I'm not sure what is it exactly, it's hitting me somewhat by surprise, but there's something about going back to school that's like coming home for me. Maybe because I moved out at 17 and went straight to university, therefore being on a university campus or a community radio station feels more at home to me than my father's house.

I think it's because I'm like a shark - if I'm not learning something new / moving forward - I die a bit inside. And my work doesn't fulfill anything for me except my loan payments. Some of my favorite memories are post-classroom discussions over beer at the campus bar, and the post-coital discussions of Nietzsche or whatever that inevitably followed.

I'm a better student now, I'm not a teenager, and I've got my shit (mostly) together. I realize that my goals of the past few years have been moving away from something that I don't want, rather than towards something I do want. (partying to blow off steam from school, getting a high paying job to get away from debt, etc) Now my goals are moving towards things I want - immensely more useful.

Although my work's refusing to let me work less hours.. which is going to kill me over the semester. But I always get what I want in the end, so I'm sure I'll think of something.

Last night I went to Zak going away party at a karaoke bar in the village called Club Cocktail. First I broke out "Poupee de Cire, Poupee de Son" (my first ever karaoke song in French), Zak did some Patsy Cline, Dasha and husband made an appearance, Abbie busted out some movies, and Kali and I did a touching duet of Billy Idol. Buried under a few Hoegaarden's I finished off the evening with a rousing rendition of "Sweet Transvetite" .. people seemed to dig it.

In other news I've become the outlet for a variety of women's domestic urges
- I got Xmas cookies in the mail from a girl in BC
- my dance partner won't let me pay for a meal, brings me cannelloni to my house, then proceeds to gift me a very expensive bottle of champagne (she doesn't drink) and some Southern Comfort (the booze not the euphemism)
- another girl wants to come and clean my bathtub while wearing a sexy outfit.

I'm also getting some glimmerings of where the future may take me..

Happiness is movement.

Rouze up, O Young Men of the New Age! set your foreheads against the ignorant Hirelings! For we have Hirelings in the Camp, the Court & the University, who would, if they could, for ever depress Mental & prolong Corporeal War. - William Blake

I come to this quote time and time again. You'll have to keep up with me.. I'm a contrarian and I believe in several things at once. My natural form of communication is poetry, bright word symbols and image clusters. Following my train of thought is then like following the individual paths of a hundred schoolchildren who's playground has just received a dumptruck load of skittles. Complicated. But like a trompe d'oeil painting underneath the chaos lies an underlying image.

I'm enamored with liberation, clearing mental cobwebs. I hate systems - the government, jobs, university, schools of philosophy .. the holiday is mankind's greatest invention.

Last year was a bumper year.. I got my head out of the water, my feet on solid ground, but I'm at loathe to stand still. I'm treading water. It was nonetheless filled with literature, world travel, strange sexual encounters, lovely experiences on drugs, and other .. proclivities. I learned new skills - argentinian tango, bonzai, puppetry, shibari, poker, and the like.

This year my plan is simple, but my simple is of course is devastatingly complicated. Fortunately I view each situation as a puzzle to be solved, and solving conundrums has always been my strong suit. The trick is remembering to keep your head up and look for it.

New Years resolutions are complicated, but will mainly involve excellence in physical fitness, financial planning towards reasonable income and total mobility, and learning a third language. It also looks like there will be a few moves this year, both national and international if things work out. The other focus (just so I don't get bored or anything) will be the completion of some long overdue artistic projects.. as well as continuing to develop abilities in the aforementioned hobbies (tango, etc).

The internet bores me to tears these days, except as a tool to develop an international lifestyle, and to keep in touch with you .. my old, my dear, my bizarre friends.

Otherwise I'm on the lookout for confidence men/women, people who've ran away to join the circus, Buddhist masters, tantric adepts, and wannabe pirates. If you know any have them call me. Proficiency with cards and blowguns is a plus.

Going back to school is a bit of an unusual feeling, but nice. Can't wait to learn spanish.

I just hope my work situation doesn't get too SNAFU, turns out the schedule switches might not be as easy as I'd first imagined.

I think people who's families are consistently clueless about Xmas gifts to them should all band together and get each other amazingly cool presents while sending our families all hideous socks or whatever.

Things To Do in Paris With the Dead - Catacombes











Mistah Kurtz, he head.
A penny for the old guy.

Sometimes I feel like I'm the only person on this site that doesn't have any tattoos. I want some.

I'm wanting to get a small piece done on my lower inner wrist on both arms, but it's so hard to decide on what you want. How did you guys come up with the ideas for your tattoos?