May 14, 1998
San Juan Capistrano, California, USAI just got finished watching the final Sienfeld episode. I didn’t think that would be possible four months ago(being in a place with cable TV I mean). I figured I’d be half way down Mexico by now. If I didn’t get to see the last Seinfeld, I do believe my life would still go on. Their is life after Seinfeld.
I don’t blame Jerry for ending the show. The guy has over 30 Porsches. I don’t think anybody who can afford to drive a different Porsche every day of the month should have to work another day of their life if they don’t want to. I think I’ll stop working way before I have enough money to buy 30 Porsches.
I want to go to bed right now, but I have too much to stay to not write this journal. If I waited to write this later, I’ll forget some of the issues I want to cover. I really don’t want to do this... But...[Deeep sigh...] Okay... here I go...
Two weeks ago, I was crawling around on the floor, because when I stood-up, the blood would flow into injured area on my left leg, which made it throb with pain. I looked pathetic. I was also depressed, because I had stayed up until three in the morning writing a proposal to company I desperately needed support from, then they wrote me back the next day with a one liner stating: "Sorry... It doesn’t fit into our money making plans".
I went to a camera store to buy a new wide angle lens, and underwater camera, but the dude at the store was totally annoying. I wanted to trade in my old lens(it is not very old) as part of the payment for the new lens, but he would only give me half of what it is worth, because I don’t have the box it came in. To top it off, Seaward wanted to take back the kayak they have waiting for me in San Diego, because the storage company where it has been held for the past five months(they were holding it for free) were angry that I had not picked it up yet.
But now... things are looking up! Once the bad news stopped, it has been good news ever since. The first good news occurred when my website was featured on Netscape’s "What’s New" page. That day, over 2000 people visited my site. A few days later my site was featured on Yahoo!’s "Pick of the Week" page, and Web Planet’s "Top ten list". As a result of that publicity, I have had many new people introduce them selves to me though email.
I spent last weekend hanging-out with a dude I just met through email. His name is Markus, and he lives in Los Angeles. Markus is a martial arts instructor trained in Inosanto, which is a combination of many different martial arts, founded by Bruce Lee. Markus is also a long-time surfer, and a professional photographer for All Sport -- the world’s largest sports photography agency. He and his wife, Joanne, picked me up here in San Juan Capistrano, and then took me back to their home near Beverly Hills. That evening, we went out for "All you can eat" Sushi. Two first occurred: It was my first time eating Sushi(raw fish), and it was the first time in my life I have ever paid $20 for a single meal. I ate fish eggs, eel, and lots of different types of raw fish, but I didn’t like any of them, so I stuffed myself with snow crab, shrimp, and oysters. We spent the rest of the evening over the light table showing each other our slides from various adventures and life experiences.
The next day, Markus’s best buddy, Tina, hooked-up with us, and we all went out to see the matinee of Deep Impact. It was good flick, but I only give it a 6 out of ten, because most of it was too damn sad. I’m not a fan of sad movies. The following evening, we just lounged in front of the tube watching Rumble in the Bronx, a Jackie Chan flick. Markus is a major Jackie Chan fan. Before leaving his place, Markus gave me 60 rolls of slide film and and two boxes of Lithium batteries--worth over $500. I’m stoked! I needed film big time! I’m constantly amazed at how all my needs get taken care of.
Today, a guy from La Jolla(just north of San Diego) emailed me, offering to take me white water kayaking on the Kern river, which is located five hours north east of here, near Bakersfield. I’m totally psyched! I could easily spend another couple months here in Southern California just playing and making friends. The swelling around my knee is now totally gone. The scab is still gnarly look’n, but it too is healing well also. I’m almost back to 100% health.
last week, I put on a slide show presentation recounting my voyage on the Pilgrim of Newport for the staff at the Marine Institute. It was no big production; there was just a hand full of us sitting around the slide projector. Kelli, the director of the Pilgrim programs, showed a few of my images to the vice president of the Marine Institute, and he loved them so much, he told her that he wanted to use them in their brochures and other advertising opportunities. I expect to make about $200 bucks off the deal. It would cost them well over three times that if I was to charge them what any other decent photographer would ask. However, since they were nice enough to let me going on the voyage as a guest, I think it’s a fair deal.
Today, I finally caved-in and bought the wide angle lens, and water proof camera. The whole package cost me almost $800. It bothers me to pay for something I think I could get for free from the manufacture. I’m positive I could have gotten that water proof camera for free if I tried hard enough. It was just a hassle I didn’t want to deal with. Companies like Canon have thousands of people every year asking for free equipment. Sometimes it’s just not worth the head ache. Other times, like today, it is worth a little extra effort. I called Stratos(my soon-to-be satellite phone air-time provider) again today. The guy I spoke told me that he wants to help me, and that he will do everything he can to get me a better rate on my Satellite air-time. I’m stoked! That call may have just saved me several thousand dollars.
As for getting the Satellite phone paid for, I got good news on that as well. The deal is still not settled, but they(the company who I have asked to help pay for the phone) are at least seriously considering it. I have also settled my dilemma with Seaward, and they have decided not to take back the kayak they had given me which is waiting in San Diego. I told them I would buy it if I didn’t live up to my end of the deal, and immediately had it removed from the storage company where it was been held. I plan on sending the kayak I’m using now home by transport truck, and filling it with stuff I don’t want to take with me into Mexico.
In other good news... My brother, Joel, just became the youngest city councillor in the history of New Brunswick(possibly all of Canada), after winning a seat on the Fredericton city council. Fredericton is the Capital of the province of New Brunswick, and has a population of approximately 50,000. Usually city councillors are old farts who are well known in the community. Joel, however, is only 24 years old, and he smoked his competition--getting almost double the votes of his nearest rival. Is that amazing or what?! I couldn’t be more proud. I know he is going to make the world a better place to live, for many people, for many years to come.
