below sea level

Silence is Golden

2007-04-01T21:42:00.002-07:00

Don't do today what you can't accomplish tomorrow. I think gringos call that being on 'manana time'. Something like that.

It's a slightly derogatory term, referring to the Latin culture's ability at not getting too stressed about anything. Here in the Coachella Valley in Southern California, the skies are blue, the sun is bright yellow but the pace is decidedly south of the border.

Manana time. Literally, it means 'we're on tomorrow's clock'. The coffee shop culture of 'let's get done today so that we don't care about it tomorrow' is minimized here at sea level. Dig deeper and one finds a profound pacifism in the Native culture. Is it laziness, is it passive? Or is it a realization of life's priorities? A transcendence to behold?

As of now, no one's saying. They just smile.

Silence is Golden

2007-04-01T21:42:00.001-07:00

It's my Birthday

2006-05-15T21:40:00.000-07:00

Things to do:

Play golf at Escena Golf Club on Wednesday with the Stonewall Golf Group; kick everyone's ass and smile at them in a very sly arrogant manner when I leave.

Go to dinner at Cuistot's on Wednesday evening (exclusive Palm Desert restaurant). Order from the bar menu: cheese plate w/bottle of Pinot Noir (served with fresh walnut/raisin bread). Who needs to anything else.

Have 30-minute reflexology treatment on Tuesday to make me play better golf on Wednesday.

Go to Sharper Image on the prestigous El Paseo Avenue and get free chair massage so that I may play better golf on Wednesday.

Raid the neighbors Blood Orange tree so that I can have fabulous cocktails after I play really really good golf on Wednesday.

Heirlooms

2006-04-08T21:49:00.000-07:00

There are many things in this world that just ain't right. At the top of my list are tasteless supermarket tomatoes.

I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore:

Last week, I put in 4 different varieties of organic heirloom tomatoes. I found them here.

Next week, I'm getting 3 varieties of peppers, including Anchos, Jalapenos and a pepper to be named later.

The Year in Music: iPod

2006-03-09T21:42:00.000-08:00

My iTunes has been secretly counting how many times I've listened to the individual tracks in my library. How very sly of them. (Was this a provision of the Patriot Act?)

Without judgement or editing, here are my most listened to tracks of the last year:

9> Banquet, Bloc Party, Silent Alarm
8> Que Ondo Guero, Beck, Guero
7> White Shadows, Coldplay, X&Y
6> Slow Hands, Interpol, Antics
5> Side, Travis, The Invisible Band
4> Kelly Watch The Stars, Air, Moon Safari
3> Get Together, Madonna, Confessions on a Dance Floor
2> Missing, Beck, Guero
1> Destroy Everything You Touch, Ladytron, Witching Hour

Dangerously Close to La-La Land

2006-02-08T19:08:00.000-08:00

On this nite, Grammy Awards Night in Hollywood, I offer the following nominations for musical performance in 2005:

Most Unwelcome Comeback of the Year:

Mariah Carey, "The Immancipation of Mimi" aka "You been there, you done that, how come all the Ho's are sounding like Beyonce anyways."

Why Do I Care About This Music Award:

Metal Performance: "Before I Forget," Slipknot. Dumbass Alice Cooper/KISS clones wear masks trying desperately to distinguish themselves from all the other dumbass heavy metal/rap clones. See WWE Raw for explanation. 'Nuff said.

Male Pop Vocal Performance: "From the Bottom of My Heart," Stevie Wonder. Uninteresting, uninspired and without vision. No pun here, Stevie has no insight into what makes music interesting. I've been blinded by the blind!

Rock Performance "City of Blinding Lights", U2. My fave band of all time becomes my least fave band of all time. When will the music industry call a spade a spade? This shit sucks. Oh yeah, Bruce Sprinsteen got nominated too for "Devils and Dust". It sucks too.

The Grammys Saving Grace Award:

Alternative Music Album: "Get Behind Me Satan," The White Stripes. Even tho' they're at least 2 albums past their prime (per my good friend Rick Groendendaal), their victory in this category means something. Not sure what it means, but just google "White Stripes" and you'll get my drift.

___

I've got laundry to do, so I'll let you go. Talk to you soon from the red carpet here in LaLa land, perhaps when the Oscars go schizoid on us in late March.

Progressives

2006-02-08T16:13:00.000-08:00

It's official, I'm old.

Can't see like I used to, so I will now be wearing bi-focal lenses ... the fancy name for the bi-focals without the line across the middle is progessive lenses. Add the Prada frames and I'll be stylish and old.

In other related news, I've been using Nioxin shampoo and scalp treatment to forestall the thinning on top of my head. After two months, I can report that I have new follicle growth, albeit mutant-looking curly q's, just below my current hairline.

Most of the time old people become mean and inevitably SUCK.

But! I hereby swear on Prada and Nioxin that I will not become mean and SUCK, despite going bald and blind.

Bloc Party

2006-01-05T10:40:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago, I heard a reunited Gang of Four playing a live set on KCRWs Morning Becomes Eclectic ... whoa, I thought to myself, these guys are amazing and why didn't I listen to them when I was in college. Why didn't I get the memo that they were so good? Smart, funky and powerful.

And just yesterday, I stumbled onto Bloc Party: a new band, the latest latest thing from Great Britain. Their latest release Silent Alarm sounds raw, accomplished and just downright fucking awesome. Heart stopping rhythyms, urgent jangling guitar riffs and awesome vocals. Imagine the Red Hot Chili Peppers as a ska band and a vocalist that can actually carry a tune.

Or just think of Gang of Four. Times four.

Brokeback Mountain

2005-12-19T10:23:00.000-08:00

Just a few words on Brokeback Mountain ... saw it last night with Noel. It was showing on three separate screens at our local theatre, each apparently sold out. There was a good sized line at the ticket office, gay couples anxiously awaiting this much-hyped movie.

Haunting, sad, gorgeous and soul-crushing.

Reminded me of my youth, growing up in rural Oregon. It was a time when I became acutely aware of who I was and knowing that it would be impossible for me to be that person unless I went far from home.

See the movie.

A Very French Christmas Eve

2005-12-08T16:48:00.000-08:00

It's our tradition to host friends and loved ones on Christmas Eve. We typically serve soup, salad and dessert. Wine flows as the merriment grows.

Since Noel is typically busy with church services, the production of said meal always fell to me. I know how to make only one soup: italian sausage with lentils (and a dash of curry). Serve with a nice Oregon salad: hazelnuts, dried cranberries, blue cheese and a raspberry vinaigrette. Follow up with apple pie and everyone is happy.

This year, we're going with something more cohesive, more challenging to my culinary talents. You could say that I am in the spirit of Christmas. And I need you're assistance.

The theme is French. I want to start the soiree with a French Onion soup. I'm currently testing recipes but would really prefer word-of-mouth recommendations from those that I trust. The soup will be followed this year by a grilled panini sandwich. I'm hoping to come up with a fabulous portobello/swiss/spinach (vegetarian option); I'm not committed to this idea and welcome any alternatives that you might suggest.

Next up: a simple spinach salad with mushrooms, thinly sliced red onions, bacon and slivers of hard boiled egg. I figure a nice and lite vinaigrette will be perfect. Strategically, I'm using the salad as a way to cleanse the palate before dessert. Maybe a grapefruit sorbet would suffice? I really need advice on this point.

Dessert: the Barefoot Contessa has an amazing croissant bread pudding recipe that I have made in the past and will be featured on this year's menu. The chocolate option for dessert is provided by Nigella Lawson. This recipe found it's way into my heart from a dear friend, Jim Armer (via Oprah). It's simple, decadent and sublime. I'd like to add a 3rd option for dessert. Maybe a simple apple pie would suffice? Perhaps even an apple tart.

Again, your suggestions are much appreciated.

Parental Notification before the Big Court

2005-12-01T09:07:00.000-08:00

Soon we will have a clear indication on how the new look Supreme Court will advance the inevitable erosion of Roe V. Wade.

I'm not terribly passionate about the abortion issue. To me, there is simply nothing to be righteous about. I have no clear understanding of when life begins and as such have no moral footing to make judgements.

Without moral compass, I simply rely on legal precedent. Our nation's Forefathers were no more prepared to deal with this issue than we are. But they left behind sacred documents that pretty much guarantee a person's right to determine the course of their life without interference from outside authority. Thus the right to choose.

Does this choice extend to a 16-year old in New Hampshire? I say why not? Having or not having a child impacts the mother for the rest of her life. Why a parent should be required to influence that choice is beyond me.

Mea Culpa: HBO's Deadwood

2005-11-17T19:07:00.000-08:00

It was nearly 2 years ago when I was asked by my good friend Rick, "Whaddya think of Deadwood."

Rick and I are both HBO groupies, gobbling up pretty much every series they put on the air. But at the time I told him that I have no interest in the series.

I despise the whole Western genre. Can't stand the simplistic, stoic and senselessness of all the characters; you know, chasing after fortune, doin' right by man lest they do wrong by you and, whenever possible, be nice to those young lassies 'cuz they are tender folk. Fuck that shit.

But then earlier this summer, I happened upon an interview with David Milch (I think it was Charlie Rose). He's the script writer for Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue (pretty much Steven Bochco's butt buddy?). I learned in that interview that Mr. Milch was the director, writer, creator of Deadwood. This in and of itself sold me. I thought maybe I'd give this series a try.

Thanks to the miracle of HBOs Video On Demand, I was able to watch the 1st and 2nd seasons of said series in the span on 2 months.

I was not disappointed. Deadwood is now my favorite show on television. I offer the following as encouragement to those that have yet to seek out this show:

Seems to me that this is a genealogy/archaeolgy of the United States, as a country and as a culture. The show is set on the 19th century American frontier, before statehood, before law and order as we know it. The town is populated by gold rushers and prostitutes, looking to make it big, seeking the American dream. They are schemers, criminals, malcontents, drunks and whores. They are unapologetic in pursuing their own interets. Is Milch suggesting that these are our natural ancestors?

Milch, as a writer, embues his characters with a profound poetry and lyricism. At times, especially in the first season, I was looking for a primer on Frontier English.

Eloquent and crude, Mr. Milch works his magic.

If Wishes Were Fishes

2005-11-02T12:58:00.000-08:00

I'm bored with modern pop/rock music.

I have a few suggestions:

a) Chris Martin and the boys from Coldplay hook up with Brian Eno for their next LP. It's time to give this band a jolt of imagination and esotericism. I can just imagine Eno screaming at Chris Martin, "No pianos on my fucking CD!"

b) Timbaland (the brains behind the Missy Elliot trademark rhythms?) hooks up with Peter Gabriel (Timba's natural rhythm predecessor), guest vocalist could be Sinead O'Connor. Would love to hear their remake of 'Games Without Frontiers'. Add the afro/blues guitar of Ali Farke Toure; pure music orgasms.

c) Danny Elfman, Dr. Dre and Eminem do the next soundtrack for a yet to be titled Tim Burton movie. Imagine Oliver Stone's 'Natural Born Killers' directed by Burton and a soundtrack that sounds like a whacked out crazy carnival song with ghetto beats. And Dennis the Menace. That's what I'm thinking ...

d) Springsteen, PJ Harvey and Bono collaborate and release 'Nebraska, Part II." No Edge guitar, no E Street band. Stripped and bare.

It's All About the Flav

2005-11-01T07:01:00.000-08:00

It's true. VH-1 came by my place of employ last night. They were filming a new reality TV show, starring Flavor Flav. Not quite certain re: the gist of the plot. You'll have to tune in for yourself to find this out.

Long story short, I was the lucky one, chosen to massage Mr. Flav while his two ho's, Pumpkin and Hoops, lavished affection on him.

It was bizarre and trippy, just like Flav. I was given a script 15 minutes before the cameras rolled, met with several producers, each of them telling me different things about what to say and when.

I just ignored them and decided to make it the Bill and Flav show. We hit it off and I nailed my lines, grasped the gestalt of the moment and just let it ride. What a rush!

So all of my readers out there, all four of you, sometime in mid January, I'll be on television in my first *speaking role. Assuming that I make it past the edit.

*At the age of 5 years, I appeared briefly on the screen of Hells Angels movie. Don't recall the name.

Oh My God ....

2005-10-13T21:07:00.000-07:00

The scripted interview of George Bush (scripted President of the US) with the troops (conscripted dupes from the middle class) in Iraq (scripted enemy and terrorist state) could well be the biggest public relations disaster in modern day politics.

President Nixon at the heighth of his paranoia never looked more confused and pathetic than the overwhelmed and perplexed George W Bush.

Belly

2005-09-16T15:10:00.000-07:00

I love this band ... just rescued my old copies of 'King' and 'Star' from deep storage. Good, really smart pop/rock band from the mid-90's, long before all rock bands started trying to sound like Pearl Jam.

Really enjoy the wispy vocals on 'Gepetto' but my favorite is 'Now They'll Sleep'.

Good times, now I just need to find my Throwing Muses Cd.

Troubling development in New Orleans ....

2005-09-04T10:28:00.000-07:00

Just saw that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has been dispatched to the region ravaged by hurricane Katrina.

With a tone of earnestness he offered, "The recovery from this type of event could take weeks, months, even years." Eerily similar to the remarks issued from the Bush White House (and Rumself himself) as they embarked on their specific war on terrorism in the Spring of 2002 and their subsequent invasion of Iraq.

I'm sure the irony was lost on him. Let's just hope the rest of the nation connects the dots.

Amen

2005-09-03T08:59:00.000-07:00

College football season is here! Looking forward on this Saturday to the Boise State/Georgia game. Also, USC at Hawaii should give us a pretty good read on the Trojans and their quest for a 3rd consecutive title.

Dawgies!

2005-08-25T15:17:00.000-07:00

I get to doggy sit today!

To O.B.E. or Not To O.B.E.

2005-08-23T10:04:00.000-07:00

I think it all started when I was 22 y/o. I had a pretty bad head cold, drank a bunch of NyQuil so that I might sleep thru the night. Then BAM!, I awoke shortly after I'd fallen asleep, buzzing noise in my ears and sensing something very peculiar. My body was lifting from my bed. I was up on the ceiling, looking down at my bedroom.

Since then, I've had numerous OBEs (out of body experiences) and several SOBEs (spontaneous out of body experiences). At one point, I was able to generate them with some degree of certainty. But my enthusiasm has long since waned as I have found great comfort in walking on Mother Earth.

Lately, something very odd is occurring: during my sleep, I have been dreaming lucidly about having an OBE. It's very odd, two distinct reality-states (dreaming and astral projection) intersecting into a single event. Can you have astral projection contained within a dream state? Or vice versa?

This is the very thing that could turn epistemology on it's head. Help!

Trio TV Scores Again

2005-08-14T22:35:00.000-07:00

I apologize for not mentioning this before BUT I am a TRIO tv fanatic. Best tv station on cable. If you don't have it, get it. It c aptures Pop culture at it's best.

To wit: the genealogy of Country Music series, "Lost Highway: The History of Country Music". Starting with the Irish/Scottish immigrant music of the 1920s Appalachia all the way to the 'O Brother Where Art Thou' soundrack. Along the way, Scruggs/Flat develop American bluegrass, the Outlaws (Willie, Waylon and the boys with a healthy dose of Johnny Cash) transcend the phony and calculated marketing of the Grand Ol' Opry, Kitty Wells, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette and Dolly Parton forge an alternate view of American feminism.

It's an inspiring series for all those that love American music. More to the point, it's a great antidote to the faux aspirations and pseudo-integrity of modern urban and country music.

I love music. All music. I love history. But I especially love history that illuminates, I love history that removes pretension and the strings attached. Thank God for country music and thank god for Trio.

What the F

2005-08-09T17:28:00.000-07:00

It's 5pm or so, day off from work, having one or two cocktails, rocking out to Zeppelin (album 2) and then, outta nowhere, the whole fucking house shakes.

Earthquake. No. Too short for that.

I run out to the front side of the house, damn near kill myself because the hallway is so dark. Then: Bright, stabbing shards of light fry my retinas. Boom! Another earth shaker.

It's a fucking thunderstorm. Moments later, another crack. The house is illuminated with 1000 watts of candle power. And then, and now, the heavens open up. Big ol' fucking raindrops.

It's been so hot and so humid for 2 weeks, it's all that I can do to keep from running naked into the streets (a la Tim Robbins in Shawshank Redemption) and bathing in the rain. I don't dare do this because I'm really afraid of the lightning.

I don't buy into this Art Bell/environmentalist/quasi Christian apocalypse/the weather is changing/because we're all sinners bullshit. BUT!

Fucking monsoons in Palm Desert?

Key Lime Heaven!!!

2005-08-03T14:31:00.000-07:00

It must be the weeks of 100+ temps and the extreme humidity .... the key limes are dropping by the dozens.

Making pie tonite, drinking vodka w/tonic and key lime twist. Quick: send me all of your key lime recipes.

Road Trip 2005: Highlights

2005-08-02T20:35:00.000-07:00

Had the chance to meet with my Grandma Gaffney. It's been nearly 2 years since I saw her last. She is simply the sweetest, warmest soul on this planet. I often think that she's 3 parts Yoda and 2 parts Aunt Bee. Even as a child, Grandma always took the time to converse with me as though I were an adult. Never patronizing, always genuinely interested in what others had to say.

On this day, we touched on all subjects profound: life after death, faith vs. reason, good food and ice cream sundaes. Now in her golden years, she remains humble and sincere. There's no trace of the bitterness that I see in so many others her age.

____

Nice also to finally see my stepmother's outlet for used Western wear. She and my father live in Fairplay, CA in the Sierra Foothils, an hour or so east of Sacramento, CA. Her retail place is located in nearby Plymouth, CA. Should you be interested in visiting her shop, checking out the used saddles, western artwork and knick-knacks, give her a call at 209-245-6060 and ask for Joyce or Betty (her sister). They'll be able to give you directions and more info about what's hot on the shelves.

____

As noted above, my parents live in the Sierra Foothills. It's beautiful country made even more enticing by the presence of dozens of wineries. A pleasant surprise awaited me when I visited the Oakstone winery, just up the street from Mom and Dad. I went there to pick up a couple bottles of Zinfandel (a Foothill favorite). But after a few sips of their Pinot Grigio, I was sold. The presence of 1% Moscat grapes gave it a nice sweet edge ... incredibly tasty on that very warm July afternoon.

To boot, their red table wine (aka Slug Gulch Red) was bold, mature and tasty that evening with our spaghetti. Also picked up a bottle of their Syrah; peppery beyond belief, can't wait to serve it with grilled lamb kebabs.

Road Trip 2005: Nightmares

2005-07-26T14:24:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a quick jaunt up north to my father's place near Placerville, CA. Highlights of the journey:

a) A slow but certain oil leak provided via the kind folk at Jiffy Lube in Indio, CA. The trip began with an oil change on Sunday morning. By the time I got to Stockton, CA (some 500 miles north), the slight crimp that the Jiffy Lube nimrods put in the new oil filter had drained my engine of all oil. The mechanic in Stockton that discovered the problem offered rather dryly, "That's what happens when you let kids change your oil." Note to self and all others that might happen across this blog: Never go to Jiffy Lube again.

b) Playing golf with my Father at Castle Oaks golf course in Ione, CA. When I went to pay for the greens fees, I was kindly informed that my VISA card would not go through. No explanation provided. Very embarassing but Dad ponied up and we enjoyed a nice round on a beautiful day. Just shortly after we hit the 19th hole, I called Washington Mutual and I was informed that their database had been compromised, my card cancelled and a new card issued. Moreover, this security compromise occured some 2 weeks prior to my vacation and the kind folk at WAMU simply neglected to inform me. When I explained to them that I was on vacation and really, really needed access to my funds they suggested that I simply go to a branch office and withdraw enough money to get me through my trip. Of course, the nearest branch offer was 45 minutes away. Resolution: today I withdrew all of my money from my WAMU account.

2008 Presidential Race

2005-05-23T18:05:00.000-07:00

Hillary Clinton vs. George Allen Jr.

Saint John Paul 2?

2005-04-08T23:46:00.000-07:00

Help!

Lately, I've felt suffocated by the illness, death, funeral and obituary of Pope John Paul II.

As best as I can tell, JP2 was an educated man, courted and hosted by the American East Coast intellegentsia in the 60s and 70s. To the person, those that came in contact with him were impressed by his exposure and grasp of the modern and philosophical.

Then he became Pope and lost his grasp of reality. He turned back the clock of Catholicism's gradual re-connect with the realities of 20th century and the pointless and spirtualess-ness dogma of the Church. Despite all rationality, he refused to provide official modification of the Church's stance on birth control. Yet he openly courted the burgeoning Catholic insurgency into sub-Sahara Africa where the lack of birth control has directly translated into the death sentence of millions to HIV/AIDS.

This lack of consideration on his part and the Church is baffling. I am equally dismayed by his handling of the sexual abuse scandals of the priesthood in the United States. There is no evidence of his direct involvement in this incendiary issue. His silence is deafening and lends credence to his critic's assertion that he is essentially 'asleep at the wheel.'

As the melodramatic calls for his immediate designation as a Saint begin to reach a fever pitch, I urge all world citizens to consider the worthiness of this man, JP2, as a leader of men. Who exactly did he lead? Even those in his Church rarely adhered to his most pressing dogma of birth control, abortion, etc. Was he a leader of other important men? Did the world's leaders (Thatcher, Gorbachev, Reagan, Bush(s), Clinton) find inspiration in his efforts? Not likely. Each leader actively engaged in military activities that the Pope condemned.

Truth is ... JP2 is a figment of a lot of people's imagination ... his life and existence is being romanticized beyond all reason.

The Secret Machines

2005-04-08T18:37:00.000-07:00

"We communicate by semaphore, no language ... we've got flags of our own."

So explains The Secret Machines on their mind-boggling debut CD Now Here is Nowhere. In my favorite track, 'The Road Leads Where It's Led', a rollicking Les Claypool-meets-Simple Minds-bass line proudly proclaims quite simply that "they're blowing all the other kids away." Much has been written about how this music is influenced by Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, early Cheap Trick, Spiritualized and Flaming Lips. Listen to this CD and you'll say yes, yes, yes, yes and yes. But only parenthetically: Defiant and daft, they defy description. They are familiar but strange. And a great antidote to the mind-numbing hip hop/rock/pop juggernaut that dominates the airwaves.

How can a CD be haunting, glib, psychedelic and catchy-as-a-pop-tune all at the same time? Beats me.

Can't wait to see them live.

Just Say 'NO!'

2005-03-23T19:01:00.000-08:00

Nice try you brain dead Republican butt f**ks. Leave the lady alone and lose the silly media tag lines like "We want to err on the side of life."

Breakthrough

2005-03-17T14:55:00.001-08:00

It's 3pm and I can confidently say that this has been the best St. Patrick's Day ever. I've got a beer buzz going, put in 18 holes at the Tahquitz Creek Legend golf course, played like a f***ing madman. Enjoyed the company of my Stonewall Golfer friends.

Like past St. Pat's day celebrations, I'm only listening to Irish music/bands. Van Morrison and my favorite live band of all time: U2. And I'm just tipsy enough to suggest that the following are the best U2 songs EVER:

Until the End of the World
New Year's Day
Kite
Bad (Live Aid Version)
Where the Streets Have No Name
I Will Follow
Zooropa
Carnival

Best U2 album: Not even close, it's 'Achtung Baby'

Best thing to ever happen to U2: Brian Eno.

____

I love the Irish, I love the Irish in me, I love the Irish beer in me.

Bodies

2005-03-08T22:46:00.000-08:00

A fireman from Ventura, 2 triathletes, a marathoner and mother of three, the strength and conditioning coach for the Chicago Bulls, a talented yet blind energy therapist, the founder of a Parkinson's charity organization, several bicyclists, dozens of desks jockeys, two of my co-workers, two brides to be, several breast cancer survivors and at least 5 spinal chord injury patients.

I fully expected my work to be rewarding but I am humbled to report to the blogosphere that I had no idea that it would bring me to this place of serenity, appreciation and awe.

(I am tired. My body hurts. But it hurts in a very good way.)

Got Job

2005-02-08T11:18:00.000-08:00

Been working here for the last 3 weeks. Have the Fri-Sat-Sun shifts, usually picking up 3-4 massages per day. Tips are very nice and the environs cannot be matched. They spent $5 million building this spa. Most, if not all, of my clients are active/athletic types that respond well to the bodywork. Have had a number cyclists come to me for hip flexor work.

In other news, Noel's cousin Gail is coming to visit today. She's a renaissance woman, having pursued many vocations in her lifetime. She comes to us periodically to get the princess treatment. We'll eat well, exercise our spirits and toss back a few cocktails during her week stay. More about Dr. Gail Denton.

GREAT idea.

2005-01-27T08:45:00.000-08:00

Blame it on James. I have given myself permission not to like the following ...

Republicans that listen to talk radio
Cauliflower
Sesame crackers
Hip hop
White grapefruit
Movies with Ben Stiller
Movies with Mel Gibson
American Idol
Hard pretzels
Lee Trevino
The rainbow as a symbol for gay culture
Not having my kitchen stocked with breakfast food
Expensive golf courses
Uppity golfers that smoke cigars and cigarettes and leave ashes on the greens
Human vampires that suck the life out of you
People from Orange County (discretion advised)
Completely-shaved genitalia

I reserve the right to amend/append this list without warning or notice.

Day Trip

2005-01-19T16:42:00.000-08:00

Took the girls, Kiki and Lola, up to the cabin in Idyllwild. It's an hour drive straight up the Santa Rosa mountains, the elevation going from sea level to 5000 feet in the first 20 miles.

Beautiful country along the way: the high plains of Garner Valley to the alpine air of Idyllwild and Pine Cove.

This was Kiki and Lola's first exposure to snow ... most had melted but I managed to find a large patch in the shade of the trees. Took some nice pics too; will post as soon as I figure how to do it. Our neighbors, Lou and Marybeth, have a baby mexican chihauhau that was more than anxious to greet us upon our arrival. Lola is a doll, patient and pouting most of the time. After a few sniffs and 10 minutes of constant badgering, Lola asserted herself and chased off this unexpected canine intruder. (Is there such a thing as doggy Ritalin?)

Despite a monster storm of wind and snow, the cabin survived well. There is some erosion but not enough to be concerned about.

On the way home, we shared a 'Dream Pillow' pastry from the local natural foods store: it is a calzone-style dish with organic tomatoes, herbs and feta. The girls tucked nicely into the passenger seat and enjoyed a lengthy nap on the way home.

It was nice to get away.

The Desert Spring

2005-01-18T16:10:00.000-08:00

Damn. I wasn't prepared for this.

It was cold, wet and rainy in the desert last week. Then BAM! on Sunday, spring came to the Coachella Valley. It's been 80 and sunny ever since. The hills are covered in a wash of sage green, the mountaintops still have snow and volunteer annuals now populate my garden.

This abrupt change in weather can really play tricks on a recovering Oregonian's psyche. There's gardening, party planning, barbecues, gardening and golf. It also wreaks havoc with the male libido: it's hard not to look at every 2-legged creature as a potential mating partner. Yes, I have the urge to merge.

And since I have relations that still punish themselves with the intense Winters of the Pacific Northwest, the Desert Spring is also a time for visitors. Note to self: re-stock bar with vodka and rum.

I'll keep 'em drunk, happy and warm.

Blah

2004-12-13T16:12:00.000-08:00

I always forget that the Holidays bring to me a certain malaise. I cannot put words to this feeling since I've yet to spend any time meditating on this condition. But it's real and today I'm dealing with it.

If I were to do an archaelogy of this condition I could probably place it's origins in the early '80s, Salem, OR, Willamette University, studying for finals. This explanation appeals to me because of the parallels with my current situation. I'm studying for my finals in Deep Tissue and Pathology. I have 4.0 GPA to this point and would love to maintain this even though NO ONE have received an 'A' in Pathology. I'm very close to achieving this impossibility. But I don't care. It would seem such a hollow achievement. Can't tell you why.

Maybe it's because the achievement would be dwarfed by the finality of the massage school experience ... school will soon be over, grades will no longer matter. So the question becomes, "How to let go?" of this tremendous experience of massage school? As I pose this to myself, I note that I am more focused on my golf handicap and landing a massage gig that will suit my personality.

So I'm drinking a 24 oz Coors whilst typing up my lecture notes for Digestive Disorders. When I finish this, I'm sure I'll hit the vodka and fresh tangeloes.

I'm here, I'm present. Very emotional and appreciative. I'll accept this moment, take it to heart and, at some point, move forward. Until then, it's the vodka and citrus, fuck the Pathology final and savor the moment.

PS: Must listen to Joy Division and David Bowie tonight. Maybe Springsteen's Nebraska.

Holiday Cheer

2004-12-02T09:35:00.000-08:00

From Andrew Sullivan comes a piece of political sobriety; I find it a great antidote to the existing gloom that has settled over the land.

Note to self: pick up a copy of the Federalist Papers and review.

All I want for Christmas:

2004-11-26T15:37:00.000-08:00

1) New Led Zeppelin boxed DVD set
2) Chest of drawers
3) Levis
4) New golf shoes, shorts and shirts
5) Car stereo
6) Whirrled peas
7) Salt and pepper mill
8) 30 minutes of fun with Paul the hunky carpenter on HGTVs 'Divine Design'
9) iMac G5

and peace, love, understanding

Thanksgiving

2004-11-24T09:29:00.000-08:00

Thankful for so many things this time of year:

First and foremost, Mr. Noel White. He's handsome, fun, spontaneous, supportive and just a kick in the pants. I'm so lucky.

I have great appreciation for my new friends: special thoughts for The Johnald and his 2 girls, Kiki and Lola. They bring light into every room they enter.

I'm very appreciative of my newly adopted home of Palm Desert. A simple morning walk brings so much beauty and transcendence. I'm fortunate to get to doggy-sit the girls this Turkey Day whilst John is at work.

We'll be having dinner with an associate of Noel's. The food will most likely be over the top ... I'm hungry thinking about it.

Keeping score.

2004-11-08T13:42:00.000-08:00

I've always considered myself be thoughtful, considerate and easy to get along with. And I value this in others.

But my patience is being tested.

You see, I live in a gated community in the lovely Coachella Valley. There are several community pools, hot tubs, tennis courts. We have lovely landscaping in the common areas and an incredible bounty of citrus trees. We also have the Community covenants, or CCRs as they are referred to.

These amount to something like the Ten (thousand?) Commandments for living in this beautiful community. There are a number of my neighbors that seem to be pathologically attached to the letter set down by these laws. As you might guess, they are older, retired folk who go to church on Sunday, hear the preacher speak about tolerance and God's great love.

But somehow they find it incredibly difficult to forgive a single mom for putting her garbage out before noon on Sunday.

"The rules are the rules," they say. Hearing this always makes my skin crawl because I know that they have long since lost any ability or patience to reason with someone, allow for an exception or whatever. They simply are "scorekeepers" ... "well, so and so does this and that's against the rules."

We were visiting with our neighbors Hans and Lorraine. They are good people, especially Hans. He's helped us with many projects around the house and seems to know a lot about a lot things. Especially plumbing and electricity. We were sharing a bottle of wine and invariably the rules about parking came up. Within seconds, the tone of the evening changed for the worse. Those 2 got on their soapboxes, spewing fire and brimstone about the rules and how they were meant to be followed.

I should have known better, but I countered with knowing how and when to distinguish between the letter and the spirit of the law. They would have none of it. Especially Lorraine. She's the classic scorekeeper. I reassured both of them thay there is good reason to have rules. And there are even better reasons to see beyond them. When I told her that the occasional parking transgression didn't bother me, she looked at me and said, "Well, Bill, maybe you shouldn't be living in this community." I follow the rules but don't mind if others occasionally step outside them .... and she thinks I'm not worthy of living in this community because I'm not a Nazi like her.

I was so shocked at her comment. I simply deflected and chose not to attack her for being such a narrow-minded, bitter old woman. Character means a lot to me. I'm fortunate to be able to read people's character fairly accurately. And I thought to myself: rules, laws and regulations are not a substitute for good character. You can't simply raise a wall, put a gate on the front door and admit only people that think like you do. That's not living, that's escaping.

Yesterday, the single mom was fined for parking her car in a public space. Hans was so eager to tell me. Maybe he felt somewhat vindicated at the triumph of the letter of the law over the spirit of the law. God help him.

Shhhhhh .....

2004-11-01T13:03:00.000-08:00

I know a secret.

Magnet

2004-10-22T13:41:00.000-07:00

aka ... Even Johansen from Norway. I can't stop listening to his new CD, On Your Side. I don't recall a more confident, competent debut CD. The vocals are somewhere between Bono and Thom Yorke, the instrumentation suggests Brian Eno and Bjork influences. The songwriting is gut-wrenching Brian Wilson before he took to his bed.

Live, streaming performance on the web can be found here ... http://www.kcrw.com/cgi-bin/db/kcrw.pl?show_code=mb&air_date=10/14/04&tmplt_type=show

PS: Who knew that Norway was so rich with musicianship. Also see Kings of Convenience and Sondre Lerche.

Update: Home Work

2004-10-20T20:28:00.000-07:00

The carpet is in the master bedroom, guest room and living room. Finished trimming the 10 foot hedge in the backyard, have the autumn/winter annuals is the beds. Recent rains will transform the garden into my own little slice of paradise. My jalapenos continue to bear, the bell peppers are yielding 3 fruit per week. Need to get winter cilantro and basil in soon.

We have cool weather and my best guess is that we'll be downing freshly-squeezed orange/tangelo/lemon/vodka drinks in the next week. Have really been enjoying the Mexican limes: they are great with top shelf Tequila but I think I prefer them over 7-up and ice.

I love Winter in the desert.

What's in a Name?

2004-10-04T16:45:00.000-07:00

In less than 3 months, I will officially go into business for myself. I will offer massage services: Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports and Polarity. My hope is work primarily for amateur athletes, weekend warriors and the dedicated sports nuts.

I choose to work with the health-conscious under the assumption that the work will be more rewarding because these clients are serious about their health and will respond better to massage therapy. But the truth is, I'll probably massage anyone that agrees to pay my out-call fee of $75.

I need a name for my business. I have many ideas, won't share them here BECAUSE I want your suggestions ... as incentive for engaging my reader(s) creativity, I offer the following reward for the winning suggestion: 1-hour of massage. I come to your place, rub you in the right way and share a bottle of moderately-priced champagne afterwards. Hell, I'll even throw in chocolate Truffles.

Your coat, Mr. Bush?

2004-10-01T16:41:00.000-07:00

Once again, you've show that you are a bumbling, inarticulate buffoon. Step aside, Mr. Bush, the rest of the world needs to get on with it's business. And you are in the way.

Home Work

2004-09-13T21:41:00.000-07:00

Sorry about not engaging the blogosphere about my most recent adventures.

Noel and I have been busy putting the finishing touches on the our remodel: carpet in the living, master and guest rooms. Painting the master, guest and bathrooms. To boot: our gardener has quit and we've been unable to find a suitable replacement.

We have a 10 foot hedge that used to be a 7 foot hedge before gardener left. We've spent the last two days trying to get this monster back to size ... in 110 degree heat. I've pleaded with Noel that we should just lose the hedge and replace it with lime trees, bouganvilla and nandinas. No luck yet. Methinks I'll let Noel do extra duty on this hedge trimming. Perhaps this will convince him.

Golf is really cheap this time of year. Green fees are $10. I play at least 2-3 times per week. The heat is a huge factor. Lately the humidity is a devil. We've even had several days of thunderstorms ... like nothing I've ever witnessed before.

Looking forward to Autumn and the ripening citrus.

It's Elemental.

2004-08-12T18:37:00.000-07:00

For that matter, all of us are ... elemental.

Polarity Therapy is a distilled, crystallization of the planet's (east & west) major energy paradigms. Taoist, Ayurvedic, Modern Physics, etc. http://www.polaritytherapy.org/

I've studied Buddhism, read Capra and Zukav, developed a cultist attachment to Ken Wilber. But I've gained great appreciation for Dr. Randolph Stone's modern day synthesis and application.

Application is the key word here. Theory is nice but Mr. Stone has embedded his poetics into a series of uncomplicated movements to address the body's character.

Energy centers are acknowledged (chakras), qualities are described (elements).

The treatment is developed in accord with the dynamic movement of energy throughout the body. I have received at least 100 massages: swedish, deep tissue, acupressure, shiatsu, sports. I still have a very tight, compacted lower back.

Today I received my first polarity treatment. It was non-invasive, gentle, and profound. My back has never this loose. My voice has dropped at least one octave. I'll share more later ... but for all of you that want to go deeper into healing, I'd suggest finding a therapist that does energy/polarity work.

Vacation is over.

2004-08-08T16:29:00.000-07:00

After 2 weeks in the Pacific Northwest, visiting family & friends, I'm back in the desert and can attend to my bloggings. When the time is right, I'm sure that we'll have a summer residence in Portland or SW Washington.

To get you up to date on the goings-on:

: Noel and I are in the midst of purchasing 320 square foot cabin near Idyllwild. It's rustic and small but it's at 6200 ft above sea level. And it's just an hour away. We take possession on August 16th.

: I start a week intensive course in Polarity Therapy. More on this later.

: Incredibly, the tangerine/orange hybrid tree is still bearing sweet fruit.

: Joe, our gardener of 5 years, will no longer be trimming our backyard hedges. It stands at nearly 10 feet and adds an additional 6 inches every week. I hope that we can find someone to do this. Otherwise, they're coming out.

: Noel and I have graciously offered to paint the large living room of our dear neighbors, Hans & Lorraine Berg. We owe them big time for all of their assistance, especially Hans, in home repair.

Massive Attack

2004-07-04T16:59:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things to do is making CDs for friends. I've an eclectic taste for music and a CD collection to match.

More than anything, I love introducing people to new music.

To wit, some new(er) friends have recently discovered the band Massive Attack. For those of you out there who are not familiar with this band, they are what was happening in the club scene in Manchester, UK when grunge was (supposedly?) happening in Seattle. Because of this, few Americans were ever given the opportunity to hear their music because corporate America music decided we needed to hear some angst-ridden heroin addicts deride the evils of corporate American music.

In a voice that echoes the '90s, "How convenient." Who would argue? They sold millions of discs. But time flies and few of my friends, if any, still listen to Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Screaming Trees, Alice in Chains, etc. The grunge thing just doesn't sell 10 years later.

But Massive Attack does. They are a seminal "studio band" that learned early on that the sound is more important that the band. With this philosophy, they cycled in lead singer after lead singer. They embraced reggae, dub, gothic, r&b, soul, gospel one and all. Whatever worked. Tracey Thorne (Everything But the Girl), Sinead O'Connor, Elisabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins), Nicolette, etc., all took their turns at fronting this chameleon band.

They even spawned their own brand of music: trip hop arose out of band member Tricky's mumbled, soulful, bizarre poetics.

Today's project was making a Massive Attack greatest hits CD. I love a challenge, especially when I get to toss back a few brews and burn a CD that I hope a good friend will get years of enjoyment from.

Not easy when it comes to Massive Attack. They started out r&b, moved onto beautiful pop/trip hop melodies, graduated to haunting reggae/goth grooves and are now somewhere in the ether with Sinead O'Connor.

I arrived at the following:

Angel, from the Mezzanine CD
What Your Soul Sings, 100th Window
Be Thankful, Blue Lines
Protection, Protection
Karmacoma, Protection
Three, Protection
Safe From Harm, Blue Lines
Sly, Protection
Heat Miser, Protection
Teardrop, Mezzanine
Unfinished Symphony, Blue Lines

This list is heavy w/cuts from Protection BUT if I were to choose their best, I'd go w/Mezzanine. This is just my wild ass theory but I imagine that the title comes from that in-between space between the reggae groove and the gothic/dark space that is cultivated by Massive Attack on this CD. Don't believe you can be reggae and goth at the same time? Buy the CD. You won't be sorry.

2 Limeys and a Frog

2004-06-29T18:42:00.000-07:00

Alas the end is near. Finished up with Kinesiology today, Acupressure yesterday, Biz Ethics awhile back. All that's left of my education as a massage therapist is a perfunctory written exam in Swedish Massage class on Friday & a few hours in the clinic.

Sigh.

I came to the desert hoping to reinvent my life, it's direction and meaning. I've spent the last 12 weeks touching & feeling several strangers' bodies. In time these strangers have become friends.

Of note, John and Natalie, expatriates from across the pond, have become good friends. We had them over for dinner last week. The festivities lasted well into the night. My mandibles & masseters ached from so much laughing and frivolity.

Then there is Simon, our little Cypriot friend, by way of Paris. A mere child of 26 years, with baby face looks and a pedigree as a stripper. He's hot, he knows its and he only wants you to touch him. Over and over again.

Stacie, straight outta Compton, a security guard at a local casino and an outright natural as a healing therapist. I get the sense that he's as solid as the Earth itself.

The Bosnian women who sat in the back of the classroom, speaking at a volume appropriate for Wall Street. And Mersada always commanding some young male with less girth than she, "You, massage with me!"

I'll miss everyone one of you.

Looking forward to Sports Massage in two weeks.

Great news ...

2004-06-21T18:47:00.000-07:00

The grapefruit trees are dropping the very last of the season's offerings ... BUT! I discovered an Orange/Tangerine tree hybrid that is just hitting it's peak.

To the point, I will be transitioning from greyhounds to screwdrivers for happy hour nourishment.

10 years and counting ...

2004-06-12T22:49:00.000-07:00

Who is the most important artiste of our time?

My nomination goes to Quentin Tarantino for his brilliant, off the wall, innovative and brain-shattering mastery of the visual arts.

He's a director/writer with an encyclopedic grasp of the history of cinema, pop culture and all things human. He's a dork, a geek and a genius.

On the 10th anniversary of the release of his first great event, Pulp Fiction, I salute you Mr. Q. Thanks for knocking down the walls and lighting the crevaces.

Sopranos season ending ...

2004-06-06T21:06:00.000-07:00

Another infuriating season comes to an end.

This series has been employing "bait and switch" tactics since the 1st season.

They bait you with incredible writing & superb acting in the first few episodes and then abruptly change the directors and writers midway thru the season. All momentum is lost, the feel of the narrative is completely uneven. Plot lines are developed only to be abandoned.

In the immortal words of Nancy Kerrigan, "Why, why, why?"

Total comfort food:

2004-06-06T17:30:00.000-07:00

Figured this one out for myself:

Frozen tortellini, cheese or meat filled. Remove from freezer at least 1/2 hour before preparation.

2 roma tomatoes, diced
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
Handful of fresh basil, chopped
Salt & pepper to taste

Put 2 tablespoons of olive oil in hot skillet. Add garlic.

Add tortellini (say 10-15 pieces) and saute quickly. Add 2 tbsp of butter to brown. Add tomatoes & basil. Cook for 2-4 minutes or until tortellini is browned (even crispy!).

Remove prompty, place in pasta bowls, add salt & pepper to taste.

Right before serving, add freshly grated Pecorino Romano. Too easy.

Serve with an ice cold Pinot Grigio.

God Bless.

2004-06-04T18:23:00.000-07:00

Another disconcerting experience in massage class today. And I need your help to sort through it.

As I lay there, prepared to get my full-hour swedish massage, the masseuse put her hands on my forehead and began praying to God on my behalf, asking Him to help me accept this "healing" I was about to receive in the "most blessed" way.

She made several other references to her faith throughout the session.

I tend to be accepting of everyone's spiritual proclivities but was offput by this flamboyance.

If you had a massage therapist, or doctor or lawyer, what would you do or say in this situation?

Massages and Blow Jobs

2004-05-28T16:42:00.000-07:00

Today's post is dedicated to Randy Rapp. Good friend from college, a mentor if you will and just a goddamn Prince.

It was he who told me during my freshman year, "Bill, there's nothing worse than a bad blowjob." At the time I nodded in agreement, imagining that what he said was probably true. Of course, I had nothing to offer on the subject at that time since my experience was limited. You could say my experience was nil.

As the years passed and my sexual adventures increased, I came to agree with Randy.

But today ...

I can honestly say that there is something worse than a bad blowjob. A bad massage. It was horrible. Beyond terrible. It was dismal. I felt like I was getting manhandled by an egg beater. I got on the table a little tight and got off more stressed out than before. I felt cheap and dirty and cheated. Yet another of life's sacred pleasures ruined by a beast.

Things I'm grateful for ...

2004-05-27T18:25:00.000-07:00

With the dog days of summer fast approaching, I offer my appreciation to the desert gods for the following:

A seemingly unending supply of FREE citrus fruit: starting with oranges & tangeloes in January, lemons (meyer & sunkist) in February, tangerines in March, grapefruit in May, I've never experienced such a natural wealth of mixers for vodka drinks.

Bouganvilla: shades of orange, pink, fuscia, red & white.

Hibiscus: too many colors to mention.

Eight months of FREE golf.

Not wearing long pants since February.

Random act of kindness

2004-05-22T19:25:00.000-07:00

I went to my favorite, local (and free!) driving range this afternoon to hit some golf balls. It was a bit warm, the time of day that most Coachella Valley residents take refuge in their homes.

Lo and behold I got there and a large Latino family was at the range.

And none of them had ever hit a golf ball. I'm relatively new to golf and remember the time when I first tried to hit a ball. I remember going to driving ranges, insecure and embarassed about my ability (or lack thereof) to hit the fucking ball. I remember the sly smiles of those witnessing my folly. No one ever said anything.

Golf is a very odd sport with way too many rules. There is an unwritten rule in golf etiquette: Never, ever offer advice on how to play. I'm not sure why this is such an important tenet of the "gentile" sport but I'm guessing it has something to do with superstition. I'm betting that most golfers wouldn't dare to offer advice lest it somehow come back to haunt them on their next tee shot.

F that. Something in me just wanted to reach out to this family, give them a few pointers and help them enjoy this game a little bit more.

I spent about 15 minutes showing them the very basics of a good golf swing. Many in the family had played baseball. I could tell because when they swung the club, they led with their hips. In golf, one must learn to delay the forward rotation of the hips to coincide with the movement of the trunk.

My new friends took quickly and kindly to this unsolicited lesson. Especially the younger ones. The father sent the oldest child back into the clubhouse to get more range balls to hit. They had the fever.

As for me, I still can't hit my 3-wood straight. All my friends pretend not to notice.

It's 6pm, do you know where your brain is?

2004-05-21T18:21:00.000-07:00

If so, have you seen mine? I can't seem to find it.

You see, I've been on the massage table for three hours today. I have no ambition other than making myself a couple of drinks and drifting into a heavy, blissful, womb-like experience called sleep.

Stop the world and melt with me.

Ask me about SP6.

2004-05-17T19:03:00.000-07:00

By far, my favorite class is Acupressure. I'm half way through the semsester and have become fascinated by Qi (pronounced 'chi').

The Chinese developed this system 3000+ years ago. The underpinnings of the theory of Qi goes something like this: in the beginning, there was Qi (invisible) energy. As time passes, Qi energy begins to organize itself in 12 distinct alignments (chronologically, in order):

Lung, Large Intestine, Stomach, Spleen, Heart, Small Intestine, Urinary/Bladder, Kidney, Pericardium (muscle around the heart), San Jiao, Gall Bladder, Liver.

In time, the invisible Qi develops further into the physical realm, creating the vital organs to facilitate it's own processes.
Yet the energy of the particular organs extends throughout the body on specific meridians. Some energy systems connect from the hand to the heart, other connect from the feet to the head. I suspect that one could spend a lifetime perfecting these relationships.

But I am only 6 weeks into this and my eyes are wide open.

*SP6 refers to a specific point on the spleen meridian that helps to activate energy blocks that might exist in the genitals. Since most of us are always looking for ways to enhance our sexual experience, this is a must know for everyone.

Shaving

2004-05-17T11:10:00.000-07:00

There's no easy way to broach this subject without somehow exposing myself as a porn-watching pervert so I'll just say to you upfront that I'm a "porn-watching pervert" and let y'all deal with it ...

That said: Enough with the shaved pubes, shaved treasure trails and bare chests. I understand that there may be advantages to a little trim here and there ... especially the nutsac. Shaving the balls helps to increase the sensation. But shaving in the pelvic region does nothing to heighten sensations. And if you believe the ol' wives tail that shaving helps to make the penis look longer, then you're missing the boat. Despite all attempts at illusion, a 7 inch dick is a 7 inch dick. It does not magically become 8 inches just because you shaved your pubes.

To me, it's like this weird "childhood, little boy or girl" worship. There must be some bizarre denial of maturity (masculinity or femininity) that underlies this fad. F that.

Why is pubic hair bad?

PS:

The irony is that the "clean shaved look" is running parallel to the whole ink/piercing body modification trend.

Oh no, not politics ....

2004-05-13T15:53:00.000-07:00

Why was this Berg character in Iraq? Like Halliburton, he was there to profit from the Bush/Cheney/Rummy war. Losing his head to the Al Qaeda cowards does not make him a hero or a martyr. Just somebody that was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Berg knew this.

For anyone to suggest that Berg lost his life because of the "sins" of Bush, Cheney and Rummy is irresponsible.

where I'm from ...

2004-05-13T13:04:00.000-07:00

Greetings to bloggers one and all. I come to you from Palm Desert, CA, nestled in the Coachella Valley. I'll have more to share on the topography of this place, it's history and mystique.

I'm knee deep in my studies of Kinesiology, Acurpressure, and Swedish Massage. It is much easier to focus on studies since the afternoon heat is becoming unbearable.

Will post later this evening.