Things I do without thinking

I had to run the wash because Grace forgot to put the clothes in the dryer... But watch did to save water might be to the detriment of my health. I let the water fill up in the sink and quickly looked for  siphon. I was going to cut this old hose in the basement when I came across a vacuum cleaner tube.
I sucked through one side to start the orocess.... But didn't think about the fact that I was sucking dusty air into my lungs. Gross.

Better th waste the water than my health.

Vultures

The mountain is full of deer and vultures. I had thought that the large birds, about have the size of Jonah were eagles. They circle all day and them hide among the trees. These mountains must have been a  place of terror before technology allowed us to build so easily on it and drive right up.

A place of mystery, ghosts, spirituality and crossing over especially on Samaine.


Now?

Kids go play outside by yourselves...lol

Of course not at night though. Mostly the biggest danger us cars....and deer ticks.

Leaves on the mountain

It's pretty here when the leaves fall. Like a New England brisk day painting. Only the weather is him if as Hong Kong right now. It's a bit bizarre.

I think this stage of my life will be monkish...

Oddly I feel the least like a monk than 8 have ever felt.

Work, practice, and art. An introverted life. That is the only way really, when living on the side of a mountain. There are other people here of course. A whole town or city. But everyone somewhat isolated from one another.

I started making a lion head. The frame is made of coat hangers. I tried to start putting paper mage over it too early. I clearly need a mire delicate frame. Well off to do school work for a bit and then maybe some Kung Fu before dinner.

Making a lion head

I have been making a lion head out of hangers recently. And teaching my kids the fighting form. Meanwhile I can't help but question why I am doing any of it. I suppose in my current situation and my current environment, all my Kung Fu practices are trulyreligious in nature. In that they do t really serve a purpose other than to express, distract and destress.

Struck by lightning

There is a Chinese saying... that you should not be too a good a person, or you may be struck by lightning. I think back to Louis Chan's legend of the condos heroes. And how the wife, upon seeing the Jin King in her barn not only spares him, but saves him, bringing disaste on herself and her family.

I don't know exactly where I am going with this, other than that aide and favors can be harmful if carried out incorrectly. Or even if carried out correctly, but perceived wrong. What I am I to do with this information?

When I was a child I lived a cautious and nervous life. We were always afraid of getting kicked out of the section 8 apartment or of certain people finding out where we lived. It took me years to shed some of these fears. Fear if losing face or Ben th possibility of shunning or being a so oak pariah is deeply engrained in some cultures. At some point I started to recklessly cast away these beliefs.

Perhaps it may be time to revisit some of them with new eyes. Or not. I haven't decided.

Any last words...

It has become increasingly troubling to me that I often only learn about how great a person was after they are gone. Like it was a story that should have been told in more detail. Especially as it relates to Chinatown. Perhaps I should start a blog if ONLY post mortem interviews. Stuff people would like to say... after they are dead. And then then post only goes up after they are dead. Perhaps I should just start interviewing people in nursing homes. Or maybe people cab write in...

New Job

I recently started a new job at a law firm. It is exciting to be working in my field once again. Although I am still settling in, I am realizing I can still teach Kung Fu at some point. Not only that... but somehow my work with the Boston Chinatown Blog seems to be gearin up instead of slowing down. Of note is the fight to get the news out about the benefits of data disagregation by working with politicians and organizations across the  country.

I do want to get that Kung Fu teaching gig in though. Paid gig and  physically difficult would be preferable. Could use the 1 hour of a work out after work.

Missing some friends from Boston. Should be back up there soon but might not get a chance to visit really.