first"table setters" in Jr. High and I worked my way up through "kitchen assistant"to become the Head Cook during summers back from college. WHAT an experience!

They paid everyone a pittance, and provided meals for everyone but the table setters, but the best part was that it allowed me to stay up on top of "my mountain" for 3/4 of the season! I'm not sure when they started hiring teenage boys to be coolies, but I know Dave was one, along with Rodney Ingram and others.

One of my favorite memories of those times was when a bunch of us kids took over Cabin #9 for a couple of weeks -- our "adult" chaperons were Rodney Ingram and Jo Daley, both 19 at the time! Total insanity...
Of course, the many typhoons when all the teenagers somehow got "trapped" in one cabin (usually #18 or #24) and had to have marathon Spit and Nertz tournaments to pass the time...

Another memory is going up for the Moon Festival, which was supposed to feature a full moon and eclipse -- and even though the clouds obscured the earth's orbiting companion, Rodney was nice enough to provide us with a total eclipse of his full moon! :-) What a loon!

My favorite place in HK (and the world) has always been Cathedral Rock -- in fact, I've written two poems about it (one in high school and one in '95)!

Actually I'm not much of a writer, but I don't think I can write what Laan Tau or Hong Kong mean to me any better than the poem I wrote in 1995, so if you'll forgive me for seeming to toot my own horn, here it is:

Cathedral Rock 
(Gigs, 1995)

I've sat here all my life
watching my world
with Hong Kong in the distance
and China lurking just behind

I've watched the fun as the sunlight faded
players navigating the rocks in the Saddle
lovers walking slowly up to Sunset Peak
teenagers performing Shakespeare on Table Rock

I've heard their echoes through the darkness
moms calling the little ones to bed
cowbells tinkling the rhythms of the herd
skinny dippers laughing their inhibitions off

I've sat here through typhoons and sunshine
laughing until I cried
crying until I laughed
sitting -- just sitting
and watching my world

I've seen the sun rise on the last of the British Empire
and now I see it setting

And I miss my home
with Hong Kong in the distance
and China lurking just behind.

Peace Love Understanding

According to the list of topics for every day in November, I'm supposed to write about something I crave.  After thinking about it and coming up with really lame cravings, I realized why I was having difficulty: it's Veterans Day.

So, I decided to write about that instead and then I came up with something!  I crave peace.  I want a world without war.  I want people to stop screaming and maybe open their minds and come up with something that works for everyone.  Give a little, get a little.

And most of all, I want all of our troops to come home safely.  I hate the fact that so many of our citizens are facing life and death situations, or getting maimed physically and emotionally.  I truly appreciate what they do for me and for all of us.


Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13).

 So thank a veteran and wear your poppy in their honor.   Not just today though, remember them every day if you can!

p.s.  I wrote this on Thursday 11/11, but did not post it until 11/14 because I'm an idiot. Sorry!

Hello again

Where have you been?

I just noticed that it's been nearly a month since I've written on this blog, and that's too long! I'm not one of those bloggers who thinks that my followers are waiting with baited breath for my next missive, but I think it's been too long for ME! I need to write - it helps me relax, helps me think, and is just generally a good thing.

I've been too busy lately, and I've been doing a lot of writing for work I guess, so I haven't been spending the time I should on writing down my thoughts and fears and joys etc... And there's been a lot to think about!

I thought of writing the other day after that poor kid killed himself because his asshat roommate live-fed him having sex. The event sparked off a lot of outrage against gay bullying, which got me thinking. I'm pretty sure I would have been mortally embarrassed if anyone put a live-feed on the web of me having sex! Of course it wouldn't have been of any interest, would it? Why is it so much more interesting if it's gay sex?

Maybe it's the fear factor. People are often afraid of something different from their norms - just because it's different. And it's easier to hate or be afraid of it than to open your mind and learn that it's not something to be afraid of! I mean seriously, what does someone else being gay have to do with your own sexuality? Could it threaten it? Only if you let it. Are you afraid that you might somehow be "turned" gay? Then you need to figure yourself out, because the only way you can be turned gay is if you already are. I admit, being gay would be a pretty scary lifestyle: I mean, you'd have to put up with the bullying and sneering of the "straight" crowd. You could be outcast from your pre-established group of friends. You could be disowned from your family. You couldn't have a normal future of finding someone to love and marry and have kids, because that would be illegal in most states.

Gosh, looking at all of that, I wonder why anyone would CHOOSE to be gay?


Hmmmmm....


Note:  This was originally written Oct. 16, but not published until Nov. 9.  Sorry about that!  I thought I had published it already...

Random Thoughts - Things I Like

I love the rain.  We've been having big storms lately, with big fat saturated drops that splash happily on your face and suddenly you're sopping... LOVE IT!   Want to go play in it. Except that lightening thing.

Have you seen Inception yet?  Christopher Nolan has a very twisty brain.  Thank goodness!

If I could have dogs in my apartment, Stella, the five-week old Rotty puppy up for adoption on the Washington Humane Society page would be MINE!  She reminds me of Ron.  A very very small (and female) Ron, but...

Hmmm...  Maybe I should move?

Have you gotten addicted to True Blood yet?   I have.  I started watching the Season 1 DVDs a little over a month ago.  And now I'm only one episode behind.  Is there a cure for this?  Don't want it!  Go check out Jessica's blog, it's hilarious!!

My friend from Montana is coming to visit next week.  We will have fun, it is decreed!

Stevie Ray Vaughn is awesome. 

"Unctuous" DOES mean oily, slimy, overly solicitious... like Uriah Heep.   Just ask Webster's Dictionary.  It does NOT mean "delicious".  That's scrumptious. :-)  Not to be bumptious or anything. *snicker*

Speaking of words... I really enjoyed playing Balderdash with my niece and her friends on her 21st birthday.    It was a convivial afternoon, with a bunch of grandgousiers who fnezed.  heehee

And they learned that "hydrating while you dehydrate" is a good rule of thumb for more than just running.

Working half-days on Fridays is really fantastic.  The other four nine-hour days ain't so much fun, but starting the weekend early does NOT suck!

It's nice to know that I have friends and family who care about me.  Especially when I have a panic attack.  Or just need a hug.  Or a giggle.  That IS my name after all! LOL

And my cat is snuggly.

Take care y'all, and be excellent to each other!

I saw Jesus today...

No really!  He was on the bus this morning!  OK, not really.  But I've never wanted to take a picture of a complete stranger SO much in my life!  He got on the DC Circulator in Columbia Heights (I think), a man of African descent, probably around 40, with slightly graying dreads down to his elbows, and a slightly gaunt, handsome face, with deep, very serene eyes.  He wore a cream coloured loose-fitting shirt and black palazzo pants and sandals, and he sat on the edge of his seat with one foot on the ground in front of him and the other on the step down... and he seemed so very comfortable in himself. 

He got off the bus at 14th and P Streets, and I wanted to follow him. 

Maybe it was his serenity, maybe it was the palazzo pants, maybe it was the realization that he looked closer to what Jesus probably really DID look like (although I'm not sure about the dreads...), but... I saw Jesus today and it was cool.

All I want for Christmas...

For my cat, Calypso
A pet kitten



For me:
Peace: Can't we all just get along? I would love for the wars in the Middle East to be over and all of our troops to be home, but I know that's not possible at this point. In the meantime, I send my support to the troops who are fighting those wars, as well as those protecting the homeland and military posts around the world. You stand between danger and the rest of America, and for that I cannot thank you enough.

Good will toward all: My niece is going on a mission trip to Belize the week after Christmas, to provide help and support to an orphanage. She has arranged the trip, including travel arrangement and toy/gift donations for the orphanage. My family has a huge "helping people" gene, but I could not be more proud of the example she provides to the world.

Since we can't all go with her to Belize, my hope is for those who have a little extra money to help out those who don't. Check out the Modest Needs website and see what a $10 or $20 donation can do. Or look around locally! One of my friends went to the Army/Navy store to buy socks and then distributed them to the homeless. Go to your local Food Bank and help pack or serve meals. Go to the local VA hospital and say thank you to a Vet. They deserve it!

Obviously this isn't a funny post, but it's how I feel. Or as Elvis Costello so aptly put it... What's so funny about peace, love, and understanding.? (Woah oh!)