Thank you everyone.

Hello family and friends.

Well, it happened. We pulled off this weekend. Didn't stay as composed as I would have wanted, but I'm glad that the events this weekend happened the way they did.

Thank you everyone for your kind words and gifts. Glenda, that journal is going to do we very well, my most private thoughts will be written in it. Steve and Becky, thanks for being there...it didn't really become a conscience thought until last night that the problem I have calling you Aunt and Uncle is that you are really an older brother and sister. Oincsters...we have exchanged words...same with pilams...and choysters...it's obvious.

I hope everyone at that party is able to read this, because everyone deserves to know how much it meant to me...it was the only way I could have gone out to Africa in sound spirits. It was the greatest gift that anyone can give and my thanks from the bottom of my heart. For some of you, it will be two years until I see you, others a little less. Either way, you all will be in my mind, body and spirit...we'll be seeing each other soon.

Alex

Final Calm Before the Storm

Well, my contact information is posted here, and hopefully that new e-mail subscription from googlegroups will work well. I tried feedblitz too, but I figured we'll keep everything in the google family. If anyone has any difficulty with using this blog, let me know because I won't have time to diagnose while in Africa. Also, I suggest everyone that wants to be updated through e-mail to subscribe to this blog. Then I don't have to remember everyone to put on an e-mail list, I can just post to this and it'll send to everyone subscribed. As much as I'd love to have the time to write personal e-mails, I have a feeling that it may be difficult to do that.

Well, business out of the way...let's get ready to PARTY. DJL will be spinning at my party...the hottest DJ this side of the Mississippi. So much to do...so little time...as Marvin Gaye says, "Day by day...where are we going?"

Peace, Love, Unity and Respect.

Out pouring of love...

This week, since making my final preparations to leave and people recognizing the imminence of my departure, has been characterized by a lot of heart felt talks, gifts and gestures. It would probably make sense to write this after next weekend, once all the bon voyage activities happen, but by then I may be emotionally overwhelmed or drained. Moreover, this can act as a preemptive measure. Nonetheless, there has been so much love thrown my way from people wishing me well on this next journey, it is necessary to recognize it publicly.

This post was inspired by the last gift I've gotten, from B. A letter addressed, to Alex "Chizzoy" Choy...hahahahahaha....containing a CD. I haven't even listened to it yet. Then the other one of the consturction workers, Craig, who is working on our remodeling left me a Bhodisattva as a traveling charm. All these gifts combined with heartfelt conversations and words of encouragement have all been overwhelming. Thank you everyone. And for all things of this sort about to happen, thank you all in advanced. Because once the pinnacle of this stuff hits, it will be very hard for me to be this composed and write a post that isn't filled with nostalgia.

Man...if these few things are so meaningful to me, how will I handle this next weekend? It's good I thought of this blog though, never was one to pour out my emotions publicly, but it's good practice for Africa. So, for everyone reading this, this will be as truthful of an account as I can handle, so brace yourselves for the best and worst. It will be filled with love, inspiration, excitment, hate, discouragement and sadness all at the same time. I love you all and miss you already.

Down to the wire...

My time of departure is quickly approaching, and it's a trip. There isn't too much for me to do, but at the same time it feels like I have a million things on my plate. Little things like establishing this blog all are adding to the list of things to do. Don't get me wrong, it's an exciting time in my life, but there is so much to do beforehand and because this adventure in front of me is so important I want to make sure all my preparations are planned to a tee. Aaron put it best, I am aiming for an A+ in Peace Corps.

A small tangent to this discussion is 2008 in general. Whether a contrived feeling of impending craziness or not, most people close to me are feeling like 2008 is going to be a year of change, of new beginnings and of high growth. Most people are in a position where their life is beginning to accelerate and my own take is that this is the final acceleration push before we hit the inflection point. But, again as Aaron would have me say, that is neither here nor there. What's important is that we all enjoy the rollercoaster.

There is so much more on my mind, but I have to spend this time getting other parts of my adventure set-up. Well, the blog is ready now. Here we go.