As much as Sophia and I love the high country, much of our trek will be in lowland vegetation. We will pass through small villages, get acquainted with the culture and acclimatize to the altitude.

Enkele jaren geleden heb ik al een keer een poging ondernomen. Ik werkte toen bij het piepjonge SMO bvba en was van zinnens om in bijberoep iets op te starten. Een paar weken nadat m'n ondernemingsnummer was geactiveerd kreeg ik echter de kans om (als fulltime werknemer) een leuk project aan te vatten voor vzw ENNU? uit Eeklo: het opstarten van een nieuw jeugdhuis.

Het jeugdhuis slorpte meer tijd en energie op dan verwacht en na amper zes maanden als semi-zelfstandige door het leven te zijn gegaan besloot ik om het boeltje tijdelijk op non-actief te zetten. Met de nadruk op tijdelijk.

Ondertussen zijn we meer dan drie jaar verder. Er is vanalles gebeurd, maar de goesting om op mijn eigen te gaan is nog niet verdwenen. Integendeel!

Door een samenloop van omstandigheden kreeg ik enkele weken geleden de opportuniteit om op freelance basis twee nieuwe projecten aan te vatten. Ééntje voor m'n huidige/oude werkgever vzw ENNU? en ééntje voor het PTI in Eeklo. De twee projecten samen hebben voldoende body om als equivalent te dienen voor een fulltime job, maar het blijft toch een beetje een risico. Het zijn immers maar tijdelijke projecten. Aan de andere kant: dit waarschijnlijk HET ideale moment om de stap te zetten.

So let's do it! Dat het maar rap 1 oktober is!

[caption id="attachment_58" align="alignnone" width="417" caption="Photograph by: Bob Carney"][/caption]

The Tsum Valley will be near the apex of our journey.
It is a similar environment to the Tibetan Plateau and I am excited by this rugged landscape.

87 days, 3 hours, 53 minutes

until the end of the Atlantic Hurricane Season on November 30, 2008.

For a current hurricane season countdown, go to :  http://www.weather.com/newscenter/hurricanecentral

Ike is the one I'm watching for now... 

For a little more fun...

Names of Atlantic storms -  2008

(Blue dot:  tropical storm /  Red dot: hurricane)

Arthur

Bertha

Cristobal

Dolly

Edouard

Fay

Gustav

Hanna

Ike

Josephine

Still remaining: 

Kyle, Laura, Marco, Nana, Omar, Paloma, Rene, Sally, Teddy,Vicky, Wilfred

This is the major debate in our house right now.  Not really a debate, just a stare down.  We make all important decisions by playing Yahtzee.  Winner takes all.

Seriously though, while our hearts and minds differ on the matter, we pray that our desires would be drawn closer together and closer to God's desires for our family.  Regardless of what His specific will is, we know we need to make consistent wise decisions and take counsel from wise people.  We want to be in a position where we don't have to say no to God's blessing because we were foolish with our money.

Send your ideas for the 100 day debt free countdown.

Sophia and I head to Nepal for a month in 52 days. It is my intent that this blog be a way for us to communicate about the trek beforehand, during the trek (hopefully) and after the trek is complete. Please feel free to comment and help us to improve this blog.

Thanks,

Benjamin

PS: Ricordate ogni tanto che uno dei migliori modi per supportare l'Everyday Show, oltre a mandare e-mail al sottoscritto, è anche quello di mettere un link al podcast nel vostro blog o nella vostra pagina personale! ;-)

LE BAND DI OGGI:
Countdown - El Diablo [Sito] [Jamendo]
Psychocean - Birds fly deep underneath the water [Sito] [Jamendo]
Josh Woodward - Revolution Now [Sito] [Jamendo]
Urban Castle Magic - To Marla [Sito] [Jamendo]
The Pariahs - Teenage death song [Last.fm]

>>SCARICA L'EPISODIO 82<<

[audio http://www.everydayshow.eu/PODCAST/everydayshow82.mp3]

All Hell broke loose.  Palin is the perfect example of hypocrisy surrounding the Alaskan politics.  She is against the earmarking lobbying BUT she hired them to earmark millions of dollars for her hometown, Wasilla.  Duh!

In other words, she is against YOU to have it but she can get it only for herself.  Capisce?

And she is against Sex Education in public schools and in favor of teaching abstinence.  And guess what?  Her daughter is only 16, she is pregnant and unwed.

By her daughter's pregnancy, it should serve as a reminder that abstinence and lack of sex education equals teen pregnancies.  Hello!  Do the friggin' math!

Sarah Palin had to announce the pregnancy of her daughter in an attempt to silence the internet rumors that Sarah's fifth child, Trig whose is afflicted with Down's Syndrome is not hers.  Trig may be Sarah's daughter's son whom Sarah attempted to keep it a secret by adopting Trig as her own.

Why?  DailyKos has explained that she started to have the contractions when she was in Dallas.  She took a commercial flight that made a stop in Seattle before flying off to Anchorage.  She bypassed two hospitals in Seattle and Anchorage before she took to the local hospital in Wasila to give "birth" to Trig.

Something is definitely going on!

Look, John McCain is old geezer.  He is 72!  If he croaked in the office, Palin takes over!  That is going to be horrible scenario.  Can you imagine having this woman who lied to the public in the first place and yet, take over the country?  Now don't fret!  You can help by vote for Obama Barack!

Obama Barack is clearly the choice.  McCain was against Gallaudet students during the 2006 Protests.  All the more reasons to vote for Obama Barack!

Cheers,

R-

*Enjoy reading this? Then support this site by clicking on this link. Thank you!

Oh. My achin' back.  If I were debt free, I might get a massage.  And then again...maybe not.  No offense, Sven, but you and your bulging biceps are a little intimidating.  Or, like in Psych, you could have a name like Leslie and turn out to be a man.  Awkward.

Anyway, while I am trying to decide, I will say this.  For those of you shopping at Wegmans, please leave heavy items in your cart.  As hard as I try not too, I still end up using my back while dragging 50 lbs of water accross the belt.  I've got a scan gun, and I know how to use.  Really.

You better get your ideas for the countdown in soon!

Esperei e chegou...

Uma mensagem... afinal ele foi dormir primeiro...

Um sonho... que não pode ser postado aqui, seria um pouco demais...

A importância... as minhas palavras o tocou, eu sinto! que bom! foi direto - de coracão a coração..

O carinho... ele está sempre perto por mais que eu pense que esteja longe

Um bom dia... não ficaram ressentimentos, foi só um momento de nervosismo

O amor... ele realmente existe entre nós... e eu

AMO! incondicionalmente amo... ele, ele que me faz tão bem...

Que vida insana, um dia me acabo, no outro me refaço... mas vocês conhecem o amor?

Eu acho que eu sim... e é tudo culpa dele, dele que me acaba e me refaz, através dele que está lá pra resumir num olhar sete meses de conquistas...

.. amo ele, e SÓ ele... cada dia mais, não sei como.. mas sempre mais, e mais.. e mais...

Faltam 5... mas ainda falta 1.. só 1.

mood: feliz! :D

ROME, JULY 12, 2007 (Zenit.org).- In just about one year, 5 million of the world's youth will gather Down Under to celebrate World Youth Day 2008.

While Sydney, Australia, will be home for a week to the millions who will come together to meet Benedict XVI, the Diocese of Melbourne, to the south of Sydney, will also host thousands in the days prior to the main events.

Tim Davis is one of the project officers for Days in the Diocese, a series of programs and events for the quarter of a million young Catholics from around the world who will stop in Melbourne on their way to Sydney.

Here in Rome last week for another round of preparatory meetings, Davis described what is in store for Catholic youth.

"One of best aspects of Days in the Diocese will be the opportunity for people from different cultures to get to know the day to day experience of people here," Davis said. "We often think the mundane is boring, but for others it can be interesting, and helps people understand the faith life of people here, how it is developed and sustained.

"This will be an opportunity for others to see the living Church in action."

In addition to being home to the largest diocese in Australia, Davis said that Melbourne is known for its hospitality and is accustomed to hosting large crowds for sporting events, such as the Grand Prix and football matches.

"Victoria is an event state, and being the city that it is, Melbourne is proud and loves providing hospitality," he said.

To cut costs for young people who cannot afford to travel, many businesses and individuals have made generous offers of support. The state is also supporting the World Youth Day effort by absorbing some of the cost of logistical support, allowing the Church to concentrate on programs and people.

As much as most Australians are used to large numbers of visitors for special events, Davis said the World Youth Day crowd promises to be different from most groups Melbourne is accustomed to hosting.

"When the streets are filled with young people who are full of joy and excited about their faith, others take note," Davis said.

He added, "We seem to lose that demographic of young people between the ages of 15 or 16; we are hoping that this event or gathering will be a stimulus, especially when they see young people excited about their faith."

Davis said families in parishes and schools throughout the diocese are already preparing to accommodate pilgrims from all over the world.

Some, he said, have decided to host groups from particular parts of the world such as North Korea, in order to allow international communities to come to know each other.

For example, he said, Nazareth College in Victoria will host a group of students from the Holy Land.

The most important thing will be the sharing of the same faith among people from different cultures: "People from different communities will come together for prayer or Mass, and this will be a powerful way for people from different parts of the world to know each other."

Beyond prayer, he said, there will be opportunities for different activities. The diocese will host cultural events and musical festivals, as well as speakers and pilgrimages.

"We don't have the same religious history that Europe holds. But we want to share our own pioneering and missionary Christian faith, and how far we have come in 2,000 years," Davis said.

In addition to dynamic leaders and role models such as Mary Ann Glendon, president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, and Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodríguez, archbishop of Tegucigalpa, the diocese will host pilgrimages in the footsteps of Australia's first blessed, Mary Mackillop, beatified by John Paul II in 1995, and to the Cistercian Tarrawarra Abbey in Victoria.

Davis said the momentum for the event is building gradually. "It's a slow-moving steam roller. People who don't know what to expect will suddenly see the streets filled with faith-filled young people."

Franciscan Friar Father Stan Fortuna, a leading musical artist, has already toured Australia to give young people a small sample of what they can expect a year from now.

"He worked hard when he was here. He gave concerts in every major city and, in the two days I was with him, did about a dozen interviews," Davis said.

As a former Australian rules football star and teacher in a program for children with behavioral and emotional difficulties, Davis said he jumped at the opportunity to work for World Youth Day.

"I have always wanted to be involved in World Youth Day," Davis said. "For me personally, the most interesting part of this has been the people I have met from all corners of the earth. To see the universal Church has been very moving."

* * *

Under Mary's Protection

Just beyond St. Peter's Square down the Via della Conciliazione looms the beautiful white facade of the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Traspontina.

Here every year large numbers of the Roman faithful gather to thank Our Lady of Mount Carmel with a special novena in preparation for her feast, July 16.

Beginning July 7, a different cardinal every day preaches about Our Lady at an evening Mass.

In a homily last Sunday, Cardinal William Levada, prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, focused on Mary's role in welcoming the Word of God into the world.

"The Evangelist Luke places the Gospel manifestation of the Word of God in the context of the mystery of Mary," he said. "So much so, that Mary becomes the 'instrument' by which God rescues man from the slavery of sin, and brings him into the intimacy of communion with himself."

In the same way, he continued, Mary even today reveals the glory of God's presence among us. Moreover, he said that we enjoy her special patronage when we are consecrated to her.

Carmelite pastor, Father Piero Leta, explained that this aspect of devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel is central to the identity of all Carmelites.

"I am a son of Mary," he said. "She is the patron and protector of all Carmelites in a unique way."

Father Leta said the history of the Carmelite order is unique, and their identity is centered on the patronage of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, who appeared to St. Simon Stock in the 13th century during a time of turmoil among the Carmelites.

"As an order, we are unique in that we have no one founder," Father Leta said.

For centuries, he explained, Carmelites lived as monks on Mount Carmel, where Elijah met God. The Carmelite tradition was established by those who sought to live apart from the world, to find God in the silence of a desert retreat.

During the time of the Crusades, the Carmelites fled to Rome, where they were suddenly thrust into the bustling life of a busy city. Without a founder, and in completely new surroundings, the order suffered an identity crisis.

"The Holy See wanted to suppress us around the year 1250, because we did not have a founder that we could identify, as other orders do. We had simply always followed the desert tradition of Elijah and were dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel," he explained.

Facing suppression, the Carmelites prayed fervently to Our Lady of Mount Carmel whose providence had never failed. She appeared to Carmelite Friar St. Simon Stock in England with the scapular, a sure sign of her protection and preservation.

For this reason, Father Leta said the origin of the devotion is directly linked to the brown scapular of Carmel: "The scapular is a sign of our consecration to Mary as our mother and is a sign of her protection of us. We belong to her, and everyone who wears this scapular as a sign of consecration is identified as her son or daughter."

Since that time, and renewed again by the 16th-century reform of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, the entire Carmelite family, which includes the discalced and the Order of Carmelites, has flourished in many places throughout the world, Father Leta said.

The widespread devotion of the faithful who wear the brown scapular as a sign of consecration to Our Lady, he said, is a special gift for all that was entrusted to the Carmelites.

Moreover, Father Leta said the Traspontina church has been a privileged place for this devotion since the 16th century when it was placed under the care of the Carmelites after the sack of Rome.

The church itself is a treasury of art and architecture depicting history of the Carmelite order. Beginning with the altar, which depicts the prophets Elijah and Elisha on Mount Carmel, visitors can trace the origins and growth of the Carmelites, and the elements of the Carmelite charism that set it apart as a "desert oasis."

Father Leta explained that Mount Carmel was a garden, an oasis of beauty and peace in the Holy Land.

"Our Lady is always adorned with the Flos Carmeli, the flowers of Carmel," he said.

The novena will end Sunday, when the massive statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel will be carried down a main side street, Borgho Pio, and through the rest of the neighborhood.

Sinopse Panini: Jimmy Olsen é assombrado por pesadelos… qual é sua relação com a ameaça que se avizinha? No Nexo do Multiverso, os Monitores fazem uma reunião e o resultado pode significar morte pra Jason, Donna e Kyle! E ainda: Mary Marvel passa por uma assustadora mudança.

Eu li:
Tijolos na parede - Ok ok, Countdown não é lá grande coisa se for comparado com 52. E nesta edição tem mais furos que queijo suiço. É tudo meio que mal montado e esquematizado apesar de ainda existirem alguns mistérios bacanas e que ainda me deixam curioso. Jimmy Olsen abre esta edição com um pesadelo como se ele fosse um Deus dos muitos que existem em Nova Genese, entratanto o cenários e as condições deste sonho são aterrorizantes apesar de não fazer muito sentido pra mim - entratanto reconheço um Dominion no sonho. De um ano para cá esse personagens aparecem em tudo quanto é lugar, 52, Countdown, Tropa dos Lanternas-Verdes, Legião dos Super-Heróis etc. Holly, a Mulher-Gato mirim, pupila de Selina Kyle abandonou o manto da Mulher-Gato? Quando diabos isso aconteceu? Aparentemente a revista da Mulher-gato está um pouco atrasado, pois o arco "A Morte da Mulher-Gato" terminou na revista do Batman este mês e provavelmente esta será uma das conseguências finais desse arco e que serão mostrados em Setembro. Enquanto isso Adão Negro, que novamente está com seus poderes e que ainda não vi uma única explicação - PLAUSÍVEL - , cede seus podores a Mary Marvel, mas que diabos está acontecendo? Ainda temos um debate desanimador entre os monitores que continuam discutindo o que farão no atual multiverso DC. A galeria de vilões de Flash continuam encendo linguiça nos capítulos de Countdown, quem quiser ver o que eles estão fazendo precisam ir ler Os Melhores do Mundo e ver a morte do atual Flash, que já não é mais segredo para ninguém. E ainda uma referência ao arco "O Ataque das Amazonas" que infelizmente não chegou aqui na minha cidade e que estou totalmente as escuras quanto aos acontecimentos principais, apesar de ler as beiradas desse arco em outras revistas interligadas.

Arma de guerra - Mais galeria dos vilões sem aspiração alguma, Mary agora com os podores de Adão Negro aparenta não ser a mesma pessoa. Sua personalidade ficou mais sombria e certamente está sendo afetada pelos poderes negros concedidos por Adão. Enquanto isso Jimmy continua atrás de respostas do que está acontecendo com ele e porque ela anda tendo flashes de super poderes e porque a cada hora um tipo aparece - já vimos homem-borracha, velocidade de flash e nesta edição espinhos sai de sua pele. Enquanto isso, um dos monitores resolve arregaçar as mangas e manda alguém matar Jason Todd, que está com Donna Troy, para sua incrível sorte, já que o inimigo não é "fácil".

Dever de monitor - Este capítulo é mais interessante, pois mostra a luta de Donna contra a caçadora dos monitores. Jason não é pareo e é abatido facilmente. Donna intervem e temos uma seguencia de luta bacana, onde mostra uma Donna Troy não tão invencível quanto é retratada em diversas outras situações. Gozado o combate ser em Washington, onde deveria estar rolando a guerra das Amazonas contra os EUA. Jimmy continua investigando seu mistério, e um vulto misterioso aparece para Holly. Temos mais um pouco da liga da Justiça e Karate Kid, o legionário que ficou para trás na saga do relampago que mostrou como Flash Wally West retornou. Nada que acrescente a este mistério. Os monitores acabam fechando este capítulo intervendo na batalha entre Donna e a Batedora, o que impulsiona uma terceira pessoa não indentificado por mim a influenciar a pequena e forte vilã.

Mudança de endereço - Há mais uma situação não muito explicada por aqui. O que mostra que Countdown pode ser ruim devido a enorme fragmentação existente entre os vários arcos da DC que exige que o leitor esteja por dentro de tudo para aproveitar o máximo a leitura. Isso não acontecia em 52 e por isso a leitura era muito mais prazeirosa. os personagens envolvidos na trama de 52 ficaram meses afastados das outras revistas DC. Capitão Marvel com roupa branca enfrenta Mary, que está bem confusa e cada vez mais pendente ao lado negro da força, num cliche óbvio. O Monarca é a figura que entrou em contato com a Batedora no capítulo anterior e eu não faço idéia de quem é a figura que tem como objetivo chutar a bunda dos Monitores sabe-se lá porque. Mais Jimmy Investigações, a narrativa da história de Jimmy parece ser um dos carros chefes da revista, só pode ser isso para explicar o quanto seu arco se enrola em 4 edições e pouco é respondido. Holly com as Amazonas? Mas que #$@%$#? Maldito arco das Amazonas que quanto menos se acompanha, menos faz sentido outras coisas... Flautista e Trapaceiro separados da galeria dos vilões e agora com as conseguencias da morte de Flash, sendo caçados pelo mundo inteiro. Mais uma falha de Countdown que enfia um fato que aconteceu em outra revista esperando que o público tenha lido. E fim, mês que vem tem mais enrolações...

115 Days before Christmas... beat that! Hahaha!

Back in PI, at the start of "ber" months... people start to do an actual countdown. Mainly because it's a Catholic/Christian country wherein, we observe the "nativity". And it's fun especially for the young ones.

I remember, when I was younger, on 1st of September, I'd hang my best if not newest pair of socks... one with a note to Santa saying, i like to receive cash... the other pair, says...it's ok to have goodies too. :) I've always known it's my Mom who tries to fool me... saying there's really Santa goin' around. Like I care? For as long as those socks are filled up! Hahahah!

Then, who would forget the countdown shown on tv? I bet, they still do that during the morning and prime time news... not to mention christmas melodies on air... and kids on the street doing the carols too! Whoah! These are the things I truly miss. Even if at times, you get annoyed with this kids not really singing but trying to beat that loud music from the neighboring jeepney and got the lyrics mixed up! Irritating but this is the "Pinoy" spirit. You'll never find this in the street of Europe... USA... Singapore... but only in the Philippines.

Lookin' forward for the holidays... and it's 115 days before Christmas... let's better watch out...

Be warm! :)

Today was the first day I passed on dd. Money saved $5.50. Something to build on.

Back to work for this final month before the journey begins!

Sitting out here on the balcony in the early morning, next to the struggling tomato plant and this other former flower, gets me thinking about a garden.  I grew up with gardens, my dad being a landscape architect.  He could be found working in the yard every weekend, sometimes with a small boy by his side.  So I have fond memories of gardens.

I like the idea of having flowers and growing some vegetables.  So...If I were debt free, I would save up for a house so one day we could have a yard and eventually plant a garden.  The End.

I hope everyone enjoys their Labor Day holiday here in the U.S.A.  If you would, take a moment and pray as we labor towards the end of this goal.

Any more ideas for the countdown?