Brother Blue

1) I was born in Casper, Wyoming
2) seven months before Nixon resigned his Presidency
3) I was 33 days late
4) cesarian
5) I am the oldest of three
6) My few worldly posesions (a printer and second hand furniture) lives in Baltimore, MD
7) which I visit about 100 days a year
8) I was once called “Brother Blue” by a Franciscan Priest
9) who raps
10) and plays jazz bass
11) when I had blue hair
12) I love travel
13) I have visited all 50 states
14) and driven in and out of all 48 contential states
15) I have also visted Canada (lots)
16) Iceland (five times)
17) Ireland/Norther Ireland
18) Italy
19) Benin
20) Togo
21) Ghana
22) Norway
23) Mexico
24) lived in Ecuador for a month
25) y estudiè español
26) Spain for a month
27) y estudiè español y flamenco
28) No, I won’t demonstrate for you
29) I hope to visit 40 countries by 40
30) visit defined as spending at least 6 days (seeing St Peter’s doen’t mean you have seen Rome)
31) My favorite author is Paulo Coelho
32) I am dyslexic
33) have ADHA
34) and social anxiety.
35) When I am home I listen to my XM Radio at least 10 hrs a day
36) I try to rock climb everyday that I am not traveling
37) I love my work (if you can call it work)
38) I can get out of a straight jacket
39) pick off little green army men with a bull whip
40) ride a unicycle
41) ride a mini bike
42) juggle five balls
43) eat fire
44) and do a handful of card tricks (not all at once)
45) One night I did card tricks for every person in a pub in Norther Ireland
46) in groups of two or three people
47) and didn’t pay for a drink all night
48) I have been known to see 6 movies in the theater in one week
49) and as many as 3 in one day
50) almost always alone
51) Touch of Evil is my favorite movie
52) Movies I would recomend to anyone are 39 Steps
53) Run Lola Run
54) The Usual Suspects
55) Hi-Fidelity (the book as well)
56) A movie I would recomend to some people is Waking Life
57) I try and go to mass daily
58) I have a bite mark on my right hand from 1991
59) the bite is human
60) because I was tickling someone who didn’t want to be tickled
61) I have a crush on Deborah Gibson
62) when I was growing up I did not have a crush on Debbie Gibson
63) but i did on Susana Hoff
64) In high school I was on the math team
65) I graduated form the Catholic University of America
66) with a degree in computer science
67) the year I graduated I was the only comp. sci. major to graduate
68) in the three previous years one person transferred to another college
69) the other 9 left the program because it was too hard.
70) Iceland is my personal spiritual homeland
71) The Icelandic Horse is a magic creature
72) which I can talk to
73) I drive a 96 Mitsubishi Mirage
74) which has been rear ended twice
75) I did not call the police either time
76) I loose sleep over wasting my giftedness
77) not being honestly who I am
78) leading people away from their dream
79) and not have the courage to follow my own
80) I was an all-state soccer goalkeeper (twice)
81) I wish I was a better dancer
82) I enjoy giving back rubs
83) I use to write lots of letters
84) and wish I did more today
85) Curently my favorite charites are ONEFamily OUTReach
86) The Santa Maria Foundations (Which supororts Santa Maria del Maxicano)
87) and Locks of Love
88) which I am growing my hair out for (again)
89) I lived on the streets of DC
90) for a week in college
91) to bring awareness to the homeless ministries on campus
92) I love shoes
93) but have a hard time finding the right size
94) because me feet are so big
95) I was once asked if I was a clown by a 6 year old
96) after I said “no” she asked why I was wear clown shoes
97) I had to take off my shoes to prove to her that my feet where in fact just that big
98) If I were ever to lock myself away for three months to write a book I would do it in Bergan, Norway
99) I was two months short of my 21st birthday when I kissed a female the first time
100) I have held a baby penguin in my arms
101) a Rhinosoris Beetle in my hand
102) played with a baby monkey
103) caught a toranchola
104) and seen 10,000 puffins in the wild
105) I act with great passion
106) often without considering how it will impact others
107) I have never felt as old as I am
108) I am the president of the Joia Farmer Fan Club
109) I fancy myself a graphic designer
110) which means I am not one
111) but wish I were
112) Vietnamese is my new favorite food
113) I was able to order exactly what I wanted off a menu that was only in Norwegian and Vietnamese
114) I was the only person in the restaurant who didn’t speak either language
115) One of the few skills I truly believe I am good at is making mix tapes
116) I juggled in an open air drug market in Florence, Italy
117) it was almost 30 min in before I realized that is where I was (the drug market, I know I was in Italy the whole time)
118) Long walks are good for my soul
119) I have never been able to lie to a cold wind
120) I can fold a dollar bill in to the shape of a heart
121) and a moth
122) that has working wings
123) I love rumble strips

My Spanish
Of the six of us traveling, there was very Spanish knowledge. Both Jerry and I speak some Spanish (he has a much larger vocabulary) one other in our group had taken some high school Spanish, but never had much practical use, and the other three spoke none at all. After Raúl had left us at the orphanage, we spent most of our time with only Spanish speakers. Time and time again people in the group would turn to me to explain what was said or to speak for them. It was really good for me. When I was in Spain, I was sounded by so many really goods speakers that I would simply defer to those around me. Ask them to translate, or to speak for me. In Mexico I didn’t have that luxury. I had to speak. It was good for me.
Pyramids
On one of our days around Mexico City we visited the pyramids to the north of the city. At the site there were three pyramids and a number of smaller structures, walls, steps, small buildings and the like. The structures are about 2200 years old. Other than that, not much is known about them or why they were built.

When Cortez arrived, the Aztecs occupied the area and were using the pyramids, but they where not the ones who built them. They were also not the people who conquered the people who built the pyramids. Instead, they simply stumbled on to them about 450 years after the nation that did build them disappeared. Modern scientists have no idea what happened to these people. They are just gone. Because the Aztecs had no idea what the building where used for, they just made up the best use they could think of. Today the two main pyramids are called the pyramids of the sun and moon, because that is what best fit into the Aztecs belief system, but has nothing to do with the builder intent.
We spent most of the afternoon at the pyramids. We hiked up all three (at least as high as we go, one was closed half way up for restoration work). So now I can say I climbed the third tallest pyramid in the world (I know you are jealous).

The whole area is near a town, but it is small. For the most part there are many fewer lights in Mexico, than in the states. With that being said, I can’t image what the stars must look like at night from the top. No light pollution and being raised up so high, being able to see the whole sky. I guess it is just another experience to add to the list of things to do before death sets in.
The structure themselves were just amazing. Not only where they huge, but they had lots of wonderful stone work. Wonderful exotic art. Built over 2200 years ago. I know I continue to under estimate the “primitive” cultures of the Americas. I was struck with the same sense touring the museums of Ecuador a few years ago. We talk about the Americas being discover a little more than five hundred years ago, as if nothing but heathens were here before that. As if no culture existed before.
Bargaining
We did most of our souvenir shopping in the first few days, because there was nothing of that sort up in Colòn. When it comes to shopping, bargaining is par for the course. And I am not just talking about what the tourist do on the streets, it is done by everyone, in many places.
At one point we received a lesson for a local, who spent the day at the pyramids with us, on how to bargain. It was very funny watching him over act exasperation. Eyes rolling. Arms flailing. I mean I would look that distraught the death of a close friend.
Now it was obvious that we were receiving the extragero (foreigner) mark up. So much so that there were few times where I asked a price. To make sure I understood what they had said I asked again. When I did the price had magically lowered by ten percent. (I am such a shrewd bargainer.) When I was in Ecuador I was the master at getting a deal, so much so I was asked by one of my teachers to buy something for her. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it. The prices where so low, how could I fight for a discount. “You know forty cents is just way too much to pay for a rosary. How about half that?” What I struggled with was, how should I feel about that. It seemed silly to fight for a few cents, but by accepting the first price was I being arrogant and flaunting what I had with my cavalier attitude towards money. Or maybe once again I am just over thinking everything (which is the most likely conclusion).

Homeless work on the streets of DF
[Note: Mexico City is often referred to as DF (federal district) much in the same way Washington DC is referred to as DC]
Through the seminary we were staying at in Mexico City, we met the director of Lutheran Social Services for the city. He invited us to join him Saturday morning, as he and a few volunteers were going to do some street work. The group gathered in the same square every week, at about the same time. They would sing a few songs, do a little preaching, and then serve some food.
I have done more than my fair share of homeless ministry, so the experience, unfortunately was too familiar. The volunteers that we went with had been to this spot many times before, and knew many of the guys by name. There were two things that struck me as different for the work I had done in DC. First, was the amount of open drug use. Many of the guys had something in their hands, that they were constantly sniffing, probably glue, but who knows. The fact that they were doing drugs was not unique, I am sure a number of the guy I use work with in DC would partake from time to time. What was amazing was the fact that they were so willing to use right out in the open. Not sure what it meant, (if it meant anything at all), but it was something that struck me.
The other thing that I found interesting was the willingness of those we served to sing. Now, they didn’t sing along with us when we sang songs in English or the songs that were poorly translated into Spanish. But, when it came time to sing the songs they knew in Spanish, they just let it all go.
After singing a few songs, a young woman by the name of Evelyn did an activity and some preaching. First, she handed out a piece of paper to everyone, and slowly led us through making origami boats out of the paper. A few of the folks knew how to make the boats and hurriedly made theirs as fast as they could. They would then interrupt Evelyn, to show their masterpiece. Evelyn would ask for applause from the group and then move on. The number of people finishing early (and receiving applause) grew to the point that Evelyn did not finish the explanation, which left us foreigners lost, with half finished boats. This created a neat moment in which one of the ladies from the street came over to us to help us finish our boats.
Evelyn was/is an amazing woman. She walked in to the middle of these men and women in a situation that was more than a little intimidating. Not only did she show a lot of strength, but also a lot of love. She was firm, but present with every person we encountered.
After the boats where build, Evelyn started talking about how these boats were like our lives. Sometimes the sea is calm, but many times it is rough. (At least this is what I think she was saying. She was obviously speaking in Spanish.) So she could just as easily been explaining the migration patters of penguins (pengüino, a word she did use) as the explanation I am giving. No matter what happens we need to make sure that Jesus is our captain.
To be honest, I don’t know what they are suppose to do with a statement like. Really I didn’t even think I know what it means. It sounds nice, “Jesus is my captain,” but how does that impact my life. I am not saying this to be judgmental. I am sure, in my own work, I have made such ridiculous statement. I know it is hard to explain our experience with God. It just makes me wonder, when we go to others, what should we bring (e.g. what do we do with them?) The time we spent with the kids at the orphanage later in our trip was nothing more than presence. Often times Jesus would love the poor, then go off with his disciples teach them.
I don’t know what to do with any of that, it is just a thought.
How much water does it take to brush my teeth?
The water was not potable (meaning it wasn’t drinkable) at our housing in Mexico City. I travel more internationally than the average person. I am still shocked at myself with the things I take for granted, such as easily available drinkable (seemingly unlimited) water.
So we were required to use bottled water for just about everything, including brushing our teeth. So every time I would brush my teeth I would half fill a small Styrofoam cup with bottled water and head to the bathroom. One small pour to wet the toothpaste. One small pour to rinse my brush. One drink to slosh around my mouth. This would leave me enough left over to take a drink. Brush my teeth with 4 oz. of water.
After doing this three or four times, it struck me how much water I wasted when I brushed my teeth at home. Each time I need more water I just let the water run. Now I don’t let the faucet run the whole time. I am turning it on and off for each step, but still so much is going by unused.
So right then and there I decided to turn over a new leaf. From that moment on I was no longer going to waste water when I brushed my teeth. One small step to help the environment. I am such a good person. And then…it happened. Two days later we found ourselves in housing that had purified water, and just like that I had forgotten my commitment. I was right back to my old ways. Old habit. Making action, without thinking of the out come. I stopped, and thought “how easy I forget.” So I re committed to the cause. For the rest of my time in Mexico I was faithful to my pledge.
And then…I came home. It was only as I was writing this that I realized that once again I had forgotten my pledge. Once again I had reverted to my old was of waste. Once again, re-reminded of who I want to be, I commit again to not waste.