The United States of America. 

United states. Multiple states united as one. A group of many states banded together as one. Unity. Well, maybe so but, what about its people?

Yesterday I returned from my first trip to the Philippines and it has been culture shock. Yes ~ it was culture shock arriving in the Philippines, but it's also been culture shock returning to my home country.

In the Philippines it's all about family and friends. You rarely see Filipinos alone, they're usually in groups laughing and enjoying each others company. At dinner, lunch, shopping, whatever. They're always hanging on each other and taking care of each other. Children are sometimes born at hospitals but more commonly at home where the whole family is gathered to greet the newest member of the family. Children are raised not only by their parents, but also by their siblings, cousins, nieces & nephews, aunts, uncles, grand parents, neighbors and friends. Therefore, people are very social and comfortable touching each other. It is very common to see two guys in their 20's walking along with their arms over each others shoulders.

The other day I went to Lapu Lapu on Mactan Island in the Cebu area of the Philippines and visited the Allegre (uh-leg-gree) guitar factory/store. My hope was to find a good classical guitar I could enjoy while visiting this fascinating country and.., success!

The model is C-1 and cost me 9,000 Philippine Pesos (about $193 USD).

On June 15 I began my journey to the Philippines, and it has been wrought with ups & downs and has already begun to change my life.., just like I knew it would. This is my first blog entry on how it has gone. Hope you enjoy!

5 days before my trip began I had an appointment with my chiropractor. My lower butt had been hurting quite a bit and had begun to worry me. Also, my sciatica nerve was flaring up badly. Talk about ideal conditions for a 26 hour journey! I had two alignments before I left on Tuesday, June 15 and my chiropractor gave me an ominous look and said, "Good luck."

At around 12 noon I boarded a US Airways flight to S. Carolina with a connecting flight to Los Angeles, CA. From there I was to have a 4 hour layover before boarding my flight on Philippine Airlines to Manila. When traveling, we always hope for an uneventful experience, but of course that wasn't going to happen...

Just had an incredibly lucid dream about Gig last night. I was flying (Superman style) 5 feet above S. Shady Hollow and saw him walking up the street. He looked slightly pale and had a shy smile, like a boy who may have done something wrong but who was happy to see me. I was so, so shocked and walked toward him with my mouth open and was asking him, "Gig?! Is that you?!" I kept asking him over and over and he then became concerned and asked if I was okay.

I grabbed him and hugged him and could feel his heartbeat against my face and told him I loved him. I told him over and over. He began to laugh and I could tell he was relieved and happy to hear he was loved and missed.

It was soooo real. Call me crazy but it feel like it was a real encounter ~ like he visited me. I have NEVER ever before had a dream where I met someone who had passed away. This was the most lucid dream I've had in many years. I feel like Gig contacted me.

Here are some pictures of Alex Lifeson of RUSH wearing a dress (in drag). From the movie "Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day".

I lost my best friend a few days ago. Suicide. Nothing written can express the loss I feel. He was in my life from age 3 or 4 and was a very significant part of my life until the end. I pray for his family and will move forward in a much lesser world.

My rendition of Bob Dylan's "I And I", from his Infidels album.