Let's get started here...

This is my very first blog entry. It is Friday night, December 29th, 2006. Those are my feet, in sneakers. Gee.

Finishing up a long year, this 2006. A number of famous people have died this week, including Saddam Hussein just hours ago. I've spent this last week setting out the areas I want to work for my growth in the coming year, and also spent time lazing about and taking it easy -- all with a reflective mind on where I've been, where I'm at, and where I wish to go.

Made and refreshed many acquaintances this year. Mostly we are on a first-name basis: Rod, Sue, Melanie and John, Sufi and Charles, Kay, Heather and John, Ravi, Judy, Tom and Vicky and Carrie, Owen and Tyler, Homer, Art, Ely, Linda and Barb and Cathy and Yvonne and Frannie and Maureen, Allie and John, Gene and Marilyn, Jeanie and Scott, Tom and Laurel, Thomas and John and Janet and Bethany, Brian, Rhys and Scott and Cyril, John and Jendayi, Hallie and Ron and Bridget, Richard and Ron, Tamar, David Pastor, Steven Weintrob, Carol Fetterman, and my street friends: Lynn, Elaine, the Keep-Things-Clean Guy, the Singing Guy (Andy Williams), the Mexican Folk Singer, and Bruno. Thank you for looking me in the eye and telling me the truth this year.


Kim and I went to The Cantina in Walnut Creek for lunch Wednesday, and in the Library parking lot across the street was this charming custom VW. What the photo does not show is the gorilla sitting in the passenger seat. Yes, there was a gorilla sitting in the passenger seat.

In June I went for refuge and officially became a Buddhist. I have been studying everyday for the last year and a half, and I have opened my eyes to a continuous stream of opportunities to practice. But I wish to bring my meditation practice into everyday. Working out my aims and goals for the year will have the wonderful step of dropping from the list those items that will not fit the schedule.

The Four Limitless Ones

May we be free of suffering and the root of suffering
May we find happiness and the root of happiness
May we never be separated from the great joy devoid of suffering
May we dwell in the great equanimity free from passion, aggression, and prejudice