Okay, someone sent me a gift renewal, and I have no idea who it was. I haven't been on the site since '06. Anyway, thanks.

Dramatic gestures add romance to life.

Tonight I had an emotional experience. One of few. I don't know whether it was because of the lack of sleep in the past two weeks, or if it was genuine. I walked into the laudromat at around 11 pm and saw a homeless guy sleeping on the benches. He was around 60, black, and kind of exhausted looking, even though he was asleep.

I tried not to waken him, but as I left, he sat up.

He looked at me with sadden eyes. Not desperate, but saddened.

As I stared back at him, he averted his eyes, as if in shame.

At this time I was about to walk out of the door, but something told me that I couldn't, the easy path was not mine to take, so I returned.

I asked if he was okay, he replied, "it id be betta if I had a home."
I responed, "I can't help you there, but here is 10 bucks, get something to eat please."

I never give money to beggers, and I never will. His pride was broken, his luck was shot, his home gone, but he would not ASK for money.

The money I gave him was given to me by a customer who felt the need to reward me with $10 I didn't deserve. Some old rich gay man that liked to flirt. I guess the need to seek out the needy never crossed his mind.

I returned to the mat (needed to dry clothes), anxiously awating my new homeless companion. He lay asleep, no bottle in hand, but a apple core and some food wrappers at his feet. A few of the local thugs/dealers sat around smoking blunts with their girlfriends, bullshitting about the day's events, and laughing about the old vagrant.

I had my camera with me, so I asked if I could take a photo, as a part of an anti-racism group study (which I am a part of), and they complied, flashing their gold teeth and bling bling.

I asked my Mr. Pillette (I gave him this name to honor the stuggling soul of a deceased black teacher I loved), to pose for a photo (explaining the anti-racism group) and he complied, with the same sadness in his eyes.

Opon leaving he gave me a look of approval, then wished me a blessed evening.... and went back to sleep.



Photos:

So school and work have gotten together and decided it would be funny if they can collectively give me a mental and physical breakdown. My boss' boss decided to force him to run a store which in turn forces me to work more hours. I told him I couldn't until finals are over, but he shrugged me off. I guess I'll have to test him tomorrow, which happens to be his las day in town until after Xmas. School, the other variable in the equation, wants 4 research papers in the next 3 weeks. One has been sprung upon us last week. Thankfully I have finished one paper, and the hardest one is about 1/4 of the way through. Wish me luck, please.

i don't feel like updating but want to see something else on this page.

Hurricane Rita fucked things up pretty bad south of Lafayette. My Gandmother's and Uncle's homes are both completely demolished. Look in my pics section. My parent's house had about 5 ft of water, so we are in the process of gutting it right now.

Another fucking hurricane, I need to get out of this shithole state.

I just started class yesterday. This semester is going to be a bitch.

Bitch classes: Molecular Biology, Organic Chemistry, and the kicker, Political Science-Environmental Policy.

Easy classes: Human Macro-ecology. This I will really enjoy, we'll be designing a sustainable community. Ethics in Enivoronment will be a pretty intresting class also.

I have to take a foreign language class w/i the next two years. Any suggestions? I am interested in German, but Spanish seems to be more practical.

Anyway, I'll probably be pretty scarce on this website for a while, lots of reading in my future.

I updated my pics section, there are shots I took at night and a few from Mexico and San Antonio.

yeah so the last couple of posts were during my little fit of anger/depression. i'm done now.

I just discovered a few of Akira Kurosawa's films other than Seven Samurai. that guy is fucking great. god bless netflix. lafayette sucks as far as movie selection goes.

I'm going to texas and mexico this weekend. the pedras negras trip should be, uhh, interesting. my parents are coming along with my brother, sister, and their significant others. I guess my sister's boyfriend and I will be the only ones drinking.

the photography work has halted, unfortunately. I need to start shooting more, school will start in a month or two.