Running With Shurikens

One of the only aspects of my small-town Southern upringing that I felt became an issue later in life came to light in Thailand in the mid-90's.

A French girl started making fun of me for often wearing t-shirts with the sleeves cut off, and I didn't understand why.

Turns out everybody DOESN'T cut the sleeves off their t-shirts when they get worn out. Huh.


So now when I want to show off my guns I just buy a shirt that already has no sleeves. But I occasionally miss the creative act of cutting them off.

My 2.5 weeks in America had all the hallmarks of an enjoyable American holiday -- giving my 8 and 10 year old nephews my old throwing stars and showing them how to use them, waterskiing at my parents' lake houses, playing XBOX, eating lots of barbecue, and drinking with old high-school friends at various divey bars, including one that used to be a brothel. Naturally BB guns came into use a few times, as well.

But in fact I had a lot of hassles in getting my Russian visa and making travel arrangements, and also got a letter from the IRS saying I owed them $2000. (As it happened they were mistaken, but I still had to deal with a lot of paperwork.)

I also fell off my bike and skinned my knee badly, and got chiggers on my nuts at the lake house.