Early Warning Device

The world's getting more and more stirred up every day....so much going on everywhere, it's hard to keep up!
This year's bound to be busy for the streets, because everybody's up in arms at the lack of money for jobs, food prices going up and everything else.

What's next?  Earthquake? Fire? Tidal Wave? Or will it be a human-based attack of some sort? Who's to know?  But something is brewing, I can feel it.

You know how sometimes the hair on the back of your neck just stands up?  Like when you see a ghost or something....that's what happens to me sometimes.  And these days, with everything going on, there's bound to be a lot of that.

So for today, Fifty Five Is The New Early Warning Device....our "spidey sense,"  what ever it may be, is nothing to be ignored!

Anticipation

Waiting anxiously for tomorrow and a visit from dear friends....it's like anticipating a holiday or a fantastic meal, one wants to savor not only their visit but the moments leading up to it as well. We straightened out the house, best as possible for two middle aged musicians-hey, it's an okay excuse-even chased most of the dust bunnies away.
Except for Victor. He lives in the hallway and seems to hide when he hears the broom coming.  Then he'll pop his puffy self out in the middle of the floor for all to see as guests ascend the stairs. Don't tell me those things aren't some type of life form!  Victor defies most cleaning agents, be it broom, vacuum or elbow grease.

I've seem him make mops cry...make dust mops give up in disgust...and those new fangled ones...the Swifter?  Oh please!  Victor just laughs, and laughs and laughs. Now there's a commercial on t.v. about a thing that's supposed to attract dust and dirt.  The little beasties are shown just about having orgasms over being " picked up" by this product.  Not that I think it would defeat our dust bunny.  No, Victor's demise will come via some major cleaning ritual when there's enough gumption and Endust sprayed on the head of a dustmop covered in a runner-filled, freshly dryered stocking! Nothing beats the old remedies! As soon as my hose gets a runner, all I can say is Victor's days are surely numbered!

But besides Victor, the house is fairly clean...I want to wake up early and make a cake or something for the occasion. Probably should have done it tonight, but there's only so much energy left at the end of the day.
They should be coming by early afternoon, so the timing will be perfect.

Can't wait to see them...prayers for their safe journey and for a good visit.  May they be comfortable.

For now, Fifty Five Is The New Anticipation....waiting on seeing friends, looking forward to spending time together. Just us, our kitty and Victor and perhaps a little wine.

Notes On News

We were talking earlier about the world; maybe we're watching too much news or something because it seems to be an almost constant concern. It's true, we need to keep informed but I wonder sometimes just how much of it is information and how much is manipulation?

And if so, on behalf of whom?  Surely there's more to it than selling toothpaste.

Okay, okay....I don't want to go all conspiracy theory or anything, but sometimes I wonder.  That doesn't necessarily make me paranoid, just careful.

Besides, some of this stuff makes for great song writing material!  See? there is a silver lining, even to the news!  Yay!

So for today, Fifty Five Is The New

1000 Years of Wisdom

Red Sun Fractal by rcw

China's president Hu is visiting the United States.  There's lots of pomp and circumstance, lots of speech making and translating, and of course the State Dinner, which is anything BUT rubber chicken!  I wonder what they did serve?  Chinese food? American Steak and Potatoes?  Hmm...

We are in a precarious situation with China, but then again they depend on us too...so there are some bargaining chips on the table that we can use.  Yes, we owe them a lot of money, but they also depend on us for purchasing their exported goods. So there is some room for talk.

I worry that the human rights violations continue to be overlooked or swept under the political rug for sake of expediency.  These people's deaths weren't all that expedient.  Many suffered long, arduous torture, imprisonment and worse before death, at that point merciful death, was finally granted.  And even that sometimes was a drawn out affair.

Saying that China has a lot of room for improvement in this area is an understatement. But I pray that there is more than just room for improvement, I hope improvement happens. As China grows into the modern world, I pray its leaders have to stop acting like feudal lords over their people and permit them to have the individual freedoms they lack.

Governing a people isn't easy work....it takes more than skill and patients, it takes wisdom, which for the most part comes with time.

So for today, Fifty Five is 1000 years of wisdom, which is what our leaders need these days. And so do we.

Campsite

Lassen 2009

Jack wants to go camping again real soon...so do I!  There's just nothing else like waking up to the sound of water lapping against stones and birds calling over head!  We have it down to a science, just about. Including putting a little honeyed tea in a dish to attract the bees away from us.

Last time we were a little crazy and kept the "bee fountain" on the picnic table, so they were much nearer than I'd have liked them. Funny thing, we didn't get stung by any of them.

Mosquitoes were another matter entirely.  We both got huge welts on our foreheads that first day.  We got the mosquito candles out and that seemed to help.

Some people wonder why we rough it so much.  Dirt roads, no showers, more often than not no running water or even bathroom.  Gee, if we wanted to stay in a hotel, we would have.  There's just something extra special, a cleansing if  you will, of mind and spirit as you put your hands to the tasks of building a fire, putting the coffee on to peculate, getting the breakfast going while listening to the crows and other birds.

The sound of branches crunching underfoot, the smell of a campfire, the balmy air rustling through leafy tree limbs...cooling and soothing soul and senses.  And of course, the magnificent sky at night....littered with stars. More stars than can ever be seen in the city!  It's like being in a planetarium, only it's real.

We love making a campfire at night and sitting around it making music, talking or just watching the embers glow.  Our very first camping trip was truly roughing it.  We didn't even have a tent, but we did have Beulah, Jack's 1963 Buick Wild Cat....dented every where but my door; we loved that car!

I remember helping Jack fix the springs on that thing. They were gwishy as hell, felt like we were riding around in soggy shoes, so Jack decided to fix the springs.  We hammered sections of director's chair frame into the springs to act as spacers, and damned if it didn't work!  For a short while I wondered if the chair pieces might fall out or get launched by an over zealous spring one day, but it never happened.  Beulah went by way of all old cars when there's nothing left to 'em but the memories. And camping was just one of them.

We'd tear up and down the dirt roads, a little more cautious since the day we punctured the gas tank, that's for sure.

Our present vehicle, the 1979 Cadillac Seville should be an interesting ride on the dirt road.  I'm a little concerned about some of those hairpin turns, after all let's face it, the car's a boat. But I' think it'll be alright.
Jack usually knows what he's doing behind the wheel. We're trying to get the car to pass smog inspection, it's a little tricky because this year was actually made in 1978 and doesn't have some of the smog devices that later models were required to have.  So it may be tricky getting it to pass the inspection.

Once that's all straightened out and we take care of a few more mechanical things, we're going to hit the road! First time out will be just a camping trip...can't wait for that!

So for today, Fifty Five Is The New Campsite....it's calling and we're coming soon as we can!

Hometown

Golden Gate Bridge  rcw

San Francisco is a wonderful city.  Living here is an amazing adventure with new experiences around every corner.

Tourists come here from all over the world to ride the cable cars, cross the bridges, eat the fish and walk down the crookedest street.  They also look at us, the residents, as part of the scenery.

It's like living in a postcard; going about the day-to-day business with fantastic views as backdrops to our tasks.

From North Beach's famous parrots to the Mission's burrito and taco restaurants, San Francisco's flavor is rich with culture.  Street musicians, artists and bohemians share tables with the swells who come by Cafe Trieste for weekly opera. And even when everything is going wrong, a good walk is usually enough to shake the negative energy.

I tried leaving here once, but came back after eight years.  It is my home, my refuge, my comfort.

For today, Fifty Five Is The New Hometown, adopted though it was back in 1980; the truth is I was supposed to be here.

Visitors

Crystal Globe Power Ball  by rcw

Jan and Vincent are coming to visit at the end of the week, so we're doing a good housecleaning and putting away most of the holiday decorations.  I'm going to keep up the small tree in our studio, which will be doubling as a guest room for a couple of days....thanks to inflatable mattresses, extra blankets, pillows and an electric heater.

The stockings no longer hang on the mantle with care, the dream catcher remains-its permanent home since we moved from our diningroom/bedroom/studio down to the front part of the flat. The holidays were festive and restive. Good times spent with our West Coast family and friends.  I hope to see our East Coast folks in the coming year.  It's been a while.

My Mom is in her '80s now; living on her own since Dad died. She gets around, still goes to church, the doctor, the market and so on. Brothers and Sister live back east, within a couple of hours of Mom's abode. Being on the Left Coast has its limitations; we talk a couple of times a week...nice phone visits, better than nothing.

Funny, when we first moved out here I didn't get home sick.  I won't call what's going on exactly that...but I do feel a sense of....what? ......bittersweet?   Wishing to have been there for the important stuff; births, graduations, weddings and so on.  I've attended a lot of the funerals. Not exactly where one goes when hoping for a cheery family reunion.

Anyway, along with straightening up the house, packing away the holiday and making ready for friendly visits, I'm kicking out cobwebs, dusting off dreams and making plans.

So for today, Fifty Five Is The New Visitors....Jan and Vincent, will be great to see them again!