i'm still standing

i know that's hard to believe, Freedomites, but i'm still here for you…even if you jest at the sheer mention of what 'pardyallthetime' even means anymore?
don't worry, i've heard them all -
'hardlyanytime', 'damnnearpassedhisprime', 'didntcaremuchforhisryhmes'....and so on.

do i blame the job for my lack of life sharing and general disappearing act? yes.
don't get me wrong, i understand we're all busy.
i'm not thinking i'm special simply because i have a job that has me out before 8 and back in after 9. i get it. i signed up for it, i'm a working stiff - plain and simple.

some nights i lay awake in bed, wondering if it might be best to just end the blogging for you, the fans. thinking about the constant checking of your feeds only to be disappointed, the 'toilet-read' that was and is now just 'toilet', the hope for some sign of "you've got Freedom 32' ringing out, and yet, it never comes.

…until now. and with this, the hope that the updates start to pick up again.
it feels like we've missed a lot since i last checked in.
about 30 ferry trip to/from Macau, 10 passport pages of stamps, 3 offices, and even some stuff that has nothing to do with work - friends from Vancouver here for a visit, a trip to Phuket, a Typhoon measuring 3/8 and probably a few little funny anecdotes that i normally would have shared but simply couldn't.

i've been sitting on blog post #99 for over a month now…thinking 'will I ever get to 100?'. well congratulations Mr. Hong Kong, this is your moment - #100.
but it's not about me, it's about you…those who have supported & encouraged. it's your numbers that i care more about….

40 - years of marriage for M&D in August
10 - years of wed for bro & sis'n'law
2 - jobs for Mags (for now)
1 - waterbug for Mabes & Leeroy (soon)
.5 - for the near miss, Mr. Chris

i'm still standing, thanks to you all.
and so, i leave you with this, a mere token of my appreciation.