December 3, 2006 Well (I start off my entries with that word a lot), today has been my birthday. Yesterday, we celebrated with my family, which was very nice. We went to the La Brea tar pits in L.A.. I mean, how can you go on living without seeing a giant sloth skeleton at least once a year? So, anyway, it was fun. Then we went up into the Hollywood hills, past the Lake Hollywood reservoir, and watched the sunset from the perch right next to the Hollywood sign. We could see all the way out to Catalina. My Uncle and I spoke of going to Death Valley again this year. Yeah! That place is really cool. You could very well say spiritual. A magnificent, vast, surreal desert. And it's named after Death! Francis of Asissi called him "brother Death". Yes, I think of brother Death very often. It's only natural that I'd be fascinated by a place whose haunting, stupendous desolation is an environmental incarnation of an existential reality. Well, from death, back to birth- my birth. At the birthday dinner last night my assorted family members gave me a beautiful plaid cowboy shirt with pearly buttons (Brokeback Brian!), a check, a shiny new 2007 "Forest Adventure Pass" (I can park in national forests for free), and finally, Justin Timberlake's new CD. Wow, now I'll have some hot dance floor mixes to humm to when I'm exploring the sand dunes, craters, and dry stony ravines of Death Valley. Could my life be more full? But in seriousness, I appreciate what was a nice birthday party given to me by my family. As for today, my actual birthday, I was taken to a favorite taqueria stand by my close friend Chris, I went to Church and received the Holy Eucharist with my father, and later I hung out with Keri, also known to me as Ker-Bear(!). I accompanied Keri to Target (ooh) and she bought me vitamins as a present (ooh again!). Also, (I shouldn't leave this out, because otherwise it would make Keri sound chintzy) she took me to dinner at my favorite place to eat, the Thai restaurant next to California Video. Oh yeah- I got a nice birthday card the other day from my friends at the video store, including a gift certificate from my friend Nick. I guess I have rambled on long enough. Good night, folks. p.s. How is your relationship with brother Death going? E-mail me. I'd love to know. December 14, 2006 A lot has happened since my last journal entry. I couldn't do justice to it really. I think I'll just tell you something slightly odd that happened tonight. I was sitting on the bench in front of our house with my friend Keri when the front door opened and out bolted dad. I tried to ask him what he was doing, but he whizzed right by us and ran down the drive way to the sidewalk. He started ranting at someone or something only he could see. Please pray for this sick man. It really is worrying because we wouldn't want him to do something violent because of his fears and delusions. Well, I'd sleep with one eye open, but I'm a real heavy sleeper, so I'll just hope my dad will not come into my room tonight. (Yikes) Good night, friends. December 16, 2006 Just got back from seeing "Apocalypto" with my friend Keri. I don't care what anyone thinks of Mel Gibson; this is a fascinating, provocative film. It brought to my mind the book "Violence and the Sacred", by Rene Girard, which I read last year. A decadent culture using human sacrifice as a way to re-establish vitality and order within itself- very Girardian. I doubt Gibson has read Girard, but who knows?! Anyway, it is worth seeing. Good night. December 27, 2006 Life is always full of surprises and change. But here I am at the end of the day listening to doo wop music. At least a few things are constant. hmm... What is that I hear below? Is it my Dad ranting himself hoarse at all manner of apparitions and voices. A sick man. And annoying. Thank goodness I have medication which will force me to sleep. Otherwise his ranting might keep me up. January 2007