IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD HERE

It truly does feel like a whole different world here.  Port Alberni is such a pretty little town, yet such a dysfunctional one, at least here in the part Monte lives in.   Across the street there is a row of about six connected little apartments, one storey high.  I don't know who all lives there but I do know that a couple of them are drug dealers.  On the end is a wonderful guy by the name of Mike.  He almost never comes out, a hermit you might say.  Monte spotted him just heading back into his place yesterday and hollered for him to come over.  He plays guitar so he came in and played for a while.  His pic is below. He is the most interesting person to talk to.  He is a full on theory conspirist (sp?), but one of the most intelligent well read people I have ever met.

 Next door is a very run down dilapidated house with a back yard full of garbage and toys.  A young native man lives there and he very frequently has his three nephews and nieces over. In fact he told us that he has mostly been the one to raise them as their parents are not in a position to.  They would be 4 and 6 and 8 by the looks of them.  They run around the back yard, hopping over a continuously tied up dog.

We were sitting on the front porch steps talking with Pat, Monte's friend from across the street (from one of the nicer houses) and cars kept pulling up next door at that kid's house.  They would go in, and come out and leave.  I asked Pat what the heck was up with that and he said that Jeremy was dealing weed.  Meanwhile the kids are answering the door and letting the buyers in.  Some of the people pulling up are about the scariest looking dudes you ever saw.

Every night here you hear fights outside, bad ones.  The police sometimes come and sometimes they don't.  Its crazy.  But as you meet these misfits and what appear to be down and outers, you can see they are a little band of brothers, taking care of each other, and they have welcomed Monte into their midst without a blink of an eye.  I am still not sure if thats good or bad.

Now it is midnight and Monte and I have just finished watching many episodes of The Xfiles.  He is totally loving the show and its fun to see them again.  We did get out and finish the grocery shopping.  So between episodes tonight I made dahl and subjit to take to Kevin's tomorrow for his birthday.  And tonight Ange, Pat's wife showed up with a big bucket of dirt with a beautiful cherry tomato plant in it for Monte.  They are the kindest most thoughtful people.

Off to bed now.  I am soooo tired.  TTYL

ED...AFTER A FEW DRINKS

I WAS TRYING TO GET THEM TO BE SERIOUS...THAT IS PAT AND ANGE

BRIRTHDAY BENNYS

BIRTHDAY DONUTS

MIKE