My Mexico Experience 2003
Topic: Mexico '03
Tuesday, August 5 - Friday, August 8, 2003
I am writing this from my comfy little chair at home in Palacios, TX because the I couldn't get the website to work all week.
My Last Week at the school was quick and no too busy. The highlights that are worhty to torture you with are:
Tuesday, was the final Serra Club meeting that I went to with my host family. Said my good-byes to Emanuel, the oldest child of my host family, because he was going to Cancun for two weeks with his friend.
Wednesday, was another "dia flojo" for me. After class, which was basically a chat session with my teacher, I spent the afternoon and night roaming around "El Centro" with a classmate and watching movies "Dos por Uno," (see Tuesday, July 8) 40 pesos (about $4 USD) for two movies. First movie, "Todopoderoso" (a.k.a. "Bruce Almighty") was a delight to watch but the second movie made me want my 20 pesos and hour and a half back. "Terminator 3" was not worth even the cheap seats of Mexico to suffer through watching it. I also wanted to go to the a place where these people sell you everything under the sun because I had seen a scene of the last supper that I wanted. Lastly, I found a priest that heard my confession...and for those of you wondering I did it in English. I was not feeling adventursom to try it in Spanish
Thursday, the school took an excursion to an orphanage near Cuernavaca. We saw some interesting things there, because the orphanage is almost self-suficient. They have a great deal of land that they farm and have chicken coops, pig pins, and fish ponds. We even got to see the beginnings of two pigs being processed...I will not go into details for those of weak stomach, but if you wanna know them just ask. After school, in the evening, I went out with my family as a treat from them for my last night in this great city of Cuernavaca. We went to the Franciscan Church where my host parents met and were married and then went out for dessert. When we got home we ended up exchanging gifts but niether myself or my host family were expecting the other's gift. I had bought a key ring holder that matched the theme of the house from Morelia and they had bought me a little silver cross for a necklace and a tapestry of "Our Lady of Guadelupe." We had a nice evening at home talking and looking at pictures of theirs.
Friday, a bitter-sweet day because my last day of classes with my teachers and with my host family whom I had become close to, but I would soon see my family whom I missed. Such is life...it is full of happy hellos, sad good-byes, and excited reunions. I will just have to wait for the excited reunion with which I pray the Lord will bless me. My final good-byes to my host family in the bus terminal weld up tears in me and I was moved by two notes I received from the oldest daughter (the second child in the family) and a cousin just before I got on the bus telling me how I had touched their lives. Those children will be in my thoughts and prayers for a long time to come. My last "last" came in the airport before I boarded the plane. I had my final Torta Cubana from "La Gringa 3." Oh, I relished every bight and sitting here at home now, my mouth is watering for another one with a side of Tacos al Pastor. A-las I will have to settle for what I can find around here.
I loved my stay in Mexico and wish to return soon. May the Lord's blessing be on those that I met and their families.
Monday, August 4, 2003 - Memorial of St. John Vianney
Today I went to school and found out that I had the same teacher that I began with. I guess they wanted her to teach me the bookend weeks of my studies here. I believe that this week will be a very relaxed week, because she and I talked mosted of the day, in spanish of course, and only got through a page and a half of my book...this is okay because after today, I only have one more page left and then there are no more books. I guess we will watch movies the rest of the time...I must be dreaming.
Sunday, August 3, 2003
Returned to Pamida for Mass. This church is on a hill on the outskirts of town on which it overlooks. It is very beatiful. Took my host family out to dinner to a seafood restaurant as a thanks for opening up their house and lives to me. After that not much happened...however, I am started getting ready to go home. I packed the things I will not need this week so that Thursday night's packing is much easier and faster.
And now time for more Mexican Tid Bits
6. "Nimodo" (neemodo) - the term used when one can't help a situation. For example, it is raining and you are tired of the rain. You are sure to get a "Nimodo" if you whine enough.
7. The Mexican people are the most patient people who always want to be first.
8. The streets even major highways have speed bumps for one main purpose, to regulate the speed, otherwise every street would be another autobauhn. However, even with the speed bumps, taxi drivers and bus drivers see the area between the speed bumps as mini-autobauhns where the driver stomps on the gas after going over a speed bump and then just before reaching the next he/she slams on the breaks.
9. Stop signs are at the very most a mere suggestion and at the least, and more often than naught, decorations on posts that drivers pay no attention to. Red lights to some drivers are just a suggestion to slow down before proceeding across the street.
10. I actually saw a bicycle blade sharpener like in the "Bugs Bunny" Cartoons, twice.
11. People, especially families, hold small conversations across the house, hollering back and forth without stopping what they are doing.
Saturday, August 2, 2003
Today was another "Dia Flojo" (see my Pastoral Week review). Did "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," tenis with my host dad, and then dinner with the family. Most of the time I showed that I had perfect non-form in tenis...very few times I got a great highlight worthy slam down and in. It felt great, but they came to few and far between that I was only able to win one game out of the many we played.
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Observances at my house:
1. I have notice that every night right outside the front door to my house two or three roaches sit on the wall. I have affectionately called this the nightly roach convention. I havn't started talking to them, but just might.
2. I felt sorry for our rose here at the house because one day it had five newly formed beautiful blooms with three more buds ready to blossom, but before we could enjoy another day of beauty from this Marian Plant, a devilish worm came and ate all the leaves and broke the stems to all the blooms and buds in one night. I was so furious that if I had found the worm responsible, he would have paid with what would have been left of his life as I ever so slowly tortured him as he tortured this thing of unmatched beauty.
Highlights of my "Pastoral Week."
Traveled to Uruapan for Saturday on the best bus line I have ever found. It was truly first class. I mean I acutally fit in the seat which laid all the way back...no I didn't break it. There was even a foot rest. Ahhhh, traveling in the lap of luxury was just grand! That night's Mass, which we thought would be the vigil for Sunday, ended up being the daily Mass for Saturday in conjunction with 5 girls celebrating their Quinceaneras. A short day trip from Uruapan was to Paracho on the second day of the journey. This town is well known for its guitars, which were finominal. Upon returning to Uruapan, we, Jaime Gonzelaz (Austin), Michael Earthman (Houston), and I, went to a National Park where they have many cascades down this mountain that are fed by a spring. The scenery was beautiful.
Morelia was next on the ajenda. We finally got in contact with Miguelangel (Lubbock) so that we could stay at the minor seminary he attended earlier in his seminary career. At the semianry, we met the current rector who is the Mexican counterpart of Fr. Mike Duca. It is unbelievable how their mannerisms are so similar. While in the beautifully clean city, we were greatly impressed with the Cathedral there. One of the current seminarians in Morelia took us to a cafeteria-like resteraunt, La Imaculata, which is under the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Some of the proceeds go to the church itself. Guadalupe, another church in the city, is one which is completey covered with gold paint, sculped and painted flowers, or four huge/gigantic paintings depicting the Church's influence in the area.
Our final stop was the Mariot in Mexico City for $50 USD a night. We had two main things to do in this great city, and that was go to "La Villa de Guadalupe"--the basilica with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe--and to the theater to see the Ballet Folkloriko--traditional dances of Mexico, which were fantastic and the costums were elaborately beautiful. We just so happened to be in Mexico City for the anniversary of the canonization of St. Juan Diego, so that the Mass had a special apperance by the indigenous people of whom St. Juan Diego was. They did a dance in the procession and at the offetory. I thought it neat how they incorporated the indigenous culture into these special Masses. On Thursday, the actual anniversary day, two cardinals, six bishops, and about fifteen priests concelebrated Mass. This was a great sight to see.
To top off the trip, we made the trip into a trip of "Dias Flojos"--"Lazy Days." In addition to the "Dias Flojos," the last two nights sleep were stopped only by the shere want to get up...meaning we didn't use alarms. We got at least 9 hours of sleep per night getting up no earlier than 9am. It was great!
Firday, July 25, 2003
We had talked our teacher into taking us to "La Casa de Cortez" (The House of Cortez) which is a resturant/historical type place. We ate to our belly's content and then some--it was a buffet--and then walked around the grounds a little while. At home I found out that Miguel Angel, my Morelia contact had called and that now plans for our trip were starting to solidify. We shall see what the Lord has in store for us tomorrow.
Tonight is the "last night" party for the guys and we will probably end up on the roof of a house and chat...gotta love the freebies, except for the drinks and chips that we will by at the supermarket.
I shall return in a week to divulge all that I can about what happens next week. That which I can't divulge will stay in Mexico...quoting a girl we met, Mary Francis, "What happens in Mexico, stays in Mexico."
Thursday, July 24, 2003
Went home at the earliest possible moment so that I could help "my family" prepare hamburgers for the birthday party of the oldest and youngest child of the family. It is interesting how God blessed this family with two children on the same day 10 years apart. Anyway, I was the chef to to the burgers on the grill...what better person to get to do the grilling...an Aggie, because we all know that Aggies like burning things. Anyway, I ate 'til I was about to burst then waddled my way to the "good-bye" Mass that a parish was celebrating for those us whether we were actually leaving this weekend or not. I for one am not going home until the 8th of August, but many of the guys are leaving Cuernavaca Saturday. After Mass we went to another church across town to be the honored guests at a party put on by the youth group I attened one weekend. The kids are a great goup of young strong Catholics that I feel blessed to have met. I proceeded to fill my body with food that wasn't totally welcome because I was no at all hungry. Needless to say, I did not go to bed that night hungry.
Right before I retired for the night, my travels buddies and I talked about our trip this up coming week. Please be forwarned...next week I will probably not update this journal, but will write an entry upon returning to Cuernavaca telling the tale of our adventures.
Wednesday, July 23, 2003
Today is hump-day for many of the students/seminarians here at the school. After Saturday, when they go home, the school is going to drop dramatically in number...almost in half. Well I will only have two weeks left here in Mexico, one of which will be spent in Morelia and Mexico City "using" my Spanish to site see. Todays lecture was on bebidas (drinks) of Mexico--Tequila (three types), Kaluhua, a Coconut liquor, and a liquor made from coffee beans. Needless to say we were all every happy after the taste test. For some reason our ping pong playing was less effective afterwards also..hmm, go figure. Tonight is a party at the school for the guys leaving us. Fun shall be had by all, especially with a bottle of tequila and rum floating around. (You will have to check back to see details of the party.)
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The party was a blast. So much so, that I skipped going to the movies. The drinks, conversation, and fellowship were totally enjoyable. I did get into a conversation that quickily moved to politics and we know when it comes to politics, conversations become heated and no one "wins." Knowing this, I bowed out at the first available oportunity and allowed the others to continue to their hearts content. I was there to have fun not to debate sides...but of course when am I not somewhere to have fun. My whole life is one big ball of fun...at least for me. Others see it is corny sometime but I keep myself entertained. :-)
Tuesday, July 22, 2003
Today was one of my most uneventful days as in exciting things to report. Went to school, picked up my laundry, exchanged dollars to pesos, went to a Serra Club Meeting, and checked the internet for a route to Morelia. Sorry to my loyal readers that I have nothing interesting to talk about today. For those new readers don't be discouraged, things do normally happen that are worth writing about...I promise. Really the only thing that was out of the ordinary for a normal day in Cuernavaca was that I actually turned down a chance at free food.
Monday, July 21, 2003
We returned to the Columpios after class (see Sunday, July 13). This time there were about 12 of us students with about as many kids from the youth group of San Juan el Apostole. I got the guts to go on a higher swing, but only after I saw four of the youth go on it at one time, then I was confident in the weight limit was high enough for me to go. It was exilirating! However, pain did rear its ugly head and looked upon one of the girls in our group...I am told she was having trouble getting off the swing. When she finally managed to do so she fell and dislocated her ankle while ever so slightly fracturing it. She is now at her residence here with a cast. Needless to say, this killed our desire to stay and swing, so we followed the Ambulance out of the park and waited for a bus to bring us home. An interesting thing did happen that made us laugh, unfortunately at the expense of someone we didn't know. At this one stop outside of town, this old couple exited the bus, while a youner lady literally beat on who seemed to be her husband so that he would wake-up and get off the bus. Unfortunately for the persistant young lady, the man's persistance won out and she left the bus. I think he had tried to many of the flavored taquilas. Finally, about 10 minutes later he raised his head and signaled that he wanted off, because he had missed his stop. As the bus pulled away from dropping the man off, I watch him proceed to wait for a bus to return him to his house.
At one of kid's house we reconvened for dinner and fun and games. They taught us a game called "Pistoles" (pistols), which is kind of like arm-wrestling but totally different. You stand and with hands clasps like you are about to arm wrestle, you point your finger at your opponant and then proceede to attempt to touch him or her before he or she touches you. It kind of resembles the "fight scene" in Michael Jackson's "Beat It." Fun was had by all.
Another day finished and time for bed so that I can rest up to enjoy what tomorrow brings my way.
Sunday, July 20, 2003
Today was a loaded day from morning to night. First was Mass at a Benidictine Monastary where we were part of the processions even if they didn't have albs for us to wear. It was a little akward because we just walk up in the procession and sat where the Benedictines sit during Mass and left with the procession at the end of Mass. We were introduced to the many laypersons in attendance as seminarians from Texas and Kansas. After the Mass we went to Tepoztlan, a city that a pyramid was built on the side of a mountain. Unfortunately I was unable to climb it because my wonderful knee was bothering me, but we did walk around the market area and got to try many different flavors of Tequila--Mango, Cocnut, De Leche (of milk), Chocolate, Jamaica, and many others. It may be no surprise but I can't remember all the types they had. They just kept giving us little tasters of them and saying the flavor, so I kept taking and drinking them whether I understood them or not. I wanted to buy them all, but I didn't have the money. As we walked around the market area I couldn't help but notice the massive number of dogs just laying around taking siestas on the road which was made of stones. I don't see how that could possibly be comfortable, but then again I am not a dog and don't know what they find comfortable. Upon returning home we enjoyed another quiet evening watching a movie, A Perfect Murder. This movie I had started in Acapulco but didn't get to finish and wanted thus I rented it for a mere 18 pesos ($1.80).
Saturday, July 19, 2003
Today was a laid back day...went to "El Centro," which is basically downtown--the center of town, and bought some soccer shoes for $25 (American). After that just lazied around until the evening and watch "The Road to Perdition" with the guys and then again to the roof and then home. Nothing really exiciting to report about today except that I saw "The Hulk" and "Charlies Angels 2" DVD's in the underground market. Mexico is definitatly different.
Fridady, July 18, 2003
Normal day at school today. Afterwards, we all retired to the directors house for spegetti and good ol' American cookies. It was a nice dinner all around...we got to know the new girls that just arrived to the school a little more. Now class won't be so hard to go to everyday. :-) They are a great group of girls that are down here learning spanish for their mission group. I applaud them and pray for many blessing for them. After Mass we wanted to do something free so we all reconviened on the roof of one of the families and chatted until it starting pouring. We then hung out inside and watched it pour for an hour. Though it didn't totally stop I needed to get home and ended up walking home because I only could find one taxi and he wanted way to much. It is only a ten minute walk to get home from the school area which is a "walk in the park" for me now.
Now it is time for some Mexican Parculiarities.
For those of you who have not been to Mexico or don't know much of the culture some of these may seem weird but believe me they happen regularly here.
1. The cars slowly creep out into traffice until a car stops for it to pull into traffic. If a car doesn't want to stop, it merely swerves into oncoming traffic to go around the front end of the protruding car while the oncoming traffice halts.
2. The horn of a car has many uses: express anger at another driver, tell the front car to go whether he can or not and even if you are 10 cars back, tell cars at intersections and in driveways that you are not going to let them in, to get padestrians' attention (especially used by taxi drivers), and other ways that I am still trying to decode.
3. No matter where you are, if you get on public transportation, sooner or later someone will get on and try to sell you something. I have seen panhandlers of doughnuts, candy, popcycles (called Paletas), or CD's (That are probably boot leg copies). We even had this one guy get on the subway in Mexico City and say I am going to sing you a song. Of course it was way off key.
4. Beware when a Mexican tells you tomorrow. For example, you need some wasp spray and they don't have any, they will tell you tomorrow we'll go get some. The thing is tomorrow never comes.
5. No matter how little a family may have, when you visit their house they treat you like you are royalty.
Stay tuned for more ramblings on Mexican behavior.
Thursday, July 17, 2003
Today's ending lecture at the school was on Mexcian Foods...this means all kinds...the works. Afterwards we got to try the types we wanted. I ate the usual "tameles dulces"--sweet tamales, cheese, corn tortillas, guayaba--a fruit, and peanuts. Then came the bizzare types that you only hear about people eating. This one type of plant that was very good was fried with cheese and you put it in your mouth and pulled out the stalk, like Tom (the cat) would do with the fish he ate. Second was two types of dried grasshoppers--small and regular. They were salty and tasted like something I had eaten before but couldn't remember. Yes I acutally ate them (I have the picture to prove it.); however, I just couldn't bring myself to eat a live what looked to be a stink bug, yes this bug was alive and some people ate it including the teacher.
In the evening, I went with my house parents to a class on the Old Testament. It was nice to hear their views of the section of the Old Testament they were studying...or least what parts I could understand or translate.
Wednesday, July 16, 2003 - Feast Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
I woke up like any other morning...just enough time to shower and get to breakfast and then off to school. I arrive at school without a thought in my head...yeah, yeah, yeah, like always...but was quickly thrown for a loop when Don, a seminarian buddy of mine from Houston, told me that the Huricane hit Palacios and was wondering how my family was. Needless to say, I had no idea about the landfall of the huricane because guess who doesn't watch the news, especially down here in Mexico. Anyway, at the first available break I rush to a phone to be greeted by a recording that the phone lines are not working. ARRGH! I then rush to the cyber cafe forgetting about class for a while. I find that Shannon and Troy emailed me yesterday but I hadn't checked my email since around Saturday. I was updated as much as they could tell me and I spent the rest of the hour searching for information on the storm. Finally satisfied with what I had found I returned to class a little preocupide, but none the less following class. Luckily my class had planned on going out to get "almuerzo" which is a mid-morning breakfast type meal. Ahhh the comforts of food--"Tres Leche Cake"...mmmm. Finally, got through to Mom and Dad after class and talk with them for half an hour to find out they were still without electricity and sweating up a storm...no pun intended. Dad also wish I was there so that I could help with the grunt work...believe you me I want to be there, but the Lord had other plans.
This evening at Mass we celebrate the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. After the final blessing at Mass, the priest blessed a large number of brown scapulars and then "vested" us all with one. This is a great custom that we did in the States. It is a great way to honor Mary the mother of Our Lord. After Mass, I learned how to make my favorite Mexican, non-alcoholic drink called horchata. It is absolutly a delight to drink and, as I found out tonight, easy to prepare. -*gulp, ahh. Mmmmm.*-
Tuesday, July 15, 2003
Again nothing big happened today in Cuernavaca to right about. The only thing in the afternoon that happened was that it took Vincent, a seminarian from Houston, and I an hour and a half to figure out that all it took to fix the DVD players was to press the "function" button on the remote control. The night brought a Mass in a Serra Club member's home after which we ate a wonderfully prepared meal beginning and ending with drinks of the Mexican persuasian--tequila. The evening prooved to be an enjoyable evening.
Monday, July 14, 2003
Today was a rather uneventful. Went to class, to Mass, to two teens' house that I am helping with english, and then back home to sleep. The thing that was neat about today was that at Mass there was an post-baptismal anointing of a three year old girl. It was interesting to see how they incorporated this event into the normal flow of the Mass.
Sunday, July 13, 2003
Today, a few Sisters of the Incarnate Word of the Blessed Sacrament in Victoria, TX are celebrating their 50th, 60th, or 70th anniversary. Of this list are Sister Marcella Scrubar (60 years) and Sister Isabel Estrada (50 years).--Lord bless them in their vocation on tis special anniversary.
Today, I went to the confirmation Mass at the church where I went to the youth group meeting lastnight. Afterwards, myself, Jaime (a seminarian for Austin), and four of the youth from the group (two of which are the students Jaime and I tutor in english) went to Los Columpias de Axoxoco. This is a park is in the middle of a valley with hills on either side. In the trees on the side of the hills are tide rope swings that you can swing on out over the valley. I was to frightened to go on the tall one due to my weight, because at the furthest point from the hill you are about 30 feet from the ground. However, I did go on the "bunny swing" where I was only about 12 feet off the ground at the furthest point from the hill. Afterwards, the kids brought me to El Centro so that I could find some soccer shoes, but none were long enough. Meanwhile, I happen to notice that we walked past the "black market" for DVD's where they already have "The Hulk" on DVD. I had heard of it but thought it was more hidden than it was. Apparently in Mexico they don't worry about that too much.
Aside, from all this fun, I had a wonderful talk with my brother seminarian which brought us two closer together.
Saturday, July 12, 2003
Today was a lazy day with my house family in El Centro walking around looking for clothes and a pressent for a relative of theirs. Saturday evening brought a fun time with a youth group that I was invited to by two students I am helping with english. It was a fun evening with the youth of Cuernavaca and I was envigerated by their enthusiasm for the Faith.
Friday, July 11, 2003 - Memorial of St. Benedict
Today is the Anniversary of the I.C.C. School (the school I am attending for spanish down here in Cuernavaca) and after class we had a party with so much food I don't think I need to eat supper. Also, we played musical chairs and I was the champion yet again...a repeat challenge between Vincent Tran (from the Houston Diocese) and myself. Tonight seems to be shaping up as a get toghether at Los Arcos yet agian for "Dos por Uno" (see Tuesday, July 8).
Thursday, July 10, 2003
Today was my first full day back in class and it went well. Class went by rather unevenful, but the last class was a lecture school-wide on Mexican Candies (Dulces Mexicano), after which we had the chance to try them all...can you say, "Sugar Rush!"
Tonight, I am accompanying some other students to Zumbalai, a dance club for a night of grooving to the music. I will update this portion at a later date so that you can know how my Salsa lessons went.
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Last night was a blast and the club was very nice. When I walked in I was surprise to see a water fall in the back portion of the club. It made for a wonderful atmosphere. The live salsa and zumba music was great also. As I sat there listening to the music and watching the couples of all ages dance a girl comes up to me and asks me to dance. She was a Elementary Counselor from Sacramento, California. I am just a little disheartened that it took me entering the seminarian for a girl to aproach me and ask me to dance, because we all know that I am chicken when it comes to asking strangers to dance. But anyway, though neither of us knew how to dance "properly" to the music, I being the guy and by tradition the leader improvised with a psudeo-jitter bug dance step. It looked nice anyway...or so everyone in my party told me so. I had a great time and returned home at a reasonable hour, 12:30am.
Wednesday, July 9, 2003
Finally got my Visa so that I don't get deported back to the United States...darn. I can now finish out my studies here. After getting my Visa I was feeling happy and less stressed...last night great nights sleep also helped, not to mention the beer and the food. Now with Visa in hand though I can return to class, but not before a stop off at KFC for some secret recipe fried chicken. Mmmmm.
Class was difficult because I had been away from it for three days, luckily we were asked if we wanted to join a spanish singing song session, at which I jumped at the oportunity. After Mass, catted with my family on yahoo messenger...it was an absolute delight. After that I joined a friend at a Cafe for a Frapacino...they make a mean cup of Frap here. Retired for another night of good sleep.
Zzzzzz.
Tuesday, July 8, 2003
Spent a second day jumping through hoops like a circus dog, some of the hoops seemed to be on fire, but luckily I am nimble enough that I didn't get burned. Tempers were flairing again today because we kept haveing to walk between the copy store and the imigration office because we didn't have enough copies and the "nice" officers at the office didn't have a copy machine. And after another day of missing class I still didn't have my updated Visa because it takes a day to process it.--Thanks God I know I need to eat my piece of humble pie.
I now know what my friends in the seminary went through last year trying to renew their Visas to study in the United States. But barring a great catastrophy, I will have my Visa in hand tomorrow morning when I visit the imigration office for the last time this trip...hopefully.
The night brought a stress reliever at Los Arcos, a hang out where we can get "Dos por uno"--two drinks for the price of one. The joke is on them because they have an Aggie ordering drinks at this low-low price. Returned to the other favorite hang out, La Grina 3, which is the best place for tacos, tortas, etc. and it is cheap. Again the joke is on them because they have a hombre grande (big boy) ordering food at this low-low price. What a life I am living down here in Mexico, once I have my Visa.
Monday, July 7, 2003
Spent all day running around Cuernavaca looking for a form that doesn't exist so that I could extend my Visa. The headache recieved from this is enormous but I lift it up as a sharing in the passion of Christ. The thing that scares me is that tomorrow I will have to jump through many hoops.
Another redeaming factor is that I shared this experience with four other students and we griped to each other about it, and then went for comfort food at Pizza Hut.
Posted by Big Mike
at 12:01 AM CDT
Updated: Friday, 3 September 2004 6:22 PM CDT
