WH Chronicle GHD 2017

February 1, 2017

Happy Groundhog Day!!

Dear Friends, Family, Strangers, Stranger Things, and Strangest Ones,

We are celebrating our 11th anniversary of the GHD Chronicle! Mostly because we blew through the 10th without a clue--not like we adhere to tradition, anyway. Ahh, but 11 is far superior! The Number 11 is a Master Number drawing on the cosmic forces for inspiration and enlightenment, through pronounced intuition and artistic sensitivity. The First World War ended on the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Apollo 11 was the first manned spacecraft to land on the moon. The deepest known point of the ocean is 11km at Callenger Deep, Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. The best amplifiers go to 11. Some people even name their kid “Eleven”. I feel a limerick coming on…

There once was a number from heaven

Who was proud of its name “Eleven”

But to its chagrin

Fame was thin

Until it named a store with its friend, number Seven.

Ok...on to eleven more boring things.

Just like Sisyphus (the guy with an STD) running after his boulder, we chased 2016 down the hill. I can’t remember what happened, so I’ll just make some stuff up.

Lessons learned from 2016

Don’t ride the most beautiful train in the world over the Alps with an ear infection. The 7000 feet in altitude changes will adversely affect your enjoyment of the breath-taking scenery. Just ask Sam.

Watch your head on the 431st step of the Duomo in Florence. Smacking it on the ceiling will inhibit your ability to enjoy the rest of Florence. Just ask Sam.

RV parks occasionally smell like BBQed sewage, but that might actually be better than the inside of your camper when traveling 8000 miles with a cat.

It the kids curse at the cat in a British accent it sound innocuous.

The Pacific Northwest is beautiful the one month that it is not winter, but it is still too cold to fall out of a canoe. Just ask Sam.

In Oregon, there are drive-thru marijuana stands, complete with dancing man blowers.

When your camper’s AC unit breaks in Las Vegas in August, your camper is rendered completely useless for anything except baking a cake without a using the oven. Just ask Mooch.

The cheapest hotel in Vegas on Priceline is--wait for it--Trump Tower.

Trump Tower doesn’t reject people carrying their clothes in grocery sacks.

Showing up with a contrabassoon is like getting a boob job--no one expects you to do anything intelligent.

An alternator replacement for an XC90 Volvo costs $100 in Mexico; and takes 35 days.

A 35 day car repair in Mexico means you take two vacations for the price of three.

When waiting in the glacially slow lines to cross the Mexican border, one can buy an accordion.

A chipmunk embedded in the tread of your tire leads to a discussion of Darwinian Theory.

Daryl thinks that “pack light” means that it is ok to bring a prom dress. Just ask Sam.

Whaleherdienda Personnel Report

Daryl is more poised in her interactions as access to independent transportation draws near. She spends most of her time singing and dancing or watching singing and dancing. Who are we to say, “Don’t chase your passion”?

Sammy is taller and wiser. He likes to count stairs. His favorite pastimes are doing everything Daryl forbids him to do and protecting the universe via interdimensional digital combat. He wonders why grades are attached to learning and thinks that this system is counterproductive.

“They say, don’t be afraid to fail, but then scold us when we get a bad grade.”

Nathan maintains a steady path despite enduring some serious heartache this year. He has managed perfect grades, a heavy work schedule, and is vehemently competitive at Exploding Kittens.

Hilde has a boyfriend and is bringing him to come see us (or rather the city of Austin) in March.

Angus is adorable and we’ll be so happy to see them. Hilde is still studying Human Right Law in Essex and has developed a British accent.

Kaghondi is still funny and charming. He is pursuing his Doctorate at the University of Minnesota. He’s trying to raise funds and air miles for his family to join him the next two years.

Jamilly is finishing up an internship in Dubai. She didn’t like it--and typical for her, she makes jokes about how everyone there worships money and works all the time. She decided that work is definitely not for her.

Sophia is teaching at Makumira! And her students are lucky to have her. She finished up being a star in the Choral Department at Texas State University.

Mr. Grumpy Pickle, the Chameleon, was sold for a profit.

Mooch plays jungle kitty in the potted plants. I’d like to play kitty executioner.

Louwise is a loud and powerful intruder alert system, as long as that intruder is Tom, the only human she likes and is worthy of her screaming.

Tom daydreams about future employment opportunities such as: selling Trump memorabilia in Mexico, opening an RV Resort in the Virgin Islands, or maybe turning profits on Craigslist reptiles.

Fun Facts about Groundhog Day

Punxsutawney Phil, Phyllis (wife), and Phelicia (daughter) Sowerby

Phil is 129 years old
His youthful appearance is accredited to a secret elixir or “groundhog punch”. Every sip extends his life by 7 years (oddly enough, the life span of a normal groundhog).
Phil practices traditions of royalty as Phyllis, his wife, is actually his sister.
February 2nd Canadians look to Wiarton Willie, a white groundhog, to forecast their weather.
A few desperate Texans have been promoting “Bee Cave Bob” the armadillo as the official prognosticator of winter weather. Not surprisingly, his ceremonies more closely resemble “Chicken Shit Bingo” than that of a true rodent meteorologist.

Here at the Chronicle we do not support fake news or alternative facts, we endorse only the highest standard of investigative journalism. With that in mind, we would like to share an unsubstantiated entry on Wikileaks bringing the secret formula of Punxsutawney Phil’s famous longevity elixir. It is the perfect beverage to enjoy with your loved ones on Groundhog’s Day.

P. Phil’s Secret Elixir for a Long Life

3 carrots with tops

1 serving wheatgrass

11 bags of iron rich Kale

2 scoops of Purina Rabbit Chow

2 handfuls of alfalfa hay

11 bottles of Dr. Pepper flavored kombucha

4 Swedish Fish

Wool of a bat

2 Tbsp of a frozen Ecuadorian snowball

1 1 oz of fresh (not frozen) meteorologist's blood

2 grams of “Blowing Man” marijuana from Oregon

Woodchips

Salt to taste

Blend in the "Pulverizer 5000"

Chill and serve with 3 olives and a cocktail umbrella.

“A crowded camper is better than an empty castle.” Anonymous

“I have traveled more than anyone else, and I have noticed that even the angels speak English with an accent.” Mark Twain

Telling a teenager the facts of life is like giving a fish a bath. ~Arnold H. Glasow

“At the best of times, so much of this elixir was administered to me as a choice restorative, that I was conscious of going about, smelling like a new fence.” Charles Dickens

I’m e’leven you with some photos!

Happy GHD!

Lovin’ the lowly humor,

Daris

This is not an endorsement.

Presidential?

"...hmmm, I wonder if anyone will notice it missing..."

See! I wasn't makin' it up! Drive thru weed with dancing-man-blower-thingy.

Just trying out the stuff from the weed shop.

Mexico

It doesn't get any better than this.

WHC 11.7.16

November 7, 2016

Dear Family, Friends, and Loved Ones,

Some of you are aware of the tragedy that occurred in Tanzania last week with regards to the Stubbs Family. The Stubbs' adopted daughter, Julianna, was assaulted and murdered by unknown assailants while on the way to a friend's house. It has left everyone who knows that wonderful family in despair. But, maybe, from this despair, something good can arise.

Here is a letter from Randy Stubbs' mother:

As a mother with her firstborn half way around the world and her grandchildren thousands of miles away, it is painful not to be present to love, support and hug them during this very trying time. Even though your children are mature adults, the need to give a mother's comfort is very real and present.

In the many sleepless nights since Juliana's death, I have pondered what I can do that would make a difference. I could hop a plane and be with my family. But it came to me in the night that perhaps there is more I could do. I can't lift the burden and sadness of the tragedy in my family, but I could lift another burden from my son's shoulders--the final $200,000 needed before February 2017 to complete the Cultural Arts Center which was instrumental in Juliana being able to live her dream as well as support herself and her family.

I am issuing a challenge to the hundreds of his supporters and friends of my Tanzanian family, to make a tax deductible donation to the Cultural Arts Center equal to the price of a round-trip ticket to Tanzania to hug and comfort this family. For me, it is approximately $2000 for that ticket. I am making a contribution today, in memory of Juliana Isawafo, the poster child for all that is good in Tanzania. Check payable to: ELCA Global Gifts, on memo line (IMPORTANT) GMG0849 Makumira Music Bldg Project. Mail to: ELCA Gift Processing Center, P O Box 1809, Merrifield VA 22116-8009. It is tax deductible. It would also be helpful to email: manager@cac.makumira.ac.tz, so they can find it in the accounting records. Randy has less than 90 days to raise the funds to complete the building project. I'd rather he be allowed this time to grieve, with the rest of his family, the loss of his Tanzanian daughter. Thank you.

Randy Stubbs' Mother

Charon Scott-Goldman

12513 SW Cove Road

Vashon WA 98070

charon@centurytel.net

As you may know, Randy Stubbs has been working tirelessly for years on this Cultural Arts Center to save the endangered indigenous cultural heritage of Tanzania. The socio-economic, cultural, and historical impact it could have on this region is immense; to the point that the European Union Development Commission was a major donor to the project. Tom and I consider this a chance to counteract some of the sadness in the world. I hope you will consider it, too.

With much love,

Daris and Tom

WH Chronicle GHD 2016

Feb 1, 2016*

Happy Groundhog Day AND Happy Groundhog's Day Eve!!

This is our routine check up, check out, check in, and report on all things Whaleherd.

Punxsutawney Phil provides us a great excuse for an annual jettison of family propaganda.

In 2015, we did our best to pretend to be your average, middle-class, American family.

We portrayed normal with the following: a kitten, a chameleon, crickets (lizard chow) a cockatiel, two fish, an African singer, Missionary kid, Aspiring actress, Naturalist, Bassoonist, Horn player, all residing in a two bedroom apartment like the richest bunch of East Africans in Barton Hills. When I asked Sam, his opinion of it all, he responded, “This rocks, you can’t ever tell me to go to my room because I’m already there.” It’s cozy, but no one really cares.

Daryl, the teen (or alien occupying Daryl’s body), and aspiring actress, has behaviors that swing violently between coyly soliciting a ride to the mall, and hissing while denouncing our very existence. Inadvertently, we must have also signed up on a list to receive daily vocal reminders about our inadequacies and uncoolness. Is there a spam filter for teenager pronouncements? We have been threatened about inappropriate visibility (being seen with her in public). Of course, this information is wisely heeded by us as potential embarrassment fodder. I can’t tell you how fun THAT is...just whip out a few of my new youtube sensation dance moves in front of her friends...fireworks, I tell you!!

Sambo--6th grade. He still hugs us, though it depends on who is in proximity. He is very funny with his astute and quirky observations--especially about animals. Sam is our strongest ally in the war against teen angst. He is the Chief Reconnaissance Officer.

Sophia, the 2nd year graduate student from Tanzania, is finishing up her choral education degree at Texas State. We bemoan the fact that we are going to starve to death when she leaves us. Fun fact: Sophia is also irrationally and uncontrollably scared of animals since childhood. She can levitate when attacked by a kitten.

Nathan is the new guy, with white skin, from Africa. Nathan was the sun, the moon, and the stars to Sam during our time in Tanzania. Nathan is 19, and grew up in Tanzania, so now he is enjoying his American adolescence. He told me that if he had a super power it would be remembering everything he’s ever read. His super hero name would be “The Retainer”.

Mr Grumpy Pickle, the chameleon, is a Christmas present off of Craigslist. It only had to live through Christmas day to complete his duties as Sam’s Christmas present, but it is (unfortunately) still going strong. I purchased him from a compound in the country that would have been deemed unsavory by meth-heads. It’s a wonder that lizard hadn’t been pickled.

Mooch, aka Megatron the Destroyer, is the kitten Christmas present. He is either marauding or purring. Climbing the curtains and stalking Sophia are his favorite pastimes. He is especially passionate about a fuzzy sock that he is constantly killing, disemboweling, and decapitating. This might be part of the psychological warfare against Sophia.

Louwise, the broke-beak bird, loves Tom. She hears his car approach and begins making more noise than anything the size of an eggroll should be able to make. Screaming ceases once she is resting peacefully on Tom’s shoulder. Tom has little affinity for Louwise, but that doesn’t bother her. The fact that cockatiels mate for life presents some unsavory incentives.

Moe and Larry, the swordtail guppies, swim in circles.

Did I mention that Mr. Grumpy Pickle likes to eat live crickets? We even have to buy these lil' guys 'cricket chow' so they are healthy prior to being pulverized by the chameleon. Crickets are also really noisy. Our house sounds like a camping scene from a ‘B Movie” Horror Flick. Screams couldn’t be heard over the cricket chirping.

From the list of the inhabitants, you might anticipate the potential for an accidental (or not) reduction of our household participants. Reason to stay tuned...

Tom navigates the time-space continuum much more gracefully than I (I’m perpetually late and can’t drive straight to a location without first spiraling in on it). As the lead parent, he coordinates school transit, mall drop offs, basketball games, babysitting gigs, piano lessons, play practice, Magic the Gathering card games, sleepovers, cricket and kitten chow runs, etc. He plays horn, too.

Me, well, I walk in circles.

I also wonder silly things, like do fish think heaven is really upwards? Is it the same for upside-down catfish? When someone dies do angels applaud or cry? Did we forget our existential origin? I forget what movie I’ve gone to see after just three trailers. Do we choose our lives prior to entry? If so, are the bravest amongst us the martyrs, and disaster victims? Did they leap into the human condition with a half gainer in order to get their money’s worth of the human experience? Did the rest of us comfortable folks merely bunny hop into the shallow end only to die in a cozy, warm bed? Just wondering….

Where do the Kardashians stand in this karmic conundrum? Are they the perfidious role models for American youth? Well, we all need role models, so here are mine:

Fashion role model: Jane Goodall. Khaki really ties the jungle together.

Skin care/makeup: Sister Teresa. She looked exactly the same for 50 years--that’s better than botox!

Cooking/Entertaining: Bear Grylls. Nothing says “Welcome to my home” like BBQ Lizard.

Pedi and Foot Fashion: Gandhi. 500 miles barefoot, and your feet will redefine beautiful--in an army boot kind of way.

Hair: Dalai Lama. Timeless, classic, and low maintenance. Bar soap and never clog a drain.

Childish endeavors and passions: Malala. Duh!

*Since we are essentially celebrating two holidays in this edition (Groundhog Day and Groundhog's Day Eve), the following could come in very useful.

For those of you who got lost trying to get to Poet’s Corner:

Twas the night before Groundhogmas, when all through the flat not a creature was stirring, except a young cat. The crickets and lizard were flung under a light all aglow, in hopes that St. Punxsutawney wouldn’t see his shadow. The children were nestled all snug at their screens, with visions of intergalactic destroyers and other killing machines; and Mamma in her kerchief and me in my johns wait anxiously for a Groundhog day dawn. Hence the men in silly hats hold rodents aloft and then tell meteorologists where to get oft. Because predicting the weather, though narrowly correct is demanded by tradition and commands respect. So next time you bore of our politics, or want to make fun of a religion, ask yourself if our nation’s elections could be decided by a pigeon.

“Who would believe such pleasure from a wee ball o' fur?” ~Irish Saying

“Even the colours of a chameleon are for survival not beauty.” African Proverb

“Haters are like crickets. Crickets make a lot of noise, you hear it but you can't see them. Then right when you walk by them, they're quiet" variation of Drita Davanzo

Camping out,

Daris and crew.

Typical Photo bomb!

Summer travels.

Artist Refuge at Thunderhead Mountain, Montana

Fanciest RV Park

Hot Dog!

Little Bighorn

I don't know what to say about this--he has a selfie stick.

Summer travels. We had 4 our these.

Austin was weird first. True.

Thanksgiving with Jerry and Susanna.

Waterfalls outside of Portland.

San Fransisco Toilet

George Washington's Nose.

WH Chronicle No. 3.6.15

March 6, 2015

Dear Gentle Chronicle Readers,

We have a special update today on Whaleherd Unit #1 or Whaleherdita.

Over Groundhog Day (curse that groundhog and his long winter) we offered Sam's film debut, so now, in another shamelessly proud parent moment, we have a video of Daryl in the school talent show. She announced last week she wanted to participate and we have never heard her sing in public.

The cinematography is atrocious. In fact, start the video and look away. We do not want to be responsible for your motion sickness. But, yours truly, was a nervous wreck, wiping tears from my eyes, and doing my best not to drop the camera.

Hope you enjoy.
Lots of Love,
Daris and crew

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K7IfwhoB5I

WH GHD 2015 Appendix

Feb 2, 2015

WH Chronicle GHD Appendix

So if your video didn't pop up in the blog--here's the link below.
I certainly don't want to give it too much build up, but it's worth seeing if you are a Sam fan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3-zJzzDzlc

WH Chronicle GHD 2015

Feb 2, 2015

Happy Groundhog Day, everyone!

Whew! We made it through Nutcrackers, Messiahs, Mall concerts, Christmas tree lighting concerts, Vienna Waltzes, Christmas eve ceremonies, Midnight Masses, and New Year’s Pops.

“Hallelujah, Pass the Tylenol.”

December was the Germpocalypse, Germzilla, Germageddon, for the Hales. Christmas day saw Tom with pneumonia and Sam vigorously driving the porcelain bus without even a libatious holiday party to blame. Sam remarked stoically, “Why can’t I have a stomach bug on a school day? This is a real waste.” while moaning he was too sick to open presents. Tom and Sam generously shared their afflictions with the whole family.

But, we can happily report that our 2014 saw no exotic life-threatening viruses, no heart surgeries, no broken bones, and no new additions to our household through a that magic vaginal portal. So, actuary tables are steady and the Insurance company can retain their healthy profits. As my sweet Dad says, "You definitely don't want your money's worth out of health insurance." If only I'd known.

We do have a new family member, Sophia Kuyenga, from Tanzania, with us this year. She will be acquiring her Masters in Music from Texas State University over the next four semesters. She is the kindest person to ever to have tread our domain. She is an incredible cook and spends time in the kitchen relaxing from her studies. When the family is hungry, we compassionately recommend that she take a study break--for her sake, of course.

We all miss Kaghondi. The departure of every exchange student is painful. It’s difficult not to bump around the house with someone for 10 months and then not miss their loving contributions. Kaghondi is teaching at Makumira University and is happily reunited with his family. I know he struggles with the pace of progress in his country, but he is well suited for negotiating it gracefully.

Hilde, our Norwegian Princess, from Norwegia, came to visit us at the end of the summer. She was preparing to embark on a backpacking adventure across South America. It was wonderful to see how she has blossomed into a more mature, more thoughtful, and more beautiful version of her original self. In the fall, she will be studying human rights at the School of Law at University of Essex.

And Jamilly, our Kazakhstani princess, will graduate from University in 2016 and spend a year volunteering in Peru. This summer her studies will be in Madison, Wisconsin. Hopefully, there will be a Jamilly sighting in our future.

Homeland Princess (albeit Queen) Daryl, still makes plenty of noises about her Broadway dream. We are not in the position to tell her not to follow her passions, though perhaps one could easily argue the feasibility of those passions. She is thriving at her new school with all sorts of awards and honor rolls. I teeter on either praising her or reminding her the true goal of education is not really grades; despite suffering some character assassination for this. But then, my New Year’s resolution is to be a “cheerful dissident” and avoid all forms and versions of “cynic”. Can’t say I’ve succeeded entirely, but I haven’t lost my resolve.

Sam will be graduating elementary school and joining Daryl at St. Francis next year. This will be a big promotion for the resident taxi/school bus driver (Tom) as well. Sam loves cars, tanks, guns, birds, and has announced that he wants to be a naturalist--then promptly asked, “What do naturalists do?” Well, we skipped the part about being still and observing for long periods of time, but emphasized that being in nature is an important component.

Sam and his Hog

Sparked by Sam’s love for birds, we visited the Texas Hawking Event. It was a collection of outdoorsman with fearsome birds of prey perched on their arms. Tales of capturing, training and hunting with their hawks and falcons were fascinating and educational. Sam, of course, wanted one. We offered Susan, the overly tame, very fat chicken at his school, as a substitute. She would patiently sit on his arm should he actually be able to lift his arm with her on it. She’ll look great in a falcon hood.

Tom spends a lot time driving the kids. I supposed it is the 21st century’s version of quality time here in Austin. There are many conversations that can be had with a captive audience in the absence of earbuds. We had the realization that our next family car will not need to be a troop carrier, as it will be for only two people--sigh. Hey, why is Tom buying earbuds?

If I weren’t so proud to admit the deadly sin of being proud, then I’ll tell you how proud I was of all our clan. Amazing peeps.

Me, well, much to the frustration of my friends and family, I'm becoming less accommodating in social settings. Perhaps as my Gatsby-esque delusions of the world wear thin, I don't feel compelled to nod agreeingly with prejudice statements. I vigorously examine fallacies of reasoning and question our constructed reality. The 'cheerful dissident' resolution was in an effort to honor my own nature while avoiding leprosy of cynicism. I see the kids growing into adults and feel an urgency. I passionately explain to them about the danger of ambitions and succumbing to perverse incentives; about Integrity and the sanctity of human life; and that these matter despite the consequences you might endure for protecting them; that there are good reasons and bad reasons to go to jail; AND (with my finger pointed high in the air) just because someone doesn’t recognize your value doesn’t mean that you aren’t priceless.

To which Sam replies, “How about when Daddy was arrested? Was that a good reason or a bad reason?”

“Ummm...yeah...well...that's for Daddy to explain.”

Summer plans, you ask? Well, we anticipate taking our lovely Bluebird bus named “Birdienda” to destinations in Oklahoma, Montana, California, New Mexico. The current repair status of said bus is still yet undetermined as our family’s ‘division of labor’ has put management of all temperamental mechanics and carpenters under Tom’s iron-fisted dictatorship. (I might have just broken my New Year’s resolution, again.)

For your viewing pleasure, I'm including a short (4 min) film that was written, directed, and filmed by high school students at Quartz Mountain last summer. King of the Mountain, featuring Sam.

"An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it." ~Mahatma Gandhi

“Speak what you think today in hard words and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said today.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“I think the reward for conformity is that everyone likes you except yourself” ~Rita Mae Brown

“To create one’s world in any of the arts takes courage.” ~Georgia O’Keeffe

"Did you ever wonder if the person in the puddle is real, and you're just a reflection of him?"
~Calvin and Hobbes

Yours truly trusting in rodent meteorologists,
Daris

P.S. "I was in college, and it was expunged, alright?" can heard from the other room.

WH Chronicle No. 6.7.14

June 7, 2014

Dear Loved Ones,

Hope this chronicle entry finds everyone enthralled in your summer activities of walking, swimming, yodeling, or attaching homemade telemetry equipment to weather balloons (click here to see our friend’s fun).

With some tears and heartache, we wished Kaghondi farewell as he returned to his motherland. The Sunday before his departure was especially touching as our whole family enjoyed his vocal solo at Central Presbyterian. Between the Swahili, the deep well of African memories, and his imminent departure, the moment broadsided us with emotion. Snot, snorts and gasps were heard from whaleherds (mostly me, though). Several little ladies patted my shoulder. I began to worry that I might affect Kaghondi’s performance if he were to see me in the midst of this messy emotion. I slumped over and waited for it to subside. Though in Swahili, the song was probably about something very emotionally and spiritually powerful, like sheep grazing. We were all affected, in the best possible way, of course. It wouldn't be so sad, had it not been so wonderful.

That afternoon, in the park, Tom burned some burgers and dogs for about 50 people. All the patrons were big Kaghondi supporters; though, most of them would say they were there to help the Hale family get through their post-Kaghondi blues.

Several times Kaghondi tried to express his thanks to us and would become completely flummoxed with his words and emotions. We've explained that the blessing worked equally in both directions. Regardless, I would give a dismissive wave and then tell him to ‘just go home and make babies”, as he and Deborah are eager to share their love with more children.

Unbeknownst to us, Kaghondi is a bit of a rock star with his multiple achievements. New acquaintances would say to us, “Did you know he wrote a book?” “Did you know that he wrote a new choir piece?” "The Bishop was blown away by his sermon on World Relief Sunday." To which we could respond, “Well, did you know that he wrote multiple chamber music pieces and just recorded a vocal track for a new album?” When I asked Kaghondi about his book he was so unassuming that he wouldn’t acknowledge its existence until he tired of me making up titles. It is a collection of stories of his life as a pastor in rural Tanzania. “After She was Born a Woman” It will be available for Pre-order on Amazon soon…

Even though Kaghondi’s time here has come to a beautiful close, his time in Tanzania with a new perspective and title is just beginning. The last two years he absorbed science museums, movies, NASA, books, documentaries, art museums, musicals, ballets, operas, concerts, Dogtober, Gay Pride, and amusement parks. Now he has to re-assimilate in his home culture with a wildly different understanding of the world than most of his fellow Tanzanians. This inherently presents challenges. Though I want to wish him the happiest life, I know that his newly acquired knowledge, worldview, and new title will bear a burden. Many are intimidated by education and critical thinking and will revel in creating barriers, perhaps even more so in Africa than the USA. So for Kaghondi, I wish him happiness, but more importantly, I wish him the courage, tenaciousness, and compassion to pursue his truth despite all obstacles. Godspeed, Kaghondi.

“The scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.”
~Confucius, The Analects of Confucius "It isn't that they can't see the solution. It is that they can't see the problem."
~G.K. Chesterton

"Having a child is surely the most beautifully irrational act that two people in love can commit."~Bill Cosby
"The badness of a movie is proportional to the number of helicopters in it.”
~Dave Barry

Bon Voyaged Out,
Daris