The ferry must go on

More travelers arrive at our lighthouse. The ferry must've recently docked for the final time today. It's late afternoon and the sun is dancing in and out of the clouds, just as the wind dances through the trees and stilts below our hotel. Our hotel. Notice how I've already claimed ownership over not only our fabulous room, but the entire building. Our host, Thelma, has a kindness to her smile that allows one to drop their act, and listen intently to her advisory tales of island happenings. Some scare you, other get your heart pumping with excitement for the adventure that awaits. I just hope she doesn't tell Emery anything more about the ferry, or "floating shower curtain" as she refers to it.

The ride from La Ceiba to Utila was quite interesting. Emery wrote in her blog about how I felt it was better than any of the roller coasters or boat safaris in Disney World. But the horizon line dipping in and out of view through the curtain reminded me of being on Lake Meredith as a child on a windy day. My father is envious as I write this.

Though the water is choppy, and weather splotched with clouds, I feel that this is the island of paradise my dreams couldn't describe. They always contained the beaches and fish, but the realness of it all, the culture collision we contribute to, makes this a place of beauty words nor dreams can translate.

Exciting Times

I'm such a pansy at times.

Today I'm uber excited about my trip to Honduras, the plane leaves in less than an hour. We have our plane tickets to and from the country, but all else is in the hands of spontaneity. Somewhere within the void lies beaches, bus trips, and gourmet street vendor dinners.

This all differs from our last few days at Walt Disney World, an equally exciting time we've had. I felt the 'magic' of Disney infiltrate my subcortex as we took the magical express bus to our hotel Sunday night. With a conference as an excuse, we toured the resorts, pools, and boardwalks in our isolated paradise. We ventured into the theme parks nightly to ride coasters and boats, and eat overly priced junk food whilst watching the people saunter from one gift shop to the next. Being overwhelmed by the visual stimulus most of the time kept me satisfied, but the amazing fireworks at night would bring a dampness to my tear ducts that made Emery giggle.

But today, an escapee from the Disney compound, I am entertained by the blogarific internet once again. And what happens during my lust for outside knowledge? Jed the magnificent pops up in a little window on the screen screaming news of joy my way. Congratulations sir, this pansy almost shed a tear of excitement in response. If anyone else would like to see the news, I encourage you make your way to his blog, that is, if he has yet to pop up in a little window on your screen.

Lies and Procrastination

For once in my life, I'm on task and on schedule. Too bad though, because now I feel that others in my life are way behind.

I've been working at this middle school for the last year, often times scrambling to prepare for a lesson, field trip, or grade and hand back papers. I'm fairly transparent, so students and co-workers alike can tell when I procrastinate. I go through the list of stress related actions: drink copious amounts of coffee, get snippy with childish behavior, and make ten or so more copies of handouts than what I truly need. I make it through the day by the hair on my chinny chin chin.

But now, students are off on summer vacation. I contracted to work for several hours on curriculum, planning, and even running Cat5 internet cable through the building to my classroom. I've worked more than the hours I contracted for, and I'm still having a hard time completing all my tasks. I shoulder some of the responsibility, but most of it can be heaved atop the procrastination pile. There is a deadline for all of this, June 30th. So why is it that I was given this option and all of these tasks a month before? And I'm just mad, because I will be blamed if it is not finished by then.

I'm just ranting now, so stop reading, please. My head is exploding now. Really, just stop reading and I'll be okay in a day or so.

Sinfully Cool

Waking up to water plants and go for walks seems like a great idea, as long as its before 7a.m. Any later and you're ready for a nice cool coffin six feet under. Then I realize that I'm just a pansy about the heat.

I watched this film today by Michael Franti, "I know I'm not alone". As he flows in and out of the camera's view, his aura of peacefulness mixed with fear permeate the barriers that surround him. Soldiers, children, Arabs, Jews, widows, musicians, and grandmothers alike are greeted by him with an acoustic guitar and a desire to experience their lives. His visits with the people in Iraq, Israel, and Palestine are both uplifting and heart paralyzingly painful. The power blacks out mid interview at one point in the film, just as my newly installed air conditioner kicks on.

I know I'm not alone in this either. Thousands of people in my community, along with millions more in this region of the world, are enjoying a sinful coolness thanks to the ol' A and C. Moments such as this are a kick to the teeth for me. Years of self discipline and reflection on my actions as a member of a global community, and 86 minutes of video later I feel like a miserable glutton.

I plan to continue my quest for equality in life, but it starts with moderation. So today I'll take a few bits of knowledge from that video:

1. I know I'm not alone, in neither my conservation nor my consumption of resources.
2. All it takes is respect and love to hear another's voice.
and lastly,
3. Start now. If I procrastinate til later, as I often do, it'll be too late for someone else.

Maybe I'll even get up early tomorrow and do all the things that need to happen before leaving town next weekend. Just maybe.

A Gripe and Boast

I hate driving most of the time. I hate cars, period.

A radical change from the 17 year old Texan who grew up driving trucks into the river, but a logical one at that. I would attribute the change to a maturation and responsibility through time. Does this mean I'm no longer immature? Not at all. But I'm aware of the responsibility for myself and others when driving a car.

I recently heard that more people die in car accidents daily than the total number of deaths from lightning strikes, heart attack, plane crashes, elevator failures, cancer.....you get the idea, than any of that combined. Driving in Tucson, I find that easy to believe.

Even so, I love my car. Fritz the Fit. The small wonder that could has yet to fail me. Damn thing is new, so it best not fail me! I filled it with boxes of junk for school today. I got looks with all that stuff crammed inside, but I just smile back. And this weekend, a long drive to Flagstaff with no less than three people, a freeride bike, luggage, a tuxedo, more bike gear, and room to spare.

Bottom line, "cars are the Devil". On the other hand, triple digit weather and a desire to travel far quickly whilst hauling crap create a dilemma. My choice, Fritz.

Dog Days of Summer

I got my ass handed to me at "church" this morning.

A group of us rode Miligrosa Trail this morning, and the group was fast. I tried my best not to live up to an unmentionable nickname, so I was out the door and ready to go just after sunrise. Mentally I was as prepared as an astronaut. Physically I started the same. But after riding up a short section of hill (most people would call it a mountain), I realized that I'm out of shape and prone to heat exhaustion.

I love how the summer has almost crept up on me, because I enjoy it more if I just accept the heat and lazy days. If I had waited in vain for the last two months hoping to be done with school, I think I might have been disappointed with a weekend as unproductive as this to kick off summer fun.

Now I desire only one thing; to spend an evening hanging round in the air conditioning with Emery. Who knows, maybe my back patio area will finish itself in the next few hours and I can treat her to a sunset dinner out there. Sadly, I think the magic gnomes are affected by the sun just as I am.