Today marks the one-year anniversary of my dad’s new set of eternal lungs. He’s breathing a lot better now, and for that we should all be grateful.

I’m curious though...as to what he’s doing these days? What’s he doing right now? What’s his new job? Where’s God got him working? Does he have his old afro back? I don’t know, but it’s exciting to think that one day we will meet again...

Addendum:

I had a dream about my dad last night...we were bow hunting when all of a sudden an enormous black bear, about 4 times larger than average, came roaring out of the thick woods. Its growl was paralyzing, and it was running as fast as a cheetah. My dad went after the bear, following it into the dark woods…I was nervously trying to nock my arrow (attaching it to the bowstring), preparing to shoot the bear if it tried to attack my dad. Then in the woods appeared a girl riding a fair colored horse, which seemed to relieve the stress of the outlandishly big black bear. It was as if she had somehow protected us from the bear.

The dream reminds me of one of my dad’s hunting trips when he had a bear approach him. He had no choice but to shoot the oncoming bear with an arrow, causing the bear to take off. Later in the day my dad crossed a path he had taken earlier in the day; he saw the blood of the bear on the path…it was then that he realized that after he had shot the bear, it had been stalking him...looking for revenge.

Today brought back some fond memories of my dad. One memory was sparked by some Lapsang Souchong Tea...it tastes a bit like a camp fire…weird but very good. This took me back to some great times camping up at Ross Lake, as well as in Eastern Washington during our annual fall and winter dear hunting trips.

A little later in the day I had the chance to do some fly fishing in a little pond here somewhere in the middle of Colorado...which again took me back to the countless times we went fishing on some of our family outback adventures. I never really liked fishing much as a kid, but it’s grown on me in my old age…I think it’s the nostalgia, and the ever so rare instance when I actually catch a fish.

My dad always loved to tell the story of when he was fishing and he was the only one catching fish. People were migrating towards him, thinking he’d found the secret fishing hole, so he’d move to another spot, and again be the only one catching fish. Finally, he walked out a few feet into the lake when suddenly a fish jumped right in front of him and he somehow managed to catch it with his bare hands. Not a bad day at the lake...and a story I loved to hear him tell every couple of years.

Today is my dad’s 57th birthday and I’m so glad I had the chance this day to do something he proudly taught me how to do over 25 years ago...fish.

Happy Birthday Dad!

11 Stories...

Here’s a 4 minute clip which shows the arduous journey which one must take to reach the studios of “TV MITROVICA” aka MTV. Here we are laboring up the steps with my friend Aferdita, who helped co-produce Luli’s short film. (Keep in mind, this clip is very rough, and quickly put together…)

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As a side note, which has nothing to do with this clip, today I went on what was to be a short little walk…I decided to head north, up past Main Beach in Laguna. My short walk turned into a 6 hour rock climbing fiasco that finished up in the southern Newport coast. I was walking and climbing around points, discovering new beaches...not wanting to turn around, having to climb back over the same rocks...so I kept going…and going...until finally I was on a rocky bluff, and had this quiet voice whisper in my ear, “If you fall, you’re dead!” I call this voice “fear” or, common sense. With one last rocky point to climb around, before I was home free, at a beach that connected with the Pacific Coast Highway, I removed the battery from my cell phone, (knowing that I could easily fall into the ocean, and lose all of my numbers), and then preceded to take on my last climb of the day. Needless to say, I’m alive, and my cell phone is still working. Soooo, if you’re looking for some nice quaint coves and you’re not afraid of heights, or falling, there are some truly amazing beaches north of Laguna...although, South Laguna still wins the battle of the best hidden beaches!

Video clips coming soon...

I’ve got about 30 minutes of footage cut so far. It is still extremely rough, and the story does not particularly flow, but it’s getting there, slowly but surely. I’d greatly appreciate your prayers this next week, as I am going to be working like crazy, trying to get a 30 minute rough cut off to the Sundance documentary fund; who has a granting review in the next few weeks. I need prayer for creative direction, as to how to best organize my timeline…and get the story flowing.

I will try and get some more clips posted this next week.

Super NFL Conspiracy Bowl 40

Well, somehow this all relates to Kosovo…I’m not sure how yet, but I know there's a connection...

Okay…I’m not bitter…well, that’s not true…actually I am bitter, but I’m almost enjoying the bitterness, as if I was looking for a good reason to be bitter, and now I finally have something to target my bitterness towards…the NFL…aka, WWF…where they rig the outcome of games here and there in order to make millions upon millions of dollars…I mean, why not, it’s big business? Actually…this could be the connection with Kosovo. The bitterness, the rigged politics, discrimination, bad policing (officiating), non-neutral playing field…etc…I’m beginning to see how the stories overlap…maybe the title is “Kosovo: Where the NFL went wrong”

I’m curious if anyone else has any thoughts and “Conspiracy” related theories regarding Sunday’s Super Bowl? Or, if anyone has any kind words to help those of us that are lamenting another colossal Seattle sports nightmare...

(as a side note, I did watch the game with a group of Steelers’ fans who were very cordial)

As I see it, along with the ABC commentators, and ESPN analysts, the two touchdowns they mistakenly called back from the Seahawks, and the touchdown, that actually wasn’t a touch down, that they gave to the Steelers; there was a 21 point disparity in the final score…which, if I do my math correctly, means that the Seahawks, who lost by 11 points, would have actually won by 10 points…I’m no math major, but that’s a bit disconcerting.

The associated press, also seemed to raise a few doubts regarding the quality of the NFL officiating…

“That mess directly resulted in 18 lost points — including a disputed Steelers touchdown — two lost first downs, 176 lost yards. And one, bitterly lost Super Bowl.”

Anyhow…
On the bright side, what an amazing season, and alas, today is another day, and deep down I have a sense of pride, knowing that the best team was cheated out of Super Bowl 40 by the worst officiating in the history of the world. So, cheers to the Seahawks, and their ability to keep their heads up after winning the race yet having the gold medal stolen in the land of the yellow flags where the politicians wear black and white. This, I guess, is how it all ties in with Kosovo…life isn’t always fair, in fact it rarely is, yet somehow, through it all, we have to keep our heads up, knowing that it’s not always about winning…but about the journey…(I’m in denial)…

1,211.44 mile drive...

Your prayers would be greatly appreciated over the next 24 hours, as I’m driving down to California from Seattle, in a Saab that is filled to the brim…I’m not sure I’ve ever seen more things stuffed into a car…which I’m not necessarily proud of…and which has me a little concerned, as the car looks as though it has been lowered by about six inches. I’ve got an appointment in 24.5 hours, so your prayers for alertness, safety, and timeliness would be truly appreciated!

Go Seahawks!!!

A couple quick clips...

Here's a clip shot a few months ago of Luli in the bombed out Trepca Theater. Here he is telling me of his desire to show a film in the destroyed building - hoping to make a statement regarding the other theaters in the area which are occupied by the French military and the UN police.

This clip is outside of Luli’s office…it raises some questions regarding reenactments in documentaries…is it okay to reenact scenes…even when it means tricking the audience into thinking the reenactment was the only enactment?