Al's Blog: Writing, Truck Camping, Recipes, Travel, and More!!

Oh shit it is time to leave here... June 27th, 2012

2011-06-28T01:35:00.000-06:00

I have six days left in the valley that I have came to love. Yes, I made the decision to leave due to age old longings of teaching in the far east. I know that I am choosing the correct path yet my emotions are making this more difficult every passing day. June in Cache Valley is a spectacular time and I have enjoyed my forth June here most thoroughly. So now on to store my stuff and make a temp-move to Dallas for a month, then off to China, and all points in-between! Vegas will be hit in mid July as my daughter and grandson accompany me for a three day weekend at the Circus. A three year old on his first plane experience will make his ticket price more than worth it. My daughter hasn't been able to fly much either, and I know they will enjoy the lights of Vegas, a city that I have never been as well.

Ar this very moment I am trying to sit through some Robert Altman film, which is one of the films that Paul Newmans website does not promote or mention a whole lot. After witnessing many lame futuristic movies from the 70's, this one is really no surprise.

The place is looking a bit lonely now since I have moved and sold much of the arrangements. Tomorrow more of the heavy stuff will be going, but I plan to save the TV and the couch for last. It almost feels like I am in the last days of the losing side of a war and plans and goals are happening all at once. The place needs to be clean and vacant by this very Sunday, and there is still a million things to do. I have a snake that needs a home, and a small aquarium that needs to be vacated. My bikes will be safe, (motor and pedal) and many things still need to be purchased on ebay in the next two days and then I will send them on. Like the fall of Saigon it seems, cept the survivors won't be jumping from my roor onto helicopters. And I must leave the place clean for my kind land lady.

Mail has got to be handled, people and entities need to be paid, and some need to pay me. The doctor has to fill out my Chinese "Foreign Workers Exam", give me shots, then prescriptions for a year in advance, then I have to gather the reciepts and send them to the place that will reemburse me for the expenses, which is really a cheesy annuity corp which I opted to pay into rather than having first class insurance. Its more complicated, but its cheaper unless I happen to get really sick, then I know those weasel-fucks will squirm their way out of paying anything of major expense.

I will write and post pics very soon...

Only passenger on plane

2011-06-12T09:49:00.001-06:00

--Sent from my Virgin Mobile!

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Sent from my Virgin Mobile

Only passenger on plane

2011-06-12T09:41:00.001-06:00

--Sent from my Virgin Mobile!

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Sent from my Virgin Mobile

June 7th, 2011

2011-06-07T21:49:00.002-06:00

Got my 1981 Honda CB 900 Custom running well, inspected, registered, and washed/polished! She runs like a bat and is begging me for a road trip. Thinking about heading north to Montana, then half-way across the state to the East to Billings. Then 100 miles directly South from there is "Buffalo, Wy." where my son lives. I plan to take it easy and ride for three days. Still not a definite plan but soon might become one. I'm looking forward to a road trip actually. I also would like to head from Buffalo to Sturgis, South Dakota, and way on down to my home state of Texas. That trip would be about 2500 miles and take a week and one-half. I do worry to try for a long trip as the bike is 30 years old, but the engine is smooth as silk and the mileage is only 20,000. This bike has 100 more pounds capacity than my last bike, a 2000 Kawasaki Concourse. I wasn't a big Concourse fan, and when I got home to ride the Honda, I instantly put the newer bike up for sale. To be fair, the Concourse wasn't set up correctly and had some major death issues at cruising speeds. I kept her down below 70 and managed to live! LOL!

Thats about all I have going on, still practicing the sax of course and improving daily, did manage to send off a giant baritone sax and build a very odd but strong box for it. The sax is going to Germany after all. I still have a couple other things to send out tomorrow. EBAYing is nice when you get the money, but sux when you have three bulky things to box and ship and fill out customs and postal forms and crap. I still manage to ship all merchandise within 2 days of payment. Its good for business. I can't wait to get to China and buy up some cool stuff wholesale from the source, then flood EBAY with the stuff. Found out that the earliest I can move into my apartment in China is August 20th, so a long bike trip should be a way to pass the time.

June 3rd, 2011

2011-06-04T03:08:00.001-06:00

One week into summer time and its been fun! Partying a bit more, watching half the episodes of "Cheers" in one week, playing boring classical arpeggios in the morning while drinking tea and blowin' out some cool Jazz in the evenings while drinking Dark and Stormies (1.) and Gin and Tonics.

Tonight I just obtained a superior Jazz mouthpiece, a Rosseau 6*, which has a wide as hell opening and a much bigger inner chamber than I am used to. I usually play a very old but well sounding Selmer C* mouthpiece with my ancient 1938 King Zephyr, which is a true, famous, professional Sax.
I love the Selmer mouthpiece for it's sexy quietness, and the dark sounding tones that it makes. But this Rosseau is a true Jazz mouthpiece. Ya got to bite down and bend the reed hard. Since my chops (embrouche) is strong now; I can bend and play all sorts of nuances to my sound. I also bought a cheap old " Buescher 400" for next to nothing. This old "400" was once a highly respected Jazz horn, but when the Jazz age stopped with the rock n roll and the British Invasion. The once proud Sax makiing companies like Buescher, King, and Martin, all started making band instruments for companies like Selmer, Leblanc, and others. Turns out that I found a 75' "Selmer Signet", that is totally a "Buescher 400", in everything but the name. This old sax really rocks! Has better action than my old King Zephyr, which is worth 5 times the price of this old Signet. I plan to take the Signet to China, since I have little money into it. But I will keep the great antique King Zephyr at my parents house for safe keeping.

Tonight I experienced the Rosseau mouthpiece with the "Signet" (which is an intermediate and not a professional horn), but I rocked the Logan canyon with it's incredible tone. I blowed the G scale and created various Jazz songs which were completely improvised. We reached the hight of Sax playing ecstasy!, while the sax kept speaking louder and more confident. She was quite the singing angel, whose many incredible voices permeated the air with her unique prowess and ability. I never want the sweet Signet to leave me, but if she does, I'll just pay the bucks for an original Buescher 400.
The two hour long jam was indescribable. I was a life changing experience to say the least.

Last night my friend Mike and I went to an open Mic night at the local bar "The Beehive" (yeah the name needs help), and took turns with the host playing guitar and singing. I haven't performed in front of people in over 15 years, but since the environment was low key, with most patrons at their tables lost in conversations, I managed to play and sing for about 20 minutes without stressing too much. I haven't play guitar in a few months, so I let my voice do most of the work. I'm not ready to perform on the sax yet, but should be ready once I hit the Chinese coast. I'm in touch with a few musicians there and I plan to practice with them and take it from there. My goal is to play in Shanghai's famous "Cotton club", but that might take a while. I am fully content just playing alone as I have done for the past 15 years.

Today I finally got my ass on a bike for the first time in a week, the weather was nice and I managed to do a few errands then do some fish tank maintenance in my classroom. Ran into 4 of my best students and the old Persian man who bought my Volvo a few years back. The guy "Hamin" still loves the car and has gotten a couple speeding tickets due to the cars' need for speed. He got busted doing 110 mph on his way to Salt Lake one day, it's a wonder they didn't put him in jail. But Hamin is a nice old man with a gift of gab so he got off cheaply with a $450. ticket!

Again: This was the best night of my Sax playing career, I will soon go to sleep and dream about all the beautiful sounds that my new horn and mouthpiece have allowed me to play.

May 27th, 2011 (last day of school)!

2011-05-28T22:52:00.001-06:00

Put snakey up for sale. I really want to find her a good home, She's over 9 feet and weighs around 40 pounds, the money isn't important just the future of "Snakey" the nameless boa constrictor..

God I'm going to miss Logan, Utah. This is one of the best places to live in the U.S.A., and I've been to most of the country. I believe I previously mentioned that Logan has the lowest crime rate in the country for Metro areas over 100,000 population. Its because most of the kids have two parents at home, and they are very dedicated to raising them with respect for others. Most of the local populous are LDS or Mormon folks. Although, I am a hard drinking Texan and a Taoist/Buddhist/Christian, I find that the Mormons follow Christ's teachings better than many other so called Christians. I won't say they are perfect, but most are kind hearted and accepting of others. Their kids are a delight to teach. No one really discusses religion to me unless I bring it up. I am glad that the Mormon Church is growing, and I attribute their success to their overall good and positive karma.

I love this place so much that I decided to stay for the entire month of June and get to know the local scenery a little better. This will include hiking in the mountains as well as bicycling everyday in order to get in better shape. The cool climate up here invites exercise in the Summer and discourages it in the Winter. After this long winter... I noticed that I am quite the fat slob, and will hit the bikes tomorrow morning. Once in China, I will have to climb 5 floors of stairs just to get into my apartment, not to mention the 20 minute walk to my classroom, where more stairs beckon.

Been Jammin on the Sax like a fiend of late, and plan to get in with the Chinese blues and jazz scene on the weekends, which means I need to gain a lot of talent in a short amount of time. I still remember my old skills, but Jazz/Blues is another subject altogether. Once in China I plan to jam on the roof of my building late at night and really enjoy myself.

Tonight I am making my Chinese Hot and Sour Soup, which usually calls for copious amounts of tofu, but I am substituting with chopped up hot dogs and mushrooms. I've done this before and it completely rocks! Learned this hotdog trick from the "Pho" Vietnamese restaurants down in Hawaii.

Here are a few pics I took off my front porch of the local mountains which came out nicely due to the sun and cloud event we had this evening.

Cheers!

Allen

May the 21st, 2011 (the day of the rapture)

2011-05-21T22:40:00.001-06:00

Ok, so the damned rapture never materialized. In fact, I didn't even see one single angel. I feel short changed. Deluded Bastards, making all these promises and not keeping them. Imagine how stupid their followers feel? Nuts like these make all religions look bad.

Glad to see that my fellow Buddhists and Taoists don't support cults like these, nor do they condemn non-Buddhist/Taoists to hell, nor do they kill non-Buddhist/Taoists because they are not the same religion.
We believe that after a couple thousand life-times your souls will come around to our way of thinking!

School has one week left, things are going good around the school front. Since I received my "Level 2" Utah teaching license this week (I had to jump thru many hoops and spend many bucks), this happy camper will be welcome back in his adopted state upon return from the orient. Actually, as long as I get back by 2015, I will be welcome to work in this great State.

John Coltrane my main influence.

The only thing that occupies my mind anymore is playing the Sax. I can't explain it but can only describe it as "being driven". Although I have been a musician for years and years, I have never practiced as much as I do now. I don't read, watch movies, or do anything I used to do... Just practice, practice, practice... I love it. I've been practicing the sax for 2 months now, 2-3 hours per day and the results are apparent to me. I can sight read and play slowly even the more difficult pieces, and spend lots of time just making up my own stuff using different blues scales. My intonation is sounding almost like a voice with all its nuances and inflections. These last two concepts were things I wasn't taught while playing in the high school marching band. I'm getting bolder and playing on my front porch for all the passers by and they seem to enjoy it, although I play quietly due to shyness. I need to gain some more skills before I get to China, so I can play freely in the parks and on the rooftops at night. I am even considering starting or joining a small time jazz band for weekend fun at the jazz clubs in Shanghai or even my new home city. (Jazz is still catching on in China, most prefer American cheese music they can practice Karaoke with). The upscale Chinese are discovering the idea of Jazz, which has been the most popular and played music of the 20th century by far. I can hardly stand to listen to anything else but Jazz anymore. From ancient "Ragtime" to "Swing", "Bebop", "Fusion", "Modern Jazz", I simply love and appreciate it all.

Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong the greatest jazz player of them all!

May 14th, 2011

2011-05-14T07:29:00.000-06:00

Friday was a short day at Logan High, we were dismissed at 12:10 to watch a spectacular don't drink/text and drive presentation given by the local law enforcement officers. They had wrecked cars, simulated drunk and dead teenagers, and the other survivor gets medic-evaced by the helicopter that lands on our football field. The temperature rose to a blistering 78 degrees in the bright sunshine. The students in the audience were acting like they were dying of heatstroke..... Sissies! Even the slight cool breeze didn't keep them from bitching and moaning. Most were busy texting on their "cellies" while the police spent over an hour presenting a very excellent, realistic crash situation with sad music, sirens, 911 calls etc. I was enjoying the show, save for all the moaning of these heat abused students.
Notice the snow on the mountains in the background? Two weeks ago we had a three day snow event here....in May! Mountain weather is very interesting to me.

Gotta love the last two weeks of school, especially when one isn't going back for at least a year!

I came home around 3PM and found out that my friends Chuck and Melissa were coming to stay for the night, all the way from Northeastern Wyoming! I was happy to hear the news, but I really wasn't ready for it. No biggie, I had an extra room ready and let my landlord know that two of my friends were bringing two large, well trained, dogs into my house for the night.

I managed to squeeze in a half hour of sax practice, although I've been playing two - three hours per night since my downstairs neighbors moved out. The improvement one makes while practicing this many hours is apparent. Music that I couldn't touch two weeks ago is easy to play now and I need to update my music library, for more challenging pieces. I really enjoy just playing blues scales and creating my own songs, especially after a few beers and I can let it loose. Been alternating between my old Tenor "King Zephyr and my new 1949 vintage King Zephyr alto sax, that I picked up on EBAY last week for only $500 bucks. I can't imagine all the parents that buy crappy student instruments on payment plans, when they could go out and buy a true professional horn for a third the money.

I took Chuck and Melissa (and dogs), up to the trailhead of "Dry Canyon", which is an excellent place to throw the ball to the dogs. Lots of uphill climbing for the puppies, which makes them much mellower when visiting my house later on. We watched a gorgeous sunset which my camera failed to really capture. This is all I could get out of it:

Then we all went to Chile's, and finally got a chance to sit down and shoot the breeze. Saw my friend "Mike" and his Chinese wife "Nina?" who looks like a model. They are both excited by me teaching in China next year. We came back to the house and watched a couple episodes of "News Radio", which promptly put my tired self to sleep. I fell asleep leaving my guests with nothing to do, so I guess they went to bed. Overall, another day in paradise..

Saturday, May 7th, 2011 China!

2011-05-07T19:30:00.001-06:00

Busy week, taking care of getting my Utah teaching license renewed is more bullshit than I can imagine. But it's nearly done, so I will have the option of returning to my school district, in 2012.

I received 4 job offers at Chinese universities this week, and finally accepted a Job! Yes Folks! "Yours Truly" is going to be a "Foreign Expert" at a major Chinese University next year and possibly longer. It sure is nice that my school district is allowing me the option of returning. It was dam hard leaving a 50 thousand per year job. I know thats not much in this day and age, but it is far more than I've ever earned in a year and I'm proud to be a middle class citizen of the US of A! Only problem is that they tax the living shit out of me so I can't afford much. In China I will get a free apartment, all bills paid, and $750 for spending money.... Which means, that I can travel by train every other weekend, eat all meals at restaurants and still have a couple hundred left over. I've talked to those that are doing this. And instead of teaching 25 hours per week, I will be only teaching 12 with few office hours to keep up. This is a part time job.

I plan to see as much as China as I can in a year. I want to learn to speak the language, and enjoy the Chinese culture as much as possible. I like most Chinese folks, they have a good sense of humor. Sure there are bad points and trade-offs, but I am only looking for the good. Plus I can learn more about my Buddhist and Taoist roots, hang out with some Monks. Pee wherever I want! And travel cheaply on China's extensive train system, which means I don't have to drive a fucking car everywhere I wish to go. (I do want a small motorbike, so I can explore the countryside of course).

China really is a great place to live. Much safer than our democratic nation that allows people to get away with murder, because we don't want to infringe on their "freedom". Hell, I want the "freedom" to walk the streets without getting mugged or killed. I want my kids to have the "freedom" not to have drugs shoved in their face whenever they go to a party. China works smoothy and simply. Sell drugs, you get taken to a judge, who sentences you to death, and your jailers take you out back and shoot your
sorry ass! Justice served... When the Country announces a 50 mile bullet train from one city to another, it gets done within a year. No bullshit, no bond elections, no labor unions. DONE!
I think this is the only form of government that can get shit done. Period. Teachers actually have rights in this country. Kids are responsible for their behavior or they are expelled permanently. They don't dick around with hearings, where the liberal lawyer defends the poor crack baby against the mean teachers who won't let the child express himself with a knife whenever he wants. He just gets expelled and his crack momma gets life in a penal institution where prisoners must work for their room and board, and their relatives must provide them with food. China is a very free country by comparison of what I am used to. All Democracies work well at first, but eventually degenerate into tyrannies. Read your History folks. I still love America with all my heart and soul, but nothing gets done around here, the rich get richer and the poor no longer has respect for the law, they don't have much choice. It's impossible to be a poor man and a law-abiding citizen. Back when I was dirt poor I frequently drove illegally w/o insurance or registration. Couldn't afford it. This country used to be for the middle classes, that was then this is now. I'm going to China for many reasons. I've just described one of them.

April 30th, 2011

2011-04-30T22:01:00.000-06:00

After many days of playing hard blues scales and practicing arpeggios and learning new notes. After countless hours of listening to the blues and jazz greats, testify as they enter a new zone of timelessness.
I play exercises repeatledly and smash thru the book breaking new blues ground then covering the same ground over and over. I can understand and hear jazz and blues quite well since it's all I really listen to anymore. But I am faithfully following someone elses music and adding each inflection as the music tells me like some tape recorder set on the "unoriginal" button.

But tonight was magic. First a steady stream, then a full chorus, then ten thousand ideas fell out of my being and created sound-waves that were impossible to me just a few weeks before. I felt as a bus station for the blues, which passed thru my horn in 4 different scales, each one telling a different story.
Blasting out original prose for the very first time in my saxophone history, shutting off all cognitive thought and just letting it all flow. This was like baptism gone right.

Today started as the basic Logan Utah Saturday, when me and my old buddy Larry having breakfast and talking very little. Larry used to be my pool shooting, drinking pal, but now I don't do that shit anymore. So he tells me about the current events at the pool hall, and I bore him with whatever comes to mind. Larry had been a good friend and currently my only friend in this Mormon city. He dropped me back off to my place at 9:00 while the snow was still falling. I watched a bit of TV and dosed for a while... Boredom started to creep into my soul at this point. The Saxophone and the Country of China are presently on my mind at all hours.

Begin more research on which Chinese town and school would most likely fit, and decided to search for the places less polluted than some of my job offers have been, Finally tired of the house and with the sun out, yet cold, I drove my trusty little Spanish scooter to the neighborhood grocery store. I opted for the ramen and a few veggies to chop up into a great concoction of healthy lunch which couldn't have cost more than 50 cents. I did add a chopped up hotdog like the Vietnamese do when they serve their "Pho", and added an egg as well. Damn I can live cheap when I wish to! I made enough for two of course, so I threw the rest into the toilet and hopefully it to will nourish something.

Did more internet research, applied to a few more places in the few non-polluted towns in China, and read some amazing things such as: I had to explain what a rainbow was to my students, and that there are millions of stars and not just a few bright ones, to those who live in most of the Grey polluted Chinese cities". I also read a few horror stories, but I doubt that China equals this country in "horror".

Every hour or so, I spent 20 minutes playing blues scales and new songs. I would repeat this everytime my King Zephyr would call to me. And lately its been calling me all the time everyday. Two weeks ago, my instructor showed me a new plastic reed, and suggested I combine it with the old neglected ancient mouthpiece that I haven't been using, Now I can play as quiet as a whisper and can control my sound till it sounds like voices from the great beyond or something. I can still scream it out loud when needed, but its nice that its not always loud as hell. I am getting along well with the Zephyr and its beginning to make beautiful sounds, and even talking or screaming when I want it to. I started out with just a generic honking noise.

When darkness fell I stepped outside for a few, and could hear the college kids howling and screaming about something, this is the farewell to the school year weekend, which explains the big polynesian guy staggering across my lawn looking for a place to piss while I was leaving to breakfast. Spring is finally here in Logan town, and things are beautiful again.

April 21st, 2011

2011-04-21T21:51:00.001-06:00

Is it already 2011? Crazy! Had an excellent day today. Antibiotics for the past week finally seems to have kicked the "Walking Pneumonia" that I have been stricken with since January. My voice sounds normal after three months of nasal/throat/lung infections. This happened last year at the same time too. This valley is so polluted during the winter when the heavy air has us sucking pollution for weeks at a time. But now its spring time and I'm a happy camper once again!

The day went particularly well, I had a lot of energy and the students were grateful to see me back to my old self once again. Rained most of the day but I did manage to get out and go to my first Saxophone lesson in over 30 years!!! My instructor, who is an old jazz musician, agreed to take me on, but wasn't so sure about my level of playing ability. I did struggle through some sight-reading trials, but he was convinced that I am at the upper intermediate level and started me with some hairy complex jazz scales and routines to work on before my next lesson. I am so happy that he didn't start me off playing mundane shit like "greensleeves" (which is a nice song but easy). He also helped me with choices of mouthpiece/reed/ect... and technical crap that I needed to know. I was worn out after an hour with this dude, but he is one of the best sax players in Utah, and I'm lucky to have his input and training. "Dan" was the band director at my school, but retired about two years ago and now plays professionally.

My Tenor sax is an old "King Zephyr", which is a great old Jazz players Axe of choice, but since it was built in 1938, there are a few adjustments that the player has to allow for. The sound is still incredible! My Soprano (little clarinet looking sax), is a 2010 model Chinese made "E.F. Durand", and plays in tune and very accurate considering the low price I paid for it. Many sax players are including the better Chinese horns into their stables. They are far from perfect like the Japanese "Yanisagawa" brand, but at one/tenth the price for a very playable horn..... I prefer my Chinese Soprano, and I play her everyday. The big Tenor and the little Soprano both play in the B flat key so I only have to buy music for one instrument! I play both horns about an hour each every day and within a year, I hope to be incredible! I used to tell me guitar students that "they will be incredible with just two hours per day of practice, and it's always proven to be true." I have no professional ambitions, I just want to testify my sound loud and clear and preferably somewhere up in the mountains where the sound rings far and the critics aren't near. But yes I am happy with the way my first lesson in 30 years went. I used to feel that I had to play, but now I just want to play and improve.
And the teachers faith in my abilities gave my confidence a boost like I have never experienced before! Therefore I must practice and have all these scales down by next Thursday or else!

Cheers,

Al

April 19th, 2011 (day after TAX DAY)

2011-04-19T21:39:00.000-06:00

First day in a month I was able to ride the bicycle to school. It was warm enough not to have ice on the roads but still cold enough to pedal fast. Any day that begins with a workout seems to go smoother. I love the freedom of speeding thru town on my bike, running red lights, hopping up and down curbs, driving down the wrong lane when no cars are there, just maximizing my bicycle efficiency, since the last thing an urban cyclist wants to do is come to a stop.

I have so much to do in the next 6 weeks. I have to sell most of my possessions, get people to take over my fish tanks and snakes, get the truck serviced, and many more things.

Still not sure what direction to take. I'm seriously thinking about hanging out in Wyoming and Texas this summer then taking a University job in China for the next year. Chinese Universities start classes in August and I'm seriously considering spending some time working there. I would like a few more fun travel experiences so I can have fascinating things to think about while I spend my final days as a hermit.
The pay sux, but being on an adventure would more than make up for the lack of pay. Plus all my housing needs would be paid for by China's communist government.

But I have made the conscious decision to QUIT THE MIDDLE CLASS. Its just not worth it. The middle classes get taxed to death, have shitty health care, etc.. I can't afford a new car, I can't afford a house, yet I make more than the average family in this valley. What happened to the middle class? Hell, lower middle class folks back in the 60's could buy a house and a car. I don't have any debts, don't go to bars/movies/restaurants, don't have kids, why can't $50,000 a year provide a good living? I do admit I spend a lot of money on flying out of Utah (I've flown out of this state 4 times in the past 9 months), but still. They tax me at 25% which is ten percent more than I was taxed when I made $34,000. The richest only pay like %34 percent, but have enough tax loop-holes to where they wind up paying nothing. So why bust one's ass working in a high stress job for fifty grand per year? My health is going down hill, my stress levels are killing me, I'm getting nothing in return for all this. I would much rather live in a truck camper, work part-time doing labor, maybe make a few bucks from the internet. And minimize all the stress factors that are doing me in. I have quit the middle class, the benefits don't come close to the sacrifices.

Sorry for ranting, but the middle class is getting squeezed worse than ever before. I quit. Maybe keep catastrophic health insurance with a huge deductible, in case I get in a bike wreck, but I would pay far less per visit, if I didn't have insurance at all. I remember seeing poor people paying $40 a visit to doctor back in Texas, while, I (who had insurance), had to pay $80 per visit. Seems like only the rich and poor benefit in todays America. Hell, the money I would save not teaching 37 kids per class and the stress that involves, would probably keep me from the doctors office all by itself, not to mention the sicknesses involved by having way too much human contact each day. I'm done here.

The University jobs in China I mentioned, involve 12 - 18 teaching hours per week, reasonable class sizes, free room/board, all bills paid, free food, 2 months vacation plus plane fare. And no paying income tax to the US, who will use my hard earned money to buy bombs or feed crack whores, or give subsidies to Fannie Mae, or some other bullshit. (Damn I'm still ranting)....

Advice to young folks: Make a plan to be either Rich or Poor, nothing in between is worth wasting your time. Think big or small. Only those two extremes are worth your while. Your politicians no longer care about you unless you are rich or poor. Better yet, go buy some swamp land and learn to live off it! No one is going to give a hard worker a fair shake anymore.

April 12th, 2011

2011-04-12T20:05:00.006-06:00

(photo by "usd.edu)

I'm back in Logan and my daily grind. The trip back from Sheridan was fun since I had the airliner all to myself on the leg from Sheridan to Denver. The steward recognized me from my trip there and asked me if he had to demonstrate the safety features again. Pretty fun being the only one on a 30 passenger plane; I just sat in the middle of the back seat and enjoyed the luxury.

To follow up on my earlier observations about Wyoming, I am still as impressed with the people as I was on the first day I was there. Didn't encounter any rude person, no one asked me "Where are you from", I could walk into any establishment and felt treated as well as the locals. I've never experienced this before, except down in Mexico or a certain chain of Islands in the Pacific.

Tough going back to school on Monday. I just went through the motions has I have been doing all year long, but I did talk to my Principal about taking a year off. I plan to move to Wyoming and "LIVE IN A TRUCK CAMPER", which has been a dream of mine for many years now. I will have three monthly paychecks to live on ($10,000), so I won't have to hit the ground running. There are plenty of jobs in the hotel and education industry at the moment, so finding a job should be easy. I might start taking donations via Paypal (send money to my account at "albarnes707@yahoo.com" if you are so inclined. If this experiment should fail I plan to go back to my old job the fall of 2012, unless the Mayans are right about things. I also might teach in the orient should Wyoming become boring, but I doubt I'll get bored in the first year. I also want to spend the winter at 8000 ft in the Bighorn mountains on land accessible only by snowmobile or snowshoes. I am full of ideas, and I usually get around to fulfilling them. My number one goal is to get healthy, which is hard for me to do under a full-time stressful job. I want to live a much longer life than this current lifestyle will allow.

Bought one of those Chinese saxophones off EBAY and had it shipped to the Mountain view Motel where I spent last week. I have read good reviews about this horn and I must agree. Being a Tenor sax player I was warned about the difficulties in playing the Soprano sax (which is about the same size as a clarinet). I had little problem learning to play it and plan to play the Soprano many years into the future.
The case is 1/4 the size of my Tenor, and can play notes so high it can wake the dead with little problem. The Soprano is in the key of B flat just like the Tenor, so I can play the same music on both horns. I can also play trumpet music with it and hit the same high notes.

After being sick for the past month I finally acquiesced and went to see my doctor, turns out I have "walking pneumonia" which will soon be kicked after a 10 day regiment of horse pill sized antibiotics.
He also included a bottle of Codeine cough syrup, which is kicking my ass as I type. Never mix two beers with two teaspoons of this shit! My cough is gone, so no more codeine for me tonight.

That's all for now,

AB

April 12th, 2011

2011-04-12T20:05:00.005-06:00

I'm back in Logan and my daily grind. The trip back from Sheridan was fun since I had the airliner all to myself on the leg from Sheridan to Denver. The steward recognized me from my trip there and asked me if he had to demonstrate the safety features again. Pretty fun being the only one on a 30 passenger plane; I just sat in the middle of the back seat and enjoyed the luxury.

To follow up on my earlier observations about Wyoming, I am still as impressed with the people as I was on the first day I was there. Didn't encounter any rude person, no one asked me "Where are you from", I could walk into any establishment and felt treated as well as the locals. I've never experienced this before, except down in Mexico or a certain chain of Islands in the Pacific.

Tough going back to school on Monday. I just went through the motions has I have been doing all year long, but I did talk to my Principal about taking a year off. I plan to move to Wyoming and "LIVE IN A TRUCK CAMPER", which has been a dream of mine for many years now. I will have three monthly paychecks to live on ($10,000), so I won't have to hit the ground running. There are plenty of jobs in the hotel and education industry at the moment, so finding a job should be easy. I might start taking donations via Paypal (send money to my account at "albarnes707@yahoo.com" if you are so inclined. If this experiment should fail I plan to go back to my old job the fall of 2012, unless the Mayans are right about things. I also might teach in the orient should Wyoming become boring, but I doubt I'll get bored in the first year. I also want to spend the winter at 8000 ft in the Bighorn mountains on land accessible only by snowmobile or snowshoes. I am full of ideas, and I usually get around to fulfilling them. My number one goal is to get healthy, which is hard for me to do under a full-time stressful job. I want to live a much longer life than this current lifestyle will allow.

Bought one of those Chinese saxophones off EBAY and had it shipped to the Mountain view Motel where I spent last week. I have read good reviews about this horn and I must agree. Being a Tenor sax player I was warned about the difficulties in playing the Soprano sax (which is about the same size as a clarinet). I had little problem learning to play it and plan to play the Soprano many years into the future.
The case is 1/4 the size of my Tenor, and can play notes so high it can wake the dead with little problem. The Soprano is in the key of B flat just like the Tenor, so I can play the same music on both horns. I can also play trumpet music with it and hit the same high notes. (the Soprano is the little sax at the bottom of the photo) [photo by USD.edu]

After being sick for the past month I finally acquiesced and went to see my doctor, turns out I have "walking pneumonia" which will soon be kicked after a 10 day regiment of horse pill sized antibiotics.
He also included a bottle of Codeine cough syrup, which is kicking my ass as I type. Never mix two beers with two teaspoons of this shit! My cough is gone, so no more codeine for me tonight.

That's all for now,

AB

April 5th, 2011

2011-04-06T03:23:00.000-06:00

Wyoming:

I simply love this windy state. The mountains, hills, plains, all conspire to amaze me everytime I come here. The best thing about Wyoming is the people who live here. They are pretty much straight forward and real. I'm sick of people with artificial veils, who have hidden agendas, who have no real idea who they really are... Most people I meet in Wyoming are the real deal. Ask them how their day is and the answer you get is sure to be honest. They seem to expect the same in strangers, and are very welcoming to the strangers who they percieve to be like themselves. "How are you doing?" I asked someone today... "Shitty day but things could be worse" she said.. We both had a good laugh about it and the day was brighter. The weather here seems to be windy and abyssmal for the most part, but with frequent hour-long breaks of windless sunshine., I just wear a windbreaker and lean forward as I walk. Haven't been knocked down yet in the three weeks I've spent here in the past year, but I'm sure it will happen. Currently I am visiting my friends "Melissa and Chuck", up in Buffalo, which is located in the North Eastern part of the state, close to the Dakotas and Montana. My son "Logan", moved here in early January, I plan to move here on June 1st. I learned alot from living in Utah, but I need some new stomping grounds. The Orient will be next! The west is still calling me and China will probably be where I spend the golden years.

Yesterday, Chuck took me on a tour deep into the lovely "Bighorn" mountains, which are a bit taller than the "Wasatch" range that I am used to. We stopped at the pass at 9600 feet for a photo shoot, but the winds and clouds prevented much success in that arena. I was also dressed in shorts and a bowling shirt, which made the restroom break a study in fortitude as the below zero chill factor worked it's way deeply into all parts of my exterior being! This last photo was taken as we approached the Big Horn range, but the huge peaks were obscured by the clouds. Tomorrow we are going out again and taking the snow mobile, and we plan to take Logan with us as a token snow boarder!

Nite..

March 24th, 2011

2011-03-24T21:35:00.001-06:00

I checked my blog views today. We are now averaging 16 views per day! A massive hit compared to a year ago and only my mother looking at it. I feel I owe my small audience more blogs and better quality in each blog. I am now taking all pictures myself, unless it calls for something I can't do. I will also add more recipes since I am a brilliant cook and only show you kind folks a tenth of what I really cook. I will also force myself to write much more: You readers patronage, should spur me on much further than I've been able to spur myself. And lastly: I will try to whine less. Sure I have disgust for my boring and meaningless existence, but I will try to keep the depressing parts out, so you can enjoy your lifeless re-runs you call lives, without me making it more sad and lacking.

So on a scale of one to ten this week started out as a zero. Three of my students turned on me the past Friday. A coworker is on a war campaign against me. My girlfriend (I never liked), tried to up the relationship and failed miserably, so now I have no one to hang out with. My 3 month sinus impaction doesn't allow much sleep (feels like a train is wrecked in there). And I spent another shitty weekend feeling sorry for myself.

Monday sucked as usual, but the students were non-verbally apologetic. Tuesday was ok cept I drank four gallons of coffee due to the lack of Monday nights' sleep. I had to take a hot shower and drink a bucket of Chamomile tea in order to relax enough to crash at midnight. Wednesday was better, and I had my classes doing "fun for them" easy work such as collages and wire wrapping jewelry, plan to keep up the non-instruction until Spring Break is over and gone. I also slow cooked a lovely two pound round roast on the stove, while I went out to play trivia at the local pub. Nice to get out for once in the past two weeks. I didn't have carrots, and my potatoes were old, so I put three onions in the pot, after browning the beef, added some celery, wine, and a beef bouillon cube, and made a heavenly creation. The best part about the roast is that I left the house and ate at the pub therefore; I had to refrigerate the roast for a night and let it sit in the soupy, onion, wine mixture for a day before re-heating it all. I did toss in a bit of salt and pepper, Worcester, and more black pepper. The result was pure ambrosia of the beef gods. Since the ample liquid made a perfect au jus sauce, all that was required was the addition of a secret ingredient in order to pull things together. CATSUP! Only a couple tablespoons were required, but this au jus made the beef (which I broke up and sliced, then returned to the pot for 30 minutes), the best beef sandwich I can remember. Since all I had were toasted small hamburger buns, I only had three of them. I will dream of this for years to come. Remember: Screw the potatoes, put in one pound of onions to two pounds of beef. I did throw in a stick off celery and was happy I did. Needs no other veggies than these.

Tomorrow is Friday and the train-wreck in my nose has finally broken, due to snorting a mixture of sesame seed and Melalueca oil (the latter is a strong natural antibiotic), and has shifted down to my throat and lungs but appear to be on the way out. Thanks to my friend "Maurice" an old Mormon artist, for recommending it to me. Friday smells like a great day, and I will try to write more.

Peace to all of you,

Al

March 19th, 2011

2011-03-19T18:32:00.002-06:00

Very busy week, went on a field trip on Tuesday to Springville, Utah; to view the Utah State High School Art show, afterwards we got some lunch and went up to Ogden, for the Weber State High School Art show. I had students in both of these exhibitions. The three hundred mile round trip was long but fun, dropped early that night only to wake at 6:00 A.M to do it again.

Today, I managed to get on the bicycle and sprint into town, to check my mail and pick up some provisions. Had an excellent Japanese lunch at "Happy Sushi", I had the "Lunch Box", which consisted of grilled Salmon, tempura fried vegetables, 4 cali rolls, salad, and miso-soup. A three course meal for less than 10 bucks. I love this little place and the owners; the decor makes you feel like you're in another country, which is where I long to be.

Drove another 3 miles to Walgreens, and headed back home. Unfortunately I didn't wear enough layers, and the cold wet incoming storm caused me to stop at the transit center, and take the bus the last 3 miles to my place. Hell, 6 miles is a pretty good ride if your pushing it hard enough and hitting hills. I found that if I don't work out at least three times a week my circulation and mood suffers. I'm a fitness addict for the rest of my life; although I should work out more.

Its nice that Logan City has a nice transit system, I do think they should charge a dollar per ride or something, but the convenience of hopping on a bus instead of driving is always a nice option. The bike carriers on the front of the bus are nice as well.

Came back to my place to write, compute, and practice the Saxophone (See the blog last fall, bragging about my "1938 King Zephyr" Sax). I asked my neighbor to pound on the ceiling if I get too loud, she says she enjoys hearing me practice, but I have no idea why? Let's just say I have much practice to do before performing publicly LOL!

Cheers.

Odds and Ends from the recent trip to San Francisco

2011-03-13T17:38:00.002-06:00

Feb 5th: 2011

Feb 5th, 2011: Hanging out in Saint Francis by the bay for the first time. This is one of the three nicest cities in the U.S. if not the best of them. Boston, New York, and Chicago come to mind, but there is a freedom of the city by the bay that speaks out most forcefully. Sure they pay to live here and deeply they will pay to do it. And the cars, bicycles, skateboards, walkers, and cable cars continue to bring people here and there, "hither and thither", while planes cover the sky and the sailboats and ferry's criss-cross the bay with a certain urgency. People are moving around in San Francisco. They don't sit still because they need to be movin' in order to pay their ridiculous rents. When you spend more than half your income on rent, then you generally have to keep moving around, generating that next months rent. Again and again.
What do these poorer people do when they get old and can no longer hustle to make ends meet?

Hanging out in the bar next to my hotel was like a step back in time. Jack London and Mark Twain fully described this place, and the place's intensity remains as it was 100 or more years ago. People here live for this day. They all seem to be content to be here and making it happen with little thought for the distant future. Perhaps, they will all make it big before they get caught in the government home trap, or in other traps that are far worse. This is truly a city of opportunity. I don't think anyone can really starve here. It's like a dream world that never gets cold, never goes hungry, never will die, and never needs to sleep.

March 12, 2011

2011-03-12T21:36:00.004-07:00

Had a great (near perfect) day.   Woke at 7:30 and went to breakfast at Angies with my old pal Larry, where we discussed beautiful waitresses and fixing bikes and stuff.    Went home and slept off the pancakes, eggs, and the rest.

Noon, I re-awoke.   Made some tea, lounged about, did computer upgrade work, took a well-needed shower, then off to the grocery store, which I haven't seen for at least two months.   I have been avoiding buying groceries, while eating up much of my old dry beans, potatoes, stored meat, and whatever.   Now my cupboards, needed some shopping.    I only spent $85 bucks, but I am stocked for another month at least.    Amazing how cheap one can eat if one cooks for himself.    I only cook for Artistic (and lousy local restaurants),   reasons, but it is quite economical, if one avoids expensive stuff that is usually bad for you.

Drove the scooter around the "Island", the part of Logan City that I live in. (Used to be a real Island between rivers many years ago).    Has some of the coolest places in town to live, but since it's at the bottom off a wet canyon, it gets damned cold. My little 50cc "Derbi" scooter,   scooted my big ass around just fine, and passed 40 MPH at one stretch. This bike was modified, and crazy fast for a 50 cc, and sounds like an angry mosquito. It was about 45 degrees out and refreshingly chilly.

Came home, made a pot roast, which is still simmering in the pot as I write 4 hours later. One should never hurry while cooking! Play some music, have some wine, let the food do it's thing, just keep the heat low and check on things from time to time, tasting each checkup.

After much talking with many loved ones, via phone or facebook, while drinking a bit of wine and surfing old websites, I started getting a bit nostalgic about a few old poems I wrote, now deeply buried on Myspace, which I plan to rescue, re-write and send over here for safe keeping.'

Here's one that I rewrite every couple years:

The World is your Oyster

The World is your Oyster (A.Barnes 2008)

There is magic, on the breath of a cat
There is tragic, in the waste of the soul.
There is a certain cry, that only rusted metal makes;

under the terror of the western wind...

a cry that only few can fathom
a cry that only love can silence.

There are rust-fields and whirl-winds, and my heart has known both of them.

"The world is your oyster" I once was told;
While living thru experiences and sniffing out dark places.

"The world is your oyster" I will tell you now!

It lies in the silent old stories.
It tells of unknown furies.
It basks in the hidden sunlight.
beneath the hell of all glories,

forever embracing itself..

against the falling of the walls.

Ok, that's one. And it was first written in 1995, I did a few more changes here in 2008, and most recently today in 2011.

Here's another written back in Spring 2008...

May 2008:

Observations of the Night:

Copyright A.Barnes 2008

THE NIGHT!.

I love the night,
I love it's quiet, rich, subtle, clarity.
I feel it's deep, all-knowing, beauty, and light.

so still, so perfect...

The depths of peace can only be fathomed at this time.
Late at night, is a journey through ideas and mist,
when every smell and sound has it's own meaning.
The night is a perfect time to wander and think.
The quiet is formless, home of the organic things.

The idea of death, and it's awful glow, often stab the air,
with sirens of panic and angst. Burning and fighting can always be heard...
along the flashing streets midst nights of neon and wire.

This is the pain of ignorance.
This the pain of the daily riot.

But this gorgeous fair night quickly returns to peace...

Night-time, is a lovely black angel, full of good-will, and power.
Her benevolence and humor are known to all who will listen.
Her happiness and joy are felt by those who come clear.
Her sweetness is almost beyond our perception.
Her movement is silence, impossible to hear.

Night! You gorgeous black beauty...Please stop by and speak to me.

Night! You bringer of wonderful dreams...Speak to me!

Night, O' Harbinger of the chance cards of the future...
You cast out the wild dust;
which emanates from the chaos of the day....

All I ask, is that you continue to "speak to me" and never leave,
and I will always hold you dearly!

Lovely night angel, deliver us from this terrible world of daylight,
bring us all hope from this sun's oppressive destruction.
Lead us to all the dark secrets that you possess:
Then wake us up gently,
in the morning's silent creeping waves of light.

And I will miss you deeply when you're gone.
I will dream of your prowess, while crawling through the fiery day.
As I struggle for thirsty existence, I will remember your peaceful beauty,

When my work is done and all this shit is over,
I shall return to you with perfect faith,
and admire your timeless grace.

A. B. 3/2011

Utah

2011-03-11T05:37:00.001-07:00

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Feb 23rd, 2011

2011-02-25T14:23:00.002-07:00

Framing this one!

Took the winners of the annual Utah Statewide Art Show to the Capital, to be honored by the Legislature, Senate, and Governor. Had to meet each entity at different times, so it took most of the day to attend the meetings. The State Capitol building in Salt Lake City is one of the finest, most ornate Capitols, in the country in my opinion. This is mostly a photo blog, since little else was interesting particularly. I would like to mention that only about one out of seven entrants get their artwork exhibited in the show. Only three of my students were allowed to enter their pieces, ALL THREE WERE CHOSEN TO EXHIBIT IN THE STATE SHOW. ONE WON AN AWARD OF MERIT!!! NO OTHER JEWELRY PROGRAM IN THE STATE HAD THREE STUDENTS IN THIS SHOW! Our school had more artworks actually make the show than just about all the other schools in the state. Our school kicks ass in the Art Department. Does any other public school in the nation have 3 full time visual Arts teachers? We're talking Painting, Sculpture, Drawing, Photo, Ceramics, and Jewelry. Band and Choir are not visual arts.

I am proud to work with such excellence, sorry that it will soon come to an end. But it is time to go elsewhere, stagnation and boredom are setting in. I am no longer mentally stimulated by this place, I have few friends, no family, the winter lasts 7 months, and the air pollution is the 7th worst in the country. Time to move on..

February 5th-11th, 2011

2011-02-25T11:42:00.010-07:00

I'm putting this one in a frame!

Hotel Carlton Lobby

View from hotel window

Hall in the Carlton ($70 bucks a night)

Inside the Hyatt

Teachers milling about.

Muir woods..

I spent nearly a week in San Francisco, from the 5th through the 11th of this month; while attending the International School Services conference at the Hyatt (Embarcadero Center).   Stayed in an excellent old hotel on Sutter & Larken known as "The Carlton", which I learned about from the "Trip Advisor" website. This old hotel was built a hundred years ago, yet has been modernized just enough to enjoy it. Every night they had free wine tasting with a jazz playing keyboardist (who also doubles as the concierge), and the hotel guests would actually get to know each other. I love this concept, I was able to meet strangers from all over the world for an hour, while drinking a couple glasses of free California wine! For a lone traveler like myself, getting to meet other guests is half the fun of being at the location. The rooms were small, with thin walls, but for only $70 per night? In San Francisco!    After wine tasting, I'd go the the "Fly Bar" next door and have dinner. The "Fly", is located a few blocks from the worst ghetto in town (Tenderloin), and a few blocks from the top of "Nob Hill" (where one can rent a crappy studio apt. for $2500 or more), so the crowd is as diverse as it gets--great place for people watching.   The excellent, healthy food, and the low prices, tend to attract all kinds of people.   Unlike the wine tasting, I didn't socialize much at the Fly; I would mainly go there and eat, then go back to my room and be dead to the world by 9PM.   The conference wore me out.

The first day I arrived it was 5 PM, and I mainly stayed in my room doing research about the area and making plans for Sunday, which was my only day to play tourist. I did manage to walk a few blocks (straight up a steep fecking hill) do buy a few groceries. This old downtown grocery store, located at the ground floor of an ancient skyscraper, looked like something out of Seinfeld, yet they had everything one could possibly need.   The kind store owner (who looked identical to Saddam Hussein), was very happy that I bought "babaganoush" (eggplant/hummus dip), he told me how to make it at home, and why it is so healthy etc, etc..   Most middle easterners seem to be like this store owner. Went back to my room, feasted on "Babagonoush", drank some strong California wine with a lizard on the label,   made my tourist plans, and hit the sack.   5 years ago, I would have partied to at least midnight, but that was then: now I'm old.

Sunday 2/6 6:AM:   Called the tour company for a 1/2 day trip to see the "Muir Woods",   and have lunch in Salsalito.    We also stopped near the base of Golden Gate bridge for some photo opportunities.   It was nice to see and smell the ocean again!    Muir Woods, is one of the last remaining Coastal Redwood forests in the San Francisco area, and it seemed more interesting to me than the usual touristy sights.   We got to spend an hour walking through the forests of huge trees, ferns, etc... very magical indeed.   Afterwords, we went to the Artist, boating community of Sausalito,   where I spent an hour watching the sailboats do their maneuvers, while dreaming of my own past sailboats and experiences. I would love to live in the bay area someday, but probably not in this life time. After all: The Bay Area ain't Texas is it?

Monday 2/7: Got to the Hyatt at the Embarcadero center at 8:00 AM, after a screaming cab ride through the city. Once I arrived things got faster, I got my I.D. tag,   schedule of events, international school directory, and other stuff.   Sat down and circled each scheduled school presentation that I wanted to see.    Senegal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, were at the top of my list.   Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, were at the bottom.   Lot to consider when looking at international schools.   Some like "The American International School in Shanghai", pay very high salaries, excellent benefits, insurance, and more;   with students from many different countries:   others are not so great. For example: One of the schools in Bahrain, where they payed little, offered mediocre benefits, were owned by Bahraini nationals,   who were known to treat their staff like cattle; all students were spoiled kids from the host country and could do whatever they want. If the teacher doesn't like it, out goes the teacher. There are many bad international schools like this. In order to choose the best schools for teachers I subscribed to a site called "International School Review", or I.S.R.,   to get the low down on these places from the reviews of past teachers and staff.   Hours of research were involved, but I can discuss the conditions for teachers in at least 50 schools from all over the world. Really made my scheduling easier, but did cause me to cross many of the schools in attendance, off the list completely. Gratefully so!

Tuesday was the big day. From 8 AM till 10 AM all the schools had interview sign-up tables in a large hall, and over 1000 teacher candidates were unleashed upon the scores of tables where the recruiters sat, each teacher trying to score as many interviews as possible.   They would only give you a real interview if you met all their criteria, so they asked a few preliminary questions.   I went from school to school, often waiting in lines, only to hear, "Do you have any International Baccalaureate, experience"? My reply of "I would be happy to take the three day course this summer", didn't impress many, so most of the History job opportunities, blew by me like yesterdays blizzard.   After two hours, I did manage to schedule 4 interviews.   I was a little bummed about it, until I talked to a few other teachers who only landed one or two.   Turns out that 4 interviews was pretty good, but not great.   The rest of the day, I interviewed with 4 different schools, 2 in Shanghai, 1 in Kuwait, and 1 in Senegal.   I didn't like the Kuwait idea at first, but I did want the interview experience, and I did like the director of the school.   I got home way after wine tasting time, so I had a beer at "The Fly", ate a bowl full of greens and hit the bed by 8 PM.   In S.F. many restaurants serve "greens" instead of french fries. I loved it!

Wednesday was easy but important, because we were all hoping to hear good news from our interviews. Much of the morning was sitting around the lobby, talking to other teachers, and hearing the cheers of the ones who were offered jobs. Seems that about half the candidates did get hired. One older guy said that he had been to three other job fairs before he got his new job, and he had international experience.   I was assured by the Superintendent of the best school in Shanghai, that I was the man for his Art position during the interview, but if one of his recruiters found a math teacher with an Art teacher spouse, I would be squeezed out. This is exactly what happened.    I didn't want the Kuwait job, I turned down an interview with an Egyptian school. So I resigned myself to the fact that I wouldn't have a high pressure job at an international school this year (of course, all the schools have access to my resume and transcripts, so I could hear back from places, as other teachers leave the schools).    I really want a lower stress job like University teaching in China, where you only have 14 class hours a week, but still get free housing and a small paycheck. To get those jobs you have to be in China to apply, I plan to leave in early June.   Many people without teaching certification and Masters degrees teach in Chinese Universities, the jobs are plentiful and few qualified teachers want to work for low pay.   I just want 3 or 4 day weekends so I can write, travel, and do research of whatever interests me at the time... History probably.

Since I had no call backs or interviews, I didn't go to the Hyatt on Thursday morning, just had a nice breakfast at the Carlton Hotel, walked to the Arab store to buy some tobacco. Took out the big camera and did a bit of street photography, then went back to my hotel and waited for the shuttle to whisk me off to the airport and back to the land of ice and snow.   It was one hell of a nice trip and I plan to hit SF again someday, when I have a bit more time to see things.   I did enjoy the heck out of criss-crossing the city each day, running to appointments; while meeting other teachers who work in fascinating places, meeting International school directors, hotel personnel, cabbies, street-bums, shop keepers, tourists and locals.

San Francisco is one of the most interesting places I've ever had the chance to visit.    SEE MY NEW POST WRITTEN MARCH 13TH FOR MORE ABOUT THE SF. TRIP.

Texas weather!

2011-02-17T13:17:00.003-07:00

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PBR inSf.

2011-02-09T07:31:00.003-07:00

Embarcadero center SF
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January 27th, 2011

2011-01-27T09:01:00.000-07:00

Sorry folks its been awhile.   I just noticed that seven people a day are checking out my site.   Makes me want to get off my bum and write some more. Feel that I owe it to the people somehow, plus I do love to write. Just been working like a slave and not much else.

I decided to look for an international school teaching job (you know the ones that give you free housing, don't tax you, but still pay the same or more than I make now).....    I'm flying to California to attend a big 5 day job fair and hopefully will land one of these positions.   I love Utah and all, but I'm not from here and there are so many places I got to see (Free Bird lyrics?)....   I really want to work somewhere in the orient but I applied for jobs in Europe, Africa, and South America as well. Mexico would be ideal, with its proximity to Texas, but even some of my Mexican friends fear going down there and getting kidnapped by the drug cartels.   I will teach in Columbia but not Mexico this year.

I hope to save enough money to buy a few acres of land for a home base before I finally retire to RV living,
as much as I like my tiny truck camper, I don't consider it a permanent home. A larger camper could be a permahome for some, but at 6' 3" and 300 pounds I would like a little more space. Maybe a 22 ft travel trailer for living and the camper for camping.

.

my place.

2011-01-07T19:50:00.001-07:00

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view from desk

2010-10-03T09:07:00.001-06:00

new place on canyon road
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September 26th, 2010

2010-09-26T17:32:00.001-06:00

September 24th, 2010: Time to write! I finally figured out how to fix my font sizes on the Apple. I really believe that the microsoft system is much more user friendly. But I plan to stick with the Apple--for only one reason--I don't have to play doctor 24/7 and try to diagnose and treat all the viral issues that Microsoft has. No more "Blue Screen o' Death", No more losing all pics and docs! No more F'ing bullcrap idiot lieing messages that tell you what to do. SCREW MICROSOFT AND THE THIEF THAT STARTED IT ALL!!! Consider the founder of Apple (Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniac): These two were buddies with Bill Gates back in the 70's, a time when all the Northeast coast computer nerds were freely sharing information. Bill didn't partake in sharing, as a matter of fact, he stole quite a few programs including windows. Gates pissed so many programmers off that many took to writing viruses. Avoiding all that drama, I will continue using Apple computers.

Today I had parent conferences in the morning and met a number of good parents. Most were here for their students who had 99 percent averages, parents of the kids that work hard and do all their assignments. The lazy parents (like myself), were too lazy to show, and many of their children are too lazy to do their classwork. The apple doesnt fall far from the tree. I do find the LDS parents to be very supportive and considerate for the most part.

Got off at noon and found a nice three bedroom duplex for rent, my son is tired of spending 1/2 his income for an apartment, and his best friend can't afford to rent a place at all. So I'm renting this new place and we should all save a pile of money.

Went on my first flyfishing trip in 30 years, even then I didn't know what I was doing. My ex-rockstar friend "Ricky", took me on an unwanted 1/2 mile hike to a good fishing spot on the Logan River. "You want me to wade in that?", I asked as Ricky put on his waders and jumped waist deep in the flowing mountain stream. Having no waders, I grudgingly stepped into some of the coldest water I've ever experienced. Once the water was up to my ass I was in total pain, but proceeded to fish while keeping the bitching down to a minumum. Ricky was an excellent coach and within 5 minutes the water exploded around my fly, and I fought my first cutthroat trout while Ricky shouted advise (some good, some not needed). Ricky seemed more excited about me catching the fish than I did. I carried the fish up the river bank, knocked it on the head to prevent further suffering, then changed into some dry clothes, allowing Ricky a chance to catch himself a fish. The Cutthroat trout is a most beautiful fish, with a splash of intense crimson across the neck area, they are the native species here and are finally making a healthy comeback after the introduced brown and rainbow trout were introduced. I hated killing this one, but I wanted something to eat that night, and maybe fresh trout was better than the store bought crap I've previously cooked. To me trout always tasted like mud.

Ricky was still amazed at my "beginners luck", but I being a long time fisherman, told him that "luck" had little to do with the fact that I aimed the fly under an overhanging branch, where I knew there was liable to be a fish, hiding in the shade during the hot afternoon. Ricky continued to fish for another 20 minutes, while I dryed out and watched his fly fishing technique. He finally caught a small brown trout, and we headed back on the rocky trail, and finally made it to the car. Had I known we were going to be hiking a mile I would have brought water and a decent pair of hiking shoes. Instead I'm feeling every sharp pebble under the soles of my moccasin-like topsiders, which are shoes designed for climbing on sailboats. The shoes did come in handy when ascending a steepish narrow trail, and gripped far better than my hiking boots could. Once back in Logan, I cleaned the fish, made some rice, and baked the fish after an application of butter, dill, lemon ect.... After the fish was baking, I pulled off a chunck, choked it down, and the familier taste of mud permeated my senses. Next time I plan to fry the damn thing and cover it which every spice in my cabinet in order to give it some kind of flavor. Trout really are not good eating fish when compared to salmon, crappie, perch, and nearly every fish I could name. Yet trout look so beautiful and colorful, makes one hungry just to look at them. I plan to look at most of my future trout before letting them go. I'm sure the fish will like that much better than the alternative.

While enjoying my trout dinner (the rice was great), I listened to my high school students beat the tar out of a rival team. I knew and have taught jewelry to, most of the varsity football team, many have been my best artists. I guess the tough disipline involved in playing football is why the players can excel in the tedious refining processes which making jewelry also requires. Jewelry and Football? Who would have imagined...

Saturday morning I went to Angies (where the locals eat) for breakfast. The local waitresses, crowded around me asking questions about my unique way of eating pancakes, where I carve a caldera in the center and pour the syrup into it, then slowly eat away at the edges until the hole is nearly as wide as the pancake. Usually I leave the last 1/4 inch of pancake so it looks like a bicycle wheel, which I do more from being full, than to leave a signature. I bet the dishwashers wonder about the phenomenon of my pancake remains.

Had a fun afternoon driving around on my bike looking for another place, since the landlord that promised me a place yesterday reneged on the deal. I guess her husband (a Bishop), forbid her to rent it to us. Who knows? I found another place with cool 60's archetecture, right out of the Brady Bunch house, with a few Frank Lloyd Wright elements. This landlord is a sweet elderly lady who will probably become a good friend and neighbor. Having her next door should keep my room mates whipped into shape!
I will miss the washer/dryer and other appliances that the other house had, but this house has a cool factor, and that matters most to me.

At 9:00 PM I took a taxi to the Fraternal Order of Eagles lodge, to watch my friend Kelly's band play for their pirate party (yar!).the F.O.E. lodge was an anacronism, right from the drinking places from the 1950's. They even had a regulation horseshoe pit in the spacious back yard of the lodge. The crowd was about halfway between the Masons and the Hells Angels, all were drinking together in the cause of public good. The F.O.E. included several famous people including 7 presidents, many baseball players, boxers, governors, etc... Mothers Day was initiated by the Eagles as well. The drink prices are cheap, and there was a much higher quality of ladies, than the other three drinking spots in town. I get two more complimentary visits before I have to commit to joining. I might just join. The Eagles are a good group of folks, and they like to party!

I stayed till closeing, then hung out with the band and friends before coming home around 3 AM. I was still pretty sober, so I cooked up some Indonesian marinated quail and served it over rice. Unlike the previous nights trout, the quail was excellent. I then went to bed and awoke at 2 PM Sunday, feeling like a million dollars. Met which my new land lord, and hopefully I will sign the least and pay for my new place on Monday. She wants to met my son and his friend first. Hopefully we will get this place.

view from fire escape

2010-09-07T17:12:00.001-06:00

--Sent from my Virgin Mobile!

--
Sent from my Virgin Mobile

September 3rd thru 5th, 2010

2010-09-02T21:36:00.010-06:00

(internet pic my sax is brass not silver)

Sept 3rd and 4th: Friday was a half day, which was nice after a grueling third week of school. By the third week; I get the hang of the long hours and the early mornings, which made this week the best one so far. Most of my students know me and love me, and I feel the same. No major issues this year, looks to be smoother than last year due to my increased organization and stricter class expectations. Next semester I will be teaching two "Foundations of Art" classes as well as Jewelry one and two, and Sculpture One and two. It will be more hectic than this semester. Its all good in the job department.

I came home in the afternoon and caught up on some well needed sleep, then went to my classroom in the evening in order to practice the sax! Damn I am glad to have the opportunity to play the sax again. Later that night I hung out with my son and drank a bottle of "Mount Gay" rum together. Mount Gay is made in the Barbados Islands and is my favorite rum. They have been making it since 1703. Must have been nice when a happy word like "Gay" didn't have such other connotations. I resent the hijacking of happy words to describe, peoples personal sexual habits. But I do love "Mount Gay" Barbados rum. Its best with sprite and lemon juice in my opinion.

The morning was painful, since rum is not as clean as gin and has more impurities like acetone and the like. Or maybe mixing rum with the occasional glass of cheap paisono Grappa wine, messed things up.

I did get up at 8 and ride the bike around this morning, but I came back home and slept for a few more hours before leaving again at 6 PM. I went on another bike ride, and this time I felt alive again. Went home later to call some friends, and make some "Sag Aloo" or "Panak Aloo", which means Spinach and potatoes depending on which Indian dialect you are listening to. Same cooking procedure and spice combo as the previously describe "Bhindi Marsala". Be sure to boil the chopped potatoes first before adding them to the stew. Just make the Bhindi Marsala recipe again and use finely chopped spinach instead of okra, and potatoes rather than tomatoes. This dish is a bit more bitter but less acidic. I might try adding a small dose of sweetener next time.. I did put a table spoon of butter with the mixture, since "Ghee" adds more flavor than vegatable oil does. I stiill put in quite a bit of canola oil in this concoction.

Way better than the Bhindi in my book. I did make the changes I described earlier and they worked out well. I did hit it too hard with the cumin, but no big deal. This meal was nearly the same quality as the restaurant. Just a couple small changes and I will have this down. Might even start an Indian restaurant someday, in a place like Wyoming or Montana. Charge way less for the vegetarian versions and might even convince a few rednecks that not all meals require a pound of meat. I am down to a mere two or three ounces of meat per day, after having no meat at all. This is not planned, but is a natural result of eating too much indian fare. Meat should be a condiment and not a main course. Unless you happen to be a Tiger, Wolf, or Alligator. Humans, Chimps, and Pigs, are Omnivorous, not Carnivorous. We all share many other similarities as well!

Put my new 8 gallon (Bio-orb) fish tank together. right now its running fishless until tomorrow, when I plan to add a couple fish just to cycle the tank. New tanks need a month with just a few fish in order to grown the benificial bacteria which is known to breakdown the wastes and toxins, that reside in the fishes urine and feces. The benificial bacteria, will turn the shit into clean water. After a month enough of the good bacteria will be present in the under gravel filter, and I will be able to fully stock the globe with fish.

Looks like only about 10 small fish can live in a tank this size, but some of the choices are beautiful small fish, such as guppies, swordtails, platy's ect... I plan to keep mainly guppies, but will throw in a few inverts, such as crabs, mussels, shrimp, as well as anything else that is interesting. The big 8 gallon globe, alone is pretty to look at without fish. With the high tech halogen lighting, it makes my old hotel living room complete.

Woke up on Sunday at 7 AM in order to call Larry and see if he was up for breakfast. Larry said "sure, but lets make it at 9", which allowed me another 2 hours sleep. Larry and I like to sit at the diner bar, since he has a penchant as flirting with all the pretty waitresses. They all love Larry, maybe since he equally flirts with the not so pretty girls in the same manner. Had the double barrel and many cups of coffee.

Went to Walmart to buy three zebra danios (minnows from India), and a fiddler crab. These fish will cycle the tank and once the beneficial bacteria are established, I can add the guppies. On my way out of Wal-mart the bell goes off and I get some semi-retarded old lady asking for my reciept. I bluntly told her that I'm not a thief , she seemed amazed that I would be offended by being stopped at the door like a common criminal. I told her I lost the receipt but I would find it if she gave me 5 dollars for bothering and embarrassing me. She didn't know what to do so I took pity on her and pulled the reciept out of my pocket. She quickly let me leave. Funny, i could have actually had stolen merchandize in my pockets, but she was only required to check my bag and receipt. Walmart treats their customers almost as bad as their employees. I dislike the place, but they do have the lowest prices so I go there when I have no choice.

After adding my fish to the tank, I grabbed my computer and headed to the coffee shop for a few hours of uploading blogs, drinking fine coffee, and listening to some old hippy playing the Spanish guitar. This small town has far more local culture than the huge city where I come from. All within bicycle distance. I will leave here someday, out of boredom, but I doubt many towns are as nice as Logan, Utah.

September 2nd, 2010

2010-09-02T21:36:00.005-06:00

Another backyard cellphone pic.

-September 2nd, 2010:

Pretty tired today, but a stout cup of "Highland Grogg" coffee before leaving the house, brought me to life at 6 AM. I started waking earlier, so as not to be in such an insane rush in the mornings. It was a good day overall, but I was a bit cranky and my veteran students expressed their discontent.

The 1936 "King Zephyr" Tenor sax arrived today! It is an early model "Zephyr", which is basically a rebadged "King Voll True", which is a great jazz horn, but with serious high end intonation issues and a few hard to reach keys, However, The horn is absolutely beautiful! The Art Deco engravings surrounding the "KING ZEPHYR" logo is a site to behold. Most sax engraving is a bit flowery, but the early Zephyrs were pure, in your face, Art Deco. The Saxophone equivilent of the Chrysler building! I love the looks of these horns. I went to the local horn shoppe and bought a used mouthpiece, ligature, and reeds. The owner gave me the lig and mouthpiece for free, since I promised to bring the sax in for a tune-up. I also told him about my series 3 "Zephyr" alto, which needs a complete repad, and he will get that business as well.

I got home, looked and my tenor, which is as beautiful as a Mercedes S-500 and more beautiful than any women I know, and put her components together, being careful to get the reed good and wet before attempting to play. A few of the pads leak a bit, and some of the action is a bit slow, but once I started up and down two octaves of the "C Major" scale, I could tell I have a winner. The Zephyrs were the best sounding Jazz saxes that were ever made. They can scream loudly, then whisper softly to where they can barely be heard. This is the best sounding Tenor I have ever played. Couldn't make much noise in my apartment, so I headed to the school at 7 PM, in order to play in my classroom. Once there, I downloaded, some jazz warmup scales, and a Coletrane song "Giant Steps", which I plan to work on this weekend, up in the mountains where no one will laugh at me. I still play pretty good after 30 years out of high school, and my understanding of how to play is much more evolved than when I only played marching tunes. Despite the intonation issues, I bought a world class professional, beautiful jazz horn for only $500. A series 3 Zephyr tenor (1942) would be worth over 3 grand in the same condition. And the series one's (1936) models have much more interesting engraving in my opinion. Once tuned up, it will be worth well over $1200 but I will not sell her, unless I get good enough to require a more perfect sounding instrument. Even if that should happen, I will mount her on the wall for she is genuinely a fine example of American Art at its best.

I also downloaded Bachs' "Tocatta and Fugue", and Beethovens "Moonlight Sonata", for the organ. I know I can play the latter, but I will have fun attempting the former, which is 20 pages long. I will try to play the intro first, and if thats as far as I get, that will be fine with me. Just need some scary sounding Halloween organ music to impress my neighbors with. Under no circumstances will I attempt to impress anyone with my sax playing for at least 5 or 6 months!

Came back to the house around 8:30, drank my only beer of the day and watched the glorious sunset over the tall, steep, Wellsville range (the "Wellies" as Logan calls them), from the fire escape (AKA: My back yard). Afterwards, I returned to the apartmentand in order to study the Art of making "Bhindi Marsala", also known as Okra and Tomatoes Hindu style.

"Bhindi Masala for one"

1/2 lb chopped frozen okra

one small/medium tomato

four green onions or one small/medium round onion

a couple cloves of Garlic (I didn't do this but missed out)

1/8 cup olive oil or canola (if you use olive oil, be mindful of the low burning temps)

1/4 tsp or less of salt (sorry mom, this dish needs some)

2 tablespoons of hot curry powder

1 tablespoon of marsala powder

(some recipes add a tsp of baking soda to counter-act the acidity of the tomatoes, I wish I had done that too)

put oil in good heavy bottomed sauce pan.

Fry onions and garlic until translucent

Lower temp to medium

Add curry powder and other spices

stir till the gravy thicksns (two minutes at the most)

add okra, stir gently so as not to smash it and make it more slimy

once its bubble for a couple minutes, turn heat to low, and cover for 20 minutes, or until you think your okra is tender but not too squishy.

Serve with rice or naan bread. I somtimes substitute a tortilla but its not the same. Much cheaper though. I didn't make rice tonight, but used some frozen Naan that was kickin around the fridge. Rice would have been better, since this dish is quite acidic and pungeant!

Overall, it was pretty good for a first timer. Not as good as in the restaurant across the street, but close. Next time it shall be better with the inclusion of garlic and soda. I suggest you research different recipes, especially regarding the spice mix.

Next time I plan to make my own Marsala and Curry powders using my mortar and pestle. Packaged curry is just not the same.

Cheers,

Allen

September 1st, 2010

2010-09-02T16:29:00.003-06:00

Yes that is my foot in the picture.

View from my backyard!

September 1st, 2010:

Had another Swell day at school, happy with the present crop of kids I have. Maybe I'm just getting better at whipping them into shape, but this seems to be a good crew. Came home and dozed for about an hour then went for a drive on the Kawasaki 1000. Stopped in to see my Hindu friends at the only Indian ran conveinience store in town, and bought the ingredients for "Bhindi Marsala", which is okra and tomatoes, cooked with the usual Marsala group of spices. "Marsala", is pretty much a Northern Indian curry powder, that contains some weird shit like "powdered mango". I plan to cook all this on Thursday or Friday, depending on the mood. I also stopped by "Pets Mart", to get a new powerhead, so the right side of my classroom, marine aquarium would get some badly needed circulation. I only have one small fish and a handful of crabs and snails in a 55 gallon marine aquarium, so its time to get the bastard back in shape. Turns out that our local "Petsmart", is about to be renovated so they had high priced objects marked down to nearly 90 percent off for some things!

I have always wanted one of the new high tech smalled acryilic aquariums, and they had the 4 gallon "Biorbs" FIFTEEN DOLLARS, marked dowyn from 85 dollars. The tank is a beautiful globe, with built-in power filter, high tech ceramic bio-gravel, and a halogen light. One could make a small coral reef from these fine components. I bought one. An hour later, I cam back to buy another one for my son, but they were gone. So I bought a larger 8 gallon "BiOrb", which costs $140 dollars, and I paid $24 dollars for it! I plan to make it into a coral reef, which I have never attempted before. I have kept many saltwater ("fish only" tanks, but never a reef. Coral needs strict water quality, and even periods of sun light, to moon light. This tank has most of the stuff to achieve, building a small coral reef system. Of course with salt water, I can only keep one tiny fish in it, but the corals will be beautiful. I need a hobby, and this will be a cheap one. (sept 4th: Had a change of plans an d decided on a guppy tank. Way cheaper and I want to breed some beautiful guppies. I can also put some frogs, crabs, and snails in the tank. Plus, Guppies are quite cold hardy and salt loving. My crabs and guppies will enjoy the same environment. I'll be growing a few plants in there as well.. The reef tank will be a later project once I'm not so busy.

I do have another 55 gallon, bowfront salt water tank in my storage, but it was too big of a hassle to keep running, so I can now sell it to someone who wants it.

Went to dinner at "Le Nonne", considered to be the finest restaurant in town. I've never been, its way to pretentious for this old guy, but since the bass player of the jazz group is an aquaintance of mine (I gave his family my llama), and a fellow teacher, I decided to stop in. I told the snotty acting "greeter", that I was here to watch the band. She looks at me and told me that "You will have to buy dinner to watch the band" WTF? I was pissed. I didn't react well to being talked down to by some snotty college girl on her first job. I asked "Do I look like I'm too poor to buy dinner?" I was dressed well enough, wearing a silk jacket and everything, but since I came alone, and mentioned the "band", she in all her ancient wisdom decided me to be a pauper of sorts. I realize I over-reacted, but dumb people have to learn who their talking down to. Directed to the "table that most couples do not want", right in front, was actually the optimum table for me. Although my friend wasn't playing tonight, I got to chill to some classy, cool. The world class Italian meal, failed in comparison to cheaper Italian places, like "Napolies" in Allen, Texas, or even in my own kitchen. I think the chef there was mainly up on making Gnocci (Northern Italian Potato Dumplings) and (Fagioli....which is Bean soup), his "Penne Bolognese" was ok, but wasn't anything, me or my father couldn't have improved upon. The wine was 1/4th of a glass for the card board stuff (5.99 per), so after the two partial glasses of wine, and the pasta, I left. I did spend an hour listening to the incredible music of a female jazz keyboardist, and a drummer and bass player. My aquaintance wasn't there, but I enjoyed their music just the same. Their rendition of "The girl from Ipanema", was touching as were many other songs that I was fortunate enough to listen to. I would have stayed there for another hour but the pretentiousness of the restaurant, and the speed of which the waitress gave me the check, made me feel a bit unwelcome. I plan to go back next week and be cheap and only order appetizers, while ordering a cola, which will make a fine vehicle for a few shots of flask rum.

The waitress, who was warned about my surliness from the greeter, was quite professional, did her job well without snottieness, and won a 35% tip for her courtesy. I will be back,

hopefully I can talk Logan or Larry to join me.

Came home around 9:30 and studied more of the works of "Dashiel Hammet", writer of the "Maltese Falcon". Now I'm reading his first novel entitled "Red Harvest", which is a good read. I am totally in love with the slang of the 1920's, and find it quite interesting. Hammet, apparantly (correct me if I'm wrong), only wrote 5 little novels all between the years of 1929 and 1934. He was born in 94 and died in 1961. What makes writers how they are? Some like Louis Lamour or Stephen King seem to write all the time, while others, only write a few and only then for a little while. Fitzgerald, Hemingway and Steinbeck, didn't really write that much come to think of it by comparison. Hammets' life works only consist of some 700 pages total, by far, the least amount of total pages for the group. But DAMN, he was a good writer. Maybe the star that shines the brightest, burns out the fastest? Seems to be the case here... Too bad he couldn't have gotten away from the detective theme. His writing style was the best in his genre, if not all genre's. Hammett, didn't mess around with character discriptions, yet his characters where fully described in such a little space of text. He didn't waste words. His 120 page novels, had as much info or more as the Epic novelists. I also read all Grishams works, but Hammett could easily tell all those stores, using 120 pages as Grisham does in 700. Funny, it tends to take me about the same amount of time to read a short Hammett novel as it takes to read of of Grishams' 700 pagers. Nothing against Grisham, or the other novelists. Maybe in the days of the pen and ancient typewriters caused writers to economize or something. Steirnbecks novels were short as well for the most part. East of Eden is pretty long, but sucks compared to many of his shorter works. Works like "Tortilla Flat" and "Cannery Row" seem to radiate from Steinbecks heart, where "The Red Pony" and "East of Eden", seemed like Steinbeck was trying to be a popular writer when he wrote those. "The Grapes of Wrath" was more of a news report than a novel. But a damned good read nonetheless. All of the above are probably turning in their graves at having a very novice writer analyze their works. And to the souls of the previously discussed, I do humbly apologize for misinterpreting your writings, but all criticizm is opinion, and hopefully I presented them as a view from my perspective and not in the absolute. Did I just stay up reading and writing to 2 AM again? Work should be painful in the morning. Maybe this winter when its dark around 5 PM, I will be able adjust my schedule to get to sleep earlier. Nite all.

August 30, 2010

2010-08-17T18:23:00.010-06:00

August, 30th, 2010:

After staying up till 3AM, writing, reading, talking on the phone...etc. I woke around 10 AM, and felt a need for strong coffee and exercise. I phoned my old buddy "Larry", the 62 year old ex-Mormon apartment maintenance man, and Prince of a human being. I have previously described Larry, he is a semi-reformed Alcoholic, and one of the best people that I know. We used to hang out at the same pool hall, but I don't do the bar/pool hall scene anymore. We did manage to get together for breakfast at "Angies" this morning, and had the "double barrel", which consisted of two eggs, two sausage patties, and two bacon, and the gigantic two pancake, complete with three ramekins or syrup. I like to carve a big hole in the center of the pancakes, pull out the core, then: fill the hole with all the syrup and just let it sit for awhile, since I eat the sausage and eggs first. Once that's done, I pick around the borders of the "caldera", until new real-estate gets marinated. By and by the entire circle of the center of the pancake (Aka "the caldera"!), gets eaten away, the remains are deliberately left on the plate, so as not to appear as a hungry pauper! Actually, I eat very little, so I can't handle a giant breakfast such as this.

While going to the grocery store a few hours later after making a shopping list, which I generally do not do. The ingredients of "Falafel" equal, the object of my main destination.

So at the store I bought a hand mixer which doubles as a blender. I also bought "Falafel" spices, and raw ingredient mixtures. Stuff for the accompany Falalfel sauce was purchased as well. I do tend to spend a couple hours when shopping at a grocery store, and slowly check out all that the store has to offer. Most people are in and on=ut in fifteen minutes, but I read every price, every mark down, I compare each and every product I require, then decide whether the quality is worth the quantity. Grocery shopping is one of the few social activities I have and I find it quite enjoyable. Today I bought 4 large sacks of stuff and had a heck of a time fitting them all on my bicycle. Thank god for that bungee cord I brought along, it managed to hold two heavy paper bags of groceries onto a little book rack, while the other two got stuffed in the pannier bags. I did have to tie the blender and a loaf of bread to the handle bars, I could actually feel the spokes groan as I slowly headed home with a 400 pound load on my bike (including me). People were staring and grinning when I passed by, it was very comical.

I tried making "Falafel",. using the ready made mix (not recommended). Falafel, is used all over the middle East between Greece and Persia, and down to 'Egypt. Falafel is truly an Egyptian dish which consists of either fava or garbanzo beans, mixed with onion and spices then rolled up into little balls and fried. Consider the "Scarab" or "dung beetle". The sacred Scarab was revered in ancient Egypt because they turn piles of human and animal shit into spherical objects which resembled other planets, which were also round and spherical. The Egyptians considered the Scarab to be the creators of the earth! Falafel and the other bean recipes, enabled the Ancient Egyptians to get enough protein power to move all the large stones, obelisks, sculptures, and pyramids. Today, Egypt doesn't stand a chance at these endeavors. Think! 5 thousand years of a huge assed civilization, now unable to even remove trash from the streets. Egypt was built on beans. Fava, Garbonzo, Lentils, peas, kidney, navy, you name it, Beans were the king of Egypt, and at least 4000 year of our ancient history. I am a firm believer in the power of beans and attribute thousands of years of Egyptian dominance, a result of bean cultivation. Ancient Egypt began as a few farming communities which depended on the Nile river for everything, initially didn't built grand temples and obelisks, nor did they build the great pyramids, Once the agriculture became successful , the rulers could expect the citizens to live off little or nothing, Beans, way cheaper than meat, became the fuel of the ancients, Meat protein became an elite sort of thing, the rest of the people ate little meat, and continued to tend the reliable fields which coincided with the floods of the Nile River for thousands of years, With food costs down to pennies a day, the Pharaohs could focus on more important things such as tomb construction.

While cooking up the packaged Falafel and the cucumber/yogurt dressing, I was listening to old Garrison Kieler on the radio, who said something I had to stop and think about. He said something to the effect of "I used to think that Faith, was doing what is expected, following the traditional guidelines in order to gain faith, that one has done well. The older I get I realize that that isn't "Faith" at all. Faith is having the courage that you will succeed no matter what others think or say about the path you have chosen. Faith is the confidence when you know that everything will be alright no matter how bad it looks to the outsider". This made me worry less about my children who all seem to have faith in their futures despite what I may think.

August 28th, 2010

2010-08-17T18:23:00.009-06:00

August 28th, 2010:

Haven't written in a week, In fact, I am now a busy man whose creativity tends to get sucked out during the week. But don't worry, although I live during the week close to death by giving my all to some system, I am alive with my two or three paltry days off I get on the weekends. This Weekend is a 3 dayer, but most are not. Usually I recover from the energy spent during the week by sleeping about 18 hours on a Saturday, but this weekend I hope not to waste it like that. Even while sitting most of the day, the stress of talking to hundreds of people per day tends to beat me down. I do however love my job, it is not meaningless whatsoever. Boring at times, stressful, frustrating, and many other adjectives, but overall it is quite rewarding. I love my students, and many of my co-workers....

My new place is quite relaxing since I'm finally able to read at home, while enjoying an excellent view for once. My first year here, I lived in a basement with large women running around above me, and very poisonous "Hobo Spiders" (seriously, google it), crawling across my feet late at night, and some toxic assed mold, which grew freely in the cement wet closet, and caused much sickness during the winter. We loved the house and its inhabitants (upbeat college Mormons mostly), but we had to go after 18 months. During the winter of our second year, we upgraded to renting an old house near the school I work at. But the landlord decided to sell after we were there for another 18 months, and since Logan is a grown man on his own, I decided to downgrade, and live in a smallish, simple loft, above a sporting goods store, that used to be the biggest hotel in this town. I got one of the best suites, the owner calls it "The Penthouse Suite", and most of the other rooms are lacking in style and size. I do pay the most, at $450 per month but its not to costly for me, nor would it be for one with a full time job making the minimum. Most around here collect disability or social security. The neighbors are mostly quiet and nice folks, The few criminals and insane people do not bother me, in fact I get respect from them since I am a teacher afterall. Even criminals respect a few of their teachers from the past. So far my motorcycle, truck, and bicycle have dwelt in the back parking lot and no criminal has messed with any of them. Many of the other bikes around here have been stripped to the bone. Not mine!

I do love living here, Tonight, I took the screen off my middle window (since we have no bugs up here, too much pollution downtown), so I could take some good photos of the street view from my happy perch. The college kids were invading downtown, and wearing their "Aggie Shirts", which is the name of the USU football team, the college kids were having a ball, getting free ice cream and food samples from all the restaurants down here, The traffic was heavy and their socializing filled the downtown area with their glee. I was merely a witness, and stayed up here where it was safe, and failed to join them. I would rather drink my Gin and Tonics, then eat their ice cream I guess. I wish that wasn't true but it is. Ice cream is meaningless to me for the most part. Reminds me of a line by the author Mario Puzo, who wrote "The Godfather". He writes in his books about how the Hollywood stars, and movie people tend to become "desensetized" after many year of their debaucheries. I see these kids filled with extascy from gorging on ice cream but remembering that I was boozing it up when I was in those college years. No regrets, but habits are a damned shame, Judgemental and belief in the ridiculous are much worse habits from my standpoint. The few ice cream lovers that avoid that pitfall are truly golden people, and i am honored to know a few of them.

Took my 8 year old Raleigh bike in for a tune up for the first time since I bought it new. This bike has been nothing but reliable and tough for all these years, This bike has been used and abused, and has enjoyed a few minor crashes, but just keeps on providing me with cheap, realiable transportation. If I had to choose between my motorcyles and truck for only one form of transportation, the bike would win hands down. I decided to take it to the bike shop down below my place to have it "tuned up", since she has been feeling abit out of adjustment for the past few years, and boy it made a huge difference. The shifting and brakes are now spotless, I am now going to put on some metal studded tires, so I can drive her to school in the winter time. School is a mere three blocks away. so no need to start the truck, shovel the snow, and melt the windshield every day! I got a good bicycle, she starts every time and is decent transportation on all but the snowiest days.

August 21st, 2010

2010-08-17T18:23:00.006-06:00

August 21, 2010: Saturday.

Been quite a week as the first week of school usually is no surprises here. Monday, I had to find room to store the three motorcycles which spent the summer in my classroom. Apparently the fire Marshall didn't approve of them since they do contain enough gas to cause quite a fire. So I decided to dig the old 75 Dodge powerwagon "Hellbitch 1" out of my storage shed. Since all the stuff from my old house was stacked up inside the truck, in the truck, on the truck, and on top of the truck, we first had to haul a bunch of junk of of the shed, in order to get enough room to back the truck out. The truck had a dead battery so I had to use a tow strap to pull her out while my trusty assistant "Luiz", did the steering; the near flat back tire made this harder than it should have.

Once we got the "Hell Bitch" illegally parked next to the shed, we managed to stack up all the boxes to the point where 4 motorcycles were able to fit inside the space. I called the local scrap yards and was quoted "$150 if you can get the truck here, $50 if we have to tow it". But since no one wanted to tow it today, I called a scrap yard about 30 miles away, in the middle of the desert, in "Garland Utah".. Haha, now I can only imagine what type of "Garland", one could make out of sagebrush and rattlesnakes, but that is the name of the remote out post. The owner wasn't the brightest candle on the cake either. Not only did he drop all his "t's" (Mou-An, rather than "Mountain", he couldn't seem to get his math right. Since he had no idea what a basic 70's truck weighed, I told him that the places in Logan offered $100 if they towed the truck $150 if I brought it in. So he shrewdly proclaims "Aiiiggght, I will only give you $140 for the truck. (an amount $40 more than the locals were offering) He promises to pick the truck up around 5:30, so Luiz and I settled down for a game of chess for an hour. Luiz learned how to play chess last spring, now he beats me much of the time. Its fun since we talk trash and talk like pissed off ghetto pimps while we play, you really have to be there to understand the humor I'm speaking of, but if you were outside of the door, you would swear that two ghetto pimps were rhyming on each other with guns drawn. We also insult each others "Mamas", in the grand Southern tradition. Good times.... Luiz finished school last year, and remains a trusted friend of mine. Although he helped me for 4 hours he refused to take my money. He remembered how I used to front him free silver, since he had no way to pay for it. These Mexican folks make good friends to have, we are fortunate to have some way up here in the great white north!

yet I digress..

So the Garlander fails to show or call at the allotted time. I call him up and he says he can't seem to find enough cash for the truck. I asked him "How much cash ya got"? trying to sound as ignorant as possible. He says "I got a hunderd". I told him to bring the "hunderd" and a check for the rest. He replies shrewd as hell: "Ok, I will bring the "hunderd", and a check for the other "hunderd and fiffy"! No joke! So he finally pulls in around 7 o'clock, and damned if he didn't pay me the hundred in cash and a check for $150. Since his bank had an office in town, I was there when the bank opened and cashed it the next day.

The rest of the week was hectic but fine. My students are cool as usual, classes are larger, nice to see old friends and students.

My friend Rob shows up Thursday night, we hung out a few hours but I was home by ten. I still managed to stay up until 2 AM, since that is my natural bedtime. I still lectured successfully to all my classes the next day, but then came home and slept for 18 of the next 24 hours. I was behind in sleep.

Mom calls me at 9:30 this morning and we talked for about thirty minutes, I was planning to cook my own breakfast, but since I was awake so early, I went to the ibis, and met up with my friend "Ricky", who was the one who journeyed to South America on his dirt bike this year. Spent a couple hours discussing many subjects, from computers, to his days as Bassist for the band "The Nixons", he even had videos with the band playing "Friday Night Videos", back in the late 80's. "The Nixons" were known nationwide. Rickey still gets royalties from those days, but he says they get smaller every year. Now his main interest is on Fly fishing. He plans to re-teach me how to fly fish one of these days. Ricky is a cool dude, nice to meet a new friend at my age, with an ability to have an interesting conversation with. Saw Logan and his friends up at the Ibis as well. I used to hang out at nights in bars. Hanging out for a few hours in the morning at a coffee shop is much more pleasant. I saw the owner today, an old hippie who was as old as my dad. This old gentleman, has created the coolest place in town, with diverse people of all ages spending a few hours a week there. They do make some brilliant coffee. I purchased a pound of "Highland Grogg", which is my favorite, since Logan and his friends turned me on to it a couple months ago.

Went to the post office, and my three radios were there. I ordered 3 decent sized modern radios from the Internet, and they were here in two days. These are plain AM/FM radios, but are modern and sound exceedingly well. Although a little larger than my expensive camping radio, they appear to be tougher and definitely sound a lot better. My Sangean, had lots of cool features, like 40 station programming, and short wave however; this simpler analog radio, sounds much better, and tunes to stations that the expensive radio can't seem to reach. I bought three of them, so I can give one to my father and another to my son. My son likes listening to the radio, more than those I-pods and crap. The radio is far more exciting than listing to the same old songs in my MP3 or computer libraries. The only time I listen to MP3's are when swimming or bike riding. Otherwise, I prefer the radio. So does my dad and son.

I went home at two, cleaned up a bit, then slept for the next 5 hours... Damn, I was fatigued by this schedule I now have to keep. At 8 PM, I felt like a new man. Got on the bike and went to the local book store in order to find something interesting. I finally scored a copy of "The Godfather", which is impossible to find it seemed. I did pay 9 bucks for it, but I know this is a wise purchase. I've long been wanted to compare the book to the movie, which I've watched a hundred times.

Went to the grocery store around 9 and it was dark by then. I bought the ingredients for another squash casserole which I made the previous night, and ate it in three meals.

Al's toaster oven Squash Casserole:

Take two smaller zucchinis and slice them about 1/6 inch thick. Put a little salt and pepper on the slices, the salt soaks up the bitter tastes like in eggplant. I used just a tiny amount of salt doing this since I am on a low salt diet.

arrange the slices on the bottom of a buttered meat loaf pan.

Take two eggs, a bit of cream (or sour cream), and a cup of diced cheese. (Mozzerella is good, but so is any other cheese). 1/4 cup of olive oil, some Italian seasoning, one cup of bread crumbs, 1/2 cup chopped onions and anything else you personally like for your tastes. I recommend a bit of garlic too.

Mix it all up and dump it on top of the zucchini, then arrange the rest of the zucchini slices on the tip. Then you should put 1/8th cup of the cheese that I forgot to tell you to reserve, and drizzle a bit of olive oil, and more spices on the top. Put this in the toaster over at 350 for about an hour.

Good stuff! Tastes like quiche, with a similar consistency. Tomorrow I might add a small amount of Italian sausage to the mix, but I prefer vegetarian for the most part since this should be all about the squash. Thinking about using Indian spices instead of Italian, all depends on my mood.

I also made a glass of "Doogh" today, which is a refreshing yogurt drink of Persian origin. I had a glass of the stuff at a Persian restaurant in Plano, Tx. this summer and I found it to be quite palatable, and refreshing. Simply add a cup of plain yogurt with a cup of water, add 1/4 tsp of salt, 1/2 tsp of pepper and some mint of you have it. I didn't have the mint but the salt and pepper were just fine. They also recommend adding cucumber pulp to the mix to make it more refreshing. I love this stuff, and its good for you if you use the low-fat plain yogurt. Very good on a hot summers day! Try it!

I finished the Puzo book "The last Don", and I finished "The Maltese Falcon" in the past week. Read little of the others, but I am progressing on "Comanche Moon" and even read a bit of the "Upanshads". Reading, while listening to the radio is a fun thing to do, sure beats watching sit-coms for hours each night, or playing Internet games. My phone now has the Internet, which keeps me in touch, but is to much of a pain to waste my time playing games. I can still check my facebook and e-mail, or even surf Wiki or bid on EBAY items.

I hope to write more this next week, but during the week I am either too beat, or lack any new stories that are interesting. I'm just grinding away toward my death in order to get money but that is the way of the world. "The daily Grind". But who knows what will happen this year. Overall, this should be an interesting time, since so much change has occurred since last year. I am fully looking forward, and saving for a long trip to India next summer, and maybe that will help keep me going during the upcoming winter months.

August 17Th, 2010

2010-08-17T18:23:00.003-06:00

August 15Th 2010: Sunday morning. Made myself wake up at 9 AM after 5 hours of sleep. Went to the living room, sat in chair, then slept till 2 PM. I will be screwed tomorrow morning. It is totally un-natural for me to go to bed at 10 PM. I have done it for years, usually fall asleep at 1 PM, and am a total zombie the next day, often napping right after school.

I went to "The Beehive Grill", to pay a dollar for their "Triple nickel" special. Or 5 wings for 15 cents each. I washed then down with an "Arnold Palmer", which is iced tea mixed with lemonade. The bartender, a long time friend of mine just returned from India, after volunteering at a leper colony for the past month. She told me about her travels, and convinced me that India, is where I want to spend a few years. My friend Chuck went there a few years back and had the same opinions of the country. I was thinking about Southern China, for the past year, but since I don't like Chinese food, and would feel totally alone in a total foreign place like China (I have been to Korea, and while interesting, was lonely as hell), India makes a bit more since. I love the food, many Indians speak my language, and my personal beliefs lean for more toward the Indian than the Chinese. Both places are cheap to live and China does have more employment opportunities, but India appeals to me more. I actually took a senior level college course on the History of India from 1400 to 1850, and I've read many books, articles, and documentaries about the subcontinent. India should provide me with plenty of writing opportunities, and chances to explore 6000 years of historic ruins, and fascinating cultures. There are many races of people with their own religions, cooking, histories, etc. For example, "The Jain" people are an off shoot of "Hinduism", and are obsessed with avoiding any karma whatsoever. They wear veils over their faces in order to keep bugs from getting killed by being inhaled accidentally. They also look down when they walk in order to avoid stepping on any creature since killing causes bad karma. Of course all Jains are strict vegetarians. There are millions of "Jains" in india. The "Parsi" are another large ancient minority originally from Persia (Iran), who are practitioners of "Zoroastrianism", which is much like the ancient Greek religion with its pantheon of Gods. You have descendants of the "Marathas", and ancient race of people who used to rule the south while Britain was swallowing up the rest of India. The descendants of the "Moguls", invaded India 900 years ago and eventually built the "Taj Mahal", there are many other kinds of people and culture to be experienced in India. I can't wait to live there some day.

Currently, I must serve my year at Logan High. I love this school, the students are great, but they are just cramming to many of them into each class. My classes involve sharp and expensive tools, and we have three different rooms, where the students do different aspects of sculpture and jewelry making. Its getting too hard to keep every one safe. Utah, needs to up their sales and property taxes a little, so they can adequately fund their schools. Saying all that, I also enjoy living in the northern Rockies, and living in a safe, pretty Mormon town. Logan is the nicest town I've ever lived in. But after three years, I have little more to learn here, once this happens I get lazy and bored, and start dreaming of finding a new place to learn about. But a 50k per year job is a tough thing to walk away from. I know that there is no better place to teach than in Logan, Utah, yet I find myself wanting to move on and explore new places before I get to old to do it. I also need a break from the stress. Stress, is killing me. The act of corralling, counseling, and teaching 170 kids per day is severely affecting my health. I need to just move to India, Live and write on $400 per month for a year, maybe even teach on the tnternet for $15 per hour, so I can make ends meet. Work 40 hours per month on the computer, rather than 200 hours per month in the classroom. But I'm not done with Logan yet. I will make the best out of this year, and will try to improve my health, while selling off as many of my possessions and saving money. I have the responsibility of providing my students with a fun and enriching learning experience as well. No matter what should happen this year, I will spend next summer in India, no matter what happens. (yes I heard the "grass is greener" crap before I made the move to Utah, so spare me)!

$400 per month living in India? Yes, I've done the research. And you could make it on $200 per month if you didn't drink, or travel much. Rent in a place as nice as mine is about 90 bucks per month. If you pay 20 bucks more, you get free breakfast and dinner. Another 20 per month and you get the internet, cable, and a morning English newspaper. I just want a safe place with a balcony. Not sure which city, but Bangalore has a lot of call center instruction jobs for $1000 per month for someone with teaching qualifications. "Varanasi", is a very ancient smaller city, on the banks of the Ganges river, where the Buddha, lived during the monsoon season. "Chennai", has excellent beaches north and south of the city. So maybe I will move every three months until I find the place for me. I hope to spend at least 5 to 10 years there, coming back to the states every 2 years to visit the family. The internet does keep people closer than the old days. Back in the early 80's, the only way to keep in touch was to write letters, or spend a shitload of money for a short phone call. If I went out there, I would have SKYPE, set up with a phone cam, in order to call and see my friends and homies. I will probably choose to teach online for $15 per hour and work a few hours per day, which will more than pay for the cost of living, My current plan is to stick it out this year, then to scout India (maybe other nearby countries as well), this summer.

Its now Tuesday, August 17Th, after two days in school, I'm feeling better about this year. My classes don't seem too unmanageable, but these were both in service days so we shall see how many more get dumped into my class. Nice to see some of my fellow teachers, and even a few students have stopped by. Getting up at 6:30 SUCKS! Its unnatural, unless your a farmer or a hunter. My main complaint about my school, is that we start class at 7:35 AM. I'd much rather start at 9:00, when the sun is up, and its 20 degrees warmer, but the godly believe in getting up early as hell, so they get home by 3PM, and have 4 more hours daylight, to work a second job, or go to church functions. So I have to be at school by 7:15, which is awful in the winter, usually having to get out there and scrape ice from the windshield, often shoveling a shit load of snow, while its pitch black outside and 5 below zero, while trying not to fall on the ice. I would walk the 1/2 mile to school, but January and February that would mean falling on the icy concrete and breaking my back. So I'll probably bicycle it, until late December, then take the truck until March. But I have three nice months to look forward to, and fully plan to make the most of it.

August 14th, 2010

2010-08-17T18:04:00.003-06:00

August 14th, 2010:

Last Saturday before work. I did manage to wake at 10:00 AM rather than the usual 2:00 PM. Tomorrow I will wake at 8:00 AM, no matter how tired.

Went to brekkies at Cafe Ibis, and noticed an old man checking out my bike, which I previously put a "for sale" sign on. Since I had 10 minutes to even get breakfast, I asked him to join me at Ibis, where I handed him my key and let him take a test drive while I rushed in to qualify for the breakfast cut off time of 11 AM. He was in his 70's and showed up on a very fast older bike, so I figured he wouldn't wreck my ride. He came back like 10 minutes later, but I wasn't interested in trading for an 80's model truck. I noticed the old looking beat up Suzuki DR 650, with full long term touring cases, and battle scars. I have seen this bike over and over, and I was fortunate enough to find its owner this morning. I knew from the looks of the bike that he had beaten down a few thousand miles of trails, but I had no idea...

"Ricky", the motorcyclists name, had gone from Canada, and took the 95 percent dirt "Great Divide" trail which travels along the highest peaks of the Rocky Mountains, all the way down to Mexico. But Ricky kept going... He then took the "Pan American" highway, from Mexico down to Panama. The only gap in the "Pan American", is known as the "Darian Gap", which is a marsh, tidal swamp, and impenetrable jungle that separates Panama and Columbia. Ricky had to pay a sailboat, 500$ to bring him across that gap, which is also known for its extreme lawlessness. He then went from Columbia, thru Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, and wound up at the southernmost city in the world known as "Ushuia" Argentina, which is about 600 miles from Antarctica. Logan and I were in Ushuia, about 5 years ago, so we had a lot of South American notes to compare. Of course, this dude, took 14 months of hard driving, and survival situations in order to do it. While, I just took a plane and a cruise ship.

Turns out that Ricky was from Oklahoma, and used to play in a punk rock band known as the "Nixon's", during the time I used to play in "Deep Ellum", Dallas, back in the late 80's early 90's, and used to play in the same venues. The Nixon's, were far more famous than the groups I used to jam with. He actually made money playing professionally. So we gammed on an outside table of Ibis for like 3 or 4 hours, which is a record for me to talk to anyone without a drink in my hand. Ricky has accomplished one of the most harrowing motorcycle journeys I've ever heard of, but he is more impressed with the people who traveled down the same roads by bicycle. Those crazy bicycle peeps, amaze the shit out of me as well.

I admire those folks, but ultimately prefer the plane and cruise ship route. Yes, I will travel a few hundred miles on a motorcycle trip, but when going to Chile, I'd just assume fly down there, then look around. But certain situations, and mind sets seem to gravitate toward the extreme. Ricky, speaking of many of the other motorcycle travelers, down in South American, said that more than a few of them were suicidally depressed, and took the risks as a last resort, since "they didn't want to die with money still in their pockets". Rickey, merely did it out of boredom, but I understand the mentality of those he described. Many of the "Suicidal ones", were from Europe.

Ricky and I both agreed that Logan, Utah is the best place in America to live. With the extreme natural beauty of the nearby wilderness, and of the upbeat, non pretentious town of Logan itself. Logan, is the nations safest metro area (population of 100,000 or more), and is recognized for being the safest city in the US, each year. You can leave your doors unlocked in most places in this city. Unless you live in downtown apartments, where the poor, destitute and the insane live. No violent criminals do I see around here, but there are more than a few scavengers who live downtown, due to no other options. I still agree with Ricky: Logan, Utah is the nicest place to live in the US. Period. The factors taken into consideration while formulating this opinion were, natural beauty, cost of living, low crime, vitality of the town itself. Logan rocks in my book. But I am already itching to go elsewhere. I better watch what I wish for.

After tiring of Ibis, I went to "Borders Books", and did some net surfing, since the Ibis, seats start to hurt the ass after a few hours of talking. Ibis seat tend to be more waif friendly, the seats are only a foot wide. . Borders is cool, because it is less crowded, and you can grab a book off the shelf, then read it while swigging coffee or tea, then putting it back. I totally love this concept! How do these places make any money? I am more than content to put my grubby hands on their books, pay two bucks for a glass of tea, use their internet, possibly their bathroom, yet never pay 20 bucks for one of their paperback books, since I can buy the hardbacks for two or three bucks at the thrift stores. Most of the books on my reading list are hardback. But I guess "Borders" does do a good business, since they also rent videos, and games. I would gladly pay a cover charge, since they allow me to camp in there for a couple hours, and ask very little. Some customers, just go in, surf the net, and leave without buying a single thing. I always pay for a coffee for dignity purposes, and have been known to buy a book or rent a video from them.

By then it was nearly 6 PM. Damn! Longest I've ever spent at two coffee places, I did spend awhile loading up my blog, and finding a decent picture for it.

I stopped to check on the Mercedes that I love with all my heart and soul, but she is still in the shop. They told me that she will see me again once she is perfect. I hate to say it, but once I see that car again, and test it out some more, that I fully plan to buy it. A man needs a woman! And I consider this car to be my object of affection that deserves my attention and total reverence. No real woman can give me as much pleasure in return for my love, as this gorgeous, large, sleek, black, Sedan will. She will always be true, never yell at me, never betray me, never love than HATE me. Hell hath no fury baby!!! Give me the machine. The machine is my one desire!.

I cooked some "Dahl/Aloo Marsala" this evening, which is Indian food consisting of Lentils and chopped potato, in Marsala sauce. I made this from scratch, so no MRE pouches. Cooking this took a few hours. And no, the MRE's taste better, but they cost three bucks each. My dinner costs about 50 cents and is almost as good, but I plan to work on it. The mess of cooking for one, is nearly the mess of cooking for 4. And since I have to do both the cooking and cleaning, I believe I will buy the "Meals Ready to Eat" type of Indian food, since you only have to boil the pouch in water. But cooking from scratch is still fun. My Italian Scratch food is excellent, but my Indian does need a bit of work in order to gain authenticity.

Did another 4 hours of reading, damn I miss the TV up here, but I am firm about keeping the cable and internet out of my apartment. I do need to hook up a TV and DVD player, in order to have some visual entertainment of occasion.

August 13th, 2010

2010-08-14T15:22:00.003-06:00

August 13, 2010:

Went to Benson, Utah; about 10 miles away to see my llama and good friends that have given her a very nice home. They have a few marshy acres, with an irrigation canal running along their property. Their house is a geodesic dome home, with nice porches, a basement ect. What really was striking was that the place was covered in trees, which is rare up here in the high plains between the mountains. Sue is obviously in heaven, having two goat companions, as well as my friend Johanna and her little sister, who give her much attention also. I had a great time in the cool 80 degree afternoon, watching Sue, talking to these kind, educated artists, and enjoying their little farm, which was a bit of a paradise. I used to have a small paradise back in Texas, and I hope to someday get another small place with a cabin and animals someday. But regrets are stupid, I moved on to where I currently am, which is in an exciting downtown loft in the city of Logan, where there is never a dull moment.

I still can be happy for this kind family to give my llama a beautiful place to live.

Got home and shared some baloney and cheese sandwiches with my son, who paid me in full his rent money that I only loaned him a few days ago. Logan is a good boy despite some of the things I have said about him. The Bank clerk accepted my "Universal Life" Church credentials as a valid ID, which allowed me to make my deposit!

I like this minister stuff too much for my own good, but I swear to have been a student of religion and claim full legitimacy as a "Guru" (Sanscrite for "Teacher"), as a minister for Universal Life. Their website is sincere, with forums of ministers discussing sermons, wedding procedures, and what not. The credentials can be taken as lightly or as seriously as you want to take them. I take them as seriously as my teaching credentials, and I have learned to be a heck of a counselor, to all people young and old. I understand the plight of the human race, and vow to help any person who asks for my guidance and assistance. I love people.

Went to a local store and bought a long folding table, two feet wide which serves perfectly as a desk, and eating table. Except for the Organ, the rest of my furnishings are lightweight, and can be easily moved by one man in less than two hours. I desire a big old desk, but this one is cheap, sturdy, and portable. I can even take it camping, when I set up my huge "British Expedition" tent, as some sort of a wilderness base. I also bought a much needed plant, a Ficus tree, which I am well familier with as a nice looking, easy to care for plant. I also plan to get a small rubber tree and the indestructable "Mother in Law Tongue" plan which is as tough as: Well... a typical German mother in law! These plants require little in the attention department, but do need a bit of water from time to time. I love ferns and palms very much, but keeping them going is another story. I am also in search of a nice looking, "Pothos Ivy", for the big hanging hook 12 feet above, but didn't see a specimen that impressed me. Now my place is completely furnished, there is still a matter of how much Art do I put on the walls, but I like to take that one slow. A pad needs to age a bit, and decor should be well thought out over a long period of time. I hope to put some of my art on the gallery walls in this hallway once I get the permission from the landlord, who uses these walls as a gallery space. Most of the paintings are amateur as heck, but more power to them. I like the Art ok.

Out of all the previously described books I'm reading, the "Lsst Don", by Mario Puzo is getting the most attention. Here are the page reading results of the previously described books I bought recently:

The Last Don by Puzo: 173 pages down.

The Upanshads: 25 pages

The F Word: 20 pages into the Intro.

Innocents Abroad by Twain: 43 pages

The Annals of Ancient Rome by Tacticus:35 pages

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott: 17 pages

The Maitese Falcon by Hammett: 3 pages, but i had to stop since the character descriptions caused me too much laughter! I will probably hit this one soon.

One hundred Years of Solitude by Marquez: 0 pages

This is my progress after two weeks of reading, I should finish the Puzo book this weekend, since I cannot seem to put it down. The rest will be labors of love and should take a few more weeks to finish (except the Upanshads). I also added McMurtry's "Comanche Moon", which I read partically this summer and just rescued from my Truck Camper. I am 116 pages in but they don't count in this current contest. So far I am happy not to have Cable at my place. I do miss the internet, but I will still

avoid getting it, since it would kill my reading and writing.

Planning to book a trip to South Eastern Colorado soon, since I am the back up minister for Melissa and Chucks wedding. I get to say a few words prior to the veteran ministers ceremony. The ticket is $370 since it lands at a small airport in Montrose Colorado, rather than a big hub like Denver. This will be my third plane trip in 10 months, but I like trips more than saving money so oh well. A fool and his money..... I know this one all too well.

Just went outside for a few minutes at 1 PM. Forty Five degrees on August 13th! It got down to 43 last night. What the hell is wrong with this place? Last night, I fell asleep in my livng room chair, with all the windows open, and by 6 AM my core temperature was gone. I climbed into bed with a sheet, light blanket, and finally grabbed a parka from the closet to wrap up in in order to restore my core temp. Once your insides are cold, it takes forever to warm up again. My question is: This is early August??? So the WTF starts to enter the equation. Yes, we have a summer that lasts 6 weeks at the most. Yes the temps will warm up next week, but we also know that winter isn't far behind. I love the cool, but last night caught me completely off guard. People try to compare the weather of Chicago and up state New York with this place, but I doubt those places see 43 degrees on August 12th! We will be having our first freeze of the year within a month. Please, dont take my constant bitching about the cold as real "bitching", in fact, I do love the cold to a great extent. My bitching is more out of curious amazement than anything else. Being able to live here, one could easily adapt to Alaska, Moscow, Greenland, wherever. This is one of the coldest places in the lower 48 states, and I am proud to adapt to this. I deplore the deadly heat of North and Central Texas far more than this. I don't even have an air conditioner and its no big deal.

About to go to sleep at 2 AM once again. I have to re-learn how to get to bed at 10 PM again somehow. Not getting enough sleep is very bad for me (and most people). I left a picture above on what I will be dreaming about.

August 12th 2010.

2010-08-10T19:14:00.004-06:00

(The pic above is a view from my new place that I can't rotate on this page, so view at by holding your screen sideways)!

August, 12th, 2010:

I had a good day. Waking late, I then hit the small thrift store a block away (see how thrifty I am people). I managed to buy 6 great books for about 3 bucks total. Half the books are hardbacks, all in excellent condition. Went to my school and did some internet insurance business which required a printer. Noticed that my neglected fish tank was needed some help so I did a 6 gallon water change, and need to buy another powerhead for the left side. The ammonia levels were crazy, but I inproved them, and will continue to do so until they stabilize. I love marine tanks. At least my crabs, urchines and snails are doing fine.

I also research on the net "How to steam Veggies in a rice cooker", Which totally enlightened me that most Asian countries use a rice cooker as their primary cooking device. They are cheap and efficient, and take up little space. I bought a little produce from the local "farmers market", local corn, squash and potatoes, then went to the grocery store to buy more things I can make in this wonderful cooking device. I had long known that I could steam veggies while the rice was cooking, but after reading up on it, There are way more things that people use these cheap cookers for. Steaming eggs in the upper steam basket is a great alternative to the old boiling scene. I even read how one user would cook an entire pot roast and ECT, which would take 24 hours on the "Warm", setting. Other folks would bake cakes using commercial cake mix! I cooked a few chunx of red potato in the boiler while steaming zucchini, onion, shittake shrooms, and a few small sections of baby corn on the cob up in the steamer. I also put two little breakfast sausage links into the mix, to provide a bit a flavor. To Westerners "Meat" is often the main course. But in many or most societies Meat, is merely a condiment used in order to provide flavor. I am increasingly changing my diet to Vegetarian, since I like the vegetarian fare better than the meaty stuff, but I refuse to become a vegitarian and have to enquire about all incredients or worry about whether my beans were fried in lard or veg oil. What a pain in the ass my vegetarian friends go through. I simply prefer a diet of mainly veggies, but include a bit of meat when needed. I mainly eat Indian food now, so its quite easy to avoid gnawing on a joint of beef like a bloody animal. But I reserve the right to "Gnaw" as much as I like, whenever I happen to hit a decent BBQ joint!

So the potato and zucchini combo was quite winning, since it had two ounces of sausage in it. A pound or more of veggies, and two ounces of meat. This is how it should be for most humans. Tonites giant meal costs less than a dollar.. I love being a cheap bastard! The 2 bucks I paid for the sausage will last for 6 more meals!

Logan and his friend "Melody" stopped in around 6 we played some music and drank a little. "Melody" is one hell of a guitar player and singer. She has an interesting voice, and can hit all her notes, spot on, and with complete authority. She loves the songs that I wrote years ago, and we plan to start a small group with logan being the bass player, drummer, and back up vocals. We had fun rockin' out this apartment, early enough to keep complaints down. I can wait to break out my sax once it gets fixed! So far my practice of "no cable TV nor Internet service at home), is working well... I have a guitar, hammond organ, inca flute, scottish fife, and soon I will have a beautiful "King Zephyr", alto sax to jam with! I love the ancient King Zephyr Saxes. I have a 1926 "King Voll True", which is the Zephyr predesessor, Since I still have the older King, and it has a neck which has a double socket like the much more sought after "zephyrs", I managed to buy a highly desirable "King Zephyr" model alto sax from the year 1942, which needed a neck. Neckless; I got the sax for a steal at $300 bucks. I plan to use my old King neck on it and should have a professioal quality horn to play around with. With a neck this sax would be worthbody 5 times the price I got it for. Of course this new sax will need a $380 repad, But now I am only $680 into the deal. These Saxes can scream like no other. to get one for under a grand, is a steal indeed.

I am now reading many books, since I have no other entertainment other than the radio. I have "The works of Dashiell Hammet" which is cool has heck! Never read the author before, but his 20's lured decriptions of good looking women and the accompanying slang is a treat to my senses. I will use this example: "She was tall an Pliantly tender, without angularity anywhere. Her body was erect and high-breasted, her legs long, her hands and feet narrow"... ECT.... She is described as a "Knock out"! I love reading this old stuff. Many of the words are the same, although many weren't allowed to be printed way back then. The words "Shit" and "Fuck", were in full use back in the 20's, yet from reading the authors of that time, you would never know it.

I also bought a book entitled "The F word", which is devoted to the origins and history of that one word! The author, meant the book to be humorous, but spends 300 pages or more going back into the actual history of the world from its German origins until now. I only read the first 10 pages but I can tell it will be a fun one!

I am also reading a Mark Twain classic, which is really a blog, or "ships log", talking about his 1868 cruise, to the Med and Black seas, spending 6 months on the commercial journey. One of the worlds first leasurly cruises, Twain describes in good detail and snide wit, the happenings at that time which took place just a couple years after the civil war. This fact particually hit home with me. two years after the civil war, Twain, pays a huge amount of money, along with a hundred other rich folks, in order to take a side-wheel steam ship, which wasn't very big, and risk their lives so they can visit Europe from the south. I believe that this is on of the first pleasure cruises I've ever heard about. They had a day to day itenerary, and even opportunities for side excurions just like the modern cruises do. Their "on board" entertainment was similar to the cruises I've been on, except for the church stuff, and prayer time, which Mark detested, but he went through the motions. I have read this book before so I will not go on. Go check it out yourself and tell me what you think. It is not no "Huckleberry Finn", but does give insite into Twain's character and the technology of the late 1860's, which was much higher than I expected. Twain is not the writer he was before the trip, but his snide-ness and humor, are still funny. Twain wasn't so much a writer but more a comedian/philosopher dude, who dazzled people where-ever he went. The title of the particular book Im reading is "Innocents Abroad".

I am also reading the Roman historian "Tacticus", which involves his own personal, critiques, of the Emperors "Augustus, Tiberius, Nero," and a few others, from a first person stand point. He only wrote about the Emperors that he personally knew while he was living. Tacticus, is a good writer, but he was parcial to certain Emporers, and other folKs, but was quite impartial to those his party didn't like. Like an ancient "Shaun Hannity", he would not give those out side his party, an inch of praise, no matter how much they deserved it. I personally have no use for people like Tacticus, Hannity, and a few other that I personally know. Arguement should be a method to discover truth, Not to prove who is right. It shouldn't be a personal emotional thing.

I am also reading, "Bird by Bird", which is a writers training inspirational manual. Anne Lamont's writings are most encouraging to a new writer. She is honest, tells you about your slim chances of getting publishes, then tells you that you better continue writing because true writers should never be concerned with tiny issues, like spending millions of hours or decades trying to sell your well-honed craft. She just urges you to continue on.. Maybe the fact that I continue writing, is because I have to write, at my age getting published isn't really a dream, nor is being a rock star. Writing is a dying art in my opinion. Yes, there will be a need for concise technical or news and script writers. But little need for creative or philisophical writers. But so what? I like to write, so I will continue to write.

I am also reading the "Upanshads", which is the most ancient book in the Hindu world. The book was written by unknown writers some 6 or 7 thousand years ago. I love this book. It's best to read it slow. Each passage contains a large amount of profound meaning. "All this is full. At that is full. From fullness, fullness comes. When fullness is taken from fullness. Fullness still remains. OM Shanti Shanti Shanti (a prayer). This last passage reads like the great book called the "Tao Te Ching", but its author "Lao Tzu", wrote the "Ching" some 4000 years later than this. Could it be that Lao Tzu was Parroting the "upanshads", Probably was is my guess, but I can see that he was furthering the book with his own observations as well. The Upanshads will be read one page at a time, and will easily take a couple years to conclude the book. But I do love it, and see its benefits to a screwed up world. The ancients, had more logic in their observations than most comtemporary writers of religion or philosophy.

I am also about to begin two more novels, "The Last Don" by Mario Puzo, and "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the Columbian writer, who's book "Love in the time of Cholera", was important to me 20 years back.

These are the substitutes for having no internet or TV this year. Depending on the book most should be finished in two months. I will spend a lifetime trying to sort the "Upanshads" out, but I've been reading the "Tao Te Ching", the Bible, The book of Buddha", and various other holy works, and plan to continue reading them always. I take my title of "Guru" of the Universal Life Church, very seriously. This is no joke to me. I am a man of the cloth.

I cant believe I've been writing all night like this. I have an engagement with my ex llama this afternoon, and will hate to be tired and lethergic when I arrive, But this is the way of me : Allen Barnes. I tend to forget the world and focus on the tasks and interests at hand.

After crashing at 3 AM and waking at waking at 1 PM I postponed the llama visit till Friday. ' Spent two hours cleaning, eating plain yoghurt with blackberries and sugar, made a decent cup of coffee and listened to Dr. Laura on the radio. Never been a big fan of celebrity psychologists, but Dr. Laura makes more sense than most of them. I will add more to this later.

August 10th, 2010

2010-08-10T19:09:00.002-06:00

August 9th, 2010:

Had the morning breakfast at Ibis. A couple excellent jazz musicians were playing on the guitar and keyboards. Quite talented, Ibis, does its best to allow a venue for the local musicians. I can say nothing but good things about this place. I spent over an hour eating and putting up another blog. These blogs do take a bit of time to write, edit, find a picture, then put it all together on blogger. A labor of love I consider it, just being a humble writer in training.

Afterwards I bought a ton of groceries for my barren cupboards, but had a heck of a time strapping it all to my motorcycle. Imagine, 4 sacks of groceries on a motorbike. I drove home carefully. Now I can make Hotdogs with all the ingrediants. I also bought a pineapple, some peaches, a rice cooker/steamer, and a hot plate. Napkins, tonic water, frozen dinners, and a few other staples went along as well,

Came home and put everything away, then fell asleep for a couple hours, dreaming the most vivid dreams I've had in months. I really will miss that kind family, that lives under the bridge in central Dallas, who have a penchant for shortwave radios, whose kids are all intelligent and well behaved, since they all lived near a magical river, and everything was good and happy all the time. I will miss these folks, who do not actually exist, it was a damn shame to wake up again but I had to wake up and finish the day of leisure.

Went to the "Bee Hive", where Logan works, and they were slammed on a Sunday night. Perhaps, the fact that they are the only open restaurant in town, has something to do with this. I researched my current love, the s500 Mercedes, and found out where to plug in the obt2 code reader, and plan to check out the car while I have it out for a test drive. I plan to merely drive to the local auto parts store, borrow their obt2 code reader and plug it in while away from the dealership. I learned the secret place where I had to plug the device into. I also found a better 2001 "S600", by Mercedes, that has the 12 cylinder engine, and only 80,000 miles, which costs $135,000 new. I can get this for only $2000 more than the 96 model. I havent met the newer girl, but I'm sure I will be in love. These are the flagships of the Mercedes line. These are the biggest, most educated cars in the world. Most have a pair of flags on the front hood corners, and some "presidential" welcoming song is expected wherever they dock. Instead of calling these beasts the "S" class, the "U.S.S." class is probably more important.

As I previously stated: I do not need a car. But I do need one of these for a hobby or a misguided love affair at the very least. I love all things well-built and nautical. I will treat the S500 like the lady like she is. Since I only drive 1500 miles per year, she will be in capable hands. Tomorrow I will try out the 96' S500 again and check on its repairs. I already sent a credit application in for the 2001 S600, which has the monster v-12 engine. I hope to get one or the other. If not, I will be just fine with my truck and motorcycles. But the lust I have for these big Benzes will be fulfulled at some point in my life. Going 150 MPH while playing "God Save the Queen", is a sensation that I can't get out of my head. This baby would be a welcome diversion from the Spartan life which I now choose to lead.

Went home and "Gammed" (talked, according to Melville), with my friend Chuck for a couple hours. He is excited about his new place in Buffalo Wyoming. Even offered me a free tank of gas if I would visit him this week. I am considering the option. One last ride, before school starts again would be a good thing.

My favorite son "Logan", stopped by at midnight and spent a couple hours and I showed him the excellent apartment on the top floor. He liked the place and gave me the deposit for the place, which he should be moving into shortly. Logan is a veteran of the dark streets of Logan, Utah, and likes the idea, of living among the cities ancient rooftops!.

This is a pic of my ex-Llama "Sue", that was sent to me from my friend "Johanna", who used to teach in the classroom next door. She invited out to her parents place to see how great Sue is doing. Sue is in a much nicer place than in my old back yard, and gets much more human contact from Johanna and her family. I should be seeing her again later next week.

Aug 7th, 2010

2010-08-08T12:03:00.003-06:00

August 6Th, 2010:

Had a cheap and excellent breakfast at the local hippy coffeehouse "Cafe Ibis". Ibis is owned by a couple conscientious old Hippies, who really do care about their customers and the environment as well. I find that many "Hippies" are just lazy and justify their behavior with a lot of bullshit rhetoric. But I know a few Hippies who do what they preach, they believe in using "effort" to achieve their dreams and not just a hand out. These owners of Ibis deserve all the good things that they have achieved.

I had a great breakfast consisting of local, free range, organic, eggs. Two pieces of high quality local baked bread known as "Deckard Five Seed", which will turn you into a bread lover real quick, and a small container of high grade organic jam, sugarless of course. And some chopped home grown potatoes, covered with some fine herb. And a large cup of their "Highland Grog" coffee. This was just good quality fare. Like the owners pay far more for the ingredients because they care about you. Every attention was put into detail. These people actually travel to the country and inspect the fields before they buy the coffee beans, which they grind themselves. They are not just name dropping pretentious bastards, all their stuff is first rate. Total cost for the best breakfast in town: Six dollars.

Ibis to me is the way all companies should be. They focus on a good healthy honest deal, not the bottom line. Their reward is a highly successfully business and the owners are quite well to do because of this. The Puritans from the Mayflower days used to prosecute businesses which made more than a 7 percent profit. Capitalism with no constraint is not good for anybody. Teddy Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower pointed out this in large block letters that people have managed to ignore. Huge profits are what pimps and drug dealers seek. Not good businesses like Cafe Ibis. Ibis has stolen more than a few customers from the bland, expensive local places for breakfast. Business is greatest when it is ran with a conscience and even "Love".

"Gammed" quite awhile with the 65 year old maintenance man, who enjoys the same first name as myself. Seen him around, thought him insane at first. This man is the spitting image of the actor "John Malkovich". This man rules the 22 lofts up here in the Logan, Utah sky. John (obviously not his real name), does not take any shit... PERIOD! He really seems to like me, and bends over backwards to help me get my apartment finished out (no door between bathroom and living area). John was on it immediately. Maybe he respects me because I am not indigent or live on public assistance like many others around here. Maybe its because I'm big and kind. I trust this man, and so does the owner of these fine living spaces. "Malkovich" is a good man to have on your side around here. He will probably have me help him bust some heads in the future. A job I will gladly assist in.

Spent some time tracking down my barber, who was a student at the local hairstylists academy. She has cut my hair and beard many times, in fact I trained her how to use the clippers on a beard and head about 12 months ago. Now, she is the only one I will allow to touch my head. We are pretty good friends, and things are comfortable between us professionally. I showed up and she was the only lady at the shop that had a customer. She trimmed off 6 months of beard and hair with the skill of a lawncutter. 15 minutes later, I looked like a new man, and her new place of business knows that she knows her shit when it comes to shaggy old men! Most hair stylists her age tend to treat me like "The Elephant Man". Mandi is like a daughter to me.

Went to the car dealer and was approved to buy a 96 "S" class Mercedes Benz, a giant four door sedan, and the most expensive of the Mercedes built that year. The original price was $87,000!!! It looks to be new, as I previously described, and very well maintained. I

will buy it for around 9 thousand! I don't need a car really, but this is more a love affair. I have been looking at her for a few weeks now, and with my hated newer motorbike as down payment, I can get her for $350 per month for only 2 years. The dealer loved the Kawasaki, since it is also new in appearance. I can't stop thinking about this "finest of all the cars in the world". Bad thing is: I really don't need a car. I am happy with my ancient truck, but wont drive it too far. This car has "Presidential" written all over it. And can cruise down the Auto Bahn at 140 MPH all day long, while holding tight to the road. This great black German built ship, is over 17 feet long and weighs nearly 5000 pounds. 335 horsepower makes it quite fast enough to enter the highway with complete, Teutonic authority!

I must have her... I must...

Saturday Nacht: Spending some time on the "back porch" or our large 140 year old building. The "porch" is a fire escape, with a wide deck of steel grate, before it becomes an ancient, spindly, steep set of stairs, some 30 feet off the ground. Takes a bit of time to get used to, but I can manage carrying two sacks of groceries, whilst ascending the sturdy old tangle of steel grate, and iron rails. The view from up here is incredible. Much calmer here than on the Main Street side of the building. Thankfully some kind soul put a large rubber mat on the deck and even an old folding metal chair (with wooden seat), on the mat, just so I can look out upon the back parking lot from up high like a god, who watches over his imagined creation of concrete, lamp posts, cars, and the night people.

Amazing all the human activity I can spy from up high in relative camouflage, These are not the same folks I see around here in the daytime. These are not Mormon people. who go to sleep at night up in their fine houses on the hillsides. These are the ones who sleep in the day, and smartly get to enjoy the cool weather, when they go on the prowl at 11 PM. Many are harmless college students on foot or bicycles, but I also witness the poor and destitute, walking to the local store for more ciggies and beer. A few are like sharks in cars slowly driving around looking for an easy piece of meat to steal. Then there are the cops. They are nearly everywhere. From my point of view it looks like a big cat and mouse game, with all participants avoiding the gaze of the "cats" (cops). I was interrupted from my observation from the giant insane man who lives down the hall from me. This dude seems harmless, but he really doesn't have a job, and brags about his diagnosis a bit too much. I loaned him a few dollars the other day for ciggies, and will not give him a dime, until it is repaid. Mainly the residents of my new community are elderly with a monthly pension. A few have lived here for twenty years. I might only stay for a year or two, or until I learn all there is to know about this area. So far I love this unique place. Its pretty much safe, interesting, and friendly. I wouldn't trade this loft or view for the nicest apartment in town.

So now it's 1 AM, and I can't seem to sleep, the big wooden radio is playing some cool music from the 40's and 50's and I'm simply having too much fun listening to it, in a pad that looks straight out of that time period. My furnishings, gleaned from the "D.I." (Deseret Industries, a Mormon giant "Good Will" store, which has really decent stuff,) I found a chair and two end tables, in perfect condition, for $40 for the set. All I need now is a small old table, which will serve as a desk and eating place. It will go next to the wall of big windows, which makes the front of my loft. I prefer to watch the street and traffic than TV at this point. Each nite this week has been quite rich and special, hard to fully describe in normal words. I can best describe it from a quote from the book, "The Great Gatsby", while the narrator was talking about how pleasant the hot August night in Long Island was during the time period of all those events. He said, something to the effect of: "This night is like a delicate delicious fruit, just waiting to be plucked". This is how I feel about these several nights I've spent up here in this loft. Each one is more intriguing than the previous, I can't wait to see what happens tomorrow up here.

Tomorrow I plan to explore the upper floor and navigate its complicated fire escape system, part of which crosses between two buildings, with chimneys sticking up like on the rooftops of old London, reminiscent of the movie "Mary Poppins", in the chimney scene. I can easily envision some of these locals dancing on the roof tops to the song "Step in Time", from that very movie. I also plan to hit up Cafe Ibis, because I constantly dream about their magical breakfast's. But that will be tomorrows adventure.... Nite..

August 6th, 2010

2010-08-05T19:08:00.006-06:00

August 5Th, 2010:

My good friend Robert stopped in today to have me analyze some rocks which he found at the local "Bear Lake" today. Usually, when one of my students graduate, I never really see them again, so I was happy to see Robert. Robert was one of the best teachers aides I've ever had. Kind of like Sherlock Holmes "Watson", Robert is one of the most unique students I've been lucky enough to teach. He is smart, intellectual, and had no problem correcting me when I occasionally proved to be an asshole. I have the utmost respect for Robert, and he is also a writer, which makes him a bit tortured, which I completely understand. Robert is A man of keen intellect, ideas, creativity, and a certain knack of telling an entire classroom to "Shut their pie holes", OK maybe not an exact quote. But the classroom generally listened to him!

We wound up hanging out for 6 or more hours, hitting a coffee shop, then to the local thrift store to buy me some much needed furniture, and a few other errands. Damn its

good to have another like minded friend in this town. Most adults around here bore the piss out of me. Most are money grubbing, baby making machines it seems. Few

can see the world that exists in between making money, and raising kids. Most of the people I've met that exist in this obscure world, turn out to be Writers. Artists seem to be more self centered and focused on their own egos. Writers, learn as much as they can about what is around them. Few are stupid. I am far more proud to call myself a "Writer" than to admit that I am also a visual Artist, and a decent Musician. Ego is a thing which is best avoided.

Tomorrow, Robert and I will attempt to get thousand dollar organ from the pad, that my son was forced to vacate after a mere 6 weeks. It was a scene from "Animal House", but the bastard should have moved my organ first, and not just left it there.

I really don't understand how some of today's kids are so selfish. Hopefully we will

be able to get it back, it would look great here in my apartment, plus I love playing it!

Spent the rest of the night listening to "John Teshes" late night soft rock radio show on a local station, where "John" dispenses practical wisdom in between songs. Not classical wisdom, but advice like: " The studies show that people with fewer computer programs are less likely to get viruses". I miss a lot of the old songs that he plays, and I am completely sick of hearing "classic rock" which consists of the same thirty songs it seems, with "Hotel California" and "Free bird", completely overplayed.

After a dinner of Indian "MRE" food, which consisted of potato and Chana "Chickpeas", washed down with a few beers, I was able to kick back and enjoy the

sights and sounds of my new place. The city has a pulse and a life of its own which

changes hour by hour. I remember the old line from a Doors song "The cars hiss by my window, like the waves, out on the beach", and can see the similarity between the sounds of waves and traffic, that Jim Morrison seemed to notice. Traffic is not one

constant sound but a mixture of many different sounds, which ebb and flow in their intensity. Growing up next to a busy road allows me to keep my windows open, with the radio sounding in the foreground, and the waves of traffic in the background. It is a beautiful mixture of sound, and I can also do some reading while listening to this grand symphony.

Today with Robert, I bought a vintage green chair on casters, so I can roll it where I need it, and a matching pair of well built end tables, that are relics from the 1950's, both the chair and tables were outdated but in mint condition, and seem to fit in the

120 year old apartment with no clashes whatsoever. I don't want a couch, since I don;t plan on many guests at once, plus I want to save the floor space for walking around, and possibly doing a few more paintings. I also will require a desk for writing but the only ones available were huge and heavy. I might use a small card table or something, but would prefer something a bit more classy, like some of the small antique roll top desks that I've seen. I do need to watch the money since I also

plan to buy a professional saxophone, which I can play at the top of this building late at night, once I regain a certain amount of proficiency, that I have lost over the years.

Just to learn "Blue Trane" by John Coltrane, and play it with feeling, is mainly what

I aspire to do. I know I can play it, but to play it with finesse and love, should prove a challenge. In order to accomplish all this painting, music, and writing, I plan to

not subscribe to Cable or Internet this year. Of course I explained all that in my last blog.

So far being TV less has been easy. We will see once the days get shorter, and the sidewalks icier.

The next morning, I got up and had to clean the camping stuff out of my trailer. Then picked up Robert and Luiz (another one of my ex-students), and we managed to lift the organ from Logan's old place and into the trailer. The hard part was lifting 400 pounds of Hammond Organ up two flights of stairs, but luckily my wonderful son and his buddy, helped us get her into the apartment. I was truly beat.

Saw a gorgeous black Mercedes"S500 sedan, at the local car lot. It was black as hell, with black rims and very low profile tires. The car appeared to be perfect, and with only 118,000 miles, I fell in love with this beauty. So I took it for a test drive and loved it. Until the black smoke started coming from under the hood. I'm sure its just a small issue, like a tiny amount of oil leaking onto the exhaust manifold, but still. The car is $9000, and would cost me $350 per month for the next two years, and it better be perfect! I really don't need a car, but it would be nice to have this one, if only I could trust it. Of course I would have to keep her in a storage shed during the winter, so it would be like being married to Pamela Anderson, while living in another country.

Now I am having a giant salad and a beer at the restaurant where my son works. Been sitting here for two hours working on my blog and paying some bills. But my stay is getting a bit stale, so its time to return to my loft, and get the organ set up, install the foot key board, and jam the night away.

August 3rd,

2010-08-05T18:43:00.003-06:00

Tuesday, August 3rd.

Lets start this from Sunday, Aug, 1st: Woke up from a phone call from my brother in law "Dave",

who was down stairs, waiting to take me to the DFW airport at 6:30 AM. After 4 hours of sleep

(I never get enough sleep before plane rides). Dave is a wonderful person. He goes all out

to help other people. He picked me up from the airport 12 days before, and has gone all out

as a kind host, along with my gracious sister "Robin", and three of their five wonderful children,

which were fun to visit with. This trip was a great success largely due to these fine folks. My

Mom, gets a lot of credit as well, she went all out for me to have a pleasant stay. I constantly

brag about my mom, mainly because she is a good human being, and really cares about me.

Got to DFW in plenty of time, didn't get strip searched or my nadz squeezed like the forward

trip, so things were fine.

Got held up in Denver for a few hours, which caused me to miss my ground transportation

from Salt Lake City, to Logan, but it turned out ok. Damn was I sleeping on each leg of the

journey! Both times I was next to some kid but once the plane flew, I was in "Lala" land,

so i didn't have to talk to them. Frontier, is a comfy ride as far as fat tall guys are concerned

avoid AA and Delta, if you are a big dude or lady.

The drive back to Logan was pleasant, with a very nice bus driver, who was fun to

talk to. Big, happy, corn-fed redneck, He "was constantly parroting the "Rush Limbaugh" version of the "State of American Politics",

but was such a novice that I countered with my liberal political views about what we really

should do regarding Health Care, and he didnt notice that I was a bit of a Socialist, I

did agree with much of his agenda, but he barely understood it himself. We had a nice

time, and before I knew it: I was finally home after 12 hours of travel and waiting. Funny

how by focusing on what you agree on rather than dwell on differences, can make a

normally volitile political arguement into a pleasant conversation. Hopefully the dude learned

something new. I didn't.

Dropped off at my school, where I had my Kawasaki waiting in my classroom. I drove to

the "Crystal Inn", and landed a room for a total of 65 bones per night. It was a step up from the

neighboring "Super 8", but was only 10 bucks more, and served dinner, as well as a full breakfast

which included eggs and meat for once. The jacuzzi sucked in comparison with the "8",

but one has to experience different things on occasion. Next time, I will flee back to the

place with the superior Jacuzzi, no matter how bad the rooms stink in there!

Monday morning, I booked another day at the Crystal Inn, thinking that I might need two days to

find a new place to live. Within 20 minutes I found a wonderful loft in Down Town Logan Utah!!!

This one was the best out of the 5 available. It is huge! in comparison to the others. I have a

beautiful view of Main Street, with the Gorgeous Mormon Temple, and the Wasatch Mountains in

the background. The Tabernacle is in view to the far right. And the County Seat and Courthouse

is nextdoor to the left. But the most important thing to me is that I live nearly above

the excellent "Chicago HotDog Stand" that hangs by the courthouse each day. I know and love

the "Gwynn" family who runs the stand, and they do have the best hotdogs in the entire

county! So "Hot Dog Stand" front property is highly important to me.

And the list of positives goes on and on: I can walk the half mile to where I work. The floor I

live on is an Art Gallery in the hallway, with paintings on each side of my door.

The Apartment itself is considered to be "A Penthouse Suite", since it is much larger and prettier

than the others up here. With 12 foot ceilings, and three great windows in the main room,

and a large bedroom, with the same ceiling, I pay $450 per month! This includes all bills,

cept cable and internet. I can finally bank some money this year!

The loft itself is beautiful! Inside is painted a "Van Gogh" Yellow. The floor a greenish brown,

which will soon be partially covered with my big chinese rug, my mother gave me long ago. The

carpet is a nice one. I plan to have it cleaned before I bring it into this nice place.

Since I essentially live in an Art Gallery, and I am an Art teacher, it is only natural to do a

bit of Art . I will due a few paintings and sculptures soon, but I don;t want my writing or

music to suffer. I am so inspired here at this place, that I believe that I will be producing Art,

Writing, Music, on a daily basis, without all the hassels i used to have regarding my dog, llama,

saltwater fish tank, son, mean neighbors, ect. Here I want to just creat some new stuff!

and I have the confidence that it will be an Amazing year for creativity!!!! To further enhance

the creative process, I plan to do without Cable Tv or the Internet. I will stick to my big

Grundig, wooden, modern radio, which is far mor entertaining than the tube. I got plenty

of internet during the day, and if I need internet for auctions or something outside working

hours, I can take the laptop to a variety of places, the best and closest is "Cafe Ibis", which

will also serve you some mindblowing coffee! This Apartment, looks like 20's technology,

and I plan to keep it as it was 90 years ago. I can read while I listen to the radio. Why pay

80 per month for cable. I still have a tv and dvd player, I can still watch that shit on the

weekends or something. I can still check my email and facebook on my phone. Why

pay 80 bucks for cable tv and internet, when I dont need or want it? I would rather save

the money and winter in Hawaii or something.

I finally got to spend my first night in my new place. I did spend some time during the day

here. I inflated my airbed, but the sheets and blanket on, put the matching pillow cases

on my new pillows, (yeah, I know its gay), but I bought a new bed and accessories for

less than a hundred bucks, and it looks cool and modern), with the built in air-pump, I

managed to get a firm twin sized bed that sits pretty high off the ground, for cheap, and

its quite comfy. I brought my snake in from Logans place, and bought a big plastic truck

box, which will do for a boa habitat, giving her much more space, and wheels to pull her

cage along without bothering her. So my 12 foot cube like bedroom has my bed and the

boa cage, and nothing else, cept the "WINDOW TO NOWHERE". The window is in the buried

interior of these old bulidings, and has been closed to the top, bottom, side, and just exists

as dead space. In fact. The space that my bedroom window looks out of , sees a dead

land without much much light. I can see a blocked off door, 6 feet from my window,

but it is barred shut, with no place to step if some soul happened to open it. I cant see the

botttom of the space between my window and that door. There is another door on my left,

and its blocked as well. The light above is blocked also. This space is a perfect cave!

I plan to unlock this mystery later, but it does bother me that my window facing there has

no lock at all. My front door is impenetrable. but this mysterious space, which is enclosed

like a tomb, can be opened from the inside or the OUTSIDE! I am at the mercy of the

inhabitants of this large dark crawl-space. I look down from that window, and can't see

the bottom. No worries, its impenetrable. I do worry that "Princess the Boa" might

escape, since she isn't locked in, and might push the screen open and crawl down that

abyss, that must certainly lead to HELL!

\Tonight: Was the first time I got to experience the Loft and the various, sites, sounds, voices,

ect. which comprise the total experience, of living ground zero of a small old metropolitan

area. Approaching 9 Pm,, the traffic declined and the temp was getting nicer. I took two

trips to bring the groceries and cleaning supplies to this new place. After putting things away,

I was finally able to kick back and listen to the radio and watch the traffic and people for

a while. The view of the nearby mountains with the sunset reflecting off of them was

amazing! These mountains ,were reflecting the sunset which occurred over the mountains

across the valley, from the western mountains.

Once, darkness, and loneliness set in I was flying, sitting alone in a dark massive room, with

all giant windows open to the unknown. I kept the main lights off, cept a big lavender candle in

the privy, which provided me with enough light, Song after Song was brilliant on the giant wooden

radio, I surfed the internet with my phone, and practically did a victory dance, on the beauty of living

in a cool place such as this! The magic continued all through the night, I was longing to write

about it, but kept getting amused by one thing or the other. I couldn't get to the computer fast enough,b

but finially got to it before all the magic was lost. Unfortunately, By the time i got the computer going,

the magic was lost. I will try to add more and describe it tomorrow night, the colors, the feeling, being

there, sounds, ect..... They were spectacular tonight. I hope to learn more for there is always much

more to learn, And Learning, is what I live for. I can't imagine not having the passion for learning.

view

July 28th, 2010

2010-07-28T21:54:00.007-06:00

Dad and I hit the extensive breakfast bar, I had the biscuits and gravy, which was passible I must say. After going back to the room and sleeping that off, we headed to my old school in Elgin, Tx/, then another 30 miles to the old German town of Fedor, where I spent many nights of 7 years drinking with the local Germans, back when I had a ten acre paradise close by.

My old friend and storekeeper "Clarence", was still there as unchanged as the place that he had operated for the previous 30 years. Clarence is like the wise older brother that I never had. I spent thousands of hours talking to him, and still consider him one of the wisest and smartest people I've known. Never were we "running buddies", but he was more a teacher. Completely self-educated, and only a German speaker until the age 12, Clarence managed to educate himself, while making his own existence in the hot south Texas sun. For some reason, I spent 7 years going to "the School of Clarence" and I grew up considerably due to his influence, I am

lucky to have found a friend like him, and he seemed pleased with the way I have turned out, after many years of absence of contact. Clarence and I had a nice conversation, exchanged news (many of my drinking buddies were dead). After slowly drinking two beers, the conversation lapsed a bit, and there wasn't really much else to say. Dad and I then drove the 60 miles back to Austin in search of "Indian Food". I enjoyed the restaurant hunt, but my traveling companion was getting tired, so I gave up and drove to the nearby "Pappasitos", which is as lame as its ever been. Give me a tiny 6 tabled Mexican place, with a Mexican Mama as the cook, in the bad part of town, any day of the week.

After a 4:00 lunch, we went back to the palace and promptly feel asleep. Dad crashed for good it seems, but I've been kickin' back, watching, TV LAND, and surfing the net. Looks like

my $450 downtown Logan Art Studio Loft is still available! (I have to find some living space, in a few days after touching back down in Logan this Sunday). I'll probably go for the $650 town homes with garage, so I can work on my bike during the winter. I plan to try both out and make the choice next Monday, I'm excited about it!

I have had an excellent visit to Austin, but tomorrow... I must go. I could spend a month here and see a different friend everyday, and probably even meet some new ones. Many of the people in Logan, UT. are friendly, but its just not the same. The LDS in Logan are more "Church Friendly", which seems to run deep if you go to church. Most will always help you move, or build something, and most are positive on the surface, as are most Texan's. I am just more comfortable with the Texas way. Texan's are polite as a general rule. Since dueling was legal in Texas, far into this century, we tend towards politeness. We also fight when our honor is disrespected, (my last fight was only 5 years ago). The Utahns are very quick with aggressive driving (even in shopping carts), aggressive acting, they call you by your last name, even my students, but quickly get confused when you call them on it. I generally just close my tongue, and refrain from reacting to disrespect up in Utah. I feel as a visitor there, and I don't want to have to return too soon . Both places have good folks, but the Texan way is the way Im used to.

Utah, does have way nicer schools, and they spend far less money per student for this. Texas education systems would benefit by studying Utah's, I made about the same salary in both places, but Utah has better benefits, treatment and professional respect. Texas treated us like dogs by comparison. Maybe it was the particular school district I was in, but the benefits are much nicer in Utah in general.

Although, I have few good friends in Logan, I plan to give it one or two more years up there. I am tired of the long frozen winters, but since I plan to hook up a side-car to my bike, I will have a reason to get out and ride during the darkest cold days, and make the best of it. I am also going to be living totally alone for the first time since 1985 and 86, when I lived alone in Commerce, Texas, while working on my sculpture degree. It will be a challenge, but after being alone, most of the summer, I kind of liked the change. Probably be dating a bit more now, and the Mormon ladies are alright by me. Most seem to have their religion in check, and are pretty normal people. I am looking forward to this new school year, and I plan to

make the most of it.

Tomorrow morning, Dad and I will, have a final breakfast with my Daughter Athena, and her husband "Nick", who I don't know too well, but Athena is absolutely crazy about him after 6 months of marriage! Nick is soft spoken, puts off good vibes, I hope to hang around with him a bit more in the future. I like the guy!

Then we shall return to Dallas. I look forward to seeing my Sister and Brother in law, my Mom, my other sister and husband, old friends from Dominos, the Kiesers ect... I do know that my older Sis and her husband "Dave" will take me to dinner or allow me to hang out at their house, or swim in their pool. They are amazing hosts. I will be forever grateful for their kindness and class. I feel welcome in Dallas for sure...

July 27th, 2010

2010-07-27T22:18:00.003-06:00

We arrived in Austin, Texas on July 26th, and drove around looking for a decent hotel for my dad and I. I wanted a place with a balcony so dad could read the paper and drink coffee for a few hours, and allow me to sleep. After much searching, we wound up at the "Drury Inn", although hard to pronounce, is a very nice place and a good deal. We got a suite, with separate kitchen and living room with can be closed off to the sleeping area. All this FOR 100 BUCKS A NIGHT! This does include free internet, cable, two hd tv's, free full breakfast, big cheap dinner buffet for free. And is situated next to an excellent Sports Bar in case I get tired of the free stuff.

They offer three free drinks per person as well!!!! I love this place... My only complaint is that they lack a hot tub or jacuzzi, but this room is as large as a one bedroom apartment, and perfect in every way. Usually I overlook minor things in a hotel room, but no hidden issues here.

My Daughter and her Husband stopped in an partied for a while, joined us for dinner, then left back to there townhome. My old bandmate "Ken" stopped in around 10 PM and we went to the sports bar next door and had a few laughs and drinks. We got back and drank a few more, since we had a lot to catch up on.

I woke up around 1 PM., went to find my daughters place, which turned out to take a long time. Seems the townhouses are practically under a huge highway clover leaf, but once we found it, we could see why she picked the place. It is a very well established group of townhouses, with three pools, large trees, and the sound of the nearby freeways were not really noticable. We watched "The Charge of the Light Brigade" with Errol Flynn, My daughter and hubby like cool old movies as much as I do. My dad was able to spot the actors, since he was alive during their time. We then left to get a lunch and wait for my other daughter and grandson to bring me my old paintings, which I left at my old house in Bastrop Texas.

Had another great night overall. Glad I decided to to visit my old city of Austin again, after three years. Going back to Utah, will be harder once spending time at the Capital of Texas. Utah, is not Texas. Utah, is quite A nice state, but it is "Not Texas", and Texas is my true home.

July 25th, 2010

2010-07-25T22:17:00.004-06:00

Spent three nights in a row since July 20th with my Sister and Brother in law, and a few of their kids. As usual they treated me as an honored guest, taking me to dinner each night, and being kind in general. My older sis and husband, are the greatest hosts imaginable. My parents, being excellent hosts as well, set me up in a "catfree" room, and I have enjoyed my stay more than usual due to this.

I really enjoy the "Trinity Hall" restaurant in Allen, Texas, which is a quite authentic, Irish Pub with a fair amount of English cuisine.

Friday, I hung out with my old friends "Charles and Melissa", spent the night partying by their parents pool in a very large house out in the country of the North Dallas area. Met another old friend Brian that night, hadn't seen him for twenty years. We all played trivia, under the north Texas Stars. Wow! Its nice to know people!!!!!

Saturday, I hung out with my Persian (Iranian) friend "Reza", and a friend of his friend, a lovely lady in her late thirties, whom I'll refer to as "Mal", since I don't know her entire name.

Reza, took me to a couple Persian restaurants on Saturday, and our conversations, were mainly politics, but "Mal" a visitor, was decent in her English, and fun to talk to as well. Reza

is always trying to fix me up with Iranian women, and that "Mal", seemed a bit fluffy, but worth a second gander. She wouldn't make a very good camping companion is my guess.

Had a good time watching "Fiddler on the Roof", an although "the movie glorifies Jews", (in Rezas words), We both still enjoyed it due to the humor and choreography. Later Reza went to bed, and turned up the Persian radio, in the nearby hallway before he crashed. I didn't know why he likes a loud radio at night, but I forgot about it, and tried to watch another movie, and could only hear part of what was said. I tried to sleep and with the radio screaming in my ear, and the ambient 82 degree temperature I layed in a pool of sweat until four oclock in the morning. Finally, I pulled out my own radio and shoved the earphones in my ears, then it sounded like loud English bullshit, with the persian loudly in the background.

Two hours later, Reza spares no noise, and once I informed him of my lack of sleep, graciously allowed me a couple more hours, before the banging in the kitchen woke me up for good. He said it was my own fault for not waking him up about the noise, or the temperature... I told him that I don't feel that a humble guest should be a "complainer". Which is exactly what the bastard accused me of a bit later!

After a decent breakfast of cream cheese on bread, Reza starts to talk on the phone in Farsi, for the next hour or two, while pretending to make that evenings dinner. So I sit from 11 AM till 2 PM in a chair, with no TV, one Persian newspaper, and watch him talk on the phone and slowly prepare a meal, that might have taken me thirty minutes to cut up and put in the slow cooker. He did notice my total boredom and asked me if I was bored?

I said "Hell yeah! I'm bored", but I had no way out of there, and that "watching him talk on the phone for hours at a time in a foreign language, was going to cause me to kill myself, unless, he could kindly take me home to my parents". He said "Ok, but let me finish getting the cooking ready right quick".... So I remained in a chair for another hour...... then he went into his room, I assumed it was to get his keys and to drive me away from this dungeon. He didn't return, for the next thirty minutes.

By 3:30 PM, I had enough, by then I was relegated to sitting 4 and one half hours in the same chair with absolutely nothing to do, watch, talk to, or anything. This is the worst treatment I've ever experienced as a guest before, and I had no way to leave, since Reza is the one who brought me there. I had asked to go several times, but was kindly put off.

At 3:30 I was done. Voting with my feet, I left his house, slid down a few alleys, cut through a few yards, and was on a major street in the City of Plano, and went inside a "Starbucks", and had a cup of coffee. I was about to call a friend or taxi for a ride, but Reza soon called me, and picked me up, I told him I would only enter the car if guaranteed that I would get a ride straight home. Reza did apologize, I did as well, but I don't think he realized how rude he was. I did try to explain my point of view without damning his point of view. But Reza, is a bit thick once ya get to know him.

I wanted to stay a good friend, and I know he made a dinner for me. So 3 hours later, I went back to his place using my dads truck, (so I would have a way outta there), and went back to eat the dinner that he made for me. I enter the house, and Reza instantly talks on the phone ignoring my existince, for another 20 minutes, again speaking in a language that I could not follow at all. I cannot stand being ignored for that long, especially since I'm supposed to be an honored guest in his house. I simply DO NOT DO THAT SHIT TO PEOPLE!

Then he got off the phone for a minute and another phone call erupted at which point I went into his back yard, where I could at least look at a few trees and the sky or something FOR THE NEXT FUCKING 25 MINUTES!!!!!!!~

Once he got off, he came out back and I tried to explain to him how I felt, without bitching or anything. He said that he had 43 calls that day and that he would lose business if he shut of his phone. I tried to explain again how, as a guest, that listening to a 10 to 50 minute phone call, in a foreign language, with absolutely nothing else to do, is no fun at all. He really didn't get it. I was being real, informative, kind, but he could/would not grasp my point.

I ate my dinner fast, and was going to leave ASAP, when a couple of his friends showed up. I really enjoyed talking "Anthropology of the Iranian Race" with his friend "Syed", who was funny as well. We and Syeds girl were hitting it off quiet good, when Reza pointed out to them "What a complainer", I was. ( I guess he didn't want us to get along, he must have been pissed). But the ass, brings it up to his friend, Syed. I just casually threw it back at him, and Syed seemed to know what an old stick in the mud, Reza really could be. Syed, seemed to understand my side. Even told me "that Reza was just a politition and was running for the "Ayatollah of Dallas"! which was funny as heck.

I really didn't want a war with my old friend Reza, so I bid, Syed and his companion (most lovely lady), good bye, and left before it got dark. I don't like driving in the dark much, but I got home ok.

Damn, you think you know someone and DAMN! I guess people change.

Tomorrow or Wednesday, Dad and I are going down to Austin Tx. to see my daughter Athena, and her husband "Nick". I haven't seen them much over the years, and am really looking forward to it. I've had a nice visit to Dallas so far, and have seen many of my old friends, relatives, ect... One more week to go. I promise to keep you posted.

July 20th, 2010

2010-07-20T21:23:00.006-06:00

Last night I started to turn in early, when a knock at the door in my outside hotel room surprised me at 10:30. It was my excellent son Logan who wanted to hang around a few hours before I left in the morning. Too bad my morning was to start at 6:am. So we sat on the balcony and drank more than a few beers, and actually had our first real time since, he moved out back in March. We both had a good time just talking and being real.

Went to bed around 2 AM, and took every precaution to insure I would wake up a scant 4 hours later. I set my phone alarm, called the desk for a wakeup call, tryed to set the hotel rooms alarm clock, even set an online alarm clock so the computer would wake me. Out of all this, my cell phone, and the front desk were the only precautions that woke me this morning. This computer doesn't stay on the online wakeup notice, so that one failed. I couldnt figure out how to set a modern cheap alarm clock that the hotel provided for me. But I did wake up!

Hit the excellent breakfast in the morning and they had meat!!!! The first complimentary breakfast, I've witnessed where one could dine on sausage, waffles, and all kinds of continental fare. I ate like a horse, and walked the three blocks to the shuttle pick-up sight, so I could get to the airport, by 10:30. The driver allowed me to ride shotgun in his Mercedes van, which was a nice ride for a shuttle service. I went in and out of consciousness for the long 80 mile drive to the Salt Lake City airport, still tired from the food and the lack of sleep.

I got to the airport, and neglected to remove a couple small swiss army penknives from my ruck sack, and even forgot about an 18 inch sharp wire saw, which could remove a human head in a matter of seconds. That combined with the Russian Passport cover I use, caused the powers of homeland security, to frisk and feel me up for 30 minutes, while asking personal questions, and searching carefully through my entire rucksack. I pointed out that the underwear in the rucksack might not be clean, but they laughed and continued doing an all to thorough job, including feeling up my privates, and butt crack, but they did wear gloves, so it wasn't humiliating for me at all. Then they mailed my weapons collection to my post office box back in Logan, and I was on my way. Nice to feel important, like I was a national security threat or something. Dumb-asses, prolly let a thousand Arabs pass me without searching any of them. I'm sorry, I see nothing wrong with racial profiling as long as its fast, professional, non-demeaning, then figuring out a record system so that it doesn't happen more the once.

Barely made the flight from SLC to Denver.

I must add that "Frontier" Airlines, actually has room for big and tall people to sit. Unlike Delta, and American Airlines, seating is not excruciatingly painful or uncomfortable for the person next to me! I hear "continental" is also humane to big fat folks and their neighbors.

My excellent Brother in Law, was most kind, and picked me up from the airport. He also took me out to dinner three nights in a row. My Brother in Law and Sister "Robin" are incredible hosts. I am very happy to be related to them. They have 5 excellent kids as well,

since they are wonderful parents. Trust me: I am a good judge of what makes an "Excellent" kid. Of course my parents were most kind also. They have bent over backwards in order to

make my stay comfortable. I am allergic to their two cats, but they created a "cat free" room for me to sleep in. This wasn't easy I imagine. Don't like to comment about my family life on a public forum too much. But it sure is nice to be living among family after two years of virtual solitude.

JULY 21st and 22nd: Nothing much to report, nice to be at home. Met up with my friend "Dan", and hung around for a couple hours. Then went back out to eat with my brother in law and parents, and had some large Margaritas, which got us all F' d up to some extent. Tried to watch some movie about the last days of "Tolstoy", dad and I were out like lights, but Mom watched the entire tear jerker. The music put me out pretty fast. Looked like a decent movie, but... it was sad.

Forgot to mention that I am bound for Austin next week in order to see my daughters, and pick up a bunch of my old Art work, which is too large to mail. My younger daughter and son-in law, are going to be teachers! Living in the City of Austin and starting their careers as educators makes this dad quite proud! I can't wait to see them.

July 17th, 2010

2010-07-19T10:30:00.008-06:00

July 17th, 2010: Thought we were going to get some rain today, big storm clouds came in from Idaho

during the second day of 99 degree temps. 99 degrees is the hottest I've ever seen it here, but its stil

l a joke when compared to Texas standards. Yes, it went up to 100 degrees for 2 hours, after starting

the day at 60 degrees, and its already in the 70's by 8:00 PM. I still love hearing the people bitch

about it, and no humidity? Hell, I find the temps perfect as can be, but would like some rain, its

quite dusty in my campsite, and the rain would keep the road dust from covering my camp site.

Had a visitor today. I wasn't here but the bastard walked off with the hot dog buns, I had stashed in

my guitar case. No trace was left. What could it be? The tree and ground squirrels would have

broke in and made a big mess, leaving a holey bread bag, and crumbs behind. A bear would have broke

into the cooler and ate the hot dogs, drink mixers, milk, beer, ect... Then I saw the bastard, I should

have known that the three foot high mound at the edge of my campsite was built by an animal. The

"Bastard" is formally called a "Marmot", which is a very large rodent, about half the size of a beaver,

that weighs about 15 pounds and looks like a giant hamster. I have witnessed Marmots at a distance

before and I absolutely love these animals. Many are afraid of them, afterall they are essencially rats that

probably kick your ass if you pissed one off. I think they are cute.

I plan to buy them (they usually come in pairs)some food before I leave, maybe go to the feed store

and buy them a bag of corn for the wintertime. I will try to get a picture of their mound, they moved 1000's of

pounds of dirt to built this thing.

One my my favorite things about moving to a new state is to check out all the new life forms, with

insects and plants to capture my notice at first. But after three years, I've seen many new types of

birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles as well. For instance we have two types of mosquitos here. One

is a small slow lame-assed mozzy, that I can usually feel and squash before getting bitten. It does carry

the West Nile Virus, but not really many cases up here. The other type annoys me the most, called the

"tree hole mosquito, they live in holes filled with water in the trees. They are fast, large, and take a bite

and move before you can slap it. They are few, and do not spread the aforementioned virus.

After Borders, I went to see Logan again, had coffee with the boy, then went to grab some lunch before

taking him to work, we wound up eating at his restaurant. I try not to bug him too much, but after a

month without my own place, lonelyness begins to creep in. I find myself talking to strangers, blabbing

all kinds of personal shit, then leaving once they have that "this guy is wierd" look on their faces! Ok,

I exaggerate but this does happen from time to time.

Stopped in my classroom to feed my lion fish

and noticed that my custodian and friend "Cathy" beat me to it. She had a few goldfish, in a bucket

and the fish was laying on the ground in "digesting" mode. So I put the other ten fish in another bucket for

the lion fish to eat, when I visit Dallas in a few days. Today is a little over a month since I been camping

and hoteling it. I think I hoteled it about 60 percent of the time, a fact that I am ashamed of, but I did

have the money, and it becomes all too convienient and easy. But I'm committed to make it till Monday out

here which will be 6 days of constant camping, which is my record in the truck camper. I am still learning

and getting my camping logistics down, there is an awful lot of preparation when trying to assess the

things you really need and the things you can do without. Adequate clothing is essential, as is water

and a way to light a fire. But I didn't need 15 sets of clothing, since it takes up a ton of room, or three

different jackets, 7 knives, three guns, ect. I will get smarter each time, because the less clutter, the easier

it is to find the necessities. And the less weight the truck has to pull. Since I'm getting 7 miles to the gallon,

losing weight would need to happen on a long trip somewhere. The mileage is so bad, I've never had the truck

out of the valley.

So I passed the "Shit Time", and made it out alive once again. I plan to rename the "Shit Time" to the

"Bastard Time", but since there is a famous "Bastard Time" quote by John Steinbeck, and the meaning

a completely different one, but "Shit Time" sounds so crass, and "Bastard" is my all time favorite word,

I think its fitting to rename "Shit Time", to "Bastard Time". Sorry John, in your treatise you referred to

"Time" itself, as a "Bastard", and called the whole thing "That bastard Time"!

John knew the time was coming, the skinny Bastard died at age 68 from

a heart attack, to the chagrin of us fat bastards, who enjoy watching the skinny not outlast us. I know this is

morbid, but would you like to constantly here the tragic news that YOU were always gonna die early? I hear

it daily, I try to work on the weight issue, and the constant prognostication of my doom, are not appreciated.

I'm aware of my medical conditions, I work at it and many times am successful. My conditions are all stress

related in the first place. My job is what causes me stress. Hopefully it will cause me less stress this year.

But, when I hear of skinny people dieing of heart attacks at age 40 or 50, I do get a rush of confidence, though

I am not glad that the individual is gone. I really wish that Steinbeck would have lived 100 years or more. I feel

cheated, that he died so young. I love every thing the guy ever wrote. It was all good. I even liked his log

report when he helped his Zoologist friend with collecting little marine animals in the tide pools in the Sea of Cortez.

His friend was the crazy Zoologist, featured in his books "Cannery Row" and "Tortilla Flat", the best of Steinbeck.

So tonight was beautiful once again. I am nearly out of kerosene, so my camp is dark tonight, with only one

lamp protecting me. So I overdid the campfire, and sparks were flying into the dry trees and grass, so I shut it

down with a few shovels of dirt, some old water, and a piss or two. I don't want to be known as : "The teacher

who burned up Green Canyon", and it is dry and windy tonight. I am a paranoid careful bastard in times like

these. Maybe I'm old enough to learn from watching other peoples past mistakes.

The dark campsite tonight is really bringing out the stars and constellations. They are bright and easy to see,

since I don't have all the lanterns keeping out the wildlife. I am unafraid after spending last night in the total

dark till morning, and nothing happened. If the lions didn't live here, it probably wouldn't be as fun. And

the large male wolf that was shot last week, in Franklin County, about 18 miles north of here makes it even

more fun. Bears, haven't been seen in this part of the mountain range in years, but they do exist within 20 miles

of here, which means an odd one can make it here in one day. I'll live. I used to swim in lakes with large alligators

and many water moccasins, and 300 pound gar fish. Most animals just want to get along for the most part. Unless

wounded or hungry, or rabid, a big guy like me will be fine. Yet I do admit my fears freely, they are just another thing

to overcome. People that refuse to admit their shortcomings, generally are liars and self-deluders. Once ya start

lying to yourself, your credible life is over. Everything, is a fantasy after you start lying to yourself. People like

that are totally lost. Be honest with yourself above all else folks: then you can work on your issues. Keep telling

yourselves falsehoods, or blaming others, and things will not change for you. WORD.

I'm listening to some really old classics on the AM radio, by the campfire with little light and I can't see beyond

the picnic table I'm sitting at. Unless I look at the stars I am surrounded by total darkness. The lovely music

destracts me enough to sit here and write at One AM. I will retire soon due to the cold, but I want to squeeze out

a few more words before I go, perhaps I like to hear the sound of my own voice, and my own stream of conscience.

I did check out a nice apartment today. It was called a "Down town Penthouse", also an art studio, it looks pretty

cool, and I do love living in an old "DownTown" Building, which is right smack on main street, of a city of 50,000, souls.

The tall ceilings and brick walls are nice. The maze of ghetto hallways and the roof one has to walk across at night

looks to be a challenge, but for $450 per month? Its a steal.

July 17th, 2010: Thought we were going to get some rain today, big storm clouds came in from Idaho during the second day of 99 degree temps. 99 degrees is the hottest I've ever seen it here, but its still a joke when compared to Texas standards. Yes, it went up to 100 degrees for 2 hours, after starting the day at 60 degrees, and its already in the 70's by 8:00 PM. I still love hearing the people bitch

about it, and no humidity? Hell, I find the temps perfect as can be, but would like some rain, its

quite dusty in my campsite, and the rain would keep the road dust from covering my camp site.

Had a visitor today. I wasn't here but the bastard walked off with the hot dog buns, I had stashed in

my guitar case. No trace was left. What could it be? The tree and ground squirrels would have

broke in and made a big mess, leaving a holey bread bag, and crumbs behind. A bear would have broke

into the cooler and ate the hot dogs, drink mixers, milk, beer, ect... Then I saw the bastard, I should

have known that the three foot high mound at the edge of my campsite was built by an animal. The

"Bastard" is also called a "Marmot", which is a very large rodent, about half the size of a beaver,

that weighs about 15 pounds and looks like a giant hamster. I have witnessed Marmots at a distance

before and I absolutely love these animals. Many are afraid of them, afterall they are essencially rats that

probably kick your ass if you pissed one off. I think they are cute. I plan to buy them (they usually come in pairs)

some food before I leave, maybe go to the feed store and buy them a bag of corn for the wintertime

I will try to get a picture of their mound, they moved 1000's of pounds of dirt to built this thing.

One my my favorite things about moving to a new state is to check out all the new life forms, with

insects and plants to capture my notice at first. But after three years, I've seen many new types of

birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles as well. For instance we have two types of mosquitos here. One

is a small slow lame-assed mozzy, that I can usually feel and squash before getting bitten. It does carry

the West Nile Virus, but not really many cases up here. The other type annoys me the most, called the "tree

hole mosquito, they live in holes filled with water in the trees. They are fast, large, and take a bite and move

before you can slap it. They are few, and do not spread the aforementioned virus.