Previous Letter

My friends and my family,

The time is coming near to end this remarkable journey I've been on over the past three years. While giving up this lifestyle and heading home scares me, the opportunity to catch up with all of you makes it much easier to swallow. Of course, I will be leaving behind some people very important to me—family I've reconnected with and good friends I've made along the way.  But my time has come. December 16. Kansas City here I come..

Life in Perth has been a relative low-light of my travels. Not so much due to the city itself but more to do with a wide variety of factors. It's been an absolute wave of emotions since I've been here—like I've never experienced before. I've been what people here like to call "Billy No-Mates" (I love that phrase, HA!!) for much of my stay here. Long story short, I've not been myself since I've arrived. I've been a lesser Dooz than what I can be, so I've decided to do something about it.  I've got another three weeks of work then off for a month in Indonesia to clear my head and prepare for my journey home.

I work in a bar right in the city. Outrageously priced drinks with outrageously wealthy clientele. My kinda place, as you can imagine. But, they pay me well enough and I've managed to get on the good side of management—who is comprised of a couple of Sicilian friends. I have very little doubt they have their grubby hands in more than one unlawful cookie jar here in Perth. I don't ask and they don't tell. These fellas (Rocco Macri and Johnny DiTullio) are a bit rough around the edges and put up with very little but I seem to have managed to get on their softer side. Thank god for that.

During the week, I work with a lesbian who sucks the soul out of me. Never met anyone who could take a waitressing job so seriously. I've even lost my patience with her a couple of times—most of you know me well enough to realize that this is not an everyday occurrence. Having conversations with her, always about work, is like getting hit in the stomach with a 2X4. I get itching urges to shake her violently. At least I only have to spend about 45 hours a week with her..ummm. But, again, I'm searching for the good in all people. She's a caring girl and is nice. Very nice.

The Irish are everywhere here in Perth. Most of them are drunk by brunch and legless by afternoon tea. Inspiring. That being said they're cheery enough lads and even though I can't understand most of what they mumble, I laugh when they laugh and smile when they smile. That is my relationship with the Paddys.

Beyond that, I live a pretty shallow life. Not many friends about, working 6 nights a week. In three years, you can't expect good times, all the time. However, in my constant pursuit of happiness, I believe getting out for some snorkeling and surfing on the beaches of Bali, should do my soul some good..

That's about it. Hope you lot haven't forgotten about me down here. I'll need some support when I return. I'll be broke and in search of work. I'm aiming for something between $120-150K per year, between 20-30 hours a week, 4 days a week, low-stress, low-responsibility. I'll field any interviews you can set up if I feel like they're a good fit for me.

No drug-dealing, either—-those days are in my past. Cheers.

Look forward to hearing from you all. As always, I hope this email finds you all well, happy and thriving in life.  Trully, I think about home lots these days. I had thought about a quick return back down to NZ after a short visit at home, but all plans change and I think I might stick around for a wee while, now. See how I get on.. Please drop me a line if you get a chance—I could benefit from hearing from old friends at home, as always. Just need to snap out of this funk I'm in.

Miss you all.
Go easy on 'em,
dooz

        

I read T.C. Boyle's collection of short stories, Tooth and Claw while in Honduras. What an entertaining group of eclectic and saddening stories! The tone and perspective of the author seems focused on the ineptitudes of the characters he has created, or perhaps upon the active ignorance of his protagonists that prohibits each from reaching their manifest potential. It is very interesting to read a well written hopeless person.

Also of note is the role that men are cast into; sexually powerless and overtly weak. Is T.C. Boyle projecting his own insecurities or perhaps just having fun bestowing power only to the ladies? I think I would have to read more of his work to be know; Tortilla Curtain had nothing of the sort as I can remember.

Not all the stories contained within are written to these themes and yet after completing the collection that is the impression I am left with. I loved Tooth and Claw.

        

This book is unconventionally entertaining. The plot is a murder mystery as narrated by the protagonist's childhood sock monkey, Dickie. With a sock monkey telling the story the themes are surprisingly serious and dirty (I was reminded of Henry Miller's decayed sexuality on more than one occasion). The author, Penn Jillette, is the larger, talking member of the Las Vegas comedy duo Penn and Teller. I think this is the only novel that he has published and from what I can tell it might be the last as in the afterward the author writes things like “I always wanted to write a book so here you go Mom.” I enjoyed Sock.

        

        

            I recently finished reading "Marley and Me," a book by a newspaper columnist (John Grogan) detailing life raising and living with a very naughty Labrador Retriever. I enjoyed it. If you have ever raised a puppy or owned a dog the story is easy to relate to; conversely, the demographic without canine companionship can use this book as good justification for sticking to cats or remaining animal independent. Marley is a bad dog; lovably bad – like Pizza Hut, American Idol and the Carolina Panthers.

I compare my own dog with the book’s anti-hero, Marley. If Rodeo was a crazy, hyper, out-of-control dog would I love him as much as the author loves his? History suggests perhaps not – my third year of high school my father and I owned a Bulldog of Marley description for all of a day before throwing in the (thoroughly slobbered) towel — Big Boy was returned to his original owner. I am told that the responsibility of raising children is not as easily discharged? Maybe I'll need a Marley before I ever decide to take that path.

        

A simple crowd pleaser that takes about 10 minutes to make. The fresh dill is my own personal addition; it makes it doubely good in my opinion!

4 ounces butter
8 ounces smoked salmon
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, lightly whipped
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Plenty of fresh dill (the key ingredient!)

Heat butter gently until melted. Let stand 5 minutes. Mince the smoked salmon and add to the butter. Stir in the lemon juice and the whipped cream and mix well. Refrigerate.

Note: Before serving let stand for 20-30 minutes at room temperature less the mixture become crumbly and unspreadable due to refrigeration.

        

This makes a refreshing, dry and easy-to-drink mid-day or early evening summer cocktail.

Scottish Sparkle Punch

1 Bottle dry white wine
2/3 cup of Drambuie
The juice of 1 lemon
1 bottle of extra dry sparkling wine
2 cups lemonade

Chill the Drambuie, white wine and lemon juice together. Just before serving add the lemonade and sparkling wine. Serve in highball glass with plenty of ice.

        

This is a modified recipe for Scottish Cock-A-Leekie Soup that I created. It is rich and flavorful - definitely an entree; a terrific Autumn dish that is simple and fun to make. Very aromatic with a distinctive "not your average chicken soup" flavor owing to the wheat grass, spices and prunes.

5 pints water
Sage   (to taste)
Thyme (to taste)
Cinnamon (1 tsp)
Ginger      (1 tsp)
4 oz dried porcini mushrooms
Fresh Wheat Grass (2-3 ounces)
Fresh carrots 6 oz (sliced length wise into spears, 2 inches long) 
5 chicken stock cubes (or fluid equivalent)
3 lbs. unfrozen, bone-in, skin-on chicken (thighs, wings, breast assortment)
1 lb of leeks, cleaned, sliced length-wise into thumb-sized "leaves"
20 small prunes (optional)
1/2 large white onion, sliced into thick leaves
1/2 cup heavy cream

Dissolve the stock chicken cubes into the water and add to a large, coverable pot with the spices, chicken, leeks, onion and carrots. Bring to a boil and skim any oil. Cover; simmer gently until chicken is tender. Remove the chicken from the pot, separating chicken meat from bones and skin. Be careful not to shred chicken, instead pulling from bones in chunky, neat portions. Return the meat to the pot, discarding skins and bones. Add fresh wheat grass to the pot - scissoring one inch lengths works well. Add dried porcini mushrooms directly to the pot (no reconstitution needed). If using prunes, add now and gently simmer over night (covered). Shortly before serving add the heavy cream. Season the soup to suite personal taste.

Notes: Flavor improves if this dish is prepared one or two days before serving.
Simmer at a low heat with minimal stirring to keep chicken portions from shredding.
Add additional water or simmer uncovered to switch to a "stew" or more of a "soup."

        

I just completed A Good And Happy Child, Justin Evan's first book, five years in the writing. There are interesting characters, implied suspense, mystery and yet as the story progresses the end effect is not mysterious nor suspenseful. Not since high school English have I noticed a novel whose structure and narrative trump the story. Perhaps not unsurprisingly I found this perfectly appealing in lieu of my recent guantlet of Dean Kootz (Intensity, Tick Tock) and Harry Potter 7. Unfortunately I will probably not have the opportunity to read another of the author's works as he is a business executive by trade and married with a child.

        

"there are many reasons to love reid peryam. but for me it's not how he can stop the crying of babies with one look, or how he delivers kittens and puppies to sad orphans around the world. it's not the hundreds of hours he spends sponge bathing the elderly at nursing homes, or his positive encouragement he gives to the anarexic 13 year old princesses that reside at kent denver. no, all those things are great, but for me, it's how his hair and beard make him look like a blonder Hacksaw Jim Duggan. and that's truly a special thing.

happy birthday pal."

-Jon Campbell