Back in the Mud

noun, plural hi·a·tus·es, hi·a·tus.

1.a break or interruption in the continuity of a work, series, action, etc.

 

2.a missing part; gap or lacuna: Scholars attempted to account for the hiatus in the medieval manuscript.

 

3.any gap or opening.

 

4.Grammar, Prosody . the coming together, with or without break or slight pause, and without contraction, of two vowels in successive words or syllables, as in see easily.

 

5.Anatomy . a natural fissure, cleft, or foramen in a bone or other structure.

 

Dictionary.com 

as the snow melts

I saw two deer alertly feeding in the field today. Their satellite wing ears touring the hillside for signs of me watching. I was. They never saw. It felt like it should outside today. The veil of fog lifted after seven days, revealing a frosted world as eager as I to be thawed. picking up the lost limbs of the past weeks weight of snow, and tying the flayed arms of conifers to cover their hearts again, was a exercise in soul maintenance. Without the sun, I tend to lose the feeling that I need in my arms that keeps me swinging them forward. This winter and its snow has been lovely but I do sympathize with the trees as they groan under the weight of winter.

If you can't say anything good.

Then post some pictures. I'll try and redeem myself for all you long gone regular blog checkers. Life has a funny way of sending us around like a LEGO train. It was a year ago that I left for Korea. It was a great challenging and strange experience the plan as of right now is to find a plan and then do that till another plan comes and takes over. Here are some pictures from this evening.

Happy New Year. It was wonderful to be in such a lively place as Manila for New Years eve. The city sounded like there was a war going on. Fireworks louder than pipe-bombs are readily available on the street for sale. We rolled from our Hotel to the Malatay area of town on the Manila bay, had dinner and then went to a rooftop restaurant. from which we watched the fireworks display that the city put on. It was an impressive show to rival a "symphony of fire" display. The trip to Malatay was great we took a tricycle taxi. A motorbike with a side car. Three girls in the sidecar, the driver on the gas tank, Adam on the front of the seat sitting sideways, and me sitting backwards off the back holding on for dear life. As we rode along kids were throwing firecrackers into the road in front of us. At one point we drove over an exploding package of M-80s. Kinda like driving a minefield except with a smile. Yesterday afternoon we quickly got up rushed to the airport and flew home. Still wearing my shorts and tan I got to Incheon and dug through my bag for my jeans.
Back here in Seoul it is a nippy -3. I stayed in bed most of the morning not really wanting to deal with the cold. But this is the new year so it needs to be dealt with.

Manila

Arrived in Manila this morning. What a change the rhythm of this city is so different from Seoul. We laughed on the way from the airport to our rented condo seeing children playing in the water on the street. "look, kids! actually doing stuff." The city is in a pre-Christmas shuffle everyone heading home. But what a difference from the often snow trial travels of home. Here its 28 degrees; winter to summer in the course of a 4 hour sleep. We're enjoying the food and the warmth. We head to Borakay tomorrow at four. really looking forward to being out of a city.

Christmas

It has been to long. The grind towards Christmas is no less grating here then in Canada. Report cards Christmas parties to run and shows to play. For those who asked the show went well. I have about four shows a week these days. I am playing the regular Orange King gig two nights a week and have started opening for my friend Vadim's Band "The New Regime." Also there is the odd gig at and art show or some other event. All in all its a lot of work. Very enjoyable work but work none the less. The response has been great and I look forward to doing more in the new year. I will probably put together a band and start to get some bigger gigs.
At school my kids are doing great. They performed the Ann Mortifee poem Miss Rolly Polly Polar Bear, in front of all their parents today and did a wonderful job, clearly annunciating every word. It made me very proud. We had a birthday party and Santa came and gave them all presents. Hows that for a mind blowing day for a six year old. One more day of school and then ten days of bliss.
"Bliss" defined: 5 am airport shuttle to incheon airport, 8:45 am depart, 1pm arrive in Manila, The Philippines, Fly to Boracay, hit the beach exhale 8months of bad air and high strung city life. inhale tropical breezes, lush jungle islands, crystalline reefs teeming with life , and a few 50cent beers. sounds like a Merry Christmas. It sure won't be white and it won't be good family warmth but I'm on the other side of the world and i think it will make for a decent backup option.
Merry Christmas
p.s. If you were unsure about what you were doing for Christmas, come meet me of the beach.

ails and ales

Tough time in school these days. There's some pretty nasty colds, flus, streps, bronchs, and fatigues falling on all of us. Its hard to keep the stuff away when kids are sneezing and hacking it up in your face all day. 'Tis the season.
I have a show tomorrow night in a friendly little pub called Phillies. I'm really looking forward to it.