I haven't been writing, obviously: I've been busy. And still unemployed. I have this nagging sense that I might be unemployed until I get turned down (2 months) or leave (7 months) for Chile. Things are hazy, as always, and we'll see what happens.

Slowly everything is unwinding:

• The guy I was training took his 3rd-kyu aikido test and did a great job, thus making us both look good.

• Eight of us from the sangha went down to Tassajara, which was *awesome*. Looking forward to going back, preferably for a 3-month practice period. (No one else in the sangha seems drawn to that, thus showing I can be weird in any crowd.)
• Mom and Dad came out for the jukai, which was a lovely time. I got my rakusu back, beautifully drawn-on, a really pretty lineage paper, and an oryoki set: three nested ceramic bowls, and some cloths and utensils, which all tie up into a neat package. The bowls are stunning, and it turns out my teacher's teacher made them for her. So, wow.

  In a couple weeks I'm off to Minnesota for a week. But mostly I just have to do aikido. And finding some work would be nice.

  ---

  Chris