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I am writing this from San Diego California! We came down here to visit some friends. Actually we saw them not too long ago but we became such close friends that we see each other as often as possible. We went to the beach today. It was kind of cold but I love the sea. There's something that just calls out to me. I always wonder where the water came from. What lands it's touched. Far away places with strange sounding names. I want to travel.

So, if any of you have noticed, I haven't been around much lately . . . as AFS and next year gets closer, I'm doing a lot of preparing, especially in learning Italian. It's taking up a lot more of my time than I'd like. And still about all I can say is a few "the hat of my aunt bites your dog" phrases! Imparando Italiano é difficule . . .

But, anyways, that's why I haven't been around as much lately. Hopefully when I've learned a bit more I can stop freaking ...

A few words of Wisdom from a Master

‘V.S. Pritchett’s definition of a short story is “something glimpsed from the corner of the eye, in passing”. First the glimpse. Then the glimpse given life, turned into something that will illuminate the moment and just maybe lock it indelibly into the readers consciousness. Make it a part of the reader’s own experience, as Hemmingway so nicely put it. Forever, the writer hopes. Forever.

If we’re lucky, writer and reader alike, ...

Human loneliness

Oh boy, now there’s a topic we’re all experts at! We can all wax lyrical about loneliness. We’re all familiar with that feeling of being surrounded by people and yet still being alone. It is such a bizarre feeling for me, an absurd emotion and what better medium than a short story can express it so well? Loneliness is a recurring theme in short stories and due to the length-the brevity of a short story it hits the mark more than a novel on loneliness. ...

Ok, I've got one for you. Sort of a truth or dare. Your assignment, should you accept it...

1) Walk into a biker bar. Alone. Speak to no one until spoken too. After 10 minutes of conversation (no less) you have to...ask where a person could get themselves a passport from another nation.

I did it a couple of weeks back, and was amazed at the results. I got two job offers (strictly off the books), an offer to be allowed on someones property (according to him there ...