SQUISHESTHESIA

My brother spent a year in Nepal volunteering in a marketing position for a small co-op that sells non-forestry products.  Most of the population is Hindu, but there are also Muslims and Buddhists.  While he was there, he bought an authentic Buddhist monk’s robe and some prayer beads.  The color and style of Buddhist robes vary depending on geography and the sect of Buddhism practiced.  In the Himalayan region robes are brightly coloured.  He bought one that is a deep rust color, with a vivid yellow-orange sleeveless tunic that goes underneath.

Back in Canada only a week, my brother came to visit me on Halloween night.  He decided to dress in costume and take my youngest son trick-or-treating.  On his way over he picked up a couple of pizzas for dinner.  It was a busy evening at Pizza Hut, and the take-out area was packed.  When he walked in the building he could feel a hundred eyes staring at him.  He was wearing his monk’s robe, his right shoulder exposed just like the monks in Nepalese temples.  His right wrist was wrapped in wooden prayer beads, all 108 of them.  One man actually turned around and peered at him in disbelief.  Yes, fake monks eat pizza too. 

I said to my brother after he told me the story, “Why didn’t you just put your hands together and say ‘Namaste’?”

(X) Gone on a blind date
(X) Skipped school
( ) Watched someone die
(X) Been to USA  (changed because I'm Canadian) 

(X) Been to Mexico
(X) Been to Florida
(X) Been to Hawaii
(X) Been on a plane
( ) Been in a helicopter  (I must try this sometime)
(X) Been lost
( ) Gone to Washington, DC
(X) Swam in the ocean
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
(X) Played cops and robbers
(X) Recently colored with crayons
( ) Sang Karaoke  (I'm with cag1970 on this one!)
(X) Paid for a meal with coins only
( ) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(X) Made prank phone calls
( ) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose & elsewhere
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(/) Danced in the rain-naked  (I was wearing a bathing suit!)
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(X) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(X) Watched the sunrise with someone
(X) Blown bubbles
(X) Gone ice-skating
(X) Gone to the movies
( ) Been deep sea fishing
( ) Driven across the United States
( ) Been in a hot air balloon
( ) Been sky diving
( ) Gone snowmobiling
(X) Lived in more than one country
(X) Lay down outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
(X) Seen a falling star and made a wish
(X) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
( ) Seen the Statue of Liberty
( ) Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
( ) Been on a cruise
(X) Cast a spell  (it never worked though)
(X) Traveled by train
(X) Traveled by motorcycle

(X) Been horse back riding
( ) Ridden on a San Francisco CABLE CAR
(X) Been to Disneyland
(X) Been to Disney World
( ) Truly believe in the power of prayer
(X) Been in a rain forest
(X) Seen whales in the ocean
(X) Been to Niagara Falls
( ) Ridden on an elephant
(X) Swam with dolphins  (I don't agree with this, dolphins should be free & not held captive under less than satisfactory conditions)
( ) Been to the Olympics
( ) Walked on the Great Wall of China
(/) Saw and heard a glacier calf  (I stood atop a glacier, but only heard the sound of running water)
( ) Been spinnaker flying
( ) Been water-skiing
(X) Been snow-skiing
(X) Been to Westminster Abbey
( ) Been to the Louvre  (one day, baby!)
( ) Swam in the Mediterranean
( ) Been to a Major League Baseball game
(X) Been to a National Football League game (CFL)
( ) Been to a cricket Test match

1.      I was a movie extra in the film, “Heaven and Earth”.

2.      I was in a local TV commercial once.

3.      At a Keith Urban concert, I ran my hand down his sweaty back.

4.      I dig fashion consultant Clinton Kelly from the TV show “What Not to Wear”.

5.      Once I tore the cartilage in my right knee downhill skiing, and then rolled my car in the ditch on my way home from the trip, totalling the car.

6.      I once had my brand new SUV stolen.

7.      I won a brand new car.

8.      I once had a drug dealer as a roommate.

9.      In high school I had some of my art published in a magazine.

10.  I ditched Interior Design school for science.

11.  I hate the taste of beer.

12.  I love walking in the fog.

13.  I love running.

14.  I’ve travelled to the U.S.A., Mexico, Europe, Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand.

15.  I scaled the steps of “El Castillo” at Chichen Itza.

16.  I stayed up all night on Waikiki beach to see the sun rise.

17.  I have arachnophobia.

18.  I revere Jeff Buckley and his music.

19.  I loathe the singing of Adam Duritz.

20.  I dislike religious zealots or anyone who tries to convert me.

21.  I hate chick flicks with happy endings.

22.  My youngest son was an $18,000 baby (cost of meds to keep him alive in utero).

23.  I’m fascinated with medical shows.

24.  I have my name on a patent with 3 other scientists for an acid fracturing package.

25.  I play the piano (although I’m rusty), but I’d love to learn to play the guitar.

Dejectedly down-trodden?  Dysfunctionally depressed?  Don't deceive the devil or dupe the dragons.  Just dodge the daggers and demons and dream of the Disenchanted Forest.  Dare to discover:

     disILLusioNmenT

          dECEit

               dePRAVity

                    dISEAse

                         Delve down deeper to dislodge:

                    dESperATion

               DrEAD

          dEFeaT

     DecaY

Decidedly drained and disturbed?  Death is divine at the Disenchanted Forest.