05/28/2003 11:23 PM -0700

Lately I've been very very high on life and have had a lot of positive things going on. Whenever I have a lot of excitement I usually become a major insomniac. My choices at this point are to keep everyone in the house up, or to listen to music and enter the brain dump. OK, so here I am. One thing I thought was cool: I was asked to testify before the US Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on telecommunications issues on behalf of ATNI (Affiliated Tribes of NW Indians). This was a first for me (testifying in DC), and at first I was very reluctant. I mean I've testified before state legislators before, but DC is a different ball game altogether. But for whatever reasons, the ATNI Tribes pushed me to the front and and I found myself in DC. When I got there I was feeling a bit overwhelmed. There was a lot of polished brass and high ranking officials, but I just kept focusing on the tribes back home who I was there to represent, and it all worked out. The funny thing I kept thinking about was the movie 8 mile. I kept imagining I was going through the "choke, choke, choke" scene. But then I fast forwarded in my mind to the ultimate performance in the end where he kicked ass, and I got into a zone of my own. Not to say I wasn't still nervous, but at least I didn't choke. I had a lot of support from some great people who believed in me, and I know it was their good vibes that carried me.

Another awesome event was the news that my tribe got a very large technology grant I applied for last November. This was another first for me, so needless to say I was elated when I found out we were awarded almost the full amount we applied for. Now my mind keeps racing to the end result, and we don't even have cash in hand yet. I mean there are so many new possibilities and I want to do everything at once. I keep toggling between three worlds of existence: the past - the present - and the future, and excited doesn't even begin to describe how I feel....

The last time I was surrounded by so much positive energy I checked out my horoscope, and everything was in line exactly with what was going on in my life. I like to think I'm a rational thinker, but you know, sometimes the stars are as rational as anything else can be. This is what the stars say for me this month:

"Satisfaction in your work and pleasurable relationships with others are featured in May. Enjoy a reunion with an old friend. You could be in for some unexpected complications mid-month. An issue related to insurance, or a bequest left to you by someone who has passed away could emerge. With prosperous Jupiter in your financial sector, it may represent a windfall. Check out the facts. Get professional advice before you sign anything. Romance mid-month could be wonderful and fulfilling."

05/12/2003 09:14 PM -0700

OK, I'm done being wrecked. Life's too short. I went to a tech conference last week and I drove by one of my old duty stations - Ft. Lewis. I don't get over to that part of the state very often, but when I do I always remember the funny shit about that assignment. I was assigned to an Air Defense Artillery unit, and being in ADA we were always in the field. One time we were in Korea for a military exercise. We set up camp in the country side. As part of setting up camp, we had to set up some field latrines. If you've never set up a field latrine, it's not hard to do. You just dig up some holes and set the little army issued wooden green toilet seats over them. Then you put a tent over it, and viola! Military porta-potty. One night it ended up that there was a small group of us in line waiting to use the latrine. We had been out there for a couple of weeks by then, and the porta-potties were getting full and ripe. Anyway, Captain G flicked on her flashlight to see if the toilet seat was up or down. As she leaned over to take a look her flashlight fell right in there! Now what would you do? I mean it must have cost all of $1.80 (or something like that). Well, Captain G, being our fearless leader, reaches her hand right in there and fishes her flashlight out! I could not believe it! Shit up to her elbows! I was stunned. Here we were all supposed to be quiet and shit, and we were rolling around laughing our asses off. And all she could say was "Well! It's a new flashlight!" Yeah, ok Captain G.

05/10/2003 10:52:36 PM-0700

I'm wrecked for days. Living in HUD housing is not what it used to be. Last week 6 houses on my block that had their tires slashed. Do you think I was the lucky one? After all, they only slashed 5 tires at my house. What is it with this rez? It's not like everyone doesn't know everyone. I live in one of those small towns that you can throw a rock across, and nearly everyone is a relative. It doesn't take a whole lot of deductive reasoning to figure out who did it. Do the math: Kids that have a propensity for being violent + parents who are apathetic = HUDlums. We all know which kids fit this equation. I wish they would bring back the days when they would say "Sorry son, but you can either go to war or go to jail." Or maybe we ought to return to our traditional ways and ostracize those who are destructive to the tribe. Or better yet, their must be a way to FDISK, reformat, and start over just like you do with a computer. At least reboot for christ's sake. Deferred prosecutions, social service programs, extended probations, and tough love just does not cut it. Something has to give. These kids obviously have a malfunction, and if someone doesn't troubleshoot, diagnose, and repair soon I hate to think of the results.