Zoo Trip!

Check it out!

There will be some repeats as I'm too lazy to clean it out, heh.

We had fun, here are highlights!

Sami and Rob! So cute!

This is how I roll.

Me-row!

Check out the cowgirl and her pappy.

Mamma and baby.

More cowgirls!

The (un)luckiest animal in the zoo.

- BhikkhuDave

EDIT
Album has been cleaned up!

Brick

I have been waiting for this movie since December. I never wait for anything, especially not five months. Last night I saw it.

Once in a great while a movie will be made that I... love so much I cannot accurately describe the depth or reason for it. This is definately one of those movies.

The words I used most in my feeble attempt to do so to The Hyd were "perfect" and "masterful". That's all I can write.

Currently its only playing in a handful of locations, check out BrickMovie.net for a list of locations if you're interested.

- BhikkhuDave

New Moon Confession - 05

E-mailed Submission

A day late and ten dollars short.

I was out with my friends last night and didn't get a chance to post on
time, not that anyone is breathlessly waiting on the edge of their
computer chairs or anything.

Which brings me to the main topic of this post: The inability to hold
to one's own convictions. I think this is my cardinal sin this time
around.

How often does this happen to us: "I'm going to start working out!"
"I'm going to eat better." "I will quit smoking." "I'll spend more
time reading." "I won't be lazy this weekend!" We feel strongly that
we're gonna do X, Y, and Z and vow not to go back on it this time. Yet
we do, again and again. Sometimes its forgetfulness, sometimes is
laziness.

In my case its mostly forgetfulness. If I remember then *usually* I'll
stick to it. But yesterday this was not the case.

I have decided to fast every full and new moon for various reasons and
totally remembered and succeeded two weeks ago. Then yesterday I come
into work, sit down, glance at my calendar and realize it was fasting
day. Oops! Well no worries, I hadn't eaten anything yet. I could
still make it.

Not ten minutes later I get an IM from Hyd saying the awesome-o Sami and
Rob wanted to go out to dinner that night. Well... guess I'm not
fasting! How quickly I decided to go back on my conviction. The fact
that its not that big of one makes it even worse in a way. If I can't
stick with the small ones, how will I fare with the big ones? Its so
easy to rationalize things in our heads to excuse what we do.

I still haven't been back to the zen center. Here the culprits are
laziness and more rationalization.

I've been unable to let go of some things that I should. Even now weeks
later I still catch myself arguing in my head, fortifying my position,
and making myself the victim. I'm making an effort to drop it, but its
slow going and I need to be more mindful. The actual event only
happened once. I've made myself go through it hundreds of times by
now. Wasteful wasteful.

Yesterday I also discovered that I feel I'm being neglected. I'm so
greedy. I need to cultivate equanimity more. I have it good, I
shouldn't bitch.

But I feel good today. Its all the road and the road is all good.

- BhikkhuDave

O Green World, Don't Desert Me Now

This Is Why

"I know it's too late to turn back, and I know there's not much point now in hoping. If I were a knight of Rohan, capable of great deeds... but I'm not.

I'm a Hobbit, and I know I can't save Middle-Earth. I just want to help my friends."

- Meriadoc Brandybuck, Lord of the Rings

Carpe Diem - DieselSweeties Style

A lot of my now-favorite comics came from other people showing them to me, so I'm going to share the wealth.

This one is cute and Diesel Sweeties is one of my all time favorites. I had to scale it down so a lot of the pixely cuteness is lost. Click the image for pure pixel goodness!

- BuddhaDave

Pwn life by the n00b everyday!

TV-Turnoff Week

Good morning cool cats and lovely ladies, happy Sunday morning! Sunday mornings are my favorite. Its just pajamies and laziness as far as the eye can see, if the eye isn't looking past Midnight, that is.

So tomorrow kicks off TV-Turnoff Week in which participants don't watch TV for a week. No DVDs, no sitcoms, no news.

Sounds easy right? Give it a shot! Of course some watch TV more than others but I think I'll be surprised how much I reach for the remote. I've been spending an increasing amount of time watching movies and this will be a good chance to put a dent in that habbit.

So what's the point? Well, here are some snippets from the TV-Turnoff Week's site:

• Turning off the television gives us a chance to think, read, create, and do. To connect with our families and engage in our communities. To turn off TV and turn on life.
• On average, children in the US will spend more time in front of the television (1,023 hours) than in school this year (900 hours).
• Forty percent of Americans frequently or always watch television during dinner.
• As US Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher said at the Kick Off of TV-Turnoff Week 2001, "We are raising the most overweight generation of youngsters in American history...This week is about saving lives."

If you visit the site there is more information, resources (like a kit for the classroom), etc.

Have a great Sunday and enjoy this nice weather!

- BuddhaDave

Inspired By Another's Post

After catching up on Catie's blog (which is awesome, btw) I was intrigued by her post about lessons she learned from TV, specifically not tip-toeing around people anymore.

While walking down the hall the following portion of The Way of Chuang Tzu suddenly came to me. It was a singular event and I feel that I should write it down:

Apologies

"If a man steps on a stranger's foot
In the marketplace,
He makes a polite apology
And offers an explanation
("This place is so terribly
Crowded!").

If an elder brother
Steps on his younger brother's foot,
He says, "Sorry!"
And that is that.

If a parent
Treads on his child's foot,
Nothing is said at all.

The greatest politeness
Is free of all formality.
Perfect conduct
Is free of concern.
Perfect wisdom
Is unplanned.
Perfect love
Is without demonstrations.
Perfect sincerity offers
No guarantee."

I'm not poking this at anyone or getting up in a pulpit. It just seems like a thing to do.

- BuddhaDave

Three PM Is So Weird

I always get struck by a weird mood at 3:00PM. Songs I'm listening and anything that comes in goes right through the normal buffers. My defenses are down and everything hits deep. It happens nearly every day. How weird is that?

- BuddhaDave

I'm Dum

When I read that sugar depresses the immune system I should have listened. I gave up sweets for Lent and didn't even notice how un-sniffly I was until I started being a hanky destroyer again. Hyd, you and will bring the tissue industry to its knees. Or send all their kids to college.

I had icecream last night. One half of a Ben and Jerry's Marsha Marsha Marshmallow. Well, probably more than a half. And as it was late list night I didn't get to administer my pre-emptive cup of hot tea. Grr. Damn you The Matrix! Damn you to H E double hockey sticks.

Who the hell thought it'd be a good idea to eat the stuff that came out of a cow anyway? I would love to have been in that conversation:

"You know Edmond, I've been thinking about drinking from that cow."
"... Are you serious Reginald?"
"Why, yes. Do you suppose I shouldn't?"
"No no, go ahead...sicko"

Why cows? Why not something else like... pigs? Its a mystery.

I need to cut back my sugar intake again, I feel like crap in the mornings. I probably look like crap too, but that's another story.

Have a great day!

- BuddhaDave

Insert random line here.

Stolen Post - The List

E-mail Submission

Hopefully my amigo Jon (http://the1jon.com) will forgive me plagiarizing
his post. It just seems like a fun post to make!

* Last alcoholic drink: Malibu rum and Coke on Saturday
* Last car ride: Back to work after lunch
* Last kiss: Getting dropped off at work after lunch
* Last good cry: A month or so ago, behind a parking lot. I think.
* Last library book checked out: Umm, I buy books. I'm a commiter!
* Last movie seen in theaters: V for Vendetta
* Last book read: If by "read" you mean "completed"... Cinema
Nirvana
* Last movie rented: I don't rent, I buy. I'm a commiter!
* Last cuss word uttered: Does "dick" count? If not probably fuck
then.
* Last beverage drank: Kombucha and mango drinky thing
* Last food consumed: PB&J and tomato soup
* Last crush: A gentleman never asks, and this lady never tells.
* Last phone call: From work on Sunday
* Last TV show watched: Full Metal Alchemist
* Last time showered: This morning around 6:30am
* Last shoes worn: Black DC Shoes
* Last CD played: C... D...?
* Last item bought: Some orange juice and teas
* Last download: Firefox 1.5.0.2
* Last annoyance: Diesel generator running outside all day
* Last soda drank: Coke
* Last thing written: Does my previous post count?
* Last sleep: Last night
* Last weird encounter: A normally shy two year old was very playful
* Last ice cream eaten: Marsha Marsha Marshmallow (<3 Ben & Jerry's)
* Last time amused: Two minutes ago, at a feisty IM convo
* Last time hugged: Getting dropped off at work after lunch
* Last time scolded: Friday
* Last time resentful: Friday
* Last chair sat in: My battleship of a chair here at work
* Last underwear worn: Green Old Navy boxers baby
* Last bra worn: Victoria's Secret's razorback
* Last shirt worn: Ultimate Polo I got for Easter
* Last webpage visited: www.the1jon.com

I'm gonna add some so I'm not a complete rip-offer:

* Last cigar smoked: Jericho churchill
* Last tea drank: Tazo's Envy green tea
* Last smell smelled: Diesel
* Last box set purchased: The Matrix
* Last thing listened to: The Diamond Age audio book
* Last wish wished: Naked The Misses

- BuddhaDave

Blech

Damn you Cheesecake Factory, damn you to Hell!

I forgot cheesecake is really just a big ol' delicious brick of angry lactose. I had a big piece last night and its still weighing my stomach down like a creamy white cinderblock. Ugh.

My arm hurts from throwing playing cards at my friends from Saturday night. I learned too late that its all in the wrist, not the arm. My ass is sore too, but I'm not sure why... Even though it was my first battle, my Kung Fu is not too weak. I was in the top three. Fun game! Especially coupled with jello shots of 151 and Malibu rum. My Magnificent Invincible Running-Up-The-Wall Wild table will pwn you When Done Correctly.

Congrats Sami on starting your new job today! Congrats The Misses on having an underling, hee hee. Heather, glad to hear you're feeling better. Congrats me for having the most links in a single paragraph ever!

Well, I better get back to work. Have a great day everyone!

- BuddhaDave

Drunken style has its advantages, but drinking every turn is most difficult.

Full Moon Confession - 04

I'm a little later with this post than usual. Its been an off last couple of days.

I've been fixin' to fast on full and new moons and this was the first time I actually remembered to try it. It went rather well, I was hungry after work for maybe five minutes and that was the only time all day. Besides the physical benefits (nice even energy level all day and a change for my body to rest) its interesting to me to see all the little cravings I have all day. I mostly snack when I'm bored, its a bad habit to have!

Well after making over a full lunar cycle without meat... I got tricked. I went out with my co-workers to a Chinese food joint called Flo's and ordered a spring roll. Now my experience with spring rolls may be limited, but the ones I had were always devoid of meat.

Well, Flo's packs theirs with chicken. I noticed about halfway through and it was a bad shock. I don't know if I'll ever be the kind of vegetarian that makes a huge deal of it, but I guess I'll have to be more careful.

Which I wasn't five days later. Apparently potato skins come with meat too. Sinfully delicious bacon, to be exact. Again, all the ones I've ever had didn't have bacon in them. And it was hidden under a blanket of cheese! Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. It has been a lesson in mindfulness of food, haha.

I haven't been to zen center since the all day retreat. Zen center isn't a necessity, but I feel lazy. I like to sleep in too much! Maybe if it ran Noon to 1:30 I wouldn't have a problem. I will probably be going tomorrow, granted I'm not up too late tonight. I'm blaming you, Sami, if I'm too tired to go. ;) I have been sitting regularly in the mornings so I don't feel too badly.

I was unmindful of how my words, even ones meant in jest, could affect others (as you may have noticed) and it caused suffering. There was a lot of back and forth and I wasn't present enough to let it go quickly. It dragged on far too long when it shouldn't have even started at all.

I haven't been as deeply mindful as I need to be, in all aspects. I'm going to make an effort to be more aware of what I'm doing at all times on every level. This is the root of a lot of my problems and it has been illustrated multiple times these past two weeks. Hopefully I won't need too many more lessons!

Have a great weekend and remember to smile for no reason at all!

- BuddhaDave

"Excuse me, waiter? Does this have any meat in it?"
"Dude, its pancakes."

I Don't Know

I'm sorry for offending you, Heather and Douglas714. I had no idea that little song would cause such grief. I meant it as a random joke, like a Winnie the Pooh song. I wasn't trying to tell you how to live. I have never tried to tell you how to run your life, nor have I ever presumed to do so. If I come across otherwise, again, I am sorry.

I do feel your reaction was unwarranted. You've hurt my feelings very badly, and on purpose. My offense was accidental, although I'm not excusing myself from blame. Your comments are, however, the rudest and meanest things anyone has ever said to me. While I can see how my Ant Song could be construed as being negative towards you, your comments are very clear on their aim.

After some thought I have decided to continue this blog. If you find me preachy and offensive (which I very well may be) please do not read me any anymore. While I do like when you enjoy my blog, I don't write to please you. I write to please me. If what I say causes grief it seems natural that you know what to do.

I however, don't know what to do. Your responses have made me feel unworthy to practice anymore. I feel contemptible and that nothing will come to any good. I search and I search myself and I don't see the kind of person you seem to think I am. How do I know, though, ya know? And all over a stupid song about ants...

I am aware I'm repeating the mistake of blogging instead of an alternative means of communication. Why? I don't know. Probably the same reason you decided to call me an asshole and an egotistical conversionist on my blog instead of in private e-mail or face to face.

I guess we both want people to know when we're hurt.

- BuddhaDave

Quotey McQuoterson

"Since everything is but an apparition, having nothing to do with good or bad, acceptance or rejection, one may well burst out in laughter."

-Longchenpa (14th century Tibet)

"Thus we see that the all-important thing is not killing or giving life, drinking or not drinking, living in the town or the country, being lucky or unlucky, winning or losing. It is how we win, how we lose, how we live or die; finally, how we choose. We walk, and our religion is shown (even to the dullest and most insensitive person), in how we walk. Living in this world means choosing, and the way we choose to walk is infallibly and perfectly expressed in the walk itself."

-R. H. Blyth

It reached 90 today. That means I can lose my hair and keep my honor. It shall be done. Do not shed tears Hyd, Wife of Dave. For it shall grow back with the change of the seasons with all its glory intact. (We just bought the LOTR trilogy, can you tell?)

Tomorrow is a full moon. Confessions and fasting will ensue.

- BuddhaDave

"Ants are friends, ants are good, Let em be like a nice person should, Don't go stomping or spraying that spray, Life is precious, treat it that wayyyyyeeeeeee!"

I'm In A Comic!

Ask The Misses, I pull that shit all day.

- HoboBuddha

"Live for the now. Live for the makeouts."

Please Do Not Litter The Temple

E-mailed Submission

Blugh. I drank last night after a good dry spell. I had a tall Kirin
and a bottle of hot sake. I feel good this morning, but last night I
noticed that being intoxicated isn't really that fun. On the shallow
level its a little entertaining. But I dug deeper and its no good. I
can tell my body is not happy.

I also ate meat on accident. My department went out after work to this
Chinese food place here in Scottsdale called Flo's. It was really good
but the menus weren't descriptive enough. I ordered spring rolls
thinking they were all veggie, but nope. About halfway through
(they're small anyway) I discover *gasp* chicken all up ins. Sorry
chicky, I didn't know. Then I had a pot sticker which I also
discovered was filled with beef. Damnit. They should list that crap
on the menu.

I'm not too broken up about it. It was just a bad surprise. I don't
want to eat meat for a reason.

I e-mailed the abbot of the zen center yesterday asking if they do lay
ordination. Its kinda like becoming an "official" Buddhist, as silly
as that sounds. Its entering the lineage of the Buddha. Its not
necessary for practice, but I feel compelled to do so.

Today I will be trying to sweep out the dust and debris that I let in.
Not too much, but you gotta keep the place clean or else before you
know it there's a filthy mess!

Funeral March Song Thingy

E-mailed Submission

*sniffle*

It is a dark time, my friends. The end of an era of happiness, and the
beginning of a reign of misery.

Last night at approximately 11:00 PM, we had to... we had to... turn on
the AC!

The forecast on Wunderground.com is showing the temperature in the
mid-eighties all week. I made a deal with The Misses: As soon as it
hits ninety I start shaving my head again. When it drops below seventy
I let it grow. I am practicing seasonal hair (thanks Heather!) this
year.

I have this urge to start referring to my house like its a spaceship in
Firefly. The AC is the life support system. All doors and windows are
airlocks. The mailman is Alliance, The Misses is Kaylee (woo woo) and
my TV is the navigation system. It will be fantabulous.

Enjoy the weather you have today, tomorrow you probably won't like it so
much.

- BuddhaDave