marcandalysse

From what I understand, the Amish church and related churches believe that baptism should be a choice made when the child has grown and can make the decision. At that age, they then are sent off to the outside world to experience what is out there, so they can make a more knowledgable choice of remaining with their community and church or not. This was shown in the DVD 'The Devils Playground' (highly recommended btw) which was turned into the recent reality show 'Amish in the City'. The Amish ended up immigrating to America due to the religious persecution resulting in other Christians responses to Amish beliefs such as baptism.

Actually, probably yes, we have 5 banana trees with bunches ripening slowly. Should be ready by new year's.....Also home grown pineapple is in the freezer ready for chocolate! But Stacy's liquor filled chocolate covered strawberries were the MAX last year!

ZHILLS IS DA PLACE for new years! but you've been there, you know that already!! marc

Cora, We have Tony, Bev, and Michigan jumpsuits. Check out the construction of the Michigan suit. They are really built strong! Also, check the way the grips are attached. Very good design. When taking a grip, you 'scoop' your hand into the grip, thus not pulling on the suit and making the material stretch and present more fabric to the wind. Due to those features and other cool design aspects, Alysse was very impressed when she compared jumpsuit construction. marc

Raw salmon can be eaten as sashimi, or as sushi (with rice). As mentioned, the smoked salmon is called 'smoked salmon'(even in Japan with their pronunciation and that sounds funny!) Proper pronunciation of salmon in japanese is SHA-KE, not SA-KE (the wine), but it is written as 'sake' in most japanese restaurants in america. By the way, many items on japanese restaurants in america are not found in Japan....no 'california rolls' or 'salmon skin' or 'fried shrimp heads' or most of those rolled combos like philly roll, unless someone brought the idea from the US back to japan.... There are LOTS of homonyms (words that sound the same) in Japanese. And there are many many japanese characters that have multiple pronunciations (its a bitch to learn all that!)Remember that our english menus are transliterations of japanese words. And back on the subject, I would recommend, especially for those who don't like raw sushi, to try a FUTOMAKI (means 'thick roll'), they have lots of goodies like fishegg, sweet omelete, cucumber, shitake mushroom, pickled gourd, maybe eel...depends on who is making it. Each bite is a different taste and texture.....because they are so large they usually cost around $10 in the US.... "OISHII des yo!!!" (Tasty!) marc "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton

ybor city area in tampa has the Blues Ship and other joints. skippers smokehouse often has blues. So does Jannis Landing in St Pete. All are within 45min of zhills. Ft lauderdale has a few spots, like the musician's exchange. marc

yeah it was beyond 'wet' in the tunnel. it was actually drier inside the air flow than outside in the standby area. I always take my neck warmer and full face in there. Now I will be sure to take a raincoat! marc

90 minutes each person, in two days?? you are going to be sore! bring motrin! we will be there saturday nite at 930pm....you probably will be done by then. If you are still there, be sure to say hi! Going to zhills on sunday? Marc "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton

I like to travel and hike around.... --Walked the Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu (before it was fashionable!) 5 days at breathstealing altitude! Lived 3 months in an Inca village during that time... --Hiked a 1400km (850mile) ancient japanese pilgrimage path, took me 49 days...speaking only japanese --climbed 3- 13000 ft mountains in northern New Mexico in a week --also in new mexico, hiked and camped in hundreds of ancient indian pueblo villages across the 4 corners area. --also in new mexico, often spent all nite chanting around the fire in the teepees of the native 'churches' --often kayak with the dolphins and manatees here in sarasota --danced carnaval 4 days and nites in northern brasil for various years --oh yeah, got tear-gassed by the chicago cops at the democratic convention of 1968.....the good ole hippie days! Life can get boring unless you go for it!!! marc "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton

Don't forget, the Boogie in Buzios (near Rio) is around march 16-19 next year... Found a PD site article about last year's boogie... http://www.performancedesigns.com/pdcalendar/brazil.asp Marc

www.muffbros.com edited: oops sorry, that url doesn't seem to be working right now. They will look for another host for the site. If it can be hosted closer to zhills we can keep it up to date..... muffmuffmuff "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton

Yes I know several people who have lived in monasteries. What country interests you? The southeast asian ones are more strictly meditational. (theravada styles) East Asian (chinese, japanese) or Tibetan have a collection of practices different from the southeast asians of thailand, burma etc (mahayana styles) There are many places that offer training to english speakers. Also, you don't have to go through the rigourous monks training, there are other laymen's trainings available. You could spend time at a zen monastery in Japan, or a place in Thailand very easily. The costs will vary. Plus, it is almost a certainty that your country has buddhist centers where you can start learning. PM me if you want more detail and advice... your brother in dharma, Marc

Japan can be a very enjoyable experience. I love hiking through the mountains there. The people are extremely friendly to foreigners. They will go out of their way to help you. Food is great. You can eat anything and drink the water everywhere. There are lots of fun activities (sports, entertainment, drinking establishments, window shopping, and my favorite: going to temple street festivals). It is very colorful. Life in the big cities is hectic like in most other big cities. But you can quickly and easily escape to a small town and soak in natural hot springs to mellow out. If anything, it is the MEN who are the homely and unsexy ones. Japanese women work hard to keep their families going, and they are for the most part very sexy in their cultural way. Unfortunately for them, they often marry to have children, not for love, and so search elsewhere while their harried salaryman husbands are drinking off their stress at hostess bars and returning home reaking of smoke and booze, long after the children and wife are already sleeping. Its a sad part of their culture that may be slowly changing as young people start valuing love over convenience. Be open to foreign cultures (nationally as well), travel and see how the outside world is so different (even while often having the appearance of our american culture). It is an enriching experience anywhere you travel. Marc "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton

I thought it is against the law to bother a manatee or dolphin?

This has been going on for years and years. Japanese housewives realize that their husbands can't provide the sex they need. They didn't marry for love anyway....and the bums come home late and drunk every nite anyway! Japan has 'Telephone Clubs' where any man can pay a small fee and get connected with an interested woman (women use the club free of charge). They can then set up a time to meet at one of Japan's thousands of 'Love Hotels' (pay by the hour)... Japan has a much freer attitude towards sex than the West. The article doesn't really show this. Have fun in Japan, AggieDave!

it must be the cold medicine he is drinking!

Here are photos of Rick. In one, I am offering up a gift to Jesus and the pope. In the next, 'The Hellfish Passion of Rick' cheers! marc "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton

That's alysse and I as the wedding couple, and me being tempted by the devil....fun pics! I will post my photos on Monday.... Marc

Alysse and I joined HeatherB for a few of those jumps including some fun 4 ways at end of day. we sure had some nice weather all weekend! met cocheese and rockymtnhigh and introduced them to the rest of the dz.com group at the bombsquad. we are both feeling very light-headed after two days of skydives.... by the way....a few people have asked....alysse reads alot of dz.com, but marc does most all the posting, so don't blame alysse for any of the nonsense you read! mp "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton

Maybe you should rewrite that to: KRIS, prepare YOURSELF FOR ZHILLS! Show you around? ok....there's the otter....buy ticket, get on! see ya, marc

I am sitting at jraf's laptop at a corner window office across from the sears bldg. It is cloudy and cool. trying to get him to quit working at 6pm... wishing you a happy bday marc "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton

As of last month, a home DZ is where we pay rent for a trailer slot!

Great movie, but best seen on the GIANT screen!!! Hope everyone can watch it in the original format! marc

Great Post from a Great Guy! Thanks Bill, for our friendly far-ranging conversations at the dz, and Best wishes for the next decade in the air! marc

If it's fun jumps you want, come to ZHILLS! Now that the weather has mellowed out a bit, we are making up for lost time and really enjoying ourselves! marc "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton