On Sunday I attended the Soka Gakkai International Youth Festival "It All Begins With Me!" Really, I did not want to get on a bus for 8 hours. Somehow I made myself get on to the bus and it turned out to be a great experience. On the bus, I connected with other youth members (Youth division is 35 and under). I'm not going to say that the trip wasn't agonizing at some points along the way, but I'm so glad that I got on that bus.

When we pulled up to Lincoln Center in NYC, there were other youth members there to greet us. They were so genuine in their care for us and clapped and congratulated us for our efforts to be there. Most of us from the Upstate Region began to rehearse to sing a song to the 3,000 plus youth in attendance. I chose not to along with my friends Mike, his mother, Samantha and Adam. We were free to walk around New York until the festival began.

It was as hot as all hell as we walked to Central Park and then to Times Square. For Mike and his mother, it was their first trip to see the city. Being a little naive, they followed a man selling something out of a burlap sack down a side street! He opens up the sack to reveal a bunch of overpriced knockoff bags. After five minutes of sales pitch we break away only to see the men stopped by the police only minutes later. Not sure if they were arrested or not, but I assume what they were doing wasn't exactly legal. There were several near traffic accidents as my friends stepped into busy streets without looking. It was crazy and I was definitely dehydrated by the time we walked back to Lincoln Center.

We get back, only to be told that we need to come back in another hour! GRRR. Since I was hungry, we decided to eat. After passing many expensive restaurants we happened along a Subway, the only thing within walking distance I could afford. My body soaked up a bottle of water, but still I was dehydrated.

It increasingly became hotter with every step we took. We got back to the center, this time to face crazy lines that wouldn't move. Finally, we get into auditorium and sat in the very front of the center! They had reserved us seats at the event knowing how far we had traveled to be there!

It turned out to be amazing, starting out with a DJ battle. Everyone that performed was a member of the SGI Youth Division. They had really young kids dancing to Busta Rhymes with Missy and Mary J! They were sooo good. The Young Woman's Division performed African and Asian dance and the Young Men's Division entertained us with drumming and gymnastics!

Afterwards, we walked some more, got some more food and got increasingly more hot and dirty! At 5pm we waited for our bus that was late. The Woman's Division provided us with watermelon, water, and complete chicken meals for our ride home. Finally, we get onto the scorching hot bus and head home. Sleeping was nearly impossible on the full bus. I taught my friend Shannon who is 14 some Spanish, which I suspect she is going to use on boys (She lives on the west side)! Her life is far from easy, but she is doing great. She avoids drugs, has loving parents and has some talent in poetry. My friend Mike who is 15 came out of the closet in the 8th grade! I so wish I were courageous enough at his age to do the same. We got back today at 2am.

I'll post some pics of the show later.

This is a continuation of my obsession with the Niagara.


Military Vehicles-ROTC Site

Water Front

Peace Bridge










Tonawanda Asphalts


I'm assuming these pipes are some type of effluent being discharged in the Niagara, but I can't confirm.



Original Erie Canal Site




Noco Testing Plant. Anyone have any iidea what is going on here?






Grand Island Bridge

United We Stand

I'm publishing a letter that I intend to send to Senator Clinton as well as other government representatives. My desire is to inform everyone of one of the ways in which the budget crisis has affected our community, but also to see if there are any errors in my writing or style. Here is a chance to rip me to shreds!

Madam Senator,

It has come to my attention that funding cuts have affected the Erie County Department of Health and their STD testing clinics. This, I believe, is not only morally unacceptable, but also fiscally unwise for county and federal governments.

Access to the free testing clinic at the Rath Building in the City of Buffalo has become a nightmare. The clinic, now only open three days a week and with little staff to address the demand for this service, are missing many opportunities to identify positive individuals. Reducing HIV cases is dependent upon an informed citizenry. There are many people who are not being able to be seen upon entering the clinic. How many of those people return to get tested can never be known. Funding must be increased to this valuable public service that reduces the greater cost of treatment, by proactively preventing the spread of STDs.

Please address your attention to this matter and act appropriately. Thank you in advance for your efforts.

Sincerely,


Libertad

Thanks for your suggestions peepers!

Pics of Canada. No particular order.

While it was hailing in Buffalo...

It is raining as I post these beauties. I like early mornin rains.

These spiders are from the beach house. It was fun to watch what they do in the webs. They are so fascinating. They can replace a destroyed web over night. The spider bite on my hip is still red and itchy...must have been a big one!

Things have been very trying over the last week or so. Lots of us seem to be having a hard time lately. Was it that incredibly intense full moon we just had? I really need to change the direction of my life. It seems like I'm digging myself further and further into this hole. What has been most distressing is the effect my life has had on other people. I couldn't be more sorry, but that changes nothing. Really, I need to put a 100% back into my life and that's all I really can do. So bear with me folks. From this moment on!

p.s..please don't comment on this journal. I just wanted to let you all know where I'm at.

Also, I have been having trouble with grammar. In particular, affect and effect. Here is a site that I think will help me.



More pics to come shortly.

update: 7/12/06
I corrected my incorrect use of site. Before I had 'sight' Oh well!

Let me apologize mrdt for my harsh language, and for assuming that you got my email when I never got confirmation that you did in fact get it. I'm sorry. That is not the normal way I handle things. It is also not the way that I want Buddhism to be betrayed. This isn't an excuse, but i believed you received my email and were deliberately trying to get under my skin. I sent you an email rather than a comment because I was trying to avoid possibly embarrassing you in public.

I feel as if I constantly have to defend myself from your comments even over the simplest things. For example, when I posted a picture of the lamb I had for Easter you say "Dude you overcooked it." This was a minor annoyance, but the thing about your comments is that all of these minor annoyances add up. You also post comments without actually reading what I have to say. For example, when I talked about when I consolidated my student loans
Your comment made it obvious that you hadn't read what I wrote at all. I had already said the rates were going up and that I consolidated, then you said if you haven't done so the rates are going up so consolidate now. Here is the thing I don't like getting constant advice when its not asked for. As for this latest thing, I think that you and (e:jason) know that I didn't have stocks in Enron. I believe people like Ken Lay do actually affect society as a whole and I think that most people realized that I wasn't referring to my lost stock. It is this constantly being petty and making me defend every thing I say to the last detail that makes me angry. I have seriously considered not even posting anymore because I hate that so much. It's exhausting and not fun.


As for the Buddhism, you do not know me. It is aggravating that this is the second time that you have implied or said that I am a bad Buddhist. I don't claim to be perfect. I have many many faults. I do actually practice and chant. Not necessarily 2x's a day, but I do as well as attend various meetings and activities over the last four years. I really don't think you have the right or the knowledge to judge me like you have. Let me just say it isn't easy to be Buddhist; it takes a lot of effort. The effort has certainly paid off in many ways in my life, and I know what I am capable of when I increase my efforts. My nasty comment to you did not come from a good place and I certainly was out of line. I'm not sure if you are a Buddhist or not. As far as I have read you haven't said you are. If you are then we are practicing two different types and that is fine. It's just that what you say about Buddhism in some ways is going to be different and I don't want people to be confused (it is confusing and I'm still learning).

Finally, I am sorry to everyone for my actions. I hope that no one has lost respect for me due to the way I have handled my anger. Mrdt, I am very sensitive and it is hard for me not to take offense to things, please in the future take care in the things that you say to me, as I will try to do the same with everyone else. I'm usually very careful with my words and I will try even harder in the future.