10. Watched an ant for an hour and a half, as it went in circles, clearly mad.

9. Watched a mildewy bench dry in the morning sun for an hour... then realized that EVERYTHING was drying, including myself. Ooeeeooeeooee.

8. Realized I had become the "parking lot pacer" of the group, as it was the only area where it was pretty guaranteed that I would not have to change course to avoid another pacer. Because that was IRRITATING.

7. Got caught by four people simultaneously petting the neighbor's dogs, which we weren't supposed to do. Silent blank stares.

6. Got caught putting grass and dead bees on the giant ant hill, the grass confused them but the bees got shuttled directly down into the holes to be turned into bee hamburgers I presume. Silent blank stare.

5. Shot mental laser beams at the other silent meditators. Equanimously.

4. Learned how to sleep while sitting up.

3. Rationalized that talking to myself didn't break the rules of the noble silence agreement.

2. Flossed my teeth 3 times a day because for the first time ever, it topped my priority list.

1. Became enlightened.

To read my really long entries about what the camp was like, and what it was about, click here and here respectively.

My response to the entire experience is always going to be positive... but my response to the instruction and practice of the course seems to be swinging from positive to negative fairly regularly. How can you objectively judge intense experiences? The quality of intensity seems to always be positive... or at least "worth it". And the intentions and spirit of the course were insanely positive... what other organizations out there will pay for 10 days of food, lodging, instruction, and support without any hard sell at the end? It's really quite remarkable and unique in this world.

But the biggest benefit of the 10 days was what was happening in my head, sometimes triggered by the course itself, but usually more about my personal life and projects and ideas. The opportunity to think that clearly and calmly for that long of an uninterrupted period led to SO MANY NEW IDEAS. From my secret project, to my media club, to a new comic I want to publish, to three book ideas, to self-improvement projects, to office hours, to ways to improve the lives of friends, to work, to making a million dollars, to becoming a famous inventor, to opening a bar, to starting a gallery, to creating new gadgets, to a million other small things... ideas were raining from the skies! The world is too rich. I want it all to happen. Either by me or by someone else, I don't care. Let's stop dilly dallying and start living day to day as if it were all real, too real.