Tomorrow I'm taking off for the big island of Savai'i where I'm going to plant my ass firmly in the sand and do nothing for the entire weekend but eat, sleep, swim and lie in the sun (that is if the weather cooperates, which today, it is not doing). There's no computers, so no blogging until I'll get.

It's going to be my first real vacation where I've had nothing to do since I arrived in Samoa. The country is also being very cooperative - Monday is a holiday, so I don't have to be back to Apia for 4 days.

Monday (the 4th of August) is also my birthday (my brother's birthday too, incidentally - happy b-day, Brian). I'm turning 33. I don't feel 33. Not even close. It feels very odd to say that and even odder to write it and see the number staring at me in the face.

A number of people have expressed concern to me about the ability (or lack thereof) of the USPS to get packages to Samoa in a timely manner. This is a huge problem for us. But don't fear. If you want to give me a gift, and let's face it, you're chomping at the bit to do it, there are many ways you can achieve your goal:

1) Make a donation in my name to the Human Fund.
2) Go to a bar, have a few drinks and thank god you're not in the Peace Corps stuck on rock in the middle of the Pacific.
3) Send a few bucks to my account at PayPal and help me buy a new digital camera.

Fa'afetai lava to all of you who have already chosen option number 3.