Christmas 2013 Queenstown, New Zealand

Who would have ever imagined how many Xmas and New Year Celebrations we have enjoyed in this wonderful place on the planet earth!!!

1990 we celebrated Xmas at the Hermitage Lodge at Mount Cook.  There was SNOW and it was cold.  The Christmas tree was a REAL PINE TREE.  Instead of lights it was decorated with colorful balloons!  The Christmas Fairies passed out Lolly's and we sang carols.  Karyn and Michael had packed a small artificial tree and decorations inside a suit case so we could have a tree inside our room!   Talk about innocent, simple magic.  We had a Christmas I will forever remember.

Now, all these years later we still put up a tree, decorate the house, invite friends in for food and laughter.  Watch the Christmas Gala for the Royal Family in England, then a movie.  This year Channel One broadcast a wonderful film:  Bucket List.  Last year it was the original Sound of Music.  Year before that was Willy Wonkers and the Chocolate Factory... every year they choose a good flick.

I hope these photos down load properly.  First one will be my snacks before dinner.  Second the Nativity we have arranged on a beautiful wooden table.  Third one of my favorite decorations in the world.  SHE IS MY MUSICAL ANGEL!  If I could I would take her every where I wander.  Fourth the dining room table and last of all my perfect home made bread I had just taken out of the oven for the meal.  Dinner was baked ham with a pineapple glaze, new boiled baby potatoes from the garden topped with real butter and fresh parsley a carrot raisin salad, then a gorgeous garden green salad all natural items from our land lady's garden... and my warm bread with lashings of sweet butter and cherry jam.
We topped it off with a very KIWI TRADITIONAL DESSERT.  Pavlova.  Real whipped cream and mountains of fresh raspberries!

We did miss having some friends with us that have crossed over, but they were here in spirit.  Best gift: we are able to enjoy and even find excitement at this time of year.  NO GIFTS WERE EXCHANGED THIS YEAR!  I LOVED IT.  NO STRESS, NO CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT IF THEY WON'T LIKE THIS?  Alas!  a card and money always save the day!

Magic the way we keep in touch.

24 years ago we were introduced to "calling cards" in NZ.  I had never heard of such a thing in the USA.
 In the yearly 90's you simply walked into a convenience store any where in NZ and purchased a card that resembled a Credit Card.  You could buy anywhere from $10.00 to $100.00 worth of minutes to call internationally or locally or within the country.  Walk to a pay phone on the street, insert the card and you were connected...  We thought it was STATE OF THE ARTS TECHNOLOGY!

Years later E mail became my means of contacting people within minutes...  I stopped sending cards, letters except for certain important documents via NZ POSTAL SERVICE...  then the cell phone!  I wish and I should have kept my first cell Vodafone.  A young man at Vodafone a few years ago when I decided to buy a "clam shell type new phone"  said, "OMG!  I want this!"  I told him he could have it.  It worked beautifully but did not have a camera or any of the other bells and whistles that come with phones today.  I had dropped this phone in rivers!  on the sidewalks, left it for days and nights inside my backpack and the damn thing NEVER EVER FELL APART!

Every year at Xmas and my Birthday I purchase a gift or maybe at times more things than what I usually would give myself and then I say:  this is from Mabel, Frederic, Larry, Bobby, Grandma, Aunt so and so... the list is endless.  (these are people I have been deeply involved with years ago who have crossed over to the other side! plus there a million more people I can blame for my purchases.)

TODAY:  NEW CELL PHONE.  It has all those gadgets, and other stuff.  I am quite impressed with it.
I am posting a photo of the ancient land line telephone we use here at the house.  (very up market for the time.)  Then my NEW PHONE:  A Sam sung GT-S6810P  and beside it my Vodafone I have used for the past three years aVodafone LG.

By late this evening I will have the NEW MAGICAL PHONE CHARGED and I inserted my old SIM card so as not to loose numbers and information.  I put the new SIM card into the old Vodafone and it has a new number.  I will give that to Michael  so that when I am away from the property I can call him or he can call me...

My old NZ MOBILE NUMBER IS IN THE NEW PHONE SO THOSE OF YOU THAT CALL ME DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY... I WILL ANSWER and you do not have to enter a new number.  (I do not always answer... but leave a message...)

Rained like hell last night on and off today.  COLD.  The plants are thriving... It is 7:30 PM NZT therefore I am pouring a red and then I will prepare a meal.  THEN possibly read, write or watch a movie.  I still watch DVD'S.  I purchased 8 from Amazon before leaving the states so  I simply insert the disc into my MacBook and it's kinda like being at the movies except I can look and dress the way I am at the moment and munch on anything my tummy desires.

Amazing day...

This morning I walked to my eye man.  He remade my piano/computer glasses from last year.  I lost the glasses in the spring when I was performing in Thayne.  After leaving his office I collected a prescription from the Chinese Pharmacy (I call it) my anti acid stomach pills.  90 pills for 4 NZD.  I wanted lunch.  I had my mind made up I would go to KFC.  (I know bad, but yummy and at my age who really cares!)  The force moved me another direction.

I walked toward a restaurant I know very well the Water Front.  As I walked around the bend onto the main path to the restaurant there was a young man who had his legs crossed  setting out crystals and necklaces on a sarong exacting like the one I have had for years!  I stopped and gazed at his wares.  THEY WERE TOP QUALITY.  We talked, I asked, he gave answers and I purchased a gorgeous and most powerful crystal and believe this OUT OF CHINA!  It is a herkimer meaning both ends of the stone are terminators.  It was wound in gorgeous silver wire...  the young man is from England.  He's spending the summer, autumn and winter in NZ.  He is very special cosmic child.

From the purchase I walked to the Water Front Restaurant.  (I have been so upset that my Salerno Vino has gone!)  Everything changes.  (most of all me)  Last year the chef at the Water Front was from Brazil.  He did a fantastic rump steak, salad, fries lunch for $15.00.

The young man that waited on me gave me a table over looking the wharf.  I asked him:  "Do I want the fish of the day or the Steak?"  He went into detail about the steak.  I told him I have had it many times.  The waiter was impeccable.  He constantly hoovered over me.  The steak was like heaven.  It and my entire lunch was something beyond my imagination.  A mushroom and beef reduction on the steak.
The salad was perfect and the CHIPS or FRIES as we call them in America were crisp and not over or under cooked.  I could only think of a passage of words April sent me a short time ago when her family were in a restaurant in Amsterdam.
"THE KITCHEN IS OUR SHRINE, THE COOK OUR PRIEST, THE TABLE OUR ALTER AND THE BELLY OUR GOD!"

I made it home with my magic stone around my neck, my strange Tee Shirts and new glasses.  Michael is tiling the new kitchen.  The plants are growning like monsters and I love it.  Did not make music today but will tomorrow.  No man loves his holiday more than me.  NO TIME LIMITS, NO RULES, I SLEEP WHEN I WANT I WALK WHEN I WANT I DREAM WHEN I WANT AND MOST OF ALL I AM GRATEFUL BEYOND IMAGINATION FOR THE WAY MY LIFE TURNED OUT BECAUSE YEARS AGO MY KARMA COULD HAVE GONE DOWN INTO A VERY DARK HOLE!  FAR BEYOND A WORM HOLE OR RABBIT HOLE...

Photo 1. my plant in my studio window.  Photo 2. My crystals.  Possibly you will see the Phantom Crystal.  Photo 3. Crystals on my sacred table.  Notice the Geode.
Photo 4. My new Necklace.
Photo 5. Window view from my table during lunch.
Photo 6. My plate at the Water Front.

Synchroicity

I came to New Zealand 24 years ago!  

(I have people I treasure as if they were my own children and one is 24, one is 23 one is 45...)  They were babies when I first touched the ground of South Island.

They have had to HEAR so many STORIES about my adventures in New Zealand.  I know many people think WHY NZ.  I believe the universe literally "takes you" where you are supposed to be.  You may decide you want to be a certain place but once you arrive at that place situations may lift you into an entire different place from from where you dreamed of being.

Most of it has to do with my HUNCHES... my INSTINCTS... some unseen force that drives me toward the lesson I must learn.  Well, this year I made a promise to myself that I would allow Synchronicity to be my guide.  Bits of this journal will be about my following my instincts and what I discover along the way.

I hope to post a photo of me standing beside my studio door.  I have a flower vase attached to the window of the front door.  Inside the vase I put fresh flowers because it makes the door appear so inviting as well as the perfume from certain flowers is like magic.  (There is a reason for this photo)

Yesterday I walked around the village.  I took random photos of places and people.  I had a "feeling" I should step into a certain shop I frequent  and sure enough it was a perfect move in the right direction!  Found a kit that helps one make cheese!  (I love cheese)  also found a kit that can help a person make their own home made wine!)  I also found some special gifts for a couple of precious friends.  I left the shop feeling a sense of being alive and happy.

No plan in mind I walked out to St. Omar Park.  Great gusts of wind were flying off the waters of the lake and it was chilly.  I kept walking and finally thought, sit your butt down and rest.  I had made a ham sandwich which was inside my backpack.  For some reason I  plunked my  ass on a bench beside a wonderful grill type thing built on cinder blocks.  I thought nice.  I could bring some propane and cook myself a hot meal on this grill one day.  As I was gazing at the water and mountains two young men walked up and asked me if I was using the "barbie"  meaning the bar B Q, grill, flat top...  I smiled and said, "I'd like to but, I'm having a ham sandwich, you guys go ahead and use it however, may I sit on this bench for a few more minutes.  They grinned from ear to ear and said:  " Yo MAN!  You just make Ur self at home and don't mind us a bit!"

Both guys had to be early 20's.  I so remember when I spent most of my life OUT DOORS CAMPING and COOKING OUT DOORS when I was in my 20's.  One young man was very thin with long blond hair.  Bare feet, shorts and hoodie.  His companion, (Who became the main cook) was dark with short hair in ripped pants, torn Tee Shirt and bare feet.)  These two worked together like a team out of a top kitchen.  They had the grill heating after many attempts against the gusts of harsh wind.  These guys had an old beaten up pickup truck.  The blond walked over to the truck and carried over a cardboard box full of ITEMS.  He sat it on the table beside me.  The box contained:  Beef Mince, which is hamburger to us in America.  Red Onions, a garlic bulb, loaf of White Bread, Tomato Sauce (Katsup)  red tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, lettuce greens, it even had a bottle of white flour, one bottle of white sugar, one of salt, pepper... butter and get this:  BELL TEA BAGS!  A pan to boil water in and spoons, towels the WORKS!  JUST LIKE I USED TO TRAVEL WITH!

The winds settled down and the dark haired guy made mince patties, the blonde guy chopped red onions.  The Blond cut tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and put it all into a plastic bowel.  Dripped Balsamic Vinegar over it and tossed it together.  Dark boy had 6 patties on that grill.  They smelled divine.  (I love the perfume of onions and chopped beef frying...)  

By this time I had finished my sandwich.  BOTH GUYS turned to me and asked:  "Ya gonna join us mate? 'cause if ya don't ya have no idea what Ur miss in.)  I said, " Well, yes if you have enough."  The dark head guy said: "We can't afford the eats around this place.  We are headin up to Paradise and Glenorchy... (TWO PLACES I LOVE)  ya wanna go with?"  OMG that is one time I thought to myself  yes I'd love to, but...)  

The meal they created was gourmet.  Grilled hamburger on white bread with Katsup, grilled onions, a salad to die for and even wine.  YES THEY HAD SHITTY CHEAP WINE!  

We talked about my many years coming to QT and how it was different in 1990 but some things have remained the same.  They said they would never come to America because we SHOOT PEOPLE WITH GUNS!  Their stories are worthy of a separate blog.   

After the meal they lite up a joint and cleaned up.  I told them to keep in touch and please enjoy every thing in Paradise.  (Paradise is where many movies are made. Long drive up the canyon.  The road was gravel when I came here.)

Synchronicity led me back into town and I figured I had best get a taxi home.  I did not go to the taxi stand.  For some reason I walked to the side of the Post Office.  There was a GREEN TAXI.  I tapped on the window inquiring if the lady inside was OPEN.  She smiled and said YES.  Where you going?

She was a joy.  Probably 40's but such a great smile.  Told her my address:  11 Panorama Place.  She did not know exactly where the address was so I guided her.  She stared telling me how she graduated with a degree in journalism and wanted to go to Europe.  (these are her very words and OMG I have used this description about myself when I was in my 20's trying to become a musician in Hollywood.)

"Ah!  I was not pretty enough, I was NOT BLOND enough"  I honestly said these words years ago over and over... She then told me that she had applied to be a Nanny and guess what?  she was able to travel all around Europe!"  She dropped me outside my house and I paid her plus gave her a small tip.  She grinned and said:  "You are a very fit man.  How old are you?"  I said old enough to be your father.  She said she never, ever knew her father!

 She gave me a pink rose!  I have it in my vase on the door.  I told her to spend the 3 dollars I gave her as a tip on a coffee or ice cream.  Well, today I am walking past the taxi stand and she is sitting in her green cab eating a gorgeous ice cream!

Follow your heart.  It works.

My Walk about

There is a small head stone in the QT park which haunts me.  Jazabella.  She loved Jazz and was very gifted dancer... as well as a free spirit.  I always place rocks, flowers things on her grave.

Falcon Scott was one of the great adventures of all time.  He sailed to Antarctica years ago and became a National Hero.  I love these words which are engraved on the monument honoring his life.

The pond in QT park.  Full of Lilly pads and ducks.  Lots of foi gra around the place!

Friends are best possible thing one can ever have..

Today we drove out to Alexandra to have lunch with a woman I have known for years.  She was my trainer here in NZ for years.  Karina is a powerful women.  Her partner Jimmy is an angel.  They moved from CH CH a year and a half ago to Alex.  They have a wee pet.  Charlie.  God he is priceless as well as being an amazing well behaved boy.  Jack Russell is his biological title, but he is more human than you can imagine.

The drive to Alex takes an hour.  We enjoyed the mountains, winery's, sky, the mighty rivers and most of all just TALKING.  When we arrived at Karina's and Jimmy's home I was gobsmacked at the gardens!  Gorgeous green lawns, bright roses, and all kinds of pots with herbs, veggies as well as cactus plants and "chickens and hen's" planted in rock walls.

We visited about everything possible then Jimmy prepared lunch!  The man can cook!!!  He made a gorgeous salad with herbs from their garden.  Broiled a perfect salmon.  The salmon melted in your mouth.  Fresh steamed carrots and lots of wine!

Karina had taken care of my plants during the past NZ winter.  They are healthy, happy and most of all BALANCED.  Plants are radar.  They will react to your every emotion.  (Especially Herbs).  I have witnessed a plant nearly die in the presence of a very negative and bad vibration which radiated from a person I thought was a perfect, talented, gifted human being...

I later discovered my estimation of the person was completely in error beyond words.  I planted a simple house plant in the garden window in the kitchen of my restaurant.  The plant became a giant.  I played music quietly for it every morning.  I sat beside it every night before going home... (drinking wine... not so good?)  The living energy of the plant was happy beyond words.  Well go figure!
I avoid anything negative around food.  No one should cook when in a hateful anger emotion.  It can taint food and every living thing within any life form that receives vibrations!

NOW the GREAT GIFT FROM JIMMY!  A gorgeous jar of marinated lemons!  OMG.  They are priceless.  Will post photos of the jar later.  You simply take a lemon out of the jar and tenderly with loving fingers and a very sharp knife slice a sliver from the rind.  The essence of the lemon is divine.
I have woven these strands together and they make a garnie on the top of any fish dish appear as if it were plated by the gods of food!
I have used the lemons from such an infusion on canned tuna fish.  Laugh it works!

Karina gave me a SUNFLOWER she had started from a seed.  I will plant it in the garden.  Over 20 years ago Michael's father helped me harvest sunflower seeds from plants I had planted in my herb garden.

Today was worth the trip to NZ!  Sweet dreams.

ENTRANCES AND EXITS...

The famous Bard... he answered many of life's questions within his poetry and understanding of the human element summed what our lives's really are.  He wrote some amazing plays.  I studied them at University years ago.  "As You Like It"  is a marvel.  From this play comes one of his most used phrases.

"ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE, AND ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN MERELY PLAYERS.  (ACTORS)  THEY HAVE THEIR EXITS AND THEIR ENTRANCES; AND ONE MAN IN HIS TIME PLAYS MANY P0ARTS, HIS "ACTS" BEING IN SEVEN AGES..."

I did learn about the 7 ages when I studied Shakespeare under Leland Monson at   Weber State University years ago.  They are:  INFANT, SCHOOL BOY, LOVER, SOLDIER, JUSTICE, OLD MAN, DEATH.  These are the 7 acts we perform in our lifetime on this planet.  I simplified the 7 acts to fit into my own  mind.  1. INFANCY 2. CHILDHOOD 3. ADOLESCENT 4. YOUNG ADULT 5. MIDDLE AGE 6. OLD AGE 7 DEATH...

I suppose my being 67 years old I am in the the 6th act going into the last act.

I know beyond imagination the year 2012 was a serious year because for the first time in 26,000 years our solar system aligned directly with the center of our galaxy.  The distance between our planet and the center of the Galaxy is app. 26,000 light years.  The average life span of the human body is 26,000 days.  the year 2012 was a wonderful year for me.  I overcame so many spiritual hang ups as well as other mental things such as silly dogmas I had implanted into my brain since childhood.

Last January I suffered a horrible depression.  One beyond words.  I had gone off my wellbuterin...  This is a wonder drug if you ever have feelings of suicide and helplessness beyond imagination.  I walked, I talked, I made music, I cried, I died... I admitted I had a diffiencity of dopamine.  I came right four weeks later...  much to the relief of myself and others that care about me.  These space suits we live in are not infallible.  There are those certain people that are born with the fact they WON THE DNA LOTTO!  I am not one of those special beings.

Watching precious Anne go through the endless stages of dementia I learn far too much about the human computer:  the Human Brain!

Anne crossed over to the other side Sept. 24th.  Very early in the morning.  I checked on her around midnight only to realize Michael came up after that and found she had left her body.  She was 95 and 1/2 year old.  She made a stunning ENTRANCE and LEFT THE EXIT IN A STATE OF GLORY.

I drove to Utah on June 18th.  First time in 28 years I have ever left my restaurant during the season.  I left the place feeling okay.  I had to go to Utah and care for my parents.  (When we arrived from NZ last year my mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.)  I drove back from Utah three nights later.

The year 1013 I have suffered the worst asthma ttacks I have ever had.  I have been hospitalized two times...  but the flip side is:

I PERFORMED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS because a woman asked me to play before a live audience for the Star Valley Music Festival.  The recital was set for 2:00 pm.  I love to play in the afternoon.  My Carnegie Recital was at 2:00 PM 1990.  Good timing and it was.  The event was magic.  I saw students I had coached and taught years ago!  The letters after the concert were to deep for tears.

I did have lots of drama during the restaurant season... a young man had a heart attack one afternoon on my patio... I had to go out front in the restaurant and ask a few people to get the hell out of the place because of their disrupting other patons...  they were drunk and messed up as hell.  I never dreamed I had the balls to do such an act but I DID!  Why?  Most people that come to my restaurant drive long hours and miles.  They come because of a special occasion.  To have three people using filthy language and share their thoughts inside a small space was not good.  I got rid of the bad actors.

I have had dear friends leave partners they have known for years...  Some of these separations had been like shattered glass falling through my heart.

The closing day of the business I drove to Utah Sept. 30th.  I spent 10 days caring for my parents.  I suffered the most amazing healing process.  I experienced severe homesickness...  depression, anger, and I am blessed with aunts and cousins that care for me.  I called my cousin Shirley... my aunt Maryann... they helped me get through the dark space.  I drove home to WY and became myself.  I do not fare well in Utah.
Far too many dark memories.  Not ever so many things of the past but, I do KNOW GUILT AND FEAR BEGIN WITH FAMILY AND END WITH FAMILY.

REMEMBER WHEN EVER YOU GET ON A ELEVATOR THIS IS NO 13TH FLOOR.

More later.