Hey, so here's a pic of Lindsay and I up at Horsetooth Resevoir up above FOCO. It's a pretty cool pic, and she's one of the only ones that reads this so I am putting it up.

Looking at that picture of me, and then comparing it to pictures form the spring of 2002 that I was just checking out blows me away. I was SOOOO skinny and in shape then. I really wish I still looked like that. I was freaking hot, now wonder I dated a bunch of girls that year! haha J/K, but man I would like to be in good shape like that again. Its weird, you can see it almost completely in my face where I have gained weight. Its like my cheeks and neck have big globules of fat glued on. Oh well, I suppose if I wanted to be in shape I could - I did it once before.

So Ashley will be over to pick me up and then I'm going to drive us down in her car to see "War of the Worlds" in Westminster w/ James and Laura. I'm pretty excited - althought my main man Ebert only gave this thing 2 stars. Pretty much every other critic says its worth seeing just for the effects, and I'm definetely in the mood for some on-screen eye candy and theater sound and all that good stuff. Besides I like Tom cruise as an actor and can't think of much Spielberg has done that I don't find really good (just recently Terminal AND Catch me if you can.. 2 really good overlooked movies). Lots of the reviews I read online today compared this movie to the original Jurassic Park, which is one of my all time favorites. Basically Aliens instead of Dinos. So I think I'll enjoy it, even though we're driving all the way to Denver to see the thing.

Hopefully Ashley will be in a good mood (if not sleeping), and also Amy she is is along. Both Ashley and Laura sounded flustered on the phone just now. James is missing apparently, but he'll show up. Laura and james are so ridiculously in love, its almost sick if they weren't so perfect for eachother. I just thought of that from being able to tell Laura was worried about James, and also from what he said last night as he talked about her.

Man, looking through those old pics from the UNI and DMACC days brought back some memories. After I had my car accident and got on depression meds that first winter at DMACC, its like I was transformed somehow. I started working out and all that, which I think really helped, and I became like number one dude to know for this weird period of time. I swear I had so many friends, who were really true friends (or at least really great to be w/ at the time), that I met and hung out w/ in that kinda cool and weird time in my life. Both at ISU, then DMACC, then UNI. Its so funny though, because I can remember being really depressed at UNI, thinking I should transfer to ISU, because I felt lonely and stuff. But when I compare all the cool experiences I had then, and all the people I knew, I really was pretty well off especially compared to the boredom of my life as of late. Thats why this whole Island Adventure is definetely needed. Hell, even if its a month, i can say I tried it and had no regrets.

One thing that sucks is that I won't get ot see James and Laura anymore, or Eric when he's in town. Plus everyone at work is nice and stuff - its just time for something new. Also, Laura Van Arsdale is moving here so that would have been fun to hang out w/ her in town. I told Ashley about that on the phone - she doesn't like LAVA at all. And obviously the hardest thing will be leaving Ashley...

It's needed though, something needs to jump-start me. I look at those pictures, and honestly can see more life, more excitement, more "something" in my eyes then I see when I look in the mirror today. I want that something back, and I'm hoping this trip somehow leads to that. Its still another 6 weeks away though, and that seems like an eternity.

I've been doing a real good job lately at work, but today and yesterday my motivation just wasn't there. Hopefully tomorow I can get a bunch of shit done I've been putting off and finish everything I need to up Friday so I can truly enjoy spending Sunday and Monday w/ my parents. I hope that goes ok - I think it will. I sorta had my freakout a few weeks ago when they sent me the "you're not being responsible like we expect" letter, so that I don't think will come up when they are here. Mom said she wants me to be myself more... How I do that I don't really know - truth be told, "myself" is pretty fucking boring lately. Well I'm just hoping it goes ok, maybe we'll actually get into some good real conversations, which hasn't happened in a long, long time.

The thing is, when you fuck up as badly as I did and hurt your girlfriend like I did, and your parents know all the sordid details cause you didn't know what else to do but call your mom crying - it somewhat humiliating to come home to them... OK movie time!!! more on this later

What's More Dangerous than rock climing? : Rock Climbing w/ no health insurance!!!

Well, sorry to end so suddenly last night. I ended up going over to campus in the CSU truck and getting the wheelchair delivered. Not fun but not too bad either. Hey, another hour of pay right? Then this morning I get the call at 7am Donna needs the ONE wheelchair- GREAT! Well she made it over to the corbett office and it all worked out. Karen calls at 7:30, wants me to the student center by 8. This works fine cuz i need motivation AND she says I'm gonna get paid under the table to move boxes for this Lunch Lady conferece, in addition to my CSU pay.

Guess what? Doesn't happen! I spend 3ish hours busting my ass lifting seriously heavy boxes and delivering them all over the student center and I don't end up getting anything. This would have bee completely fine w/ me had they not promised Karen they'd pay me... Oh well - teaches me to wear my CSU shirt I guess when I'm doing "extra" jobs like that. I guess it got me out of my office and some exercise, and besides I was still on the clock w/ CSU (I think I actually put in like 10 plus hours today, yahoo).

Just got back from rockclimbing and bouldering w/ James up at the resevoir. That was really fun and I hope we do it some more. The main thing was not challenging myself too much as I dont' have insurance right now, neither does James. There was a lot of routes I knew from my small experiences climbing at UNI and just from knowing what I can do that I could have done, but i didn't for fear of a stupid mistake and falling over 10 feet. It was really beautiful up there tonight. A good sunset and the lake was gorgeous. I'm so dumb for not finding a way to get out and enjoy everything CO Has to offer more. Even w/o a car I should get up to the foothills and mountains and do more stuff outside. Thats one thing I really regret, and I'm going to take every chance to take in the Colorado stuff that is no where else in the next month. Thats why I told my parents I want to go up the Poudre w/ them, and also why I am excited to go w/ Ben on the train to New Mexico.

Man, he is really being not just a good brother, but a good friend. He's coming all the way out for basically a whole week to get me and bring me and my shit back to Iowa. And he knows I can't afford much and is only making me pay for gas one way.. thats pretty cool. I don't think I've ever done nething for him like that. I shouldn't type stuff like "nething" because it makes me look less intelligent. I should proofread too, but I"m too lazy for that.

In writing Ben back, I was forced to think a little about what it will be like to say goodbye to Ashley. She will probably be the last person I see before I leave Fort Collins. Just thinking about this starts to bring on the waterworks, so it will be interesting to see how long I can deny that its really going to happen. God, I love her. Some days I wish badly we were still in love like in the beginning... but its just not the same anymore. hmmpffff... I don't want to have to think about this yet.

On a positive note - Karen emailed me today just to say I was doing a good job after I sent out some feedback from the goalkeeper conference. Also, she told me that verbally as well after I sent out another email that explained some sorta confusing stuff to a sponsor. That kind of stuff is good to hear and I'm glad that I work in our office w/ the people I do. I think this is almost 100 percent because of Craig, and also Gwynne to some extent, and the atmosphere they have chosen to create w/in OCS. Its not quite camp with P and T's every week and hugs everyday, but its a hell of a lot better than a bunch of other offices I'm betting.

This makes me think my prospects are good for finding "real" work post CSU and Maho Bay. It's just what in the hell that work will actually be. I think it would be cool to help James w/ his camp idea... I can definetely see something like that in my future. What else? Peace Corps? Americorp? go back to school so I can teach? Anything that pays the bills so I can live and be w/ friends and family in Iowa? Anything that pays the bills in Colorado? I really have no fucking idea at this point.

Well... 2 nights in a row! its a miracle. I'm gonna put something in the oven to eat and start up the laundry and wash my one pair of shorts. Hopefully I'll keep this up and post tomorow. OH, and Cribs Brevard was really funny, I'll have to say something about that. Later.

Well, its obvious I'm not really keeping up my end of the bargain on this blog thing!! I'm doing about one a month, not quite what I'd hoped for. I DO have some reason to believe I actually might start writing more though: I'm thinking about sending my TV back with Mom and Pop next weekend. I know... T.J. w/ no TV - what the hell is the world coming to?

The thing is, if I do have them take back my TV then I wouldn't have to worry about fitting it into Ben's truck (Ashley's garage for the week before), OR it getting rained on if its in the back of Ben's truck. Besides, I don't want TV anymore anyway cuz I can't get any reception, and I think I have another few weeks to cancel my Blockbuster online membership - even if I don't cancel, I can watch DVDs on my computer. So, I'm probaly going to see if they can take the TV back as well as my mini-bandsaw. The chances that I'll use either of those much in the next 35 days is pretty slim.

I Hope Ashley's OK we me storing stuff in her garage - she said she is... and I told her just to let me know if she wanted to change her mind. Anyway, thats really awesome of her.. now I just have to hope I can get permission to use the CSU truck and maybe get some help outloading stuff from my apartment. I was going to start "packing" and condensing stuff tonight but I doubt I'll get around to it.

Today has been weird... I decided not to set my alarm and just wait for my cell phone to ring from work to wake me up (i didn't have anything scheduled that I needed to be on campus for - just on call for problems w/ the AIDS conference or nething else). This happened about 8:30 with a call from the Corbett front desk staff - thankfully, it was a girl named sarah that is nice, however, if she had read the info form I put together, she would not have needed to call me.. OH WELL. It was ok anyway, cuz 3 minutes later Karen calls, and needs me to go to campus to let some people into the student center to get sound equipment out they had forgotten last night. She asks if I'm "awake" and I'm honest w/ her and tell her I just woke up not dressed or nething but that I can be to campus in 15 minutes - luckily I took the truck last night - gotta remember to get in early tomorrow (it WAS raining!! AND C2ea has needed me a lot). Anyway, so I go to campus, meet these guys, lead them through the kitchen in the LSC to the ballroom, pick up their shit, and then figure out how to operate the big giant freight elevator - I didn't mind too much.

So I get back to my place and decide I'll go back to sleep. I figure my phone will ring again... it does, about 15 min. after I lay down I think.. luckily a basic question I can answer from home on some mini-fridges needing to be put into some dorm rooms. I pop in "Resevoir Dogs" for the second time and eat a bowl of that pour-over cheddar popcorn, it looks pretty gross and is probably so bad for me but I had craving. I fall asleep for the 2nd time to the movie in 2 days, and figure I'll get woken up w/in the hour by the phone. Turns out I sleep from like Noon to 7 P.M.!!!!! I woke up every hour or so to roll over since I have my futon on the floor and its not comforatable at all, but man, i just slept the day away.

So i got up a few hours ago, took a shower, and contemplated cleaning up my apartment as its been pretty messy since lindsay's visit (not her fault - just have my camping shit and clothes everywhere along w/ the usual plates, pop cans, etc.). This didn't sound too appealing, but I was hungry. I have food here.. and I've been making a serious attempt to save money by not eating out. I just needed to get out of my place though, its hot, stuffy and I wanted to interact w/ some other humans. I called James but he got a flat - tomorrow I may take him to the tire place on lunch w/ the OCS truck. So I decide on Waffle House, the new one, and walk down there.

It was kinda funny walk cuz I decided to go down the alleys instead of on the streets. I have never felt in danger in Fort Collins, but it was sorta spooky cuz it was all dark. It also smelled bad, because all those houses and businesses have their dumpsters in the alley. Luckily, my appetite was still in tact by the time I arrived and Waffle House did not dissapoint on the human interaction/entertainment aspect. I grabbed a Coloradoan but was immediately helped out and my order taken, then this girl comes up behind the counter and says "HEY, GIVE ME FIVE BUDDY!" I oblige, because she seems to seriously need me to slap her hand in a big way. Let me paint a picture: This girl is probably 19-20, slightly overweight, black, and has decided to "paint" pencil-thin eyebrows onto her forhead in place of the real thing. I thought to myself that she almost resembled a clown as much as your typical "made-up" girl - and wondered if she knew that she might look sorta funny to most people - but then I just thought, eh.. to each their own. It wasn't even her look that was so strange. She went on to explain to me that she "hadn't slept in 32 hours!!" I asked if she was an insomniac, thinking back to "The Machinist" i pretty cool movie I watched last night. She said - "Either that or freaking CRAZY!!!" Well that was the last I conversed with this character, but she sure was interesting to watch the rest of my time as I scarfed down my waffle, eggs, and toast and read about this weekend's Brewfest activities. I honestly think if I had been the manager, I would have sent her home for lack of professionalism. But then I think - I've been to the waffle house twice now, and I don't think professionalism and customer service seems to be what they are concerned about most. Still.. I'll go back :)

So I'm thinking going to sleep tonights not going to be particularly easy after sleeping a good 7 hours this afternoon. That sucks, cuz I want to be to the office by 7:30 tomorrow and always from now on... this way I'll have 8 hours in by 3:30, and I'll usually stay til at leat 4:30-5, so that guarantees some overtime above and beyond the weekend hours. We'll see how this plan pans out, as last week I didn't go in before 9 cuz linds was here and stuff, and no one seemed to care at all - at least I still worked late everynight go get at least 8 hours a day.

Still, no matter how many extra hours I work, the money's just not going to add up like I want/need it to. I want to have my credit card completely paid off by the time of the trip to the islands, AND almost more importantly at this point, I want to have my parents paid back. The thing is, there is no way I can do both, pay my remaining bills, and have enough money to prepare and then LIVE on St. John for a month w/o a job, even if I make a ton on all the rest of my paychecks. So basically, I'm hoping to have my credit paid off, at least a grand for the VI(OK, this probably won't happen, but I don't think it would be smart to go down w/ any less than $500), and then continue (START!) to pay my parents back the $1200 bucks I owe them. I just know the little things are going to add up though that I don't think about when I'm budgeting - - - no more eating out!!! I doubt the security deposit on the apartment will be much more than have of the $400 i had to put down, as they've pretty much been shitty to deal with and don't seem to have much respect for their tenants - hopefully I can schedule a walkthrough though so all the deduct for is carpet cleaning. Then there is the PERA money that is going into an account each paycheck. I think this should be about $500 by the time I quit CSU and get ahold of it - so hopefully this can go toward what I owe Mom and Pop or into savings. I'm REALLY hoping I can get out of my T-mobile account - and I need to cancel everthing else soon (phone line for internet, blockbuster). I'm freaking about money, BUT, I realize I'm lucky too... No student loans, no car payments, no car insurance, basically nothing after this months on Friday and then the additional utitly payments (which will be a lot). The thing is, I NEED to get insurance before my trip, would like to go to the Dentist, and maybe the Dr. So that all will add up.

AHH, i just stressed myself out thinking about that stuff. Oh well, i need something to do to stay up for awhile, cuz Ashley is supposed to call when she gets back in town from Camp, and I worry about her driving in the mountains at night - 1 year ago she wouldn't even drive to Denver. The thing is, I wouldn't worry about her if she was w/ me, or more likely with James and Laura. She's w/ susan though, and susan's friendly and great and I love her, but she is a lot more immature (just turned 21 - the night I picked up Ashley at 4:30am). Her friends got Ashley trashed, and it sounds like they delight in the things just about every 21 year old does - getting hammered in public, doing stuff that is crazy, fun, and boderlines on dangerous just about everytime. Maybe I just worry too much, Ash can take care of herself but she relies on other people and I don't want her doing that when she is smarter/more mature than those she's relying on. Ashley got mad at me the other night for expressing some of this - telling me she could take care of herself and she hated everyone worrying about her and thinking she couldn't make her own decisions. I guess all I can say is that I love and care about her, and that I just want the best for her.

Last night I talked to Patty Degen on the phone for about an hour. I had to call to see if it was OK for me to stay at there place before Ben picks me up in August. It was of course fine. We actually had a really good talk about me and Ashley (i didn't tell her everything), Brian and Julie, Brett, and how we've all grown up in different ways. Its so funny, because I can tell she loves Brian very much, but I still think that she is "surprised" he has a girlfriend and so many good friends. I told her that I'm just lucky to have Brian as my best friend and that when I'm with him I honestly feel like I can do/take on just about anything. We talked about that ability of his - how he just makes the best of things and can be happy anywhere anytime. But ya on a sad note their little schnauser Heinikin - who I never got to know or like as much as Mausi - had a stroke and is paralyzed. Sounds like they will put him down after Brian's visit. Patty asked me to pray for him... I said I'd give my "best thoughts" towards him before I went to bed and she said that was "good enough." This left me feeling weird... so I actually did say a "real" prayer to the Christian God that Patty believes in. I emailed her and told her, so hopefully things work out how they are meant to for them and Heinekin.

It was really nice having Linday and Abby here. I like Abby and am glad she came. Its funny, she in many ways seems very sure of herself and her opinions (she reminded me SO much of Lee), yet she was always asking and double checking on EVERYTHING!!! haha but I had a great time w/ those girls and a lot more fun then when amber and her friends came out (sorry if you ever read this amber - but it was just a whole different connection). On a selfish note, to be able to drive throught RMNP and up to CCO was absolutley amazing for me. Colorado is so beautiful, and I honestly forget because I don't make it up there w/ work and no car and stuff. As I was walking down to join CCO for vespers (which I missed cuz they were so early!!), I actually started crying at the beauty that surrounded me, and the memories that flooded my brain. If I ever find another place as beautiful and where I feel as at home as CCO I'll be one lucky bastard. I was ready to be assigned a cabin of kids and stay for the rest of the summer. That whole trip up there was great - sure people got cranky and stuff, and I hope that the girls didn't get offended as I spend some much needed meditation type alone time at certain point during hte trip - but overall it was really awesome and beautiful not just in physical sights and surroundings but in the people and conversations as well.

Same thing when we went up in the Poudre Valley Tuesday night - I was like "God why don't I do this every week." It was SO insanely gorgeous up there, and just sitting by the river watching the kayakers and eventually the sun disappearing over the moutains and lighting up the clouds and cliffs in purples and oranges, and being FUCK!!! I have to go into work right now 11:15 P.M. Great planning by the C2EA people huh!? I'll finish this when I get back w/ another post.. later

Well I just got back from dinner with James at Perkins. It was good, as we don't usually have a chance to hang out together just me and him. Usually its Laura at least and Chris and Ashley (well used to be), which is fine but its also good to talk to James. In fact, thats the only reason I'm updating my blog and might try and start writing in it again. He mentioned he still writes in his and so I checked it out and have been reading it for quite awhile.

The thing that I like about reading his posts is that its clear he stops and takes stock in whats going on in his life, and why, and what will come next. I don't think I do this enough. Its like one of my all time movie heros Ferris Bueller said: "Life moves pretty fast - If you don't stop and look around once in awhile you might miss something." That movie is pretty good for website quotes, as I know my brother used that same one on his train site and Simm used one for her blog. I started watching it the other night on DVD cuz my TV reception (thats right, no cable) is shit. I fell asleep right after Cameron fell in the pool. Sloane looks hot in her little undershirt outfit in that scene... hmmm sorry got sidetracked.

Anyway, I hope I get to hang out w/ James a lot more before I move, even if he moves to Denver. Yesterday I had lunch w/ Laura and that was nice (she even bought me lunch!) but also made me sad. James and Laura have both remained my friends when they could have VERY easily turned their backs on me. Thats not something that I look on lightly... I'm really lucky to have them in my life and I hope that we all stay in touch no matter where we end up.

Work is going OK. It seems like the days are flying by which is good, but I also come home exhausted every night. Its not that things are particularly hard, more that I just am so tired from staring at my screen answering emails and typing up forms all day. As the summer progresses I hope to get out more on campus, even if thats just doing bitch work for the big money conferences like delivering coffee or some shit. I'd rather be doing that than filling out another fucking information form. Still, its not all bad, just sometimes hard knowing i'm only making 8 bucks and hour and doing quite a bit of work. I'm hoping that my hard work in the past few weeks is being recognized and that my reccomendations will be stellar from the entire OCS staff and especially Craig. We'll see.

Almost exactly 2 months til I'm done at CSU, then about 10 days before I fly out of Chicago for St. John. crazy.. I hope what happened to James in AK doesn't happen to me, but I guess there is no way to know. I just can't wait to see what Island life is like. If its really as laid back and stuff as I've been reading, I think I'll fit in. It's not that I don't want to work hard in my life... Its just that I want to enjoy every possible moment. I'll work my ass off if I'm happy. I did at summer camp for 2 years. I really hope Maho Bay is like that. I think I'd rather stay on and work there than find another island job.. but then again i really don't know. If i found a "Real" job on the islands that would be amazing. I REALLY hope I make friends easily down there. I've neglected forming the kinds of strong relationships that really are what get you through in life here in Ft. Collins. It's like Ashley, James, Laura, Eric... then it just kind of drops off. Thats not to say I don't have other great friends here, just not those deeper relationships.

Saying that makes me think about Ashley, how weird things are right now. Why hasn't she messaged me in the past two days? I don't even think I'll go into Monday morning and what happened. It just seems like she'd at least message me...

OK, Enough for tonight.. but as I was searching for Sarah's addy earlier to sent her a sympathy card cuz her really cool grandpa died i found this random letter/story I made up and sent to my grandpa. Fits w/ the whole looking forward to the islands thing (I just pasted it and the spacing got all screwed up, live with it):

Dear Boompa and Granny,First I'd like to say many thanks for the generous check in the amount of $33.21. After reading your harrowing hospital experience I was quite impressed with the bravery and courage you displayed in saving that poor man's money. And a very good choice, I thought to myself, when you described keeping the money and then forwarding it to yours truly; you never know what those cops are looking for these days, why they may have mistaken your cathetar for some type of terrorist bomb!Well, whoa whoa whoa.. I said to myself upon opening your letter and taking a look at the check. It's been quite some time since this type of money has come my way with nothing to spend it on (my previous paycheck from work had gone to pay for new dining room dishes for Ashley's valentine's day gift). It was as if the very world was at my fingertips!My significant other was somewhat less enthused as I excitedly showed her the check and recounted your amazing crimefighting tale. "Eh... Cool", she responded, "but what can 34 bucks get you?"What can 34 bucks get you!!! It became obvious to me that she has much to learn about the ingenuity of a Hicks man. "I'll show you what 34 bucks can get you!!", I exclaimed (not actually knowing what 34 bucks could get me to impress my beautiful girl).Well I figured I couldn't just sit around hoping for something to happen, so we immediately cashed the check last Friday and promptly spent $12.57 on a tank full of gas for Ashley's Ford Escape SUV and drove to Denver. I smiled as we arrived in the mile-high city, again Ashley was less enthused, "So.. we're in Denver.. what can being in Denver get you?"At this very moment we were waved at frantically from the side of the road by a large dreadlocked black man who seemed to be doing everything he could to get someone's attention. Having nothing better to do, I slowed to see if we could be of some sort of assistance. The man, responding in what seemed to be a type of English Creole I could barely understand, thanked us profusely. "Hey mon! Hey mon! tank you tank you. You must do me a favor, I am stuck here in Denver, but I need to get word back to Barbados that grandmother is just fine!!" Confused, but intrigued, I asked the man how we could help, "here take these, the directions are in the envelope!!" he exclaimed as he handed me a large envelope. And like that he was gone! (he was wearing roller skates and it appeared as if they must have had some special lubricant!! he was off in a flash). I opened the envelope and to my astonishment found 2 tickets from Denver to Barbados, by way of Miami. Also included was a small note with some directions. What's more, the tickets were good for the flight leaving in an hour!I smiled at Ashley, "Looks like 34 bucks is taking us to the Caribbean!"11 hours later, we touched down in the Tropics. Now you're probably asking yourself, "T.J., how could you possibly get through airport security and so forth these days with just a couple of random tickets??" Well... I'd tell you but its a long story and I have to go to class soon, lets just say that it worked out and only cost me $9.37 and my phone number given out to a beautiful young head flight attendant (Ashley still hasn't forgiven me for that one)."Well", I said, looking out at the beach and crystal blue waters as we exited the airport,"we're in Barbados, whatcha wanna do?"Ashley immediately reminded me of the man back in Denver and the directions he had provided us with. After conferring with the locals on the whereabouts shown on the scrap of paper we had been given, we were told that the only way to get to the small mountain village was by donkey. Turns out donkey day rentals aren't cheap, but ashley convinced me that we had to do our duty and I spent $7.75 in U.S. dollars on a couple of Donkeys.After travelling for a couple of hours on winding dirt trails, we finally reached a small agricultural village high in the mountains. I quickly dismounted my noble steed and asked the first villager I saw if they had any knowledge of a "grandmother in Denver?"Screams.. Shouts.. we were suddenly surrounded by hundreds of villagers, all begging to know more about grandmother. "Well..", I stammered,"I was told to relay the message that she is just fine."Dancing.. Singing.. Jubilation.. Apparently this was the news they had been waiting to hear. I looked at Ash, she shrugged. We looked at the villagers, they were happily going back to work. Job well done I guess.We spent that night along the coast and enjoyed an afternoon of snorkeling and sailing courtesy of the village people that we had met. We awoke in the morning to find a large basket of juicy mangoes on the doorstep of the resort cottage that had been secured for us by the grateful villagers. Eating breakfast at a local cafe (free of charge!!), Ashley suddenly turned to me with a look of fright in her eyes."T.J.!! I haven't even been thinking about anything but enjoying this paradise. I have a biology test at 2 P.M. tomorrow!! How in the name of my dog skippy am I going to get back in time!?!?"Indeed, this was a problem as I too had to be back to Ft. Collins for work and class starting at 7:45 A.M. the following morning. Just as we were mulling over this dilemma we noticed a porty fellow moving from shop to shop along the street. He sort of reminded me of a busy little beaver I had seen collecting sticks and logs one day up at camp. As he arrived in the small deli and grocery store we were eating at, it was clear he was in quite a state of exasperation. I overheard him talking to the shopkeeper, asking if he had any native mangoes in stock. The shopkeeper explained that the growing season had not been a good one as of yet and that as far as he knew there were none to be found on the entire island. Well here was our chance to do another good deed!"Excuse me, sir. I couldn't help but overhear your problem, and can identify with you as my girlfriend and I are having one of our own. We have just received a large basket of mangoes, courtesy of some villagers, apparently these are the last on the island, but by all means, they are yours."What were we gonna do with the mangoes anyway? all we cared about was getting home! The look of relief on this poor man's face was obvious, and he quickly came over to shake my hand and accept my offer."You see, I work for a recluse multi-millionare who lives in Vail, Colorado. I can't divulge his name, but I can tell you that he absolutely loves fresh Mango juice, and requests that it be squeezed soley using Mangoes grown in the hills of Barbados. You can't imagine the embarrasment I would have faced had I returned back to Vail empty handed. You said you had a problem? Is there anything I could possibly do to help you??"Well.. Well.. as a Walt Disney animatronic might say, "It IS a small world after all" Turns out Mr. Busy Beaver was a pilot who flew his employer's own private jet. To make a long story not quite so long, Ashley and I were dropped off on the tarmac of Denver International Airport at 5:45 Monday morning, after pleasantly sleeping most of the night in the luxury cabin. We were wide awake and quickly found Ashley's car and headed back to Ft. Collins.I knew Ashley was nervous about her test, and so to calm her down and help her relax we stopped for the best kind of breakfast in the world (with the exception of Granny's scrambled eggs of course!) Truck Stop Breakfast!!! We shared the "Extroidanery Eleven" breakfast platter with the total, with tip, coming to exactly $3.52 (the best value in northern Colorado).Well we got back on time and had quite a weekend, not a bad way to spend this year's valentines day. Late that night I wanted to buy a soda-pop outside my dorm, but when I emptied my pockets, I realized my cash was all gone. I thought back on the weekend:Tank of Gas - $12.57Bypassing airport security - $9.37Day-long Donkey rentals - $7.75Extroidanary Eleven at local eatery - $3.52Total - $33.21A check from Boompa and Granny - PRICELESS!!Today Ashley reported to me that she got an A on her test (she apparently had a bonus question on southern Caribbean ecosystems!). We also got back some pictures we had taken with my camera on the trip.I just smiled and softly whispered to Ashley as she checked out the pictures, "Now THAT is what 34 bucks can get you..."much love, T.J.