I'm Baaaack

Well if Sylvester Stallone can come back as Rocky, New Kids on the Block can have a new hit record and Brett Favre can come out of retirement, then I can certainly return to my blog after a healthy 9 month break.

I took a break from the blog writing mostly because I settled into life in New Haven, CT and didn't really have the time or, to be frank, the interest, in writing anymore. But lately I have been "writing" (some might say ranting) in my head during my 30-minute commute to and from work and finally decided to get my thoughts back in print.

So here I am.

So what's happen in the past nine months? Well first let me say, not what usually happens in nine months :)

Nope, I've really just been enjoying my life. I returned to Vietnam twice since my last post; the second time to help organize a camp for children with HIV. I was gone for most of the month of January, and was lucky enough to wrap up the end of that month with a short vacation in which I got to crawl through tunnels used during the Vietnam War, gaze upon the last resting place of Ho Chi Minh, and take a trip to see one of the nominees for the New7Wonders of the World (and a UNESCO World Heritage Centre), Halong Bay. Taking an overnight cruise through the waters of Halong Bay was by far one of the coolest experiences I have ever had.

December I went to Ireland for a conference and then spent a couple days in Dublin. Thanks to our friend Mark, we had a great place to stay and the best tour guide going!

In March I attended another work conference, this time in Hungary. Budapest is probably the most beautiful city I have ever been too, architecturally speaking. I will say though that I have never seen more graffiti in my life. I'm not talking about graffiti just on subway walls and highways, but on castles and parliament buildings that are hundreds of years old. It was to say the least, unfortunate.

After leaving Hungary, I made a quick stop in London to see my good friend Laura. Laura and her husband moved there last December on a 2-year work transfer. In less than 24 hours I saw the sites, caught up with Laura and experienced a real English curry and pub.

Finally, and probably the biggest event in the past nine months, I turned 30. To celebrate the occasion, John threw me a surprise birthday party. He had been planning it for 3 1/2 months, with not so much as a tiny slip to me about it. He managed to corral all of my friends and even my parents into one location to help me celebrate this momentous occasion. His sister Jody baked 30 cupcakes in my honour (three different types with three different icings!) Unlike many who lament over such an event, I relished in it. I believed that a birthday is just a reflection on the past year(s) of your life. When I turned 25 I was distraught, but I was also very unsatisfied with where I was in life. Turning 30 I've reflected that I have never been happier or more fortunate.

So there you have it. A quick trip down the"road less travelled".

I'll be back now and again with stories, opinions, pictures and happenings. I hope you'll be there to keep me company.