Please let me begin by beggin your, my loyal readership, pardon by my absence of several months. A lot has happened so let me first skim the surface.

I am still "teaching" though this gravy train is getting a little tiresome. I need to better ajust myself to a method mixing acceptance of my fate and somehow at the same climb out of the pit of career-less ness I have cast myself into.

Words of encourgement, free business class upgrades, manufacturers' coupons, cash money and offers of employment are most welcome and undoubtedly appreciated.

I embarked upon a culinary magic carpet ride that is Borneo in late march, and overall I am planning to get back there. I have to bea realistic and admit I have other place to see for the first time but if I had to choose to be sent to say, Borneo over, erm, anywhere in the so-called Axis of Evil I certainly wouldn't be an unhappy punter. Although, I have heard gossip that those Yemenites make a mean maitai.

Fruits, or glorious fruits: My favorite Borneo tasties were Jackfruit as well as the snake fruit, which honestly resembles a hand grenade than a snake. And then I ate my first custard apple, which was better than the breakfast I puked up all over the ferry on my honeymoon. No, my sea legs aren't steady as she goes.

I've decided to enroll in an online travel writing class, so I will post my creations here, so you can all sit back and after reading them you can promptly thank yourselves that you have:

A: a car or at worst, a bicycle
B: made some progress on an early retirement.
C: more than 20 days paid leave

A short note on the latest from the Japanese media: There was this show I watched last week that highlights odd news from the dangerous non-Japanese sphere. The host travelled to South Carolina to gamble on cow bingo. The short version: Pay five dollars for a spot on the grid, and if a cow craps on your grip, you hit paydirt. Odd? Well yes, but according to talkshow pundits here, this poo gambling can be found occuring in every town, berg and shire across the lower 48. Aren't generalizations great?

Will get some more stuff up later this week.
PS the new backpacking stove passed its first test by successfully boiling its first beer brats.