September 6th, 2008 8:16 p.m.

As usual, I have no clue what the day will bring. Even today. I woke up a little after 4 a.m. I took a shower, a hot one!!! I don’t know why, but they have hot water now. Only in Lama’s house. I was very grateful for the hot shower. Although the shower isn’t the typical shower. It is a normal bathtub, but I can’t work the shower head so I use the attachment. There is no shower curtain. You just splash water everywhere and I do mean everywhere and it goes down a drain… or out into the hallway… and today Lama’s shower made it into the upstairs kitchen.

Well, I try to make as little impact as I can so I crouch down and carefully clean myself off which means my back hasn’t been cleaned since I got here… and with the cold water I only tried to clean the important parts. Woot for hot water! Maybe it will last, maybe it won’t.

I went down for puja. I decided to skip breakfast. I then took photos of Lama working for a while and then received a blessing from Lama-la. I then took off for Boudha. There wasn’t internet at my little café so I decided I might do Kora a bit. Kora (not sure of the spelling) is when you walk around the Stupa chanting mantras (praying). It is traditional to a minimum of 3 rounds.

When I finished the internet was back up, but extremely slow. So no photos went up and I could only use Messenger, not even get onto websites. Thankfully I was able to upload my blog, but that was it!

I headed back to Lama-la’s and watched him some more. A New York woman showed up. Whew boy, she was a bit animated. She went on and on about the United Mistakes. She then told me she was a vegetarian, but she drank, smoked, and partied hard. Then criticized me for 10 minutes for eating meat and contributing to the overwhelming violence in the U.S. and just the thought of returning tomorrow made her so sick. And then she continued on how deplorable the U.S. is. On and on. I told her that I love my land. I love my mountain. That it is such a sacred place. Oh how she chastised me and the U.S. I hate to admit it, but I was glad when she left. Hehehe. I’ve only had negative experiences with foreigners here. Some crazies!

Not that I think the U.S. is perfect, but how can one be so negative sitting so near to Rinpoche? He smiles and the world shines brightly. I can’t wait for you to see his smile. He can be goofy like a little boy and it is so endearing!

I then helped pack up the tsog (food offering) for tomorrow. I helped package the salt that Lama-la gives out. I asked Dechen for what reasons does Lama-la hand it out. She said that sometimes a person might have a headache, hurt stomach, a couple might not be together any more. So I asked, is it for protection? And she said, exactly! Very cool!

We had lunch. I sat with Lama-la for a bit and then decided to study a bit in my room and fell asleep for an hour, as usual. My favorite way to study. Laying in bed with my eyes closed, hehehe. Osmosis or something.

I went down and helped put money into envelopes to pay the painters who had finished in the gompa (ritual area). I decided to walk around outside a bit when all of a sudden we were having a puja as an offering to the Gods. Very unexpected, I was told about it 10 minutes before the puja. The monks were supposed to have the afternoon off. Saturdays are supposed to be their holidays, but they have been doing puja nonstop lately.

Afterwards Anna, another monk, and I walked to Boudha to do Kora again. We got back right at the tail end of a Nepalese wedding in the gompa. Surprise! It was so beautiful. And I was an auspicious sign for them. Having a foreigner at your wedding is an extremely good sign to these people as we symbolize wealth. When I told the bride she was beautiful she almost passed out at the compliment. So weird. Hehehe. I was even in some of the wedding photos. Hehehe.

The bride and groom put katas (silk blessing scarves) around all of our necks and then gave out Indian vegetarian treats and sweets in individual boxes. I hope I got plenty of pictures. It was so cool.

Now by this time we had less than a half an hour till our nightly chod puja. I skipped dinner and here I am now.

The day flew by!!! Tomorrow is Sunday and the clothes I ordered are supposed to be ready. Hopefully no tailoring will be needed as I need them for an all day puja on Tuesday. Oy vey, I won’t be able to walk after that! My hips, knees, and legs are killing me and I’m not even sitting cross legged!

The monks are so super sweet to me. Everyone is! Especially as time goes by. Dechen can be a little reserved and she even petted me today!!! I was so happy! One of the monks buys himself potatoes from a vendor and throws some of them on my plate. They have hardly any money and here he is sharing his treat with me.

Several of the monks watch out for me and help me when they can. One of the monks who hasn’t really paid me any attention bought an apple for me and put it in my puja table to surprise me with. I don’t think I can eat it though. I will check with Anna tomorrow.

Anna keeps bringing me things to read. And little Machig postcard-like pictures. And today she gave me another bag.

I’m sorry I leave soooooo much out of these blogs. I spend at least a half an hour and sometimes an hour writing them and I end up leaving out sooooo much good stuff. Hard to put it all down in writing. Like I am about to finish this post and I didn’t even mention the special blessing I received from a nun today while I was doing Kora. She actually gave me a blessing both times I did Kora. Or all the foreigners arriving in large tour groups today. Or the British man I talked to. Or all the Buddhist stuff I learned today. Or… or… or…

I think the only way I could write everything is if I stopped every hour to write down what happened. But then I would miss out a bit. And I ain’t gonna do that if I can help it.

My kids returned to school without me. That’s like heart wrenching!!! I missed Bella’s very first day of school. She looks so pretty in her first day of school photographs.

Tim tells me that all the kids love their teachers. Oh, I should take a minute and just blog to my kids.

Anna- how do you like your new schedule? Any hotties in class? How are you and Eryk doing? I miss you sweet girl! I hope you are helping out hugely! I love you!

Madalyn- how do you like your teachers? Do you have any friends in class? Made any new friends yet? Have you heard when band begins? Decide on an instrument yet? I miss you baby!!! I love you!!!

Timothy- I am so glad to hear you were a good boy for your first day of school! Are you still being good at school? How do you like your teacher? What has been your favorite thing you’ve done so far? I miss you sweet man! I love you!

Grace- I heard you love your teacher! How do you like going to school all day? Do you like eating lunch at school? Have you made any new friends? I miss you and love you!

Isabella- you look so pretty in your school pictures! Do you like kindergarten? Do you like your teacher? Have you made any friends yet? What has been your favorite thing at school? I miss you and love you Belly Boo!

Rowan- heya sweet little man! Have you been good for Daddy and grandma? Do you like having grandma babysit so much? I miss you and love you!

Lily- heya baby girl! Mama loves you! I miss you! Have you been good for Daddy and grandma? I love you!

Tim- I love you sweet baby! I hope you know how much I love and cherish you! I hope you know how very grateful I am to you for this experience! I think next time we have to come together J. Think your mom will live with the kids so we can live here? Hehehe, just kidding. Maybe. Hugs and pinches!