"Around the world in 80 brews to see the place it takes me to." -Mr Elemental

Woo. I got a blog. Which doesn’t sound cool, but it is. But everybody’s doin’ it, so I should too. Not only that, I’ve been told I know my way around the English language (which I’ve been fakin for the past 26 or so years) and every once in a while I realize that maybe I do lead an interesting life.

Ha! An interesting life you say. For me it is just simply life, and it is what I do. On an everyday basis it seems rather mundane. Even the most exotic adventure, done three or four times a week is pretty mundane. Besides, most of our days start of with the question of what do we have for breakfast. Even in East Timor, that question is not very exciting. The answer, however, can be pretty exciting. But I have never had anything particularly interesting for breakfast. I do make my own granola now, which is pretty interesting. No, I do not hug trees but I would consider naming a child (preferably a daughter) moonbeam.

Now, I have a major milestone that I will hit this year. I will have completed my circle of the globe. A journey I started in 2006 (I have circled it Longitudinally speaking: Japan from the west and New Zealand from the east and so I crossed the same line of longitude but that’s not the right attitude). In 2006 I went to New Zealand and returned to the States through what is now known as Iraq. I went west from New Zealand, and now, I am poised to go west to New Zealand. I suppose that a few more “character building experiences” would really “put this in perspective” for me. But, until then, I’ll feel pretty good about myself and my globe trotting ways.

Chuck E. Cheese, now with a less scary mouse

Birthdays, eh. Today happens to be mine. We got into a brief discussion of our worst birthdays ever. A friend said his was when everyone forgot his birthday until 11 o’clock at night. Another mentioned a whole day in the car followed by whole wheat strawberry shortcake. I remember that whole wheat strawberry shortcake. I suppose it was, at least, healthy… and the strawberries and whipped cream were even edible.

As for me, the worst birthday ever was at Chuck E. Cheese. I was young so the memories are vague. I remember the pizza being lousy. When a 5 year old doesn’t like the pizza, and remembers it twenty some years later, that’s bad pizza. I also remember doing miserably at the different games they had. And finally, I remember that mascot mouse making me cry. I don’t know how he did it but he did. I doubt he was mean, I think he just looked scary.

I apologize to Chuck E. Cheese, I think their mascot is now much less scary and they have improved their pizza, so don’t be afraid to go. As for me, I will choose to go elsewhere for my birthdays.