Quote on happiness from Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert

"Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You have to fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it.

You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings.

And once you achieve a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it, you must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it...

It's easy enough to pray when you're in distress but continuing to pray even when your crisis has passed is like a sealing process, helping your soul hold tight to its good attainments."

- Elizabeth Gilbert, "Eat, Pray, Love" - Bali

Thanks for sharing this, Kyer!

Halloween on the Wharf, Santa Cruz, California - Come visit me 4-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31!

Got kids? Have Halloween spirit? Come visit me at this City of Santa Cruz Halloween Celebration! I will be the emcee for the Children's Costume contest!

5 Ways I know I am back in the USA and Santa Cruz, California

This is a fat costume for a Halloween bike race. It is no joke that many Americans really do look like this!

Back here in the United States, I notice:

1. People walk a lot faster.
2. They wear darker colors; I miss the bright, traditional Peruvian clothing.
3. The country is in a presidential election frenzy!
4. People complain about their stock portfolios.
5. How I know I am back in Santa Cruz, Calfornia, specifically -

• A visitor from New York commented, "Every day is Halloween in Santa Cruz." He made this observation after walking down our main drag, Pacific Avenue. He noticed that anything goes, fashion-wise, in this liberal, little seaside university town.

• At the Farmer's Market, the first person I bumped into there was an acquaintance from Burning Man 2007. He offered me a bag of fresh green peas. He told me to pick one pea, crack open the pod and he would look inside it and tell me my fortune. My future looks bright!

* I was invited to a Halloween party with the theme CEOs and Hos. Within a few hours, several people were semi-naked on the dance floor. (Not I!)


Before the Halloween party, I met with friends Marilyn and Caroline.

Best of all about being home: Where else can I attend a Halloween costume bike race?!


Yep, that's me in the black wig and red helmet!