realization

Interesting Talk

I had a talk tonight with an old mentor, and one of the things that came out of it was this realization, for which I thank God: the only person whom I know who had, in the last 15 years, had a problem with me being the color I am is me. Kinda puts the ball in my court, doesn't it?

important weekend

one of the most important weekends I’ve had

Seattle Trip Blog

Well, well, well and well. Had a very good day today, the second day of my trip out here to visit Keiko. I got to have coffee with an old friend who lives out here who is a writer. That was great because of getting to talk with another writer, which I don't get to do that much.

After that, Keiko and I went walking/riding downtown. They have an underground bus system the tunnels of which look like those in the movie "Daylight", starring Sylvester Stallone. Once downtown, we got to go to some pretty cool places, got some really good photos, and had a perfect coffee on the way back. It was perfect because it was in the coolest coffee house I've ever been in, I was with a "new" sister, it was sunset and the Doors, my favorite group from the 1960s, were playing. I don't know how that half-hour or so could have been any better unless, like, Winona Ryder came up and said she'd seen me in "The Longest Yard" and wanted to talk with me because she thought I looked interesting. A longshot, I know, but longshot dreams don't cost any more to dream than sureshot dreams.

After that, we just came home and talked and vegged, watched some Rammstein videos and an Eddie Izzard concert. I tried to show Keiko a video of Slipknot on Conan O'Brien, but when I tried to maximize the screen, their computer's security shut down that idea, no matter how many times I tried (it got frustrating and a bit comical after a while--Keiko just told me to tell her the name of the album and they'd get the thing [rather than monkey around all night with a MySpace video that didn't work]), I just showed her a different video of them. It would have been best to show the Conan one, though, because that's the one that got me into them.

Anyway, David came home, we finished the concert (I slept through part of it), and now they're snoozing away while I'm for some reason up at two in the morning, about to get my keister to bed as well.

More later.

4.14.08

So this is my last day in Seattle. Well, actually, I'm at the airport, having been brought here by Keiko. Yesterday was my last full day in Seattle.

I'm so happy I got to do this, visit my sister Keiko. She's such a sweetheart, as is her husband David and their cats, Bootsie, Logan and Alexis. I thank God I've gotten this chance, and they have invited me back out. Actually, Keiko said, "Well you'd better come back out." Really, as nervous as I let myself get, which wasn't very but which could have been a lot, things could not have worked out better. I think this was done in an ideal way because we already pretty much knew each other, or were at least familiar with each other, for years before we actually met physically, so it wasn't like I was this stranger interloper coming into their apartment.

Once we found out each of us was a wrestling fan to some extent, we immediately had stuff to talk about, and this even led to my playing several matches with David on his PS2 version of "WWE Smackdown vs. RAW". He's much better at it than I am, but I had never played before this weekend.

I'll be putting up some photos at the following web address: http://www.picasaweb.com/497.sean .

I say, I've had a great time here, but I'm ready to go home and sleep in my own bed, as comfortable as Keiko and David's futon was. No matter how comfortable it is, if it's not your bed, it's not your bed, if you know what I mean.

One thing that occurred to me on the trip back: this may have been one of the most important weekends of my life. After all, it's not every day you get to meet a new sister. :) Thank God for it and for her.

more praise

Well, performance reviews came up at work, and I had been a little concerned, but God just reminded me to not fear. In fact, he inspired me to claim a raise, so about Apr. 1, I started claiming that. I had the review. There are areas for improvement, but I did get a raise. Effective Apr. 1. Once again, thank God for that. :)

the trip home

So I got back from Lake Tahoe safely, eschewing any fear that something might happen (those of you who know me know I have tended toward anxiety). Anything from some mechanical problem going on to weather going awry. Thing is, those could have gone wrong, but, thank God, they didn't thanks to a mechanic who had the wisdom to check the plane's oil before we left Reno--resulted in a delay but well worth it--and wise pilots and air traffic controllers who steered us away, on the last leg of the trip, from some dangerous turbulence. I was also praying throughout the trip, and I am sure this had some effect, as the weather here at home, I understand, was not the greatest.

I guess, if one lets it, fear can creep in on a trip like this (especially if you, like me, don't take a lot of trips)--those seeds of "What if this goes wrong?" "What if that goes wrong?", blah, blah, blah. Let something like that in, or let anxiety in (which is another form of fear), and that's one great way to ruin a good trip.

Anyway, thanks to God for reminding me of the power of prayer and that He's got me in His hands. As if there were any doubt.