Happy Happy Happy

Well, even if I have not been involved in a single misdemeanor (other then being on a highway that I should not have been on), some good things are happening on this trip. Once I stopped trying to hitchhike, my life became simpler, giving me lots and lots of time to read. I found out that because I am a Brasilian resident, I can get a 30 day pass that lets me use the train as much as I want. So I will be coming back to California to visit friends and relatives then on to New York to see some Broadway. I also found out that tickets to Broadway shows are not $400. For some reason that was in my head as the price of a close up ticket. And by close up, I mean about 6 or 7 rows away from the stage. I am very excited. Hopefully I can then spend some time in Colorado Springs learning to snowboard and skateboard. We shall see. There are many possibilities.

I just bought a book by Harold Bloom, a literary critic. The book's name is called "Where Shall Wisdom Be Found". In it he examines several different texts. The first two parts that I have read so far involved Job vs. Ecclesiates, and the second part has been Homer vs. Plato. This second part is very interesting after reading the Republic. I am trying to remember what Dr. Reynolds said about these two authors. It seems that Reynolds attempted to reconcile the two authors, which Bloom claims is strictly impossible. I now wish that I still had my notebook. Alas, alas.
--Andy

Amish Country

Apparently the Amish are lying to us. This whole time we all thought that they were so innocent. All, "Oh, we don't use electricity." Ohoh, but they do. (Ominous whisper) They do. Apparently there are levels to Amishness, ranging from no elastic in their underwear to don't use electricity too often. They aren't all the same, except for their awesome sauce beards. And the cool hats. The reason that I am in the know is my...situation. I am in Ohio right now, staying with a Mennonite friend. They are very nice people (the friend and just Mennonites in general). Apparently they are nice to me because I am from out of town? I think it is because I am just that charming. Apparently the pastor of the church I attended really liked me. So I am thinking about moving here, settling down and marrying a nice Mennonite girl. Except it also gets boring after a while. And given that the town
I am in has about 200 people in it and is surrounded by farms, I think I can see that happening. La Mirada was bad enough for me. Well, as I believe I have stated before, hitchhiking is an exercise in exercise (hiking to the right on-ramps) and boredom (sometimes it takes a while for a ride to materialize). And no excitement. Maybe I attract boredom. I haven't had a knife pulled on me. Nobody has offered me drugs. I haven't had to jump from a moving vehicle. Hitchhiking not only doesn't give me any more crazy experiences, but it keeps me from reading (have to pay attention to potential rides or chat with the driver when you are picked up). However, after visiting California, I will go to New York and Broadway, and then after that, Brasil. Oh man, I was thinking about Churrasco last night.
--Andy