Spring is late this year. The daffodils are in bloom, but buds on the aspen, maple and other trees are still searching for warmth and sunshine. We did have a few days of brilliant sunshine and with the sunshine there occurred a horrific mud slide up the Snake River Canyon.
14 years ago we suffered a terrible mud slide in the canyon up near Dog Lake. It nearly put me out of business. It became a political nightmare.
Two geologists that were working on the slide stayed with us at the Nordic Inn. I learned many things from them. Before the spring run off had ever began high above where the slide erupted was an under ground lake inside the mountain. The lake was fed water from another open lake very high in the mountains.
When the spring melting of snow began the open lake could not hold all the water from the winter snow and it filled the hidden lake. The under ground lake erupted and began what is known in mother nature as a BRAND NEW RIVER!
If there had not been any humans in the area the mud slide would have opened a new artery into the mighty Snake River and branched off into many other streams and over many years there would be many new rivers, creeks, lakes. The creative process seemed endless over hundreds of years creating new water ways...
Well, this current mud slide is many times greater than the slide 14 years ago. I walked up the canyon this afternoon. The river is raging... very muddy with lots of run off water carrying trees, huge boulders and natural debris down the river at a fast tempo.
Nice to walk without any traffic... only the sounds of nature.
Nature rules. We must accept the fact. The natural disasters the past year have been shocking. But are they really? We forget we are very much a part of this planet, the cycles of nature and it's many blessing of magic and wellness.
I shall never forget what a little Japanese lady said to me in Queenstown soon after the earthquake in Japan. She would come to St Peter's daily to hear me play Chopin. After the horrible earthquake I asked her if she had lost family or friends in the disaster. She smiled, paced her words very evenly and said: "Young man, you must always enjoy the sound of birdsong, the white clouds against a blue sky and most of all hold some kind of secret peace inside your heart..." Having been to Japan a few times over the years as well as all of South East Asia I sensed her stoic and most amazing reply. Emotions are to be felt INSIDE not OUTSIDE. (I have one hell of a time with that concept! I seem to scream, cry, dramatize beyond imagination)
I reflect where I was two years ago. Full of cancer, E coli, besides too many physical problems to imagine at the present moment.
I will watch the sun set over the western mountains and silently one by one within the infinite meadows of heaven watch the lovly stars, the "forget-me-not's of the angels....... after all our bodies are made of dust? MUD! our spirits are made of light!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Saturday, May 07, 2011
Back in Wyoming...
What an amazing adventure getting from QT New Zealand to Auckland and from Auckland to LAX.
The jet that was to fly us non
stop to Auckland hit a bird before it landed in QT. The inspectors had to check out everything on the plane before take off.
It took over and hour for the inspectors to give the OKAY TO FLY. I did not mind. I would much rather be safe than falling out of the sky because of another flying object called a dead bird.
As we sat on the plan I began to organize thoughts about how we would be able to connect with the international flight to USA.
NO WAY. So, I decided we would simply wait in Auckland until the next flight into America and then re book the flight into Utah.
We landed in Auckland and had exactly one half hour to get from the Domestic Terminal to the International Terminal. We jumped into a cab and drove like hell. Jumped out at International. The staff was amazing. They took our luggage... found a wheel chair for Anne... she is 93 and has dementia... we ran to the customs area. I was sweating like a pig ready for the moment of death. The woman pushing Anne's wheel chair, said: "fill out what you can on the departure forms... I could not even get the passport numbers written out. They ran us through the arch which checks for metal, objects of mass destruction and we ran down the ramp onto the plane. It was packed. We had our carry on pieces. Simply got into our seats and it was TAKE OFF!!! Our luggage could not be put on the plane but would arrive later.
Believe me this would not have happened in America! It was a smooth flight. Landed in LAX, and once again a long run to get from International to South West. Once more my body began sweating like the pigs body I seem to be living in. Talk about a wake up call telling me I did not work out enough at the gym the past 5 months! We made the flight. Landed in SLC and breathed a deep sigh of relief.
Spent 5 days and nights with my parents in Clinton Utah. Celebrated my parents 65th Wedding Day celebration at the Lion House in SLC. Saw family members I have not seen in over 30 years!
Seems like when we at my parents Michael ends up doing nothing by fixing problems in the house... The kitchen taps were leaking tons of water. Needed a completely new faucet etc.
then there were other minor things. We got on the road for home early afternoon on the 3rd of May.
The drive to Evanston, WY was beautiful. From Evanston to Cokeville WY was heaven to me... wide open spaces, sage brush,
clouds of every possible shape and you could watch some clouds blessing the land with rain. Stopped to see friends
before we drove into Alpine. Stopped at the grocery for basic items, milk, bread, butter, odds and ends, then drove up the drive way, past the business and HOME.
Today I walked into the national forest behind the house. The trees have buds about the size of pin heads. Mountains still covered in snow. Butter cups were smiling among the Oregon Grape leaves and Robins with beautiful red breasts were perched on branches of Cedar trees and pine.
The most blessed moment was touching my wonderful piano. It held it's pitch amazingly well. I love this instrument. It chose me a few years ago. I did not chose it. It's voice is the voice of my soul and spirit. I placed my favorite piece of art on top of it.
"Walking Wounded"... I played for over an hour. My hands were straining because of the altitude, my breathing is labored for days after I return to the mountains...
I filled the room with pine boughs and sage brush... it smells heavenly. Happy to be back where I belong.
The jet that was to fly us non
stop to Auckland hit a bird before it landed in QT. The inspectors had to check out everything on the plane before take off.
It took over and hour for the inspectors to give the OKAY TO FLY. I did not mind. I would much rather be safe than falling out of the sky because of another flying object called a dead bird.
As we sat on the plan I began to organize thoughts about how we would be able to connect with the international flight to USA.
NO WAY. So, I decided we would simply wait in Auckland until the next flight into America and then re book the flight into Utah.
We landed in Auckland and had exactly one half hour to get from the Domestic Terminal to the International Terminal. We jumped into a cab and drove like hell. Jumped out at International. The staff was amazing. They took our luggage... found a wheel chair for Anne... she is 93 and has dementia... we ran to the customs area. I was sweating like a pig ready for the moment of death. The woman pushing Anne's wheel chair, said: "fill out what you can on the departure forms... I could not even get the passport numbers written out. They ran us through the arch which checks for metal, objects of mass destruction and we ran down the ramp onto the plane. It was packed. We had our carry on pieces. Simply got into our seats and it was TAKE OFF!!! Our luggage could not be put on the plane but would arrive later.
Believe me this would not have happened in America! It was a smooth flight. Landed in LAX, and once again a long run to get from International to South West. Once more my body began sweating like the pigs body I seem to be living in. Talk about a wake up call telling me I did not work out enough at the gym the past 5 months! We made the flight. Landed in SLC and breathed a deep sigh of relief.
Spent 5 days and nights with my parents in Clinton Utah. Celebrated my parents 65th Wedding Day celebration at the Lion House in SLC. Saw family members I have not seen in over 30 years!
Seems like when we at my parents Michael ends up doing nothing by fixing problems in the house... The kitchen taps were leaking tons of water. Needed a completely new faucet etc.
then there were other minor things. We got on the road for home early afternoon on the 3rd of May.
The drive to Evanston, WY was beautiful. From Evanston to Cokeville WY was heaven to me... wide open spaces, sage brush,
clouds of every possible shape and you could watch some clouds blessing the land with rain. Stopped to see friends
before we drove into Alpine. Stopped at the grocery for basic items, milk, bread, butter, odds and ends, then drove up the drive way, past the business and HOME.
Today I walked into the national forest behind the house. The trees have buds about the size of pin heads. Mountains still covered in snow. Butter cups were smiling among the Oregon Grape leaves and Robins with beautiful red breasts were perched on branches of Cedar trees and pine.
The most blessed moment was touching my wonderful piano. It held it's pitch amazingly well. I love this instrument. It chose me a few years ago. I did not chose it. It's voice is the voice of my soul and spirit. I placed my favorite piece of art on top of it.
"Walking Wounded"... I played for over an hour. My hands were straining because of the altitude, my breathing is labored for days after I return to the mountains...
I filled the room with pine boughs and sage brush... it smells heavenly. Happy to be back where I belong.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Leaving April 27th, 2011 for Alpine...
Hard to imagine that five months have crossed over into memory and that place we refer to as 'the past'.
Today is Easter Sunday in NZ. I swear Easter was in March last year? I can never quite figure out why the dates change each year?
This is the first year in 21 years of coming to NZ we did not color eggs, put out the chocolate bunnies and I did not bake Hot Cross Buns. Easter has fallen to close to the day we depart. In the place of eggs, and buns, we are CLEANING the house. Sorting out things that must be stowed away in the storage until next year.
Today I washed windows inside and outside in the kitchen. Cleaned oven, cupboards, ceilings, walls, laundry... tossing out food items that will not keep until next year! Tonight will be my studio. Clean my piano keys, sort through all kinds of crap I collect on my desk...
Shifting between two homes is not such a bad thing, only bad thing: I do not have a staff that packs, organizes, cleans, maintains my life style. I do the GRUNT WORK!
Today has been gorgeous. It is now a quarter of 6 PM and the sky is becoming gruesome. No doubt I will fall asleep to the sound of rain dancing on the roof. Will try to finish a lot of work by tomorrow and then my last time at the gym on Tuesday, some good byes. Early Wednesday fly to Auckland. From there into LAX and from there to SLC, UT. From there drive to WY
Will write a quick blog from air ports!
Today is Easter Sunday in NZ. I swear Easter was in March last year? I can never quite figure out why the dates change each year?
This is the first year in 21 years of coming to NZ we did not color eggs, put out the chocolate bunnies and I did not bake Hot Cross Buns. Easter has fallen to close to the day we depart. In the place of eggs, and buns, we are CLEANING the house. Sorting out things that must be stowed away in the storage until next year.
Today I washed windows inside and outside in the kitchen. Cleaned oven, cupboards, ceilings, walls, laundry... tossing out food items that will not keep until next year! Tonight will be my studio. Clean my piano keys, sort through all kinds of crap I collect on my desk...
Shifting between two homes is not such a bad thing, only bad thing: I do not have a staff that packs, organizes, cleans, maintains my life style. I do the GRUNT WORK!
Today has been gorgeous. It is now a quarter of 6 PM and the sky is becoming gruesome. No doubt I will fall asleep to the sound of rain dancing on the roof. Will try to finish a lot of work by tomorrow and then my last time at the gym on Tuesday, some good byes. Early Wednesday fly to Auckland. From there into LAX and from there to SLC, UT. From there drive to WY
Will write a quick blog from air ports!
Saturday, April 09, 2011
Friday, April 08, 2011
Music, food, wine...
Today I walked along the shore of the lake through the Queenstown Gardens into the Center of town. Music was playing from performers at the Arts and Crafts Open Fair Market where many people were browsing through scarfs, sweaters, canned goods, oil paintings, pottery, jewelry and a stall with all kinds of cup cakes!
My hearing works like magnets... they attract certain sounds no one else would ever be aware of... someone was playing a very out of tune piano. Sounded almost like a honky tonk piano, but the melody was not ragtime...
I put my blood hound ears "out there" seeking where the music was coming from. Along the water front was a young man playing on a REAL, not electric, but a real acoustic piano!!! The front of the upright piano had been removed so you could see the hammers falling back and forward against the strings. The piano was ancient. He had fashioned a frame out of iron that the piano sat on with side bars and a handle to pull the sweet old piano by hand anywhere he desired. Damn clever! No amplification. Simply organic sounds from a very old piano and the guy made up his own music. He could have not been over 21. He loved making music at the piano! His concert hall was a boardwalk beside a lake, walled in by the shades of autumn leaves, a ceiling of blue on blue sky and laughing seagulls.
In the 70's I often lived out of my cars as I wandered around the country playing piano. Some nights I'd stop into a bar in Evanston, WY and begin playing piano... suddenly there would be a "tip" jar on the piano and I'd make enough to fill up with gas, eat, drive to the next place my musical muses took me!
One night during a blizzard I stopped in Rifle Colorado... walked into a bar/cafe and asked IF I could play piano. The bar tender laughed. He said: "Young man, IF you can get anything that sounds like music out of that heap of crap in the back of this place I'll give you a hundred dollars."
With that kind of a challenge, and the fact I was broke, I was determined to find that forgotten beast of a music maker and find a way to make music from it's neglected shell.
Two burly cowboys got up from their bar stools, stomped back to the end of the bar and rolled out a very rough looking old upright piano. The one winked at me and said: "okay pretty boy you better be able to play!"
The piano was unbelievable. I could not believe the sound... within a half hour the place was packed... breathing room only.
The proprietor, after hearing the first song jumped on the telephone and started calling people... I made over $700.00 dollars in tips. I also had a killing hang over that lasted for days.
I was able to get my car repaired free, good food at a local diner and most of all I seemed to had made a lot of people happy. People that had never heard a Classical piece performed on a keyboard. My event in Rifle CO. was at least 40 years ago!
I sat on a bench listening to the young man's music. It was not my kind of music, but it ignited a plethora of memories inside my mind. Musical moments that I have never, ever thought of in years. At last, I picked up my back pack, put a 20 dollar bill in the piano man's kitty and walked to a cafe for a sandwich and glass of wine.
I sat thinking how in the 60's and 70's war was a huge item... draft... now we have a NO DRAFT MILITARY... racial angst... now we have a BLACK PRESIDENT... still the same bigotry and wars everywhere as well as mother earth erupting with earth quakes, floods, winds, drought and amid it all there are young people that are traveling, making life better for many people and yes, they are creating and making art.
We all pay a certain price for where we end up at the end of the day. My day was magic. I pray that young man has a safe place to sleep, eat and most of all care for his beloved piano.
My hearing works like magnets... they attract certain sounds no one else would ever be aware of... someone was playing a very out of tune piano. Sounded almost like a honky tonk piano, but the melody was not ragtime...
I put my blood hound ears "out there" seeking where the music was coming from. Along the water front was a young man playing on a REAL, not electric, but a real acoustic piano!!! The front of the upright piano had been removed so you could see the hammers falling back and forward against the strings. The piano was ancient. He had fashioned a frame out of iron that the piano sat on with side bars and a handle to pull the sweet old piano by hand anywhere he desired. Damn clever! No amplification. Simply organic sounds from a very old piano and the guy made up his own music. He could have not been over 21. He loved making music at the piano! His concert hall was a boardwalk beside a lake, walled in by the shades of autumn leaves, a ceiling of blue on blue sky and laughing seagulls.
In the 70's I often lived out of my cars as I wandered around the country playing piano. Some nights I'd stop into a bar in Evanston, WY and begin playing piano... suddenly there would be a "tip" jar on the piano and I'd make enough to fill up with gas, eat, drive to the next place my musical muses took me!
One night during a blizzard I stopped in Rifle Colorado... walked into a bar/cafe and asked IF I could play piano. The bar tender laughed. He said: "Young man, IF you can get anything that sounds like music out of that heap of crap in the back of this place I'll give you a hundred dollars."
With that kind of a challenge, and the fact I was broke, I was determined to find that forgotten beast of a music maker and find a way to make music from it's neglected shell.
Two burly cowboys got up from their bar stools, stomped back to the end of the bar and rolled out a very rough looking old upright piano. The one winked at me and said: "okay pretty boy you better be able to play!"
The piano was unbelievable. I could not believe the sound... within a half hour the place was packed... breathing room only.
The proprietor, after hearing the first song jumped on the telephone and started calling people... I made over $700.00 dollars in tips. I also had a killing hang over that lasted for days.
I was able to get my car repaired free, good food at a local diner and most of all I seemed to had made a lot of people happy. People that had never heard a Classical piece performed on a keyboard. My event in Rifle CO. was at least 40 years ago!
I sat on a bench listening to the young man's music. It was not my kind of music, but it ignited a plethora of memories inside my mind. Musical moments that I have never, ever thought of in years. At last, I picked up my back pack, put a 20 dollar bill in the piano man's kitty and walked to a cafe for a sandwich and glass of wine.
I sat thinking how in the 60's and 70's war was a huge item... draft... now we have a NO DRAFT MILITARY... racial angst... now we have a BLACK PRESIDENT... still the same bigotry and wars everywhere as well as mother earth erupting with earth quakes, floods, winds, drought and amid it all there are young people that are traveling, making life better for many people and yes, they are creating and making art.
We all pay a certain price for where we end up at the end of the day. My day was magic. I pray that young man has a safe place to sleep, eat and most of all care for his beloved piano.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Why The Maiden & the Nightingale
The first time this melody entered my ears it simply sky dived into my musical heart and I knew that I had to own it.
I was 14 years old. I stumbled through the manuscript but did not have the knowledge of how to create a fingering and voicing pattern that could give life to the complex text.
Years later I decided to LEARN the piece in such a way I could perform it. Virginia Willard in Idaho Falls put my hands and brain into the correct direction. Later, Seymour Bernstien in NYC would open my heart to it's many hidden mysteries. I perform this piece differently every time I play it!
The entire piece evolves out of the first sound of F Sharp. One must touch the black key F# on the piano as if it were a delicate piece of precious crystal... from that vibration evolves every emotion within the haunting melodies of the piece.
I have always imagined a lover sitting in a window sill, pining, yearning, longing with heart break pain for the return of the secret lover... then the nightingale begins to answer the Maiden's pleas... the blessed bird's melody constantly answers the Maiden's voice. It is a composition full of intense emotion, questions and answers as well as that indefinable red blooded passion the Latin race have seared into their DNA...
Every emotion is recorded within this masterpiece. The last page of the music is a BIRD SONG... I believe the lover was singing to his Maiden through the Nightingale...
I owe boundless thanks to the engineer that creates such gorgeous images, ART that moves to my music!
I was 14 years old. I stumbled through the manuscript but did not have the knowledge of how to create a fingering and voicing pattern that could give life to the complex text.
Years later I decided to LEARN the piece in such a way I could perform it. Virginia Willard in Idaho Falls put my hands and brain into the correct direction. Later, Seymour Bernstien in NYC would open my heart to it's many hidden mysteries. I perform this piece differently every time I play it!
The entire piece evolves out of the first sound of F Sharp. One must touch the black key F# on the piano as if it were a delicate piece of precious crystal... from that vibration evolves every emotion within the haunting melodies of the piece.
I have always imagined a lover sitting in a window sill, pining, yearning, longing with heart break pain for the return of the secret lover... then the nightingale begins to answer the Maiden's pleas... the blessed bird's melody constantly answers the Maiden's voice. It is a composition full of intense emotion, questions and answers as well as that indefinable red blooded passion the Latin race have seared into their DNA...
Every emotion is recorded within this masterpiece. The last page of the music is a BIRD SONG... I believe the lover was singing to his Maiden through the Nightingale...
I owe boundless thanks to the engineer that creates such gorgeous images, ART that moves to my music!
Friday, March 18, 2011
So many amazing things occurring...
I am depressed about the situation in Japan... I am upset about the situation in Christchurch New Zealand... I am angry about so many things I have NO CONTROL OVER... sooooo, I play my piano.
I took a moon bath last night. It worked.
You can't fool mother nature. She is the Goddess.
I wrote an entire blog years ago about the joy of learning how to play a musical instrument. The answers are real. That blog is way back... you would have really dig through a lot of blogs!
Happy Days...
Friday, March 11, 2011
sometimes........
Last night I watched Monsaingeon's film 'MADEMOISELLE' about Nadia Boulanger. For some reason it saved me from going into a funk of depression...
It is an amazing film about her ability to still teach composition to pupils when she was 90 years old!
With everything that is happening in the world I wonder at times WHY? WHEN? WHERE? HOW? WHERE? WHO?... then I sit with my music and I know without a doubt that life is good... Karmic balance is forever demanding it's justice...
Today I played the piano at St. Peter's for about 2 hours... I played Debussy, Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Grieg, Rachmaninoff, and my own compositions... An absolutely gorgeous young woman sat in the pews the entire time I played... she heard me talking to myself... she heard me sigh, moan and groan... When I was finished... she walked up to the piano. Mind you a beautiful woman and dressed in such angelic clothing! She said:
"I've never ever heard such beautiful piano playing in my life." I asked where she was from... BORN IN SANTA FE NEW MEXICO and when she was 4 years old moved to NZ. Father is USA Mother is NZ.
We had a wonderful visit. One never ever knows how sound will touch a certain individual and why they are in the room at that particular moment in time...
The earth quake in Japan is horrendous. It is alarming because it awakens all of us to the fact mother earth is reclaiming her domain.
America is far from broke... it is a capitalistic mega power that depends on oil, and other minerals that are controlled by a very small and most powerful group of people... they control everything... democracy is a big front for some amazing things...
When you start breathing radiation and a few other things besides the shit we already are breathing, take a deep breath and think: HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? I can explain it to ya.
Friday, March 04, 2011
Suicide
A few days ago... I was given the news about a young man that had died due to an over does of drugs and alcohol... SUICIDE.
When I was around 14 a very close friend of mine committed suicide. We had seen each other the night before the event... He was depressed. I was very naive and did not understand many of the things he was telling me... Next day he was found inside the garage of his home inside a car with a hose running from the exhaust pipe of the inside of the car via the window of the seat he was sitting in.
Asphyxiation is not pretty... Your skin changes color etc... He did leave a suicide note... (I have not a clue where that letter is now...) I do know that RELIGION and DOGMA had 99% to do with this tragedy.
Many people still ache and hurt over this ordeal which shook the hell out of a little Mormon farming community... Harsh words from a stupid BISHOP... worse, harsh words from a father that did not understand what what going on and most of... the
AMAZING FEAR THAT EVERYONE COULD NOT PUT INTO WORDS: THE YOUNG MAN HAD TAKEN HIS VERY OWN LIFE INTO HIS OWN HANDS... HE WAS NOT AFRAID TO DIE RATHER THAN TO FACE OTHER HORRIBLE SITUATIONS LATER IN HIS LIFE AND MOST OF ALL HE PROVED THAT DEATH EQUALIZES US ALL... rich, famous, old, unknown, wonderful and loved beyond imagination we all DIE...
He saved many people from suffering... his siblings, his friends, his church, his school... why? IF HE HAD LIVED FOR MANY YEARS another story could and would have been written! Now in hindsight, he saved a hell of a lot of drama in the family...
Things aren't all so TANGIBLE and SYABLE as people waould usually have us believe.
Most expiences are UNSAYABLE.
THEY HAPPEN IN A SPACE THAT NO WORD HAS ENTERED< and more UNDSAYABLE THAN ALL OTHER THINGS ARE WORKS OF ART, THOSE MYSTERIOUS EXISTENCES, WHO'S LIFE ENDURES BESIDE OUR OWN SMALL TRANSITORY LIFE.
Human beings amaze me at times... to think we short lived humans have the arrogance to even think WE can OFFEND this GOD that created this planet and all the life that endures... We are really something...
I was in Viet Nam three times... I saw some stunning things... I also know of a few men that committed suicide. WHY? They KNEW and still KNOW something WE DO NOT KNOW! They were brave beyond poloticians, egos, religions, philosopy... they were brave beyond my imagination... they knew something... something you and I do not know... May the universe forever bless those brave men and woman that have crossed over by their own means... I DO NOT BELIEVE IN SUFFERING and MAKING OTHER'S SUFFER... I believe in life eternal.
When I was around 14 a very close friend of mine committed suicide. We had seen each other the night before the event... He was depressed. I was very naive and did not understand many of the things he was telling me... Next day he was found inside the garage of his home inside a car with a hose running from the exhaust pipe of the inside of the car via the window of the seat he was sitting in.
Asphyxiation is not pretty... Your skin changes color etc... He did leave a suicide note... (I have not a clue where that letter is now...) I do know that RELIGION and DOGMA had 99% to do with this tragedy.
Many people still ache and hurt over this ordeal which shook the hell out of a little Mormon farming community... Harsh words from a stupid BISHOP... worse, harsh words from a father that did not understand what what going on and most of... the
AMAZING FEAR THAT EVERYONE COULD NOT PUT INTO WORDS: THE YOUNG MAN HAD TAKEN HIS VERY OWN LIFE INTO HIS OWN HANDS... HE WAS NOT AFRAID TO DIE RATHER THAN TO FACE OTHER HORRIBLE SITUATIONS LATER IN HIS LIFE AND MOST OF ALL HE PROVED THAT DEATH EQUALIZES US ALL... rich, famous, old, unknown, wonderful and loved beyond imagination we all DIE...
He saved many people from suffering... his siblings, his friends, his church, his school... why? IF HE HAD LIVED FOR MANY YEARS another story could and would have been written! Now in hindsight, he saved a hell of a lot of drama in the family...
Things aren't all so TANGIBLE and SYABLE as people waould usually have us believe.
Most expiences are UNSAYABLE.
THEY HAPPEN IN A SPACE THAT NO WORD HAS ENTERED< and more UNDSAYABLE THAN ALL OTHER THINGS ARE WORKS OF ART, THOSE MYSTERIOUS EXISTENCES, WHO'S LIFE ENDURES BESIDE OUR OWN SMALL TRANSITORY LIFE.
Human beings amaze me at times... to think we short lived humans have the arrogance to even think WE can OFFEND this GOD that created this planet and all the life that endures... We are really something...
I was in Viet Nam three times... I saw some stunning things... I also know of a few men that committed suicide. WHY? They KNEW and still KNOW something WE DO NOT KNOW! They were brave beyond poloticians, egos, religions, philosopy... they were brave beyond my imagination... they knew something... something you and I do not know... May the universe forever bless those brave men and woman that have crossed over by their own means... I DO NOT BELIEVE IN SUFFERING and MAKING OTHER'S SUFFER... I believe in life eternal.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
The End Of The World...
It is nearly 10:30 PM NZ Time... It has been a day similar to what we dealt with in America during 9/11...............
My great grand father on my father's side came to NZ on a Mormon Mission near 1900... He was in the North Island. He never had a clue that a great grand son of his would one day spent 21 years in this country!
I love New Zealand. I could live here till I cross over. Only thing is I love Alpine WY. I plan to die there. Christchurch was one of the safest places to live in NZ until NOVEMBER 2011. An earthquake from hell... good thing: it reared it's ugly head at around 4 AM when everyone was asleep. Many after-shocks... they had put most of the city together again... well, Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall, all the kings men and all the brilliant men on earth could not put Humpty Dumpty together again... This damn quake attacked at 12:50 PM... MID AFTERNOON WHEN ALL THE KINGS CHILDREN AND ALL THE KINGS MEN WERE AT WORK AND HAVING LUNCH AND PLAYING SOCCOR IN THE PARK... IT WAS FROM HELL.
Many are dead. Building that I have known and been inside GONE. The infrastructure is a shambles. NOTHING IS RIGHT.
We are so upset, but, life does go on. I now compare CHCH NZ to San Francisco and place like NYC etc. I consider them elements of Atlantis... Atlantis was an amazing civilization...
Also: Planet earth is our home. I could give a rats ass what religious freaks say about heaven... EARTH IS OUR SPACE SHIP. It is where we live and evolve. (another dirty word for religion) I KNOW THE BIBLE BETTER THAN MOST RELIGIOUS FANATICS! I have read it from cover to cover 13 times... I will not start in with the 10 commandments... most of all THOU SHALT NOT KILL...
The earth quakes in CHCH reminds me of KATRINA IN NOLA... what a disaster and what a failure of the AMERICAN GOVT. Kill for oil, but do not take care of our own! Then the oil leak in the gulf of mexico... Really a MAN MADE PIECE OF SHIT... then the DRILL BABY DRILL mantra by conservatives and most of all Sara Pallin.... NOW the well, finally a new and brave generation of people that can stand up to corrupt governments in Egypt, and so many other mid eastern countries... we have to out breed the old for the new that is how progression moves forward... DOGMA can be death.
If we continue to punch holes in this orb we exist on it will sink... it will fold on into its self and we will die under it's demise.
LAUGH... CLOWN LAUGH! This space ship is like a balloon. The core is of molten Iron... oil and gases are part of it's blood...
compare it to the human body... Most Capatlistic billionaires will argue... TAKE DOMINIAN OVER THE SEAS AND THE LAND...
NOT SO! We have to learn how to live in harmony with the planet we live on... We need not worry Mother Nature will take control in many ways. Earthquakes, toronados, snow storms, floods, endless ways including disease, famine... the list is endless what SHE WILL DO...
If A living God that lives somewhere in space invented all of this and according to mormons they can procreate many planets... why does HE (mind you not a she) says, his garden of Eden has more power than prayers and sacrifices to him? I nearly fainted the first time I heard the story of Abraham having to sacrifice his only son to this GOD! besides that plygomay was a big thing of the day and in some reliegions still is... like Muslium religion.
I gave up on this years ago. I love the moon and stars, sun rises, and most of all the people that have a sweet smile and are kind to me... I must go to sleep.
The
My great grand father on my father's side came to NZ on a Mormon Mission near 1900... He was in the North Island. He never had a clue that a great grand son of his would one day spent 21 years in this country!
I love New Zealand. I could live here till I cross over. Only thing is I love Alpine WY. I plan to die there. Christchurch was one of the safest places to live in NZ until NOVEMBER 2011. An earthquake from hell... good thing: it reared it's ugly head at around 4 AM when everyone was asleep. Many after-shocks... they had put most of the city together again... well, Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall, all the kings men and all the brilliant men on earth could not put Humpty Dumpty together again... This damn quake attacked at 12:50 PM... MID AFTERNOON WHEN ALL THE KINGS CHILDREN AND ALL THE KINGS MEN WERE AT WORK AND HAVING LUNCH AND PLAYING SOCCOR IN THE PARK... IT WAS FROM HELL.
Many are dead. Building that I have known and been inside GONE. The infrastructure is a shambles. NOTHING IS RIGHT.
We are so upset, but, life does go on. I now compare CHCH NZ to San Francisco and place like NYC etc. I consider them elements of Atlantis... Atlantis was an amazing civilization...
Also: Planet earth is our home. I could give a rats ass what religious freaks say about heaven... EARTH IS OUR SPACE SHIP. It is where we live and evolve. (another dirty word for religion) I KNOW THE BIBLE BETTER THAN MOST RELIGIOUS FANATICS! I have read it from cover to cover 13 times... I will not start in with the 10 commandments... most of all THOU SHALT NOT KILL...
The earth quakes in CHCH reminds me of KATRINA IN NOLA... what a disaster and what a failure of the AMERICAN GOVT. Kill for oil, but do not take care of our own! Then the oil leak in the gulf of mexico... Really a MAN MADE PIECE OF SHIT... then the DRILL BABY DRILL mantra by conservatives and most of all Sara Pallin.... NOW the well, finally a new and brave generation of people that can stand up to corrupt governments in Egypt, and so many other mid eastern countries... we have to out breed the old for the new that is how progression moves forward... DOGMA can be death.
If we continue to punch holes in this orb we exist on it will sink... it will fold on into its self and we will die under it's demise.
LAUGH... CLOWN LAUGH! This space ship is like a balloon. The core is of molten Iron... oil and gases are part of it's blood...
compare it to the human body... Most Capatlistic billionaires will argue... TAKE DOMINIAN OVER THE SEAS AND THE LAND...
NOT SO! We have to learn how to live in harmony with the planet we live on... We need not worry Mother Nature will take control in many ways. Earthquakes, toronados, snow storms, floods, endless ways including disease, famine... the list is endless what SHE WILL DO...
If A living God that lives somewhere in space invented all of this and according to mormons they can procreate many planets... why does HE (mind you not a she) says, his garden of Eden has more power than prayers and sacrifices to him? I nearly fainted the first time I heard the story of Abraham having to sacrifice his only son to this GOD! besides that plygomay was a big thing of the day and in some reliegions still is... like Muslium religion.
I gave up on this years ago. I love the moon and stars, sun rises, and most of all the people that have a sweet smile and are kind to me... I must go to sleep.
The
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
This story
NOTICE:
Reading this story is like reading a book from the last page to the first! You will begin with chapter 4, then 3, then 2, then 1...
Photos and it all should make sense at the end of the day.
Reading this story is like reading a book from the last page to the first! You will begin with chapter 4, then 3, then 2, then 1...
Photos and it all should make sense at the end of the day.
Chapter 4
Last day in the Golden Bay was delightful. We walked on the beach, then back to the truck. Drove to a place that serves coffee on a very old dilapidated yacht. I have a picture of me on the boat posted at the bottom of all these chapters.
From there we drove... found a beach and decided to take the fold up chairs, a bottle of wine, walk out onto the beach and allow the tide to wash our feet as we feasted on the wind, sky and most of all music of the ocean.
Drove back to SSI. Instead of a big meal we opted to have left overs and cold things in Rutha's Cottage! Then we watched the movie Sordid Lives... Laughed and nibbled away at cheese, breads, olives, veggies... I went to bed and slept like a rock.
Ah, morning meant get up and out of the room in time for the pick up bus to Nelson. From there the flight into CHCH. Everything went swimmingly smooth. I hailed a cab at the airport in CHCH and had quite a conversation with the driver. He is EGYPTIAN.
He never, ever shut up! Cost me 50 bucks to the YMCA from the air port.
Called Karina and Jimmy. They met up with me and we had a wonderful meal at a restaurant near the Avon, but so nice and quiet. We ate outside on the veranda. From there I went back to the room. Packed, and called the front desk for a wake up call at 7:00 AM... I know better than to trust such details to others.
I awoke in the morning at 7:20 AM there had been no call... I flew like hell, dashed down stairs and turned in my key telling the reception: "YOU NEVER CALLED ME!" she said: "oh, I am so happy you are awake because I called room 507... (my room was 501) and that man was very irate and rude with me!" Well, no shit lady! I explained to her that I did not have time to walk to 123 Worcester St. to catch the coach to QT. She called me a cab. I made it.
The morning was lovely. Cool, gentle sunshine... boarded the bus. FRONT SEAT. Dug out my I Pod. Bud in ears, dark glasses on, feeling good. A long 6 hour drive into QT. but some amazing sights.
We stop in Ashburton. An older woman boards the bus. She asked me IF she could sit beside me as she becomes ill if she sits too fat back in the bus... SURE. Well, one thing leads to another and I KNEW WHO SHE WAS. Devella Gore. A very famous artist from NZ as well as she has quite a vineyard and wedding chapel near Arrowtown. We chatted away. I told her I knew who she was. She was delighted. Years ago, she had heard me in concert in QT. but, she did not relate to anything I was saying... then the penny dropped. She grinned from ear to ear... "You played my piano years ago, and I have your recordings..." from then on we had a fantastic ride together. We know quite a few people in common as well as she is very well known in NZ. Her books have been translated into four languages.
She is a speaker who is forever in demand in NZ. Her sense of humor is a joy. We got talking about her winery... She told me that yes, Central Otago Wines are becoming world famous, especially the Pino's. They have one that is excellent for the kidneys. One is called Pino Gris, the other Pino Noir, the other PEEEEE NO MORE..." God, this went on and on. She was a joy to be with.
Home in QT was a blessing. I do miss my hide-a-way. I even cooked dinner. My adventure is over until another year. Well, that is a lie. Every day of my life is an adventure.
THEN TODAY... one of my favorite cities has been devastated by a disastrous earth quake. Christchurch NZ... In November they endured a horrendous earth quake, but this one killed people. Many people. It is world news.
We are fine here in QT, but sense the pain and loss. It brings back memories of 9/11 in USA.
I am so happy I spent time in CHCH over the many years of coming to NZ. I made my MUSICAL DEBUT at the Great Hall in CHCH. The next morning after the concert the review appeared in the CHCH PRESS... the review hangs on the wall of my restaurant. IT IS A GREAT REVIEW... from a very difficult critic. He writes scathing things about some of the greatest artists, but my review was a pianist's dream...
I have spent hours inside the famous Cathedral which came crashing down today. This city will become another San Francisco... like NYC... a city that endured Atlantis. May peace be with us all and most of all those that are in such pain.
From there we drove... found a beach and decided to take the fold up chairs, a bottle of wine, walk out onto the beach and allow the tide to wash our feet as we feasted on the wind, sky and most of all music of the ocean.
Drove back to SSI. Instead of a big meal we opted to have left overs and cold things in Rutha's Cottage! Then we watched the movie Sordid Lives... Laughed and nibbled away at cheese, breads, olives, veggies... I went to bed and slept like a rock.
Ah, morning meant get up and out of the room in time for the pick up bus to Nelson. From there the flight into CHCH. Everything went swimmingly smooth. I hailed a cab at the airport in CHCH and had quite a conversation with the driver. He is EGYPTIAN.
He never, ever shut up! Cost me 50 bucks to the YMCA from the air port.
Called Karina and Jimmy. They met up with me and we had a wonderful meal at a restaurant near the Avon, but so nice and quiet. We ate outside on the veranda. From there I went back to the room. Packed, and called the front desk for a wake up call at 7:00 AM... I know better than to trust such details to others.
I awoke in the morning at 7:20 AM there had been no call... I flew like hell, dashed down stairs and turned in my key telling the reception: "YOU NEVER CALLED ME!" she said: "oh, I am so happy you are awake because I called room 507... (my room was 501) and that man was very irate and rude with me!" Well, no shit lady! I explained to her that I did not have time to walk to 123 Worcester St. to catch the coach to QT. She called me a cab. I made it.
The morning was lovely. Cool, gentle sunshine... boarded the bus. FRONT SEAT. Dug out my I Pod. Bud in ears, dark glasses on, feeling good. A long 6 hour drive into QT. but some amazing sights.
We stop in Ashburton. An older woman boards the bus. She asked me IF she could sit beside me as she becomes ill if she sits too fat back in the bus... SURE. Well, one thing leads to another and I KNEW WHO SHE WAS. Devella Gore. A very famous artist from NZ as well as she has quite a vineyard and wedding chapel near Arrowtown. We chatted away. I told her I knew who she was. She was delighted. Years ago, she had heard me in concert in QT. but, she did not relate to anything I was saying... then the penny dropped. She grinned from ear to ear... "You played my piano years ago, and I have your recordings..." from then on we had a fantastic ride together. We know quite a few people in common as well as she is very well known in NZ. Her books have been translated into four languages.
She is a speaker who is forever in demand in NZ. Her sense of humor is a joy. We got talking about her winery... She told me that yes, Central Otago Wines are becoming world famous, especially the Pino's. They have one that is excellent for the kidneys. One is called Pino Gris, the other Pino Noir, the other PEEEEE NO MORE..." God, this went on and on. She was a joy to be with.
Home in QT was a blessing. I do miss my hide-a-way. I even cooked dinner. My adventure is over until another year. Well, that is a lie. Every day of my life is an adventure.
THEN TODAY... one of my favorite cities has been devastated by a disastrous earth quake. Christchurch NZ... In November they endured a horrendous earth quake, but this one killed people. Many people. It is world news.
We are fine here in QT, but sense the pain and loss. It brings back memories of 9/11 in USA.
I am so happy I spent time in CHCH over the many years of coming to NZ. I made my MUSICAL DEBUT at the Great Hall in CHCH. The next morning after the concert the review appeared in the CHCH PRESS... the review hangs on the wall of my restaurant. IT IS A GREAT REVIEW... from a very difficult critic. He writes scathing things about some of the greatest artists, but my review was a pianist's dream...
I have spent hours inside the famous Cathedral which came crashing down today. This city will become another San Francisco... like NYC... a city that endured Atlantis. May peace be with us all and most of all those that are in such pain.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Chapter 3
I awoke this morning feeling crook.
Crook, is a word The Kiwis use for meaning ill. Not well. Under the weather... Today we are driving up to the TOP TRUCK and spend two nights. Late afternoon I did begin to pull myself together and the strange dizzy feelings disappeared.
Rutha had baked homemade breads. Banana bread and a long loaf of peasant bread. Coolers, (chilly bins) full of goodies. Our packs full of STUFF... my computer so we could watch movies, listen to music and if service was available I would check my e mails.
This Truck is unique. Sits on the top of a hill over looking the bay. The tide was out, but would soon be coming in. I have a photo of the truck and the inside of the truck posted below. The person/artist that built the living quarters had a mind for detail. I happen to love these kind of places. We had a decent refrigerator, two burner gas hot plate, and a very old black Cole Stove! The shower was outside. One of those huge old bath tubs with claws for feet and the shower was attached to the side of the truck. You stood inside the tub and splashed away! I have not taken a shower with soap and hot water in the open air for ages! Such an invigorating feeling. Rutha, unpacked the food items and poured me a glass of cold Chardonnay wine.
I had booked a massage with a person I have wanted to massage me for years. Yana Hoos.
We drove to her house in a light rain.
Yana's house is all NATURAL. Wood walls, no paint! (I like that) a huge dining room table with fresh sliced oranges on a plate, fresh cut flowers...
She has "the touch"... Walked up the stairs holding on a hand rail which is a long branch from a tree. The massage room was wonderful. Sarongs of many colors on the walls, a shrine... we talked. She asked me what I needed, I told her about the left side of my body... music... she chose PERFECT flute and piano... TUI is a popular massage wax used down here... she makes it.
She did something I have never had a massage therapist ask me: "Do you wish to lay face down, or on your back?" I said: "BOTH!" She had had a very big day. 7 other massage therapists had been with her all day learning how to do 'Holistic Pulsing'. Yana is a small compact woman with long brown hair. She left me to undress and get my blob of flesh on the alter, (table) face down. When I looked through the piece of the table that frames and hold your face I noticed a bowl of stones looking up at me! I LOVE ROCKS... these were some of my favorite stones... I knew I was in loving company.
Yana's hands have eyes and ears as well as they are full of music. She found every trigger point that was giving me any discomfort. She did apply the pulsating holistic method to my arms and hands. Time stopped for me. She worked for over an hour. When all was completed I felt marvelous.
Rutha was waiting for me in her spray-painted turck... Yana came outside and embraced her and they chatted for a brief moment. We drove back to our TOP TRUCK! Rutha had set a gorgeous table outside hoping we could eat watching the sunset and the ocean... the misty rain would not give us the chance to indulge in the outdoors. We ate inside. One of my favorite meals. A pasta with veggies, salad and breads. I cleaned up the dishes.
I have told Rutha about a a series that came out years ago called "TALES OF THE CITY". Amestead Maupin wrote the stories about San Francisco in the 70's. Rutha moved to San Francisco in 1975 from NY talk about a culture change? I believe she was 18 or 19 years old... I have watched Tales of the City time and time again over the years. It is a true story about my youth. We loved it. Slept like dead logs and awoke to a gorgeous day.
VALENTINE'S DAY! We hiked up into a beautiful waterfall. Walked on beaches... then near 4 PM we cleaned up... drove to a wonderful new place for a 5 course Valentine's Dinner. It was divine. Photos are posted.
Back to our TOP TRUCK and finished watching the Tales of The City!
Next morning up early and tidied the house. Drove to the recycling bins, dumped all glass, etc. then back to Sans Souci Inn.
This would be my last day and night in the bay.
We got back to SSI, set up camp inside my room, did laundry, wrote in my journal, but best of all, instead of eating out we had a meal in Rutha's cottage. Then we watched a movie I have told her about for years: SORDID LIVES.
Walked back to my room, but in route sat down on the damp grass and gazed into the heavens... all those endless universes and places of mystery.
Did not have to be up early so walked to the beach. The sound of water kissing the sandy shore with gently timed pats,
baby loving slaps with the hands of a gossamer waves touches me beyond words. Went sound asleep.
Crook, is a word The Kiwis use for meaning ill. Not well. Under the weather... Today we are driving up to the TOP TRUCK and spend two nights. Late afternoon I did begin to pull myself together and the strange dizzy feelings disappeared.
Rutha had baked homemade breads. Banana bread and a long loaf of peasant bread. Coolers, (chilly bins) full of goodies. Our packs full of STUFF... my computer so we could watch movies, listen to music and if service was available I would check my e mails.
This Truck is unique. Sits on the top of a hill over looking the bay. The tide was out, but would soon be coming in. I have a photo of the truck and the inside of the truck posted below. The person/artist that built the living quarters had a mind for detail. I happen to love these kind of places. We had a decent refrigerator, two burner gas hot plate, and a very old black Cole Stove! The shower was outside. One of those huge old bath tubs with claws for feet and the shower was attached to the side of the truck. You stood inside the tub and splashed away! I have not taken a shower with soap and hot water in the open air for ages! Such an invigorating feeling. Rutha, unpacked the food items and poured me a glass of cold Chardonnay wine.
I had booked a massage with a person I have wanted to massage me for years. Yana Hoos.
We drove to her house in a light rain.
Yana's house is all NATURAL. Wood walls, no paint! (I like that) a huge dining room table with fresh sliced oranges on a plate, fresh cut flowers...
She has "the touch"... Walked up the stairs holding on a hand rail which is a long branch from a tree. The massage room was wonderful. Sarongs of many colors on the walls, a shrine... we talked. She asked me what I needed, I told her about the left side of my body... music... she chose PERFECT flute and piano... TUI is a popular massage wax used down here... she makes it.
She did something I have never had a massage therapist ask me: "Do you wish to lay face down, or on your back?" I said: "BOTH!" She had had a very big day. 7 other massage therapists had been with her all day learning how to do 'Holistic Pulsing'. Yana is a small compact woman with long brown hair. She left me to undress and get my blob of flesh on the alter, (table) face down. When I looked through the piece of the table that frames and hold your face I noticed a bowl of stones looking up at me! I LOVE ROCKS... these were some of my favorite stones... I knew I was in loving company.
Yana's hands have eyes and ears as well as they are full of music. She found every trigger point that was giving me any discomfort. She did apply the pulsating holistic method to my arms and hands. Time stopped for me. She worked for over an hour. When all was completed I felt marvelous.
Rutha was waiting for me in her spray-painted turck... Yana came outside and embraced her and they chatted for a brief moment. We drove back to our TOP TRUCK! Rutha had set a gorgeous table outside hoping we could eat watching the sunset and the ocean... the misty rain would not give us the chance to indulge in the outdoors. We ate inside. One of my favorite meals. A pasta with veggies, salad and breads. I cleaned up the dishes.
I have told Rutha about a a series that came out years ago called "TALES OF THE CITY". Amestead Maupin wrote the stories about San Francisco in the 70's. Rutha moved to San Francisco in 1975 from NY talk about a culture change? I believe she was 18 or 19 years old... I have watched Tales of the City time and time again over the years. It is a true story about my youth. We loved it. Slept like dead logs and awoke to a gorgeous day.
VALENTINE'S DAY! We hiked up into a beautiful waterfall. Walked on beaches... then near 4 PM we cleaned up... drove to a wonderful new place for a 5 course Valentine's Dinner. It was divine. Photos are posted.
Back to our TOP TRUCK and finished watching the Tales of The City!
Next morning up early and tidied the house. Drove to the recycling bins, dumped all glass, etc. then back to Sans Souci Inn.
This would be my last day and night in the bay.
We got back to SSI, set up camp inside my room, did laundry, wrote in my journal, but best of all, instead of eating out we had a meal in Rutha's cottage. Then we watched a movie I have told her about for years: SORDID LIVES.
Walked back to my room, but in route sat down on the damp grass and gazed into the heavens... all those endless universes and places of mystery.
Did not have to be up early so walked to the beach. The sound of water kissing the sandy shore with gently timed pats,
baby loving slaps with the hands of a gossamer waves touches me beyond words. Went sound asleep.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Chapter 2
Two French Doors open out from my room onto a small stone patio. There is a fine mist of early morning showers which enfolds every thing in a different light. Almost surreal.
Grape vines have woven their many arms around the roof which shelters my patio. Clusters of green grapes are hanging on the vines awaiting the day they are mature. Laden with sweet sugar and dark color. These grapes will have been kissed by the hot rays of the sun, ocean air and most of the tranquillity of this place. I'm sitting here sipping strong coffee simply doing nothing.
I will manage a walk on the beach after I shower and shave.
Sans Souci Inn has a compost toilet system. I will never understand why in the USA we don't use this type of toilet in our National Forests and camp grounds. NO STINK! NO FLIES! Instead we use chemicals that really do not cut the scent of human waste and flies can drive one crazy inside those little LONG DROPS/OUT HOUSES. Here you simply use the toilet, then cover the waste with saw dust and chips of wood. You can also put left over food items in the toilet... AMAZING how the thing works.
Am walking on the beach! The sunshine is burning the foggy mist away and the sky is a brilliant blue!
I have to keep telling myself how fortunate I am to be here. How blessed I am to be with a dear friend that pampers me to death. How unbelievable I feel health-wise from two years ago( when I was here!)
Sometimes there is nothing WORSE in my life than the sensation of crashing into a LIMITATION!
When I became so very ill with Cancer, E Coli Infection and a mered assortment of other physical disasters I crashed mentally because I realized I was honestly limited in my control over such demons. Apparently I needed to be smacked up the side of my head a few times to set aside my arrogance and pride... to really appreciate my life and the many gifts I receive every hour of the day and night.
Evening... I follow the phases of the moon like a dog that lops along side it's master, wagging it's tail and with tougn hanging out licks the hand of the master with sloppy kisses of affection and devotion. Well, if I could I would probably lick the moon!
The moon and stars have been the one and only CONSTANT in my life. Ever since I was a tiny boy I loved watching the moon and stars... I gaze at the moon tonight and it is not full. Will be a full moon the night I am back in QT. February 18.
Many things have come and gone in 64 years of my life ... but the phases of the moon and galaxies have always been there for me. When I gaze into the firmament I always think about Beethoven. He also observed the same moon and stars... Galileo, Shakespeare, Newton, Einstein, Bach, Monet, Gilbran, Whitman... the list of some great people that have lived under this ceiling of heavenly lights are gone, yet we share something in common... the planet and the sky.
Dinner was a gorgeous venison. I grew up on venison and it is one of my favorite sources of protein.
After dinner Rutha and I sat on my patio and talked way into the wee hours of the morning. Tomorrow we drive to the Top Truck. Kind of like a Hippie Bus made into a house. I LIKE THESE PLACES! Also, I am set for a massage with a woman I have often heard about. Yanna Hoos.
It will be a healing as well as a little magic sprinkled here and there.
More later.
Grape vines have woven their many arms around the roof which shelters my patio. Clusters of green grapes are hanging on the vines awaiting the day they are mature. Laden with sweet sugar and dark color. These grapes will have been kissed by the hot rays of the sun, ocean air and most of the tranquillity of this place. I'm sitting here sipping strong coffee simply doing nothing.
I will manage a walk on the beach after I shower and shave.
Sans Souci Inn has a compost toilet system. I will never understand why in the USA we don't use this type of toilet in our National Forests and camp grounds. NO STINK! NO FLIES! Instead we use chemicals that really do not cut the scent of human waste and flies can drive one crazy inside those little LONG DROPS/OUT HOUSES. Here you simply use the toilet, then cover the waste with saw dust and chips of wood. You can also put left over food items in the toilet... AMAZING how the thing works.
Am walking on the beach! The sunshine is burning the foggy mist away and the sky is a brilliant blue!
I have to keep telling myself how fortunate I am to be here. How blessed I am to be with a dear friend that pampers me to death. How unbelievable I feel health-wise from two years ago( when I was here!)
Sometimes there is nothing WORSE in my life than the sensation of crashing into a LIMITATION!
When I became so very ill with Cancer, E Coli Infection and a mered assortment of other physical disasters I crashed mentally because I realized I was honestly limited in my control over such demons. Apparently I needed to be smacked up the side of my head a few times to set aside my arrogance and pride... to really appreciate my life and the many gifts I receive every hour of the day and night.
Evening... I follow the phases of the moon like a dog that lops along side it's master, wagging it's tail and with tougn hanging out licks the hand of the master with sloppy kisses of affection and devotion. Well, if I could I would probably lick the moon!
The moon and stars have been the one and only CONSTANT in my life. Ever since I was a tiny boy I loved watching the moon and stars... I gaze at the moon tonight and it is not full. Will be a full moon the night I am back in QT. February 18.
Many things have come and gone in 64 years of my life ... but the phases of the moon and galaxies have always been there for me. When I gaze into the firmament I always think about Beethoven. He also observed the same moon and stars... Galileo, Shakespeare, Newton, Einstein, Bach, Monet, Gilbran, Whitman... the list of some great people that have lived under this ceiling of heavenly lights are gone, yet we share something in common... the planet and the sky.
Dinner was a gorgeous venison. I grew up on venison and it is one of my favorite sources of protein.
After dinner Rutha and I sat on my patio and talked way into the wee hours of the morning. Tomorrow we drive to the Top Truck. Kind of like a Hippie Bus made into a house. I LIKE THESE PLACES! Also, I am set for a massage with a woman I have often heard about. Yanna Hoos.
It will be a healing as well as a little magic sprinkled here and there.
More later.
My week away... in the Golden Bay of NZ
Chapter 1
I seem to have a problem with dates and times. I told everyone I was booked to leave on the Wed. 10Th of Feb.
NOT SO. Wed. was wrong... the 10Th was Thurs. Okay, I suffered some embarrassments, but survived.
Michael, Anne and I got up round 7 AM on Thurs. the 10Th and began our drive to CH CH by 10: 30 AM. The morning was 'out of the box' as Kiwi's say. A perfect day.
We all were Chatting away in route to Cromwell. Stopped for coffee and snacks. Continue driving... all is going along like gold... stopped in places and old towns we had not been in for years.
Not too many changes... except we park the car slower, get out of the car slower and stand around pointing at sights. DROVE INTO Christchurch. Mind you, this city endured a horrendous earth quake only a couple of months ago! San Francisco type thing. I had made accommodations at Latimer Square. The Latimer Hotel. OMG, we did not have our very old and battered road map in the car! We found it. Nice room. $150.00 NZD for the night.
That included a breakfast. Got settled in, then drove to the car park near the famous Cathedral and began looking for a place to eat. I spied the HERITAGE. This was originally an old government building that we have observed gradual changes into an amazing place full of pent houses, spas and other botiques and it has an amazing restaurant. I SAID I WILL BUY DINS, we are going there.
Had a fantastic meal. Walked about the square and back to the motel. I had to catch a flight into Nelson mid morning. Not a problem. I had my small suit case, and back pack. Hell, we had lost the map we purchased that morning... I could only remember years past the names of roads that lead to the CHCH International Air Port. Well, we saw a van moving fast with stickers claiming it was and airport van... FOLLOW IT! we did. Then began looking for any roadside signs that had an air plane... made it to the airport we all know... but, the damn place is under major redevelopment. Alas! we drive around and around. Finally parked and discoverd DOMESTIC FLIGHTS.
I had a 50 min. plane ride into Nelson. The Nelson Air Port is very old fashioned. I had a couple of hours before the Able Tasman bus was to pick me up and drive me to Takaka. I had a nice sandwich, read my book, wrote in my journal, even took a light nap... NO BUS NO BUS NO BUS NO BUS... I called the Queenstown Information Center. The damn bus forgot to pick me up at the airport. Well, it cost them tons of money. It was not my fault. The Center said, DON'T MOVE. A TAXI WILL COLLECT YOU IN MINUTES AND DRIVE LIKE HELL TO A PLACE WHERE YOU WILL CONNECT WITH THE BUS... Okay. Sure enough a taxi arrives the driver shouting my name. My original bus ticket was $30.00 it cost the bus lines $122.00 for the Taxi because of their major screw up. We connected.
Rode on the bus to Takaka. When I boarded the bus there were no seats open except for one. A lovely young girl from England patted the seat beside her and said "WELCOME". We chatted away and everything was flowing... then we began the steep ride and narrow curves up the mountains... she lost it and puked like old faithful. I helped her clean up. What an ordeal.
Driving through farms lands, mountains and most of all peaceful valleys finally made it into Takak. There was one of my soul mates Rutha waiting with open arms and her beater truck.
We drove like hell to the Sans Souci Inn where she works as a WOOFER. Sun was beginning to set over the Tasman Sea. I got into my room. (pictures are on the my blog) took a shower, poured a Pino Noir and laid my things out before dinner.
Walked onto the beach at sunset. OMG! From there into the dinning room and had a delicious meal. Roast beef with all the trimmings.... you think there are no trimmings on a perfect roast beef dinner? GO EAT AT SANS SOUCI INN.
Rutha was my Table Attendant. After dins, I walked to my room. She met me and we sat outside on the patio with a candle,
bottle of the most divine wine and talked until the wee hours of the morning. She had my room set up with a plunger for coffee, the most beautiful bar of soap, extra towels, fruit in a bowl from the trees in the garden...
Slept like a baby in heaven... next morning, awoke made my coffee in the French Press, took a shower, had a lovely breakfast, a gentle walk on the beach and then we started the truck for a hike...
LATER.
I seem to have a problem with dates and times. I told everyone I was booked to leave on the Wed. 10Th of Feb.
NOT SO. Wed. was wrong... the 10Th was Thurs. Okay, I suffered some embarrassments, but survived.
Michael, Anne and I got up round 7 AM on Thurs. the 10Th and began our drive to CH CH by 10: 30 AM. The morning was 'out of the box' as Kiwi's say. A perfect day.
We all were Chatting away in route to Cromwell. Stopped for coffee and snacks. Continue driving... all is going along like gold... stopped in places and old towns we had not been in for years.
Not too many changes... except we park the car slower, get out of the car slower and stand around pointing at sights. DROVE INTO Christchurch. Mind you, this city endured a horrendous earth quake only a couple of months ago! San Francisco type thing. I had made accommodations at Latimer Square. The Latimer Hotel. OMG, we did not have our very old and battered road map in the car! We found it. Nice room. $150.00 NZD for the night.
That included a breakfast. Got settled in, then drove to the car park near the famous Cathedral and began looking for a place to eat. I spied the HERITAGE. This was originally an old government building that we have observed gradual changes into an amazing place full of pent houses, spas and other botiques and it has an amazing restaurant. I SAID I WILL BUY DINS, we are going there.
Had a fantastic meal. Walked about the square and back to the motel. I had to catch a flight into Nelson mid morning. Not a problem. I had my small suit case, and back pack. Hell, we had lost the map we purchased that morning... I could only remember years past the names of roads that lead to the CHCH International Air Port. Well, we saw a van moving fast with stickers claiming it was and airport van... FOLLOW IT! we did. Then began looking for any roadside signs that had an air plane... made it to the airport we all know... but, the damn place is under major redevelopment. Alas! we drive around and around. Finally parked and discoverd DOMESTIC FLIGHTS.
I had a 50 min. plane ride into Nelson. The Nelson Air Port is very old fashioned. I had a couple of hours before the Able Tasman bus was to pick me up and drive me to Takaka. I had a nice sandwich, read my book, wrote in my journal, even took a light nap... NO BUS NO BUS NO BUS NO BUS... I called the Queenstown Information Center. The damn bus forgot to pick me up at the airport. Well, it cost them tons of money. It was not my fault. The Center said, DON'T MOVE. A TAXI WILL COLLECT YOU IN MINUTES AND DRIVE LIKE HELL TO A PLACE WHERE YOU WILL CONNECT WITH THE BUS... Okay. Sure enough a taxi arrives the driver shouting my name. My original bus ticket was $30.00 it cost the bus lines $122.00 for the Taxi because of their major screw up. We connected.
Rode on the bus to Takaka. When I boarded the bus there were no seats open except for one. A lovely young girl from England patted the seat beside her and said "WELCOME". We chatted away and everything was flowing... then we began the steep ride and narrow curves up the mountains... she lost it and puked like old faithful. I helped her clean up. What an ordeal.
Driving through farms lands, mountains and most of all peaceful valleys finally made it into Takak. There was one of my soul mates Rutha waiting with open arms and her beater truck.
We drove like hell to the Sans Souci Inn where she works as a WOOFER. Sun was beginning to set over the Tasman Sea. I got into my room. (pictures are on the my blog) took a shower, poured a Pino Noir and laid my things out before dinner.
Walked onto the beach at sunset. OMG! From there into the dinning room and had a delicious meal. Roast beef with all the trimmings.... you think there are no trimmings on a perfect roast beef dinner? GO EAT AT SANS SOUCI INN.
Rutha was my Table Attendant. After dins, I walked to my room. She met me and we sat outside on the patio with a candle,
bottle of the most divine wine and talked until the wee hours of the morning. She had my room set up with a plunger for coffee, the most beautiful bar of soap, extra towels, fruit in a bowl from the trees in the garden...
Slept like a baby in heaven... next morning, awoke made my coffee in the French Press, took a shower, had a lovely breakfast, a gentle walk on the beach and then we started the truck for a hike...
LATER.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
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