Well, the day after I wrote my last blog entry we had a bit of an earthquake (5.4) and things shook around for a bit but it wasn't too bad! That was Wednesday July 7, 2010.
On Friday 10 July I had dinner with my friend Jackie at the Home Restaurant nearby and the following day, Saturday did a bike ride but it was really far too hot and I had a bit of heat exhaustion afterward.
I rested up and that evening attended the first of three Saturday evening events to bring us all up to date on Scientology's progress in creating a saner and safer society.
It was amazing to learn that our ship, Freewinds, was featured on a comemorative postage stamp for the island nation of St Kitts and that it had been invited as the only civilian ship to participate with the US Marines and Colombian Special Forces, in anti-pirate exercises off the South American coast. Freewinds has been upgraded again to a condition better than when she was first built and that has created quite a stir in the nautical world.
At the event, I also ran into a young man (but old friend) who I had not seen for several years. It was so nice to meet up with Josh again now that he is back in Los Angeles.
The next day, Sunday July 11, I attended a seminar and got some very helpful data regards helping others.
Monday, I had a one-time supervising job way out in Artesia at a dental office. It was a long trip for a couple of hours of course time but I need the pay (which is a good rate), and on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I supervised staff on courses for a couple of hours each day on the upper floor of a down-town Los Angeles high-rise building.
Friday I spent the entire day working on my website business and then Saturday morning I had breakfast with Jackie K. She always has interesting news about her week.
In the evening it was the second of the three Scientology events and I went with friend Sue Z. These events are held at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood where the Oscars and other awards shows are now held. This one was wonderful with new entrance courses released in 15 languages covering all the life subjects that people have difficulty with.
Sunday was the official opening of the new Church Organization in Pasadena, City of Roses, and I drove out to witness that. We are certainly very much loved by the city officials there and the new organization is really beautiful. It was a huge crowd but I did get to have a quick look inside.
My friend Suesan W. was down in Los Angeles for a few days on business and she'd had her birthday a couple of days before arriving. So on Monday evening, July 19, 2010 I took her out to dinner at the Cheese Cake Factory restaurant at the Americana on Brand. We had a great meal and a great time and she got a little surprise icecream cake and the birthday song because I tipped off out waitress that it was her birthday.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I supervised staff on courses at the down-town Los Angeles high-rise again for a couple of hours each day.
Friday, July 23, 2010 was the 23rd birthday of one of my ex-students - my wonderful Japanese friend, Hiro. I was thrilled to be invited! The home where he held the party was on the very edge of the hillside of the magnificent Valley with beautiful mountains across the valley on the other side - and a waterfall and swimming pool at the edge of the property as it falls away to the beautiful, uninterrupted panorama view.
About 10 of my ex-students were there and they were so happy to see me (and I, them) that it made the evening unbelievably enjoyable for me. Hiro and his American girlfriend both came in traditional Japanese dress as did a few of the other people. The BBQ was great as were the games and best of all I got to hold the big boa constrictor snake belonging to Bruce, owner of this wonderful home. The boa curled happily around me for about half an hour. We loved each other! It's actually the first time I've touched a snake and I was quite amazed at the amount of affinity I had for it.
Next day, Saturday July 24, 2010, I had breakfast with my good friend Jackie K. again and in the afternoon went for a bike ride and got in some sunning.
In the evening I went to the final of the three Saturday evening Scientology events at the Kodak Theater with my good friend Sue Z again. This time, because of the traffic the previous Saturday, we just walked over to the metro and for 25 cents got the underground right to the stop for the Kodak Theater. It was Sue's good idea and was really hassle-free.
The event was great - going over our social programs - Citizens Commission for Human Rights in the mental health fields to stop psychiatric abuses, The Way to Happiness for improved morality, Human Rights for improved justice and freedoms. Drug Education to cut drug use way down, Volunteer Ministers to give aide at disasters , etc. The way that city, state and national leaders speak about up now indicates we have attained opinion-leader status in these areas and for the Church itself. Then we got a preview of the new mega-website for the Church and for L. Ron Hubbard. It is huge with over 500 videos now viewable in 16 languages - making 8,000 videos on the site in addition to all the other data. L. Ron Hubbard's biography is now the most watched biography on the entire internet.
Today, Sunday, 25 July 2010, I went for a bike ride, got a couple of hours of sun to ensure I keep the vitamin D3 in my blood high - and after handling my e-mail and writing this blog entry I will do more work on the website.
Love to all and I'll blog to you again soon.
Barry
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Through 4th July Independence day holiday.
It's been a busy weekend!
On Monday June 28th I had a visit from Hiro S., my Japanese ex-student. Then on Monday evening I went with Sue Z. to see the movie "Knight and Day" (staring Tom Cruise). It was fast paced action and very funny.
I've spent so much time this week on the eBooks - compiling, finding the settings all moved during compiling and having to rearrange every page again - figuring out how to set up affiliate sales - and am still struggling with how to put them in zip files, upload them to my website and make a download link for buyers. It's all so new to me and slow going but I'm slowly getting there.
Friday Hiro S. came and picked me up and we had lunch together at Square One - local restaurant. Hiro has a lot of respect for me and seeks help with his life plans. His dad runs a Buddhist temple in Japan.
Friday night I had dinner at Home Restaurant with Jackie K.
Saturday was a work on the eBooks day and then on Sunday, July 4th, Independence day I had a day of play.
At 3:00 pm I set off on the 18 miles to Sunland to friends Javier and Vanessa G's home and a BBQ. My friend Joe L. arrived and to my surprise 4 of my ex-students arrived there also - Damiano S, Jerome G, Juan Carlos R, and Hiro S,. again - along with a couple of other old friends Mark and Jerald who I had not seen in many years - and lots of Javier and Vanessa's family members.
We had a great BBQ meal with hot dogs, beef, chicken, salads, olives, pickles and other goodies.
Then out came the watermelon, pineapple, cherries, chocolate biscuits, donuts and cake and ice cream - desert choices. Of course I had some of everything!
Then six of us ended up playing Texas Hold Poker. There was myself from NZ, Joe from China, Juan Carlos from Dominican Republic, Mark fro Germany, Damiano from Albania and Jerome from Holland. Incidentally the host, Javier is from Ecuador and Vanessa is from the USA. It was an international poker game for sure - I wasn't first out but I didn't win either!
By the time that was over it was getting dark and the local families all began setting off their fireworks in the street. Some were very impressive, particularly as they were bursting directly above our heads.
That was all over when suddenly the major firework display at the nearby Sunland park started up. Wow! That was really something! Just amazing - really, really impressive and very beautiful.
It went on for a long time and what we though was the final big climax kept turning out to be just part-way-through surges.
When it was all finally over and we had chatted around we all took out leave and headed off home.
Today, Monday, July 5, was the off-work-holiday for everyone as the 4th fell on Sunday this year. This morning I answered a call for help from Sue Z. and drove to her place to help her with a computer program problem. She eventually got some very nice business cards created and ordered and was happy for my help.
The rest of today I watched an old Yul Bruner movei, "Men of the Sun", on TV and I have worked for hours on the eBooks problems.
Well - that's the update for now - I'll talk to you all again soon.
Lots of Love,
Barry
On Monday June 28th I had a visit from Hiro S., my Japanese ex-student. Then on Monday evening I went with Sue Z. to see the movie "Knight and Day" (staring Tom Cruise). It was fast paced action and very funny.
I've spent so much time this week on the eBooks - compiling, finding the settings all moved during compiling and having to rearrange every page again - figuring out how to set up affiliate sales - and am still struggling with how to put them in zip files, upload them to my website and make a download link for buyers. It's all so new to me and slow going but I'm slowly getting there.
Friday Hiro S. came and picked me up and we had lunch together at Square One - local restaurant. Hiro has a lot of respect for me and seeks help with his life plans. His dad runs a Buddhist temple in Japan.
Friday night I had dinner at Home Restaurant with Jackie K.
Saturday was a work on the eBooks day and then on Sunday, July 4th, Independence day I had a day of play.
At 3:00 pm I set off on the 18 miles to Sunland to friends Javier and Vanessa G's home and a BBQ. My friend Joe L. arrived and to my surprise 4 of my ex-students arrived there also - Damiano S, Jerome G, Juan Carlos R, and Hiro S,. again - along with a couple of other old friends Mark and Jerald who I had not seen in many years - and lots of Javier and Vanessa's family members.
We had a great BBQ meal with hot dogs, beef, chicken, salads, olives, pickles and other goodies.
Then out came the watermelon, pineapple, cherries, chocolate biscuits, donuts and cake and ice cream - desert choices. Of course I had some of everything!
Then six of us ended up playing Texas Hold Poker. There was myself from NZ, Joe from China, Juan Carlos from Dominican Republic, Mark fro Germany, Damiano from Albania and Jerome from Holland. Incidentally the host, Javier is from Ecuador and Vanessa is from the USA. It was an international poker game for sure - I wasn't first out but I didn't win either!
By the time that was over it was getting dark and the local families all began setting off their fireworks in the street. Some were very impressive, particularly as they were bursting directly above our heads.
That was all over when suddenly the major firework display at the nearby Sunland park started up. Wow! That was really something! Just amazing - really, really impressive and very beautiful.
It went on for a long time and what we though was the final big climax kept turning out to be just part-way-through surges.
When it was all finally over and we had chatted around we all took out leave and headed off home.
Today, Monday, July 5, was the off-work-holiday for everyone as the 4th fell on Sunday this year. This morning I answered a call for help from Sue Z. and drove to her place to help her with a computer program problem. She eventually got some very nice business cards created and ordered and was happy for my help.
The rest of today I watched an old Yul Bruner movei, "Men of the Sun", on TV and I have worked for hours on the eBooks problems.
Well - that's the update for now - I'll talk to you all again soon.
Lots of Love,
Barry
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