Breakfast Bowl

Aw yeah... look at that! Green peppers, onions and mushrooms all fried up in some olive oil, throw an egg in, a couple strips of bacon and some cheese. Topped off with some Tapatio and BOOM. Look at that.

The rest of the day was all about gussying up my home, taking out the turntables and trying to find a home for them (now I've gotta find a mixer). I bought some new throw pillows, a new oven mitt, moved a bunch of furniture around and yeah... feeling pretty good about the apartment today.

Plus, I put a further dent in "Brave New World," and am thoroughly enjoying that.

Weirdos

Last night, Adam and I went to La Canada to see the Weirdos perform their newest show. Craig (the dude there on the far left) has been doing this for 39 years. He gets friends together, writes a couple shows, and then puts them on in his carport. It's kind of amazing. Truly. Very inspiring in a way. His neighbors and friends come out, and everyone has a great time. Awesome.

Then, after the show, I rode down the hill on this broken office chair half-illuminated by Adam's car. It was loud, yes, but also super fun. Hoorah!

And today, I finished a new draft of my zombie apocalypse one-act "End of the Road." I think it is very close to how it's going to be when it goes up at ZJU in August. It is going to be awesome.

Are You Smart?

Then you should absolutely go directly to MusicForSmartPeople.com and buy your copy of Normandie Wilson & Sebastian Clark's debut effort - "Music For Smart People". It is fantastic. I picked up my copy yesterday and it is bold, creative, phenomenal. They're getting ready to leave to Europe for an undecided amount of time to tour, but before that, they'll be having a release party at McCabe's on July 18th. I've already got my ticket - $10 - now go get yours!!

Please support local and indie artists, pick this up if you can spare the $15... especially if you don't live out here and can't see the show.

In related news, I caught the result of the RIAA case against the Minnesota mother of four who had downloaded 24 songs... $1.9 million. Yeah, that makes sense. That will teach her... and her kids.. and probably her kids' kids. Good work, RIAA, you have proven to the world that yes, you are a group of douchebags. This, surely, won't make people want to illegally download more music from the major labels.

And even though the creators of it have been nabbed and sentenced by a Swedish court headed by a corporate judge who's in bed with the industry, The Pirate Bay is still running strong... check it out.

Groundless

It's been an interesting 6-7 months for me since having moved out. There's been my share of adventure and surprises. There's been a couple projects. School has taken up a lot of my time. I've come back into the fire community, which I am so grateful for. There's been some reunions and some good times and bad times... it's been pretty full.

Yet, I can't help but feel like it's also been kind of empty.

With the passing of MJ a couple days ago, I dunno, it's not just that - it's been a funny week. Some lady almost driving herself into the LA river, a dude maybe dying outside of Fox and Hounds, Farrah and Ed as well as MJ... I guess it's got me thinking about mortality and what it all means... what this all means.

I've been navel gazing a bit and my result has been feeling kind of groundless. I feel pretty disconnected from most of the people in my life. I don't really know who my family is out here right now... everyone is very busy, a lot of couples, a lot of big life stuff going for people and it's great. It really is. But I've found myself sort of in the middle of everything.

Groundless.

In all of my spiritual studies and readings, that term has come up several times, and it's not an altogether bad thing, in fact, it's a real moment of opportunity. It's a place of possibilities. It is a place where anything can happen.... if one is open to it.

There is the flip-side though. A place that can feel kind of lonely and ambiguous. A place that is hard to get your head around.

I don't know what the fuck I am doing with my life. Do I love my job? Yes. Have I been creative lately? Sure... painting, poi/staff practice, journaling on occasion. And I often say that that is all that is important: doing the things that make you happy. But I'm beginning to wonder if there is something greater to strive for.

I mean, say what you will about MJ, but in his prime, he was the King... not just of pop, but of so much more. His music, his vision, his talents have affected so many people in such amazing ways. He was truly an inspiration. And I look at what I'm doing, and I feel that way about my job, but on a much smaller scale. I do feel like I am making a difference, which is important to me.... but is there more?

The hardest part about being groundless to me is the loss of having a "tribe", having a group of people that I know are not just there for me, but are on the same wavelength as I am. People who seek each other out, energetically... I miss that sense of connection sometimes.

I'm going to roller disco tonight, and I know none of the people I've invited will come... but I'll still go because I love it. It refreshes my soul and heart. I've never come home having regretted gone. I just wonder where the members of my Tribe are? Those people who share my excitement for adventure and life... those people who want to go out and play... and I wonder how to find them.

Then I wonder if it's even all that important to even have a Tribe.

I'm also thinking about taking a break from the blog, or at least maybe making it less regular. I wonder sometimes about who's reading this and what can I say that's interesting.. but I wonder if that's just distraction. I've got two more weeks of utter freedom left before I have to go back to work at camp... and I'm wondering what's the best use of that time.

This is True

I got this in the mail today and lo', it is true.

Karaoke at the Oxwood

3/4 of the BRC reunited to sing some karaoke at the Oxwood tonight. It was a lovely time and we were accompanied by Dylan, Jana, Kerr, Paris, and a surprise visit by Vinnie!

Good good times... but Lana, wherefore art thou?! The BRC demands you return.

Remembering Self-Control

I am so proud of myself, while at lunch with Caroline yesterday, I bemoaned my inability to stop eating. Funny enough, I had bemoaned this to her a week prior while we were eating IHOP post-Magic Mountain. This was something I was working on, and having moderate success with, back in the months post-Quest.

Anyway, today, I had lunch with Reena and I only ate one third of my meal!! Yes!! Then I had another third of it before I left for trivia tonight! Word.

After I had the first one, I made this yummy brown-tini with the Rigas Black Balsam Jana got for me years ago... it was pretty good.

Urban Exploration, NoHo

Caroline and I hit the abandoned supermarket on Victory today. It was odd because the door was wide open, but no one was in there.



We spent about an hour exploring and taking photographs. We found a wall of Polaroids of banned shoplifters... Caroline actually grabbed it. It was pretty amazing.

Ah, adventure!

Afternoon of Dangerous Surreality

I was outside practicing poi at around 4 in the afternoon today, spinning to my heart's content and listening to some The Knife when I heard this horrible screeching of tires and crashing sound. I wrapped up my poi and walked out to Coldwater expecting to see an accident. There was nothing, so I turned down Magnolia and sure enough there was a black convertible Cabrio that had apparently slammed into the railing over the LA River.

There were already a number of people there, so I hung back. I asked the woman who was making the phone calls if I could get anything, since I lived right there, but there wasn't.

The woman driving the car was alive, but freaking out. It seemed like a combination of drugs and shock from the accident. It was really crazy.

She had hit the railing over the river so hard that it had actually collapsed a section of it. She's lucky the car didn't go over.

Later, I was heading over to El Torito for an early birthday dinner with Dane-ums, and I stopped by the section to look at the railing. I hadn't realized that the piece of metal that was wrapped around the railing was her license plate.

Weirdness aside, I then went to meet up with Dane and a bunch of his/our friends for food. Dinner was delightful, and our time afterward at the Pineeapple Hill was also lovely.

Lazy Sunday... For Realz

Honestly... I didn't wear much more than my boxers until 9 o'clock or so at night when Adam came over.

What did I do all day? Oh, a little bit of this and a little bit of that. I painted, played with legos, read (started "Brave New World"), but mostly I watched The Office. Something like 19 episodes. Hahaha. Ridiculous, but why not?

I see this as another reason I don't watch TV. It is clearly an addictive substance.

I Actually Learned Something From TV

Okay. So I really don't watch TV. Up until the new year, the only hold-outs I still had were The People's Court and The Simpsons. I realized once summer started that I was kind of over The People's Court and a couple months ago, I realized that The Simpsons just wasn't funny anymore.

So my ginormous TV was used solely for video games and movies. And I think it's hilarious that Firefox recognizes "ginormous" as a word. Weird.

Aaaanyway, recently, the American version of The Office has appeared on instant watch on Netflix. I have yet to really watch that show, though I've seen an episode here and there and I really do love the British verison of the show... so I figured I would give this show a shot.

In the past week or so, I've watched seasons 1 and 2. I've realized something: The Office is comprised of two things... 1) Michael Scott being a douchebag and 2) Jim and Pam.

I love Jim and Pam. I mean, this is most certainly the thing that keeps bringing people back to watch... their relationship is not only very real, but it's fucking great. It is classic.

I watched the finale of season 2 today - the episode where Jim confesses his love for Pam. I was jumping up and down in my apartment... clapping, laughing and crying. So great.

Later on, I was riding my bike to a housewarming party and I realized... that's what I want. That is what I deserve. A relationship with a woman who is my best friend. A woman who wants to talk to me on a regular basis, a woman who enjoys my company, a woman who deeply and truly cares about me.

See, over the past several months, I have had my crushes, my interests in different women, but the issue is that all of them have been emotionally unavailable. All of them have been aloof and, honestly, not the greatest of friends. But I've been okay with that because it's all I think I deserve.

But tonight, as I was riding to Sarah and Chris' place, thinking about the ending of season 2, I realized that NO, I do deserve to be involved with a woman who wants to spend time with me, that I deserve to spend time with a woman who sees me as her best friend, her confidant. I deserve to have a true love in my life.

I do.

I want a Jim/Pam relationship. I want something that is real, something that is based on two people truly loving one another and enjoying each others' company. I fucking deserve it.

Yeah. So, that's what I learned from TV today. Huh. Never woulda guessed that would happen.

Magical Hot Springs Trip

Seems this is exactly what I needed.

Yesterday morning, I headed out to the magical hidden hot springs in Apple Valley with Charlie G., Lana, and Derek, the Chemist. It was an early morning and a long drive out, but it was all worth it.

We got there around 10, set up our tent, then made the 45 minute hike down to the springs. It was awesome.

My experience at the onsen helped prepare me for this clothing optional experience, but I'm glad I took the plunge. There is something incredibly special and even spiritual about being in total communion with nature, nothing between you and the water, the earth.

We stayed there for several hours, swimming, napping under the trees, watching animals. Hmm... so nice.

The afternoon started to roll in, so we made the long trek back to camp. Once back, we all changed into our bathrobes and started the fire.

The rest of the evening was brilliant. Experiencing the Universe, getting connected... these are things that I was in dire need of.

It was a late night, but I still got up early today... I always do when sleeping in the outdoors. We cleaned up camp and drove home. I got back here around 11 am, I showered, cleaned, ate... but most importantly, I was in such a great mood. I felt refreshed. My perspective had been readjusted and fate didn't seem as cruel as I had begun to think it was.

I am exhausted... but my heart and spirit are recharged.

Preparing For the Desert

Early tomorrow morning, I will be heading out to Apple Valley to spend a day (and night) at the natural hot springs there with Charlie G. and a couple of her friends.

I am so looking forward to chilling out with good people in hot water under the stars.

This is a piece of art I've been working on for the past couple of days and it makes me think of the desert... ugh! So looking forward to this!

Getting Ol' HT Fixed

Today, I decided I was going to go get the bike fixed... and yes, I've finally given it a name. I figured now that I've put money into it, it deserves a name. The bike will from now on be referred to as HT, Hunter, or the Good Doctor. All of these will be fine.

I called a joint called Van's Cyclery in North Hollywood... talked to the guy for a brief moment and he seemed all right. So once I was done with my $9.99 review, it was time to head off.

It was a bit of a haul -- made more so by the way HT was riding... what with a busted derailleur and all. But I got there in good enough time. The guy who ran the place, Van, was very cool and offered me a new derailleur plus installation for about $35. Sweet.

While he was working, I walked around the neighborhood... came across this sweet looking place pictured above.

Then, I walked by this old grocery store...

I noticed the front door was ajar, so I pulled it open and stepped in. Man, if I wasn't so damn chicken shit, I would've explored this place. But I felt a little vulnerable on my own... all the same, I took some sweet pictures and then I was on my way.

A little while later, HT was fixed and riding beautifully...

Later in the day, I swung by the tropical fish store on Ventura and got Otis a new home... check it:

Explorin' The Hood on the Come Down

The past several days have been a bit nuts... fun.. I've been around good people, doing a lot of really fun stuff. But come today, things have slowed down. After a late night watching the fantastic Dear Zachary, I got up early-ish, rewrote my Blood review and scribbled down a first draft of my $9.99 review.

The rest of the day was pretty chill. Got some painting done, played some Burnout (already finished half of the new Island DLC), ate some kick ass home made cooking. Aw yeah.

So what's with the picture? I had to walk down to the post office at one point, and on the way home, I stumbled across this little Irish shop on Magnolia. I stepped in for a short while and talked to the proprietor, a lovely Irish lady named Imelda. So great. I had a really nice time visiting with her, talking about Ireland. She was very sweet - offered me tea. She's got a bunch of actual Irish food, too. Yes!

I will be swinging by again soon!

Pride Parade!

Man, I haven't been to the Gay Pride Parade since I first moved here back in '02. I went with Debbie, Dana, that group... and yeah, here it is, 7 years later and I've finally gone again!

This time, I biked down... there was a handful of people said they were coming, but I couldn't get a hold of them/didn't hear from them, so instead of being lost and whatev's, I decided to pretend like I was back in Japan and took on an air of high adventure.

I locked the bike up near LaBrea and hiked several miles west until I got into the heart of West Hollywood. I grabbed a seat and began to sip my surreptitious stash of rum and snapped a load of pictures. The best part was how the parade started - the LAPD and the Sheriff's Dept. came through - gay officers holding hands with their partners, their fellow officers showing their support. It was so great to see the "authority" be open and supportive. Brought a tiny tear to my eye.

There was, of course, a number of groups protesting Prop 8 (overturn in 2010, bitches!)... and, of course, there was the fire and brimstone "Christian" group preaching hatred and intolerance from behind a barrier. There was about 10 of them, and they were stationed next to a giant, inflatable Tecate can. Perfect.

Later on, Alice showed up (yay!), and even later on, Sharon arrived. We hung out until a little after 2 or so... just checking out the people and the surroundings. Super fun.

Then I walked Alice back to my bike, we got some lunch, and then I walked her back to her car... it was really nice to continue to visit. She offered me a ride home, but I refused. A decision I would soon come to rue.

Two things happened to make the day odd. First, at around 2:20, my text messages just stopped working. Hmmm... then after I left Alice and started biking home, by bike broke. I have no idea what happened, but the result is that my derailleur (the part that shifts the chain for the different gears) somehow had gotten bent enough to get caught in the spokes, tear off a cable, and destroy the plastic disc on the inside of the gears. Yeah. It was awesome.

So, yeah, I was stuck walking up Fairfax, it was hot, I was tired... luckily, I was able to get a hold of Alice and she was so freaking awesome enough to come back and pick me up.

Got home, looked at the bike, didn't understand the problem... then I invited Sharon over, she came over, we watched some funny junk, ate some food, then Jacob came over and he took a look at the bike - one additional problem was that the chain was bent, so he broke it, pulled out the bent link, and this led to an epic struggle to relink the chain. I mean EPIC. Like a full hour of trying to relink this sucker. Sharon said it best when, after we were all focusing on the relinking device for a small eternity, she said, "I feel like I'm going crazy." Yeah, it was epic.

Anyway, we eventually nailed it, the bike is not great, but operable... I think I'm just going to go buy a new derailleur. Meh.

Then we watched a movie, the night got late, and it was time for everyone to go home. Another incredible day in the Summer of Fun, '09.

24 Hour Theater Fest

Today, I thought I'd try something new (sorta), meet some new people (kinda), and go on a little 24 hour adventure. So I signed up to act in the 24 hour theater festival for the Eclectic Theater Company.

I've done this before at ZJU, and I thought that maybe I could meet some new people, make some new friends... and at the very least, have a good time. I certainly accomplished the third goal there... but my crippling shyness around new people held me back a little from meeting new people. Ah well.

Our piece was super fun, written by Kerr (one of the two people I actually know in the company), about a group of aliens hunting each other in public restrooms, trying to breed, the usual. Heh.

I enjoyed myself and I am freaking exhausted. I was kinda bummed that no one I knew came, but at the end of the night, I did talk to some people and made some new friends.

I have got to work harder at meeting new people... wasn't that a New Year's resolution I made?

Visit From Alice K. Webb

And another day of the Summer of Excitement '09 has come to pass. Today, my old college friend, Alice Webb was in town, she swung by to catch up (she's on the left). While she was here, Steve (who also knows Alice) came by and then eventually, Melli came by, too!

Yeah!

Two Digiorno's pizzas, a six-pack of Sopporo, and a couple hours of visiting passed. Hooray!

Now, I've gotta prepare some headshots and whatnot for this 24 hour theater festival I'm participating in tomorrow, and I'm gonna watch me some vintage Jack Nicholson while doing so. The Last Detail, here I come!

First Magic Mountian Trip of 2009!

I know it's already June and I shoulda been going earlier in the year, but, you know, I was busy.

Anyway, I hit the park with Caroline and one of our students. A bunch of other people were supposed to come, but everyone bailed... but it's fine. The three of us had a great time and it was kind of nice having a smaller group.

Sure, there were like 8 buses of children piled into the park from the Antelope Valley school district, but it didn't matter. We got on all the rides that were awesome - and even hit a few twice. Like X2, Goliath, Superman... ah... soo good!

My voice is a little hoarse today and I'm a little sore, but it doesn't matter. It was all worth it.

But now I've got my season pass activated, who wants to go back with me?

More Summer Fun!

Man, what a great day. I'm starting a daily routine where I do crunches and poi/staff for a certain amount of time, and I make sure to do something creative, whether reading (feeding the creative muscles) or writing or painting... today was day 2, and it rocked.

Then in the afternoon, I met up with Sharon and we hit the Michael Kohn Gallery which is displaying photographs by David Lynch from the new Sparklehorse/Danger Mouse album, "Dark Night of the Soul." The album, by the way, is fantastic... and it's a shame that the label, EMI, is refusing to release it for some legal reason or other. Hit your nearest Bittorrent site and nab it... it's all over the internets and it's GOOD.

The gallery showing was great, too... if only I had a spare $3,500 to take one home with me. Someday!!

Then we headed over to The Grove and Sharon and I hung out at B&N for a while... perusing embarrassing self-help books and really cool art books (Mark Ryden, FTW!).

She had to go meet up with an old student, so I continued to hang out at The Grove... I ate an amazing Philly cheese steak in the farmer's market... then I rode my bike back towards Hollywood to see Butterfly Boucher at the Hotel Cafe.

Such a great show! Only $10. And now I'm totally in love with her. Hahaha. Her work is so good, so heartfelt, and her new stuff is incredible. Bought a new album. Anyway, it was very exciting for me to see her live.

Then I biked home and realized that I have somehow lost 2 gift cards from the end of the year... that irks me. The Starbucks one, fine, but the Barnes & Noble card... that one hurts.

Ah well, as Kendra would say, "They were already lost." What can you do?

Summer Reading

I decided this morning that I was going to read this summer. I got so busy through the last semester, that I kinda forgot to read.

My current selection:

Inspired by the current ZU show: "Notes From Underground", Fyodor Dostoevsky. I've gotten through about half of it, and it is hilarious. Truly.

"Brave New World", Aldous Huxley. Never finished reading this... I think started back in '03 at some point.

"On The Road", Jack Kerouac. Brad Wallace loved this book. I've had this copy forever. I just read some quotes on someone's Facebook. It's time.

"Fuck, YES!", Rev. Wing F. Fing. This book is ridiculous. I saw this when I first started working B. Dalton how many years ago... well over ten... anyway, I saw this and was amused by the title. I never actually read it, though. Steve did and he enjoyed it so... okay.

"Wild LA", John McKinney. This is more of a book to flip through on occasion, find some sweet new trails.

And after talking to Ash tonight, I think I'll have to add "Calling in the One." But first things first.

Bad Attitude Turned Around By Fire Community

In all honesty, it was a pretty good day. I mean, it's summer, what's there to complain about? But the day did start with a tough case of writer's block as I sat down to attempt to write the first draft of my Blood review, it was complicated by my feeling a little low as summer has begun in earnest.

I can't really explain it, but I was talking to Charlie G. last night and we were commiserating about the difficulties of meeting good people in the big city. While it's somewhat true, it's only absolutely true when I believe it.... I know this. Problem is, I had begun to believe it as I tend to do sometimes.

This meant me squandering time on various social networking sites, looking for interesting people to meet... and not getting my writing done. Ha.

But I pushed through, got that first draft written, then I met up with ZJ for his birthday lunch of H. Salt Fish n Chips. Aw yeah. For serious, I love me some H. Salt. It was a great lunch with Zombie and we started talking about putting this horror show up in August... more details on their way.

Then I picked up Steve and Shanna from the airport, had a nice time catching up with them.

For the next few hours, I debated whether or not I was going to go to the big Hollywood premiere of the Fire All-Stars movie that Fire Groove produced. I already saw the movie when I was at Fire Drums, and it's super fun... but they were going to have DJs spinning after, a chance for us to spin with our glow props, and honestly, the fire community is always so freaking positive.

I was almost not going to go out of laziness, but my friend Katie emailed, saying she was going and that I should come, too. It was all the push I needed.

It ended up being a pretty good night. The movie was great, it actually made me smile a lot as all of the performers featured were at Fire Drums and it was good to see them again, Katie and I did some spinning together on the stage, I met this great double hoop performer named Spiral (that's her in the top pic doing her thing), I finally met Curious Josh, who is a phenomenal photographer for the community... and yeah, it just turned out to be a really good night.

Spinning poi always makes me feel sooooo good. So positive. It's movement, it's dance, it's empowering, it's expression, it's awesome.

This, by the way, is the Fire Groove crew... these four people are not only some of the most genuine and loving, talented friends I have in Los Angeles, they have all changed my life in such amazing ways. Gotta love the Fire Groove.

Lazy and Somewhat Productive Sunday

Today is Jason's actual birthday, but I didn't see him. While last year was the big Sumo Wrestling/taco truck blowout, this year was the slow weekend burn. It was good.

I had breakfast with some of the guys over at Hugo's and hung out at their house to visit before Sage left back to Arizona.

The rest of the night was watching a shit load of stuff on Netflix while painting. It was good. I talked to Charlie G for a while, and that was good, too.

Yeah, summer is here. Responsibilities are being shirked. Brain is being shut off... sorta.

Saturday Night Pre-Party

Jason's birthday is tomorrow, so a bunch of us got together at the Boys' house for some cards and some drinks. Plus - SAGE IS IN TOWN! Yes!

The day part of today was kinda rough as I had CPR re-certification, Friday night was late, re-certification was long, and I have to admit to being a little hungover. Hooray.

I also caught the new ZJU show - a remounting of "Notes From the Underground" - and I gotta say... it was awesome. Truly.

Friday Night Pre-Party

Jason's birthday is on Sunday, so a bunch of us got together at his place tonight for some Rock Band, some Celebrity, and some drinks.

Good people, good times. Summer is here.

I

Am almost no longer sick... going to bed.

My Beginning of Summer Gift From the Universe

I've mentioned before that I believe I lead a charmed life. Yes, yes, there are times when I bitch and moan about stuff, but really, when it all comes down, I've got it pretty good. And I keep getting it pretty good. I have no reason to complain, ever.

Though I still sometimes do.

But often when I do, things just turn around.

It's just how it is... not just for me, but I believe for all of us... it all has to do with perspective and perception.

Anyway, tangent aside, most recent example of said charmed life:

I have been dreading jury duty for the past week. I've been resenting it because it's the beginning of my summer, the first chance I've had to relax in months, and I was terrified of getting stuck on a massively long trial.

For instance, the first group of people they called up today in the juror's assembly room was requested to be on a 60 day trial. That would be my entire summer (plus I would lose my job at summer camp)... luckily, I was not called for this.

Then, after waiting for another dreadfully tense 3 hours, the lady behind the desk dismissed every single one of us. Apparently whatever trial they were screening for had been canceled, and we were released and counted as having done our jury duty.

YES!

I was so happy. I wandered downtown for a while, ate a decent burger at this fancy joint, Blu LA Cafe, watched the rain outside, and continued reading "A New Earth."

I was so relieved to not have to use my crazy hippie "I only follow my gut, so I cannot take an oath saying I will rule solely by the law" alibi, nor did I have to try the ol' jury nullification gambit and see if it actually worked. No, this burden was taken from me and I am so very grateful.

Summer has fully arrived... now if only I could shake this little cold... sleep is vital!

Shifted Into Summer

I didn't blog yesterday, it was a day of shifting. I actually woke up at a reasonable time, I got some writing done, though I have to admit to not feeling super inspired about the short story I've been working on, "Fade", but I did do another pass of "End of the Road", and I'm pretty happy with that.

I got some poi spinning in. Cleaned the apartment. Organized some shite. Yeah, I played some DMC4, but it was somewhat tempered from the marathon game day on Sunday. It was a day to start shifting into my summer schedule (oh, I also worked a little on that art project: "My Summer Schedule")... I ate decently, drank a lot of water, started thinking about how I'm going to shed the little bit of softy I gathered over the past couple months at the Academy.

And today, so far, has been great. I got up early - was supposed to go to E3, but that didn't work out, which was kind of a bummer... I read some more of Uzumaki, this great manga that Shannon turned me onto - it's about a town that is invaded by spirals... it's super creepy.

I talked to Adam for a while -- he's still out in Ireland, we caught up a bit.

Then I got on my bike and rode to Fryman canyon. While out there, I hiked, said hi to people, watched the birds (The cliff swallows!! It's their time! I wonder how they are... if any are over at the old homestead. Dana?), and then I rocked out with my poi for a while... I'm trying some new dynamic stuff that is just fun... a lot of turning the body and really moving circles within the circles. I don't know a) how it looks, or b) if I'll even remember to try next time I light up, but I'm having fun practicing.

Now I'm home... I've gotta prepare for the big PB meeting tonight... meet my staff for the summer. We're a small staff, but it's gonna be good. So far, I haven't been called into jury duty... but I do find it incredibly lame that I have to call back every night after 5 to see if my next day is going to be full of court nonsense. Dumb.

But yeah... thinking about my summer... while hiking, I was reflecting back over my trip to Japan... my wanderings. Reminding myself that it is a wonderful thing to be on my own. It is a gift. A liberty. At the same time, I want to make some real connections with people this summer... living alone, while awesome, definitely leaves me wanting that a little more than before.

So, it's going to be about balance... painting, writing, exploring my own soul and self... and expanding my horizons. I'm already looking at ways to meet new people - I'm going to do a 24 hour festival at my friend Laura's theater, there's more fire waiting for me in July, I think Zombie and I are going to put up this horror show in August... CRANK mob, Gay Pride Parade, there's a fire bbq tomorrow night... yeah, it's going to be a good summer.