Is There Life After the End of a Long Marriage?
One man's journey to find a new life after the break-up of a marriage of more then 20 years.
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Wow, Sold My House!!!!
Using a blog was a great idea for selling my house. It sold it less than a week and is supposed to close on November 18th. I'll finally have the money to get on with my life.
I'm looking for some good investment opportunities... so if anyone has a sound venture, I'm listening! Prefer something in the "tech" arena. It's what I do so it's the area I'm most comfortable with.
I'm looking for some good investment opportunities... so if anyone has a sound venture, I'm listening! Prefer something in the "tech" arena. It's what I do so it's the area I'm most comfortable with.
Sunday, September 12, 2004
How to Get A Samoan Tattoo
Part 9
This being my first trip to Western Samoa, I took the opportunity to explore the islands as completely as I could in the few short weeks I was there. One of the aspects of life in Samoa that intrigues many foreigners, myself included, is the art of the tattoo. Known around the world, and certainly no stranger to a variety of cultures, the polynesians have embraced the practice of skin adornment for centuries. Throughout the pacific islands, tattooing, in one form or another, is widely accepted and practiced. There are some variations. The "Maori's" from New Zealand combine tattoos with a procedure called, "Scarification". This is performed by making cuts in the skin, (often the face), and rubbing hot fire ash into the cuts to cause them to welt and create a very three-dimensional scar. None of these traditional tattoos are quite like the one's your Uncle Bob came back with from his Navy or Marine Corps days.
These tattoos are not applied with the electric tattoo guns that most of us are familiar with. The principle is the same... pierce the skin with a sharp object or needle creating a piercing for the ink to flow into. Health regulations in more developed nations regulate sanitary practices in tattoo application. However, in much of the South Pacific, tattooing is done much the same way as it was before the white man arrived. The hand tattooing of the South Pacific achieves much the same effects through the use of such piercing objects as a sharks tooth and boar bristle. The inks too, are quite different from those used in modern tattoo parlors. Pacific Island tattoos are primarily monochromatic, (black ink only), however some modern inks have made their way into the art in recent years as well. By tradition, the mother collects the soot of the burning candlewax bean to make the ink for her sons and daughters tattoos.
As the picture at the bottom of this posting will attest, the complete and traditional tattoos for Samoan men starts just above the knees and rise to, or slightly above, the navel. The entire application procedure can take up to a few weeks depending upon the pain tolerance of the recipient. As they tend to fade over the years, some Samoans will have them gone over again in later life to re-fresh them. Many Samoans actually envy the higher contrast that we caucasians achieve in our tattoos because of our lighter skin.
I spent a tour of duty in the U.S. Navy, and while I came close to getting a tattoo on several occasions, (each time I was intoxicated), I never found a design or theme at that time, that I wished to have, essentially as a permanent fixture for the rest of my life.
So it came as a surprise, even to me, that I made the decision to get a traditional Samoan tattoo in broad daylight and without even the hint of the influence of alcohol!
No, I didn't opt for the "full-treatment" that is the trademark of Samoan tattoos. Mine was limited to a bicep arm band on my left arm and a wrist band on my right. The only sterilization procedure that was used was the periodic wiping off of excess ink with a rag floating in a bucket of strong bleach and water. The whole process took about an hour and a half. And as I healed well in a few weeks and didn't get an infection, I guess the bleach-water technique works well enough!
Back in the states, I get many admiring compliments and curious comments on my "skin art" and always the question; "Did it hurt"? Since I've never tried those delivered with a tattoo gun, I really have no basis for comparison. But no, I didn't think it hurt. There were some mildly uncomfortable moments, but nothing I couldn't easily tolerate. As a result, I am left with a permanent reminder of the people and the islands that became so dear to me, and from that day on a link from me to them was forged that will last all the days of my life.
Coming next post, Part 10
"That Crazy Palagi"
This being my first trip to Western Samoa, I took the opportunity to explore the islands as completely as I could in the few short weeks I was there. One of the aspects of life in Samoa that intrigues many foreigners, myself included, is the art of the tattoo. Known around the world, and certainly no stranger to a variety of cultures, the polynesians have embraced the practice of skin adornment for centuries. Throughout the pacific islands, tattooing, in one form or another, is widely accepted and practiced. There are some variations. The "Maori's" from New Zealand combine tattoos with a procedure called, "Scarification". This is performed by making cuts in the skin, (often the face), and rubbing hot fire ash into the cuts to cause them to welt and create a very three-dimensional scar. None of these traditional tattoos are quite like the one's your Uncle Bob came back with from his Navy or Marine Corps days.
These tattoos are not applied with the electric tattoo guns that most of us are familiar with. The principle is the same... pierce the skin with a sharp object or needle creating a piercing for the ink to flow into. Health regulations in more developed nations regulate sanitary practices in tattoo application. However, in much of the South Pacific, tattooing is done much the same way as it was before the white man arrived. The hand tattooing of the South Pacific achieves much the same effects through the use of such piercing objects as a sharks tooth and boar bristle. The inks too, are quite different from those used in modern tattoo parlors. Pacific Island tattoos are primarily monochromatic, (black ink only), however some modern inks have made their way into the art in recent years as well. By tradition, the mother collects the soot of the burning candlewax bean to make the ink for her sons and daughters tattoos.
As the picture at the bottom of this posting will attest, the complete and traditional tattoos for Samoan men starts just above the knees and rise to, or slightly above, the navel. The entire application procedure can take up to a few weeks depending upon the pain tolerance of the recipient. As they tend to fade over the years, some Samoans will have them gone over again in later life to re-fresh them. Many Samoans actually envy the higher contrast that we caucasians achieve in our tattoos because of our lighter skin.
I spent a tour of duty in the U.S. Navy, and while I came close to getting a tattoo on several occasions, (each time I was intoxicated), I never found a design or theme at that time, that I wished to have, essentially as a permanent fixture for the rest of my life.
So it came as a surprise, even to me, that I made the decision to get a traditional Samoan tattoo in broad daylight and without even the hint of the influence of alcohol!
No, I didn't opt for the "full-treatment" that is the trademark of Samoan tattoos. Mine was limited to a bicep arm band on my left arm and a wrist band on my right. The only sterilization procedure that was used was the periodic wiping off of excess ink with a rag floating in a bucket of strong bleach and water. The whole process took about an hour and a half. And as I healed well in a few weeks and didn't get an infection, I guess the bleach-water technique works well enough!
Back in the states, I get many admiring compliments and curious comments on my "skin art" and always the question; "Did it hurt"? Since I've never tried those delivered with a tattoo gun, I really have no basis for comparison. But no, I didn't think it hurt. There were some mildly uncomfortable moments, but nothing I couldn't easily tolerate. As a result, I am left with a permanent reminder of the people and the islands that became so dear to me, and from that day on a link from me to them was forged that will last all the days of my life.
Coming next post, Part 10
"That Crazy Palagi"
Man at Sunset, Samoa; National Geographic
Thursday, September 09, 2004
More funnies from "Dust Bunnies" by me.
Isn't it amazing what you can do with Photoshop! A comic strip created by myself!
You had best not get too attached to someone... you never know when they might unexpectedly leave you. (Click on picture to enlarge).
You Never Know Where You are going to Find Family
Part 8
Well, I finally got my house up "For Sale by Owner" and created a blog to advertise it. So sorry for the lapse in my posts to all my faithful readers. I was "slacking" for sure!
On the plane from American Samoa to Western Samoa the guy sitting next to me struck up a conversation. He was from Northern Queensland in Australia and ran his own vineyard and winery. He was on a business trip to Fiji and the Samoas to promote and sell his wares to the tourist hotels. Pretty enterprising of him I'd say... he was doing pretty well too. Anyway, he asked me lots of questions and I gave him the condensed version of my life. He asked where I was staying in Samoa and I told him I didn't have a clue. On this trip I wasn't making any hotel arrangements in advance of my arrival anywhere throughout my whole trip. I preferred to wander around a bit and see what was available, perhaps even meet someone who would invite me to stay with them for free during my stay. He suggested a small hotel, (only seven rooms), that he said had the ambiance, friendliness and charm that he had enjoyed immensely when he travelled there. I took his suggestion, and it forever changed the course of the rest of my life.
La Godinets, (pronounced "La God-i-nays",) was everything he said it was. Owned and operated by a 50-ish year old, Samoan/Chinese blended man, Derek La Godinet was an ex lounge entertainer who once opened for Barbra Streisand back in his prime in California. A kind and generous man, he treated all of the guest in his little hotel like family. Every guest got his personal greeting upon check-in and an invitation to dine with him on any evening of his stay. Derek was one part Samoan ambassador, one part tour guide and, for me, one part confidante and psycho-analyst. Where La Godinet's really shined was their main floor restaurant and lounge. The food was extraordinary. I still get hungry just thinking about their Seafood Crepes. As you might expect from an island hotel the seafood was great and always fresh caught.
Derek was a very popular local figure, almost a legend, and he had an endless procession of friends, relatives and acquaintances who would drop by unannounced to eat, drink or just chew the fat. He had a special charm and dignity that endeared him to everyone that he came in contact with. Every night he was coaxed and cajoled into performing his signature rendition of "I did it My Way", and every night he feigned reluctance to do so. The truth was, he loved it! He was never more comfortable than he was playing to the crowd, no matter how large or small it might be.
When I arrived in Samoa I had lapsed into a sad malaise, missing the people back home, and stayed the first few nights in my room just feeling sorry for myself. Derek noticed this right away and on the third night dispatched several of the hotel staff to fetch me down to the lounge. It wasn't long before he had me up on stage singing with the band while all of my sadness left me. By the next night I had become completely immersed in Derek's world and was introduced to the wide cross-section of Samoan society by him. In Samoa, at that time, anyone who was anyone, sooner or later stopped by La Godinet's. I met everyone from the simple fisherman to the Head-of-State himself.
Derek's cousin, a regular visitor, was Savea Sano Malifa, the owner, editor and publisher of "The Samoa Observer", the largest and only english language newspaper on the island. A large man, Sano Malifa brought out strong emotions in everyone. Depending on who you were talking to, he was either loved or reviled. Not many people were "lukewarm" or neutral in their opinion of him. We took an almost instant liking to each other. He showed me around the island and introduced me to more people than I could ever remember. Sano had been born in Samoa but was educated in New Zealand, England and the U.S. He was, and still is, one of the most intelligent men I have known in my life.
Next post, Part 9
How to get a Samoan tattoo.
Well, I finally got my house up "For Sale by Owner" and created a blog to advertise it. So sorry for the lapse in my posts to all my faithful readers. I was "slacking" for sure!
On the plane from American Samoa to Western Samoa the guy sitting next to me struck up a conversation. He was from Northern Queensland in Australia and ran his own vineyard and winery. He was on a business trip to Fiji and the Samoas to promote and sell his wares to the tourist hotels. Pretty enterprising of him I'd say... he was doing pretty well too. Anyway, he asked me lots of questions and I gave him the condensed version of my life. He asked where I was staying in Samoa and I told him I didn't have a clue. On this trip I wasn't making any hotel arrangements in advance of my arrival anywhere throughout my whole trip. I preferred to wander around a bit and see what was available, perhaps even meet someone who would invite me to stay with them for free during my stay. He suggested a small hotel, (only seven rooms), that he said had the ambiance, friendliness and charm that he had enjoyed immensely when he travelled there. I took his suggestion, and it forever changed the course of the rest of my life.
La Godinets, (pronounced "La God-i-nays",) was everything he said it was. Owned and operated by a 50-ish year old, Samoan/Chinese blended man, Derek La Godinet was an ex lounge entertainer who once opened for Barbra Streisand back in his prime in California. A kind and generous man, he treated all of the guest in his little hotel like family. Every guest got his personal greeting upon check-in and an invitation to dine with him on any evening of his stay. Derek was one part Samoan ambassador, one part tour guide and, for me, one part confidante and psycho-analyst. Where La Godinet's really shined was their main floor restaurant and lounge. The food was extraordinary. I still get hungry just thinking about their Seafood Crepes. As you might expect from an island hotel the seafood was great and always fresh caught.
Derek was a very popular local figure, almost a legend, and he had an endless procession of friends, relatives and acquaintances who would drop by unannounced to eat, drink or just chew the fat. He had a special charm and dignity that endeared him to everyone that he came in contact with. Every night he was coaxed and cajoled into performing his signature rendition of "I did it My Way", and every night he feigned reluctance to do so. The truth was, he loved it! He was never more comfortable than he was playing to the crowd, no matter how large or small it might be.
When I arrived in Samoa I had lapsed into a sad malaise, missing the people back home, and stayed the first few nights in my room just feeling sorry for myself. Derek noticed this right away and on the third night dispatched several of the hotel staff to fetch me down to the lounge. It wasn't long before he had me up on stage singing with the band while all of my sadness left me. By the next night I had become completely immersed in Derek's world and was introduced to the wide cross-section of Samoan society by him. In Samoa, at that time, anyone who was anyone, sooner or later stopped by La Godinet's. I met everyone from the simple fisherman to the Head-of-State himself.
Derek's cousin, a regular visitor, was Savea Sano Malifa, the owner, editor and publisher of "The Samoa Observer", the largest and only english language newspaper on the island. A large man, Sano Malifa brought out strong emotions in everyone. Depending on who you were talking to, he was either loved or reviled. Not many people were "lukewarm" or neutral in their opinion of him. We took an almost instant liking to each other. He showed me around the island and introduced me to more people than I could ever remember. Sano had been born in Samoa but was educated in New Zealand, England and the U.S. He was, and still is, one of the most intelligent men I have known in my life.
Next post, Part 9
How to get a Samoan tattoo.
My house "For Sale by Owner". Details and more pictures at: "buymyhouse.blogspot.com".
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Back to The Present...
In my usual meandering style I will depart for a few lines from this text, which I fear, is beginning to resemble a travelogue. Let’s turn for a moment to the present. As a little personal history, I am currently living in big old Victorian house that I retained after our split. We had three houses in all. Two of which my ex kept as part of our settlement. I know it doesn’t sound quite fair until you know that the house that I got has a total equity greater than the other two combined. It was a good decision for her too being that the other two are considerably newer and much less maintenance intensive.
The point now really is that a two-story, five-bedroom house is a lot more space than a single guy needs. Not only is it a lot of work to keep up and more costly to heat in the winter, (it was built in 1906), but also most of the time I rattle around in it like a pea in a shoebox. It is a grand old house situated across the street from a beautiful park, in a great historic neighborhood. I however, having re-tasted the pleasures and excitement of world travel again, have decided to put the old homestead on the market. If, with any luck, I sell it for my asking price, I will net around $125,000 to aid me in starting over on a slightly less grand scale. I am currently constructing a blog to advertise the house with pictures, location and descriptions. When it’s finished I will post the URL in the near future for the curious among you.I hadn’t intended for this blog to digress into a dating site extolling my virtues as a potential boyfriend, but what the hell! If after reading my posts you feel you know me a bit, (and that doesn’t scare you away), and feel that you would like to get to know me even better, feel free to drop me an email and we’ll get better acquainted. Perhaps we may find that we have more in common than a love of travel and an intimate knowledge of strippers and the surreal world of adult entertainment. I am sure that I am not so one-dimensional that we couldn’t find more than that in common.
I will pick up part 8 in my next post… I hope all of you have a great Labor Day holiday.