My exciting life, this place
At US, there are seminars I want to go to. Peek into the room, then leave. Go back to my room, which has piles of stuff everywhere. Try to walk through.
Walk into a restaurant. It’s nice, so I try to neaten up a bit. Turn away-buckle my belt straighten my shirt.
Sitting with Reacher, he gives us all a bunch of gold wrapped things. I fumble and drop a couple. Someone else tries to get one. One falls down a drain. I pull the grates and it’s too narrow. Think about how to get it up. Watch someone get chased by a wolf, then run back. Then a jet bombs and strafes a road.
In an office go into one room, plug in tiny lights to charge and arrange some small fittings. Unplug and leave. Go to the next room to empty the trash, but they’re deep cleaning. Go to the next room.
I’m calling this one the “planes, trains, and automobiles” vacay. You’ll see why if you read to the end.
The plan was to visit my mom in Pasadena, and my sister-in-law in Vegas. It was fair all the way around in that respect, with only mild inconveniences, as is normal for any trip of any substance.
I took the day off both before and after, just to decompress a bit. Having said that, in retrospect I should’ve taken the Friday after as well, as it was sort of a short day back…no worries.
So we left on Friday at noon-ish, as Claire needed the car to go to therapy. Erika brought one large and one small rolling suitcase, plus a bag and a fanny pack. Apparently carrying a fanny pack over your shoulder is the hip and happening thing to do. The one Erika got me was too small and stayed in the duffel the whole time. I packed a nice Tumi duffel with packing cubes (got rid of my Hilfiger one), and a Timbuk2 messenger bag-they were perfect, though the shoulder strap padding on the duffel could’ve been softer-carrying it through airports was a bit of a pain. We also took an L.L. Bean canvas bag full of food and drink.
Easy peasy at the station-we were in the fancy lounge again, and skipped all the lining up. On the train, into our roomette. Small but perfect for two. Hung out for a bit, the train started, we went to the dining car for lunch. I had a nice burger. The food is generally good on the train. Came back and sat around, looking out as we left our familiar surroundings. Erika was uncomfortable facing backwards, so we switched places. The seats are pretty comfortable, though not luxy. After awhile we went back to the lounge car. Erika did a reading, and I read from the tablet-finishing up a half-started book-Zinn’s history of America. Erika did some coloring in her tarot book, and had me do a reading. Pretty much the same as I’ve been getting.
We had dinner later, and sat with 2 older people. I had the steak, which is the thing to get. Good as always. We went back and watched things go by, then the steward turned down the beds. I was on top, and it wasn’t level left to right. Made it hard to sleep, though miles better than Business class.
Up and to breakfast in out usual late-ish time. You get to the Redding area overnight. Had a nice breakfast, and we kept the lower bed down the rest of the way. Really quite comfy that way. Watched the countryside roll by, then into the Bay Area. It gets pretty funky as it goes through Oakland and San Jose-a ton of burned out cars alongside the track. Then the central coast from Salinas to SLO, then the real coast, which is always a lovely ride. It cuts in towards the Valley just around Oxnard, then it’s suburbs all the way to Burbank.
We get off the train, go to get our car, and the reservation was messed up-pickup and dropoff at Burbank airport! That’s not going to work. And the way we wanted it was way expensive. We dilled around trying to get something, but it’s 10pm on a Saturday, and nothing is working. We finally gave up and took a taxi to mom’s. Sleep, drive around trying to get breakfast, Erika’s favorite painting is sold. We finally got a rental out of Long Beach airport, so I drove mom’s electric there, started it charging, we got the car no problem-it’s an SUV. I wait for the car to finish charging, Erika drives off and promptly gets a check light, takes it back and gets a sedan. Drive back, get our stuff, say bye. Go to the Hat for lunch.
Start the drive. The traffic was nice, had to stop for a potty break, then at an outlet where I got a pair of shorts, then drive, drive drive through the furnace that is the road to Vegas. 114. yow, though nice in the car. We get there after dark, get gas, get to the MGM Grand. Dill around finding where to go, Erika gets out with our stuff, I go park the car on the 5th level of the parking structure. It’s hot.
Get inside, get our room, the key doesn’t work, go back and get another room! Get there, get Nathans for way expensive, settle in, sleep, breakfast in the room-nice, but again spendy-we got a mimosa. Hang out waiting for Tam & Bob, our room looks out over the airport and the Tropicana demolition site. Fun watching everything happen.
Tam & Bob get there, we go down to the pool and settle into lounge chairs in the adults only pool. It’s roasting and the pool is like bath water. Drinks are super expensive-$30 for a 20 oz margarita. We close the place, go upstairs, then to dinner at a “bargain” burger place in the casino, that wasn’t a bargain. We walk around, watch an ’80’s revival band, got to bed late. Lost Erika in the casino, we missed each other.
Up, had breakfast at the buffet-not bad, not great. Took their car to go to the pharmacy and look at witchy stores. I almost got to play a hand pan. Ate at a Del Taco. Back, down to the pool-Tam & Bob got the lounges outside of a cabana. A fight almost happened. Decided to go Downtown for the evening. Took an uber. It’s very loud, but cool, with all the people and the roof. Ate at a casino-Asian. Got donuts for breakfast. Back on the double decker bus-sat right at the front on top. To bed, up, coffee and donuts, then off to the airport.
Hung out waiting for the plane to open, dropped off the big suitcase, security. Ate at a bagel place, waited. On the airplane early, comfy seats in first class! Easy flight, meh food. Got Erika’s bag, Claire picked us up, and home!
At a gathering, someone comes and says Philip Glass wants to meet me. I walk over and he invites me to come with him. I go, and we wait to exit down a long set of stairs. Some guy cuts across the lawn. We stop halfway to look at a concrete watercourse. I ask him if he’s familiar with Chris Alexander and he says yes. We chat about how important water is to urban design.
Sitting waiting for a choral thing to start. The group comes out, and gathers in an alcove, then throws their stuff in it backwards. They come out to the stage and line up just on the edge and start singing, then slowly move across the stage. It’s odd, curvy with pillars.
Hanging out on a couch, some cute skinny girl comes and sits right next, starts squeezing right up on us.
In some restaurant/hotel. There’s a storm and we go back inside.
Looking over the Long Beach shoreline. Think about putting up a Bonneville to connect the buildings. Some old investor is there and we met with him. He notices me and I hug him. He freaks out a bit.
Please tip the writer. Whatever amount you like-every little bit helps, and I’ll do a shoutout. We are always short of cash, especially with a big mortgage. Let me know if you or someone you know needs web design/development-my rates aren’t bad, and I’m more than pretty good at it. Java/database/AWS/UI too. ThankYouVeryMuch!
Not much to say. All the supercharged culture/poli stuff is bugging me. I’ve been thinking what would’ve happened if I had gone to Deep Springs/St. John’s College instead of Miami. Very different educational direction-more scholarly bent, rather than the computer/Systems Analysis/business orientation. I would’ve had a very different post-grad experience-maybe the Grand Tour, but also maybe another type of work, especially because you make a commitment to serve humanity if you go to Deep Springs. Also the whole “what if I went to Cal for architecture and got in with Chris Alexander” scenario. Anyways, the presidential race has heated up, and the Dow is down 1,000 after Japan futzed with interest rates (global markets too). The Fed may need to do the same, but they’re inflation averse, and reluctant to drop interest rates to heat up the economy. Can you tell I used to work at an investment firm? Of course, it’s been 40 years, but the principles are unchanged: stocks go down, bonds go up, inflation goes up, interest rates go up, and the reverse. Thinking about the tail of actions, and how all these narratives fit together. Need to start up the 6 basics again.
Friday (6/21) early afternoon. Trying to fix this turbulent app. I think I have a solution… Solstice and full moon. Was thinking I’m not looking forward to visiting there. Not sure why… Fine workout Tuesday, no gamelan Weds, picked Salem up from a movie, Claire from a show downtown. 4 pm, get to quit early because up at 4 am for a work thing, then Sat. night and Sun. night too. Maybe Sun noon, because Scheduling didn’t get back to me. It’s been hot the past couple of days. Salem went to the river.
And it’s July 17th. Just letting time fly away, and not narrating it. It’s been hot for a long time, but a little less today. Prepping for a week of travel-train to SoCal, then car to Vegas, then plane back home. Claire has had folks over a few times, we rearranged our bedroom, I put up my dresser, and most everything fits except a bin of sucker bags, my journal box, a box of misc junk, and 2 book bins. Not bad. Room isn’t done-we need box springs or plywood under our new frame, Erika needs to get her stuff in order, and I need a place to put the Kronos. The rest is as usual.
And I’m sitting in the pool area in Vegas. I think I’ll post the trip as separate, as there are stories. Erika did a reading on the train-2 of swords, 10 of wands , the Empress, the Lovers. Nothing new there.
Monday, August 5th. Been neglecting this. Not much new going on-Erika continues to whine, we’re short of cash, and it’s hot. Working out on the regular-I’m slowly getting my cardio fitness back, but it’s slow going. I need to start the real 30:10:30 routine. Nowhere near as hot as Vegas, thankfully. My birthday passed without incident-got some fun stuff and a lot of beer. The trip was fine. Claire has an odd and rare umbilical cyst-had since birth, but it got infected and started hurting a lot, so we spent two times in the OC Providence ER. They have an appointment with the urologist tomorrow, but are feeling better after antibiotics and strong painkillers. I’m done with crowds of people for awhile. I think I’ll call this, as it’s been a while…
Page 23, sentence 5: “The warrior had down countless days across the steppes to reach Karakorum.” The Mongoliad Book One, “‘Thank you,’ Catherine said, putting down her notepad for a moment. ” The Dark Archive.
Try to walk down a hill that’s covered in snow. Decided to do ski turns instead.
Please tip the writer. Whatever amount you like-every little bit helps, and I’ll do a shoutout. We are always short of cash, especially with a big mortgage. Let me know if you or someone you know needs web design/development-my rates aren’t bad, and I’m more than pretty good at it. Java/database/AWS/UI too. ThankYouVeryMuch!
It’s almost Summer, and still rainy. Interesting. I don’t think I mind it. So another month has passed, and it’s much the same as the last. Busy at work, trying to get things done around the house, working out, going to gamelan, etc. The wider world is in its same state, I think it’s a slow-motion collapse, but I don’t really know. Everything seems OK, but there’s so much noise, and it’s hard to suss out what it all means. No matter-just keeping my head down and trying to make it through-a lot of thoughts about spi dev…maybe an app?
Wednesday scrum (5/15). Work and that’s it. Gamelan tonight. Worked out last night and picked up Claire from work afterwards. Didn’t sleep well last night-was up from about 2 to 4.
Friday afternoon. Got stuff done, but the big thing is not fixed and still running. Fine gamelan, rented a car for Claire to go to Seattle for the night-they drove back rather than stay over. Think I’ll run to Rex Putnam and back-it’s lovely out.
Monday (5/20) noon. Waiting for access to new servers. Pretty busy weekend. Workout Friday was a failed run-get 5 mins in and my calf just couldn’t. So, elliptical and regular, sort of-had to pick up Salem from school-finished tai chi in the side lawn-hard because of the uneven ground. Forgot to make bagels and bread. We got bagel sandwiches from Henry Higgins instead. Took Erika back and forth from the binz, Claire to a rave, got the screen up for the front door, cleared out the way to the kitchen door-it’s the month of walking time again. Sunday was busy too-Erika did a lunch thing, took Salem to a play in Hawthorne, elliptical, picked up Salem, finished the workout, shopped, took Claire to a thing at the riverside. Salem slept through their alarm-had to take them to school. Making bread today.
Tuesday mid-morning. In the 9am meeting at 11… Busy trying to get things done. Not much else-Salem wants to go skating. Got bread made last night. Claire cut their finger and had to get stitches.
Wednesday morning. noon. waiting for stuff to happen, walking every hour-well, maybe less, because it’s raining.
Thursday afternoon. Need to walk. Back-not much happening. Fine workout on Tuesday, went skating with Salem last night, curry chicken tonight. One of my skates lost its top fastener, so I had to rent. Couldn’t tighten them all the way, and the wheels were shaky/bouncy all the time. Yeah-that’s why I have my own. Get a new pair, lube up my bearings, new wheels? Maybe-the ones I have are still OK-worn, but evenly.
Wednesday morning (5/29) Back at work. Took the Friday and Tuesday around Memorial Day off. Stayed up late, slept in, but got a lot done too. Cut the grass, trimmed edges. Pulled blackberries, cut back the cherry plums next to our neighbor’s fence-need to do more. Pulled out a fallen limb from that same stand. We have a ton of fruit this year. Bought a shed, staked out the corners, trimmed some around that location. Found some more trash that our apartment neighbors threw over the fence. Called the complex about it-left a message. Put up the old solar lights in the backyard. Fixed the front door doorknob. Grilled on Memorial Day, made fresh hamburger buns-they were awesome. Way overspent this past week. Salem helped me make bread last night. Worked out the usual schedule: Friday, Sunday, Tuesday. My calf is feeling better.
Wednesday late afternoon (6/5). Another week just flew by. The usual work, workouts, keep the home ticking along. We get our new shed tomorrow.
Friday morning. The shed went in easy, and I wish I’d gotten one size larger…oh, well. I’ll make it work. Put a few things in there-need to start emptying storage. Not much else-Erika has pneumonia-got a bunch of meds for her last night. I bagged walking yesterday and maybe today-I’m tired from Erika coughing all night-though last night was better-I can imagine how tired she is. And she went and got donuts this morning!
Tuesday (6/11). Busy with fun at work. A really busy weekend-got a van, emptied out storage, put everything in the shed-it fit pretty well, with quite a bit of space still available. Next day, pulled the couch and chest, went to this old lady & grabbed couch, dumped at the dump. Worked out Friday and Sunday, but quickies. Still not 100% back for cardio. Shed is good at the back, needs another cycle to get everything in nice-putting in more stuff too. Our kitchen is cleared out-one bin left. I have another book box to go in.
Friday afternoon. One task left, then to the gym. Worked out Tuesday-got a full half-hour run in, but still on the quickie workout. I can work harder, as it’s less time. I’m contemplating the 30-10-30. Fine gamelan, busy at work. Erika bought a picnic bench from school and we need to get it tomorrow. I also need to put some bins in storage, so repacking everything is on the list.
Monday morning (6/17). I’m tired-I think I got enough sleep, but waking up and going back to sleep sometimes does that. Pretty busy weekend-got the picnic table, took a dresser to Goodwill, looked at sheds and got bitched at. Nice breakfast on Sunday, quick binz-we got an ice cream maker, back home, did a bit with compost, food, took Salem for food, workout, picked up Claire, made bread. Ruined bagels-the stove in here runs hot. They’re ok, just overcooked on top. Tried to make cucumber lime Gatorade, failed at that too. Salem failed at their cooking thing too. Fine workouts Friday and Sunday, though Sunday’s was truncated because I had to pick up Claire. Noon. I think I’ll call this…
This was quite the show. Mid-90’s Bowie was an odd bird, with a legendary back catalog, and recent attempts at relevance in a rapidly changing music scene. Nine Inch Nails was coming off some excellent musical efforts, hitting full stride. So, an odd pairing? Not really, but the audiences were very different. I went with my friend Chris Martin (not THAT Chris Martin…), and we got there early enough to get a nice spot in the pit one person from the barricade. Nine Inch Nails opened, and they were on fire-very dynamic, tossing their keyboards around, just creating musical mayhem. I’m pretty sure a pit started behind us, and this one short guy kept trying to get past us. He never succeeded. So Bowie comes out for a few songs at the end of NIN’s set, and then launches into his catalog, with a mix of old and new. Very good show, well paced. And half the pit left. That’s why I said an odd pairing…it was a good show, as I liked both artists.
As a postscript, several years later my friend Susan, when I recalled going to that show, said that WE went together. We didn’t, but were probably 10 feet from each other and didn’t know it.