Updates for Wednesday, January 14th [2004]

DEAR SIRS & MADAMS,

After I arrived to this strange new world it was amongst my personal and best vested interests to analyze the geography of America and the history of this region, and to find out more about this place, Oregon. I knew in my time of the river Oregon, supposedly past the Mississippi, and hopeful connector to the Pacific Ocean. We knew of these things sending Captain Merryweather Lewis into the west. I knew, however, that I would never be able to make such a voyage myself, but enjoyed living my years in the grand idea that the west would be colonized, and indeed it has, maybe not quite in the way I first imagined, but I suppose that is the case history always makes, things not always being as they were to be, being only as they are.

It wasn't until just recently it was brought to my attention just how truly close we were to the Pacific, when Daniel asked if I wanted to accompany him to visit Seaside with some friends of his. Aparently his friend Mr. James Roosevelt the Fourth is joining two of his companions, Michael Michaud and Lenny Ledyard on a voyage to the sea for more of their protesting activities, and indeed, they requested the presence of Daniel. Michael and Lenny are animal activists that James had met during a candelight vigil for "Cake-o" the whale, a whale I was told that was in moving picture films. That did not make any sense to me being a man not of the times, but indeed, I had lived my life wondering what the great Pacific was like, and never having been there to see it myself, I could not pass up this opportunity.

The reason for our trip was made quite obvious as we ventured on the automobile ride Westbound. It is a great plight for animals and God's creatures today, for some believe that they should not be in captivity, or in domestication. Aparently it is greatly ruinous and not the desideratum for the people that they be removed from the seas because the "eco system" might be damaged or disrupted. Always enquiring, I asked the group,

So it was that the five of us ventured forth into the city called Seaside. As we pulled along the shore and I could see the great span of the Ocean, for the first time in my life, I could see it's span into the horizon. We pulled up Broadway Street, and at the end, I saw a circular pass that was called the "Turnaround". It was shortly before this that we turned to park behind some man's Candy store, when it was that I was accosted by the very walls of the building, shaking and trembling a boisterous remark, "Because the Candy Man can!". I was scared and began to flee, when stopped by Daniel who saw my obvious worry.

It was 2PM, and we were early to meet some of the other protestors, so we decided to go ahead and go to play games at the behest of Lenny, who offered to pay for it all. We left the posters and materials inside the car. So it was that we ventured the Seaside. I played in the "Bumper Cars", but did not quite understand the point, and not before getting my bearings three small children in their electric carriages came one way for me, slamming into my carriage and jolting me about. I was unaware, and leaped from the carriage running from the stage, tripping over another car as the ride operator stopped the machines to save me. For some reason he was displeased with my performance playing in the bumping cars, and ordered my dejection from the amusement. How such a violent sport is considered fun, I have no knowledge. Lenny bought us all ice cream, and we enjoyed thoroughly, as it is one of my favorite dessert foods. It was during this time we passed by the Aquarium, the object of dissent amongst us. Lenny, me and Daniel all went indoors all at my behest, as a scientist I insisted, I could not pass without looking inside especially if I was to protest this place... but it was much to the disgrace of James and Michael, who insisted it wasn't worth seeing such "brutality". They insisted instead on going to purchase marijuana, I advised that they go to the local farmer's wholesaler, to try to get some from the manufacturer instead of at retail. I don't think they understood me, however.

So it was that we went indoors, and I saw all the animals of the sea on display as never before, some beautiful, some terrible (I remark here the Moray Eel left me with a rather disturbing vision), and others I simply saw for the first time (again I remark my awe at the rather amazing Twenty Ray Star Fish). We passed the tank of the sea turtles, antient creatures foretold by their agen looks. Octopus, perhaps, was the most fascinating of them all. I had heard of them from many sailors and merchants, but never saw one living or dead. What a great place of education, I insisted, but Daniel ignored me, needlessly upset about the very same exhibits. And then we passed the object of today's outspoken protest... the lions of the sea, nearby the seals, to which women and children fed fish to. Such huge animals, I had never seen them before.

So it was we decided to leave, Daniel and Lenny went to find James and Michael, while I did indeed wander astray. I walked around, trying to find a reprieve, and indeed, I found a great view of the ocean from the "Turnaround". Then, it struck me to my amazement, when I read a stone monument there, which said that this very place was the place where Merryweather turned around on the expedition, the very one I sent him on so many years ago! This was the same coast that my expedition first explored for America! I knew it would be in this locale, but never did I suspect to see it alive in front of me, ever. It seemed appropriate to me, to venture to this place, knowing that when the West was reached, my good friend turned around, with his companion William & they surely had the future in sight, whether they really knew of it or not. Now that I am here, on my amazing adventure through time, what is in store for my future?

Down the street, however, the protest began. I turned around and watched from afar. It was larger than I thought, it swelled to some 30 people, and drew the attention of several police officers, since it appeared to be blocking part of the street and making quite a noise. It was a man next to Lenny who threw a bottle at a cop, but I don't think the police saw who it was, as clearly I saw Lenny get beaten, sprayed in the face with what appears to be some kind of liquid poison, and dragged away. Shortly afterwards, the crowd dispersed, not being enough to approach the now numerous police men. I preferred to stay from a distance, and go to the car to meet with whoever might make it out of the incident there. So, I did wait, for roughly an hour, when Daniel, James and Michael finally returned. It appears that Lenny is in jail for the mispercieved offense, although his mother & father were assuredly coming to get him free with bail money. Knowing this, we resolved to stay with the evening's plans, only instead of the hotel room Lenny would pay for, we decided to camp outside, despite the coldness of the weather recently, since we needed to stay in the area & the only way to stay within Seaside according to James, we all knowing no friends and having no money, would be to camp on a secluded area of the beach. The only other option we had would be to return home, which Daniel seemed to reluctantly favor, although he did not speak up to say as such. We had driven here in James' car, and it was to my surprise that James had several sleeping bags and a tent in his trunk, as aparently he made it his habit to camp freely as he pleased, he proclaimed this habit made it easier to relate to the "homeless wage slaves".

We waited for nightfall and snuck our supplies out onto the beach. It was cold and certainly seemed uncustomary but James and Michael both seem rather excited about it. It was not more than an hour on the beach until the three began rolling the marijuana plant into papers and using it for smoking. I declined the offer as I do not care for the smoke, and suggested perhaps that the plant be best smoked through a chicken bone, as I had seen people on my plantation do of it. They look rather confused.

It was on into the evening when Michael went out to go purchase some more of the substance, it amazed me how particular the group thought it was to smoke such a thing, when I would imagine indeed that smoking tobacco would be considered so much more eventful, for is it not of a fevered drought that brings one to smoke the leaves of something common, as the maple tree is itself, and indeed wasteful of hemp to smoke the unprocessed leaves of marijuana? I simply did not understand the signficance of such a thing. I suppose it has more to do with the scarcity of the leaf, than any other factor.

After 2 hours, it turned out Michael would not be coming back. James got a call on his "sell-fone", from Michael, aparently an "undercover" police officer had arrested him when he attempted to buy the marijuana leafs from them. I knew such trade was illegal, but never thought it was so vigorously enforced.

The drive home was long and I got there late. It was not until this next morning that I finished writing this. I must head off to work, and surely, it will be a relief from the way I spent yesterday. I must take care, and be sure to visit Natalie soon, to see how she is.

Your most obedt. humble servt.,

- TH. Jefferson