Greetings from Roma

So my Delta flight out of Atlanta was a very pleasant one. I actually sat next to a gentleman who runs a few businesses in Bowling Green, KY. One of the business he runs with his wife, is a very popular Greek restaurant in the city. She is Greek, and he is from Albania, I believe.  Sitting next to someone who knows many of the same people in BG, as I know for eight hours can make for some interesting conversation.  I did manage to catch Vilson snoring very loudly for a little bit.

I managed to get some sleep on the flight. As a result, I was prepared for a little sightseeing in the City Center vicinity of Rome. Or so I thought I was. I walked around for about an hour and a half. Rome must be one of the sunniest cities in the world. Out of the now six days I have spent here (five on a previous adventure), bright sunny days are all that I have been able to witness.

I walked into a few churches that I didn't see the on the 2011 visit, and bought a panini. That was the extent of my excitement for the walk. I wanted to stay near the bus station, since this airport actually does require an hour before getting to your boarding gate.

Anyway, I have a few pictures that I took while walking around near the City Center area of Rome today. I didn't visit any of the other monuments or big sites in that two hour span. There was no need to risk missing a flight today.

Greetings Everyone

It's been a few days since I have graced this little box with my presence. I am sitting in the airport in Atlanta right now. The time has come for the next adventure in life to begin. I will be departing in an hour or two for Rome. Then after a lovely seven hours of layover time, I will be heading over to visit some friends in Sofia, Bulgaria, before hopping a train Sunday afternoon for the CROP Farming center. (see this link here CROP.) While I am awaiting the arrival of a document or two, so I can apply for grad school, I will be doing some volunteer exchange on the CROP farm. I am very much looking forward to this different experience.

I will do my best to post on here as much as possible. There will probably be a few posts sometime on Thursday, and perhaps one or two on Friday. I've been told I may attending an International Bagpipe Festival on Friday, so there may not be any posting for your viewing that day.

Time to resolve a small issue with getting a bus ticket in Rome.

A few pictures on the new camera

I have too many things on my mind, and really want to just sit in front of this computer and type away. There's a chance that I may sit in a lounge next week and type away though, or even just pull an all-nighter sometime soon.

Anyway, I'd like to share a few pictures that I recently took on a new camera that I purchased a few days ago. To put it into easy words -- It's a fancy camera that has too many functions on it. The first Samsung camera that I have ever owned as well.

Enjoy a few pictures here.
                                          My mom's cat Tony

                                            Dad's dog Vixen

                                         Sun setting at Shelby Farms Park

                                       The wonderful bison at Shelby Farms Park

Something I want to share

Strange how things work sometimes. "Never say busy to the one who needs you." That was part of a 

quote of the day that I posted earlier. While I was rushing to get some documentation taken care of for a 
grad school app in downtown Memphis, a man caught up with me requesting that I get him some food. 

Though he thought I was 42 (OUCH),he was sincere and was just really HUNGRY. We walked to a 

Subway under the hot sun, and he ordered a foot long with everything on it. He got some chips and a 

drink, then we parted ways. Turns out he lives in a development owned by the Memphis Housing 

Authority. Regardless of where he lives or his skin color, he was just a man who wanted some food (not

 cigarettes or booze), and was honest about it.

I don't post much on here these days, but when God talks to me, sometimes I feel the need to share. 

Have a blessed day everyone.

Water Color Community

So here are a few pictures from my trip the area in Santa Rosa Beach named Water Color. I do have some beach pictures on another device. You'll have to wait a day or two for those, I am afraid. We did spend our time in a very scenic area though. Almost everyone who stays in this area uses three forms of transportation. Golf carts, bicycles, and walking are the three main forms of transportation in this neck of the woods. While riding a bike one day before dinner, I decided to get a few pictures of the area. 

                                         Bike trail

                                      Really cool house in the woods

                                       One of the lakes

                                           Love this little spot

                                              Tower in this house is awesome

                                     This was the house where we stayed

Strange News

Greetings from the world of "Oh I just recently heard something very strange on the radio, that I need to share with everyone." 

If you ever remember hearing about President Bill Clinton and his big scandal with a lady named Monica Lewinsky, there may have been more to the story. At least 99.9%  of the fine folks in the Middle East tend to have this opinion. 

Monica and the Conspiracy

ESPY's

Hello from the great state of Florida, folks. I have enjoyed some great sunshine and family time here for the last 36 hours or so. The weather is beautiful, and the food has been marvelous (courtesy of Mr. Flip Eikner, my stepmom's brother).

I found some time last night to sneak off to the TV and catch one of my favorite annual events on TV - The ESPYS. The ESPYS are America's night for sports awards.

There were the usual awards for Best Athlete, Best Team, Best College Athlete, Best Olympian, etc. Then there were the inspirational awards - the kind of awards that even give the greatest athletes goosebumps, and perhaps a tear or two.

Those awards are the Jimmy V Award, Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, and even Best Moment. The people that won these awards were definitely deserving considering the adversity they have fought in their lives.

I'll leave you with on such story of one of the greatest women in the world of sports and journalism.

Robin Roberts and her brave fight

For next month

Below is a link to an article about a place that I think is very impressive based on its small size, but long, long, history. Plovdiv is the name. Here is an article from the New York Times last year, that I my aunt sent to me recently.

Plovdiv

One More Song

Your Side of the Bed

I'm not a fan of blogging on an iPad, since I can't exactly type at top speed here. Enjoy another song.

Oops

My power adapter made it to Destin, FL, before I did. So I'll be posting more Tuesday evening sometime. For those of you in parts of Asia, that's Wednesday.

Have a listen

LBT

Here's a beautiful piece of music from an amazing band.

Greetings from the home of Rock and Roll

Memphis, TN, that is, for those of you who may not know. I arrived here a few days ago, and am catching up with friends and family this week. Here are a few recent food pics and other random shots as well.

                                          Swimming pool at Poppa T's

                                          Inside of Tops BBQ --- amazing BBQ pork sandwiches here

                                         Elvis pictures from way back when

Tiramisu 

California Pizza Kitchen rocks

Scrambled eggs --- Mexican style

Food - Yummy Food

This is mostly for my friends in Vietnam, and Korea. If there are readers from other parts of the world, not known as America, then you may find this a little educating as well.

                                      Tex-Mex everyone --- Steak Tacos

                                       This strange looking thing is a vegetarian omelette

                                    This here is a beautiful place of Texas BBQ --- BBQ brisket towards the bottom. On the right hand side is pulled pork. Then we have some green beans to the left along with some steamed spinach on the right.

Grandpa's Spoiled Cat

The following pictures are of my Grandpa's cat, Bama. Bama is a super cool cat. A little shy, but deep down has quite the personality. 

BREAKING NEWS:

Ali has brought another gift home. Perhaps a baby mouse? These cats are entertaining.

This place rocks

I visited this pretty impressive museum today with Grandpa, in downtown Dallas.  I was not fully rested after the big 4th of July festivities that I attended for most of yesterday. I did enjoy the most of the museum. It is one of the places where you could probably stay for most of the day, and still only absorb half of the information. The level with the hands on science was very active, considering the holiday crowd was in town still.

Anyway, here is a link the this magnificent facility of higher learning.

Perot Museum

Grandpa's Cat

Caught a little friend Wednesday night. Grandpa's cat  has AIDS, and his twelve years old. He still got his mojo though.

                                    Little kitty got a wittle wabbit

July 4th fun

And a middle school reunion!!! My friend Kelly and I went to Willie Nelson's 4th of July concert in Fort Worth, Texas today. There were other performers as well. It was a fun eight hours for sure.

                                   Thanks metro PCS for the fun picture

                                    Gary Allan time!! Last time I saw him was a long time ago.
                                        I was super pumped about seeing Gary, especially since I
                                              had a few too many drinks.

                             In the early goings of the 40th Willie and Friends Picnic

                                    Mr. Dale Watson, artist out of Austin, TX

                                   Gettin' a little wined up during our "break"

                                     Free bandanna and hat for playing a miserable game of cornhole

Humbled (but having writer's block)

That is the word to use when describing my farewells over the last few weeks in Korea. I had never received so many complimentary notes from kids, teachers, parents, and even a few friends as well.

I'll continue this tomorrow, I hope. 

Some of my last goodbyes

Here are a few photos of my last goodbyes in Daegu, from Saturday night to Monday night.

Some are just shots of food of course. I need to add some from the iPad as well.

                                     my best Korean friend Timothy

                                          Scripture from Isiah 58:11

                                        the back of the plaque

                                        Farewell photos

                                     Red Towel time

                                           One of the kindest ladies I know Hae Jeong

                                        At the KNU campus where I would attend church

                        We did some Fuji Fun Pix on Sunday with Kuks and Hae Jeong

                                   Traditional Korean meal with Korean momma

                                         Korean momma

                                      Good friends from Mannam

                                         Last meal was a super long one with coworkers

                                         Korean momma

                                    but very very yummy