January 27, 2002
Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
1:35pm Kate, who was on the ski hill with me yesterday, just sent me this email:
Just letting you know, though I don't like bothering you about this, that the mailing list thing is now sending porno ads into my account every hour. They have your address on them. Any ideas on this?
Kate
Kate... I've had such bad luck lately... it seems like sabotage. I asked my admin man to cut off my list completely, and he said he did. Again, I'm very sorry for the trouble, and will solve the problem ASAP!
2:15pm I just got this message... which made me feel better... but still the problem looms like a dark cloud.
Hey Max, my name is Joe, and I attended your seminar at the U of Guelph a while back. What you had to say hit me straight to the heart, as I'll explain: I've always done excellent in school but from the time I was just little I've been able to see well beyond that. School is an institution for me, no different than a prison. I love kayaking and always do these little adventures with friends around muskoka and georgian bay. B4 coming to quelph in 1999, my best friend and I spent a lot of time planning to go to central america, but that last summer the dream just started to fade, and I convinced him to just do one year at University and then we would go (as you can see I was institutionalized). This ended up being the biggest mistake of my life. Late on the thursday night of Frosh week, my friend's Mom calls me up in tears, and tells me I'd better come home--my old life right then and there. He had been hit by a car at Western, and he died as I was walking into the hospital. Let's just say that school lost it's importance that day, and a new level of learning needed to be reached. I spent a few months pretty much on my own or with my girlfriend, but that didn't last, just lifting weights and running and skiing and hockey and basketball and football and just about anything I could to satisfy this constant urge to reach a new level--have you ever read Jonathon Livingston Seagull? It wasn't enough, I fell to pieces, and decided to look somewhere else. I bought a ticket and took off to central america--I spent about nine months just walking beaches and talking to the most fascinating people, I can't put it into words--I lived on an indigenous reserve on the border of Panama for two months, and eventually, (I'm not sure why) I came home. after two weeks saving money working construction, I'd had enough of this western society attitude (ignorance), so I went to Montana and spent a month as an activist trying to protect the last remaining wild buffalo in Yellowstone from being killed by an ever increasingly ingnorant cattle industry--the cowboys who have the full support of the Bush administration. I left a little bit of my heart there too, and I'm sure I'll be back there soon. I'm going back to Nicaragua in April--I don't know what I'm doing here at this upper middle class prison of a University--it's fun, but it breaks my heart. I'm sorry to take so much of your time... I just sincerely want you to know how much you were an inspiration to me, and especially at that time during exams, you made me realize how silly I and everyone else are to worry about exams--you rekindled my memory, my spirit. Thank you.
Cheers and good luck with your travels,
Joe Pratt
PS- who does that song 'over my head' that you use in your presentation--excellent presentation, you've done it!!!! you've beaten the system!!!! congrats.
Joe... you just saved me. I was getting depressed. My mailing list that goes out to 700 people is messed up and is sending out porno. It makes me sick to my stomach to think about it. I'm sure many people are very upset about this... and of course... it is my problem.
I love traveling... and I love sharing my adventures... so I'm very happy to do my work... and I'm stoked by your kind works of support. I'm getting serious about making movies that inspire every day folk to be environmental revolutionaries. I'd like for you to have a part in that, cuz I know it's in your heart. Stay in touch. I'll have more info about the movie making on my site in the next few weeks. Martin Sexton sang "Over my head".
Thanks for the lift.
2:50pm Wow... another email. My community is growing! I'm feeling optimistic! I'm just adding these emails to this journal as I read them and reply, cuz I think this interaction expresses my point perfectly: people all over feel that there is a better way of living... and they are searching... just as I am. I know I'm on to something good... and it's just a matter of time before it all comes together.
Dear Max,
I have a couple of questions for you, about what you
are doing and stuff. Where are you based? What
determines what you choose to do and do you do them
all by your self? Are you affiliated with any
organization? Sorry to have bombarded you with so many
questions, but to be honest when I find out about
persons like yourself, I am just so pleased that there
are those that have surpassed the status quo. As for
myself, I am stuck in a bit of a rut. I've been here
in Montreal, in my apartment for the past three years
and I'm just itching to move on. It's funny how a lot
of times important times in your life naturally start
losing its brightness and progress into natural
closure. I've also finally broken it off with my
boyfriend of 31/2 years. It's been a long time since
I've been by myself and it's a little bit scarry and a
lot exciting.
Funny to divulge my personal life to a stranger, but
it's kind of easier that way. Just to give you a quick
bio I am 22, I'm finishing up an honours degree in
Political Science and am looking forward to
graduating. I am from Toronto and am pretty much a
city kid, but with a passion for the outdoors. I have
a sister, a step-brother and I'm currently living with
two roommates, and one of their boyfriend and his dog.
Needless to say there is a lot of tension with so many
people living in the same place. I try and get out as
much as possible. No, it's actually pretty fun and
most times have a really great time. Anyway, I must
begin the hours of reading ahead of me, but I just
kind of felt like writing to you today and I hope you
don't mind or think I'm a ranting and rambling
crazygirl. It's just sort of nice to get things said
to someone who has no idea of the context in which
they exist. Take care of yourself and stay warm!
Love,
Jen
Jen... The work I do is my own making. If I don't do it... it doesn't get done. I ask for help when I need it... but I am not offically tied to any sponsor or group. I only get paid for slide shows. I do lots of shows for free as well.
I am connecting with lots of city folk who want to live simple... closer to nature. That's where I'm at. I live at home with my folks. I'm working on getting a large building to create a youth hostel/school and I veihicle that I can also live out of... just traveling around doing shows... teaching... having adventures.... just living a fun life and making the world a better place. I know I got the skills and the know-how... it just takes organization... and being like artists often are... creative, but with energy flowing in many directions... I just gotta focus... and go for it!
I got some big plans boiling... and I know it could feed a lot of people... so please stay in touch... and I'll keep your email... and let you know when I'm doing something you might want to know about.
Thanks for saying hello. It means a lot to me to know where my energy goes. I'll help you anyway I can... so please don't be shy to ask.
MAX
3:01pm The title of the email sent to my mailing list was... "HARDCORE GANGBANG ACTION!!"
I will get through this! I haven't received a donation through this web site in over two years... so I'm not worried about this problem ruining my funding... cuz I don't have any to begin with... but I just don't wanna be the cause of other people's problems. My sincere apologies if you are on my mailing list.
4:29pm. My genius friend, Wes Jagoe, is singing on CBC radio. He is in England. They are playing the song, "Broken Man" from his CD. I'm so proud of him... I almost got choaked-up.
