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September 15th, 2008
07:26 pm - Small Update
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This is the one-month (December) road trip that Derek and I have planned out so far. Any suggestions?
We're still in the process of finding a farm for February onwards. We still have our hearts set on Latin America though.
It's so quickly turning to Fall. The most noticeable thing for me is the length of the day shortening, but it's also becoming much cooler and the leaves are changing colors.
I'm really happy about these changes. This summer has been wonderful, but I'm ready for something new.
-Nathan
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July 31st, 2008
10:31 am - From today and onwards..
It's been quite a while since I've been on here to post.. I don't even know where to begin because it has been almost six months(!). The time and experiences have been no less than awemazing.
Today I am here at the farm, up on the third floor where Derek and I have been living since April. It is a rainy day, for which we are all thankful on the farm as there has been a great lack -- all the storms pass over just north of us. I just went and used the outhouse composting toilet.. and brought out two buckets of our humanure to the compost pile. Soon I'll have an early lunch and then Sara and I will pack the box truck with fruits (i.e. tomatoes, blueberries, peppers) and veggies (e.g. onions, summer squash, leeks, lettuce, purslane, cucumbers, beets, beans, etc.) for our market this afternoon in Dorchester (Boston).
Derek and I are rather busy. Right now we're thinking to the months ahead, trying to get a few plans set. After Derek finishes a vipassana meditation retreat in western MA at the end of November, he and I are planning on taking a cross-country trip, with Arizona as our final(?) destination to visit his mother and grandparents. We're hoping to trek north to Michigan to visit Sara (who works here on the farm, but lives in Grand Rapids) and Minnesota to visit two friends Hilary and Nicole.
That trip will bring us all the way through December to January 1st, when Derek will leave for Mumbai, India for a month-long yoga teacher certification program. As for me, I'll remain in North America.. spend some time with family and friends.. and maybe do some couchsurfing.
The adventure sure doesn't end there; on February 4th Derek will arrive in Providence, and shortly thereafter he and I will leave for South America. We will be WWOOFing in Brazil or Argentina (or even elsewhere). We'd like to find a small farm that has the main goal of producing food for those people who live and work on the farm.. We would love to live without electricity and gasoline (i.e. a rustic, simple, challenging, and rewarding lifestyle). I am looking forward to those four or so months with an open mind and open heart.
Derek and I are trying to experience as much as possible of self-sustaining farming/living with the goal in mind of one day starting our own self-sustaining (farming) community.
It is a beautiful life that I am living and I am building a future that I know I can be proud of.
Each night I kiss Derek goodnight and I am thankful for that moment. Each morning I wake up beside him and I take him into my arms. I realize I could have a happy future without him, but each day I choose to stay beside him because I love him. I want to share with him life's joy and life's pain.
I remember how I felt that night in January (one of the first nights with him) at the beach, standing barefoot on a rock that juts out a bit further into the ocean than the other rocks. We hugged each other quietly for quite a while and I told him that I felt "content" at that moment with him. What I meant and what I still mean is a feeling greater than happiness, which is often associated with a more desirous feeling. It is a feeling of satisfaction and gratitude.
I look forward to see Derek tonight at 9p.m. when I return from the market.
He stirs quite the energy from within me and I feel more alive than ever.
I feel more fearless and loving than a child, and almost as hardworking.
Current Music: "Day Too Soon" -- Sia
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February 17th, 2008
09:44 pm - Why I'm Not Voting: Part I
"Democracy consists of choosing your dictators,
after they've told you what they think it is you want to hear."
- Alan Coren
We all want change.
We see the potential for a better world.
John McCain will not bring change.
Hillary Clinton will not bring change.
Barack Obama will not bring change.
Only we can create a better world.
We can reject majority-ruled, involuntary government,
and we can take care of ourselves and care for one another.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/bitospud/courier/black/awake.gif) hopeful
Current Music: "We Live" -- Superchick
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February 16th, 2008
06:04 pm - Ah!
Ah, to be human and have beautiful human emotions.
I have faith in people, and I believe they are generally good. I should write about this later.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/bitospud/courier/black/embarrassed.gif) touched
Current Music: "Comme Personne" -- Singuila
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February 7th, 2008
10:04 pm - Thank you!
Everything is wonderful. I've been meaning to post, so for now this will do.
Also, thank you!
Check out my past Friday night, as filmed by my friend Chris Hassan:
"Happening" in New Bedford
That was an awemazing time.. I would explain more, but I must get to bed. (Another video of the night)
__
And here is Derek performing his beautiful song (as promised in my last post):
"All My Life" - Derek LaBrie
( Lyrics )
Current Mood: optimistic
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January 22nd, 2008
10:17 pm - "Even with all I've learned and the knowledge I hold tight in my hand.."
It's been a little more than two weeks that I've been "seeing" Derek, and they have been an amazing set of sixteen days.
We've been spending a great deal of time with each other. I don't even know where to start other than we make delicious food together.
Here is another wonderful thing: he wrote a song "inspired by [me]" (really!) on his guitar. When he makes a final recording of it, I'll try to remember to post a link to it.
The emotions that I feel for him even inspired me to write him a short poem.. I haven't done any creative writing in years.
Here's one more: I've been reading a very nice translation of the Tao Te Ching (that Derek has loaned to me), and it has helped me so much with my fears (i.e. It has kept me from living in the future, and instead I've found happiness in the present.).
Also: I love to kiss him.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/bitospud/courier/black/happy.gif) content
Current Music: his angelic voice in my mind
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January 8th, 2008
08:31 pm - "It's your god-forsaken right to be loved."
I am so happy. I skipped and jumped around with glee for a moment! :-D
I just got off the phone with my boss (and my friend) from the farm, and he needs my help this Saturday.. and he told me that if I'm not working he could use my help at other times too. I'm just so happy about this.
And there is another reason to be happy: I spent an amazing day with a beautiful person yesterday. I feel like I "shouldn't" say this, but.. I can see us falling in love with each other in time. Although, I also find myself feeling afraid.
We were together from noon until midnight. It was amazing to be with someone who enjoys life in the way that I do. The end of the night was wonderful; we sat facing each other with our legs entwined on the couch, holding hands, playing with each other's hair, caressing each other's face, and we talked for hours. After midnight we shared a quick goodnight kiss, and we exchanged a hundred smiles as we said goodbye.
Current Mood: optimistic
Current Music: "Ordinary World" -- Katharine McPhee
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December 4th, 2007
02:18 am - And why not?
What I want most:
Sell the car.
Buy a bicycle.
Go.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/bitospud/courier/black/anxious.gif) held back
Current Music: "Be Happy" -- Mary J. Blige
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November 3rd, 2007
01:49 am - Can you tell me what was ever really special about me all this time?
But I believe the world is burning to the ground.
Oh well, I guess we're gonna find out..
Let's see how far we've come!
Let's see how far we've come!
Well I believe it all is coming to an end.
Oh well, I guess we're gonna pretend..
Let's see how far we've come!
Let's see how far we've come!
Current Music: "How Far We've Come" -- Matchbox Twenty
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September 30th, 2007
09:22 pm - interesting quote, copied from ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif) wurds, with newlines and bold added by me
"A man said to the universe:
'Sir, I exist!'
'However,'
replied the universe,
'The fact has not created
in me a sense of obligation.'"
-Stephen Crane
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/bitospud/courier/black/determined.gif) determined
Current Music: "So Excited" - Janet Jackson (<3 free music from Ruckus)
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September 14th, 2007
11:17 pm
"Lord, let me shine,
Shine like the moon,
A reflection of You,
In all that I do!"
"Shine" - Salvador
I've been having a difficult time concentrating on any of my schoolwork.
Thursday I skipped class and instead spent hours out in the woods. I ran. I saw a spider spinning its web. I climbed a tree. I crawled on my hands and knees through thick brush and prickers.
I only wear shoes when I work on the weekends (less than 30 hours per week). It is wonderful to be barefoot.
I was learning about sousveillance, inverse surveillance, and equiveillance today. Very interesting.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/bitospud/courier/black/curious.gif) curious
Current Music: "Apologize" -- Timbaland & One Republic
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September 6th, 2007
08:42 pm
So.
First day of classes was Tuesday.
I have re-worked my schedule to my satisfaction.
I am now studying Portuguese and French instead of psychology.
MTH 120: Quantitative Reasoning
ARA 101: Elementary Arabic I
POR 301: Portuguese Composition and Conversation I
FRN 301: French Composition and Conversation I
PSC 306: Civil Rights Movements in the U.S.
( Details.. )
AND life is good. AND there is other stuff, BUT I've got to get going on my homework for French (.. where's my montréalwaterlogged dictionary?).
-Nathan
Oh: it is so, so difficult to restrain myself from enrolling in Italian 201. -- So, so difficult.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/bitospud/courier/black/artistic.gif) productive
Current Music: "Solo" -- Eamon
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August 24th, 2007
09:31 pm
"Anyone who
can touch you
can hurt you
or heal you.
Anyone who
can reach you
can love you
or leave you."
Current Music: "I Bruise Easily" -- Natasha Bedingfield
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August 6th, 2007
06:13 pm - Dag Hammarskjöld - July 6, 1961:
Tired
And lonely,
So tired
The heart aches.
Meltwater trickles
Down the rocks,
The fingers are numb,
The knees tremble.
It is now,
Now, that you must not give in.
On the path of the others
Are resting places,
Places in the sun
Where they can meet.
But this
Is your path,
And it is now,
Now, that you must not fail.
Weep
If you can,
Weep,
But do not complain.
The way chose you--
And you must be thankful.
Current Music: "Somewhere A Clock Is Ticking" - Snow Patrol
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06:01 pm
I LOVE.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/bitospud/courier/black/calm.gif) peaceful
Current Music: "Dade Dade" - Maskavo
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August 3rd, 2007
12:09 am - semana que vem pode nem chegar
"Esse pode ser o último dia de nossas vidas,
Última chance de fazer tudo ter valido a pena.
Diga sempre tudo o que precisa dizer.
Arrisque mais pra não se arrepender.
Nós não temos todo o tempo do mundo,
E esse mundo já faz muito tempo.
O futuro é o presente, e o presente já passou.
O futuro é o presente, e o presente já passou!"
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July 14th, 2007
09:34 pm - tout sèl
Fortune Cookie: "A man who trims himself to suit everybody will soon whittle himself away."
I'm reading A Million Little Pieces by James Frey.
I'm at one of those points where I need a drastic change.
I'm thinking I'll get a tattoo because
1.) I've been planning on it.
2.) It's expressive.
3.) It's painful.
Anyone have any ideas of where I should put a prayer/poem? My best idea so far is the palm of my hand.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/bitospud/courier/black/tired.gif) very tired
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June 11th, 2007
10:59 pm - se cacher
picking the scabs
.
"com uma fome que ninguém pode matar"
.
and tomorrow
Current Music: "Dade Dade" -- Maskavo
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June 8th, 2007
01:17 pm
Today, like every other day,
we wake up empty and frightened.
Don't open the door to the study and begin reading.
Take down a musical instrument.
Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.
Jelaluddin Rumi (Sufi mystic, 13th C.)
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June 6th, 2007
08:58 pm
I like being me.. even with all my.. peculiarities.
I am SO sore. :-D (Smiling makes it hurt less.) I hoed and I planted husk tomatoes today.
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!!!:
Marriage equality is at stake.
If you live in MA,
1. Contact your legislators and tell them that putting an amendment that would limit civil liberties of gay people on a public ballot is WRONG. You can contact the legislators that are representing you HERE.
2. They're voting on whether or not they put this discriminatory amendment up for public vote in 2008 next Thursday, the 14th at the Constitutional Convention.. You should go up to the State House with me and let your voice be heard. MEC is supplying BUSES for FREE leaving from New Bedford and also stopping in Taunton, but you need to reserve space. If you need a ride to New Bedford, ask me. :-) Invite friends and family too.
3. Please do at least no. 1.. It's extremely important that our legislators know that we don't support this. Never should the right to vote be (ab)used to limit the rights of an oppressed minority.
THANK YOU!
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/bitospud/courier/black/sore.gif) sore
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