Thank you all for your birthday wishes!

And to answer the questions, yes, yes I did have a nice birthday.

I bought a carrrr!

As I glided away from the dealership (and boy, do I have stories about how hard it was to find the right car), I glanced up at the full moon through the sunroof -- realizing I had a sunroof -- and looked around the black interior of a silver car, and thought:

"This car's made of moonlight."

And that's her name. Moonlight.

Now I have to find a place to hold my Tibetan class. Because I have four wheels and a normal life again. (And a very pretty car.)

How to pray by being: for the Haiyan Typhoon victims.

For my Buddhist-curious friends, in the wake of the Haiyan Typhoon:

http://www.tibetanbuddhistaltar.org/how-to-pray-by-being/

A teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo given in the wake of the Tsunami in 2004:

In order to pray, first we have to understand that we are Uncontrived Primordial View – Suchness. The Uncontrived Primordial View is every potential in its essential uncontrived form. Our nature is that which is unborn, absolutely complete and perfect in every detail. It isn’t made, it isn’t grown, and it can’t become stronger or weaker. It is conditionless. So we practice VIEW to allow the “boxes” of our mind to fall away so we can recognize that conditionless state and awaken to it, at last. Our prayers have to be like this as well.

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When you are aware that you are that, it is that that you send to others. Being confident, not prideful, confident in that blessing; and therefore you can pray. Now you have the Bodhicitta. Now you ARE the Bodhicitta. And that is the potency and power that you rely on.

It’s every minute. It’s a path. It’s a way of life. And it is the true method to achieve the precious awakening. When you know that other beings are suffering so terribly and we have found this “Jewel” and it is in our hands, and this nectar is given freely, then I ask you “Why not learn to pray?”

"Renovation"? Try "County Compliance."

I've decided to stop using "renovation" to describe my temple's circumstances.

That's like using the phrase "global warming" to describe gradual catastrophic climate change. "Renovations"? Why those are optional! And pleasant, you're delighted with the results as they improve the structure in small ways, perhaps even repairing a broken building. And you can renovate whenever, so long as the building's still standing.

The new term is "County Compliance."

How's that for an ass-kicking description of what the temple's up against?

The temple needs to raise money for "County Compliance."

Is it optional? Hell no.
Is it reasonable? It's the county government, what do you think?
Is it an improvement? Not necessarily, no.
Is there a time frame? Yup.
Is it expensive? You're damned right it is.

Wait till I tell you why the temple has to meet 2012 codes when most churches/temples/synagogues would have to meet lighter standards. (My dad's still laughing.)