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BertVille: June 2008

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Spitting Mad

For most of the late 1990s, I lived in a small, Dominican village working with together with local people to create sustainable development practices in the community. I took bucket baths with stored rain water that I kept in large containers behind my little cinderblock home. I went to christenings, weddings, and funerals with my neighbors. I suffered from Dengue Fever and giardia, neither of which I recommend.

Presently, I work with extremely poor people, many of whom are homeless and have serious illnesses. I help them navigate the struggles in their daily lives and, for the most part, I enjoy my work.

I do not consider myself to be culturally insensitive or closed-minded about personal differences.

That said, I never want to be showering at the gym and hear someone hawking up a loogie and spitting it out in the shower stall next to mine. Ever.

The gym I frequent is full of people who are very culturally different than me. And, while I can appreciate that their customs are diverse and not always going to match mine, I do not want to step in someone else's phlegm in the shower.

Ew.

That's really all I have to say about it. No witty tie-together at the end. Just... stop spitting in the showers at the gym, please. Yuck.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Isn't It A Little Early to Come Full Circle?

A HISTORY OF FAVORITES
by Bert

Childhood
Food: fresh fruit
Beverage: lemonade
Activity: playing outside

Teenhood
Food: Cheetos
Beverage: Coca-Cola
Activity: writing morose poetry

Young Adulthood
Food: macaroni and cheese
Beverage: wine - all of it
Activity: dancing until 1:00am

Present
Food: fresh fruit
Beverage: lemonade
Activity: playing outside

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Aloha

We went to Kaua'i for a wedding! It was fabulous. Here is a photo journal of some of the events. I took over 700 photos, but managed to whittle them down a bit. You can see the rest of the ones that made the cut by clicking here.

We were thrilled to arrive in Hawaii.
01blog2008

Puka Dog - as seen on No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain.
02blog2008

I injured my back and went to the ER. Just because I'm old, so don't ask.
03blog2008

The Hyatt salt water lagoon is lovely.
04blog2008

Luau Mai Tais (Bryan had five).
05blog2008

Bryan snorkeled.
06blog2008

Then, he joined a boy band.
07blog2008

Wailua Falls is taller than Niagara Falls.
08blog2008

Hiking in the rainforest takes muscles.
09blog2008

Waimea Canyon. Bryan said those boats were Magnum PI chasing a drug runner.
10blog2008

We took a catamaran to the Na Pali Coast.
11blog2008

Neither of us got sea sick.
12blog2008

Then, we went to the wedding in our fabulous wedding get-ups.
13blog2008

Woo! Happily ever after.
14blog2008

And I got my dance on at the reception with Elan.
15blog2008