 Arizona Festival promo with Sonora Living |
Welcome to the beginning of the new year.
A lot has happened in the last twelve months while we crisscrossed this America, riding in our chrome-saddled horses made of Detroit steel. I’ve been reintroduced to my birthmother, and had her flown out from Australia and back into my life. Jef and Ronn have enriched their lives via the experiences they’ve had and the people they’ve brought close. And the world has seen the dawning of a brand new era in comedy with Tortugapalooza.
Right now I’m sitting in a hotel room just south of our nation’s capitol. I am refraining from sleep, pausing to reflect on the joys and ups of the year that was 2004. Through my window I can see the Capitol Building, theWashington Monument, and the Jefferson Memorial. They are revered treasures, and I am moved at the sight of them.
There is something about being so close to so much American history that makes me wax patriotic. I think it may be that I am a naturalized citizen, which causes me to deeply appreciate the wonder that is this country and all the blessings that it has bestowed upon me. American dream, indeed. I am living that dream. And I hold my life and the way I earn a living up as a testament to that fact. I think Washington said it best to 280 lbs. Henry 'Ox' Knox just before crossing the Delaware when he said, "Shift that fat ass, Harry. But slowly or you’ll swamp the damn boat." Not a pertinent quote, true, but it is still one of my favorites of his. See, I am an American history geek, even if it is mostly the stranger stuff that I retain.
And speaking of geeks... I’ve been doing some geeking of my own. The main reason for my visit was to spend some time with my buddies Todd Jordan and Jim Pelton at a fantasy gaming convention. Fun-fun, but only for those of us who enjoy living vicariously through the sword & sorcery tales of a role-played action adventurer. And I do, not that I need much escape from my life, I just do. So far I’ve played Living Greyhawk and Living Kalimar (both of theDungeons & Dragons genre), Living Death (monsters and intrigue at the end of the 19th century), and Living Force where I was a Jedi (and a damned good one, I might add).
 Brother Jeff and wife Pat |
While here, I also got the chance to visit with my eldest sibling and his wife. Jeff (Robinson, not Hall) drove down from Laurel, Maryland with his wife Pat, and we spent part of the day together. We had breakfast (it was my second), shot the shit, and watched one of the T2 (Tortuga Twins - duh!) DVD I gave them. I hadn’t seen either Jeff or Pat since 2000 when my mother passed away, and it was good to renew those "ties that bind."
No longer in DC, I spent the last three days (six hours back to Charlotte, and then 48 hours crossing I-10 once more to Apache Junction, Arizona. Thus I begin another Tortuga-ren. fest. season and hopefully another slew of adventures for me to write about.
But first, my winter:
I spent my winter break staying with friends of mine in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. Suzie Ramirez and Dave Cabrerra own a new home (new-new; not just new to them) in the Lake Norman area. After my Christmas holiday jaunt to Florida (as told in my last journal) I was back and ready to go to work. "Work?" you say? Yes, and I will be happy to explain.
You see, for the last two years I have been studying ways to enrich myself financially. It all began with a seminar I attended back in March of 2003. The speaker was Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki, and his lecture - and the subsequent four to six books I have read on the subject - changed my views about amassing and retaining wealth. As a result, I have been busy cleaning up my financial act, living on more of a budget so that I can put some money aside for investments, and learning all I can about real estate and its peripherals. Part of my education was to assist Suzie for a while in her job as a mortgage broker. If this sounds vaguely familiar, Jef just passed his test and is well on his way to becoming a broker himself.
 Me with Dave and Suzie |
 Esteban plays a video game |
 Isabella and her bellisima smile |
Esteban, age nine, loves Spiderman and playing video games on his PlayStation. Isabella, the six year old who goes by Isa (pronounced Ee-sa), is a loner who trots around the house with her stuffed tiger Whiskers - a tiger who she claims is a girl and has dressed her accordingly. They’re cute kids, well behaved and fun, and I enjoy their company. That was the lesson. That I can spend time w/children for an extended period and actually like it... to the point where I now miss their company.
I had a spot of adventure on the way over to Arizona. Just west of San Antonio, I hit a snow storm. Not too odd until you remember the fact that I was traveling I-10, which warmly juts its way around the south of Texas. The snow was not too bad, but then came this ice from the sky crap that we Florida boys just so don’t understand. And if that weren’t bad enough, there was actually a point where, while I was moving at a speed of appx. 80 mph, I noticed that Achilles and Gammera (my vehicle and the Tortuga utility trailer I had in tow) were sliding diagonally! This was not a good thing. I quickly slowed my happy ass down to a much safer 40 mph, and wound my way over to the slow lane and behind the five or so vehicles that were breaking up the ice forming on the road. So nice of them to do that for me; I really appreciated it! I thought about stopping for the night, but instead only stopped for gas (Sonora, Texas, I believe). By the time I got back on the road, the temperatures had risen to a balmy 36 degrees Fahrenheit. From there on I was out of any scary-icy danger, and could enjoy the snowy vista that was South Texas. The ice scare had only lasted for somewhere around 50 to 100 miles, but that was enough for me.
Well, that’s if for this month, Tortuga fans. I hope your new year is going as well for you, but without the sudden element of danger. Well, maybe not. Maybe I take that back. My next cup of coffee certainly did taste better-than-ever right after that harrowing incident. Perhaps a dash of peril in one’s life is good for the spirit... just as long as you come away from the experience smelling like a Tortuga rose.
 Sharon Hall: Poker Princess! |
 Ronn and Talulah, sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s... |
