crackers in my bed

So I made the mistake of trying to open an already opened box of wheat thins while laying on my bed last week. I was planning to eat them while continuing to lay there for two very good reasons: 1) I can do whatever I want, and 2) It's one of two places in my room where I can comfortably eat.

After opening the wrong side and wrestling with the package, I came to realize that crackers and crumbs were spilling all over me and my sheets. This was both amusing and frustrating, as I have a history of bed-food incidents, not only with crackers, but also scalding hot tea, a milkshake, a subway foot long, and most notably a candy bar (imagine scene from Godfather where man finds horse's head in his sheets and substitute horse for chocolate and almonds). Please refrain from making the obvious suggestion here, people. The point is that I have a problem; a food-in-my-bed-problem, and I hate to admit it, but the crumbs are not all gone because I forgot to wash my sheets last weekend. It's not the worst problem ever. You know what a worse problem is? Trying to figure out how a person on SSI should shop for healthy food in Harlem. You know what an even worse problem is? Being the person who has diabetes and mental illness and trying to figure out how to eat healthy and manage your weight on SSI while getting mugged semi-frequently. I mean, this guy might want crackers in his bed, right?

In other news:
President Obama was in NYC today, and apparently he was at The Met tonight, which is right near my place, and is along the route that I run on the way to the glory that is central park. Anyway, you wouldn't believe the amount of police officers who were around The Met. I literally saw more cops than people, which is significant, but the things is that they were all just standing in groups of two or more...just talking...getting paid. It made me resent police officers and our 44th president for requiring so much attention. I think NYC is rubbing off on me as I was annoyed by such a slight inconvenience. Or maybe it was the fact that, uh, THEY WEREN'T DOING ANYTHING!! I hope they all spill cracker crumbs on their sheets.

In alternative news:
I went to a Yankees game a couple weeks ago and spent way too much on a burrito and got semi-soaked, but also saw derek jeter surpass Lou gehrig's (sp?) as all-time hits leader.

Tetris and the Compassion Rebellion

You know when you are about to lose at tetris, and you start to panic and think, "oh, sh**, oh sh**" as the blocks seem to be coming faster and the rows move higher quicker? Well, I was born playing a brand new, beginner level tetris game. If you are born into poverty and have a mental illness, an abusive past, a poor education, addictions, no support, no dignity, are treated without respect, are sometimes given bread but never roses, are surrounded by violence, live in a society that is individualistic and calloused, well...I started out talking about tetris, but now I don't think a computer game is an appropriate analogy, but, you get the idea. Oh, sh**, oh sh**, you're f***ed (unless someone is willing to stand by you with a pocket full of quarters, patience, encouragement and teaching) this is just the way it seems to be. And most people don't spend a lot of time in arcades...I know I don't.

Upcoming events this week:
1) ultimate frisbee in central park
2) yankees game
3) will either give myself a haircut or pay for one
4) not writing another blog

Also, I will be composing a list of things that kill your soul. Feel free to comment on your own "soul-killers". I have two for you:
1) standing in line. this is just the worst ever!!!!!!
2) Shopping/thinking about stores like American Apparel- save your soul. don't do this.

PS- This is called blogventing (which is a term i just created). No need to comment or analyze. Just let it happen. Pictures to follow someday.
PPS- I found this link to be pretty simple way of presenting our health care problem in America

Where I work and Where I live

Having a combined first week in New York/new job was a little daunting at the outset, but it didn't end up being so bad. My only complaint is that I sweat profusely every time I go outside, and I don't have much space to myself when I get back home. Other than that, everything's good. I live about 5 min from the subway and have only a 10min ride to work everyday. I get off at 125th st. (Martin Luther King Jr. blvd) and walk about 4 blocks to my office. My office is in the heart of Harlem, and the sights on the way (disclaimer: I've only been here 1 week) I liken to something from a developing nation rather than someplace 15 min from Prada stores. I could talk a lot about my job, and the people I've met already, but I don't really feel like it. Just know that my job is fantastic, and I still internally chuckle at how I ended up here.

Tangent: I chuckled out loud on my first day of work as I walked along Martin Luther King Jr. blvd to the cross street, Malcom X blvd, where the main pathways office is located. My decisions keep leading me into situations where I don't really belong, but they make for good stories. Being from Spokane(=white), I found this scenario to be novel and quite amusing. They say that if you can make yourself laugh, then you will live about 10 years longer. Notice the irony in the fact that I made myself laugh by moving to Harlem, and therefore increased my life expectancy, which is really bucking a few trends, and that is also funny. Now if I can just steer clear of any "drug-deals-gone-bad" when I visit clients, I should be good well into my eighties.

anyway:
I really like my job, and my co-workers. I like the diversity here and the ridiculous amount of restaurants and models. I walk in central park most days, and went to the American Museum of Natural History about 30 min ago. All is good here. Now if I can just find where the cockroaches hid my wallet and keys...

232 E 78th NY, NY

Ok, so I'm here. I live in NYC now. I never planned to be living 4 blocks from Central Park, but oh well. I will post a link to a site I will be uploading pictures to. More later.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/63576705@N00/

Anything you can do Machu Picchu can do better

I met up with two friends in Cusco this last weekend: Ryan Thomas (we grew up down the street from each other) and Earl Sullivan (same Jr. High and High School). A complete psych-out weekend ensued for two reasons: 1) It was a psych-out to see Ryan and Earl, both of whom I see maybe once a year, and to see them in Peru of all places. 2) We played a lot of psych-out baseball; the game where you name off people from jr. high and high school that you absolutely have not thought of in at least 4 or 5 years. It's amazing how many names a people you can remember if you actually try. For example, Kenny Gagnon---PSYCH OUT! YOu get the idea.

We spent one night in Cusco...ate food, drank some beer, played darts, walked around, etc. A good time. The next day we bought a train ticket to Aguas Calientes--a small town right by Macchu Picchu. It is about 2 hrs from my home in Urubamba. We took the bus back to Urubamba, played psych-out baseball, took a bus to Ullataytambo, took a break from baseball, got the train to Aguas Calientes, found a hostel for $5, ate pizza, talked about things (with some occasional psych-outs as the popped into our heads).

The next morning we got up at 5 to catch the bus up to Machu Picchu. Also, there were hundreds of other people who did the same thing--people from all over the world. It's supposed to be the "off" season for tourism, which makes me wonder what the "heavy" season is like. I posted a couple pics of it. Machu Picchu is in what they call the "high jungle". Its jungly for sure, but it's lower than the Sacred Valley where I live. Anyway, we hiked this peak called Wayna Picchu in the morning which gives great views of Machu Picchu. It was sunny and actually really hot at times, but it was great. We spent about 6-7hours there and then went back to Aguas Calientes and then Urubamba. Ryan and Earl stayed in my room that night. Psych-out baseball was obviously played well into the night. The took off the next day for northern Peru and then Ecuador and then Costa Rica and then Mexico and then home. Those frickers.

It was a great mid-way refresher for myself. I have about 4 weeks left and then I'm back to Washington--where it snows, rains and is cold, but luckily where there is a starbucks just around the corner...or maybe two.

No, I'm looking forward to getting back and seeing people and being home. See you all soon.

getting the hang

Hello All,
Just finishing my third week here. I'm haven't been robbed, swindled, killed or kicked. I have been both noticed and ignored...mostly noticed. My nickname at the clinic in Chinchero is "gringito bonito" (roughly translated: prettty white boy). I'm healthy and I feel good. I'm in Peru; it's fun. What else do you want to know?
Tomorrow afternoon (us 3 volunteers and one extra dude) are heading to Cusco for the weekend. I think I am going to stay in Oscar and Miguel's (my borthers while in Peru) apartment. We are probably going to go to the dance clubs...apparently their great. On Saturay we are going to a couple of museums. I heard that they are amazing. Oh, last weekend we went to some Incan ruins: Ullutaytambo and Pisaq. They were both astounding and fun was had by all.
What else: I'm getting plenty of practice giving injections at the clinic...seriously, I give a lot of injections. Um, I practice my spanish and try to learn some quechuan (try learning two languages simaultaenously sometime, it is just awesome).
I must say that I have been missing certain things about the US. Freinds, family and food, mostly. I also just realized this moment that I have no idea who is in the NFL playoffs and I don't know when the superbowl is. When is the superbowl? I don't want to look it up. That's about it. You all are welcome to join the blog and post comments and communicate if you feel so inclined. Bye, Todd