testing, testing, 1, 2, 3 months til liftoff

first blog entry, a bit daunting, but what the hell, here goes...

so i've got this job in japan now. pretty much a dream come true for me. i've been thinking of this particular dream for a long, long time now and i feel that it is fully time for me to be able to live it. i feel an overpouring of joy about life and how beautiful it is right now. i'm going to begin a great journey very soon and my heart is swelling with thanks and gratitude for so many people and experiences that have helped me get here. it is standing on top of the mountain and looking down upon it all ahead of you and running with wild abandon dow to the bottom and feeling the adrenaline rush and childlike joy that that sort of thing can give you. it is all of those feelings balled into one wonderful, light life.

all until i have another thought and think of perperations and things i need to do before i leave this Barack-voting country. i'm feeling a lot sadder than i thought i would about leaving now that hope has been renewed. now that i feel proud to be an american it is nice to know that i potentially will be greeted by other foreingers with a bit more enthusiasm. i feel like we have really started making some good changes here, but perhaps that is just my excellent place in life here in beautiful portland oregon. a city that works is how i will always think of it. they have such excellent public transportation, communities of people and so much invested in making this a healthy, happy place for all who live here to be. of course there is always populations of people in places like this that are bad off and the homeless population is insane out here, but i think for the most part that this city if really amazing. co-ops, community gardeners, public art, amazing shows, and i haven't even mentioned the endless amount of things to do outside here. i could see myself living here two-hundred years ago and being perfectly happy. if i had been here two-hundred years ago, i never would have left. this is the closest place to heaven that i could imagine on earth. i've been some beautiful places and there is just not as much beauty displayed anywhere on earth i've been yet. that said, i can't wait to try and prove myself wrong by finding out...

so, lots to do and lots to look forward as well too. i'm going to have to get good at editing while i write because i've looked over a couple of these paragraphs and it's bullocks. i promise i will write and keep you all in the loop about me and i also promise that i will become a better editor.

photos to come soon. my camera is in the mail on the way to me now.

lots of love to you, because if you're reading this you are most definitely someone i love.

peace be with you all everywhere.