FOR YOUR MUSIC PLEASURE "Relax, Refresh, Refuel." TURN IT UP!

MAIN PAGE MUSIC SELECTION: RAINY NIGHT IN GEORGIA / BROOK BENTON (for my dad, who turned me on to good music in the
1st place)

J-1 MUSIC SELECTION: DAY ONE / BLACKALICIOUS (dedicated to G.H. Jes Chill'n)

J-2 MUSIC SELECTION: OUTSIDE (Kick Ass Violin Solo)/TRIP HOP & ACID JAZZ & TRANCE / APHEX TWINS
(for all of you)

J-3 MUSIC SELECTION: TAKING CHANCES / ABRA MOORE (for Abra)

J-4 MUSIC SELECTION: AMERICAN TUNE / EVA CASSIDY (Tassone Heritage, Simborio , Italy )

J-5 MUSIC SELECTION: YOUNG AT HEART / FRANK SINATRA (FOR MY GRANDMA FLO)

J-6 MUSIC SELECTION: THE DIFFERENT STORY (World of Lust and Crime) / PETER S

**Journal Entry/THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES/FRIDAY/Sept. 15, 2006**

HOWDY ALL-

After a brief stop in Ft. Worth to catch a bit of sleep at moms (C- pic above of my Mom (Betty), Step-Dad (Warren ), Atlanta Georgia!
Hence the music selection of an old tune I thought appropriate for this entry (and the song plays itself over and over again in my
head.

A feeling of melancholy as childhood memories flood the cobwebs of my brain on the long drive up (thank you Michael for driving
down to pick me up and putting up w/ long hours of driving). Somewhere in Louisiana I see signs to another childhood memory that
probes an almost forgotten piece of American culture of the south. Stucky’s!

Some of you might get it, a lot of you probably won’t therefore I’m including the website link for you to go explore a piece of American
history that I somehow had never forgotten and often times wondered about.
http://www.stuckeys.com/history_detailed.php

So I see the signs for Stuckey’s and of course I want to stop there. These are old signs and mostly covered by a thick growth of
trees. I remember being a kid and traveling w/my family and stopping (or at least asking my dad to stop) so we can have a pee break
and a pecan candy thingy. He’d stop to gas up!  

There weren’t any of these big travel plazas we have on the road today w/ everything from Starbucks to every fast food whim
imaginable along with your one stop fill up, bathroom, shower and souvenir shop. Stucky’s is a great piece of American culture I
thought long ago had died along w/ June Cleaver’s pearl necklace.

It seems to be alive and well still here in the south (along side of the many other chain fast-food places in these incredibly large travel
plaza’s that are bigger than the Super Albert Hein in Eindhoven . Though no longer in their original buildings that now sit empty, it
remains a piece of American culture that hasn’t yet been torn away. What a nice memory…I had to go Google it and find out. So,
there ya go…in case you ever wondered what ever happened to Stucky’s.

My last days in Texas were spent well.  After I left San Marcos I had come back into the Austin area to be closer to friends I wanted to
see still and take care of final business (thank you John and April for taking such good care of me in San Marcos, Texas). Originally I
came back to the Austin area to stay w/ my friend Billy just moving back to the area from D.C. and help him with some stuff moving
back into his house.

That and a bachelor party at Lake Travis out on a houseboat for the weekend (c- pics above). Due to some delays with Billy’s floors
getting finished we ended up staying out at the lake at Pam’s house for several days who so kindly took us in (along w/ Percy and J.
T. his 2 dogs). There are worst places to be stuck!  

I can’t complain. It all worked out the way it was supposed to. I was with the people I needed to be with and had the wonderful
opportunity to spend time with those I hadn’t known before (and thank you both Pam and Billy for taking good care of me during my
last days there). We were finally back at Billy’s house a week and a half later just in time to spend my final days in Austin a bit closer
to those I still wanted to see. How bout those Mexican margaritas Ali?

I didn’t feel stressed in feeling like I had to see everyone before I left, some I didn’t get to see at all. All in due time! We see those we’
re supposed to see again.  We stay in touch.  It’s that constant that seems to be a part of my journey over and over again. I think for
me because of the choices I make in life I have to believe in this. I make some great connections I don’t intent to loose.  And it’s been
proven to me again and again and it seems I see ya when I see ya…meanwhile it leaves me open to also the new friends I haven’t
even met yet.

It’s just a choice and I do take the initiative to stay in touch with those I want to stay in touch with. I think this website has allowed me
to keep you in the know of my whereabouts and wherever I decide to go in life it’s just another place for you to come and visit. Or we
can meet up in Greece and have ouzo together watching the sunset over the awesome Mediterranean . How about that?  Or maybe a
coffee shop in Amsterdam? How about Migas at my favorite tex-mex restaurant in Austin? Savor the moment I say.

How bout that scrumptious Godiva chocolate dessert thing Abra turned me onto at Eddie V’s the other night (YUMM)? That was a
moment to be savored along with the star sightings. Now here in Atlanta (funny how things work out) I’m with opportunity to hang out
with those friends I’ve known a while but have never lived in the same area with…more to be savored.  

I’m only here less than 24 hours and festivities begin for Randy’s 50th birthday celebration (I want to look as good when I get there)
with a party for him at the bar he and Michael own.  There I am just thrown out there amongst a friendly crowd of partiers. I can’t think
of a better way to be introduced to this great city. Well, that’s one way for sure. Then there is a party here at their house on Sunday.
HMMMMM…guess I’ll be getting to know some people here in a relatively short period. Right on!

My condo closes early next week…fingers crossed nothing goes wrong at this point with all that. At this point I’m running out of
cashola I’ve been living on from the sell of my furniture. I don’t know how I’ve survived this long but seems I’m doing just fine. It’ll be
nice though, to be done completely of the condo (that main reason I had to leave The Netherlands )! The cash from that sale won’t
hurt either.

And while things had changed concerning the reasons I was coming here to Atlanta I am still here anyway. In transition from my
purge! Still with the ultimate goal of going back to Europe sometime sooner than later as things seem to be working out in that
direction. Hey, I just go with the flow so to speak. But I set my sights and goals and determination seems to get me where I want and
where I need to be, eventually. For the moment…I will savor the here and now, yeah that and recovering from last nights activities.  

Until the next time…
Peace, Love and to Your Health, Jes
The Different Story World of Lust and Crime
San Marcos River
TSU Campus
San Marcos River
TSU Campus
Texas State University
Texas State University
San Marcos River
FOR YOUR MUSIC PLEASURE ON THE FOLLOWING JOURNAL PAGES/TURN IT UP

MAIN PAGE MUSIC SELECTION: ONCE IN A LIFETIME/TALKING HEADS (for me)

J-1 MUSIC SELECTION: DAY ONE/BLACKALICIOUS (dedicated to G.H. Jes Chill'n)

J-2 MUSIC SELECTION: OUTSIDE (Kick Ass Violin Solo)/TRIP HOP & ACID JAZZ & TRANCE/APHEX TWINS (for all of you)

J-3 MUSIC SELECTION: TAKING CHANCES/ABRA MOORE (for Abra)

J-4 MUSIC SELECTION: AMERICAN TUNE/EVA CASSIDY (to Simbario, Italy)

J-5 MUSIC SELECTION: YOUNG AT HEART/FRANK SINATRA (FOR MY GRANDMA FLO)

**Journal Entry/THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES/FRIDAY/August 25, 2006**

Howdy,

Where’s Jes?  I’ve asked myself this a few times over the last 3 months.  Currently I’m in San Marcos, just outside of Austin for those
that have no idea.  I’ve been staying with friends, John and April for the past week.  For the 1st time since arriving back in The States
I’ve been able to relax and remove myself from the business I came back to Austin to take care of.

Yeah, I finally found the right tenant for the condo who will remain a tenant to the new owner (a friend).  She moved in last
Wednesday.  I had my own last rituals there before saying goodbye to a former chapter in my life (a last beer; a last morning coffee
and journaling on my balcony).  I take with me such great memories!  Those don’t weigh me down.

This purging of mine has me feeling very liberated, leaving me w/ less baggage to carry into this brand new chapter in my life.  For
those who have never done such a purge I highly recommend trying it.  This gives me the opportunity to sort of begin all over again.  I
have less holding me back now, less I’ll have to worry about.  Unless you’ve done this before it’s a bit hard to explain.  

Let’s just say in a few short weeks I’ll be closing on the condo and that will be an ending to one chapter and on to the next.  Pretty
much, I’m down to a small closet worth of my life and most of which I’ve decided to keep for future chapters is being utilized at my
moms.  

These are items that give me comfort and while most of everything else has been passed along to friends and family there are those
things I’m gonna want to see again and or not yet ready to let go of.  

“Now” is the time I’ll be the most free to go anywhere; do anything (get me while the picking is hot because I am so available)!  I’ve
chosen Atlanta (or perhaps it’s choosing me).  It just feels the most right for now (and believe me…I’ve slept on this one several
nights w/ so many other choices being presented to me).  

It was part of my original plan, to go there and help friends w/ a new restaurant/club business for about 1 year (meanwhile, they’ve
had to back out of their investment therefore changing the job prospect I was sure I had for some months to come).  Though there
have been some changes and delays in the greater picture (I have remained with the intent to stay focused on what I came back to
do. PURGE…BIG TIME (now, I’ll pat my own damn self on the back)!!!

So, I go blindly…forward and onward thru the fog to Atlanta.  I look at it like this…in by moving there I will have the opportunity to see
friends I don’t see often.  And I’ll make some new ones and experience a city I’ve never been to.  I say the same thing to myself I said
last year when Heather asked me if I wanted to come out to The Netherlands.  Why the hell not?   

I was fortunate enough to be able to set up my life and all its contents and live in a different country for a whole entire year.  If today
that same opportunity is being made available to me I’m able to commit for an indefinite amount of time.

You’ve heard me say before…I hated the fact that outside of the commitment to friends in Atlanta that I had to come back to deal w/
the condo and stuff.  That’s the part of my life I’m now purging with great joy.  I’m sure I’ll want to nest/settle again.  I think that’s as
natural as taking a piss!  It’s just that now, that place could be anywhere and doing most anything?  I think my Snickerdoodles will be
appreciated no matter where I go.

But right now, it’s kind of nice to start all over again.  There have been many times over the years I’m sitting there looking at all the
stuff I’ve acquired…all the funky pieces w/ emotional attachment!...and I just can’t fit another piece I want in because I already have
too much stuff.  This part of the purge is actually the most exciting.  There’s now plenty of room for the new.

In a couple of days (this weekend) I’ll be back in the Austin area to wrap some final business and oh yeah, a party out at the lake on a
houseboat.  Bout time I chill out and enjoy my final days in Austin w/ friends I haven’t even seen yet because I’ve had my head so far
up my ass w/ all the other crap.  Stay tuned for the further whereabouts of Jes the Adventurer...who the hell knows what the planets
have in store for tomorrow?  Expect the unexpected…always!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL THOSE LEOS IN MY LIFE J SEEMS TO BE MANY OF YOU!

Meanwhile, Peace, Love and To Your Health, Jes

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: ”The most unfair thing about life is the way it ends. I mean, life is tough. It takes up a lot of your time. What
do you get at the end of it? A Death! What's that, a bonus? I think the life cycle is all backwards. You should die first; get it out of the
way. Then you live in an old age home. You get kicked out when you're too young, you get a gold watch, you go to work. You work
forty years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement. You do drugs, alcohol, you party, and you get ready for high school.
You go to grade school, you become a kid, you play, you have no responsibilities, you become a little baby, you go back into the
womb, you spend your last nine months floating and you finish off as an orgasm…”

P.S. my friends from abroad...please send cooler weather and rain.  We haven't had rain here in weeks and it's been in the triple
digits for 2 weeks straight that's 40 C. plus
This is Funny
Underwater splits!
Peeing from behind!
Peace Dude!
3-2-1
Shot of the Balcony
Kitchen and dining
Floor and Walls
Quirks & Perks: 4 Rent By Owner/Worth checking out!!! $625 monthly (Includes Water) Great layout for entertaining. Prefer
professional single individual/student/or responsible couple

1/1 Cozy Unfurnished Condo w/ plenty of closet and kitchen storage conveniently located on the outskirts of 78704 just off Oltorf on
bus routes (I've live here for 8 years w/ NO CAR) easy access to Downtown/Universities/Shopping.

New Paint on Concrete Floors/Tile; Washer/Dryer off newly redone Balcony (great for Chill'N); Drinking Water Filtration System; some
negotiable kitchen items.

Small Complex w/ a very nice pool (up to 10 foot) and Hot Tub.

Please Contact  ME ASAP to come see if this is the right place for "You" for August Occupancy. 512 297-7117

**STAY TUNED FOR CHANGES BEING MADE TO MY WEBPAGES AND THE JOURNAL LINKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PAST YEAR.  
AS I EMBARK ON NEW ADVENTURES WESLEY WILL BE MAKING ROOM FOR THEM.  IF YOU HAVE FAVORITE JOURNAL PAGES
OR ONE'S THAT YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE CHANCE TO READ YET I'D BOOKMARK THOSE SPECIFIC PAGES NOW.  YOU'LL
NOTICE THE MUSIC WILL FOR NOW STAY THE SAME ON THOSE PAGES AND YOU'LL HAVE THE MAIN PAGE MUSIC SELECTION
TO LOOK FORWARD TO SO FAR AS MY MOOD OF THE MOMENT.  ENJOY!!!**

MAIN PAGE MUSIC SELECTION: CALMARIE/DEBORAH HARRY

J-1 MUSIC SELECTION: FINAL FRONTIER/RJD2

J-2 MUSIC SELECTION: I WANNA BE SEDATED/RAMONES

J-3 MUSIC SELECTION: SAY IT LIKE THAT/ABRA MOORE

J-4 MUSIC SELECTION: LET'S DO IT AGAIN/CURTIS MAYFIELD & STAPLE SINGERS

J-5 MUSIC SELECTION: DAY ONE/BLACKALICIOUS

Music reflects my Moods...and they vary from Moment To Moment!  If you’re checking out past journal entrées pages 1, 2, 3 or 4 be
sure to start from the bottom up to receive in order.  Click on any of the pics for a full size view.  If you’re already caught up on my
past entries and pics enjoy the Music Selections on those pages.

Journal Entry/THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES/FRIDAY/July 21, 2006

Howdy,

I’m feeling a lot homesick for the Netherlands…no offense to those here but it is where I made my home a year ago for the whole past
year and though my life was far from perfect I did however, make new discoveries and establish quite a lot.  I miss the new friends I’ve
made in Eindhoven during that time, stroopwaffles, marketing at the open market most every Tuesday morning for fresh fruits and
vegetables, cheap beer (here I’m paying double for Duval and Blue Moon), cheap travel to other European countries and Extrema
outdoor party where a lot of my friends there were last weekend (good energy/music)…dank-u Marco and Martin for sending me links
to be able to listen to the music and see pictures from there last weekend (Robb and I both enjoyed it while doing the living room
floor) These are just a few of the things I’m missing at the moment).

The beat goes on…those of you here in Austin know it’s hotter than hell and those of you abroad well, I hear it’s been near as hot as
a Texas Ho in heat ;)  At least most of us here have central air conditioning (that helps for those still so hot nights).  I’m right in the
middle of painting my concrete floors and doing other touch-up cosmetics to get it ready for both sell and rent.  No worries about
getting kicked out or anything if you find yourself interested in renting because the new owner should be nice enough to keep you on.

Things are moving slower than anticipated and way too fast in the respect of changing up on me on a daily basis.  But I do my best to
just go with the flow and remember the real reason I came back in the 1st place.  Last year I left Austin to experience something I’ve
wanted to do for about as long as I can remember, living in a different country.  Now that I’ve gotten over the initial fear w/ the help of
the opportunity to have been there this past year, I want to go back indefinitely.  

It’s not really any different than when I moved to Baltimore on a whim and ended up staying 5 years. Although, I didn’t have a
property to hold me back or things that I seemed to accumulated to put on my property these last 8 years or so.  It’s these things I
began to purge myself of last year.

I came back to finish myself of this purging and find that it’s been quite liberating as I watch each piece of something I’ve collected
over the years leave my present life now seeing most of those things as part of a former life.  Most of those things have been passed
on to friends so they are in good places to be used as they should be used and not sitting in some store room until I decide I might
like them again.  No, I’ve decided while I can’t take these things to my grave I can certainly purchase new things as I need them later.  

It’s liberating in the sense that I am beginning to not have much to hold me back from going forward and part of that going forward, a
strong desire to end up back in Europe indefinitely (longer than a year).  The few things I will want to see again will be in good use at
my moms (plants and my balcony furniture, my gargoyle collection and other special gifts/sentimental items).

Alex is here visiting his grandparents and I have to thank them for giving some time to me w/ him soon after his arrival a couple weeks
ago.  I had been putting off doing my floors and getting rid of most of my furniture until his visit so that I could provide a home for him
to stay in.  My biggest fear was that by the time he arrived in Austin my place would already be gone from under me and well, I wanted
it that much longer for those specific reasons.

We did boy stuff…fun stuff; Swimming (c-Alex pool pics above), Snickerdoodle Cookies, Pizza, Videos and Fruit Loops (ooops…now
mom knows).  Bruce was able to join us after he got off work and off to Chuck E. Cheeses for an evening of pizza and games.  I can’t
remember having so much fun even though I’m not much of a game player and am reminded of just how much fun it is to be a kid.  
The 3 of us settled down to the hilarious movie, Elf and I’d say not more than 10 minutes into it Alex was fast asleep.

The visit was short but we all had a great time together and grateful to have had it.  It was also good for Bruce and I to have had this
special time together sharing our common interest, Alex.  I think back over how long I’ve known Bruce and well, who would have ever
thought over a decade later I’d have lived in Europe as an au pair for a mother and kid he’s known even longer.  I think that’s pretty
damn kewl how our inner circle of friends seems to keep getting extended and intertwining.

Well, guess I’ve procrastinated here long enough…but I did want to get a quick update out to everyone…back to painting the trim
and eventually painting the floor of the bedroom (c-current living room floor pics above).  Each day I challenge what’s in front of me
and try not to cloud my purpose…and that is???  Being open to whatever is in store and making choices that lead me in the direction
I most want to go.

Meanwhile, stay tuned to wherever this adventure takes me next.  Enjoy the 2 new music selections on Main Page and J-5.

Peace, Love and to your Health, Jes
Final days in Eindhoven well
spent!
Ramon and Jes
Schiphol Airport
OOOOOOMYGOD!
Stop the Insanity!
Schiphol Airport
U can take the Irish out of
Eindhoven, but what about
Austin?
Final days spent with Good
Friends!
JOURNAL ENTRY/THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES IN AUSTIN/JUNE 16, 2006

MAIN PAGE MUSIC SELECTION: TIME WARP (REMIX 1989)/ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW

J-1 MUSIC SELECTION: FINAL FRONTIER/RJD2

J-2 MUSIC SELECTION: I WANNA BE SEDATED/RAMONES

J-3 MUSIC SELECTION: SAY IT LIKE THAT/ABRA MOORE

J-4 MUSIC SELECTION: LET'S DO IT AGAIN/CURTIS MAYFIELD & STAPLE SINGERS


HEY WHERE AM I?  OH YEAH, IT’S THE U.S. I THINK…AUSTIN TEXAS RIGHT?  IN SO MANY WAYS IT FEELS LIKE I NEVER LEFT
AT ALL.  MORE LIKE I LEFT ON A LITTLE HOLIDAY OR SOMETHING.  TIME WARP!  BUT I’VE BEEN GONE A WHOLE YEAR.  LIFE
WENT ON WITHOUT ME HERE IN AUSTIN AS IT WILL NOW GO ON WITHOUT ME IN EINDHOVEN.  YES I SAID EINDHOVEN.  
FUNNY AFTER A WHOLE YEAR SOME PEOPLE STILL KEEP THINKING I’VE BEEN IN AMSTERDAM THE ENTIRE TIME.

WOULDN’T SURPRISE ME IF SOMEONE IN THE NETHERLANDS THOUGHT EVERYONE HERE WORE COWBOY HATS AND
BOOTS AND RODE A HORSE.  HELL, I’M PICTURING ATLANTA AS I’VE SEEN IT IN THE MOVIES…GREAT BIG HOUSES W/
CEILING FANS, SOUTHERN ACCENTS, RHETT, SCARLETT AND MINT JULIPS (those sound pretty darn good).  

I DID FLY OUT OF SCHIPHOL AIRPORT IN AMSTERDAM TUESDAY MAY 30TH.  SEEMS LIKE A WHOLE OTHER LIFETIME AGO,
ALMOST.  IT WAS AN EARLY MORNING FLIGHT AND AMSTERDAM IS A GOOD HOUR AND A HALF AWAY FROM EINDHOVEN.  
BEING THE ODD TIME OF THE MORNING I WAS FLYING I HAD TO BE AT THE AIRPORT BY 5 A.M.  

TO MY RESCUE MY HERO, RAMON WAS ABLE TO ARRANGE TO GO IN LATE TO WORK THE NEXT DAY…SO THERE HE WAS
PICKING ME UP AT THE DRAKSTER RESIDENCE AT THAT ODD HOUR OF ½ PAST 2 A.M. AND OFF WE WERE TO THE
AIRPORT.  HE LITERALLY STUCK WITH ME UNTIL I HAD TO GO THRU SECURITY AND BOARD THE PLANE.

I’M SO GLAD HE OFFERED TO TAKE ME (and keep me company).  BEING THE HOUR OF THE MORNING AND THE WEATHER
WASN’T SO FAVORABLE…LET’S JUST SAY IT WAS A COLD AND WET NIGHT.  EMOTIONS WERE RUNNING HIGH.  NOT TO
MENTION, I HADN’T SLEPT MUCH.  

AND HELL, I WAS LEAVING THE PLACE I HAD MADE MY HOME, A PLACE WHERE I HAD SURVIVED THE STRUGGLE OF
BARRIERS ENCOUNTERED LIVING IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY.  AND IN THE PROCESS, MY NETWORK OF EXTENDED FAMILY
GREW AND DESPITE SOMETIMES NOT SO GREAT WEATHER I FELL IN LOVE WITH MY NEW FRIENDS AND SURROUNDINGS.  

I’D SAY I’M JUST BEGINNING TO GRIEF THAT NOW 2 WEEKS OR SO AFTER BEING BACK HERE.  I’D CONSIDER THAT PRETTY
NORMAL.  THE EXCITEMENT HAS SORT OF WORN OFF A BIT.  I’M NOT SAYING I AM NOT GLAD TO BE BACK AND SEE OLD
FRIENDS (I have plenty to see yet).  IT’S STRANGE THOUGH, THE EXCITEMENT I’M TALKING ABOUT IS STUFF LIKE GOING OUT
TO EAT GOOD TEX-MEX OR MEXICAN FOOD, OR SHOPPING WITH U.S. MONEY AT H.E.B. AND BUYING THOSE ITEMS I COULDN’
T FIND IN THE NETHERLANDS (it took me about 3 months to get used to the Euro not looking, like monopoly money but as you can
imagine…the U.S. currency is now looking like play money…better be careful how I spend it).  

OH DAMN, MY FRIDGE SEEMS SO HUGE.  I TRIED FILLING IT UP BUT REMEMBER I’M USED TO A REALLY SMALL FRIDGE THAT
WORKED JUST FINE IN THE DRAKSTER HOUSEHOLD.  SO I’VE FILLED THE 1ST SHELF WITH MOSTLY BEER…YIKES THE
PRICES FOR GOOD IMPORTED BEER SEEMS TO HAVE GONE UP.  BUT, I’M SPOILED NOW.  PRETTY MUCH ALL I DRANK
BEFORE IS RED STRIPE (still love it) BUT AFTER BEING TURNED ON TO SOME OF THOSE GREAT BELGIAN BEERS MY FRIDGE
HOLDS A VARIETY (yeah Duval and Blue Moon).  

SO IF YOU PLAN ON STOPPING BY AND WONDERING WHAT KIND OF 6 PACK TO PICK UP PLEASE BRING THE GOOD
IMPORTED STUFF.  WINE IS ALWAYS ACCEPTABLE AND MOJITAS WILL ALWAYS BE SERVED UPON REQUEST. (AS LONG AS
WE DON’T RUN OUT OF MALIBU…SO YOU MIGHT MAKE SURE I’M NOT OUT OF LIMES OR MINT OR SOMETHING IF THAT’S
WHAT YOU’RE CRAVING).

THE 1ST FEW DAYS BACK I SPENT WITH MOM AND WARREN IN FT. WORTH.  AFTER THAT LONG FLIGHT AND HAVING BEEN
UP SINCE THE DAY BEFORE AND GOING BACK INTO THE TIME WARP 7 HOURS ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS EAT AND SLEEP.  I
SKIPPED A SHOWER.  

BUT 1ST I DID HAVE GIFTS FOR MY FAMILY AND SOME ENERGY WAS KICKING IN FOR THE MOMENT.  I HAD BROUGHT BACK
SOME ROCKS FROM MY GREAT- GRANDPARENTS HOME TOWN OF SIMBARIO, ITALY TO SHARE WITH MY FAMILY. LO AND
BEHOLD A “SURPRISE” WHEN I OPENED THE COFFEE CAN AND GRABBED THE BAG OF ROCKS.  LET’S JUST SAY HOMELAND
SECURITY DIDN’T QUITE DO THERE JOB AND LOL I CAN LAUGH AT IT.  HMMM!!!  GOOD THING I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT I’D
FORGOTTEN ABOUT at the bottom of that coffee can.  

I ACTUALLY BREEZED THRU CUSTOMS LOOKING I GUESS BETTER DRESSED THAN THE I USUALLY DO COMING BACK FROM
THE GREEK ISLANDS or COSTA RICA IN SHORTS AND TANK TOP ATTIRE WHERE THEY STOP AND QUESTION ME THRU
EVERY CHECK POINT IT SEEMS…MAYBE IT’S BECAUSE MY TATOOS AND PIERCINGS WEREN’T EXPOSED THIS TIME…MAYBE
BECAUSE I WASN’T WEARING MY WEED IS A BUSH, BUSH IS A DOPE T-SHIRT…I DUNNO?

JUST A WEEK BACK AND ALREADY I HAD MY 1ST GUEST VISITING FROM EINDHOVEN.  DAVID WAS ABLE TO TAKE A LITTLE
SIDETRIP FROM VISITING ANOTHER FRIEND IN NEW YORK FOR 3 DAYS.  IT WAS A NICE DIVERSION AFTER JUST GETTING
BACK TO AUSTIN.  IT PROMPTED ME TO DO SOME FAST CLEANING HERE AT THE CONDO AND THE DELIGHT OF SHOWING
SOMEONE AROUND A CITY I HAVE LIVED IN MOST OF MY LIFE (especially since I am only back for a visit really…and to take care
of business).  

IT TOO, WAS JUST NICE TO KIND OF BRING IN BOTH WORLDS…A NEW FRIEND ALL THE WAY FROM EINDHOVEN HERE IN
AUSTIN, HIPPIE HOLLOW ON A HOT SUMMER DAY, A NIGHT OF BARHOPPING DOWNTOWN (David is Irish so he can put some
beers away, no doubt) GOOD FOOD, RUTA MAYA, SHOPPING ON THE SOCO.  WE MISSED OUT ON THE BAND DAVID WANTED
TO HEAR BUT WE DID END UP AT ELYSIUM’S DARK 80’S/GOTH NIGHT.  I’M PRETTY SURE HE HAD AN ENJOYABLE STAY
HERE.  

I DIDN’T WANT HIM TO LEAVE.  I KNEW THAT AFTER HE WAS GONE IT WAS TIME TO FACE THE REAL REASONS FOR BEING
BACK.  YUP…THAT WOULD BE SELLING THE CONDO.  IT’S WHAT’S HOLDING ME BACK NOW FROM MY NEXT GIG IN
ATLANTA.  BUT THINGS ARE WELL ON THE WAY AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT’LL BE ON THE MARKET JUST AS SOON AS I CAN GET
SOME COSMETICS OUT OF THE WAY AND READY FOR SHOWING.  THERE’S A VERY GOOD CHANCE A FRIEND WILL
PURCHASE IT AND SPEEDING THINGS UP SO I CAN MOVE ON.

DON’T GET ME WRONG…IF ONLY I COULD BE HERE ON A HOLIDAY AND VISIT WITH MY FRIENDS…THAT WOULD BE SO
AWESOME.  BUT I DID LEAVE AUSTIN A YEAR AGO, FOR EXPLORATIONS OF THE UNKNOWN.  I’M NOT FINISHED WITH THAT
BY ANY MEANS.  AS IT STANDS NOW AND I’LL JUST SAY IT…I’VE COMMITTED MYSELF TO ATLANTA FOR THE NEXT YEAR
ALLOWING ME TO CHALLENGE MYSELF THERE AND HELP MY FRIENDS OPEN THEIR RESTAURANT AS PROMISED A YEAR
AGO.  THAT’S A REALLY GREAT CHALLENGE.

THEN I AM PREPARING MY LIFE HERE AND NOW SO THAT I AM ABLE TO GO BACK TO THE NETHERLANDS W/OUT PRIOR
COMMITMENTS HOLDING ME BACK.  MY CONDO HERE IN AUSTIN HAS BEEN A GREAT HOME BEFORE LEAVING LAST YEAR.  I
HAD ENJOYED ABOUT 7 YEARS IN IT.  IT HAS NOW BECOME A BURDEN.  I DON’T WANT TO BE A LANDLORD.  I DON’T WANT
TO OWN PROPERTY HERE TODAY.  

IN FACT, I’LL BE CLEANSING MY LIFE OF MANY ITEMS THAT JUST SEEM TO WEIGH ME DOWN AT THIS TIME OF MY
LIFE…SIMPLE AS THAT!  I’LL SETTLE AND PROBALY OWN MY OWN PLACE AGAIN ONE DAY.  BUT I NEED TO FIGURE OUT
WHERE THAT’S GOING TO BE.  THERE’S JUST SO MUCH MORE TO SEE AND DO AND IT SEEMS TO ME I NEED TO DO IT
NOW.  I’VE HAD A TASTE OF SOMETHING THIS LAST YEAR THAT HAS ME THINKING FURTHER OF HOW AND WHERE I WANT
TO SPEND MY LIFE.

MEANWHILE, JUST STAY TUNED TO THE ADVENTURES…READ BETWEEN THE LINES IF YOU WANT…ASK QUESTIONS…ENJOY
LIFE…IT’S WAY SHORT (go see the movie “The Inconvenient Truth”…it wakes me up)!  

I TRUST THERE WILL BE PLENTY MORE TO EXPECT OF THE UNEXPECTED.  IF ALL GOES WELL I SHOULD BE IN ATLANTA
SOMETIME NEXT MONTH (wow…where the hell has this month disappeared to???).  I’LL HAVE BEEN BACK NOW FOR 3 WEEKS
THIS COMING TUESDAY.  HOW CAN THAT BE?  I’M TOTALLY FEELING LIKE A TIME WARP.  STILL ACCLIMATING!  REELING
FROM THE EVENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN MY LIFE THIS PAST YEAR THAT HAVE BEEN LIFE ALTERING.

WOW…AND IT JUST GOES ON!  I MISS THE HELL OUT OF ALEX AND HEATHER…YEAH AFTER ALL THESE WONDERFUL
YEARS OF LIVING ALONE I’M SAYING THAT HAVING LIVED WITH THEM FOR JUST ONE HAS COMPLETELY CHANGED MY
PERSPECTIVE.

AND THANKYOU DITHA FOR REMINDING ME SO MANY TIMES THAT LIFE IS BUT A JOURNEY TAKING ON NEW CHAPTERS
ALWAYS.  THIS ONE IS NOTHING BUT A NEW CHAPTER AND ALL THE ONES BEFORE LEADING UP TO THIS ONE.

Peace, Love and to your Health, Jes
Childhood Memories
Lake Travis Sunset
Alert Doe posing
Mansfield Dam
Billy into Water Sports
Billy
A little wake and bake
Greta and Brendan
Mom, Warren, and I
Lake Travis
Austin Lake View with Mountains (Negative)
POSEIDON Adventure
Pam Ave.
What about the 1 hitter
View of the Lake from the Deck