I just got back from Italy where we vacationed for three weeks. It was a monumental trip.

For the first week, we had a stunningly cool apartment in Rome. History and ruins everywhere. I was stymied with angst. I felt trodden upon. In my journal, I was sullenly comparing myself to the young man (me) who traveled through that city 30 years earlier and didn't stop for long because he wanted to meet his brother in Athens for Christmas.

That kid carried a wallet in his pants the way I do now, and he didn't own much other than a wad of travelers checks (earned in Alaska) hidden in his boots. He didn't pay for guides or even audio aids because he figured he could get it all through osmosis, save money and extend his trip. He liked hooking up with other travelers, sizing people up in one conversation to determine if they would be compatible. He got good at it after excursions with undesirables. He stayed away from home 8 months, and returned because he was baffled by a hernia he got in Juba, in the southern part of The Sudan.

"The child is the father of the man." (Wordsworth) We are always sorting out our relationships with our fathers, but at 55, I see that I am my own dad.

So here I was in Rome with my family; the one I chose and melded into, slipping in and out of an ancient mindset. And as much as I love that kid (young me), crave to be him again, I had by now done a thorough vetting, and had to accept that he is kind of an asshole, and we don't travel well together.

After I sent him on his way (as much as one can do that) and climbed onto the tour bus (for the 2nd leg of the trip), I had a much, much better time of it. In Cinque Terra, we met a college kid who reminded me of young Smith, and we bought him a nice dinner, as had been done for me from time to time.

FACT: The word "arena" comes from the Latin for "sand," which was placed on the amphitheater floor to soak up spilled blood.

The travel wounds are healing. I picked blackberries and made some pies. I have been glued to the election campaign coverage. My Fall is bursting with cool projects. Today my brother and I took my mom to The Puyallup Fair for her birthday. I'm happy to be back. And, it was a fantastic trip.

Cookus Interruptus

Our revamped site now represents who we think we are. If all of you subscribe will become wealthy enough to afford organic food. The current blog discussion is called "Cheap cheep". It's about food prices.

Rabid Cookus fans think Cynthia and I are really married, and that Bhama is our offspring. I think that's wacky. Strangers tell Cynthia that her daughter is beautiful, and that her husband is odd (Both true for her in real life).

And last week a friend who should know better asked me how to parboil brussel sprouts. So as my
identity continues to shift, I marvel as it pauses here http://www.cookusinterruptus.com/.

Check out this review of the new site. If it sounds good, subscribe. Subscriptions are our "proof of
audience".

FACT: The bones of St. Mark (now at St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice) were smuggled out of Egypt, hidden in pork.

IMPROV WORKSHOPS

Weekend Improv workshop
Oct 18, 19
14 people max
Sat 9:30 - 3:30, and Sunday 10:00am - 2:00pm
At The Valley School in Madison Valley (I hope).
$120.
This is a great way to learn and practice the essence of improv. It gives us some perspective on how we process information, exposing self-inflicted limits and opening alternatives. No experience required. Anybody OK. Call me for more info: 206-551-4622.

Basic improv workshop at Freehold
(now in BellTown)
Sept. 29 thru Nov. 17th
14 people Max
Mondays from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. Call Freehold @ 206-323-7499.

One-day workshop on October 2nd
9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Greenwood
"How to think on your feet so you don't fall on your face in business"
This will follow an ewomen network event on October 1st, at which I'll be speaking. You need not be a woman to sign up. This should be a good sized group, up to 30 people.
$99.00 if you sign up soon
$149.00 if you wait till the last week.
To sign up for this contact Zita Gustin

FACT: Nero himself started the great fire because he wanted the real estate down where the Coliseum was later built (over his palace) cleared of residents so he could use it for his palace.

ELECTION

Say, how about that Obama? Here's a guy who would have invested in the museums' audio tour guides. I'm joining this young man on the high road and calling a fund raising auction
for his campaign at a home in Ravenna on Sept. 14th,. Should be fun and meaningful. There's room for about 10 more generous people. Let me know if you're interested.

FACT: Julius Caesar was considered a large man, at 5'2".

IN THE WORKPLACE

I'll be facilitating an Open Space session with WA State Employees Credit Union, working with a TEC group in Vancouver BC, doing a keynote/workshop with PEMCO, and speaking briefly for an eWomen Network event (see workshops!). I'm also coaching with Stand and Deliver Group in San Jose. I worked with this group in London in June.

And I'm doing a session with The American Center for Lifecycle Assessment. These Lifecycle expert geeks do the opposite of greenwashing. They are about real measurement for real outcomes. A summer hi-light was participating in ContinuO at The U of Oregon with 60-plus profoundly committed educators.

FACT: In 320 AD when Constantine moved the empire's capitol from Rome to
Constantinople, the population dropped from 1.5 million to 14,000 inhabitants.

AUCTIONS

The season is nigh! Coming up this fall are Obama for President, Vashon Allied Arts, Habitat for Humanity, The Seattle Repertory Theatre, St. Cecelia's, Seattle Language Academy, Roosevelt HS Drama, The Valley School, The Franciscan Foundation.

FACT: The most bizarre account of early auctions took place in 193 A.D. when the entire Roman Empire was put on the auction block after being sacked.

 

Acting

Still dabbling! Outsourced is now available at video stores and at netflix! John Jeffcoat is using me for a short film he's shooting in Seattle this month, and next month Christian Palmer may use me for a small role in his feature film.

FACT: Frank Capra was all ready to direct "Roman Holiday" with Audrey Hepburn, but when he discovered that the blacklisted Dalton Trumbo was the scriptwriter, he backed out.

Thanks for making it to the end. The secret code to let me know that you took the effort
to get this far, however you got here, is... SPQR