5:30? They open at 5:30? What’s up with that? I want coffee now! It’s 5:00a.m. and I’m sitting with Murphy in a parking lot outside a not-yet-open Starbuck’s in Portland, Oregon. Gotta pee. Sneezing my head off, itchy eyes. I think I must be allergic to the entire Willamette Valley. I go to Viet Nam for a year and I’m pretty sure I didn’t sneeze … Continue reading Portland and East
The afternoon of June 26th I left Salinas. Finally. But before leaving I made one last stop – John Steinbeck’s gravesite. And yes, I cried. I didn’t see all the sights in and around Salinas I’d intended to see before leaving. I never do – in any town I’ve ever lived in, really. Just one of those things. I always think I’ll get around to … Continue reading Highway 1 and Beyond
If the beginning of this venture hadn’t been so expensive, so unbelievably costly, so financially draining, it would have been funny…. absofuckinglutely hilarious. The saga thus far: I took the bus/train from Salinas to Hayward to check out a van. I’d been looking online and in the local auto sales rag for vans for a few months and had checked out a few and thought … Continue reading Murphy
Hi – I’m still here. Still kicking. Sorry I’ve been away so long – I’ve been drowning in paperwork. I didn’t think there’d ever be an end to it. Just when I’d think I was about done, I’d see another stack, another folder, another box that still needed going through, sorting, purging. Not just my own stuff – my mother’s, too. I’m still not at … Continue reading Stuff and more stuff
1,783 miles / 2,869 kilometers. That’s how far I drove to pick up my worldly goods which had been in storage in Vancouver, Washington and bring them to my new place in Salinas. 1,320 mi / 2,124 km of which, I drove in two days. Oy. Day One: I drove from Lin’s house in Oakland to pick up the rental truck in Alameda by way … Continue reading 1,783 miles / 2,869 kilometers
It’s so strange lying in bed of a morning before I’m ready, able or willing to pry open my tired eyes, trying to remember where I am. Sacra…? Tusti….? Para….? Ha Noi….? Right now I’m in Oakland, California. Oakland. Oakland. Oakland. It’ll sink in eventually. Surely it will. Then I’ll move on. What a strange year it’s been. I mean truly, it’s been a long … Continue reading Moving on….
Chico’s my hometown…. my ‘grown-up’ hometown…..if I can say I’ve grown up. But my childhood hometown is Riverside, California. I’ve been there a few times recently and I’d like to share a few pictures of it with you because I think it’s beautiful. Well, old downtown is beautiful, anyway….. 😉 Whenever I’m in Riverside, I must go to the Mission Inn. I love it. It … Continue reading Riverside & the Mission Inn
As promised, here are the pictures of the koi and water lily ponds at San Juan Capistrano…..but first….. here’s a pic of my son, Joe, taking pictures of the ponds himself. He took a series of shots as he walked around this one pond and sort of pasted them together. I have no idea how he did it, but it looked pretty cool. … Continue reading Koi and Water Lily Ponds
Transit. Transient. Transitory. Transition. Transmission… Oh my TVC one five….. Yeah, I’ve been on the go, moving, changing scenes, traveling, uprooting. I’ve been mislocated, dislocated, dislodged, displanted and disjointed. It’s been mind bending, but honestly I’ve got it good….really. I’ve never been without a roof over my head, never without a friend, a loved one to talk with, never without food in my belly. For … Continue reading Lavender Therapy
I took a train from Paul’s house in Sacramento to my oldest son Joe’s house near Santa Ana (Southern California) last month and I’ve been meaning to share some pictures of my trip with you…….so here goes….. There were a few cool looking old buildings at the Sac train station. The Sacramento River. Rice fields. Most of my pictures were taken through a window of … Continue reading Locomotive Breath
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